Alltell datalink with usb cable and phone to laptop

mjhampstead

Hiya all

I've been on dialup for twenty-two years, live in a remote area and thought that this Alltel high speed EVDO option would be splendid.

However, since I've been testing this, my file download speeds have plummeted.

I've had three long talks with DataSupport and a RefNo has been issued. Took my stuff to the Alltel store 12 miles away to see if performance would improve. No luck. We even tried two other phones and cables.

My phone is the Motorola e815. THe red EV symbol shows on my phone UNTIL I connect it to the computer and log on.

I just ran Speedtest.net

png = 793
download = 50 kbs
upload = 265

Any ideas of what might be going on? Your input is appreciated in advance. mjh[/img]
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mjh

Bigdave · EVDO Addict Joined: 08 Nov 2006 Posts: 1068

Very strange. The fact that the EV symbol on your phone goes out when you connect sounds like you're in a fringe area of an EVDO tower. Your high latency bears this out as well but . . . . since Alltel does NOT have Rev A yet, and there are no Rev A phones available anyway (including the e815) your upload speeds are "impossible". I'd say Alltel has a problem at your tower.

You had the same problem at the Alltel store with your phone as well as the two other phones and cables? I wonder if the store and you are on the same tower with it somewhere between your locations?

mjhampstead · Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 11:36 pm Post subject:

HIya BIgDave

According to a Tech, I am about 5,000 ft East of the tower I connect to. (I know where it is) And, the next is 4 miles East of here, which would put that tower between this location and the store. So it seems the store, 12 miles East, would be on a different tower. All on a major interstate highway.

SO, I guess from what you are saying, I need to wait until I hear back on the Ref No re the tower.

I am new to this so I do not know what speeds I had on that first day. I based my impression of speed of file downloads which were very fast.... over 100kbs as compare to 5 kbs on dialup.

Then, for a few days, file downloads were about 60 kbs. After Tech suggested changes, including #228, file downloads went to 28 kbs.

Only at that point did a Tech have me go to Speakeasy to run a test.

Although I've had cell phones for many years, I use them for emergency calls only so my earlier phones where whatever was free.

THis whole method of EVDO and connectivity tis new learning. THis WIN XP computer is less than three months old and has 1 gig RAM, so there should be enough computer support. I am still on my free trial period and I hope that this will be a workable higher than dialup solution for me.

EDIT: Perplexed. I just ran another speed test and the results were:
download = 616
upload = 109
latency = 382 ms
distance = 200 miles

I immediately downloaded the same file I've been testing for several days and the download speed of that file was 17kbs. Slowest test ever.

What is the relationship between speedtest numbers and practical use?
THanks, mjh
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mjh

Bigdave · EVDO Addict Joined: 08 Nov 2006 Posts: 1068

A lot of possible variable are involved in this. As for differences between the speed test and the file download it could be as simple as congestion or load on the server where the file is located as opposed to the speakeasy servers. I like to try different test sites to see what's going on. others include SpeedTest.Net and DSL Reports Speed Test

Next time you do as you mentioned, running a speed test and downloading a file for comparison, try a couple of files from different locations. It would be interesting to see if it's server or location related as far as the file download is concerned.

You have plenty of computer and I've heard many people have great success with the e815 so I'm still inclined to believe you're experiencing a problem at the tower. I could be wrong but . . . .

Good luck!

Azmyth · EVDO Junkie Joined: 04 Apr 2007 Posts: 197

I'm like Dave, it sounds like it might just be the server the files are being downloaded from.

We have a VERY fast T1 at work..

but just the other day I tried downloading an app I needed for work, and even though it was only 3mbs.. it took nearly 15 minutes to download it, where as under normal situations it would take a few seconds.

I'm in the same boat, and honestly.. anything to me is better than crappy dial up.

I'd be jumping up and down if a file was downloading at faster than 2-3kbps.. lol But thats just me!

mjhampstead · Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 8:20 am Post subject:

Well, it sure would not be hard to try downloading from a different server. I've been using a 5.5 mb file via majorgeeks for testing.

I sure appreciate your insights and experience into this situation. I've been reading a lot on this forum when I found it yesterday. I will have to make a decision soon.

Last Sept I tested the Sprint AirCard on a different computer and that was a joke. My best connection speed was 115,200. I connect via dialup at 49,333.

Now I have another question, but I will start a new thread.

When I hear back from Alltel Techs, I will post their response here.
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mjh

Capt Ron · Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 11:58 am Post subject:

The EV icon on the phone going out is normal when you are connected.
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Ron