Overview

The CradlePoint COR IBR6x0C Series is part of the the IoT Solutions Packages Segment. The IoT Solutions Packages come with your choice of an IoT router and NetCloud IoT Essentials. NetCloud IoT Essentials for the consists of 24x7 CradleCare Support, NetCloud Manager and NetCloud Perimeter. NetCloud Perimeter provides a simple, software-defined cloud-based alternative to VPN. An upgrade to NetCloud IoT Advanced is available.

As a result of the Pandemic, CradlePoint introduced models of the 600C series as members of the Branch SOHO Market Segment. This unit is designed to function for remote workers. The NCM services provided with the Bramch SOHO unit are different from the IoT unit.

The initial purchase of the IoT 6x0C and the SOHO 600C are only available in 3 and 5 year subscriptions. NCM Renewals may be purchased for 1, 3 or 5 year subscriptions.

The minimal IoT 6x0C is purchased with an NCM IoT Essentials package with an optional upgrade to the NCM IoT Advanced package. The SOHO 600C unit is only available with the NCM Branch Essentials package and the NCM Branch Advanced package as a bundle.

For the most part, the features on the IoT NCM Essentials + IoT NCM Advanced features are identical to the SOHO NCM Essentials + Advanced. However, there are several significant differences. The following services are not available on the SOHO Branch model, but are available on the IoT 6x0C models

• LAN – VRRP protocol
• NetCloud Perimeter
• IP Pass-Thru

I'm not sure why you would purchase the SOHO model over the IoT model with Advanced NCM. The SOHO model may be ordered with SIM for the carrier of your choice and the SIM can be inserted in the unit. There is no additional charge for the SIM and the SIM insertion. So, if this service is worth it to you, then the SOHO model is a good choice. However, the IoT version does provide you with additional NCM services for the same money. I am awaiting a response from CradlePoint as to what the advantage of purchasing the SOHO model is over the corresponding IoT model.

The IoT 6x0C routers can be used in kiosks, ATMs, Digital signage, POS, parallel networking, surveillance and anywhere else you can make it work. The IBR600C/650C routers are designed as replacement products for the discontinued popular IBR600/650 routers.

The 6x0C series is capable of stepping down to 3G transmission for AT&T and T-Mobile. But it cannot step down to 3G EVDO for Verizon. And there is no 6x0C product for Sprint at all.

The 6x0C series comes with a power supply, LTE antennas and WiFi antennas (600C models).

The CAT 4 modem in the 6x0C routers have a theoretical download speed of 150 Mbps download and 50 Mbps upload.

The 6x0C is 'FirstNet Ready', meaning it has Priority, Preemption and is capable of using Band 14 on the ATT network. This requires a SIM and data plan for FirstNet.

The Carrier Sensing on the 150M modem is extremely fast compared to any of the other CradlePoint routers. It loads the firmware in about 1 minute compared to the other routers which take about 5 minutes just for the correct firmware to be sensed and loaded.

The 6x0C routers have passive GPS available. If necessary, active GPS is available by adding a COR Extensibility Dock and equipping it with an MC400 Modem that has active GPS ( LP6).

There is no power switch on 6x0C routers, the door functions as the 'power switch'. It is a metal plate which fits in front of the SIM slots and is held securely by 2 Phillips-Head screws. You can see this on the image of the 600C on the 600C/650C page.

The 6x0C:

• Has only 1 WiFi band (2.4 GHz). WiFi is not available on the 650C.
• Is designed for rugged use with shock and vibration certification (MIL STD 810G).
• Has a metal casing.
• Has an extended temperature range (-20C to 60C or -4F to 140F)

Dual SIMs

Dual SIMs do not allow you to connect simultaneously. It is not the same as 2 modems. Here is what dual SIMs allow you to do. You can have SIMs of different carriers or the same carrier. In both cases, if the primary connection fails, the unit can be configured to failover to the secondary connection. You can also use Dual SIMs to prevent data overage charges. This requires 2 SIMs with different data plans associated with each SIM, preferably for the same carrier. The primary interface can be configured to monitor data usage. Power cannot be turned off as the data is not persistent without NCM. Once the configured maximum data usage is reached, the primary interface will be deactivated and the configured secondary interface will take over. Failover to a different carrier is not immediate. The modem is the 600C is capable of switching carriers in about 1 minute. Other modems can take in the range of 7 minutes or more. In order to failover to a different carrier, the unit must load modem firmware for the second carrier into the modem, and then re-establish a network connection.

If you need immediate fallback, you need to have 2 modems. 2 modems are available with the 6x0C series with the addition of the Extensibility Dock, part# 170700-000, and an MC400 modem of your choice.

Extensibility Dock

The Extensibility Dock (part # 170700-000) is an accessory that the 6x0C and the 9x0 slides into and provides additional features. Scroll over the picture of the 600C on the 6x0C page for a picture of the 600C with the Extensibility Dock.

• The Extensibility Dock provides for Dual Modem support with the purchase of an MC400 modem. As mentioned above, Dual Modems allow you to fallback to a secondary carrier within seconds. The 1st modem is configured for your primary carrier. The 2nd modem is configured for the secondary carrier. Or, the 2 modems can be used for load balancing or WAN affinity (routing specific traffic to different carriers). This 2nd modem is installed in the Extensibility Dock.
• The Extensibility Dock adds 2 10/100 ports in addition to the ports on the 6x0C router.
• The Extensibility Dock adds capability for additional GPIO sensors.
• The Extensibility Dock has the ability to add redundant power capability. Redundant power can also be added with the addition of GPIO cable 170680-001 (see below).
• There is a 3rd party expansion card support.
• There is 5V DC output.
• And it has both a Software Development Kit (SDK) that allows one to program features using the Python language, as well as a Hardware Development Kit (HDK). NCM is required.
• Passive GPS is available on the base unit (6x0C). Active GPS can be provided by adding a GPS capable modem (LP6) as a 2nd modem

There is a 9 wire GPIO cable (part # 170680-001) that provides some of the features of the Extensibility dock at an MSRP of $49.99.

• 4 additional GPIO signals
• 1 additional ignition sense
• Capability for Redundant power

Summary

The IBR6x0C series is designed as a replacement for the IBR6x0 series. The units are available for Verizon, ATT and T-Mobile. Sprint service is not available.

The 6x0C is FirstNet Ready, it is capable of using Band 14 in FirstNet.

Not all of the extensibility features are plug-n-play. Features such as redundant power and additional GPIO power sensing require custom configured cables.

If you decide to use the extensibility dock (part # 170700), there is a problem if you decide to use the paddle antennas. The 2 sets of antennas sit on top of each other preventing the antennas from functioning properly. An external antenna is required for at least one of the modems.

CradlePoint Recommendations

CradlePoint recommends a typical client count of 5 for both the IoT versions and the SOHO versions. Most importantly, CradlePoint recommends that all LTE antenna connectors be connected to an antenna for proper LTE operation.

Extended Warranties can be purchased in subsequent years, and as a follow-on warranty at the conclusion of the standard warranty period. No gap in coverage is allowed: the new warranty must be in place before the existing warranty expires.

• Hardware repair/replacement — extend standard warranty to 2, 3, or 5 years.
• Pricing based on annual subscription.

Cradlepoint's Extended Enterprise License provides advanced routing and security features that are designed to increase productivity and business continuity for an enterprise's network. Customers who opt in will have immediate access to a number of features.

• Routing: OSPF/BGP/RIP; VRRP; STP; NHRP
• More Advanced VPN & Tunneling Protocols: OpenVPN (SSL VPN); L2TP
• NEMO (NEtwork MObility) / DMNR (Dynamic Mobile Network Routing from Verizon)
• WiFi: WPA2 Enterprise Authentication for WiFi as WAN