New Alltel Franklin CDU550 Question

SarahBeth · EVDO Newbie Joined: 10 Aug 2007 Posts: 5

Okay...I just got my Alltel Franklin CDU550 today and I have a question about signal strength. It's pretty much staying between 48-68%...does that affect the speed? The reason I got this in the first place is that we live in a rather remote lake area where high speed isn't an option and dial-up is the devil! I NEEDED something faster so I thought I would try this. So far, surfing the internet doesn't seem any faster than dial-up. Downloads were faster, but that's about all I can see that's improved over dial-up. I have 7 days to change my mind so I need to figure this out quickly. Please let me know what you think. I need something reliable so feel free to let me know if that signal strength is unacceptable.

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

First, with Alltel you actually have 15 days.

The percentage figure isn't extremely reliable but it definitely shows you're not getting a very good signal. Does the Alltel connect software not show a dBm measurement? I use a router and never look at the Alltel software anymore.

Yes, signal strength has a great influence on your speeds. Check your speeds at sites like www.dslreports.com/speedtest or www.speakeasy.net/speedtest and/or www.speedtest.net These will give download and upload speeds as well as latency at a couple of them. If you would run some tests there and report back on what you're seeing.

EDIT: It also helps if your provide you zip code so we can see where you're using it. Also, I can't seem to find out anywhere but does it have a place to plug in an external antenna? It may be well hidden but it should tell you somewhere in the documentation. If so it'll be a big help to get an antenna to boost your signal.

SarahBeth · EVDO Newbie Joined: 10 Aug 2007 Posts: 5

Thanks. I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to this stuff, so I'm learning as I go. I'll check out those sites to see what they say about my speed. I'm not sure what dBm is...I can see the "statistics" on my session info and it says that my max transmit rate is 82.7. My zip is 72756...and we live in a mountainy lake area. How about that "y cable" that came with it? I tried it, but it doesn't seem to improve it...even though it say that it's supposed to help in "poor signal conditions".

SarahBeth · EVDO Newbie Joined: 10 Aug 2007 Posts: 5

Okay...another strange thing...photos that I download or that are on websites aren't coming in clearly. They look distorted/pixelated...what's that about?

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

The y-cable generally helps 2 ways. First by letting you get the device a little bit away from the computer and the "electrical noise" made by it for less interference. Also, it allows you to more specifically adjust the position of the CDU550. Believe it or not many people have experienced BIG differences in speeds with as little as a 6 inch adjustment in the position of the device.

If you see a stat that looks like this (-80dBm) that will be the signal strength measurement. THe lower the number the better. (Lower of course meaning -80dBm is lower than -85dBm - note the negative numbers)

Don't worry about being a novice. As new as this technology is there's plenty of learning going on around by us all!! Just fire away with any questions you have. Very Happy

And by the way . . . welcome to the world of EVDO and the EVDOForums!!

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

SarahBeth · EVDO Newbie Joined: 10 Aug 2007 Posts: 5

Thanks for the welcome! You've been a huge help already! I think I found the dBm thing. When I clicked on "help" then "about quicklink mobile" it said -85 dBm next to "RSSI". Is that good?

Also, I tried right clicking the image and that didn't work...I'll see what else I can study up on with that. I wish I had time to sit here and figure it all out tonight but I'm having a dinner party tomorrow and my house is a wreck...priorities, priorities!

Thanks again for the help! I'm clinging to everything you send my way. Very Happy

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

No problem. -85dBm is OK. Not great, but OK. When you have time, try hooking up the CDU550 with the y-cable and moving and aiming the device in different directions and then waiting 2 or 3 minutes each time and checking the rssi. Ideally you want to see it moving on down into the -70's.

As for the pictures being compressed there are others on this forum with a lot more experience with Access MobileLink and I'm sure they'll chime in and help you out by directing you straight to where you can make the proper changes. Like I said, I use mine in a router so I never use the Alltel software.

Have a great weekend!

karlyn · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 6:32 am Post subject:

A setting in the web acceleration software is responsible for the pixelation. I believe the software allows you to choose the amount of compression, etc., and you can change the settings so there's no pixelation. Frankly, I think the web acceleration software is just a carryover from the days of 1x -- I uninstalled it since it's separate from the mobilelink software.

There isn't an external antenna jack on the CDU-550 (see this article, last paragraph under CDU-550 Performance). I don't think it's Rev A capable either, which probably isn't important to you now since Alltel is mostly Rev 0, but will be once Alltel gets Rev A deployed. I know how attractive the USB card format can be but this one is sort of lacking in my opinion.

Sorry if I missed this detail -- are you using this in a desktop or laptop? If you got the USB because you're using a desktop there are other options that would allow you to use a pcmcia card with your desktop. Then you could use an external antenna with the pcmcia card to hopefully up your signal strength.

SarahBeth · EVDO Newbie Joined: 10 Aug 2007 Posts: 5

I did get the USB because it's for a desktop at my house...and I thought I had read good reviews about it. It also was free (with rebate)...do you think, since Alltel is still Rev O (I'll pretend I know what all of this means Laughing

), and this one was free, that it would be best to just keep it until they go to Rev A and get something new then?

I read something about possibly getting a USB extender. Do you think that would help the signal strength? If I just had about an extra 18 inches, it could sit in a window sill. I did try the Y cable, but it's so short, and with where my USB ports are on my desktop, there's not really any place to put it. It's too short to sit on top or to put on the desk next to the tower.

Where should I look for the web acceleration software to fix the pixelation? I'm guessing this is going to really slow it down, too, huh...

karlyn · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 8:18 am Post subject:

It's not that I think the CDU-550 is a bad choice, just that it might not be optimal in a situation like yours. I can't offer thoughts on the USB extender since I'm not familiar with them at all.

If you have an open slot in your desktop you could use a the PC5750 ($25 after rebates) with a pcmcia to pci adapter (~$20). The 5750 does have an external antenna port, so that combination would open up all sorts of antenna and amplifier possibilities for you. And the PC5750 is Rev A so you wouldn't have to go buy another card ($$$) when Rev A becomes available. (A year ago I wouldn't have thought I'd see Rev 0 where I live, so who knows!)

Sorry, can't remember where to change the settings other than in the accelerator software which is separate from the mobilelink software (look in your system tray for the icon) and I think the setting was referred to as "image quality."

Gotta run, if someone doesn't beat me to it I'll be back later and explain the differences bt Rev 0 and Rev A.

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