Changing the band (frequency) which the E1820 modem uses

[chrisc]

Hi there

I'm using a E1820 modem with a TP-Link MR3220 router. The router ensures that the modem does not drop calls and reconnects automatically. Signal strength is shown at 67% and the AT+CSQ request gets 11,99.

On the CellC dashboard, there are various commands you can send to the modem, but using it via the router, the choice does not seem to be there.

I found out that my closest CellC mast is 730 metres away so I have an LP aerial aimed at it.

Is it possible to have the modem test other frequencies to see of any one is better than the default? If so, please can you give me the commands with which to do this and I'll post the results

Thanks

 

[1geoff99]

Hi there

I'm using a E1820 modem with a TP-Link MR3220 router. The router ensures that the modem does not drop calls and reconnects automatically. Signal strength is shown at 67% and the AT+CSQ request gets 11,99.

On the CellC dashboard, there are various commands you can send to the modem, but using it via the router, the choice does not seem to be there.

I found out that my closest CellC mast is 730 metres away so I have an LP aerial aimed at it.

Is it possible to have the modem test other frequencies to see of any one is better than the default? If so, please can you give me the commands with which to do this and I'll post the results

Thanks

You can use MDMA 1.0.0.31 beta 10 to change frequency bands (900 or 2100 MHz) . It is available from here.

You need to plug the modem into your PC to change the frequency. The new frequency setting will remain when you move the modem back to your router.

All about MDMA beta here.

 

[chrisc]

You can use MDMA 1.0.0.31 beta 10 to change frequency bands (900 or 2100 MHz) . It is available from here.

You need to plug the modem into your PC to change the frequency. The new frequency setting will remain when you move the modem back to your router.

All about MDMA beta here.

Wonderful, thanks. And you live in Plumstead too! What cell transmitter do you aim your aerial to? Cell C recommended one at the corner of Hemyock Road and Main Road. I actually live in Ainslie Road

 

[1geoff99]

Wonderful, thanks. And you live in Plumstead too! What cell transmitter do you aim your aerial to? Cell C recommended one at the corner of Hemyock Road and Main Road. I actually live in Ainslie Road

I use the Cell C mast on the Main Road in Diep River, next to the Total service station.

 

[chrisc]

And what speed and throughout do you get? The maximum I manage is about 3mb/sec download and 0.9mb upload. Tinkering with the frequencies seemed to make no difference at all. I'm using the inductive coupler from the aerial

 

[shovenose]

You can use this as well. Its a bit better than mdm
http://www.mwconn.net/mwconn.zip

 

[ajax]

You can use this as well. Its a bit better than mdma
http://www.mwconn.net/mwconn.zip

In what way?

 

[1geoff99]

And what speed and throughout do you get? The maximum I manage is about 3mb/sec download and 0.9mb upload. Tinkering with the frequencies seemed to make no difference at all. I'm using the inductive coupler from the aerial

I usually see a significant difference when I'm connected 900 MHz or 2100 MHz. Usually, for me, 2100 MHz gives better speeds, but I've noticed today that 900 MHz is faster (4 Mbps compared to 2 Mbps). But that is for my tower - and I'm not sure how many towers broadcast on both 900 Mhz and 2100 Mhz bands.

 

[chrisc]

You can use this as well. Its a bit better than mdm
http://www.mwconn.net/mwconn.zip

Well, its certainly more complicated. I fiddled with it for 15 mins and got it to connect using GPRS. Any quick info on using this program, and what does it tell me?
Thanks

 

[shovenose]

mdma couldnt keep the modem on 3g. And it searched for networks on and on and on and on . Mwconn you can force it on that one signal and it stays connected. Then theres the option to check for netlocks. Monitoring with error codes where you can exactly see whats wrong with the connection. Its got all the providers from all over the world plus you don't need any drivers for it. All you do is install it. Not saying mdma isn't great but it doesn't have the features of mwconn which btw can work with other mobile devices as well. Nokia phones etc so no need for pc suite etc etc. You can just use that and run all you mobile devices from it.

 

[shovenose]

Well, its certainly more complicated. I fiddled with it for 15 mins and got it to connect using GPRS. Any quick info on using this program, and what does it tell me?
Thanks

First go to the config. Make sure you removed all your drivers and other software before installing it. But you got it connected so I take it you did that.
Choose the config first
Select Global
Standard settings click below on it for a drop down menu for the providers to appear. Choose your provider
Go to network untick GPRS and press start. It will take a min or 2. When its done it will show all the providers it detected. Then choose your provider by clicking on the signal.
Enter your access point Internet
press ok
Then go to start menu in windows and go to mwconn and choose UMTS.exe.
Thats it. It will connect automatically

 

[1geoff99]

Well, its certainly more complicated. I fiddled with it for 15 mins and got it to connect using GPRS. Any quick info on using this program, and what does it tell me?
Thanks

This thread is about forcing your modem to use a particular frequency band. I don't think mwconn provides an easy way to do that.

 

[ajax]

I have played around with using only 900 MHz or 2100 MHz and couldn't spot any advantages in speed. So I went back to letting the modem or network decide what band my modem should use.

But I would have thought that the 2100 MHz band would be less congested seeing that the indoor signal for 2100 MHz is much weaker reducing the coverage area.

 

[shovenose]

This thread is about forcing your modem to use a particular frequency band. I don't think mwconn provides an easy way to do that.

yes it does. It gives you all the frequencies and signal strength it detected. If your device can do both 900/2100 then it will scan both and you select the one you like to keep it on.

I have played around with using only 900 MHz or 2100 MHz and couldn't spot any advantages in speed. So I went back to letting the modem or network decide what band my modem should use.

But I would have thought that the 2100 MHz band would be less congested seeing that the indoor signal for 2100 MHz is much weaker reducing the coverage area.

No. 900/2100 depends on the cables they used at the station. So 900 with cheap cables can give a poorer signal than 2100. 900 are cheaper to setup because its way easier and cheaper to convert your GSM 900 to UMTS 900. So its just a marketing thing really. HSPDA + can go over 50mb/s easy.

 

[1geoff99]

I have played around with using only 900 MHz or 2100 MHz and couldn't spot any advantages in speed. So I went back to letting the modem or network decide what band my modem should use.

But I would have thought that the 2100 MHz band would be less congested seeing that the indoor signal for 2100 MHz is much weaker reducing the coverage area.

I always used to get much better speeds from 2100 MHz. But now 900 MHz and 2100 MHz bands are much closer in performance. This seems to have coincided with a better reported signal strength from 2100 MHz. So maybe the 2100 signal has been boosted on purpose to get better coverage and hence balance out the performance between the two bands.

 

[shovenose]

think people who migrated to 900 relieved load on the 2100 band plus they probably upgraded their cabling at the stations.
I notice your using a router. Are you connected via wireless where you created a wireless hotspot or do you have it hardwired to your pc?

 

[1geoff99]

yes it does. It gives you all the frequencies and signal strength it detected. If your device can do both 900/2100 then it will scan both and you select the one you like to keep it on.

Please explain how exactly you force a 900 MHz or 2100 MHz connection from the same Cell C tower, because I don't see how this can be achieved with mwconn.

 

[chrisc]

Well, this is most interesting. I shall now try out the two frequencies from the two nearest towers closest to my location, and see what happens. The messages I have read in this thread and others make it obvious that one's own experience is dependent on so many factors that whatever you try to increase your speed will only have a small effect.

What, then, is the solution to the slow speed that most users seem to experience? A 21.6 modem delivering 3 or 4 mb/sec seems a big waste of a resource, particularly since the previous respondent mentions that HSPA could offer 50mb.

It seems to me that the main reason is too many users connecting to single transmitters without those transmitters being upgraded to provide more signal. It's up to CellC and others to improve this before complaints become more strident.

My router connects to my PC via a LAN cable and to the laptop wirelessly. To do these tests, I connect the modem directly to the USB socket on the rear of the PC.

 

[ajax]

No. 900/2100 depends on the cables they used at the station. So 900 with cheap cables can give a poorer signal than 2100.

First I've heard of the cable thing.

I actually leave my phone (Galaxy I9000) on Cell C on 3G only instead of GSM. Cell C GSM is at 1800 MHz and the signal is weaker indoors than leaving my phone on 3G only. Lower frequencies undergo less loss (attenuation) per unit distance than higher frequencies - free space loss and loss through stuff like trees and walls that is. And I stand to be corrected but as far as I know there isn't much difference in the transmitter power or antenna pattern (gain) between the 900 MHz and 2100 MHz towers. I seriously doubt that they would just "chuck" a large chunk of precious signal because of cheap cables.

 

[sajunky]

What, then, is the solution to the slow speed that most users seem to experience? A 21.6 modem delivering 3 or 4 mb/sec seems a big waste of a resource, particularly since the previous respondent mentions that HSPA could offer 50mb.

There is expensive one, external antenna. But router is easy to move, you can reposition it around the house to get stronger signal or more stable connection or both.
There is a reason of using latest generation of modems, even they don't give expected maximum speed. This is because HSPA+ (21mbps and above) introduced many improvements to the signaling between device and BTS. Result is much quicker allocation of resources on demand, such applications like WEB browsing are more responsive. However these modems consume more power than previous generation, causing problems like frequent handovers or disconnects.