CradlePoint CTR350 1.7 Firmware Released

Michael

CradlePoint has just released Firmware 1.7, here is the release notes:

Phone modems/handsets tested:

Modems

Novatel U720 Modem/Sprint and Verizon
Novatel U727 Modem/Sprint
Sierra Wireless Aircard 595U Modem/Sprint and Verizon
Franklin CDU680/Sprint

Handsets

Motorola v3c RAZR/Sprint and Verizon
LG VX8000/Verizon
LG VX7200/Verizon
Samsung A920/Sprint
Samsung i830/Sprint
Sanyo M1/Sprint
Sanyo Katana 2/Sprint
RIM BlackBerry 8703e/Sprint and Verizon (CTR only)
RIM BlackBerry 8830/Sprint
LG Musiq/Sprint

New features added in this release:

Added Status > Modem Info page along with support for all phones and modems

Added CDU680, i830, Katana support

(deletion) WPAEnterprise security selection removed from products with no WAN port.

BlackBerry password bounce page created. If a Blackberry responds with an authentication failure, this page will come up directing the user to where they can enter a password.

More extensive logging concerning Wireless connectivity

Defects fixed:

WDS fixed and tested between two CTRs (Advanced > Advanced Wireless)

Small issue clean up since last firmware (battery/signal quality parsing
errors)

Tools> Time page defects corrected

WPA pass phrase creation in the Wizard no longer appends random characters

Firmware errata:

Make a backup of your router settings, it will erase all the new settings (A
necessary deletion for the blackberry password fix)

The Configuration File is not checked during “Restore Configuration from File” (Tools > Admin), and can push bad data causing a JavaScript scripting error.

Download at:

http://www.cradlepoint.com/ctr350/download.php
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wtleaver · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 9:30 pm Post subject:

My observations after installing the new firmware:

Download speed with CDU-680 attached is not up to par with download speed with EX720 attached (via expresscard to usb adapter). Here are the measurements returned by speedtest.net, 5 tests with each device:

CTR-350 with CDU-680

Ping/Down/Up
226 828 330
143 834 322
149 640 329
223 863 329
175 855 359

CTR-350 with EX720

Ping/Down/Up
215 1304 87
243 1248 146
252 1179 105
204 999 120
221 1073 105

The upload speeds are fine with the CDU-680, but upload speeds with the EX720 tanked compared to the same tests run earlier today:

http://www.evdoforums.com/about7367.html

So, basically, this firmware gives me the ability to use the CDU-680 with deficient downloads speeds but good upload speeds, or I can stick with the EX720 for better download speeds but poor upload speeds.

I definitely prefer the CradlePoint/Franklin combo for portability and the ability to pop the CDU-680 off and use it directly with a computer. I wish the download speeds were on par with the EX720 though.

Can someone with 3gstore test the same devices, and if able to produce similar results, pass them on to Cradlepoint in the hopes they'll work out the kinks?

Michael · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 9:40 pm Post subject:

We will continue to do testing with all the supported devices over the next few days.

FYI, the development team at CradlePoint watches what is posted up here.
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wtleaver · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 10:38 pm Post subject:

Thanks Michael! If it's okay, I'll continue to post my observations. (If a new thread would be better, just let me know).

The above tests were performed with the CDU-680 and EX720 in the same exact spot. I have since tested heavily while adjusting the position of the CDU-680, and was able to obtain similar results as with the EX720, just in a slightly different spot.

Interestingly, slight variations in position seem to make for big differences in throughput.

Even when I found what I thought was a good position that was giving me in the 1000-1200kbps download range, once I moved downstairs the same system seems to be giving me lower speeds again, as though distance from the router has an impact, which I would not expect.

I have yet to test the EX720 upload speed problem more, but will try to do that as well at some point.

Eventually hopefully there will be a booster antenna option for the CDU-680, and hopefully that will help provide a more consistent throughput.

All in all, the cradlepoint router is a fantastic device. I just want to make sure I can get the same performance with the CDU-680 attached as I could with the EX720 and the previous firmware.

Alex · Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 9:06 am Post subject:

wtleaver · Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 9:44 am Post subject:

I did wonder about the signal strength between the two devices while I was testing last night. The cradlepoint displays a "signal quality" number in it diagnostics, and was showing 82 max for the EX720, 32 max for the CDU-680. It could be the two devices simply have different signal reception capabilities, which I can hopefully overcome with an antenna - which from another post may be soon forthcoming for the CDU-680.

I don't know about the HAs, but will try to check when time permits. I'm fairly new to EVDO and haven't messed with the advanced settings/special codes yet.

I did notice that throughput varied widely when the CDU-680 was repositioned slightly within a space that was less than a square foot total. (The top of a home theatre sub woofer near a window upstairs). Even when left in the same place, but with the CDU-680 positioned differently on it's hinged USB connection, the numbers would vary wildly. For example, there was one spot where the CDU-680 was positioned vertically with the LEDs facing the window, and I was getting 1100-1200kbps downloads, but uploads sank to less than 100kbps. Without moving anything, simply pulling the CDU-680 down to a 45 degree angle on it's hinge, (the next stop of about 6 total positions I think), the download speeds sank to about 800kbps, while upload climbed to the 350kbps range. It would seem this device is very dependent on its antenna orientation.

Alex · Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 9:49 am Post subject:

wtleaver · Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 9:55 am Post subject:

jackrodgers · EVDO Addict Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 1131

Sprints speeds have been tanking in the last week. Some tests using Sprints web page dropped to 200 and only today have they returned but a bit higher than normal which is 800-1000 in my tests. Today it hit 1200. Now its back to 600.

wtleaver · Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 3:07 pm Post subject:

Upload speeds with the EX720 on the Cradlepoint 1.7 firmware are back up to >200kbps now, so I guess firmware as the culprit can be ruled out. It was very odd the sudden, consistent crash of upload speed immediately after the firmware upgrade, while uploads were fine with the CDU-680.

Jim_in_VA · Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 3:17 pm Post subject:

so which side of theCDU-680 is the antenna side?

wtleaver · Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 3:54 pm Post subject:

jackrodgers · EVDO Addict Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 1131

Gads, we've returned to the old days of TV where one person was designated to hold up the indoor antenna and move it about until a hot spot was found for the best image... Razz

Forgive me father for I have grinned...

We did learn to take coat hangers and hook them to the screws on the back of the TV and then connect them to the window screens..zounds...

Where's the genius who can create some small device to plug the cards into with a real meter for signal strength and so on. After all Star Trek and Voyager have these neat hand held devices that read everything.