3G/HSPA/LTE Routers

I have the TL-MR3420, and have patched my modem to use WCDMA only. I am having heaps of disconnects, and connections that never get to webpage requested etc. I suspect signal strength probs. Some questions:
- in the router status window, signal strength shows before it connects, but constantly 0% once connected, is this normal?
- in one spot in house, signal strength 48% but poor connection on internet, at another 32% but better connection, does this number mean anything?
- any tips on finding optimal spot in house for modem?
- anyone else have problems at same times of day each day?
 
Cell C amd Router Issues

Hi all

Using a 5 gig Cell C e1820 modem with my Netgear MBRN3000 router for the last few months now without a hitch. Today I switched on and had no joy. The router says that the modem is connected to the Cell C network, but no data is pulling through. Windows 7 says I have no internet connection. I then tried plugging the modem into my USB port and connecting directly and the same thing happens. The Cell C software shows a connection, but no data is pulling through and windows says no internet connection is present. So, I then connected the modem to my laptop and it works perfectly. Any ideas on what I can do to get it working again?
 
brucem said:
I have the TL-MR3420...Some questions:
- in the router status window, signal strength shows before it connects, but constantly 0% once connected, is this normal?
Click to expand...
No, what firmware are you on? Mine says:
Firmware Version: 3.11.11 Build 101104 Rel.70817n
Hardware Version: MR3420 v1 00000000
brucem said:
- in one spot in house, signal strength 48% but poor connection on internet, at another 32% but better connection, does this number mean anything?
Click to expand...
Perhaps you are getting a good gprs/edge (slower) signal at the one point and a worse 3g/HSDPA (faster) signal at the other point.
Edit: I see now "patched my modem to use WCDMA only" so I don't know...
brucem said:
- any tips on finding optimal spot in house for modem?
Click to expand...
If you have a UTMS 900Mhz capable phone (find out on gsmarena) plug the sim in the phone and walk around with it to see where you get the best signal...
 
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firejunky101 said:
I use the same router and have had no connection issues. if i plug the modem (black 21.8 usb stick) directly into the PC or laptop it disconnects every couple of seconds. people think im a frikken rabbit. on off on off on off..lol.. but yeah, modem plugged into router gives no issues. have 1 pc wired to router and 2 laptops and ps3 connect wirelessly no problems.
Click to expand...

Same here. Constant disconnects on either pc or laptop, router can go for days without issues. Using Cisco E3000 with E1820 modem
Had quite a few hiccups, but they were more Network related than anything else
 
Park@82 said:
No, what firmware are you on? Mine says:
Firmware Version: 3.11.11 Build 101104 Rel.70817n
Hardware Version: MR3420 v1 00000000
Click to expand...
I have the TP-Link MR3420 with 3.12.2 Build 110112 Rel.33555n. I got this straight from TP-Link. But I have bad news, it doesn't help.

I have the exact same issues as brucem. This router is rubbish. I have done several hours of testing and observing this router. Yesterday for example, it took the router 20 minutes plus to connect once. Plug it into pc (even with an extension cable) and it connects first time. Back into router, waited 20 minutes, gave up, went to bed.

It drops regularly, unless you do the ping thing, which stabilises the connection. It regularly "loses" the modem and goes into "identifying modem" mode. I can go on and on and on...

A friend of mine in Stellenbosch has the MR3420 and E1820 as I do. Exactly the same issues. Except he's not that tech savvy with a pc as I am, so he doesn't ping. He has not been able to use his connection in the last 24 hours...

A 2nd friend of mine with an E220 and MR3220 router says he regularly has to unplug the power to get a connection. His wife often has to take the modem out of the router and into the pc to connect. My 4th friend with a E160g and 3220 says "Connect on Demand" does not work. A 5th friend of mine has the 3220 and E1752, lots and lots of connection issues, but not with the pc. Gave him the ping trick and it disconnects way less.

That said, I am absolutely in the dark as to why some people on the forum have no issues with it. But, as for me, I regret buying this router, and so do 4 friends of mine. The sad thing is I initially convinced them to buy one too :(

Park@82 said:
Perhaps you are getting a good gprs/edge (slower) signal at the one point and a worse 3g/HSDPA (faster) signal at the other point.
Edit: I see now "patched my modem to use WCDMA only" so I don't know...
If you have a UTMS 900Mhz capable phone (find out on gsmarena) plug the sim in the phone and walk around with it to see where you get the best signal...
Click to expand...

This won't help. It's the router. I have a 70% signal. No joy. My 2nd friend has 74%, no joy. Return the darn thing already. I can't, I've already tried Openwrt firmware and soldering a cap onto the USB port.

EDIT: Please see this thread.
 
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brucem said:
- in the router status window, signal strength shows before it connects, but constantly 0% once connected, is this normal?
Click to expand...
The latest build fixes that, at least.
brucem said:
- in one spot in house, signal strength 48% but poor connection on internet, at another 32% but better connection, does this number mean anything?
Click to expand...
Probably coincidence. I'd say test a bit longer to verify. 48% is around -87 dBm.
brucem said:
- any tips on finding optimal spot in house for modem?
Click to expand...
Switch on the wireless on the router, then you only need a power extension to place it anywhere. Better yet, borrow someone's laptop. You can also do the corner reflector thing.
brucem said:
- anyone else have problems at same times of day each day?
Click to expand...
Yes, more in the evenings, but using the router makes it worse.
 
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When I plug modem directly into PC, signal strength show as 95% in Cell C app. When I plug it into the TL-MR3420 (identical cabling and location) it shows 45% - anyone else getting such radical differences??
 
brucem said:
When I plug modem directly into PC, signal strength show as 95% in Cell C app. When I plug it into the TL-MR3420 (identical cabling and location) it shows 45% - anyone else getting such radical differences??
Click to expand...

In the Cell C app, go to Diagnostics, Network and check there the dBm signal strength. Algorithms for percentage calculations vary AFAIK.

By the way, I see you're using a cable. Just check that your cable isn't the cause of disconnects.
 
Which stores are selling these routers? only online? and which is best bang for buck?
 
ajax said:
A friend of mine has the 3220 and the black stick. Also needs constant rebooting. I have the 3420 and the black stick. The router (and my friend's) regularly "loses" the modem in that it's status shows the modem is "unplugged". Then it goes into "identifying" the modem and only then tries to reconnect. Pop the stick directly into my pc, no problems.

What is really really weird about the above is that the problems with the router losing the modem ONLY occurs with a Cell C sim in the stick. With an MTN sim in the stick and plugged into the router it stayed connected for 40 hours before I "gave up".

So yes, I'm in the market for a router that doesn't "lose" the modem and doesn't need rebooting like Goobie states. Maybe I'll try the Netgear.
Click to expand...

I don't understand Why are you looking for a new router when the problem is clearly with the Cell C sim?
 
Axis said:
I don't understand Why are you looking for a new router when the problem is clearly with the Cell C sim?
Click to expand...

Then all the Cell C sims are faulty that I know of - one non-promo sim, and 3 promo sims all running on different (but same model) TP-Link routers in different locations at friend's places. The Netgear as others in the thread have stated is very stable with the E1820 on Cell C.
In addition, as I've stated, the E1820 with the same simcards don't nearly have as much stability problems when plugged in on my pc and that with a weaker signal and not placed under a fan as my router.

The TP-Link has stability problems with the E1820 running UMTS900 it seems. Or it was sheer luck, that the MTN sim didn't disconnect. I will test again.
 
rapidblue said:
Got my Netgear one from Incredible Corruption ;) Definitely a good choice - might be slightly more expensive than the others but definitely worth it :)
Click to expand...

I'll think about it, the cell c internet is really unstable for me, not sure if a router will fix it, could be reception but it's hopeless to use right now, if I move next month maybe reception will be better.
 
Aqua_lung said:
I'll think about it, the cell c internet is really unstable for me, not sure if a router will fix it, could be reception but it's hopeless to use right now, if I move next month maybe reception will be better.
Click to expand...

Well, a router fixed my unstable connection. Connection would drop anything from 10 seconds to 30 minutes after i connect. Still showed connected, but could not access anything (tried on laptop and PC). Using it in my router, it goes for days on end with no issues
 
renierp said:
Well, a router fixed my unstable connection. Connection would drop anything from 10 seconds to 30 minutes after i connect. Still showed connected, but could not access anything (tried on laptop and PC). Using it in my router, it goes for days on end with no issues
Click to expand...

Which model are you using?
 
renierp said:
Well, a router fixed my unstable connection. Connection would drop anything from 10 seconds to 30 minutes after i connect. Still showed connected, but could not access anything (tried on laptop and PC). Using it in my router, it goes for days on end with no issues
Click to expand...

That's what I'm hoping for... I don't want to return the device for a refund just yet.
 
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