smeurett
join:2007-07-04
Neillsville, WI
| [Troubleshooting] tethered V3m vs. UM150 modem?
We've been using a tethered Razr V3m for the past year for our imac and macbook laptop at home (in the sticks) for our "Alltel highspeed internet" connection. We bought an extra line ($10.00) plus the $26.00/mo internet deal....seemed to work okay, and speed was just okay-100-300kbps. I have a zboost and antenna on the roof. Over the course of the past month or two, it keeps disconnecting, saying: the "USB device has been unplugged" and/or "the modem has unexpectedly hungup" and/or "the connection has been terminated by the other side."
This is so frustrating-it'll disconnect all the time and I can forget about downloading any larger files. I thought a yagi antenna would help, but haven't installed it yet-stronger signal seems to equal faster speeds.
Anyway, in reading some of the posts here, I'm wondering if using a modem, like the UM150, would be better. Not sure if it works with Alltel? Maybe this would be less expensive that the whole system I have now?
Anyone else have disconnects like this?
|
|
jhoma
join:2002-12-29
Harrison, MI
 ·Alltel Axess
| I have had the the same problems since April. I am using a Motorola razr c tethered. What I have found by observation is the phone switches back and forth between Evdo and the regular signal. When it does that it gives me the device not inserted message. I have to unplug the phone and restart the axcess software. I thought getting a dedicated device might help so I got a UM150 it worked alot better
I got faster speeds and the switching disconnects seemed to stop. I only kept it for a week and traded it in for a Huwei EC228. The reason for this was the unit was so fragile it is not very solid, it has a few moveable joints that are really thin. Like I said I only ran it a week but the Huwei has no disconnect trouble either and I am getting a little more speed. The Razr gets 200-400 kbps down and 50 up. The UM150 got 600-800kbps down and 100 up. The Huwei has been getting 700-1000 kbps down and 100 up. I haven't tried to put it through a router yet. There are some real good posts on this site about doing that. I am running a windows xp sp2 on a intel mobo q6600 proc, 4 GB ram and 2 GTS 8600 in SLI. On a side note I went into the Alltel sales center for my area and asked about the switching problem, they said they knew about it but there wasn t much they could do about it,one of the reps said signal strength might help? I noticed when all this started my cell phone has suffered the same problem. I will be talking and the phone will switch from the red evdo signal to the blue signal indicator and my call will drop. I have also noticed that mmy phone drops every time it switches from an Alltel tower to someone elses. Hopefully when Alltel and Verizon merge it will get better. |
|
smeurett
join:2007-07-04
Neillsville, WI
| When you switched from a razr to the modem, did you have to change anything with Alltel? In other words, did you have to keep the $26.oo internet monthy rate, but drop the extra line charge ($10.00)? It sounds like the modem works better than a tethered cell phone in your case-I'd do this in a second if it would solve my problem. Do your dial-up setting remain the same as using the cell phone?
Thanks! |
|
ChoP
@windstream.net
| reply to smeurett
If you get a modem it will be on a $59.99 plan, and be under a 2 year contract. Best bet is to search Ebay and buy a modem (make sure the modems ESN number is clear so you won't have any activation problems with Alltel). This way you won't be under contract. You can drop the tethered plan you have on the Razr V3m, but if the phone is still under contract you will have to keep it on a regular cell phone plan till it is out from under the contract. |
|
smeurett
join:2007-07-04
Neillsville, WI
| By "$59.99 plan" do you mean like what we have-4 phones right now, a $59 plus the 9.99 for each additional line?
Or....if I get a modem from someplace (and now I'm confused as to what make and model for Alltel & a mac) I could drop the $26.00 tethered plan and just plug the modem in? Sooo, does that in turn use minutes instead? |
|
ChoP
@windstream.net
| reply to smeurett
If you use the UM150 modem you have to have their Data Plan which is the $59.99 plan. This applys to the Smart Phones also like the Blackberry. They won't let you use the tethered plan with the USB/CARD modem or the Smart Phones. The USB/CARD modem is treated like a new plan, and really isn't connected to your cell phone plan at all. It even get it's own number. There is no other charge, just the $59.99 and the tax and stuff that goes along with any cell phone plan. |
|
ChoP
@windstream.net
| reply to smeurett
By the way you can lock a RAZR V3 into evdo only and stop it from switching to cdma/1x or lock it to cdma/1x and stop it from switching to evdo.
Check here for instructions:
»www.wifi-forum.com/wf/showthread.php?t=71077
This is for locking it into cdma/1x only but you can just a easily lock it to EVDO(HDR)
You can ignore the part about changing "HDR Hybr." to "off" because messing with that has no affect.
most of the stuff at the botton about VZW you can ignore also because it doesn't apply to you!!! |
|
smeurett
join:2007-07-04
Neillsville, WI
| Thanks...I'll give that a try. The phone does switch back and forth between EVDO and "D" and a symbol with three bars and a triangle above it. (whatever that means) and sometimes no symbol and just the signal strength bars. Frustrating that it switches all the time. I have a booster and the phone never moves from it's teather next to the computer.
Not sure I'd switch to that $59.00 plan using a modem-that's a lot of money for maybe a small gain in speed....although, I could drop the extra line and $26.00 tethered plan. I'll keep tryin to get less disconnects and better speeds. Thanks! |
|
smeurett
join:2007-07-04
Neillsville, WI
| I installed a yagi antenna and connected to a booster (zboost)...my logic being, the stronger the cell signal, the faster my internet speed.
I still have problems with the connection getting dropped when the razr switches between EV and regular signal (I haven't tried locking the phone to one signal)....question: EV is supposed to be faster for data, correct? So I'd want to lock the cell to that signal.
Sooo I did some testing yesterday-drove around with a laptop and tethered razr, in the house, I'll have 3-5 bars, sometimes EV signal, but problems dropping. Speedtest gives me ave 24-40 kBs speeds download. At the end of my rd, in the open, I got 3 bar signal, not EV, but speeds of 110 kBs (really much better) I drove to within a few blocks of the tower and got about 100 kBs. My fastest speed was a few miles away, in the open and had 130 kBs (and showing 3-4 bars.)
I am somewhat confused, my phone shows more bars in the house, but much slower speeds than outside in the open.
BTW, the yagi didn't seem to help a lot-I aimed it at the tower 3 miles away(there are trees in the way,) and it was about the same as the stock antenna. For fun, I aimed it toward town, the opposite direction 7 miles away, with another tower (no line of sight, however) and the speeds seemed a little better.
Any thoughts? I think I'll try locking the phone to either EV or regular like was suggested...at least maybe the disconnects will stop. |
|
Max Signal
Premium
join:2008-03-07
Buffalo, NY | Very simple Z boost is providing a false signal . You would be better just connecting your card direct to the Yagi antenna
--
www.MaximumSignal.Net |
|
smeurett
join:2007-07-04
Neillsville, WI | Thanks...I don't have a card in my computer-I'm using a cell phone (razr) tethered on an Alltel plan. |
|
Max Signal
Premium
join:2008-03-07
Buffalo, NY | The Razr has an rf Port . Connect the Razr direct to the yagi
--
www.MaximumSignal.Net |
|
smeurett
join:2007-07-04
Neillsville, WI
| When I first set this tethered system up last year, I wanted to hook an antenna directly into the razr, but several websites didn't offer a cable to plug from the coax antenna cable into the phone. Wilson didn't recommend plugging an external antenna into the razr because of a poorly designed plug? So, I decided to go the booster route. I understand when using an external antenna, the cable run should be as short as possible, or use a low loss cable-correct? I wonder if I'd get better signal stregnth going this route instead of using the zboost?
what would be the max length cable run when using the yagi? I do have a TV tower, but would need 50'+ of cable to get to where my computer room is.
Thanks again. |
|
Max Signal
Premium
join:2008-03-07
Buffalo, NY
 ·Verizon FIOS
| The z boost do not do well in this sort if application . The port on the razr is fine as long as you are careful . We have a small informational blog on our site . Here is the link
»www.maximumsignal.net/?page=faq#MotoRazr
--
www.MaximumSignal.Net |
|
