Cradlepoint MBR95 and UML290 issues

jmgreen7 · EVDO Newbie Joined: 24 Oct 2011 Posts: 9

I'm running the router and modem mentioned above and i'm having serious connection issues. I'm constantly having to reboot the device and unplug the modem and plug it back in. The cp page indicates i have a connection, but my windows machine tells me a different story. It will indicate no internet access and obviously my pages haven't loaded.
My router firmware version is : 3.4.1
I'm typically seeing about a -89-90 dbm signal.

What other information can i provide that will help sort out what is going on?
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Matt · 3Gstore Employee Joined: 02 Apr 2008 Posts: 1348

If you plug the card into your computer directly do you still experience the same disconnect issues? That would be one thing to verify to identify if something is wrong with the modem or tower in your area. I'd also recommend flashing the MBR95 to the latest 3.5.0 firmware to see if that resolves any of the issues.

dmertz · EVDO User Joined: 18 Jul 2011 Posts: 31

A 4G RSSI of -90 dBm seems rather marginal to me.

Dave

jmgreen7 · EVDO Newbie Joined: 24 Oct 2011 Posts: 9

After trolling around here for a while, i found some stuff to look for.

Dave -
A 4G RSSI of -90 dBm seems rather marginal to me.

I don't get 4G. I'm not sure if i have my connection set to force 3G or not. That may be part of my issue. having said that, -89 -90 is about what i tend to see. I don't know if that will change if i force to 3g or not.

Matt - i would love to download to 3.5. It's been tough being able to stay on long enough to do so. I'm not going to bother saving my settings and go from a fresh load.

Since i know that i am 3G/ 1xRTT, are there any other settings i should be doing to help my connection?

jmgreen7 · EVDO Newbie Joined: 24 Oct 2011 Posts: 9

Okay, I got 3.5 after much frustration. I reset my router and went from scratch. After all my network settings were up, i forced my modem to evdo and 1xRTT. It looked like things were working pretty well.

I had -86dbm, 1.01 download, and 0.36 upload. I dont' know how that measures with others, but i will consider it significantly better than what i had to deal with when i have satellite.

mcgee10 · EVDO Newbie Joined: 25 Apr 2012 Posts: 7

Old Guy here,Not like I can really help you. I had the same problem and I have had 3 different MBR95 routers. I just can't get a good signal with any of them.
My Pantech UML290 plugged directly into my desktop or laptop works great, I have 3 bars and is very fast. I had a 3G Sprint card for 2 years same results for me it's just the router problems. Being that I'm older my wireless store told me I must be doing something wrong so they sent out a repair guy that tried to charge me $80. Well he was here 2 hours and switched out 5 different routers and had the same results.
I don't really need a router I'm the only one using my computers and I can't use both of them at the same time. No more router for me.

dbelser · EVDO Newbie Joined: 09 Apr 2012 Posts: 7

I also have the same setup, at first I would get disconnected very often but after putting my uml290 in my computer and locking it into 3G only mode then plugging it back into my MBR95 I never had a disconnection, fyi, i live in a very rural area. heres the link on how to lock into 3G only evdoinfo.com/content/view/3492/64/. However, just last night I had my first disconnection in a long time while taking a test online, and could not get it to get back, the little USB light on my MBR95 kept blinking in blue and amber. So, being under a time limit I just hooked up my UML290 to my computer. Basically what I am asking is, does anyone know if I need to make any adjustments to my MBR95 to compensate for my locking the UML290 into 3Gonly mode?

dbelser · EVDO Newbie Joined: 09 Apr 2012 Posts: 7

I also have the same setup, at first I would get disconnected very often but after putting my uml290 in my computer and locking it into 3G only mode then plugging it back into my MBR95 I never had a disconnection, fyi, i live in a very rural area. heres the link on how to lock into 3G only http://www.evdoinfo.com/content/view/3492/64/. However, just last night I had my first disconnection in a long time while taking a test online, and could not get it to get back, the little USB light on my MBR95 kept blinking in blue and amber. So, being under a time limit I just hooked up my UML290 to my computer. Basically what I am asking is, does anyone know if I need to make any adjustments to my MBR95 to compensate for my locking the UML290 into 3Gonly mode?

cradlepoint-scott · Vendor Joined: 19 Aug 2008 Posts: 254

@dbelser - is there any reason why you are not using MBR95's method for locking the modem into 3G mode? If you need help doing this, let me know. What firmware version are you on?

Also, if you are looking for specific router help and not help with the modem then I suggest you post the question or look at some of the threads in Cradlepoint Router Forum.

oldredneck

I had the same problems with the Pantech ULM290 and the MBR95. Constantly dropped connections -- browser would tell me "Website cannot be found," "No DNS server available" -- all the while the router was showing Internet connected.

This happened with signal strengths anywhere from -80 to -103 dBm.

I finally pitched the ULM290 -- cost me $165.00 early termination. Went back to my USB 760 and MBR95. That was two months ago and I have NEVER lost Internet connection. Signal strengths run -71 to -88 dBm.

I'm in a remote rural area as you seem to be.

I even tried HughesNet -- BIG MISTAKE. HughesNet sucks. But everyone knows that.

herlien · Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 10:29 am Post subject:

See my post on this subject in this thread:
http://www.evdoforums.com/thread15849.html

I have the same problem. Dropouts every 10 minutes to an hour or so. Signal goes from normal -83 to -105. Last time, it lasted for hours. I unplugged the UML290 from my MBR95 router, let it cool down for a couple minutes, then plugged it in. It's been working fine for a few days now. I'm hoping this community can compare notes and characterize the problem better. My guess is that it's a heat issue in the UML290; but that's just a guess at this point.

-Bob

dbelser · EVDO Newbie Joined: 09 Apr 2012 Posts: 7

cradlepoint-scott
I have not done that because, well, I have no clue what I am doing. haha. Could you tell me how to best configure through the MBR95. I believe I have the latest firmware 3.4 ? Does that sound right? Also, recently I have been using the UML290 without the mbr just because I got 4G through it and couldnt get 4G with the mbr. All I want to do is configure my uml with my mbr in the best possible way.

cradlepoint-scott · Vendor Joined: 19 Aug 2008 Posts: 254

mc1lean · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 29 Dec 2007 Posts: 128

I have mbr95 and uml290. Keep the firmware up to date on the router per cradlepoint-scott. Doesn't hurt to do the same for the Modem (by plugging it into a computer occasionally).

Most importantly though - get a good antenna and make sure you use good cable from the outside antenna to the modem. I got a yagi type antenna and went from high -90s to low -70s. I replaced my panel antenna.
I live at least 6 miles from the tower (can't tell if I/m hitting that one or the one 3 miles directly past it). Last time I sat next to the closest one with the modem in my car, I couldn't pick up LTE. At home, I have 3 bar LTE on the router, 2 bars on the modem (when I checked for an update last weekend).

dbelser · EVDO Newbie Joined: 09 Apr 2012 Posts: 7

ok, I got the 3.6.1 update. what next?