Strange service problem with 720 USB

spikescopilot

We've had our 720 USB Modem for nearly two years now and have been able to get BroadbandAccess since day one despite living in a really rural area. Last night my connection dropped down to NationalAccess. This morning it's still NationalAccess. I've gone into the diagnostics and set the modem for HDA (?) only, but it refuses to connect -- says that the modem or remote computer is not responding. VZAccess says BroadbandAccess is -117, so ok .. it's dead for the moment.

But I'm seeing something really wierd: my max transmit rate is higher than my max receive rate. At the time I took this screenshot, my actual transmit rate was higher than my max receive rate. Any clue what this means? I didn't think it would be possible.

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Glynn · EVDO Newbie Joined: 27 Nov 2008 Posts: 6

Sounds like we're in the same boat.

After two years of good service it was like a switch was thrown and downloads went to 150 and below with uploads still humming at 300-400. It's hard to imagine the terrain went bad overnight but only in one direction.

I'm on a PC and took my modem to the Sprint store to test on a laptop connected to the same tower and it worked fine. At least I know the modem and tower are good and my connection hasn't been throttled.

Along with slow speed my browsers choke on Javascript, won't connect to secure servers and sometimes text will be garbled. I've tried on two hard drives with two operating systems and four different browsers.

My gut tells me this is going to "fix itself" magically just like most strange problems do.

sbi108 · Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 5:17 pm Post subject: failed or failing modem

Hi spikescopilot,

I am having a related problem with an 18 month old Verizon USB727 which I believe is similar to the USB720.

The modem when first activated often does not see the EVDO signal at first. It too reads -117 dBm. Then after a while it will see the EVDO signal at the normal -72 dBm strength at my location and connect.

If I have it configured to Auto, it will connect at 1X if it does not see the EVDO signal. When and if it does see the EVDO signal after a while it will switch to EVDO speeds. If I have it configured to HDR, it will connect only when it finally sees the EVDO signal.

It will work for a time on EVDO, anywhere from 30 minutes to a day or two, before dropping back to 1X speeds, having lost the EVDO signal.

I can restore EVDO speeds by removing and reinserting the modem but it's not a 100% fix. Sometimes I put it in the freezer for 5 minutes to cool it down, thinking it might be a heat related issue, not sure it really helps though. It's very much a dying modem with some sort of intermittent EVDO section failure.

I have another USB727 here and it works fine all the time at the same time the dying one is dysfunctional.

I have another USB727 ordered and coming soon.

You may need to replace your modem.

best, sbi108

spikescopilot · Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 7:40 pm Post subject:

I was afraid it might be the modem. Sad

It's been doing that "power off" thing where it completely disappears and the green light goes out, and I have to unplug it and plug it back in to the USB cable. It used to happen once in a blue moon, but this week it's been happening almost hourly. Oh well.

Any suggestions for what we should be looking at? We've got one of the "unlimited" contacts (that really is -- no fees and they've never throttled us) so we don't want to sign a new one, which means that whatever we buy is going to be completely out of pocket for us.

We have two WindowsXP computers that share this one modem; it's always been good enough for us -- I don't think we need many bells or whistles. We work in IT all day, so when we come home we just want to check our email and send photos to the in-laws.

spikescopilot · Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 7:43 pm Post subject:

sbi108 · Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 11:18 am Post subject:

Hi spikescopilot,

I have bought two USB727's recently, one on Craig's List and one on eBay (one for $14 and the other for $24, shipping included). Both were from trustworthy sellers and both have activated and worked perfectly. Just be very careful choosing the seller, best if they are not too far away from you.

best to you, sbi108

0day · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 26 Aug 2009 Posts: 16

I have the same problem.

I have many theories and thoughts.

1) The life of the modem deteriorates over time.
2) Verizon is doing this on purpose.
3) VzAccess manager is full of unfixed bugs.
4) I'm not getting the full "expensive" service that I pay for.
5) It's time for Verizon to fix this
6) They need to offer cable internet down my street.
7) I live in a rural area as well.

I have the same problem, but more.
For a year or so, everything was fine... speed's were great.
Then the beginning of this year spontaneous, random, and ever-increasing power-offs started happening. My speed dropped, I kept having "dormant" problems, which caused system hangs, roaming problems, etc.

Now I still have a couple of these problems such as speed, but I fixed a few of them myself.

First.

Go into VzAccess manager.
Make sure you are disconnected.

press Ctrl then D

type in "diagvzw"

go into settings.

change "auto mode"

to "HDR mode"

Press ok.

Wait a minute for changes to take effect.

then.

Close out of VzAccess manager.

go into Network Connections.

create a new-dial-up connection.

For the ISP name, type whatever you want "Verizon BroadbandAccess"

For the # you dial

"#777"

And your all set.

Just dial... and it stay's connected, etc.

Hope it works for you.

I don't know about the speed problem, as I said... I still have that problem

For me:
Download Speed: 1109 kbps (138.6 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 592 kbps (74 KB/sec transfer rate)

spikescopilot · Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 12:15 pm Post subject:

Well, magic happened overnight. This looks much better.

But I'd still like recommendations about modems in case this one does go belly-up.

0day · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 26 Aug 2009 Posts: 16

Heh.

Pretty much what I get.

How did it happen?

spikescopilot · Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 6:28 pm Post subject:

Seriously? Magic. Verizon must have finally noticed that someone turned their tower off. It "broke" Thursday night and was out all day Friday. Saturday morning it mysteriously re-appeared without a word from Verizon.