Mac/Sprint/PRL

djbouley · EVDO Newbie Joined: 28 Mar 2006 Posts: 3

I am a brand new EVDO user. Just got my S620 from y'all and thank-you for the fast response and patient attention to my dumb questions. Great service!

My card is now working fine on my PowerBook 17. I am a little confused about a couple of points (still!):

How do I upgrade the prl on my card? The info i found poking around here sems to be for Verizon and for the lone card that is supported on the tool bar. Without that app, how do i do an upgrade?

Is there any meaningful way to test bandwidth? Last night I tried 4 diffferent web sites and all gave wildly different results as to speed. Makes me wonder why bother testing...

Related note is that I have been downloading several large files today. The download speeds started out around 150 kb/s and have gradually slowed over several hours to around 35 kb/s. I'm guessing this may have to do with network usage as the day goes on? I have an antenna on order from you folks, so I'm sure that will help, but any other advice as to how to get "the better numbers" would be great.

Thanks much.
Doug Bouley

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2003

I suppose with those numbers you mean bytes and not bits. If bytes, your performance is OK.

Try this site...
http://speedtest.frontiernet.net

Note difference of bits vs bytes. Getting 100Kbytes/sec is pretty good. In bits, 400-700Kbits/sec is within the marketed range.

As far as updating PRL, I'm not aware of way to do it on Mac. You'd need a Windows PC to load latest PRL and firmware on card. You probably already have the latest but you'd also need a WinPC to confirm.

djbouley · EVDO Newbie Joined: 28 Mar 2006 Posts: 3

Um, the numbers I mentioned are what is being reported by the Safari d/l manager ""32.6 KB/sec", for instance. i think that means kbytes, yes?

I do have a Windows laptop, so I will check the card out on it. Also, it will be interesting to see if I can manage the card from a Win2k session within VirtualPC.

The perfomance is pretty good, regardless of the numbers. I'm actually doing better on downloads than if i were using the company's (overloaded) T1. Perfomance at home seems to be on par with DSL (sometimes better, as my apt. building has old, noisy phone wiring). Nice not having to use Airport to go wireless at home, too. We have so many access points in my apt bldg that they sometimes get in each other's way.

Thank-you for your reply.

-d

horsessmellfunny · Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 1:39 pm Post subject:

Hey,
Welcome! As far as the Sprint PRL updates go, there is a lot of haziness surrounding these guys. First, do a software update. In the Sprint PCS Connection manager, in the top left corner, there is a cirlce looking thingy, this is your menu. Click on it and a drop down list will pop up. You will see 'Software Updates'. Click on this. A new window will pop-up asking to check now or cancel. Also make sure that you have it checked to check once per month. It will go out and check if you have the latest verison. It may take a minute. If you do not, it will ask you to upgrade your software. Go ahead and do so. In all of the software updates are PRL updates. It will flash the firmware on your card and upgrade it. However, I have had loads of problems with this. I have upgraded my software twice, and even flashed my card twice, and I am still on a much older PRL. I asked Sprint, and they said I need to take it to a Sprint store and have the store re-flash the card with the PRL. So, in all honesty, I really dont know how to upgrade the Sprint PRL's.

As far as bandwidth testing goes, thats another difficult subject. Real world bandwidth tests are FTP file transfers, as well as page browsing. Any badnwidth meter will provide skewed results. This is also partially because Sprint has a compression server that compresses all images and html (removes all white space) so the pages load quicker. This is bad for speed tests because they are typically images that are downloaded. I did the CNET Bandwidth meter on 1xRTT, and it said I was pulling 700kbps!! One of the OK bandwidth meters I have found is http://lax.speakeasy.net

Your correct on the speed dropping due to peak hours, but also because when you initiate a download, it will come in higher then normal. It will then dorp down, then it usually picks back up to a more consisten speed with the internet connection.

As far as better numbers, how much signal strength do you have? (how many bars, and if you go to menu > Device info and diagnostics> 'network signal strength (measure in dBm)). If you have anything really above -82dBm signal strength wont really help. You could try the booster antenna and an amp from Maximum Signal, but it is really hard to say on something like that. You may just be stuck with what you have. You can try moving around your house and neighborhood and seeing if you can pick up a better signal and get better performance, but there are a lot of factors involved there as well.

Hope that helped!

djbouley · EVDO Newbie Joined: 28 Mar 2006 Posts: 3

Many thanks for the reply. I am using a Mac, and there is no Connection Manager for it. I will try this out on my Toshiba when I get home, though.

-d

horsessmellfunny · Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 1:49 pm Post subject:

doh! I frogot you are using a Mac grrr. I believe there is a thread in here somewhere relating to Macs, S630's and their connection manager's they use.

jackrodgers · EVDO Addict Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 1131

Internet Connect is the 'connection manager' for dialup accounts such as the broadband cards. After opening it, click the checkbox for showing modem status in the menu bar. The phone icon can display time connected and the connecting info when you first connect or disconnect.

You use the Internet Connection dialog or the menu item to make your connection.

Mirel Badea · EVDO Newbie Joined: 19 Jun 2006 Posts: 1

Hello !
I just saw your post with the succsses with your card.I also have the Merlin/Sprint card and I'm using a PowerBook and I activated on a PC and it worked fine.Can you please send me an "Idiots guide" on how you set it up to work. The ones found on the site are for verizon.My email is crisgrigo@yahoo.com
Thanks a lot !