Verizon usage info via the router or modem?????

dantharp · EVDO Newbie Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 9

I just got a Kyocera KR2 EVDO Router with a Novatel USB720 modem, wirelessly connecting to 2 PCs (rarely used at the same time) and soon to be connected to an XBOX 360. Everything absolutely ROCKS so far....I live right next to a tower so my download/upload speeds are fantastic.
However, I've had my service in place since 6/9 and just today (6/13) the usage info on Verizon's site is finally showing up...but as of 6/11 data. So my usage info online is a full 2 days old.
Does anyone else have this problem with Verizon's usage info being not-so-current?

More importantly, is there any other way to get usage info, perhaps via the router or modem itself?
Note: I'm NOT running the modem on a PC so that VZAccess app isn't in the picture.
Does anyone know of a way to pull usage information from the router or connect remotely to the modem and pull stats off of it?
I'll do everything I can to stay under the 5 Gig /month limit, but I'm starting to think I won't be able to trust Verizon's usage stats.

Thanks in advance.
Dan Tharp
dantharpmusic.com

jjamison · EVDO Newbie Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 5

I'm interested in an answer to the question as well. I registered on the Verizon web page and entered my modem number and the page said they would text me a temp password and snail mail it if they can't text. Is this what you did? Thanks in advance, j

SignalSeeker · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 28 May 2008 Posts: 25

On my Verizon page the usage data seems to be 2 days old also. I am pretty sure none of the routers will keep track of usage. I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong.

Justin

dantharp · EVDO Newbie Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 9

Yeah, a support person pretty much admitted that....there's some kind of problem with their measuring of usage. (They can't even get "K" vs. "Mb" straight!)
I've had days when it read one usage level, and then two days later, my usage was LOWER.
LOWER!?!?!?
Huh?
Then it went back up again...not to what it was before, but something entirely different.
I would recommend this:
1 - Make sure you're as close to 5 Gig as you can be...if you go over, only go over by a very very small amount.
2 - Print out to PDF EVERY day, what your usage says (I use PrimoPDF).
Keep track of it day by day....just in case.
So if you get stuck with extra charges, you can make a case that their tracking is wacked out...especially if you can show inconsistancy from day to day.
Just a guess as to whether this will work...this is my first month.
But it sounds like it's a "best guess" on their part. I don't think they're looking for someone like me who might come in at 5.2 Gig or something like that. They're looking for Mr/Mrs 7 Gig or 10 Gig or 15 Gig users.

dan1101 · EVDO User Joined: 17 May 2007 Posts: 64

I signed up on 07/10. I normally use my KR1 but I put the USB720 in my laptop so I could check the usage in VZAccess Manager. Similar to what others have seen, it says I used 91MB as of 07/10. I don't think that's possible, I was just testing it out on 07/10 and didn't download anything of size. And why wouldn't it be through today (07/12)? Is it getting the info from my laptop, the USB720, or Verizon's computer?

Edit: Just checked through their 800 number, says the same thing, 91MB as of 07/10. Doesn't Verizon have like, computers to count that stuff? If they don't know now how much I've used in the last 48 hours, how will they know later? Confused

dan1101 · EVDO User Joined: 17 May 2007 Posts: 64

Now this morning the phone system says 2.21 MB as of 07/12 (yesterday.) WTF? Does that mean they sent me a bill in the past couple days and reset everything? Guess I'll find out.

I love how their system isn't designed for data cards. To sign up for the My Verizon or whatever online, they text your password to your cell phone. Umm, how do I retrieve text messages from a USB720?

SignalSeeker · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 28 May 2008 Posts: 25

dan1101 · EVDO User Joined: 17 May 2007 Posts: 64

Normally I have the USB720 hooked into a router, but I have it plugged into my PC right now. I do now see the message in VZAccess Manager. Now I can log into MyVerizon to see the usage instead of having to plug the USB720 into my PC.

dan1101 · EVDO User Joined: 17 May 2007 Posts: 64

On VerizonWireless.com this is the details of my usage:

07/13/2008 3:01 PM BBA 5GB $0.25MB WITH CAP 47.95 KB
07/13/2008 4:07 PM BBA 5GB $0.25MB WITH CAP 7.69 KB
07/13/2008 4:22 PM BBA 5GB $0.25MB WITH CAP 11.5 KB
07/13/2008 4:39 PM BBA 5GB $0.25MB WITH CAP 0.01 KB
07/13/2008 5:44 PM BBA 5GB $0.25MB WITH CAP 8.74 KB
07/13/2008 6:03 PM BBA 5GB $0.25MB WITH CAP 40.99 KB
07/13/2008 6:26 PM BBA 5GB $0.25MB WITH CAP 27.96 KB
07/10/2008 9:19 PM BBA 5GB $0.25MB WITH CAP 0.4 KB
07/10/2008 9:28 PM BBA 5GB $0.25MB WITH CAP 97.35 KB

That makes no sense at all because my total usage is supposed to be 200 MB, and these numbers add up nowhere near that. I know yesterday (07/13), I downloaded several game maps that were 6 or 7 MB at least. Plus a lot of surfing and gaming.

It doesn't even show any activity for 07/11 and 07/12, which is not correct at all.

I guess it's a lot better that they undercount, but still it's scary that they don't report the right numbers because it could just as easily be higher than my actual usage.

dantharp · EVDO Newbie Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 9

I think those "KB"s should be "MB"s...each number representing the MegaBytes they think you've used...not "KiloBytes".....so your numbers shown would add up to 242.59 MB (or something like that...I added quick).
So you're definitely over your 200 you were thinking you were at.
I don't think the usage pages are ever correct. They seem to show MB when they should KB and visa versa. You kind of have to know the context to know which is correct.
And yeah...I've had all kinds of times when entire ranges of days would show up missing...and then suddenly appear out of nowhere.
Or, get this: Say you're going along and you hit 1.2 G, 1.5 G, and then the next day you're at 900 M.
Huh? It went down?
That's happened to me more than once.
One really smart (?) support person told me once it was because my modem area code had a different area code than my cell phone.
Huh?
So, they switched the modem to match the phone.
So, now....my counts are wanked up...I can't see the old modem's info and I can only see the current stuff.
Did they start me over with a fresh count?
Nope....they still were keeping track of it behind the scenes even though the usage pages didn't show it...and if I called support, they couldn't see it either.
So, I just got my first bill and....you guessed it...I'm over....to the tune of $118.
Nice.
Right after a support person told me the week before not to worry if I go over a little bit....."We're only after the heavy users" he said.
BS!
Don't trust them...they're either lying or they don't know what they're talking about.
If you have any doubts about something they say, call back again and again and talk to several different people until you get a better feel for the correct answer.
Don't mean to rant....just a little miffed about Verizon right now.
:O)

Lesson: Shoot low. Never assume what you see on their usage pages is correct.
In fact, here's another "FYI": The usage information is mostly wrong (out-of-date/unsynchronized) near the end of the month...right when you need it the MOST?
Accidental?
I think not. :O)
Dan

dan1101 · EVDO User Joined: 17 May 2007 Posts: 64

Ah, you're right. Substitute MB for KB and it makes more sense.

m3th1cal · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 8:00 pm Post subject: USB720

I got my KR2 in the mail today and hooked it up with the USB720 and have no connection. It does not show up in VZ Access. How do you use it?

dan1101 · EVDO User Joined: 17 May 2007 Posts: 64

Now they've added entries for 07/11 and 07/12, and a bunch more for 07/13. Reminds me of hospital billing!

I absolutely didn't use it at all yesterday, it'll be interesting to see if anything shows up for 07/14.

07/10/2008 9:19 PM BBA 5GB $0.25MB WITH CAP 0.4 KB
07/10/2008 9:28 PM BBA 5GB $0.25MB WITH CAP 97.35 KB
07/11/2008 9:23 PM BBA 5GB $0.25MB WITH CAP 7.22 KB
07/12/2008 9:19 PM BBA 5GB $0.25MB WITH CAP 1.81 KB
07/12/2008 9:39 PM BBA 5GB $0.25MB WITH CAP 0.01 KB
07/12/2008 9:41 PM BBA 5GB $0.25MB WITH CAP 0.09 KB
07/12/2008 9:42 PM BBA 5GB $0.25MB WITH CAP 0.01 KB
07/12/2008 9:48 PM BBA 5GB $0.25MB WITH CAP 199.94 KB
07/13/2008 9:59 AM BBA 5GB $0.25MB WITH CAP 23.62 KB
07/13/2008 11:00 AM BBA 5GB $0.25MB WITH CAP 38.29 KB
07/13/2008 12:55 PM BBA 5GB $0.25MB WITH CAP 0.16 KB
07/13/2008 2:12 PM BBA 5GB $0.25MB WITH CAP 9.7 KB
07/13/2008 2:38 PM BBA 5GB $0.25MB WITH CAP 7.59 KB
07/13/2008 2:49 PM BBA 5GB $0.25MB WITH CAP 9.56 KB
07/13/2008 4:42 PM BBA 5GB $0.25MB WITH CAP 48.58 KB
07/13/2008 5:40 PM BBA 5GB $0.25MB WITH CAP 0.56 KB

dan1101 · EVDO User Joined: 17 May 2007 Posts: 64

m3th1cal · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:51 am Post subject: USB720

I have used the USB720 for several months. Are you saying I cannot hook it directly to the KR2? How can I share the connection then? Kyocera says it is compatible. I tried to share connection with a belken router but it wont share the internet. I am confused. What is the point of the router if I could have just bought a 30$ router?