Please Help With Franklin CDU-680

njkid32 · EVDO Newbie Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 2

Hi Guys this is my first post here (great site btw!)... I just recently switched from Alltel to ntelos. Because Alltel booted me off because my primary usage was while I was roaming. Yes, its BS!! Where I live I was roaming on a Verizon tower so I was always using 1x and roaming.

Anyway, I am now on Ntelos and have the Franklin CDU-680. I live about 2500ft from the Ntelos tower but for some reason I can only get 1mb dl speeds. My dbm is about -99 which is terrible considering how close I am to the tower.

The Ntelos Franklin connection software seems to be crippled. I cant input any of the known ## codes to pull up hidden menus. The only one that actually works is ##DEBUG.

So if anyone has any suggestions or knows something that could help me please respond. Thanks in advance!!

karlyn · Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 3:13 pm Post subject:

It's been about 6 months since I helped a relative with their new nTelos connection so I'm not sure I remember things exactly, but here goes... Most of the Sprint ## codes I tried did work. However, except for ##DEBUG you'll need to be *disconnected* when you try them. I think I used 000000 if it asked for an MSL(?).

The reported dBm seemed to be inaccurate to say the least and I'm not sure I'd trust it. If you're getting about 1,280 kbps dl at off-peak times then that's probably about all you'll get. My understanding is that nTelos didn't provision more backhaul than that anywhere (a single T1). What are your uploads like?

I know you didn't ask this but if you decide to use a router -- like the Cradlepoint CTR350 -- you must input your username and password on the router's WAN administration page. For the unlimited EvDO aircard service the username is your_10-digit_phone_number@datacard.ntelos.net and the password is the ESN of the card. (The pdf I found for the Franklin CDU680 on the nTelos site says the password is "ntelos" but this password didn't work when we tried it in the router.) Entering a username/password wasn't necessary with his Sprint service or for my Alltel service so we were surprised to discover it was necessary for nTelos.

njkid32 · EVDO Newbie Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 2

I just ran a speed test on speakeasy and it was 1091kbps and 95kbps. Its not bad but when I purchased this card and service I was told that it was going to be 3.2mb download speeds. Which as you can see its not.

Edit: Also, the red light on the modem itself is blinking blue and red. From what I read the red light blinking means the modem is going in and out of service because the Rx Power is above 90dBm.

karlyn · Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 4:34 pm Post subject:

tref · EVDO Newbie Joined: 29 Jun 2009 Posts: 1

Hello,
My Franklin CDU-680 can "see" 2 towers, my provider's and Verizon's. The two companies do not have an agreement. When my provider's signal gets very weak, the "R" comes up on the display and the antenna level increases. I assume my modem is trying to use the Verizon signal, not my provider's at which point my Internet connection stops. How can I force my modem to see only my provider's signal and ignore the Verizon signal? Also, my provider will soon go to EVDO but is currently 1X.
Thank you.

Jim_in_VA · Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:20 am Post subject:

I've got lots of info on the CDU-680 at my website. Go here:
http://evdotips.blogspot.com/2008/02/connection-manager-screens.html
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