Constantly dropping to 1x

Krileon · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 6:05 pm Post subject: Constantly dropping to 1x

As the title says. That's exactly what is happening. My connection keeps kicking down to 1x from -69dB EVDO for absolutely no reason. This happened Saturday and has continued ever sense.

I've even replaced my modem and it still didn't fix the problem. I've changed PRLs to see if it was a tower problem. Still didn't fix it.

Why do I go from a very very good signal and the tower suddenly kicks me off to 1x?

Is this verizons marketing ploy for us to cancel and re-contract under their terms?

Does this mean work is being done on my tower?

I tried calling and they said everyone on their end is fine.. as usual they place the blame on the customer.

I just want my dang internet to work. Nothing was changed on my computer to even cause something like this.

Anyone having a similar experience?

Thinks I've tried:
Replaced Modem
Replaced USB extension
Tested on other PCs
Changed network settings (then went back to default after saw no improvement)
Reinstalled QLM
Powered down modem and restarted PC

The list goes on.. if anyone has any other suggestions then I'm open for them.

*edit
Reading around the net has lead me to believe that even though I have a perfect EVDO signal. The 1x signal gets a little stronger then the EVDO signal at times and will jump to the stronger signal connection regardless of its speed. This is really annoying and seeing how i have a UM150 there's no way to lock it. Anyone know of a hack that can force it to lock anyway?

*edit 2
I'm looking at the "Field Test" and the last known error reads:
EVDO Call origination - Access Failure
What does this mean? I'm guessing my modem is trying to connect to verizons EVDO tower, which is RevA ready nearby. Problem is the verizon towers won't authenticate me.. and kicks me to 1x when I try their PRL.

*edit 3
Latest new error:
EVDO Connection Deny - Server Busy
WTF??

whitcd · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 04 Apr 2008 Posts: 20

PM me your address, I'll have my friend look at the service in your area. I keep trying to post a decenty reply, but it times me out every time and lose the message.

Atmega · EVDO User Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 67

Hello,

I have been noticing this same issue to for the past 2 nights. It started up at around 3-4 AM in the morning (I stay up really late). Not sure if its some tower maintenance or hopefully a upgrade for Rev A. Either way for the past two nights it has done that and forced me to 1x. I finally gave up after a hour and went to bed and when I woke up both days the speed and signal was back to normal. So just a weird thing, its 12:25 AM so will post back if it happens again tonight.

Also "whitcd" when you say you will have a friend look at the service in his area I was just wondering how is that done? Is there some public thing where people can look at tower status or get some information relating to tower condition....Or is it just a private Alltel worker software where you they can look at it?

Krileon · Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 8:18 pm Post subject:

Ok I've been trying to fix this issue and here is what I've done with absolutely no luck.

1) Replace UM150 with new UM150
2) Removed USB extension cable and plug directly into computer
3) Reinstall entire modem
4) Remove all modem drivers then reinstall again
5) Tested every setting possible for the modem

I can't figure this out and it's really pissing me off. I've been using my damn backup internet for a week because my internet keeps going from perfect -69dB and then the god damn service drops me.

I look at the last error calls and it's constantly saying:
EVDO release - BS releases call with no reason given
or
EVDO Call origination - Access Failure

WTF? I pay my bill. Give me my god damn internet. I'm 1 hair short of storming into the alltel store and demanding a refund for this months payment. I'm fed up with this crap. I had absolutely no problems until retarded Verizon stuck their head in the door.

If they're upgrading to RevA then hurry the hell up or leave my damn tower alone. I'm fine with Rev0 if it means I can actually use the freaken service. Otherwise credit the dang time to my account they're working on it.

I'm willing to try a few more things then it's a daily call to data support harassing them to give me a freaken answer or get someone out to my tower pronto.

*Excuse the language.. I'm very upset.

NefariousCoal · Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 7:34 pm Post subject:

I'm having the same problem since Friday.

Actually, it did this for awhile Friday night, went back to normal for a bit, and has been horrible since Saturday.

I called Alltel twice - the first rep basically said "I don't know" after telling me they had a data issue in the early hours Sunday morning but it was fixed at 10:15AM EST and proceeded to make it known that's all I was gonna get out of him. The second one transferred me to a tech and I told him everything I did to fix it. Once again, he said the tower in my area had no listed issues and that they would call me if anything came up. He also stated that some locations were upgrading to RevA. Another brush-off.

During this whole ordeal, my EVDO signal has dropped a constant 4dBm. I was getting approx. -87dBm before and it's dropped to -91dBm lately and varies all the way from -83 up to -107dBm when connected and in use. It inevitably has been switching over to 1x because the signal is all over the place and I'm getting packet loss along with starts & stops.

I'm hoping they're just upgrading to RevA and have things in a mess over this weekend, but Alltel's customer service hasn't been helpful or informative, so there's no way to really know.

Krileon · Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 8:32 pm Post subject:

Don't hold your breathe in it being fixed. I've been having this problem for over 2 weeks now.

Some days it works fine. Others it drops me constantly, which would seam to indicate they're doing something to the network. Just wish they had the balls to admit it.

I've tried everything and I can't fix it. Even tried giving more voltage to my USB port to see if it was a power issue. Didn't fix a thing. It seams to have absolutely nothing to do with our end of the rope. I know that if it doesn't clear up next week I'll be calling for a refund of this months payment or a credit to pay for next months.

Krileon · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:10 am Post subject:

Just a fun lovely update.

Now I'm getting horrible speeds even with maximum signal. WTH is with this bullcrap. Is it some kind of ploy to re-up my contract under Verizon terms. What gives.. this is getting on my nerves really bad.

NefariousCoal · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 12:18 pm Post subject:

Yeah, going on the fourth day now, here.

My neighbor also uses his tethered smartphone for EVDO here and he's told me that his download speeds have dropped, too. It first dropped a little a few months ago but now it's quite bad.

Whereas I was getting 1Mb download speeds before, I'm getting no more than 512k and often closer to 256k over the past few days.

I'll keep calling them until they're quite sick of me. If I had any kind of high-speed land line available here, I would've dropped them by now.

Capt.Dan · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 4:16 pm Post subject:

Hi there, Is it me or does it seem to be the UM 150??? I have been having all kinds of slowdown and stop as well!! It is a pain since Verizon took over! I have replaced the card and uninstalled then reinstalled the software so much it is getting sick!!! If this is there way of screwing us out of service maybe we should sue in a class action suit!!! Think they would get off there a**es and fix this junk!! Evil or Very Mad

NefariousCoal · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 6:56 pm Post subject:

They seem to definitely be shafting us right now.

I called again, not long ago.

I spend much of my time arguing with Mr. Haji, the CS guy I got on the phone this time, about having EVDO service here while he kept telling me I only have 1x. He even had the nerve to tell me I was showing on his system as being logged in at 1x, though my DO was going along with download speeds well over 1x. Not to mention that the Alltel tower nearby is the only cell tower in my area, period, and that my neighbor has had the same problem. This went back & forth a few times and when he finally realized I wasn't going to back down and accept his 'no EVDO in your area' explanation, he went for help.

The best they came up with was updating my PRL, which still hasn't changed a thing.

I'm very convinced, right now, that Alltel has lowered the signal on my local tower and I'm gettin horrid download speeds and interruptions on the stream because of it. If I had no external antenna right now, I wouldn't be able to use the internet.

Krileon · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:33 pm Post subject:

NefariousCoal · Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 2:43 pm Post subject:

Day #5..

Gonna call them again. Evil or Very Mad

Edit/Update:

Still nothing specific. The lady looked at current RevA update areas and my tower wasn't on there, though it should be in by around October. So.. nothing's changed except my signal strength and hence my internet connection performance.

All I'm getting is big shrugs from CS at Alltel. I placed a Tech Ticket for the second time but I'd be real surprised if someone from Alltel calls, or if they do, they'll likely tell me nothing's wrong and nothing changed. It's hard to be an optimist after dealing with them for the last few days.

Krileon · Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:05 pm Post subject:

NefariousCoal · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 7:17 pm Post subject:

As of tonight, my signal has gone back pretty much to where it should be. Hopefully it stays there.

I don't know if all my phone calls pushed them into checking things or reversing what they did, but something was just done.

Krileon · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:09 pm Post subject: