Strange Performance Issue in Plainsboro NJ

minchin · EVDO Newbie Joined: 15 Jan 2008 Posts: 4

I have been using an Novatel U727 card on a Cradlepoint CTR-350 for the past 2 months with good result. However, since 4/4/2008, for some strange reason, my upload speed has reduced to 3-8Kbps... that's right, kilobits.
Download, however, is normally quite good at around 400Kbps (nothing to brag about, but that's what I would get consistently. Connection strength is about -89dBm.

I cannot understand what could have gone wrong that it went from fairly good performance to such low upload performance. It could not be the connection since I am downloading just fine.

I have spoken to more than 8 techs, all are only able to troubleshoot connection issue to the towers but have no way or clue to explain why I can get good download but such bad upload. One suggested that I have a bad card, but that was dispelled when I ask a friend to drive me around while I surf. Just a 8 min walk distance from my house, the connection speed could suddenly pickup and all is fine. So it wasn't the hardware or the network being overloaded.

The strange thing is that it all happened suddenly from 4/4/2008 and there was a service alert in NJ/NY area. I just don't know how to convince Sprint that there is something strange in my area. They all say the tower is having good throughput and connection rate at Evdo Rev-A is very good.

Any other ideas? Could the installation of additional transmitter (say T-mobile or Verizon) on the same tower as Sprint cause some sort of signal degradation? Some sort of interference pattern that are resulted?

Min

mfisch · EVDO User Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 27

I'm in upstate NY and also using the NJ HA because the NY one appears dead.

I've been seeing strange connection problems too, I think the NJ HA is just maxed out. I don't switch to another because I don't want my latency to go too high.

Try the following experiments:

Disconnect/Reconnect card
Is it better for a little while?

Switch the primary/backup HA.
Is it better for a little while?

Switch to a totally different HA region
Is it all better?

-Matt

mfisch · EVDO User Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 27

Michael · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:44 pm Post subject:

Wonder if this is related to this announcement:

http://www.evdoinfo.com/content/view/2316/64/
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mfisch · EVDO User Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 27

I'm not really anywhere near syracuse, but who knows. The NJ HA seems to serve the entire northeast from PA to Maine.

My issue might even be a local tower issue (new issue). I'll try getting help from sprint customer service I guess.

Its just so strange it flaps back and forth. It's almost like a bird flew into the microwave backhaul dish and knocked it off course.

minchin · EVDO Newbie Joined: 15 Jan 2008 Posts: 4

engineer had to replace some faulty hardware...."

So I back online in full speed. Overall, lesson I learnt:

1. Overall, while Sprint tech support team is generally polite and patient BUT is completely useless. All they can do is keep diagnosting your Connection manager software, upgrade version, suggest you clean your C: drive etc etc. They would not admit and refuse to believe that there could be anything wrong with their equipment (which I suggested from day one).

2. Broadband cards are fragile. I have the card up pretty much 24x7 for 3 months. Although it is not 100% conclusive, my old card could indeed be a bit haywired.... I am now taking the insurance on the equipment.

3. It is BS that says they will act within 3 days... it took them 1 week to even willing to file a network ticket to have an engineer come out... then another week for an engineer to actually come out.

Overall, I must say, Sprint did follow up on each ticket, albeit not really solving the issue. Frankly, those of us who use EVDO broadband are still in the minority. That's why when a tower has an issue, they don't actually get that many complains I think.... Will I recommend Sprint EVDO? Yes, I would still say it is really cool to be able to connect almost everywhere.... but I would recommend you take the hardware insurance (which I did add).