stueys

Hope not, wanted to buy one of these

nmenaker

The older ones did 100-240, I would have a hard time thinking they would

A: step back from a previous spec
B: make a TRAVEL router that required a second power convertor.

I'll be very surprised if they produce something that is either 110 or 220 only.

RCyyz

+1

For any portable device, universal voltage can't possibly be that hard nor that expensive to build in. A uni-voltage microwave oven? Sure. A travel router? Can't see it as it just doesn't make good business sense.

Then again, the same could be said of folding plugs ...

wco81

I've soured on Internet from hotels. Often overpriced and underperforming.

I guess if you're traveling on business and the company picks up the tab, a travel router can make sense.

But for international leisure travel, unless you're staying at a big chain (and even then), it seems a Mifi would be more useful, often better speeds too.

Once, I stayed at a nice hotel in Sorrento which only had ethernet but they just handed you an Airport Express. Well the ethernet happened to be behind this little armoire that had a nice table for holding the MacBook Pro so I didn't bother with the Airport Express.

But Internet was free so it was okay. I think Mifi, especially in Italy, is more useful because prepaid data is so affordable and the networks are fast. You can tell use the Mifi with a smart phone when you're out for the day and at night in the hotel room.

PTravel

HP Touchpads also require 2 amps.

PTravel

A number of phones have this feature either built-in or available as an optional back for the phone. My Droid Bionic and my wife's HTC Droid 2 both have inductive charging. I have a nice little inductive charger by Energizer that will charge two devices at once. When we come home, we just drop our phones on the charger -- very convenient.

nmenaker

Indeed portable internet through broadband is great. One clear issue though is that often in a hotel room the windows are double paned for sound proofing and with 4G broadband at least that can make the 4G connection essentially useless. Most 4G companies will tell you that a well sound proofed and double paned window can kill or cancel much of the connection. I've often had to try and open a window or put the device strategically in between windows or edge of the wall in order to even get a connection.

wco81

I thought LTE was using some longer wavelengths. Either Verizon or AT&T is around 700 Mhz and one of the bands supported in Europe will be 800 Mhz.

Those are suppose to penetrate buildings better than higher wavelengths like 1800 Mhz.

Interoperability will be more of an issue with LTE, which supports more bands than UMTS. Verizon and AT&T will try to prevent LTE devices from being interoperable on each other's networks.

It'll be interesting what Apple does with LTE. They have the clout to tell these carriers to get bent and they'd be interested in one SKU for both networks and the world but if their LTE networks don't have overlapping spectrum or the LTE base bands doesn't support enough bands, we may go back to 2 sets of SKUs.

PTravel

I've heard of this problem with WiMax, but never with LTE (and it's not an issue on my Verizon LTE phone).

gfunkdave

Wimax uses 2.5GHz while LTE is in the standard cellular bandwidths (and 700 MHz, I think).

But I maintain that, far more important in an urban environment is the proximity to the nearest cell tower.

nmenaker

Indeed with wider band LTE or 4G frequencies you shouldn't experience this but even with 1800-1900 4G I think one will.

The high freq companies like Clear and legacy Sprint devices and I believe older embedded intel systems will be in the Higher frequency ranges. And most of european mobile broadband spectrum allocated for wireless broadband is in the higher frequency ranges I believe.

PTravel

That makes sense, and also explains why I don't have problems with Verizon.

RCyyz

I just searched the DLink website and the DIR-505 product still isn't available for sale.

OverThereTooMuch

20 more days before you can complain that they broke their promise

docbert

It's out! $100 RRP, $70 street.

Datasheet has been updated and it is indeed 110-240 volts!

Previously I would have said the WL-330GE was a much better deal at their usual $15-30, but they seem to be EOL now and the replacement WL-330N/WL-330N3G are $50+ which levels things out a bit...