KPC680 with the Kyocera KR1 Router on Alltel Access

Guest

OK, here is the story as it has unfolded thus far. I will try to keep this thread updated and current as I go along.

Last week Friday, I signed up with Alltel and purchased a Kyocera KPC-680 card. After testing it in my laptop all weekend, I ordered the KR1 router from the folks at 3G.

I only ordered the router AFTER talking to Kyocera (D-Link) tech support about HOW to make the KPC680 work with the KR1 in an APPROVED and tested fashion. I was told that I should get the NEWEST KPC680 which includes the PCMCIA adapter (sled) in the box. That sled, card, and router were a "great match" according to some level 2 moron at Kyocera/D-Link. I even ASKED about why their webpage says the KR1 supports the KPC 680 ONLY with their USB adapter (which doesn't exist). I was told that was a misprint, and the REALLY meant PCMCIA adapter....

OK, fast forward to yesterday. I now have the card, sled, and router. Guess what?.....no signal, no connectivity. YES, the card lit up red, then blue which means it powered up, but the card was NOT reporting any sort of signal level or availability to the router.

Contacted 3G support and got Torry. He was surprised it didn't work. We tried many different things, and left it that him and I would talk again today after he did some more digging. I then called Kyocera again, spent over a hour on the phone with them. Finally a tech manager stated that they ONLY will support the KPC680 in the KR1 via a USB to ExpressCard adapter. I informed him that they didn't have one, and he knew that, but stated that ANY USB to ExpressCard adapter would work.

Called 3G inside sales today, got a young man, I forget his name. He says NO WAY.....the ONLY way he knows that it will works is if I use THEIR Novatel sled. Talked to Torry again, him and I are on the same wavelength because neither of us believe the sled can make ANY difference with the router/card combo. He tends to think I may have a bad router, but who knows for sure.

So, what is the bottom line?? I ordered a SIIG USB to ExpressCard adapter from 3G AND I ordered the Novatel sled from them as well. If neither works, its the router. If both work, its the Kyocera sled. This stuff will arrive tomorrow and I will have a POSITIVE answer for WHAT truly works with regards to the KPC680 and the KR1.

What I will say is that Kyocera really blows if their card/sled/router can't function together. We'll know more tomorrow.....

FLTRider

Chuong · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 11 Aug 2006 Posts: 25

It is a nice work.I am waiting to get one for my KPC680.
CHuong

Alex · Site Admin Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Posts: 1943

Guest · Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 8:41 pm Post subject:

Alex, I hope I didn't offend you with the "young man" comment....but I'm pretty sure my 50ish years on this planet qualifies me to state you are a young man....

Anyway, I also don't mean to imply ANYTHING wrong with 3G in anyway. I am concerned that Torry and I don't believe there is any difference in sleds, but if thats the case, then I have a defective KR1 router.

I know I did dig a little on the price of the adapters, but I thought MSRP on the SIIG item was $32, but I could be wrong. Hey, what's $18 in the grand scheme of things anyway.

The nice thing is that you are 1 day away via FedEx Ground, so my items will be here tomorrow. I have a volleyball game to watch in the PM, then its PLAY TIME. I should have answers to these burning questions by tomorrow evening.....

FLTRider

Alex · Site Admin Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Posts: 1943

no offense taken at all. i just found it flattering/funny to be called young!

i look forward to your discovery process tomorrow night

karlyn · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 5:22 am Post subject:

Torrey and Alex are two of 3Gstore's aces.

LordFlux tried the SIIG Express Card to Cardbus adapter/sled with his KPC680/KR1 before purchasing the Novatel XCA-3 and only had limited success with that sled, too. Seems like the sleds are not as plug-n-play as we'd like them to be.

Looking forward to your test results. I've been thinking of switching from my current PC5750/Linksys combination to the KPC680/KR1 so I can use the aircard directly in one of my laptops instead of always having to take the router out to client sites. The continuing lack of an external antenna is also a problem.

FLTRider -- did you talk with Alltel about your poor signal strength?

Guest · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 6:55 am Post subject:

You are correct about LordFlux, but I will be testing the SIIG USB to ExpressCard adapter, not their sled. I am caught between two schools of thought.

1. You have Alex who goes by history and what people report here, and that is that the Novatel Sled is the only way to make it work.

2. You have me and Torry who believe that the Kyocera sled SHOULD have worked, but didn't. That leads Torry to think I may have a bad router. However, my discussions with Kyocera/D-Link showed that they ONLY support the KPC680 in the KR1 via a USB to ExpressCard adapter...which they don't offer yet. They did say that ANY would work.

So thats why I am where I am. I have the Novatel sled coming to prove whether or not the sled makes a difference or if I have a bad router. I also have a USB to ExpressCard adapter (SIIG) coming to prove/disprove Kyocera/D-Link. In the end, I plan to have a CONCRETE answer for what works and doesn't work with regards to the KR1/KPC680/Alltel.

I forgot to vent my frustration with Alltel as well. Their support of their cards and the KR1 is horrible. They still promote and sell them as being usable together. I sure hope they read this, because THEY ARE NOT, SO QUIT PROMOTING/SELLING THEM. In fact, based on the cards that Alltel does sell, none of them are compatible with the KR1 at this time.

I did not speak with them about signal strength just yet....but that is probably my issue anyway. I will eventually use an external antenna and get it OUTSIDE where my signal quality is much better.

FLTRider

karlyn · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 11:33 am Post subject:

Guest · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 11:41 am Post subject:

You are certainly not pestering me at all!! Thanks for the insight. Being an engineer (electrical and software) does cause me pains in issues like this, because it becomes a MISSION and I want to know all there is to know, and in turn, document it for others.

My goal is to offer a clear path for people with the KPC680 and the KR1 which is tested, and meets Kyocera's criteria.....if thats possible since the dopes don't have a product to make the 2 work together for Alltel....
Perhaps this is why Sprint and Verizon DON'T offer this card yet....ya think??? I have been all over Alltel about selling these two items, and not having ANY cards listed on their site that are compatible with the KR1.

My local guys have ordered me a KPC650, which is not on their site, but is know to work in the KR1. That is my last resort since it is not Rev. A compatible and I assume Rev A. will be here sometime during my contract period....

FLTRider

Guest · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 7:48 pm Post subject: Hmmm.....

I'm not sure what to post just yet.....but I am finding some STRANGE results that do NOT line up with what others are posting here.

First of all, the Novatel sled, while it did get a LITTLE further that the Kyocera sled, did not allow me to connect. It did allow the KPC680 to report in to the KR1, but would not connect at all.....

I'm not calling those who have posted the contrary liars....but I am curious if they were using the KPC680, inside a KR1 router, connecting to ALLTEL....

Now, also based on my findings tonigt, the SIIG USB to ExpressCard adapter worked on the very first try and keeps working as of right now. Simply plug the card into the SIIG, then plug the USB cable from the SIIG into the KR1 and it works....

I am going to play around some more, but that Novatel thing sure concerns me. Do I have a bad router? Did the other who have had success use the same card, router, and provider? I don't know...

Again, the findings are OK yet strange....

FLTRider

Guest · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 6:28 am Post subject:

I will also note that sometime during the night, I lost connection. That does NOT make me happy. I was hoping the whole Alltel 12 hour disconnect thing would not effect me, but it looks like it does.

If that is the case, that would be a deal breaker unless I put a plug-in timer in front of the router to shut it down for a few minutes every 8-11 hours.

I have a KPC650 coming as well mainly because the availability of an external antenna which I think I need as well. More later....

FLTRider

LordFlux · EVDO User Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 46

Just wanted to post up that I've been using the Novatel sled adapter for a couple of weeks now and it's been solid. I am using Alltel as my service provider.

Have you performed any speed tests using the other SIIG adapter? The SIIG sled would allow me to connect, but the speeds were horrendous.

Guest · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 7:20 am Post subject:

The speeds were "ok" but varied from REALLY SLOW to really fast....I also think this has something to do with my signal quality as well.

But, PLEASE tell me what firmware rev you have on your KR1. Also, what did you put in for the user name, password, and server fields in the Basic EVDO setup of the KR1. That is the ONLY place I see that I could have messed up with the Novatel sled....it truly makes no difference with the SIIG adapter....or so it seems.

FLTRider

LordFlux · EVDO User Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 46

I had RK1010 when the Novatel adapter came in the mail. Worked fine with it. I've since upgraded to RK1011 and haven't had any problems with it either.

For the userfield, I have the phone number assigned to my data card, and then @alltel.com. Then the password is alltel. Server-name field is blank. These are the settings the local Alltel rep told me to use.

So it looks like this:

User Name: 1234567890@alltel.com
password: alltel
Retype password: alltel
Server-name:
Dial-Number: #777

Guest · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 7:36 am Post subject:

I'm curious, leave them blank and tell me what happens....