Discuss EVDO PCMCIA Cards, ExpressCards, EVDO USB, PDAs, Phones, Coverage and Mobile Broadband Cards.
Discuss Verizon and Sprint Coverage. CradlePoint CTR350, CTR500, PHS300, MBR1000, MBR1200, PHS300. Discuss Improving signal with 3Gstore Antennas and Amplifiers.
|
EVDOforums.com
Discussion forum for EVDO users
|
Our sites Include:
EVDO Info :: EVDO Forums :: EVDO Maps :: EVDO Blog :: 3Gstore.com
To purchase your EVDO Card / Antenna / Amplifier / Router from the EVDO Experts, just contact us!
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Michael
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 5308
Location: Cary, IL
|
 Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 8:45 pm Post subject: KR1 Router Signal Strength Indicator |
 |
|
This thread will discuss the signal strength indicator that is now in the latest firmware. Post your observations and discoveries about this new feature to this thread.
_________________
EVDO :: EVDO News :: EVDO Antennas :: Buy Verizon :: Buy Sprint :: EVDO Amplifier |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Scott
EVDO Junkie
Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 530
Location: Central Coast of California
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 2:44 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Mackieman wrote: | | (from the RK1006 thread)...There is a signal strength meter available in the GUI on the status page. It's a little thing we designed that measures initial RSSI and takes that value along with the number and reliability of packets passed over the WAN interface to calculate the value displayed. So in a sense it's not a 100% true RSSI value at all times but I have found it to be quite good at giving you a basic idea of how good or bad your signal is. It updates every 30 seconds. |
Doing some testing here to get a better understanding of the KR1 RK1006 firmware's signal indicator. Using a few cards: Sprint S620, Verizon KPC650, Verizon PC5220 (unsupported, old card firmware version).
Since this isn't a pure RSSI/dBm signal meter, you may want to do first-time polling and antenna setups directly with a computer and your connection software (or built-in support in the case of Macs).
Some examples to show you what I mean:
S620 1xRTT-only mode, on-board antenna
S620 1xRTT-only mode, external antenna
S620 1xRTT-only mode, external antenna & signal amplifier
S620 Automatic mode, on-board antenna
S620 Automatic mode, external antenna
S620 Automatic mode, external antenna & signal amplifier
S620 EVDO-only mode, on-board antenna
S620 EVDO-only mode, external antenna
S620 EVDO-only mode, external antenna & signal amplifier
When I check signal with the card in a notebook, the 1xRTT-only with external antenna and signal amp is waaayyy stronger than anything else. Yet in the KR1, that setup gets averaged, so it shows up no stronger than the on-board antenna or when running the card with external antenna, in this case three bars. This is because it is getting averaged with connection throughput.
Then when the card is set to Automatic, everything ends up at six or seven bars, no matter what. Again, averaging with the speed (which in this case dips because the card goes into 1xRTT).
Finally, lock it into EVDO, and no matter what antenna setup, its always 10 bars! I LIKE 10 bars! :]
Note that when you first power up, you may see some really high signals. Use the connection or run a test, and things will settle in.
When tuning and comparing gear, use your connection app's signal meter. For checking averages and status, the KR1 is fine.
The good news: the KR1 didn't drop ONCE in all of these tests! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
quadragin
EVDO Fledgling
Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Posts: 14
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 11:02 am Post subject: Signal Bars = ?? |
|
|
So there is no definitive data as to 3 bars = -xxdB?
Is there definitive data as to how many bars will get onto BroadbandAccess and at what threshold of bars will throatle back to NationalAccess?
I just got my KR1 back with the new firmware 1006 and everything so far seems faster. Have not tried the Wi-Fi yet. accespt sometime I have to try 3 or 4 times to get into the admin application. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jackrodgers
EVDO Addict
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 1131
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 5:36 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Looks to me as if the bars don't mean Signal Strength but type of connection.
Divide the indicator into three columns and name them:
1xRTT Only - Automatic - EVDO Only
Then Change Signal Strength to Connection Type
? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mackieman
EVDO Junkie
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 491
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 9:53 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Not at all. I explained in the RK1006 announcement thread a little bit about how it works. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
Buy from the 3G Experts @ 3Gstore.com
CradlePoint MBR1200 $269.99
Sprint MiFi $59.99
CTR500 $179.99
MBR1000 $189.99
CTR350 $89.99
PHS300 $159.99
Sprint 598U - Free
Sprint Rev A ExpressCard: Merlin EX720 - Free
Purchase an EVDO Booster Antenna
Purchase an EVDO Amplifier
Your Mac EVDO Experts
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
