Alltel wireless data card frustration!!!

2zcreek

Sorry if I'm wasting space and time, but I'm a noobie and really need some 'sane and knowledgeable' help. After checking through this forum for the past two days, I'm only more confused.

I want to improve on the dial-up service that I've been using (forever) at peaks of 49.5kbps and eventually have a wireless network for my children to be able to connect to and use as well. I live in a known dead zone in coastal eastern NC (5 miles due south of Oriental, NC). Alltel is the ONLY cellular phone service provider with reliable connections in my area. Also, accroding to antennasearch.com I am about two (2) miles from a tower in Merrimon, but it is owned by the Naval Air Test Center so I'm not sure I can use it.

I have a Dell 9300 laptop and we rv occasionally. So...

After weighing my only choices of dial-up, satellite or wireless (no DSL or cable available to us), I decided to look into an Alltel wireless data card. I purchased the UM150 from Alltel and was assured that it would work well in my area (one data technician says I'm seven (7) miles to the nearest tower; another one says four (4) miles; huh???). I usually get four (4) bars but can only connect at best to 160 kbps. An improvement, but still not what I was looking for. Alltel 'pushed' the latest PRL version to me, but no change. I'll check the signal strenght tonight. I have attempted moving around my home and outside, but no improvements were seen. Alltel seems to be stumped and has offered no additional help other than come in and get another data card to try. I am five (5) days into my two week trial.

I have spent so much time on this that I'm alienating my family and frustrating myself to death! Do I need an antenna, if so, which ones and where to get FAST? Should I try another make of data card?

Could any of you knowledgeable and wonderful EVDO smart folks help?

Right now, I'm considering returning to dial-up as only 3x improvement at the additional cost is not worth it.

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I guess I need to add that my neighbors are getting about 300kbps by tethering their Alltel cell phones. I only have Alltel prepaid since I don't use my cell very ofter (less than 15 mins per month).

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

in your Quick Link Mobile application, at the bottom left hand corner, what icon do you see when you are connected ? Does it say 1x, DO, or RA ?

Also, click on HELP > About and tell me what your RSSI numbers show.

2zcreek · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 9:11 am Post subject:

Most of the time it says "1X" but it also will say "DO" at times.
Also I don't have the second 'line' in the QuickLink Mobile for Access Data (EVDO-1x). Shouldn't this show?

2zcreek · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 9:15 am Post subject:

I'm at work. I'll post the RSSI numbers as soon as I get home.

====================

Another call to Alltel and this rep told me that I'm 15 miles from a tower. How come they can't tell the same story at any point?

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

if it says 1x, then the most you should expect is 144Kb/s, upload and download.

Also, if you are using windows xp, check this thread out:
http://www.evdoforums.com/thread504.html

Most of the time, it will help improve the EVDO speeds. It will not help speeds on 1xRTT (1x) connections.

2zcreek · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 3:11 pm Post subject:

Okay, after another discussion with the Alltel saleperson, I now have another UM150. New this time. Previously refurbished.

No difference.
RSII (1xRTT) -97 dBm
RSII (1xEVDO) -104dBm

Sometimes my Quicklink Mobile shows the small DO box and other's it says 1X.

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woo hoo!!! After days of frustration, I did the tweak and now I've got 495kBps but the upload is down around 60 kbps! Progress in the right direction! This southern girl is so happy. What else do you suggest I do to help speed things up?

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

those are horrible signal levels, and probably why you are seeing such poor speeds. An antenna, and possible an amp, should help you out though. Someone with more experience in that area can probably help you a lot more on that end that I can. In contrast, my RSSI is -77dBm w/o the antenna, and -59/-60 dBm with a basic trucker antenna.

2zcreek · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 6:06 pm Post subject:

Did the tweak for Windows XP and now I'm getting
DWL 534 kbps
UWL 90 kbps
RSSI (1xRTT) -80 dBm
RSSI (1xEVDO) -116 dBm

After having dial-up for over ten years, this is great!!! However, I do seem to 'fall' back to 1x every now and then.

#1 How can I keep it on EVDO?

My next 'plan' is to get the K2 router.

# 2 What do you suggest to improve my signal? I want to get as much as possible now. Rolling Eyes

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

like i posted above, an antenna should get the job done. I'd wait for more expert posters to give you some feedback, or go to 3gstore.com and give them a call. They are the pro's and can help you get the most accurate info.

Hollywood · EVDO User Joined: 23 Mar 2008 Posts: 33

When I first got evdo I started with just the UM150 and wasn't getting a good signal then I got a yagi antenna and it helped but not enough so then I went to the alltel store and got a * amp now I was cooking! Till the leaves came out! So last week I ordered this antenna and put it up today and now I have and holding a full signal the dbms are staying right at 68 . Where I live I am around 3 miles from the tower with a couple of hills and alot of trees with leaves on now. I get as good of a signal now as if I was right next to the tower. This antenna might be something you might want to check into I did and very happy. Here is the link if you are interested. http://www.hyperlinktech.com/item.aspx?id=225 And it works! With out this antenna I was only getting around 2 to 3 bars and my dbms were like in the high 80s.Hope this helps.

Here is a speed test I took after I put up the new Grid antenna!

Here is the kind of speeds before the new Grid antenna!

2zcreek · Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 5:39 am Post subject:

After the minimal success, I then found that web pages were no longer loading. I had to refresh constantly or received a 'web page not found' shot. I've dropped back to 1x and the Alltel Data Tech I spoke with (another one) said I am too far from the tower to get a 'consistent' signal (this one says 7 miles). He suggested I purchase a z3 booster from them (they are always attempting to sell you more!) and that MIGHT improve the signal.

I'm tired of this. I think I'll return everything and cancel the contract. Then later, maybe, just do as I've seen so often in this forum.

Buy the UM150 separately and get the monthly Alltel charges (no contract), but perhaps I should wait awhile.

It's going to be hard to return to dial-up after this taste of speed. Sad

Hollywood · EVDO User Joined: 23 Mar 2008 Posts: 33

2zcreek · Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 3:12 pm Post subject: SuCcEsS!!!

Thanks so much to this forum and especially F34R and Hollywood. I stuck with it and now it's fast enough to make me happy to leave dial-up and pay a little extra.

I purchased an amplifier from Alltel and I'm now getting:

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

glad to hear you got it all sorted out.

rhiggens · EVDO Newbie Joined: 05 Aug 2008 Posts: 1

2zcreek, I am also near Oriental (Fork Point off Broad Creek) and have just ordered a UM150 from Alltel. I have been using a Sprint card and an external antenna, and just getting minimum speeds on my sailboat at the dock. Hoping Alltel will do better as they do with cell phones in that area. I'm hoping some of your experiences will help me getting set up. I plan to test it out this weekend. Please let me know your location so I can get a feel how close you are and what I might expect. You can respond directly to me off forum at higgens@us.ibm.com

Rick