KR1 Novatel V620 / S620 card seating/power problem - FIXED

evdoman · EVDO User Joined: 26 Apr 2005 Posts: 68

I am thrilled to have just received my Kyocera KR1 router and have successfully configured it to work tethered to my Samsung i730 evdo phone. However, when I place my fully activated, tested, and working Novatel V620 card into the slot I am unable to get the Status light on the router to work. The router is fine (as I mentioned, it works great tethered to my phone), and I am pretty sure that the problem is simply the seating of the V620 card because the power light on the card itself does not light up as it does when inserted into my laptop. My questions are:

1) Am I correct to assume that the power light on the card should turn on when inserted properly into a powered-up KR1? If so, is anyone else having this problem? I saw the other post about V620 seating but gentle nor even aggressive pushes on the card, in any direction, yield an active power light. If I push any harder it feels like I will snap something. Furthermore, it feels and looks like it is completely inserted. Can someone describe or upload a photo of a working V620 insertion? Other than wiggling, are there any other suggestions for getting my card to seat or otherwise connect?

2) If I am incorrect in my power-light assumption (ie, if it isnt supposed to be on), then why can I not get the status light on the router to blink? My card is activated and works great in my laptop. The KR1 instructions said not to change the WLAN card settings (that the fields would automatically populate and to leave them alone)... do I need to do something there?

Thanks. Help would be *greatly* appreciated!

PS> Thanks to Michael for a kick-ass site and all of his help! We all owe him.

splitech · EVDO Newbie Joined: 07 Feb 2006 Posts: 4

Hey,

As i just got my KR1 today also, put the card in, and the status light did not turn on, I was kinda shocked, that such a high demand in product didn't work like i thought it would, Well then to get some technical support, i called D-LINK and talked to some chineese guy, witch was no help, then he transfered me to Kyocera, And they had to create a support ticket for it.. Well, that was no fun, I started to Investigate the card issue, So i took a Netgear pcmcia card and stuck it into the slot and turned it on, BANG, it worked fine, And it felt like it inserted correctly, Well then i took it out, after turning it off, Took my v620 card instered, and it clicked very quicketly,, well, after turning it over, and noticed, the bottom of the v620 card is larger than the socket for the evdo card, I lifted the card, while in the slot, and pushed gently, and Inserted, and the green status light came on, Well now it works, im using it now, its awsome, But i think they did not estimate how big each card was, before they made a tiny slot, Hope this helps..

Robert

evdoman · EVDO User Joined: 26 Apr 2005 Posts: 68

Well, sweet mother's milk... I got it working. As I mentioned before, I had been applying a lot of pressure and the card still wouldnt seat. Pressing harder felt like it would break something. Gently pushing the card in various directions, including 'lifting up' per some suggestions, wasn't helping. Out of frustration, I began giving intense *steady* pressure while slowly wiggling around the card at the same time *finally* causes a POP... but a good one, fortunately. It is now seated, and as I suspected, the power light did indeed come on. From there, configuration was easy.

Awesome product, but the "tightness" of the fit really is a bit extreme. Kyocera and/or Dlink should note their documentation with a warning about this... I doubt I am the only one who will hesitate to push as hard as is necessary to seat the card.

Thanks for the response, Splitech.

splitech · EVDO Newbie Joined: 07 Feb 2006 Posts: 4

Hey, no problem, As ive spent most of the day toying with the KR1 router, are you having any speed problems? As i notice that with the V620 card in my laptop, im getting 2.8mb down and 800k up through verizon, and when i stick the card into my laptop, im only getting 80k20k now..

Mackieman · EVDO Junkie Joined: 31 Oct 2005 Posts: 491

I'm sure it's no surprise that the KR1 was designed to work with the Kyocera KPC 650. That said, every supported card has been tested and is verified to work. Mike also tested all of the cards and verified that they work. I tried both a Verizon and a Sprint Novatel 620 card today and had no issues with inserting the cards into multiple routers; I can feel the pins fit into the socket when it makes a solid contact. I wonder if your unit just needed to be, "broken in."

Michael · Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2006 9:19 pm Post subject:

Read this message for the solution

Something changed from the pre-production KR1 to the production model. My V620/S620 goes right in the Pre-Production KR1 - no problems.

At first, I couldn't get the 620 card to go in. But then I found the solution.

Put the KR1 with the LEDS face down on a table.

Insert the Novatel V620 / Merlin S620 in the card slot (which is now pointing towards the ceiling).

Gently push the card down and it "pops" right in.

You should see the power light on the card. You may need to pull the power cord out, wait 10 seconds and plug back in.
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Michael · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 10:16 am Post subject:

Regarding the Novatel V620 / Merlin S620.

I had someone call Kyocera Tech Support and they told them the router was defective and they must return it to get a replacement.

I called the D-Link / Kyocera support line and they told me to call Verizon, because the card should work.

Obviously, the Novatel V620 / Merlin S620 either didn't manufacturer the card to exact specification for PCMCIA or Kyocera found a way to cause problems for other cards. I have no problems with Sierra PC5220, AirCard 580, PC5740 (both Verizon & Sprint), and of course the KPC650 works fine. The only problem is the Novatel 620 card and the Kyocera KR1. However, if you follow the above directions (putting the KR1 face down and pushing the card in, it goes right in).

I am sure, others "in the know", will help point fingers, at least we have a solution posted here. Unfortunately, when calling Kyocera support - they will tell you the KR1 needs to be replaced OR to call Verizon and get a new V620. Neither of those "solutions" will actually provide a solution though Sad

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johnster · EVDO Newbie Joined: 10 May 2005 Posts: 4

I'm using my Novatel in my KR1 now however I experienced the same problem. You just really have to shove it in. It goes in much further than you think it would and you really have to force it but then "pop" and off it goes. I was scared too. Now yes looking back at this post I see all the inferences that could be drawn from it but lets grow up..! Just snap that little sucker in there and off you go.

evdoman · EVDO User Joined: 26 Apr 2005 Posts: 68

Johnster,

I am pleased to see that you are mature enough to take the high road. After all, the fact that the v620 will not fit into the tight slot unless you gently wiggle and push it until it pops and goes in deep is no laughing matter. When I finally jammed mine in the hole, I was overcome with a wave of sheer ecstacy resulting from the insertion.

Mackieman · EVDO Junkie Joined: 31 Oct 2005 Posts: 491

I'm going to get a production unit to take a look at this issue. No changes to the card slot were scheduled between the pre-prod and production versions.

brendanhoar · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 09 Jun 2005 Posts: 140

brendanhoar · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 09 Jun 2005 Posts: 140

Mackieman · EVDO Junkie Joined: 31 Oct 2005 Posts: 491

I've taken a look at the differences between a pre-production unit and a production unit. The difference between cards is not at issue here. This is solely an issue with the orientation and type of cardbus interface and rails used in KR1.

In the pre-pre-production model, the cardbus used was the same one that is in the production units that all of you have. In the pre-production model that Mike had for testing, there was a change made to the cardbus orientation on the PCB; this allowed the 620 cards to fit correctly. I can't say why there was a change at this point but we're still investigating it.

Michael · Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 10:25 am Post subject:

We have heard that this is fixed in the next batch of KR1s. We are getting a small batch in this week, and then a huge order by the 24th (to fulfill backorders), we will check and confirm and post to this thread after we test one.
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Michael · Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 8:16 pm Post subject:

This issue is confirmed fixed in the latest batch of KR1s. We received a small batch today and they have been shipped out already. We did confirm that this rail problem was fixed.
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