Tips on using Mobile Hotspot devices to run ATCS Monitor remote servers.   As of 2-2016, FreedomPop seems to sell three different USB Wifi devices that run in the Sprint network.  FreedomPop's web page does not always reflect what is available.  Shipping times can be fast or very long, and their customer service phone help is not always up to snuff.  As of 8-2019 FreedomPop seems to have shut their hotspot Sprint service down and shifted the service to the more pricy "Ting.com" company plans.

Here are the FreedomPop USB Wifi devices that I have worked with:

1- FreedomPop USB Bolt, no longer available, as it used a now defunct WIMAX communication protocol.  The Bolt was neither 3G nor 4G.  As of 12-2015, the Bolt devices no longer work.  Before 12-2015 the Bolt worked great for both ATCS Monitoring purposes as well as for ATCS Monitor SERVER purposes. 

2- FreedomPop Franklin U602.  This device works with 3G and 4G.   It works fine for ATCS Monitoring purposes.  I could not get it to work as an internet connection for ATCS Monitor SERVER purposes.   Somehow I could not get the ports set up to allow it to work as a ATCS Monitor SERVER internet connection.  ( I do believe that if the ACTS Pitch Router system is used, the Franklin U602 would be fine for an ATCS Server).  The IP address to program the U602 is    192.168.14.1

3- FreedomPop Franklin U770.  These devices worked as WIMAX and 3G internet connections.  With shutdown of WIMAX in 12-2015, they are 3G only now.  Lately, the U770 have been hard to get from FreedomPop.  Their web page shows they are available and being shipped, but that does not seem to be the case.  The U770 works great for both ATCS Monitoring purposes as well as for ATCS Monitor SERVER purposes.   In order to get the ATCS Monitor SERVER to work, the IPPT (internet port passthrough) option must be turned on.  Here is how to do that.  ( I believe that if the ACTS Pitch Router system is used, the Franklin U770 would be fine for an ATCS Server without having to ussing the IPPT option).    The IP address to program the U770 is     192.168.10.1.

As of 8-2017 I am using three of these U770 for my remote ATCS Monitor Servers with good port forwarding.  As of 8-2019 the FreedomPop service ended.


4- FreedomPop Netgear U341 (which is labeled for Sprint).  The U341 is both 3G and 4G.  For ATCS Monitoring purposes, both 3G or 4G work fine.   The IP address to program the U341 is     192.168.1.1

For ATCS Monitor SERVER needs, I found that I could not get ATCS Monitor port forwarding (SERVER purposes) to work with the 341U while in 4G mode.  It has a web based set-up page at 192.168.1.1     I tried all sorts of things to make it work with ATCS Monitor SERVER purposes.  While in 4G mode:
Default settings did not help.
The Pass through mode option did not help.
DMZ mode option did not help.
Port forwarding did not help.
Fiddling with DCHP settings did not help

But then I tried 3G mode (CDMA), with all the default settings Except for port forwarding, and Bingo, it worked.   Now that I think of it, I bet things like DMZ would have worked had I experimented in 3G mode.  ( Update 4-2016:  the U341 no longer seems to allow the port forwarding to work for For ATCS Monitoring purposes).

The 341U seems to have needed to be in 3G mode for ATCS Monitor SERVER purposes, with port forwarding.  ( I believe that if the ACTS Pitch Router system is used, the Franklin U341 would be fine in 3G and or 4G for an ATCS Server without having to ussing the port forwarding options).

The attached computer that the he 341U is plugged into is assigned  192.168.1.4   consistently by the 341U.   I use that information to forward TCP and UDP ports.

The attached screen shots show the successful configuration settings for the 341U that formerly worked for ATCS Monitor SERVER purposes:

u341 basic router settings

u341 port filtering
   
u341 network settings

5- FreedomPop's Sierra Wireless Aircard 803s (which is labeled for Sprint).  This divice is can be used as a stand alone WiFi hotspot broadcasting device or as a Wifi unit that connects to the USB port of a computer.  It is works with both 3G and /or 4G.  It works fine for both ATCS Monitoring and Server purposes.   The Aircard 803s charges via the single USB port.  When attached to a computer via a USB cable it can charge from the computer while being used as an internet reciever-transmitter. 
    The IP address to program the Aircard 803s is     192.168.0.1.
    The attached computer that the he Aircard 803s is plugged into via USB is assigned  192.168.0.24  
    The first attached computer that the Aircard 803s is communitating via WiFi  is assigned  192.168.0.47
The setup menu allows users to open TCP and UDP ports, with  the ability to open a range of ports as needed. 

I use the Aircard 803s this way until 8-2019 when FreedomPop shut it down:
1-  I remove the battery and run it via a 120v plug in USB charger that is on a cheap on-off timer.  Every night the timer turns the power off to the USB charger a half hour and then turns it back on.  This refreshes the connection (otherwise, afte a few days, the connection gets "stale" and fails).

2- The Aircard 803s is communitating via WiFi to a computer that is assigned IP address 192.168.0.47
In the computer Control Panel under Network Connections, Wireless Connection Properties, Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), Properties, Local Area Connection Properties fill in these boxes this way:
Uncheck    "Obtain an IP address automatically.
Check        "Use the folloing IP address.
IP address            192    168    1        47
Subnet Mask        255    255    255    0
Default Gateway   192    168     0      1
Uncheck    "Obtain DNS server address automatically.
Check        "Use the folloing DNS server addresses.
Prefered DNS Server       68   105   28   11  
Alternate DNS Server      68   105   29   11

Hit the OK button and reboot.


8-2019: 
Trial of NetZero mobile hotspot.  After one time purchase and activation price of about $80, the cheapest plan allows 0-200MB per month data.  The device I recieved from NetZero was a familiar Franklin U770 USB stick.  It sets up the same way as my earlier U770 devices from FreedomPop.

NetZero Franklin U770.  This device works on 3G and 4G internet connections.  In Cleveland, only the 3G seems to work which is perfectly adequete for ATCS monitoring purposes.  The U770 works great for both ATCS Monitoring purposes as well as for ATCS Monitor SERVER purposes.  
    In order to get the ATCS Monitor SERVER to work, the IPPT (internet port passthrough) option must be turned on.  Here is how to do that. 
    If the ACTS Pitch Router system is used, the Franklin U770 would be fine for an ATCS Server purposes without having to ussing the IPPT option.    The IP address to program the U770 is     192.168.10.1.
3-2022 NetZero shut down it's Sprint based network that the above Hotspots ran on. 

3-2022:
 Karma Franklin Wireless R717.  This is a non USB stick hot spot.  Tt is works with 4G.  This divice is can be used as a stand alone WiFi hotspot broadcasting device or as a Wifi unit that connects via cable to the USB port of a computer.  For the cable to computer option, Windows7 or higher is needed.    It works for both ATCS Monitoring and Server purposes.  The unit lacks an IPPT passthrough option.  Even with an open firewall I cannot pass TCP and UDP port data for ATCS Monitor Server purposes.  But this device does let me PITCH the data to an ATCS Router elsewhere for ATCS server purposes.
The IP address to program the Karma Franklin Wireless R717 is:  192.168.10.1.


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