SPRINT U720 & D-LINK DIR-450

U720 · EVDO Newbie Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Posts: 1

I have had my Sprint Novatel U720 for a few months now and it has been working great with my hp laptop. However, now I need to get a router to share the USB CONNECTION of the u720 with my wife's laptop and I have not seen any router that supports this.

I just bought the D-Link Dir-450 to hook up the U720, however it is not working, I am not sure if I am doing it wrong or what! Also, if you go to the D-Link support page for the u720, it says it is compatible!

Please help! Evil or Very Mad

CraigCraig · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 141

Does the firmware on your router support the U720? You may need to update the firmware on the router.

That's what I had to do to make my DIR-450 work with my S720.

Caution! Do not try to upgrade your router firmware wirelessly or you will brick your router. Always use the cable supplied with the router.

magicjimmy · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:34 am Post subject:

the DIR 450 DOES NOT support the U720 modem...

**********************************************************
Technical Specifications
Compatible Mobile Networks*
• EV-DO

Compatible Service Providers in USA*
• ACS Wireless
• Alltel
• Cellular South
• Embarq
• Sprint
• Verizon Wireless

Compatible Service Providers in Canada*
• Bell Mobility
• Manitoba Telecom Services
• SaskTel
• TELUS Mobility

Compatible 1xEV-DO Internet PC Cards*
• Kyocera KPC 650
• Novatel V620
• Sprint PCS Connection Card PC-5740

Standards
• 802.11g
• 802.11b
• 802.3
• 802.3u

Security
• 64/128-bit WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)
• WPA & WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access)

Advanced Firewall Features
• Network Address Translation (NAT)
• Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI)
• VPN Pass-through

Media Access Control
• CSMA/CA with ACK

Device Management
• Internet Explorer v6 or Later; Mozilla Firefox v1.5 or Later, or other Java-enabled Browsers

Leds
• Power
• Status
• WAN (Mobile Internet Connection)
• WLAN (Wireless Connection)
• LAN (10/100)

Certifications
• FCC Part 15b

Operating Temperature
• 32°F to 131°F (0°C to 55°C)

Humidity
• 95% Maximum (Non-condensing)

Dimensions
• Item (WxDxH): 4.6” x 7.6” x 1.2”
• Packaging (WxDxH): 8.1” x 10.9” x 2.6”

Weight
• Item: 0.7 lbs
• Packaging: 2.0 lbs

Warranty
• 1 Year**

Minimum System Requirements
• Mobile Internet Access Subscription and PC Card
• Computer with:• Windows® XP SP2 or Windows 2000 SP4*** or Mac OS® X (v10.4/v10.3)****
• Internet Explorer 6 or Mozilla Firefox
• CD-ROM Drive
• Network Interface Card

Package Contents
• 3G Mobile Router (DIR-450)
• CAT5 Ethernet Cable
• Power Adapter
• Mounting Kit and Vertical Stand
• Quick Installation Guide
• CD-ROM***** with Product Documentation

**********************************************************

Look harder, there are at least 3 different wireless routers that DO support the U720. I believe all 3 of them are available through 3GStore.com.

Now, if you are willing to use ICS, then ANY old wireless router will work for ya.
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Nevermind...

Mackieman · EVDO Junkie Joined: 31 Oct 2005 Posts: 485

The Kyocera KR1 has full support for the U720. According to D-Link's support site, they offer the S720 PCMCIA card but not the U720 USB card.

CraigCraig · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 141

magicjimmy · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 10:41 am Post subject:

Okay, then that would be my first red flag to stay away from Dlink for this router. The info I posted above also came directly from their website. I merely cut & pasted it...

http://www.dlinkshop.com/product.asp?sku=3135228&section_id=7
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Nevermind...

CraigCraig · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 141

Walter · EVDO Junkie Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 307

Yeah, I commented on the U720 showing up as compatible on the D-Link site awhile ago. See: http://www.evdoforums.com//thread6057.html
I didn't believe it then and your experience confirms it I'm afraid.

I'm hoping that the fact it showed up at all means that they may add it some time soon. But I'm not holding my breath.
_________________
Reach, Connect, Celebrate, Grow, Serve.

CraigCraig · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 141

U720 which firmware version are you running?

Walter · EVDO Junkie Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 307

It's unlikely to matter. The Dir-450 FAQ does not list the U720 as supported: See: http://support.dlink.com/faq/view.asp?prod_id=2415&question=DIR%2D450

On top of that, there's only been 3 firmware versions. See: http://support.dlink.com/products/view.asp?productid=DIR%2D450

Firmware 1.01 added support for the Novatel Merlin S720 and Sierra AC 595 cards
Firmware 1.02 added support for the Pantech PX-500 card.

And 1.00 definitely did not support the U720.

Believe me, I want the DIR-450 to support the U720 as much as anyone, but it doesn't. At least not right now. Wish it did so I could use my DIR-450 as more than a nice looking (and expensive) paperweight.
_________________
Reach, Connect, Celebrate, Grow, Serve.

CraigCraig · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 141

Fastforward · EVDO Newbie Joined: 18 Jul 2007 Posts: 4

I just recently got Spring EVDO service with a U720 and I've been looking for a good wireless router for it. I'm not impressed at all with what I've heard about the KR1 or the linksys so I've been checking out the DIR-450.

After two separate calls to dlink the other night the consensus was that the U720 is not supported right now but they're working on a firmware revision that will add support for it, to be released in a month or two.

Take this with a grain of salt, though. The two (American) dlink tech support guys I talked to were actually stupid enough to make my head hurt. I know I lost at least a few thousand brain cells during those phone calls.

Edit: I just did some more searching and I did find this newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16833127223

Third review from the top.

kreggo · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 18 Aug 2005 Posts: 12

Just picked up a Dir540 at Best Buy today. Flashed it up to firmware 1.02, selected the Sprint u720 card and hit the connect button.
Worked fine.
I'm on it now as I type this.

Walter · EVDO Junkie Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 307

Just to be absolutely sure, since you already had one typo in your post...

You have a DIR-450 and updated to firmware 1.02. You have a USB interface U720, not a PCMCIA S720 card, plugged the U720 into the USB port on the back of the DIR-450, the DLink setup page had a U720 as one of the selection options (again, not an S720), you selected U720 from the setup page and the router is now working with your U720?

Sorry to be so pedantic, but just want to make sure. If you are indeed using a U720 with the DIR-450, then you are the first to report success. I'll be thrilled if this is true.
_________________
Reach, Connect, Celebrate, Grow, Serve.

firemensfriend · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 6:05 am Post subject:

I have been using a DIR 450 with great success for months with an S720. I just went into the router setup pages and in the drop down menu to select the card you have, the U720 is listed. I have firmware v1.02. Although I don't have a U720, it should work just fine.