View and Download Sprint U301 get started online. U301 Modem pdf manual download. ![]() Sprint U301 3G/4G USB Modem Review User Rating: / 10 Poor Best Friday, 12 February 2010 Like it's predecessor the U300, the new Franklin U301 for Sprint is a dual-mode 3G/4G USB modem, meaning it is able to connect to Sprint's nationwide EVDO Rev-A 3G network as well as the new 4G WiMAX network. Sprint's 4G network is only available in about 30 cities right now (although it is launching in new cities every quarter), but a 3G/4G device like the U301 can be a great option even for users who aren't currently in a Sprint 4G area. The monthly cost for Sprint's 3G/4G service is the same as their 3G-only plan ($59.99/month), so the U301 should not be discounted as an option even if you're not looking for 4G capabilities at this time. U301 Design: At 3.5' x 1.27' x 0.92' and 1.25 oz, the U301 is slightly larger than Sprint's currently available 3G-only USB modems like the U760 or 598U, but its flip-up USB connector means it actually sticks out much less than other devices - a great benefit for laptop users who worry about hitting or breaking their USB modems as they move around with their computer. It also ships with a 7 1/2' USB extension cable, which you can use to position your modem a bit away from your computer or router. The U301 ships with a USB extension cable, Sprint Installation CD for Windows & Mac, and Getting Started Guide On the face of the U301 is a pair of LED indicator lights that let you know whether the 3G or 4G networks are available. The top light shows your 3G status (green means 3G is available; a red light would mean you're outside of the service area) and the second light displays your 4G status (a blue light means 4G is available; red would again indicate that 4G is not available). This feature will come in particularly handy for travelers - you'll be able to quickly see when you enter a 4G area and can switch to the higher-speed service! Connected to 3G! Setting up and Using the U301: Setting up the U301 is a breeze - as long as your computer has a CD drive! The Sprint 301 ships with a CD with both Mac and Windows versions of the Sprint Smartview Software, which you'll need to install to get your U301 activated (if you don't have a disc drive, you'll need to download the software from Sprint's website before getting started). Once you insert the CD and connect the U301 to your computer, activation is painless and virtually automatic. Luckily, the U301 solves one major problem that U300 users had to deal with: it is compatible with Mac! The U301 is compatible with Windows XP/Vista/7 as well as Mac OS X 10.4/10.5/10.6, and in our tests we had no problem using it on any of these operating systems (including Windows 7 and Snow Leopard). Once Smartview is installed and the initial activation has taken place, using the U301 is as simple as hitting the 'connect' button in Smartview. The U301 will automatically detect which networks are available (3G or 4G) and will connect to the higher-speed network by default - if 4G is available it will connect to that, if only 3G is available it will connect there. If both 3G and 4G are available, you can switch between the networks easily in Smartview: you can click the 'switch to 3G' button that appears beneath the signal bars (if you're currently connected to 3G, it will of course say 'switch to 4G') or select the network you want to connect to from the 'Tools' menu. This can come in handy if both networks are available but your signal strength is much better for one! Smartview makes it easy to see which network you're connected to and to switch networks Speaking of signal strength, as seasoned mobile broadband users are well aware, signal is the key to performance, and knowing your signal strength makes a big difference. By looking at your signal strength and how it changes in different locations (and how the performance changes along with it) you'll be able to make decisions about which network to use (you may have great 3G signal but poor 4G signal in a particular location, for example), where to place the modem (simply using the USB extension cable to place your modem a little higher up can help), or whether you might benefit from signal-boosting equipment (for the 3G signal only - there is no way to boost the 4G signal at this time). Smartview displays the traditional 'signal bars' for the network you're connected to, and you can also view the ( Received Signal Strength Indicator - a more accurate numerical value of your signal strength than the bars) when you're connected to the 3G network by selecting 'Mobile Info' from the 'Tools' menu and clicking the 'network' tab.
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