Setup
NETGEAR loaned us a Verizon Wireless USB727 Modem (a rebranded Novatel Ovation MC727) that was already activated. If it wasn't activated, I would have had to run through Verizon's activation steps with the card connected to a laptop first, since that function isn't built into the MBR.
The Verizon USB card is pretty small, about the size of a larger flash drive with a little plastic square that flips up to act as antenna (Figure 3). Many other 3G cards are also supported by the MBR624GU and NETGEAR provides a compatibility chart on their website.
Figure 3: Verizon USB 3G modem
Connecting the 3G card to the MBR was a no-brainer. Like any other highly-trained technical professional, I ignored the instruction manual and plugged in the 3G USB card, an Ethernet cable from one of the MBR's LAN ports to my laptop, connected the power cable, and turned it on to see if it worked.
One of the things I like about NETGEAR products is they put a label on the bottom of their devices with the device's management IP address as well as the administrator user name and password. All I had to was browse to http://192.168.0.1 and I was connected to the configuration pages of the device.
I clicked on the Setup Wizard and let it do its magic. The router automatically tested a detected 3G service as shown in Figure 4, and after another status screen, presented options for configuring the router's 802.11g wireless network.
Figure 4: Internet connection check
After entering my SSID name and creating a wireless key, I had completed all the necessary configuration for basic service and was presented with the status screen in Figure 5 showing that I had successfully configured the device and was in business!
Figure 5: Router Status
I'll note that NETGEAR includes a handy three-foot USB extension cable that allows for positioning the 3G USB card vertically, and away from the router as shown in Figure 6. The 3G card will plug directly into the back of the MBR. But using the extension cable improves signal strength and thus overall Internet performance—a nice touch on NETGEAR's part.
Contest #29 Results 
