KR1 EVDO Signal Strength

vip867 · EVDO Newbie Joined: 17 Feb 2006 Posts: 6

One of the most dissapointing issues I have with the KR1 is the lack of any type of signal meter for your EVDO signal. I live in an area where the coverage is spotty and my house has a few dead spots. So finding the best area for the router placement with a built in signal meter would be ideal. I know that I could walk around with my laptop and find the best area (which I did) But I would also like to be able to view at any time what my signal strength is at. Does any one know of a way to do this and or if this issue may be addressed in a future firmware update. Also I have allready purchesed a Booster Antenna and love it. It works great.

Mackieman · EVDO Junkie Joined: 31 Oct 2005 Posts: 485

It's being worked on right now.

vip867 · EVDO Newbie Joined: 17 Feb 2006 Posts: 6

awsome thats what I like to here. Is there another post that talks about this in the works or is it something that you have caught wind of.

Michael · Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 8:42 am Post subject:

This thread talks about it:

Kyocera KR1 Wish List

Also, the higher end competitors to Kyocera already show the signal strength in the web admin screens, here is an example:

Also, if you search on Mackieman previous threads, it is very easy to see that he is pretty high up the food chain and knows exactly what is going on with the KR1 - so believe what he says.
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tz1 · Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 9:01 am Post subject:

I hope he has it before I do - I'm still reverse engineering the protocols.

Also note the KPC 650 also identifies EVDO v.s. 1xRTT and gives separate signal strength for each.

I don't have any other card and only one other phone so I don't know about others but I suspect it is the qualcomm chipset so it depends on that.

Also, activation and/or PRL update.

Michael · Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 9:07 am Post subject:

All the cards give separate signal strength for both 1xRTT and 1xEVDO (which for troubleshooting - IS huge for the ping pong bouncing back and forth issue for those directly caught in between 2 towers).
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mabbs · EVDO Newbie Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 2

My problem is not with my Verizon card signal as the city I'm in has good Verizon coverage, but my problem is with the WIFI coverage of the KR1. I walk 10ft away and my Fujitsu tablet looses the signal from the KR1. I have also tried this on another tablet and get the same result. I've read on this site that the antenna the KR1 ships with has 0db gain. My point of using this KR1 is to do field inspections and leave the KR1 in my car. However, when I walk away from the car, I loose the wifi signal within 10-15 ft. Will a booster antenna with 5db gain fix this? I think D-Link has a 7db gain antenna, but will that improve my connection enough to still get network access once inside a house? I guess I can answer my own question as this depends on the house and the obstacles that could block the signal, but if anyone has any opinions on this I'd appreciate it. BTW, the latest firmware is installed on the KR1.
Mark

tz1 · Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 12:55 pm Post subject:

I got a hawking external antenna for $20 at Microcenter. As long as it has the right connecter (Reverse SMA), it should fit. The hawking has a thin cable.

Then there's:

http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/24ghz_802.11_rubber_duck_antenna_9dbi_rsp.php

And they also sell roof-mount and other variants, but there is a $100 minimum (maybe boosterantenna might want to resell some).

Still the antenna needs to be visible, at least not through metal so if the KR1 is deep within your car, it might not carry far.

Also Radioshack has a 6db? for $15 which can extend the range.

mysigp226 · EVDO User Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Posts: 42

tz1 · Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 1:28 pm Post subject:

With the hawking desktop antenna stuffed so the base is between the headrest and the passenger seat with the antenna vertical, I can easily get 100 feet, though the signal will be low (i.e. my car parked in the lot, I can attach from my desk with a marginal but usable signal strength).

The 9 dB duck would work if I moved the KR1 up, but I suspect I would get even more distance from my wardriving antenna on the roof.

Michael · Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 1:34 pm Post subject:

We have one listed at:

5.5 dBi WiFi Extender Antenna for KR1, $19.99
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Feefer · EVDO User Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 71

I am a bit disappointed with the range I'm getting with my KR1 vs. the performance I get when the KPC650 is plugged directly into my PowerBook. I was hoping to be able to get a range of at least a few hundred feet with the KR1, but get no more than a few feet when the KR1 is sitting on the dashboard...

Clearly the proximity of the card inside the PCMCIA slot must play a big role as to why the signal is much stronger, as well as the fact Wi-Fi relay is not needed! Can't imagine a glass windshield would play THAT big of a role here.

But in all fairness, my problem is probably not simply due to the KR1: my PowerBook (a G4 1.5Ghz Al) is renown for somewhat disappointing Wi-Fi reception (certain iBook models are known for being Kings of Wi-Fi). Unfortunately, reports of Wi-Fi reception for the newer MacBook Pro seem to be a mixed bag, although in a side-by-side comparison my newer Mac Mini (1.67 Duo Core) easily has 2-3x the signal strength of my older Powerbook....

While I'd love to get a MacBook Pro, I'm wondering if it'd be better to return the KR1 to Kyocera and hang tight for an EVDO express card... Hmmm...

I'm strongly considering one of these antennas (and I have the Kyocera antenna for the KPC650, which makes all the difference between service and no service in outlying areas). But I'd hate to throw good money after bad, if these KR1 antennas don't make a significant difference.

Therefore, I'd love to see user reports of the kind of improvement you get with one of these antennas in an automobile installation, as well as any reports from those running a MBP with the KR1.

Thanks,

Chris

Glenn7500 · Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 9:32 am Post subject:

http://sharperconcepts.zoovy.com/c=ODO2eUADG0hxQ5Muz3rrlxzVt/category/24ghzantennas.rubberduck/

vip867 · EVDO Newbie Joined: 17 Feb 2006 Posts: 6

I am going to have to say that I also am quite dissapointed with the range of the KR1'a WiFi antenna. I have tried everything, I bought a hawking 15Dbi high gain antenna and no change, I have changed the power settings in the admin council to see if that affects the range and it did not. my KR1 give the same signal strength no matter what antenna I use. Any one else have any issues like this. It just seems like thre is not enoght power for the antenna to work. What I found helped until I am able to fix this issue is that I took a linksys router and hooked it to my KR1 and am useing that as my access point instead.

mabbs · EVDO Newbie Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 2

I bought the 9 dBi Rubber Duck from Sharper Concepts about 3 weeks ago and it provided zero improvement. I haven't had much time to test this thing as it is a side project for work. So, I'm finally testing the duck with the router here in my office and my Powerbook receives the same signal strength whether the Rubber Duck is attached to the router or not. I've got 1 out of 4 bars signal strength and I'm approx. 50 ft from the router with walls in the way. My other OQO tablet does not pick up the router at all. I went to the Sharper Concepts site and they provide no tech support. They also say that there is only a 5 day return policy, so I am SOL as far as returning the thing. Sharper Concepts stinks!!!! I'm trying the D-Link 7 dBi next. If that doesn't work, I don't know what I'll do. Maybe it's the router???