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Alex
Site Admin
Joined: 19 Sep 2006
Posts: 1893
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 Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 3:55 pm Post subject: Sierra 595U: Not the Right USB EVDO Modem for Everyone |
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We asked our contact at Sierra Wireless this question:
| Quote: | | There have been some concerns from customers regarding the 595U and what happens when you are permanently in a fringe area. How can the internal battery charge when it is constantly being used? Will this drain and then kill the battery and the device? |
The PRODUCT MANAGERS for the Sierra Wireless 595U kindly responded with:
| Quote: | | Under this scenario, we believe the battery will not completely drain, and the user will still be able to maintain a solid connection. In absolute worst case conditions, our data indicates the battery will last about 80 minutes. This assumes a max data rate and a scenario of continuous data transmission utilizing max TX power. Typical, real world, battery life would be much greater as it is unlikely a user would ever maintain a "continuous" data transmission (ie. at 100% duty cycle) long enough to drain the battery. During those intermittent times, the battery will re-charge whenever the user is not transmitting data. |
(note: emphasis mine.)
Wait now. Let me grind this through my head and spit it back out the way I understand it.
Under the worst case conditions, the battery will last about 80 minutes.
And its unlikely that anyone would maintain operation that way for 80 minutes or longer?
OK, lets hear it.
Are there ANY RVers, or RoadWarriors, or folks who live in the boonies, who feel like
you will NEVER want to use your extremely signal-challenged connection for 80 minutes or longer?
Its like I've said from the first time I even read a description of the "engineering marvel" that is the 595U:
I don't know whose EVDO customers this thing was designed for, but they will not be my customers. |
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Johntron
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 15 Jul 2007
Posts: 5
Location: Fort Worth, TX
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| Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 11:07 pm Post subject: |
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| The response from Sierra about the battery was mentions the words "duty cycle". I'm not going to explain what this is, but based on what I know, to operate at full duty cycle, you would have to essentially be transmitting and receiving at full theoretical speeds using maximum radio power to drain the battery in 80 minutes. I doubt anyone could do this if they wanted to. Assuming the modem has something like a switch mode power supply, the battery is charging whenever it is not being used. So if you're at 50% duty cycle, you would essentially be draining the battery 50% of the time and charging it the other 50% of the time. I guess the real question is how much the modem relies on the battery. I've been connected to Rev A through my Macbook for about 2.5 hours straight now. |
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magicjimmy
EVDO Heavy User
Joined: 20 Feb 2007
Posts: 123
Location: Tucson, AZ
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| Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:25 am Post subject: |
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| Johntron wrote: | I guess the real question is how much the modem relies on the battery.
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That depends on two things and only two things...
How good your average signal level is AND how much current your MAC provides to the card.
_________________
Nevermind... |
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Incindium
EVDO User
Joined: 18 Apr 2007
Posts: 37
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| Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 3:12 pm Post subject: |
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I'm in a fringe zone and only get between 300-500k download speeds on average. I havent once seen the 595U battery light turn red(low battery) with my HP laptop.
The issue that really concerns me with the card is that pretty frequently drops to a local only connection in Vista which the only solution is to unplug and replug it back into the USB port. This is a real pain in the butt to be doing that all the time. |
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GotSprint
EVDO Fledgling
Joined: 02 Mar 2006
Posts: 22
Location: Ft Lauderdale Beach, FL
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 3:49 pm Post subject: |
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Well so far i have had nothing but perfect performance with my U595.
the battery never goes dead.
speeds are always fast
signal is much better than U720
used to get -86 signal now i get -69 signal
i have multiple online streaming audio sites going and watch dvds online battery dont go dead after 8-13 hrs of heavy demand bandwith.
i dont think this person knows what he was talking about.
this is the best sprint card i ever owned ! |
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Bigdave
EVDO Addict
Joined: 08 Nov 2006
Posts: 1068
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 7:12 pm Post subject: |
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| GotSprint wrote: | Well so far i have had nothing but perfect performance with my U595.
the battery never goes dead.
speeds are always fast
signal is much better than U720
used to get -86 signal now i get -69 signal
i have multiple online streaming audio sites going and watch dvds online battery dont go dead after 8-13 hrs of heavy demand bandwith.
i dont think this person knows what he was talking about.
this is the best sprint card i ever owned ! |
You obviously never bothered to read the part about the battery problem applying when you're in a fringe area? | Alex wrote: | | Are there ANY RVers, or RoadWarriors, or folks who live in the boonies, who feel like you will NEVER want to use your extremely signal-challenged connection for 80 minutes or longer? |
-69dBm is NOT a fringe area. |
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GotSprint
EVDO Fledgling
Joined: 02 Mar 2006
Posts: 22
Location: Ft Lauderdale Beach, FL
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| Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 1:11 am Post subject: |
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| Bigdave wrote: | | GotSprint wrote: | Well so far i have had nothing but perfect performance with my U595.
the battery never goes dead.
speeds are always fast
signal is much better than U720
used to get -86 signal now i get -69 signal
i have multiple online streaming audio sites going and watch dvds online battery dont go dead after 8-13 hrs of heavy demand bandwith.
i dont think this person knows what he was talking about.
this is the best sprint card i ever owned ! |
You obviously never bothered to read the part about the battery problem applying when you're in a fringe area? | Alex wrote: | | Are there ANY RVers, or RoadWarriors, or folks who live in the boonies, who feel like you will NEVER want to use your extremely signal-challenged connection for 80 minutes or longer? |
-69dBm is NOT a fringe area. |
ok well let me take my card out of the window and put it in my laptop, then the signal will drop to -90
and lets see how long it will last
i am in ohio right now and i am in a fringe area
the tower is 5 miles away and on the other side of a hill i only get a good signal if card is in the top of window in 1 spot.
i will post the results. |
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jackrodgers
EVDO Addict
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 1127
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| Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 5:57 am Post subject: |
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" In absolute worst case conditions, our data indicates the battery will last about 80 minutes. This assumes a max data rate and a scenario of continuous data transmission utilizing max TX power."
To me this says that continuous download at maximum data rate (1 meg+) will be required to drain the battery. If there is no data flow, very little drain on the battery and it will probably recharge during that time. Idling for 80 minutes, no mattery what your db is, will not drain the battery.
From the responses it would appear most of the quote replies did not read the entire statement. |
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jackrodgers
EVDO Addict
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 1127
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| Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 11:44 am Post subject: |
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| GotSprint wrote: | signal is much better than U720
used to get -86 signal now i get -69 signal |
Of course the signal strength indication can vary by location but it can also vary from one moment to the next.
Is there any organization that certifies signal strength as shown in the connection managers or are the devices left to create their own concept of what the signal strength is?
Since the strenght of the signal would be a constant and not affected by choice of card, then the two devices showing different numbers may be just a software thing, like auto mfgs over estimating the horse power of their engines. |
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GotSprint
EVDO Fledgling
Joined: 02 Mar 2006
Posts: 22
Location: Ft Lauderdale Beach, FL
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| Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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well judging on the download speed difference i believe there is more signal
U720 258 down 15 up signal -89
U595 11558 down 65 up signal -69
i am just glad it works better could care less on signal readings
data speed is what counts. |
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jackrodgers
EVDO Addict
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 1127
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| Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 8:06 pm Post subject: |
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| GotSprint wrote: | well judging on the download speed difference i believe there is more signal
U720 258 down 15 up signal -89
U595 11558 down 65 up signal -69
i am just glad it works better could care less on signal readings
data speed is what counts. |
You should be getting better speeds than that in Fort Lauderdale.
I get about 1200 down and 400-600 up in the Fort lauderdale area and 1200 down and 150 up in Okeechobee using a U720 on my MacBook in both OS X and Win XP. Speeds of course vary with time of day and user load.
I think there is something wrong with your computer or USB port and if not that then your preferences need fixing. Do you have problems with usb drives or printing? |
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GotSprint
EVDO Fledgling
Joined: 02 Mar 2006
Posts: 22
Location: Ft Lauderdale Beach, FL
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| Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 1:21 am Post subject: |
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| GotSprint wrote: | | Bigdave wrote: | | GotSprint wrote: | Well so far i have had nothing but perfect performance with my U595.
the battery never goes dead.
speeds are always fast
signal is much better than U720
used to get -86 signal now i get -69 signal
i have multiple online streaming audio sites going and watch dvds online battery dont go dead after 8-13 hrs of heavy demand bandwith.
i dont think this person knows what he was talking about.
this is the best sprint card i ever owned ! |
You obviously never bothered to read the part about the battery problem applying when you're in a fringe area? | Alex wrote: | | Are there ANY RVers, or RoadWarriors, or folks who live in the boonies, who feel like you will NEVER want to use your extremely signal-challenged connection for 80 minutes or longer? |
-69dBm is NOT a fringe area. |
ok well let me take my card out of the window and put it in my laptop, then the signal will drop to -90
and lets see how long it will last
i am in ohio right now and i am in a fringe area
the tower is 5 miles away and on the other side of a hill i only get a good signal if card is in the top of window in 1 spot.
i will post the results. |
with a weak signal and heavy downloading for 16 hrs the battery never once flashed red works no problem. |
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GotSprint
EVDO Fledgling
Joined: 02 Mar 2006
Posts: 22
Location: Ft Lauderdale Beach, FL
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| Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 1:26 am Post subject: |
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Nothing wrong with my laptop
this card is working great
I am from Ft Lauderdale but right now i am in Ohio taking care of my mom that has cancer
i am roaming on Altel EVDO REV 0 that is why
when i get to Sprint EVDO REV A i will let you know how fast that is |
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cjennings
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 23 Jul 2007
Posts: 10
Location: colo
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| Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 10:23 am Post subject: |
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i have been testing out a 595U for the past week while i am trying to get my U720 fixed and i have had the red battery light come on two times. i was not doing anything other than surfing the web and dont live in a fringe coverage area. Both times i had to wait about a half hour for the battery to recharge before i could reconnect. i also have not noticed a better signal between the two cards. i have noticed that places i could get a weak signal with the U720 i dont get it with the 595U.
 this is not an endorsment for either card this is just what i have found in my usage |
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jackrodgers
EVDO Addict
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 1127
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| Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 11:23 am Post subject: |
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| cjennings wrote: | | i have been testing out a 595U for the past week while i am trying to get my U720 fixed and i have had the red battery light come on two times. |
The battery may not have been fully charged when you received it. Have you followed the steps to charge it and even initialize/setup the battery if such steps exist? |
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