For KR1 Engineer - Maybe the Device Can Be Fixed

ajerison · EVDO User Joined: 20 Dec 2005 Posts: 47

Hi,

I'm more and more convinced that the KR1 has a defect involving either (or both)

1) Compatibility with the Verizon/Nextel V620, or
2) Operating on the fringe of an EV-DO coverage area.

The problem is that the router will connect the V620 for a while, but then the Status and WAN LEDs go dark and only rebooting the KR1 will bring it back. I've seen the Status LED go red twice. My company bought two KR1s which both exhibit the same behavior when run with my V620 at my house, which is on the fringe of an EV-DO coverage area.

The V620 runs indefinitely when it's plugged directly into a computer. With a jury-rigged antenna involving a 4-inch whip, a perforated metal vegetable grilling rack and a cookie sheet, I get 83%-87% in VZAccess Manager's "Test WWAN" display. (Using my improvised antenna I've established that my nearest EV-DO tower is running at 1900 MHz, because I get the strongest signal at 4-3/4" which is three-quarters of a wavelength at that frequency.)

As I've seen posts here from an engineer who has worked on the device, I thought I'd post these log entries in case they can help track down the problem.

Mar 19 13:32:37 (none) daemon.debug pppd[95]: Script /bin/ip-up finished (pid 103), status = 0x0
Mar 19 13:52:04 (none) syslog.info -- MARK --
Mar 19 13:53:37 (none) user.warn klogd: ath_bstuck_tasklet: line 3883:wifi0 (bmiss count 4), BSTUCK_REBOOT_THRESH = 10
Mar 19 13:59:49 (none) user.warn klogd: ath_bstuck_tasklet: line 3883:wifi0 (bmiss count 4), BSTUCK_REBOOT_THRESH = 10
Mar 19 14:12:04 (none) syslog.info -- MARK --
Mar 19 14:24:29 (none) user.warn klogd: ath_bstuck_tasklet: line 3883:wifi0 (bmiss count 4), BSTUCK_REBOOT_THRESH = 10
Mar 19 14:24:29 (none) user.warn klogd: ath_bstuck_tasklet: line 3883:wifi0 (bmiss count 5), BSTUCK_REBOOT_THRESH = 10
Mar 19 14:24:48 (none) user.warn klogd: ath_bstuck_tasklet: line 3883:wifi0 (bmiss count 4), BSTUCK_REBOOT_THRESH = 10
Mar 19 14:32:04 (none) syslog.info -- MARK --
Mar 19 14:52:04 (none) syslog.info -- MARK --
Mar 19 15:04:18 (none) daemon.info pppd[95]: Terminating on signal 15.
Mar 19 15:04:18 (none) daemon.debug pppd[95]: Script /bin/ip-down started (pid 810)
Mar 19 15:04:18 (none) daemon.debug pppd[95]: sent [LCP TermReq id=0x2 "User request"]
Mar 19 15:04:18 (none) user.warn klogd: Delete port 0 from peripheral port set. (0xc0)
Mar 19 15:04:18 (none) user.warn klogd: Total WLAN/WDS links: 1
Mar 19 15:04:18 (none) user.warn klogd: Device ppp's main Link ID 2 unregistered.
Mar 19 15:04:33 (none) daemon.notice pppd[823]: pppd 2.4.1 started by root, uid 0
Mar 19 15:04:33 (none) daemon.warn pppd[823]: Couldn't restrict write permissions to /dev/ttyUSB0: Read-only file system
Mar 19 15:06:21 (none) daemon.notice pppd[842]: pppd 2.4.1 started by root, uid 0
Mar 19 15:06:21 (none) daemon.warn pppd[842]: Couldn't restrict write permissions to /dev/ttyUSB0: Read-only file system
Mar 19 15:08:10 (none) daemon.notice pppd[861]: pppd 2.4.1 started by root, uid 0
Mar 19 15:08:10 (none) daemon.warn pppd[861]: Couldn't restrict write permissions to /dev/ttyUSB0: Read-only file system
Mar 19 15:09:58 (none) daemon.notice pppd[885]: pppd 2.4.1 started by root, uid 0
Mar 19 15:12:04 (none) syslog.info -- MARK --

Scott · Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2006 2:38 pm Post subject:

Have you applied the RK1002 firmware update?

ajerison · EVDO User Joined: 20 Dec 2005 Posts: 47

Scott · Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2006 3:10 pm Post subject:

Sometimes when re-flashing and updating routers I have experienced "gremlins". Often in these cases I will reset the router, in an attempt to clear any 'wonky' configuration files and/or conflicts.

I *do not* save the configuration file only to later restore it... since that may just break the clean reset.

I am aware that depending on the level of customization this can definitely be a PITA, but it has worked for me.

Holding down the reset button with a paperclip or other small narrow object for 10 seconds will wipe all user-configurations and reset the KR1 back to defaults.

Going even one step further would be to re-load the firmware again and then apply settings manually. Pain, I know... but that is SOP in my troubleshooting "toolbox".

(Mackieman... tz1... serious micro-linux heads out there... *could* the firmware be garbled by a bad config?)

ajerison · EVDO User Joined: 20 Dec 2005 Posts: 47

Scott · Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2006 4:40 pm Post subject:

You're welcome. I'd like to see you get this working. :]

Speculating:

I want to point out (for any new thread readers/followers, since you're intelligent enough to know this already) that getting good usable signal and no hang-ups with any EVDO card in a PC or Mac may not be a good comparison to using the same card in the same location with the KR1. It IS a good test to see that the card and service are functioning and usable in your location though.

All the platforms are different and all the drivers are unique to the platform. Perhaps Kyocera/D-link set the "bar a little higher" for the KR1 since it will be providing WAN access to multiple clients. (KR1 devs feel free to clarify) So, maybe the KR1 doesn't treat signal sensitivity the same way as a notebook. Antenna combinations that seem usable for a notebook may not deliver what the KR1 'wants'.

Trying out one of the Booster antennas/trucker antennas, etc., may be a way to delve into this further.

aintigreat · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 20

Understand people that the KR1 and EVDO is a temp solution for internet access it is not so you people can hog up the network all day 24 hours. Geez give it a rest. TEMP solution Mine works flawless when I travel and that is without the update.

Scott · Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2006 4:57 pm Post subject:

ajerison · EVDO User Joined: 20 Dec 2005 Posts: 47

tz1 · Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2006 6:12 pm Post subject:

If you are using an external antenna, then it should not matter laptop v.s. KR1, but the logs aren't showing anything that would cause the problem. Something else might be going on.

ajerison · EVDO User Joined: 20 Dec 2005 Posts: 47

ajerison · EVDO User Joined: 20 Dec 2005 Posts: 47

ajerison · EVDO User Joined: 20 Dec 2005 Posts: 47

Mackieman · EVDO Junkie Joined: 31 Oct 2005 Posts: 491

It is entirely possible that there are some nasty config remnants hanging around after a firmware flash. Updating firmware on a router is not like formatting a hard drive in your personal computer; it simply updates or makes changes to core code. Sometimes this wipes settings in the router; sometimes it doesn't.

I like the idea of trying to reset your router to factory defaults after an upgrade to ensure that the oddities left hanging around the operating environment are minimized. Flashing the firmware again really won't accomplish much outside of ensuring that the code is written properly.

Finally, KR1 is clueless as to whether or not it is operating in EVDO or 1X service. This is a CDMA function that is completely handled by the PC Card. Moreover, soft handoff between EVDO and 1X is seamless for the most part. It is a different service option on the same data channel. This means that KR1 just sees a connection to the Internet; beyond that it has no bearing.

Scott · Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 2:52 pm Post subject:

Thanks Mackieman. So signal sensitivity has nothing to do with the KR1. (yes?) But the data coming off and on to the card from the KR1 IS handled by "drivers" and "stack" code, yes? Didn't RK1002 address throughput issues with the S/V620?