New to EVDO and have a few questions....

evdovirginia · EVDO User Joined: 18 Jul 2007 Posts: 32

hey now,

id like to first preface this post by saying i've just recently become familiar with evdo (within the last 2 weeks). some of this stuff might have been answered previously but i have searched and not located what ive been looking for..

for starters we live in a somewhat rural part of virginia about 5 miles from the closest dsl hub. our options were 28.8 dialup or hughes net. i then came across evdo and made a few visits including best buy that led me to the alltel store. we're told that 100% of the towers on our area (including our rural 1) is evdo. so we go out and purchase an e815 phone, usb cable and software. get everything hooked up. the screen on the phone says ev. when i connect it says high speed packet data..page loading speeds are pretty good, faster than our standard dialup. .. while browsing ive noticed random "stalls" where nothing happens. pages wont load or anything. im forced to disconnect, reconnect, sometime restart the computer, and sometimes the phone?? this is pretty consistant..i then go to a speed test and it lists is at 128kbps, i try again, 134 .. when im actually downloading im lucky to get 13kbps... it suggests drtcp.. so i download drtcp and look through and the phone/modem isnt listed. i go into control panel and its listed as a dialup connection?? so ive become really confused..

using an e815 phone how can i tell if this is true evdo ot 1xrtt? if it is evdo are these speeds that i can expect? is there any tweaking that can be done? are these stalls typical when connecting via a phone link setup? ..im cosidering switching to a card and paying the extra 25 a month but if this is all i would get whats the use?? thanks for your time.

take it light
m

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

Welcome to the world of EVDO and to the EVDO forum! I used to connect via a Treo 650 when all we had around my area was 1xrtt and got about the same speeds you're talking about. Obviously you're getting 1xrtt speeds. I never experienced the lags and freezes though. I know a lot of people swear by the e815 but it could possibly be the problem. Phones definitely don't seem to normally see the same speeds as the data cards do. (I assume the phone shows EV?)

I have a Q and a card. The Q typically runs considerably slower when tethered than my card does. My suggestion would be to try a card and take advantage of the 15 day trial period to see if it works for you or not. If not you can return the card and they will refund you the cost of the card and any other costs less the prorated fee for how many days you use it.

By the way, although I am a loyal and mostly happy Alltel customer I also use a Sprint card since they offer Rev A here. Did you consider Sprint or are you not in an area serviced by Sprint? Currently they're ahead of Alltel in the EVDO arena with Rev A and more choices as far as data cards are concerned. Just curious.

Good luck!

evdovirginia · EVDO User Joined: 18 Jul 2007 Posts: 32

hello and thanks for the prompt reply. yes the phone does show ev on the screen. im connecting through motorola phone tools and not sure if this has an effect. using this program is when i would experience the freezes. i think ive seen where people are able to connect just typing in 777 and connecting that way. ive also come across a poster stating that the e815 can only handle 125kbs at a time so this may indeed be the problem. i may swing by alltel today and see what card options they have. its just the 60 a month thats killing me. i checked with motorola and it states that the phone will show 1rtt if im connecting that way and ev if im connecting evdo..

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

You can definitely log on via your e815 by setting up another DUN. Just set the dial up number for #777, the username is yourphonenumber@alltel.net and the password is "alltel" in lower case letter. But, again, if you can stand the $60 per month the best route is a data card. If you go that route, be sure to only buy one of the ones they are selling that is Rev A upgradeable. Alltel will probably in the Rev A business around the end of the year or so.

Again, good luck!

CorpITGuy · EVDO Newbie Joined: 11 Jul 2007 Posts: 10

Alltel will have Rev. A sometime in 2008, according to my corporate data rep. The good news: a new compression algorithm is in development which should increase speeds marginally during 4Q of this year.

mjhampstead · Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 10:54 am Post subject:

Hiya m

I'm in a rural area and have been using the usb Data Axcess with my e815 since March. The first months were problematic until the local tower was fixed. Now my download speeds run 600 to 800 kbs and I rarely loose a connection.

Have you done #228 to sync your phone with the local tower? That may help maintain your connection.

When I go visit my friend in Northern Michigan, she too has the same service, but no EVDO yet in her area. I loose connections up there often until I do the #228. Her connection just a few feet away is stable.

I can't afford the higher price of an aircard contract. It does provide for higher speeds. But this usb is over 10 times faster than my 49.3 dialup connection, I ain't complaining about the $25.00 per monthh cost.

Hope this helps.
_________________
mjh

Barren_CPM4 · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 12:24 pm Post subject:

Hello

If you have the Alltel aircard kyocera kpc 680 you can take advantage of Sprint's Rev A in an area where they offer it in accordance with the new roaming agreement with Alltel and Sprint.

Regards,
Jason Peterson
Wireless Consultant
_________________
Alltel Wireless