TopGlobal MB6000 has trouble with 1X RTT?

jascks · EVDO Newbie Joined: 31 May 2009 Posts: 5

Hello:

Well, I'm not sure just what specific forum to post this question. I bought a TopGlobal MB6000 Router from 3gstore.com about two years ago, though there does not appear to be a TopGlobal vendor product forum. Along with the router I got the Novatel V740 Rev A ExpressCard, and Verizon broadband service. This all being installed in a motorhome, I also got the Wilson amplifier and external antenna. This arrangement has been largely successful. Sometimes there just is not a signal, and oh well, what can you do. Smile

However, in my current location (Rio Grande Gorge, NM), the TopGlobal is showing maximum signal strength, it connects and stays connected to the network, but I cannot access anything; no DNS lookups nor can I cannot to a couple of known public IP addresses. My Verizon cellphone, simple motorola with no data plan, shows at 1X with two bars. If I remove the V740 card from the TopGlobal and put it in my laptop (Macbook Pro, Max OS X 10.5.6) it shows five bars of strength and reports a 2.5G network. This w/o the amp and external antenna connected. I am able to access the internet directly from the laptop, though it is kind of slow. So, I'm assuming "2.5G" is 1X RTT?

Putting the card back in the TopGlobal, I'm back to great signal strength with no connectivity. Apparently the V740 can deal with the 2.5G network, but would there be any reason the TopGlobal cannot? I don't recall this being a problem before. I don't know if that is because this is the first time in this situation, or if something has recently gone wrong with the TopGlobal. It was working fine down in Taos. I went through every page in the TopGlobal web admin interface, and could not see any problem indicated. I also could not find anything indicating 2.5G vs. 3G. So, maybe when it's 2.5G the TopGlobal cannot deal with it?

I guess I won't know if the TopGlobal is broken in some way until I get back to a real EVDO signal. But, even if it works there, I'd really like for it to work in a 1X RTT world, which is probably not infrequent when moving from place to place.

In a way, I would not mind replacing the TopGlobal because of the awkward pyramid shape. At the time, it seemed the one to get because of it's compatibility with the V740 as well as not causing problems with the Cisco VPN client. If I recall the other option was the KR1. But, two years have gone by. The Cradlepoints look good. Maybe the CTR 500 would be just the thing. Smile

But, if it has issues with 1X RTT, that would be unfortunate.

Thanks for any ideas.

Cheers,

Jeff

Alex · Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 8:36 am Post subject:

Jeff, make sure you operate your v740 with latest vzaccess manager to ensure your expresscard has latest information in it.

then i'd suggest you do factory reset on your topglobal router.

if that does not cure your ills, we strongly recommend http://3gstore.com/CTR500 or http://3gstore.com/MBR1000

my choice would be MBR1000 as it is likely to be last cellular router you may have to buy for many years -- heck its already compatible with 4G devices!
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jascks · EVDO Newbie Joined: 31 May 2009 Posts: 5

Hi Alex!

Thanks for responding to my post. I don't have vzaccess manager installed on my Mac. I've been using the Apple WWAN functionality available in the menu bar. I have done the card activation (option-click) from time to time, much like *228 on my cellphone, to update things. Ive not tried doing that in my current location because it warns about it possibly taking several minutes to connect to the 3G network, and there is no 3G right here...

Is there something that needs to be set in the card that would make the TopGlobal happy? Is the WWAN software doing something the TopGlobal itself cannot? We're talking the same V740 card here, just moving it back and forth.

I will give the TopGlobal factory reset and try and see what happens. I figured I'd try that at some point, but rather than blow away all of those settings, I thought I'd see if there was another possibility. Smile

It seems the CTR500 would be a better RV form factor. I already have an Apple Airport Extreme (802.11 N) with a built-in GB Ethernet hub. While I only have the one ExpressCard today, I see the CRT500 can also take a USB card for load balancing or some such thing in the future. I will run the router off of 12V. When I don't have AC power to run the Airport, I'll be happy with the G network of the CTR500. It does not need to be a real extensive network either, given our small size. Smile

Is there something else critical the MBR1000 would give me for which I might later regret buying the CTR500?

Thanks,

Jeff

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Alex · Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 11:03 am Post subject:

the TG router manages evdo connection OK, but it can't do an activation or a PRL update... not sure OSX WWAN can do PRL update either, and thats what i think you may need.

since you have WiFi N in the AEX, there's no reason not to go with CTR500... sounds like a good plan to me!

thanks for being a 3gstore customer, and spreading the word about us!
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jascks · EVDO Newbie Joined: 31 May 2009 Posts: 5

I downloaded and installed vzaccess manager (4.2.2 (build 2181)). It said it could not activiate my card since I was not in a BroadbandAccess network. But, it let me go ahead anyway assuming the card was already activated (which it is). At the bottom it shows "NationalAccess Extended Network". I'm guessing that corresponds to the 2.5G network displayed by the Apple WWAM software... In the about screen, I also see:

jascks · EVDO Newbie Joined: 31 May 2009 Posts: 5

I drove down to Taos and got BroadbandAccess coverage. The TG started working again... I then used vzaccess manager to activate the card, and the TG still worked. But, back here in NationalAccess-land, the TG does not work even with the updated card. I guess I'm not too surprised.

Anyway, since we plan to be moving around in northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado for the next couple of months, it would be nice to make use of the NationalAccess areas using a router, not passing the card back and forth throughout the day. Is there any reason for me to think the CTR500 or MBR1000 will do a better job of it than my old TopGlobal?

Thanks,

Jeff

Alex · Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 6:33 pm Post subject:

meant to answer this earlier, but mondays are a *****

a router should always just route whatever pipe that its fed.

i would expect that a http://3gstore.com/CTR500 or http://3gstore.com/MBR1000 would work fine in 1xRTT/nationalaccess areas, and i know we have thousands of RV customers that can attest to it.
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jascks · EVDO Newbie Joined: 31 May 2009 Posts: 5

Alex:

I agree, the router should just route. I wonder why it doesn't though. Perhaps the TopGlobal is getting so many dropped packets it just can't handle it? Apparently the Apple WWAM and vzaccess manager can deal with it better. Sitting here writing this post, I can see the card every now and then blinking red, and vzaccess manager reporting zero signal strength. Downloads are very slow. Trying to upload anything to S3 via s3fox or Transmit fails. This is obviously not a great network environment. But, I would still like for our router to deal with it.

Anyway, it seems when we get to a spot with a delivery address for a few days I can order the CTR500 and give it a try. The 3gstore return policy seems normal enough.

Take it easy,

Jeff