Sporadic speeds with Alltel/router question--input welcomed

gabbott · EVDO Newbie Joined: 30 Aug 2008 Posts: 2

I am in the middle of the trial period with Alltel internet. To those of you that have been Alltel internet users for a while now, is it common for the speed to be sporadic?

Sometimes it seems very fast and then in an instant it can drop to a crawl. For example, earlier today I was surfing along at 1100+kbps download, 100+kbps upload. Then it dropped dramatically, to 136 download, 95 upload. I'm wondering if this is something I can expect or if this is an indicator of a problem.

Also, should I decide to stick with Alltel internet, I will need a router. Will using a router diminish the speed at all or can I expect around the same speeds?

Thanks in advance for any comments on this!

F34R · EVDO Junkie Joined: 27 Sep 2007 Posts: 170

sounds like it switched from the evdo signal to a 1xrtt signal. what strength signal are you getting? try connecting w/o the router, and check your signal strength in your Quicklink Mobile control panel. HELP > About >...

check the RSSI number. Post it if you can pls.

Krileon · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 5:45 am Post subject:

Yes lately the connection has been doing this.

I experience the same effect regardless of signal strength, but just for laughs I'll say mine. -69 RSSI for EVDO. Yep that's right -69 and I still get slammed down to 1x for no reason.

Alltel is jacking with the network and it's ticking me off. Already argueing with them to get a months time credited to my account. Not paying for this and if I cancel I'm not paying a termination fee.

This internet is GARBAGE. Cancel it while you can and get some other carrier.

My satellite sucks for gaming, but at least I can actually use the freaken internet. When I get booted to 1x it is either the page won't load or it flat out disconnects me.

Yes you'll need a router to give connection to multiple PCs or wireless devices. No it won't diminish speeds. In some cases it actually increases speeds.

Also to the folks wondering. Yes I have an antenna. It doesn't matter as I said. The network will boot me, you, or anyone else for no reason at all. I rather have the proxy then deal with this crap.

gabbott · EVDO Newbie Joined: 30 Aug 2008 Posts: 2

Sorry, I'm a little bit green when it comes this, so forgive me for any seemingly inane questions Smile

When the speeds are all over the place, it may be switching from EVDO to 1xrtt. Though with these recent speed fluctuatios, I've never noticed the DO indicator on the QuickLink window switching to 1X, it just shows DO consistently.

I get anywhere from 2-3 bars and sometimes 4 bars, though if it shows 4 bars that is only briefly. When I opened the QuickLink mobile window to check and for the RSSI for 1xEVDO seems to vary. Within the span of probably less than a minute it went from -78dBm, then -79dBm, then -83dBm, then back to -79dBm. The RSSI by 1xRTT seems to be constant at -75dBm. I have not connected a router yet, the UT150 is connected directly into a USB port on my PC.

This morning when I got on, it seemed to be doing the same thing....it will be very fast and then move at a snail's pace/hang. The longer this goes on the more frustrated I get. I telecommute for work and when Alltel is fast, it's great but when it drops to 100kbps it is awful. A consistent speed would be great but I'm guessing that isn't likely?

Another beginner question.....what, if anything, can be done to boost speeds or at least make the speed more consistent?

Dealing with Alltel tech support leaves me frustrated and doesn't yield much if any improvement. At their suggestion, I've already returned the first UT150 I got and exchanged it for another, which is the one I am using now. After much hassle, I got a slight small extension to the "trial period" to give me more time to see if this is going to work. I have purchased a MBR1000 router but haven't hooked it up yet....I wanted to see if the problems with only 1 PC connected would resolve themselves before 2 were connected.

I had hoped to ditch HughesNet for Alltel. I am tired of living in fear of the FAP and the 24 hours of dialup speed if you violate it, even though this has only happened a handful of times. I've also had problems watching videos, You tube, etc with HughesNet, yet another reason for the switch. The only available options other than dialup are satellite or cell internet, no DSL/cable here.

Thanks for input!

Krileon · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:16 am Post subject:

You can get an antenna, but won't do you a damn bit of good.

As I said I'm getting beyond the limit of the connections capability in signal strength. Yet it'll drop to a snails crawl. It'll kick me to 1x or my DO will act like it's 1x.

Been doing this garbage the past like 2 months. Welcome to the pile of crap network called Alltel.

I'm telling you, cancel while you can. You do not want to be screwed like me stuck in a 2 year contract with internet you can hardly use. I have 2 internet bills now because I can't cancel my satellite or the many.. many.. MANY days my wireless craps out.. I won't have internet.

If there's another carrier.. go with them.

Suck up the FAP limit and monitor your usage. At least you can still use the internet under FAP. 1x is almost impossible. Have to refresh 6 times just to get my dang yahoo inbox to load.. and that's with old style no graphics inbox too.

or you can stick with it and pray (like I have to do) and hope it gets better.. Your choice, but there's no solution to your problem other then alltel to stop screwing with their network.

phinsup · EVDO User Joined: 21 Feb 2008 Posts: 56

i have an antenna on mine, full signal strength and its always connected to rev a, still have the same issue, in fact it completely disconnects on a regular basis.

Krileon · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 12:53 pm Post subject:

F34R · EVDO Junkie Joined: 27 Sep 2007 Posts: 170

what areas are you guys that are experiencing these problems in ? Have you tried submitting trouble tickets, talking with tech support, etc.?

Capt.Dan · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:46 pm Post subject:

Krileon · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 6:46 am Post subject:

Capt.Dan · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 7:35 pm Post subject:

Krileon, I get the kid at the store today do something i never seen before. There is a code at there computer and i never saw it till today. It was changed to AX60 from..???I can't remember. they told me I had a out of date code...I thought they was talking about the Prl code but this is something else. Something about the towers here in this area but I don't remember this from before??? The PRL on mine is 40036 but this change to AX60..That is a mystery to me?? Another code to hunt with?? Maybe worth checking out. Anyone here at 3g know what the heck they are talking about??? Rolling Eyes

Krileon · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 6:24 am Post subject:

skunkdjf · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 4:48 pm Post subject:

maybe alltel doesnt like you guys i have used alltel for 6 months good speed and ping all the time i can play games on xbox and surf the wep at the same time never any problem im in southern illinois