Sierra Compass 597 Download Speeds

Interslice

Based on some tips found throughout this forum, I finally got my Sierra Compass 597 USB modem working (Sprint network). Performance seems fine loading web pages and even for streaming music and video, but when I go to download a large file, e.g. 100MB PDF or MPG, it slows to a crawl (<100Kb/s). I've tried it on both my laptops (both running XP) at different times of day, and it doesn't matter which browser I use. Is there some setting I need to change? Thanks!

maverick · EVDO User Joined: 29 Jul 2008 Posts: 63

Do you have the same problem with a DSL or Cable line? This could be a write issue with your hard drive not being able to write as fast as your modem provides.

Interslice · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 2:31 pm Post subject:

I did not have this issue previously with my Sprint Broadband ethernet connection.

maverick · EVDO User Joined: 29 Jul 2008 Posts: 63

what speeds do you get when running speakeasy.net/speedtest?

Interslice · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 2:58 pm Post subject:

I'm at work now...I'll try that test when I get home tonight.

Interslice · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 6:45 pm Post subject:

Varied by server location, but the average was 760 down, 369 up. Now what?

WarHippy · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 8:09 pm Post subject:

Yours is working better than mine is. My best was 457 down and 345 up. I noticed that you live in Phoenix also. I'm getting the idea that Sprint is just dropping the ball and not providing the service that we're paying for. My signal goes from 60 % clear down to nothing alot, knocking me offline. I even bought the external antenae and all it did was allow the signal to spike at 80% sometimes. I feel ripped off all the way around.......

AZDude · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 10:47 pm Post subject:

Don't want to sound ignorant, but could it be because there are other people connected to the same tower as you?

WarHippy · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 2:31 am Post subject:

Well, if the tower is overcrowded, don't you think Sprint should put in another tower or upgrade the tower thats causing the slow speeds. I looked at sprints coverage for Phoenix, and it's sorely lacking and they don't have any upgrades planned for the future

AZDude · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 10:50 pm Post subject:

I would think that but I'm guessing that may be one reason (bad one) why they decided to implement the 5GB cap so they don't have to keep upgrading or adding more towers.

As for coverage, I don't see how its lacking in Phoenix, the map shows the entire valley covered in orange.

WarHippy · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:53 am Post subject:

Yeah, but I'm paying $60 a month for unlimited internet access. After I complained to them about an $18 charge on my bill for text messages that I didn't know how to send or receive, they put a block on text messages on my account, and my signal dropped an average of 40%. When I called them about that, they said they were experiencing a hardware problem, which would be fixed shortly. That was 3 weeks ago, and the signal hasn't changed. Let me put forth this concept. Since a tower can only handle so much volume, it would be in Sprints interest to throttle everybody's connection a little to enable them to make more money without installing more towers. Sprint's already in financial troubles and has offloaded their tower maintenance to a second company, that makes two companies that an inferior service would benefit, at the expense of the customer. I've become a firm believer in Sprint's old ad slogan, "So clear that you can hear a pin drop", the reason? Because you are not connected to the internet any longer!

WarHippy · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 8:01 am Post subject:

nickjacket · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 10:22 am Post subject:

Mysteriously, my Sprint home location throughput rates went back to normal on the first day of this latest billing cycle. That was after a month of roller coaster throttling plus an 8pm to 8am REVA (1xRTT only) curfew.

Last weekend I rode my Burgman with Vaio/evdo up to Fashion Square in Scottsdale.
I could sit at a table inside the food court with the U727 slung over the PC (-87dBm) and browse at pretty acceptable rates. The Vonage V-phone voice-quality suffered a little but it worked.

I did a chat session with Sprint and asked them if service on their towers was out of their control now that they've sold them off.
The chat rep said something to the effect that 'we are unable to discuss that topic within a chat'.
I guess so.