U720 Rev A Performance Versus S720 Rev A Performance

tbhausen · EVDO Junkie Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Posts: 158

Follow-up: I'm seeing about 1100 to 1200kbps at peak morning hours today. My Comcast cable is on the fritz so the U720's arrival was timely.

Todd/Indy

Scott

Novatel Merlin S720 vs Novatel Ovation U720 on Apple and Windows

[UPDATED Friday December 15th]

All bandwidth tests below are down/up in kilobits per second (kbps).

All ping test results are roundtrip in milliseconds, all Windows-based tests are 32 bytes, OS X-based tests are 64 bytes. Ping source was the device's stated gateway (first hop) unless otherwise specified.

In the first round of tests the Novatel Ovation U720 was directly connected to the computers (no power-doubling or USB extension cables used).

The S720 and U720 tested were provisioned for two different U.S. markets, so have different HA addresses. While I could have changed them, I chose to do the first round of tests as is (to compare how an average Sprint customer would experience connectivity). I've pinged opposing gateways to help reveal differences in latency in the Rev-A tests. Later tests will be conducted with identical HA addresses.

Both the operating systems are using default TCP/IP settings.

Revision 0

Mac Powerbook G4 1.33GHz, 1GB RAM, Apple OS 10.4.8

S720
roundtrip ping test results in milliseconds
min=139, max=296, avg=168
min=141, max=291, avg=164
803/133 LA
890/133 LA
970/133 Ch
892/128 Ch

U720
roundtrip ping test results in milliseconds
min=273, max=309, avg=286
min=269, max=293, avg=279
980/131 LA
986/120 LA
988/133 Ch
1008/134 Ch

Sony VAIO, Intel CoreDuo 1.83GHz, 1GB RAM, Windows XP SP2

S720
round trip ping results in milliseconds
min=107, max=282, avg=164
min=107, max=153, avg=126
960/50 LA
1217/52 LA
1118/53 Ch
1110/53 Ch

U720
round trip ping results in milliseconds
min=245, max=403, avg=278
min=230, max=268, avg=245
992/65 LA
1954/75 LA
992/62 Ch
1189/65 Ch

Revision A

Mac Powerbook G4 1.33GHz, 1GB RAM, Apple OS 10.4.8

S720
round trip ping test results in milliseconds
min=82, max=94, avg=88
min= 82, max=117, avg=86
pinging U720's gateway
min=77, max=100, avg=83
min= 63, max= 101, avg=78
1191/732 LA
1238/728 LA
1247/647 Ch
1242/724 Ch

U720
round trip ping test results in milliseconds
min= 211, max=221, avg=213
min= 196, max=225, avg=215
pinging S720's gateway
min=211, max=218, avg=214
min=194, max=222, avg=213
1232/594 LA
1228/702 LA
1234/871 Ch
1113/661 Ch

Sony VAIO, Intel CoreDuo 1.83GHz, 1GB RAM, Windows XP SP2

S720 (-61 to -65dBm)
round trip ping test results in milliseconds
min=84, max=102, avg=92
min=63, max=103,avg=89
pinging U720's gateway
min=60, max=83, avg=74
min=60, max=92, avg=80
1247/202 LA
1256/201 LA
1248/183 Ch
1251/181 Ch

U720 (-70 to -74dBm)
round trip ping test results in milliseconds
min=222, max=238, avg=230
min=232, max=240, avg=234
pinging S720's gateway
min=203, max=225, avg=217
min=207, max=227, avg=220
1075/152 LA
1242/145 LA
1254/165 Ch
1280/166 Ch

SECOND ROUND TESTS

The following tests were conducted in the same identical locations used above (same actual physical device placement), yet now Rev-A was showing up intermittently in the Rev-0 area where it hadn't before AND the Rev-0 speeds were very very poor, especially on uploads.

Both devices had identical HA addresses.

The U720 tests were made both with and without an extender/DC sum cable (only the extender was used on the Powerbook 15" because the USB ports are on opposing sides).

Revision 0

Mac Powerbook G4 1.33GHz, 1GB RAM, Apple OS 10.4.8

U720 (direct connection)
432/28 LA
279/26 LA
289/26 Ch
449/48 Ch
pinging default gateway
min/avg/max = 146.272/184.194/310.568
min/avg/max = 139.238/159.566/181.513
pinging a server in LA
min/avg/max = 167.230/188.144/221.550
pinging a server in IL
min/avg/max = 221.275/278.264/339.425

U720 (with extender/*no DC sum)
514/27 LA
498/27 LA
432/32 Ch
482/28 Ch
pinging default gateway
min/avg/max = 137.625/163.119/196.726
min/avg/max = 135.769/157.893/191.899
pinging server in LA
min/avg/max = 165.606/222.151/636.378
pinging server in IL
min/avg/max = 212.616/238.644/265.884

S720
DNF

Sony VAIO, Intel CoreDuo 1.83GHz, 1GB RAM, Windows XP SP2

U720 (direct connection)
EVDO -102dBm,-96dBm
354/20 LA
324/21 LA
438/18 Ch
220/22 Ch
pinging default server
min=108, max=1321, avg=228
min=109, max=259, avg=145
pinging server in LA
min=139, max=175, avg=157
pinging server in IL
min=192, max=360, avg=252

U720 (with extender/DC sum cable)
*REV-A* -100dBm, -97dBm, -103dBm, -97dBm
715/176 LA
663/148 LA
604/153 Ch
787/133 Ch
pinging default router
min=57, max=203, avg=93
min=59, max=147, avg=85
pinging server in LA
min=97, max=200, avg=266
min=91, max=132, avg=112
pinging server in IL
min=154, max=194, avg=175

S720
*REV-A* -102dBm,-100dBm
255/19 LA
397/22 LA
282/17 Ch
277/24 Ch
pinging default router
min=72, max=251, avg=107
min=74, max=128, avg=99
pinging server in LA
min=131, max=752, avg=210
min=139, max=224, avg=175
pinging server in IL
min=185, max=354, avg=243

Revision A

Mac Powerbook G4 1.33GHz, 1GB RAM, Apple OS 10.4.8

U720 (direct connection)
1227/550 LA
1217/549 LA
1227/616 SF
1254/591 SF
1214/562 Ch
1232/620 Ch
pinging default server
min/avg/max = 76.603/84.905/96.153
min/avg/max = 78.376/82.826/87.152
pinging server in LA
min/avg/max = 99.702/135.809/559.289
pinging server in IL
min/avg/max = 132.860/157.367/172.299

U720 (with extender/*no DC sum)
1216/663 LA
1170/651 LA
1244/648 SF
1274/717 SF
1247/598 Ch
1203/589 Ch
pinging default router
min/avg/max = 80.932/100.469/208.895
min/avg/max/stddev = 80.989/83.950/89.090
pinging server in LA
min/avg/max = 401.360/472.308/722.125
pinging server in IL
min/avg/max = 468.818/485.080/504.277

S720
1242/689 LA
1240/699 LA
1244/669 SF
1251/689 SF
1254/701 Ch
1245/694 Ch
pinging default router
min/avg/max = 82.394/87.452/107.776
min/avg/max = 65.656/86.298/108.201
pinging server in LA
min/avg/max = 95.739/100.010/103.464
pinging server in IL
min/avg/max = 154.615/177.696/315.011

Sony VAIO, Intel CoreDuo 1.83GHz, 1GB RAM, Windows XP SP2

S720
REV-A -77dBm
1223/202 LA
1163/193 LA
1268/200 SF
1264/203 SF
1218/177 Ch
1256/179 Ch
ping ing default gateway
min=73, max=111, avg=88
min=79, max=109, avg=88
pinging server in LA
min=97, max=132, avg=106
pinging server in IL
min=152, max=193, avg=170

U720 (direct connection)
REV-A -71dBm, -69dBm, -77dBm
1252/197 LA
1239/192 LA
1250/200 SF
1219/199 SF
1220/174 Ch
1245/186 Ch
pinging default router
min=80, max=100, avg=83
min=80, max=87, avg=81
pinging server in LA
min=83, max=115, avg=101
pinging server in IL
min=132, max=181, avg=158

U720 (with extender/DC sum cable)
REV-A -71dBm, -75dBm, -74dBm
1266/182 LA
1201/184 LA
1280/193 SF
1254/186 SF
1258/170 Ch
1259/178 Ch
pinging default router
min=63, max=102, avg=81
min=74, max=95, avg=81
pinging server in LA
min=100, max=202, avg=108
pinging server in IL
min=135, max=178, avg=155

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2001

Hmmm.. ping times on U720 do not look good. Would be interesting if you set the same HA addresses for both. Could you try that?

Kane3162 · EVDO User Joined: 03 Dec 2006 Posts: 64

Hello,

Yes same addresses and also the Y cable for the USB as it seems to make all the diff according to your results without it.

Any chance of doing it by Friday???

I'm ordering as soon as I get paid Friday, and I am modding my KR1 to be able to use the Y Cable and am looking to get the U720, however if with the Y cable the performance is still the same I will be switching back to the S720

THX

Alex · Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 3:23 pm Post subject:

since i'm a mac-head, i can't help but notice how the G4 powerbook kicked the core duo vaio's @SS in rev-A country.

Laughing

Scott · Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 3:24 pm Post subject:

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2001

I don't have a u720. We're sticking with standardizing on the s720 in our company for now.

Kane3162 · EVDO User Joined: 03 Dec 2006 Posts: 64

HOLY SH**

Mac uploads just slaughtered PC up's

..... (no KR1 1008 firmware from the manufacture site yet wahhh)

wonder how they would do in the KR1

I'm looking to order through you guys Friday but I need to know in a PC (or KR1 if you have it) how the U720 compares with the Y cable....

jevdo · EVDO Newbie Joined: 13 Dec 2006 Posts: 3

Semi75 · EVDO Junkie Joined: 25 Feb 2006 Posts: 230

Those ping times look really bad on the u720, does the y cable help any at all? Glad I waited for a review.

WEB_SRFR · Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 4:33 pm Post subject:

Why are the ping times posted above so bad for the U720? That doesn;t make sense... Is this typical?

Kane3162 · EVDO User Joined: 03 Dec 2006 Posts: 64

I believe its because the U720 isn't getting enough power, I have asked that they do a test for REV0 with the Y cable to see if it makes the difference, REV A results will come when they have a chance later on, as I have been told they have to go away to get into a REV A area.

tbhausen · EVDO Junkie Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Posts: 158

Having had my hands on the little U720 beastie for 24 hours now my conclusion is that for me actually direct-connecting it to a USB port won't be a common usage scenario. It's bulky and quite vulnerable to damage that way, and the hugely improved performance with the Y-cable (I can't believe I'm gaining 10dBm and nearly doubling d/l speeds) certainly is worth the trouble.

I'm seeing rev0 d/l results comparable to or even better than most revA results reported here, and 200 to 250ms pings. I'm not sure what all the fuss is re: tested latencies--will have to review again. I'm very pleased with the U720 vs. the S720 it replaced.

EDIT: OK I see that the ping times are tripled for both Mac and PC--not good. The true answer will have to wait until both are configured with same HA, I suppose. I'm hopeful the gap will narrow, as my rev0 ping times look very similar to the revA times listed above.

Todd/Indy

Kane3162 · EVDO User Joined: 03 Dec 2006 Posts: 64

The moment Scott or any other EVDO admin can post the results with the Y Cable in a REV 0 area that compares to the S720 pings and speeds is the moment I will place the order.

Forcefed · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 7:52 am Post subject:

I recently put an order in for the U720 for my home office/PC, since I am currently overpaying for VERY expensive ISDN service (no other options). My biggest concern with going with mobile broadband was pings and upload, since I do game online at times. The ISDN might be limited for overall bandwidth, but my pings are always fairly low (sub 100ms).

I had originally considered going with a S720 and a wireless router, since my desktop does not use PCMCIA. But I waited until the U720 became available since I figured this would be the easiest combo to use on my desktop. Plus it was much less expensive than the S720/router combo. But these test results are very discouraging, those ping differences are HUGE for anyone who might like to game once in a while. I am hoping it was some type of testing discrepency, because those results are horrid for the U720 Sad

Kevin