Novatel V620

Guest · Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2005 8:41 pm Post subject: Novatel V620

What's the story on this new card? Damn, I've only had my 5220 two weeks and it's out of date already! Smile

Basic Information
Size: 2.13H x 4.84W x 0.51D inches
Weight: 2.0 oz

Basic Features

* BroadbandAccess high speed wireless data access of up to 2.0 Mbps
* BroadbandAccess and NationalAccess compatible
* SMS capable
* Fixed antenna
* 32-bit CardBus interface(3.3V) for lower power consumption
* VZAccess Manager software for easy connection management
* Meets FCC SAR limit. Manufacturer's highest FCC reported SAR 1.33 on body. Actual SAR may vary.

Supported Opti

Guest · Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2005 7:44 am Post subject:

Well, I checked it out. The Novatel card has a more efficient dual band antenna and loses the fold up antenna. It's a 32bit architecture running at 32 bits which reduces power draw making your battery last longer.

Tomorrow is the end of my two week look see period and I'm going to trade for the V260 today. It's 100 after rebate which is 50 more than the 5220 but the new technolgy is worth it to me.

Those jerks that sold me the 5220 must have known the new card was shipping soon and dropped me in the grease anyway!

Guest · Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2005 7:45 am Post subject:

EDIT: I meant it's 32bit running at 3.3 volts!

Guest · Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2005 3:35 pm Post subject:

OK, I talked to Verizon and they don't have the card in the store yet but because my two week test period isn't up until tomorrow, they will give me full credit when they get them in about a week.

The price is 100 after discount compared to 50 for the 5220 so it'll cost me another 50 bucks but maybe this one will last until Rev. A comes out. Smile

Doesn't anyone ever post on this board?

Michael · Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2005 7:50 pm Post subject:

The board just got started a few weeks ago, so give it some time Smile

viper222 · Guest

OK, I got my V620 this afternoon in the mail. Installed software, activated it and it works great. For the past almost 2 years I have been running Sprints C201 Merlin card, I have had NO problems with it and reception was great, that is why I had no problem having faith in this new "user untested" card. I had tested the XV6600 and found connecting it to the Laptop was a pain but I did get addicted to the higher speeds so since it was the same price per month as Sprint, all I had to do was pay the $200. So, I have not gone in an EVDO area with this card yet since I live 30 miles north but I work driving around all day in Tampa and Tampa has a pretty large EVDO area. I will support speed findings then BUT as for the performance now, it picks up as well as my V710 does and that has about the best RF I have found in the 3 Verizon phones I have tested. I have a signal in my house where my V710 usually struggles. I can browse in my house like dialup but when I go outside where I have a good signal 1X I can pull a 92 to 98K consistantly from dslreports.com like I said before the C201 Merlin from Sprint on 1X gave me no problems and this card is designed with some sort of better antenna than that one had. I drive all day long in good and very poor signal areas, up and down the interstate in civilized areas and areas with just cows so I will post my experience speeds and connection quality. I have no other EVDO card to compare it to but in a normal day I drive 80 to 200 miles in all areas of central Florida and if it works for me it will work for everyone. FYI, I sync to an Exchange server so I will know when it loses a signal. Hope this wasn't to long, just wanted to give a background, will follow up Tuesday

Richard Carver · Guest

Good to know they're shipping. The antenna is supposed to be more sensitive than the 5220 and you don't have to fool with the flap anymore. I absolutely have no complaints about the 5220, it's incredibly stable and gives ne 4-500kb all the time. I just hope the V620 is as good.

I'll be making the trade next week so we can compare notes. Smile

Guest · Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 11:18 am Post subject:

Here is my experience so far. I started my day 35 miles north of Tampa which is not an EVDO area. As I made my trip I had connection all the way except for one time when I browsed to a page, it did not load until I hit the Refresh, card or page? anyway, not a big inconvience. I had EV-DO Killer running and noticed that when I hit the EV-DO area it did not switch to broadband. I closed the Killer page and as soon as it went dormant it changed to Broadband from National Access. I then tested my speed. at 55 MPH with a full signal I pulled a 724 Down and 55 Up via dslreports Linkline test listed as (very busy), I then pulled over and tested again same site same signal and pulled a 755 Down and 74 Up. I will post at the end of the day. I am driving the same places with this card as I used to use my Sprint C201 Card.

viper222 · Guest

The guest above was me, sorry, OK now that my day is almost over here is what happened. It worked great!! I had no further isues than the one "page cannot be displayed". I tested all day about every 10 Min or so depending on where I was, including while in buildings. I never got a test lower than 550 down and 50 up while in an EVDO area. I consistently got tests 730 to 780 down and 70 to 80 up. one time 643 down 58 up and onetime 796 down 112 up. When I entered back into a National Access area (none EVDO) I ran some tests. with a full signal driving down the interstate at 75 to 80 I pulled a 121 down 113 up. So for me, I am very pleased with this card. In None EVDO areas it performes better than my C201 Card and in EVDO areas it just rocks. Novatel definately built a great card with this one. Also I have not, as of now, 4 days using it, had any software issues while using the VZAccess Manager. FYI I installed it and when it asked to install the Ventari ir whatever, I selected no. I hope this helps. I will update if I get an external antenna but as of now, I have had no reason to get one.

Guest · Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 12:11 am Post subject:

I registered so I can get the email updates. Thats what this post was for. SO I am legit now. Man I am a member to so many forums now.

Guest · Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 1:19 am Post subject: Rev A / Novatel 620

What is the 3000 K rev. A that people keep talking about?

Any timeframe known? Is this a Verizon HARDWARE upgrade or just some software they install? Tell me a bit about this, as I am about to buy the Novatel 620 card on Mar 30 (when they let me renew my plan and upgrade my equip!).

I tried to upgrade last month to 5220 but was told that I can't do that without paying the $400 retail price, as I am under contract until sept or something, but they claim I can upgrade on Mar 30 and get the rebate (some 6 months early rule or something).

Tell me about Rev A!!

Also, what kind of ping times are you EV-DO people getting? I am like 300ms on my 1xrtt card.

THANKS!

Richard Carver · Guest

I'm not sure of the timing of the release of Rev. A but it'll be sooner rather than later.

There is another EV protocol coming called EV DV (Evolution, data, voice) which, obviously, includes voice capability. The problem with it is that it runs on the same channels as their wireless phone service does and is subject to slowdowns because of traffic, EV DO runs on a data only channes and is not affected by user traffic.. This is supposed to be the EV DO killer of the future.

But...Rev. A threatens even the need for EV DV technology because at 3000kb on the data channel, you can use VOIP protocol rather than throwing the whole wireless broadband back on to the voice channels.

Rev. A could be a better solution than the newer protocol for users, I don't know about which is better for Verizon but you can bet we'll get what's best for Verizon, not us. Smile

One advantage for us is that Rev. A is close, EV DV is not.

I simply don't know what equipment we'll need to access Rev. A but whatever it is, I'm getitng it! Smile

Guest · Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2005 1:53 am Post subject: EVDO Ping Times?

Any idea what kind of ping times on the EV-DO Verizon network? Have the 1xrtt now and it's like 300ms....is EV-DO better? Enough for gaming?

Thanks!

Guest · Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2005 7:36 am Post subject:

Right now I'm in a 1x area and I am getting anywhere from 208 to 270 but most of the time 225 to 250. More consistently 245 to 250ish. I will post EVDO next time I get in an EVDO area. FYI I have been using the V620 in all the areas I used my C201 from sprint and WOW. The Latency really seems smaller. It seems to definantly have a faster response time even with the Dormant thing. I actually would keep this card even if EVDO wasn't available. I think it performs better in 1x anyways. Just my 2 cents.

Michael · Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2005 4:04 pm Post subject: Does MCM Work with V620?

Hello,

Verizon confirmed VZAccess works with both PC 5220 and Novatel V620 cards. Can anyone that has a Novatel V620 confirm if the current Mobile Connection Manager also works with it?

Thanks in advance.