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jonathono
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Posts: 1
Location: California
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 Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2006 2:43 pm Post subject: Disgusted - Sent my KR1 back to Kyocera |
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I was VERY excited when I got my KR1. That excitment quickly turned to disgust. Within hours, I began experiencing EXACTLY the problems encountered by 'ajerison' as explained in his thread titled 'For KR1 Engineer - Maybe The Device Can Be Fixed'.
However, instead of the Novatel 620 air card, I own the KPC650. From the git-go the KR1 smelled like it was crispying the printed circuit board. I would always get less speed than in my Gateway 450 laptop, with the KPC650 in very close proximity to where it was when installed in the KR1.
The KR1 kept loosing all lights at about 10 minute intervals. Then the light for the card would go red forever. If I unplugged the KR1, then restarted, it would eventually (2-5 minutes later) come back on. Then about 10 minutes later - no signal! I worked with it (following suggestions in these forums) for about 2 weeks, until I just had enough. I also tried adding Kyocera's external antenna for the KPC650. It got better speeds without the antenna.
When I sent it back to Kyocera, I told them I will wait for the KR2.
I am VERY disappointed in Kyocera and D-Link. I am convinced this all stems from bad firmware design. (I've been a programmer & ET for over 25 years)
Now I'm using a spare laptop, with ICS, connected to a WiFi router. Much better! BTW: I love my KPC650!
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-jonathon- |
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Feefer
EVDO User
Joined: 30 Aug 2005
Posts: 71
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| Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2006 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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Crispy smell? Mine had the smell of a fresh circuit board recently cleaned with solvents, right off the factory floor. Is that what you meant? That's not uncommon, or a problem.
Also, make sure to plug the antenna in the port in the KPC650 closest to you: the rear connector doesn't do anything, as far as I can tell... I get a slight boost with the external antenna, and that can be enough to make a difference between connecting and not connecting when I'm in remote areas.
But honestly, I'm also a bit torn on the KR1, too: I get a better signal with the KPC650 plugged directly into my PowerBook than via the KR1, even when my laptop is sitting next to the KR1 (and I've even bought a Cantenna to boost the signal, which helps). Admittedly, my PowerBook has AirPort issues (I looked inside, and the antenna lead is crimped/frayed at the point where the cable passes into the display. Read expensive repair/replacement). Fortunately, I could compare performance on a new Mac Mini (which IS better), but performance still seems a bit disappointing...
Also, the lack of portable battery-power on the KR1 is a big drag, IMO, as it kills the portability factor enough to have me losing interest. The thought of spending $100 more to jerry-rig a battery pack is not appealing to me.
So I'm coming close to the time to decide if I return it or not. Leaning towards sending it back to the mothership.
I'd keep the KR1 if it could accommodate an upcoming ExpressCard/34 card (i.e. Kyocera made a reasonably-priced, i.e. $20, adapter), but as it stands, the KR1 was a product that Kyocera should've released about 2 years ago.... It has obsolescense written all over it, and you get a rather lackluster performance for the price paid....
Chris |
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jackrodgers
EVDO Addict
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 1131
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| Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2006 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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A lemon is not a reason to write off any product. A thousand lemons or a million lemons might be.
As much as we hate it, SOMEONE is bound to receive a defective product, even a Macintosh product. And as aggravating is that is, it does not mean that the product is absolutely terrible. It only means that one item shipped with a few defects and the mfg will fix or replace under warranty.
I had to repeat this mantra to myself a dozen times when my lusted for Powerbook arrived flaky a half decade ago. It wasn't Apple that I was mad at, I was enraged since my lust was not to be fulfilled. And I would have to wait through another anxious period until I received the replacement.
We expect perfection, especially in our spell checkkers. |
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aintigreat
EVDO Fledgling
Joined: 30 Jan 2006
Posts: 20
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| Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2006 10:52 pm Post subject: amazing |
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| i can believe the bull i read sometimes. i have nothing but praise. last time my dsl went down for 4 days straight. without resetting the card i had connection the whole time. a lemon my ass. I am travelling in sanfrancisco . yup you got it using the router built into my truck |
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tz1
EVDO Junkie
Joined: 29 Sep 2005
Posts: 427
Location: http://kr1gps.dyndns.org:8888/
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| Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 7:18 am Post subject: |
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| I also have the KPC650 with my KR1 - Mine has one annoyance in that it sometimes will drop the wireless (the signal disappears without the led, or even any problem visible under linux - it is the Atheros card). I've listened to radio on the internet for several hours straight. The connection speed seems to be the same. Note I'm also running a 5Hz GPS unit at the same time right on the KR1. |
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Michael
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 5045
Location: Cary, IL
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| Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 7:48 am Post subject: |
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Hello,
There are some known issues with the KR1 with firmware RK1002, example PC5740 slowdown and most VPN connections. Are there any other problems that we don't know about? Probably. There are MANY factors involved: signal strength, settings and configuration of KR1, card used, carrier, other variables, that make each one a bit different then the next.
Most forums (like these) are to post problems and try and find solutions. Ever so often a thread pops up stating, everything is working. I can tell you that we have shipped close to 1000 KR1s since February and we have received a handful of them back, mostly from:
- PC5740 users who did not read our forums
- VPN users who couldn't get it to work
- some users who couldn't get Verizon or Sprint signal
However, 98% are happy using it.
For those that are having problems/issues, it is probably best to post as many facts as you can and that will help others to offer assistance and it will help the Kyocera reps who monitor these forums too.
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EVDO :: EVDO News :: EVDO Antennas :: Buy Verizon :: Buy Sprint :: EVDO Amplifier |
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xea
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 25 Feb 2006
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 3:44 pm Post subject: |
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I wanted to agree with Michael that if you post your problems on here rather then just giving up, you will most likely have your problem solved. I will say my KR1 worked out of the box but I couldn't get my game to load through it. I called d-link for support and ended up frustrated ready to ship it back. However, after posting here many people took the time to help me solve my problem and I could not be more happy.
I agree computer stuff can be frustrating I have felt the same way. |
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Feefer
EVDO User
Joined: 30 Aug 2005
Posts: 71
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| Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 1:29 pm Post subject: |
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| jackrodgers wrote: | A lemon is not a reason to write off any product. A thousand lemons or a million lemons might be.
As much as we hate it, SOMEONE is bound to receive a defective product, even a Macintosh product. And as aggravating is that is, it does not mean that the product is absolutely terrible. It only means that one item shipped with a few defects and the mfg will fix or replace under warranty.
I had to repeat this mantra to myself a dozen times when my lusted for Powerbook arrived flaky a half decade ago. It wasn't Apple that I was mad at, I was enraged since my lust was not to be fulfilled. And I would have to wait through another anxious period until I received the replacement.
We expect perfection, especially in our spell checkkers. |
I'm not sure who's comment you're responding to (mine or the prior poster), but since you mentioned Mac I presume you're referring to me.
For the record, I never used the word "lemon". In fact, I don't think my KR1 is defective/broken or a "lemon", i.e. performing any differently from other KR1s (although I haven't bought another one to compare). There's no indication of it being "broken". Instead, I've written off it's performance as coming with the territory of an additional stage required by a wireless router: there's variables with wireless communication that limit results.
I like the idea of a mobile router, but don't really know how applicable the term "mobile" is with a device that:
1) must be tethered to an A/C plug or car adapter,
2) has very limited range (less than 10-20 feet for me) before starting to see wireless performance (transfer speeds) take a nose-dive.
I've even tried leaving the mobile router in my car, just so I can sit 40 feet away and use it... No such luck. Maybe I'd have to spend more $$$ on antennas on both ends to make it work, but I'm not seeing it. Already bought the Cantenna, which helps inside, but....
Based on Activity Monitor's network display, my KPC650 offers faster connections when plugged directly into my PowerBook's PCMCIA slot than when the connection is through the KR1 (vai AirPort). Am I the only one losing connection speed as a result of using the KR1?
Realize the main reason I'm using the KR1 is the lack of an elegant solution for ExpressCard/34 (and I have a MacBook Pro 17" on the way), and was willing to sacrifice the ease and portability of a card-based solution for a router. But I wasn't counting on taking a significant speed hit by using the KR1/KPC650. THAT'S a problem for me.
So I'm just posting a "heads-up" for two reasons:
1) See if others are finding the same limitations with the KPC650/KR1, and,
2) if so, to warn potential buyers who may be thinking along the same lines, as this may not be the "solution" we hoped it would be.
Chris |
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jackrodgers
EVDO Addict
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 1131
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| Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 2:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Feefer wrote: |
I'm not sure who's comment you're responding to (mine or the prior poster), but since you mentioned Mac I presume you're referring to me.
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The other guy and it was just generic fluff from me... 
I was looking for info like you posted about the performance being a little less with the KR-1. I was expecting this since there are at least two additional layers in the system, maybe more and each needs a little time to act:
PC Card:KR-1 Firewall etc: KR-1 Wifi and encryption: wifi card in powerbook and decryption, firewall etc.
And from what I've seen, a lot of info can pass in both directions and so speed drops somewhat.
Recently a Filemaker database running on a local lan was linked to a second store via internet using VPN and encryption. That began as a real dog but we've tweeked it until its a friendly puppy. |
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RoundSparrow
EVDO User
Joined: 12 Aug 2005
Posts: 56
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| Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 12:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Feefer wrote: |
But honestly, I'm also a bit torn on the KR1, too: I get a better signal with the KPC650 plugged directly into my PowerBook than via the KR1, even when my laptop is sitting next to the KR1 (and I've even bought a Cantenna to boost the signal, which helps). Admittedly, my PowerBook has AirPort issues (I looked inside, and the antenna lead is crimped/frayed at the point where the cable passes into the display. Read expensive repair/replacement). Fortunately, I could compare performance on a new Mac Mini (which IS better), but performance still seems a bit disappointing...
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ok, I'm reading this slowly - you seem to be directly comparing EVDI signal level ("pkc650 plugged directly into my powerbook") with WiFi signal level (Airport).
Huh?
These two things are pretty much unrelated. When people talk about signal level - we are talking about EVDO signal level - the card to cell phone tower.
Use a wired network/Ethernet cable if you think your airport (WiFi) card is unreliable - see if problem clears up. |
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Feefer
EVDO User
Joined: 30 Aug 2005
Posts: 71
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| Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 4:27 pm Post subject: |
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| RoundSparrow wrote: |
ok, I'm reading this slowly - you seem to be directly comparing EVDI signal level ("pkc650 plugged directly into my powerbook") with WiFi signal level (Airport).
Huh?
These two things are pretty much unrelated. When people talk about signal level - we are talking about EVDO signal level - the card to cell phone tower.
Use a wired network/Ethernet cable if you think your airport (WiFi) card is unreliable - see if problem clears up. |
Uh, that's EVDO, not "EVDI", and KPC650, not "pkc650": but I know what you meant. 
Sure, there's different signal strengths of concern (between tower and card, and between router/card to wi-fi device), and all of these effect quality (and hence rate) of signal transmission. I have gigbit EtherNet connectors on all computers, and one of the first things I did even before getting the KR1 was sharing the connection with no hit on transfer rates (unlike the variable hit with wi-fi/AirPort). Obviously using an EtherNet cable kills mobility.
I'd probably have stuck with sharing the internet connection from my PowerBook via AirPort (as outlined on this site), had I realized the poor performance with this was due to a problem with the internal antenna on my PowerBook, and not a fundamental flaw with wi-fi.
However, in playing with the KR1 again last night and doing more benchmarking tests, the performance hit is not as dramatic as it was initially. I''ve come to appreciate that wireless communication is equal parts of science and black art. 
But still, the KPC650/KR1 combination is hardly an ideal solution for reasons I mentioned above (lack of portable power, limited range), and we know that PC cards are moving towards extinction with ExpressCard/34 cards just around the bend. So you then have to wonder: wouldn't it be nice to have an ExpressCard/34 solution, with perhaps a KR2 router that could accommodate THAT card? Hence my comment about obsolescence, and wondering if the KR1 would have an adapter available so IT could accommodate ExpressCard/34 cards.... No answer or speculation on that so far, so I'm assuming it's not the case.
That's not to say I or anyone else can't get plenty of use with the KPC650/KR1 combo as it stands, just that it's going to more of a hard-sell, once a more modern approach hits the shelves (and Lord knows how long THAT'LL take, getting Mac OS X drivers, an ExpressCard/34 router, etc).
Chris |
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