3G/HSPA/LTE Modems

[1geoff99]

Maybe you should sell yours to 1Geoff99 if you don't come right.

Happy to if I can try it out first (it may be faulty) - as I said, I need another one.

 

[1geoff99]

Looks as if the problem is that the 307 cannot handle signal strength below 50%, whereas the E1820 can handle it !!!

It sometimes seems to me that the 307 requires a slightly better signal strength than the E1820, but only when plugged into the TP-Link router. I haven't noticed the same thing when used in a PC.

You can get a pigtail for the 307 from here (TS9 connector required): http://cgi.ebay.com/TS9-male-right-...132?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41554f4af4

 

[ajax]

Edit : I've had enough of this thing now, doesn't matter where and how I use it, it does not stay connected for more than 3 or 4 minutes.

Ok, sanity check.

1) Did you switch back and forth between the E1820 and 307 several times during the period of getting the disconnects? Did the E1820 each time stay connected for much longer than the 307?
2) Are both modems switched to 3G/WCDMA only mode?
3) Are you using the same simcard when switching between modems?

 

[Jola]

1) Yes, the E1820 never disconnects.
2) The TP-Link is set to 3G only - but only the 307 disconnects intermittently.
3) No, I have a Cell C sim card in each - not sure what difference that will make, but I will swap sim cards and see what happens.

 

[dadiggle]

Root of all evil are those drivers and software people are using with the modems remove it it

 

[Jola]

I think that the problem is that the 307 cannot handle poor signal - which sort of defeats the reason that I bought it for, which was to use it with an external antenna because of the poor signal here.

IMHO there is nothing wrong with this modem, except for the design.

Pity, I can't really afford to throw that sort of money away right now.

At least the TP-Link TL-MR3420 seems to do what it is supposed to do.

 

[1geoff99]

2) The TP-Link is set to 3G only - but only the 307 disconnects intermittently.

You need to set the 307 modem to 3G only on a PC using the Sierra AirCard Watcher software before using it in the router.

 

[Jola]

You need to set the 307 modem to 3G only on a PC using the Sierra AirCard Watcher software before using it in the router.

OK, I will try that and see what happens.

 

[1geoff99]

I think that the problem is that the 307 cannot handle poor signal - which sort of defeats the reason that I bought it for, which was to use it with an external antenna because of the poor signal here.

Why would you get a poor signal with an external antenna?

 

[Jola]

Why would you get a poor signal with an external antenna?

I get a poor signal without an external antenna !

That is why I bought the 307, because it has an external antenna connection.

 

[Jola]

You need to set the 307 modem to 3G only on a PC using the Sierra AirCard Watcher software before using it in the router.

OK, that does seem to help, 15 minutes now without disconnecting - but it is still too early to really tell - will test some more ...

Edit : Nope, crashed a few minutes later, nothing works - this modem needs to go back to the supplier.

 

[1geoff99]

I get a poor signal without an external antenna !

That is why I bought the 307, because it has an external antenna connection.

That is also why I bought the 307.

What I'm trying to say is if your problem is being caused by a poor signal, then it will be solved when you use a good external antenna. The 307 is not like the E1820 which maybe requires to receive a signal on the internal antenna before its external antenna works. With the 307, when you plug in an external antenna, the internal antenna is disconnected, and with a good antenna, you will notice a big increase in your signal strength reading.

 

[Jola]

That is also why I bought the 307.

What I'm trying to say is if your problem is being caused by a poor signal, then it will be solved when you use a good external antenna. The 307 is not like the E1820 which maybe requires to receive a signal on the internal antenna before its external antenna works. With the 307, when you plug in an external antenna, the internal antenna is disconnected, and with a good antenna, you will notice a big increase in your signal strength reading.

OK, but I cannot test that at the moment because of the pigtail problem.

I have already asked Poynting about such a connector, but they cannot assist.

 

[1geoff99]

OK, but I cannot test that at the moment because of the pigtail problem.

I have already asked Poynting about such a connector, but they cannot assist.

You can get the correct pigtail here: http://cgi.ebay.com/TS9-male-right-...132?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41554f4af4

 

[Jola]

You can get the correct pigtail here: http://cgi.ebay.com/TS9-male-right-...132?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41554f4af4

Thanks, I have ordered, but it will obviously take a while to get here - and I am unsure about what to do wrt the 307 in the meantime - I don't know whether this one is good or not.

Maybe I will go and do some tests in a better reception area tomorrow.

 

[1geoff99]

Maybe I will go and do some tests in a better reception area tomorrow.

That was what I was about to suggest.

 

[Jola]

That was what I was about to suggest.

OK, thanks for the assistance, I will report back later.

 

[Jola]

OK, the seller insists that the modem is OK, however it performs very poorly.

My advice is to stay away from the Sierra Aircard 307, this is just junk that is being dumped onto our market.

You can buy better modems for R350 - so stay well away !!!

 

[PKruger]

OK, the seller insists that the modem is OK, however it performs very poorly.

From where did you buy the modem?

 

[dadiggle]

This is with a E272

look at my signal strength look at my hours connected. 36 percent 122 hours no disconnects nada
Anyone who own a Graphics card can tell you what a badly written driver can do. Huwei modems problems is coming from the Vista days. Anyone remember that? I have had the same disconnect problems until I removed all the modems drivers and software. I'm going to say it again. The drivers and the software are the root of all evil. Remove it.