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earglued
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 30 Apr 2007
Posts: 7
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 Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 4:23 pm Post subject: Novatel u720 v sierra 595u |
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| mattengland wrote: | I'd like to see someone post a list of the benefits of the 595U over the U720. Disclaimer: I have used PCMICA EVDO cards in the past (not a current user but am looking to buy a USB-based rig), but no little about the USB stuff, certainly haven't used any USB cards...so I'm quite ignorant.
The benefits of the 595U seem a bit fuzzy to me. For example:
* The 595U can be shared? Is this via anything more than USB sharing? (And if so, that's not a very useful IP network for me; I have a hard time fathoming a USB network for general IP access over ethernet.)
* Comments on this discussion thread seem to relfect that the docking station is "cool." Is it actually useful? ie, does it does something practical other than have a convenient means to plug in the modem (which is reasonably nice for me...but not that much)?
* Speed: does the 595U provide any theoretical potential to go faster? (I realize that theoretical and practical may be two different things.)
* I'm quite unclear as to what benefits the new (diff?) battery stuff provides. Presumably some performance over when the U720 isn't powered sufficiently? Can someone point me to more specifics on this? (eg, what are Y-cable challenges for the U720 when I only have 2 USB ports on my laptop, and I have a USB mouse in addition to the U720, which will at times require 2 USB ports on its own?)
* Does the 595U offer any other benefits?
To the potential downsides:
The 595U looks *HUGE* compared to the U720. First of all, the base device seems quite larger than a U720. Add in the docking station, and it seems about a third the size of my laptop. (And I'm thinking...this is design for _mobile_ users??) Can I connect the 595U to a laptop without the docking station?
OS compatibility may be another challenge, although I'm sure it will get ironed out over time. For me, I don't want to have fiddle any more with my Linux kernels more than I already have to get previous EVDO cards working.
Further, the 595U isn't KR1 friendly.
There's also some vague mention of "wireless" in the hardware press release; is this anything more than EVDO-wireless communication, or is there some sort of wireless communication between the 595U device and it's docking station and/or a PC? (I'm grasping as straws to figure out the benefits of the 595U...)
Bottom line: I'm left scratching my head as to why I would practically want to purchase a 595U over a U720 (less price diffs). Does the 595U offer something more than USB sharing, a docking station that's only used for plug-in convenience, and looks? And why would I want to deal with the extra size?
I'm confused...
-Matt |
Same question I posted but much more articulate.
I guess we have to wait for the forum review. |
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bdhadhdnh
EVDO User
Joined: 08 Apr 2007
Posts: 30
Location: So Cal
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| Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 6:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Alex wrote: | chuck, some questions we want to come up with answers for are:
-- what does battery do for performance?
-- how long does battery last (assuming laptop also on battery power)
-- what happens to performance when battery is dead?
the battery is charged ONLY via USB cable.
i'm no rocket scientist, but if some engineer felt that there were going to be some laptops that didn't provide enough power via USB under weak signal situations, such that it warranted adding a battery to act as a kind of capacitor...
then how in the world is that battery going to be recharged by that same lack of power in that same USB port, AND at the same time allow the USB modem to have enough power to operate at full speeds?? |
You may want to check out this application note about Charging Batteries Using USB Power from Maxim, a big semiconductor manufacturer I use often. |
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bdhadhdnh
EVDO User
Joined: 08 Apr 2007
Posts: 30
Location: So Cal
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bdhadhdnh
EVDO User
Joined: 08 Apr 2007
Posts: 30
Location: So Cal
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| Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Michael wrote: | I took some pictures of the U720 vs. the 595U, going to use them in the review of the 595U that we will post on EVDOinfo.com.
The battery can only be charged when plugged in the USB port. Still unclear what happens if you are "always" in a fringe area and how that may affect the battery and charging. |
If the battery is dead, can you check to see if a Y cable will work the same way it does for the U720? These cables are readily available for USB devices such as hard drives... |
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Chuck
EVDO Heavy User
Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 149
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 2:55 am Post subject: |
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| Question: Does the docking bay come wth an AC adapter? |
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jackrodgers
EVDO Addict
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 1131
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 6:15 am Post subject: |
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Interesting. At the end of the page is a hint that in the future we may see Vista compatible usb powered coffee cup warmers.  |
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Alex
Site Admin
Joined: 19 Sep 2006
Posts: 3074
Location: Dallas, TX
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 6:50 am Post subject: |
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| Chuck wrote: | | Question: Does the docking bay come wth an AC adapter? |
no there is not an AC adapter included for dock or anything else. |
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mattengland
EVDO User
Joined: 03 Oct 2005
Posts: 54
Location: Chicago, IL USA
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 1:12 pm Post subject: |
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| bdhadhdnh wrote: | | mattengland wrote: | ...Bottom line: I'm left scratching my head as to why I would practically want to purchase a 595U over a U720 (less price diffs). Does the 595U offer something more than USB sharing, a docking station that's only used for plug-in convenience, and looks? And why would I want to deal with the extra size?
I'm confused...
-Matt |
I don't know what you mean by USB sharing, can you clarify? |
From http://www.evdoinfo.com/content/view/809/64/ :
| Quote: | | VANCOUVER, Aug. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Sierra Wireless (NASDAQ: SWIR - TSX: SW) today announced the latest addition to the company's AirCard® product line: AirCard USB Wireless Modems for EV-DO Revision A and HSDPA networks. Based on Sierra Wireless PCI Express Mini Card embedded modules, the stylish and compact AirCard USB modems can either plug directly into the USB ports of both notebook and desktop computers, or be connected through a docking cradle. This offers an alternative for customers without PCMCIA card slots, and allows them to move a single wireless data service between multiple computers to save costs. |
What does the "allows [a user to] move a single wireless data service between multiple computers to save costs" reference mean? How does the 595U do that better than a U720?
-Matt |
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mattengland
EVDO User
Joined: 03 Oct 2005
Posts: 54
Location: Chicago, IL USA
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 1:17 pm Post subject: |
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That's quite an interesting reference, thanks.
I'm also still looking for practical/user diffs between the U720 and 595U. Apparently the 595U has a batter and the U720 does not? Or is the battery just better, needs fewer USB connections...or something else?
More importantly, what does all this stuff mean for user experience and/or system performance? From what I'm gathering, there's apparently some better performance when transmitting (which takes more power, from what I can tell) in fringe-performance areas. Alas, I don't see anything spelled out in black-and-white yet. I guess I should wait for 3Gstore's blog/review? In the meantime, can anyone comment on projected performance?
I'm still wondering why I should hold out for a 595U. At this rate, the benefits are so unclear to me that I shouldn't bother, and just get a U720 if I'm going to go the USB route.
-Matt |
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Alex
Site Admin
Joined: 19 Sep 2006
Posts: 3074
Location: Dallas, TX
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 2:56 pm Post subject: |
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| mattengland wrote: | | the benefits are so unclear |
thats the point, exactly.
the benefits of the battery in this device are unclear.
only time will tell. one would need the experiences of many users in fringe areas, before a trend could be identified.
without having had the time to sell and support a bunch of AC595U's, any opinion we give on the AC595U would be based on very limited testing.
conversely, we already have a whole lot of U720/USB720's out there, and know of only a handful of customers who have been unable to get it to live up to expectations. (and in many of those cases, the expectations where un-realistic) |
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bdhadhdnh
EVDO User
Joined: 08 Apr 2007
Posts: 30
Location: So Cal
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 5:27 pm Post subject: |
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| mattengland wrote: |
That's quite an interesting reference, thanks.
I'm also still looking for practical/user diffs between the U720 and 595U. Apparently the 595U has a batter and the U720 does not? Or is the battery just better, needs fewer USB connections...or something else?
More importantly, what does all this stuff mean for user experience and/or system performance? From what I'm gathering, there's apparently some better performance when transmitting (which takes more power, from what I can tell) in fringe-performance areas. Alas, I don't see anything spelled out in black-and-white yet. I guess I should wait for 3Gstore's blog/review? In the meantime, can anyone comment on projected performance?
I'm still wondering why I should hold out for a 595U. At this rate, the benefits are so unclear to me that I shouldn't bother, and just get a U720 if I'm going to go the USB route.
-Matt |
I am trying to decide between the two also.
Since I don't have these devices, I can only bring up theoretical specs from Sprint's manuals and comment on "projected performance"
According to sprint manuals on the two devices:
* Max current per USB port: 500 mA
* Trasmitter power: both 200mW (+23dBm)
* Max current consumption: U720: 700 mA (that's why the Y cable on the U720); 595U: 500 mA from USB port, the rest from battery (380 mA capacity)
* Average current: U720: 400 mA; 595U: 295 mA (1xEVDO), 285 mA (1X)
* (Sleep/Idle: U720: 60 mA; 595U: 2.75 mA (that's right, big difference)
* Battery: U720: none; 595U: 380mA Li-Poly rechargable (2 hrs via USB), replaceable battery.
* Dimensions: U720: .67 x 1.5 x 3.43 , 595U: .79 x 1.53 x 3.66
* Weight: U720: 1.83 Oz; 595U: 2.12 Oz with battery
* Adjustment: U720: No, 595U: 3-position swivel
* Cable: U720: Y cable; 595U: dock station with USB cable.
The 595U is obviously designed for 1-USB port use while the U720 is designed for 2-port use.
Assuming speeds are the same, looking at this specs the U720 appears to consume a lot more power (from laptop) and would drain the laptop battery faster (although the 595U would have to charge the battery if it's not full). I guess one can carry a spare charged battery just in case.
If you need a router to share internet with other, the 595U is out. The U720 works with KR1 router (at reduced speed at this time).
If you don't mind using a cable and 2 USB ports, the U720 is theoretically logical choice at this point.
If you value compactness or don't have a spare USB port and don't need a router, the 595U may be a better choice.
Being a new device adopted by Sprint, I have to assume the 595U is designed to address the USB power and other issues that the U720 and Franklin USB modem faced. We just don't know how well the design is executed.
These observations/assumptions are strictly from published specs. Any correction, real-world data, or additional comments are welcomed. |
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editor1
EVDO User
Joined: 26 Jan 2007
Posts: 82
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 7:59 pm Post subject: |
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| It's not necessary to use two USB ports to get good functionality with the U 720. Mine works fine plugged in directly, without the Y cable. |
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bdhadhdnh
EVDO User
Joined: 08 Apr 2007
Posts: 30
Location: So Cal
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 9:07 pm Post subject: |
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| editor1 wrote: | | It's not necessary to use two USB ports to get good functionality with the U 720. Mine works fine plugged in directly, without the Y cable. |
Are you in Rev A region? May I ask what your average speeds are without the Y cable, running Rev A? |
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magicjimmy
EVDO Heavy User
Joined: 20 Feb 2007
Posts: 123
Location: Tucson, AZ
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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RevA - -72dBm avg signal - U720 on 10 ft extension, single plug - 1 mile outside mapped coverage area...
I average 1 - 1.2m down and 512 - 800k up...
_________________
Nevermind... |
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editor1
EVDO User
Joined: 26 Jan 2007
Posts: 82
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| Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 5:44 am Post subject: |
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Yes, Rev A. Connected directly to one USB port, signal range -76- -93, without antenna, Win XP:
900-1300 download, 100-600 upload (upload is far more variable than DL for me). |
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