sudden bad RSSI and national Access

tate886

Hi folks,

I live in a rural ara. I am using an UM 175 modem, with a simple suction-cupped antenna in the window, with the Verizon 5GB broadband account, on a computer with Windows XP Home, service pack three. I also use a direct dial up connection to access the net, or I did until all this trouble started, and I had to look at some settings with VZ Manager.

Also,my nearest Verizon tower is less then a third of a mile away.

For the past four months, my internet speeds have been just wonderful. I connected to the Broadband RevA network, no roaming at all, my RSSI fluxuating between -75 and -85, speeds of up to one and a half megabit down, and 250 to 350 up.

But, sometime on Saturday afternoon, something went heywire. My RSSI is now jumping in to the -100's, and my UM 175 is always defaulting to national access,with speeds of 100 to 115 kilobits down, and even worse up. I have taken it out of automatic mode, and locked it in to HDR only mode, and my speeds are back up to normal, but the RSSI hasn't improved much at all, still fluxuating badly, and I get frequent disconnects, though not always at the same time.

I should say that I mainly use this modem on a desktop, but when I also try it on my Asus netbook, the results are exactly the same. The window is also clean, with no obstructions, jus the same as it has been for the last few months.

Verizon found no other network issues had been reported in my area, and they have submitted a trouble ticket for me after taking me through the usual steps, though of course they didn't tell me to lock the modem in to HDR only mode, and this is the only thing that has gotten my speeds back, even with frequent disconnects and a very bad RSSI much of the time.

Does anyone have any idea what might be going on here?

The most annoying thing about locking the modem in to HDR only, aside from the disconnects themselves, is the dial up window that always pops up each time it re-connects. Is there anyway, even a registry hack, that I can use to hide this window?

As for the Verizon issues, might it be a tower issue, or something i can do on my end to help things along, aside from buying more expensive equipment, which on a fixed income ai cannot afford.

Thanks.

~Ann

Jim_in_VA · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 2:39 pm Post subject:

Two things.

First - on the dial-up window issue. In your browser select tools>options>connections and then "never dial a modem" This can also be set via the Control Panel under "Internet"

Second - Try a PRL update for the modem. In connection manager. go up top to Options, and then Activate. Let it run the routine.
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tate886 · Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 3:22 am Post subject:

verizonrocks · EVDO Junkie Joined: 12 Dec 2008 Posts: 177

Ann

I can sympathize with you on your situation, One way to help the engineers at verizon is to take you asus laptop and modem, then drive out to another part of town and do a test write down your rssi, and do a speedtest and write down where you are at cross streets etc. and then call verizon wireless back and tell them you suspect its your tower, and give them your results from your tower and the tower you tested from.

Doing this will prove to them a problem is in the area and not just another customer imagining.

Of course if the same thing is happening to you at the other tower, it could be your modem.

good luck

spikescopilot · Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 6:35 pm Post subject:

I went through this last weekend for about 48 hours, and it "magically" fixed itself ("weird 720 service problems" thread). I'll cross my fingers that Verizon figures out what's up with your tower and flips the switch.

tate886 · Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 6:58 am Post subject:

dsm382 · Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 6:59 am Post subject:

i am having similar issues, how/what do i do to get this PRL list?
and how do i find that number you mentioned?
confused.

tate886 · Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 11:54 am Post subject:

vpnavy · EVDO Junkie Joined: 29 Jul 2005 Posts: 176

Updating PRL...

CTRL D
Password: diagvzw

For those with any Verzion provided aircard you can update your aircard by using Verzion's VZAccess Manager software. Start VZAccess Manager but do not connect.. now, go to "Options". Now, select "Activation" and re-activate your aircard. Only takes about 30 seconds or so. Does all without any input from you. By the way some aircards supposedly do PRL updates automatically...key word supposedly. Only takes a minutes to do a reactivation to be 100% sure your PRL is current.

tate886 · Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 8:20 am Post subject: