In February of 2024, Cradlepoint announced they are discontinuing the popular router IBR900 later this year. The end-of-life announcement brings some concern about what that means for its users.
We’ll discuss all you need to know about the end-of-life product and the router that is the suggested replacement.
Quick Facts
Announcement: February 14, 2024
End of Sale Date: August 14, 2024
Last Date of Support (End of Life): August 14, 2029
Replacement: The R920 Router replaces the IBR900 Router. Learn more about the R920.
When?
The IBR900 end of sale date is August 14th, 2024. This means it is the last date to order and ship these routers. The end-of-sale is typically 6 months after the announcement date.
Why?
While we don’t know the real reason behind the end-of-life announcement, Cradlepoint products and services have a defined lifecycle. Cradlepoint may enter products into end-of-life due to market demand or component availability.
With new technology and platforms, discontinuing older models makes room for new releases, bringing new advanced features that older models might be lacking.
What Does This Mean for Me?
If you are using this router today or plan on purchasing it before end of sale, don’t worry, Cradlepoint end of life policy won’t leave its users hanging. They will still support any EOL products for up to 5 years after their end-of-sale date.
This means Cradlepoint will still support this model, for both warranty and technical support, until August 14, 2029. It is required to have an active NetCloud Service Plan to get support during the 5 years.
What Happens After the 5 Years?
After the last date of support, your warranty will expire and you won’t be able to get any more technical support. NetCloud OS, its router software, may stop receiving firmware updates. You won’t be able to get new features, security enhancements, or improved stability after this point. This means your router could be vulnerable to threats or software bugs.
About the Replacement: The Cradlepoint R920 Router
The R920 router will replace the IBR900 Ruggedized Router. This replacement router has consiberally the same specs as the EOL model but is more advanced in connectivity and support. Just like the IBR900, the R920 is an LTE router for vehicles and IoT.
The R920 has Bluetooth, is 5G Ready, and has network operator certifications to now use with T-Mobile, something the IBR900 does not support. The R920 is also noticeably more secure with multizone firewalls, IDS/IPS, and FIPS 140-3 Level 1.
You can also use the R920 on a private cellular network with band 48 CBRS (Citizen Band Radio Service).
R920 |
IBR900 |
|
|
Cateogry |
Mobile & IoT |
Mobile & IoT |
|
Cloud Management |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Wireless Connectivity |
4G/LTE |
- |
|
5G Status |
5G Ready with Modular Modem/ Adapter |
- |
|
USB Ports |
1 |
1 |
|
Bluetooth |
Yes |
- |
|
Dual Modem Supprt |
Yes - with RX20 |
Yes with COR Extensibility Dock |
|
Networks |
AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon |
AT&T, Verizon, Telstra |
|
VPN |
20 |
10 |
|
Wi-Fi |
Wi-Fi 6 |
Wi-Fi 5 |
|
Private Cellular Network |
Yes - CBRS, 4G LTE |
Yes - 4G LTE (No CBRS) |
How First Source Wireless Can Help
First Source Wireless is an authorized reseller of Cradlepoint. Need help transitioning your fleet or need additional support on finding a router for you? Give our office a call or chat online.
We have over 20 years experience in the critical communication field and have helped thousands of agencies find the right solution for them.
