At my wit's end w/ USB720 and losing USB connect.. Help!

Damn Dirty Ape

Ok, I have the verizon usb720 tethered with the y cable. Been using it with no problems whatsoever since late Feb of 07. Went from about -90 to about -100 avg when the trees leafed out. Still no problems.

Fast-forward to about 10 days ago, randomly the modem will fail to be found , and I will hear the familiar sounds of USB being disconnected, then maybe 10 seconds later it be reconnected and the BANG of VZAM complaining that the modem cannot be located.

It can happen after 5 minutes of surfing or 5 hours. It can also happen when I just have the modem connected and the (latest revision) of vzam open. (not connected). It happens on both an hp laptop with xp sp2, and a gateway w/ vista premium. Different houses, one with rssi of about 80 and the other with about 100.

This JUST started about 10 days ago.

I have gotten a new (not refurb) modem and cable at the closest store. No difference. Daytime, nighttime, no difference.

Does ANYONE have any ideas on this at all? The store techs are not that technical. Could it be the base station doing something? I'm completely lost.

thanks for any help or ideas to try.

socksbb · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 12:31 am Post subject:

I have had a sprint card that would always give me the disconnect issue. The solution was to use NDIS mode, and not use the Connection Manager.

Give that a try.

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

In case NDIS doesn't work did you also get a new y-cable when you exchanged the device? There's a chance the USB connection has gotten damaged or something. Loose, corrosion, etc. I only say that because it's the only common denominator if they didn't exchange it. If it's the same one try the device plugged straight into the laptop and/or the desktop and see what happens. I'd try it without the y-cable even if they did give you a new one just to rule it out. You can never tell . . . . . .

Damn Dirty Ape · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 7:45 am Post subject:

I first got the modem exchanged about 5 days ago, then went yesterday and got the y cable replaced. I had forgotten to take it with me when I swapped the modem.

The issue is happening on two different laptops, one almost brand new , the other about a year and a half old, so different USB ports even.

It's really getting to me that a connection doesn't even have to be present, I can just have vzam open and the modem connected with a steady green light and it will still happen.

I've never had this problem until about 10 days ago on a Sunday morning. Since then it has pretty much been anywhere from 2-8 times a day or more. What is this NDIS?

tgreene1 · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 7:49 am Post subject: Similar Issue

I had a similar issue with the U720 for Sprint. I called Sprint and the technician told me to go to Network Connections and delete the Sprint Mobile Broadband - Novatel Wireless in the dialup section (there were two icons there, one which was Sprint Mobile Broadband - Novatel Wireless). Then he told me to reboot. Once I rebooted, the icon reappeared and I was able to connect again without constant disconnects. Apparently the software corrupted just enough to mess with the connection causing it to disconnect frequently. Hope that helps your issue.
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Damn Dirty Ape · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 3:04 pm Post subject:

I called and got a trouble ticket going, but they are stumped too..

tried uninstalling and going back a revision on the access manager software, same thing. Tried with and without the y cable, no difference.

It's almost like the modem is powering off, THEN windows is saying 'hey, he left us..... whoa.. he's back, but no power status'.

Damn Dirty Ape · Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 6:44 pm Post subject:

Hmm... called on Friday and started a trouble ticket... As I suspected.

Even though I have a total of 3 laptops (clean restore from the factory DVD, patched to current), the problem is on my system(s).

Let's see, a 2 yr old HP w/ XP SP2, 6 month old Gateway w/ Vista Home Prem, and a 2wk old Compaq w/ Vista Ultimate. All patched to current, and at time of testing the only thing installed is the latest VZ access manager.

The USB720 powers down, windows kicks it from the bus, then re-recognizes it, but it stays powered off. That throws the access manager into a not responding state and until I unplug the replug the modem it won't power back on.

A couple levels of support say "nothing wrong with the system in your area, you should contact your computer MAKERS to see if they have any idea how to resolve this problem for you as it is with your systems". Un-freaking-real.

3 laptops start doing the same thing the same DAY, with different OS/s, different processors/motherboards.

I went to a Rev A area yesterday and enjoyed a 2hr session with no problems.

Sometimes the session won't last more than 3-4 minutes, sometimes 3hrs. All end with access manager not finding the modem.

Anyone?

Damn Dirty Ape · Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 6:45 pm Post subject:

crash · Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 10:27 pm Post subject:

::drags soapbox over::
Hey, ya'll. Thanks for the forum, the info, and the company.
Ive got a Sprint U720 for a few months. Previous and current (3.09.013) SCM. I try all the suggestions whenever they become suggested and mine disconnects whenever it feels like.
The modem becomes unresponsive, not present, (and I then remove/replug...) and then its either 'normal' or crawls at 4K download whenever the modem decides to. I'm in northern Virginia, except when I'm in Maryland near Delaware. The modem sits on the same windowsill(s), and is always plugged into the same USB port(s) with or without the teather. I have tried different USB ports.
I've got 2 different HPs, but I usually use the same one and take it with me. Main computer is Vista home premium, AMD64, and 2 gig. Alternate computer is XP Pro, an AMD 3500 and 4 gigs. Both are updated w/in 24 to 48 hours of new update release, A/V is NOD32, no Norton. I'm set to use NDIS through the SCM and I use the SCM most often for monitoring signal strength, (usually 1-3 bars, fluctuates fast and often), but its randomly usable connecting through windows dialup manager as well. And I still don't understand why I have a 3G connection option as well as the Sprint Mobile BB connection. Rolling Eyes

Did I leave out anything important?

::kicks the soapbox back into the center of the room.::

roquemore · EVDO Newbie Joined: 27 Aug 2008 Posts: 1

Just wondering if you ever figured out what the problem was - I have a friend that just started having the exact same problem. I've turned off the abilty for windows to turn the power off to the device and changed all settings in the power options to have everything stay on. There seems to be no pattern - it might be 5 minutes or it might be 5 hours when the device turns off or loses power.

Any help will be appreciated.

Akkaid · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 17 Mar 2008 Posts: 18

Same exact problem here.

No one has a work around yet?

ChoP · EVDO User Joined: 13 Jul 2008 Posts: 30

I think you may find this may end up being a physical hardware problem with the card and may well be connected to power synchronization by the Cell Tower. The lower the Signal the more voltage required by the modem to boost the signal for power synchronization to the Cell Tower. It may be that the usb ports are having a problem with power synchronization on the second usb port when the required power demand comes by the modem.

Try using the modem without the Y- cable and see what happens!!!

You could also try a powered usb hub and see if that solves the problem

Akkaid · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 17 Mar 2008 Posts: 18

I'll try using the card without the Y cable. Also, what is this NDIS I hear of?

Im confused because the powerlight on the modem is on, the computer says it is connected, but the VZAM says the card is not connected. GOing nuts here.

ChoP · EVDO User Joined: 13 Jul 2008 Posts: 30

You could check the Windows "Event viewer" and see if an error is registered for the hardware failure (USB Controller). You may need to clear the log and then let the failure repeat so you start out with a clean log, this way the problem should be easy to spot. The "Event viewer" should flag the failure and give you some idea as to what interrupted the port and caused the failure.