Novatel Ovation U720 / USB720 and KR1 Compatibility Info

Bigdave · EVDO Addict Joined: 08 Nov 2006 Posts: 1069

I can attest to that. I use Firefox and have never had a problem through 2 firmware upgrades now. I'm a bit anal though. I always read and follow the instructions on stuff and it clearly says to power down the KR1 and remove the EVDO device and that's how I've done it. I never unplug the device without powering it down. On the other hand, I have a good friend who just rushes into everything without following the instructions and is constantly creating new problems for himself. But, as he says, this gives him new challenges! Also costs him lots of time and money IMO!!

And BTW, this is working great with my U720. My speeds are the same now as they were running the U720 without the KR1. Very exciting to now get the full use of the KR1 with Rev A!! Way cool!! Very Happy

Thanks mackieman and all involved!!! I gave yall a lot of heat along the way so now I'm giving yall lots of creds!!!

jfeldmanmd · Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 6:18 am Post subject: USB U 720 on KR1-router

I installed the new firmware on my KR1 but the router will not pick up my USB U 720
I called Kyocera for help
they could not help me
any advise
_________________
Jeffrey N Feldman MD

Alex · Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 6:43 am Post subject:

Jeffrey,

if this is the router you bought from 3gstore/booster-antenna last may, i would suggest you either call us for tech support or send an email to support@ 3gstore.com

our tech guys will get this straightened out for you.

and, thanks for being a 3gstore.com customer! Wink

CommSoft® · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 4:45 pm Post subject: USB Modems and Hubs

Anyone ever try connecting the KR1 to a USB modem through a USB hub? If so, did it work?

Alex · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 5:46 pm Post subject:

Just tried my U720 with a KR1, connected using a powered hub
speeds are no different using hub or not using hub.

mine is a rolodex powered hub like this one:

Walter · EVDO Junkie Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 307

Oooooo... I kinda like that hub. Where'd you find it?
_________________
Reach, Connect, Celebrate, Grow, Serve.

CommSoft® · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 6:08 pm Post subject:

May have to go try to pick one of those Rolodex models up at Fry's - where did you get it?

BTW, while you may not have experienced any throughput difference, the powered hub would in theory allow you to use the Y-cable to connect both cables to a single USB port on the PC.

Did you try that (or would you be willing)?

Alex · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 6:39 pm Post subject:

i had PLANNED on trying it... but as luck would have it
i could not find my y-cable anywhere! Embarassed

i am certain that my 12yr old son had something to do with it
and am investigating that possibility. Rolling Eyes

btw, i got this hub at walmart some time ago.
here's a froogle link to current offerings

the attraction, as you can imagine, was being able to easily provide power and usb port to an external usb2.0 hard drive.

CommSoft® · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 6:57 pm Post subject:

Thanks so much for checking on this!

Will look forward to hearing your report and, in the mean time, will also be running off to Wal-Mart tonight to try and see if I can get my Top Global MB6800 to work with my Sierra AirCard 875U by using a powered hub! (Experiencing some USB power issues with the MB6800, and trying to figure either a workaround or another option here.)

magicjimmy · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 11:18 pm Post subject:

CommSoft® · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 11:31 pm Post subject:

Walter · EVDO Junkie Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 307

I comes down to the difference between a powered port and a non-powered port. IIRC, a USB port, per the spec., must supply a minimum of 100ma of DC current at 5 volts. That's your 500mW of power. A USB port can optionally supply up to 500ma at 5 volts for 2.5W of power. I'm pretty sure most (or maybe all) USB chips on motherboards etc. usually only supply the minimum 100ma of current while powered hubs usually supply the optional 500ma.

That's why using a powered hub (should) negate the need for the U720 Y-cable.

HTH
_________________
Reach, Connect, Celebrate, Grow, Serve.

CommSoft® · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 3:09 pm Post subject: Up and running!

Interesting.

So I went and looked at the specs for my AirCard 875U (see http://www.sierrawireless.com/resources/product/AirCard_875U_Datasheet_web.pdf ), and it requires 500mA at 5 volts - in short, a fully (or more highly) powered USB port.

The interesting thing is that my TabletPC apparently provides the necessary power, but the Top Global MB6800 does not.

The good news is that so far at least, the Belkin powered 4 port USB hub I bought this a.m. at Circuit City for $30 seems to be powering the modem just fine. So (and I guess I'll have to cross-post to the MB6800 thread), subject to confirming experiments over the next 24 hours, it would appear that you actually can use the AirCard 595U and 875U with the MB6800, you just need to run them through a powered USB hub.

Re: the Y cable, I thought the reason for this was that the modem will actually use more than 500mA if available and signal is weak...? (If I understand correctly, this is the reason for the battery in the Sierra unit - it draws 500mA from the USB port and up to another 380mA from the battery on demand.)

Walter · EVDO Junkie Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 307