Novatel 3G card problems

[949BFN]

Vodacom exchanged my Option card for a Novatel one, when the Option card died on me. So far I have been having a hard time getting the card to work "properly" and the Option card appears to be much more reliable.
I manage to establish a connection via the dashboard with the Novatel card, but have been unable to do so via "Windows Network Connections" with dashboard closed. (Error 692: There was a hardware failure in the modem (or other connecting device). It took me two days to figure out that my initial problem was a faulty card. In the process I uninstalled and installed the dashboard software at least 3 time and caused myself lots of agony doing that, since it messed up the WinXP TCP/IP settings to such an extend that I had to rebuild my network connections. Eventually I swapped the card with that of one of my partners and realised that the card was faulty.
The Option cards seem to have no problem establishing a connection without opening the dashboard, but the Novatel would not. This is in itself a major hassle, bearing in mind the unreliable nature of the dashboard software (and the cumbersome business of first opening the dashboard before making the connection.) What worries me is that a connection can be established via Windows Network Connections if the dashboard is open and running in the background, but once it is closed, I get the aforementioned error – might this be an indication that the Novatel card cannot function without the dashboard running? Also, once dashboard is closed, the light on the Novatel card goes out and removing and reinserting the card, does not make a difference. If so, I want my Option card back, but so far my ISP has been unable to locate an Option card and it seems as if Vodacom is no longer importing those!!!

 

[vodacom3g]

A few things:

1) Have you called 155 and asked them to assist you?

2) The Novatel is different from the Option in that the dash enables it. So you'll see the light go off when you close the dashboard.

3) Option cards are not being manufactured anymore.

4) Where are you based? I can try and source an Option for you to swap with.

 

[Harley79]

Ah, does this mean that with Novatel if you close the dash it becomes un-enabled And therefore "have" to use the dash?

 

[Diago]

Ok. This explains a lot and makes my previous post kinda senseless for Novatel card users. Will make the neccessary adjustments.

 

[grubsner]

Diago and I have been exchanging PM's on this matter this afternoon and I can confirm that the dash MUST be used the establish a connection with the Novatel card. Once the dash is open the network connection icons can be used the make the connection.

I get the same error that 949 BFN is refering to when connecting via the dialup icons without the dash running.

 

[949BFN]

Suppose the solution would be to put dashboard in the Win Startup directory so that its always running and to establish the connection with the Windows Network Connections when a connection is requierd. Haven't checked if dashboard will start minimised if it is started from the startup directory.
Something else I've discovered – often when the card is unable to connect, the problem can be solved by deleting all the profiles (3G preferred, GPRS only etc) in dashboard. On deletion of the last profile, dashboard will exit. When restarting dashboard, you will be prompted to create a new profile. I have different Windows user profiles on my laptop for using it at the office and away from the office and have found that this often causes a problem with dashboard – i.e. a dashboard profile created in one WindowsXP user profile, is available in the other user profiles, but would often not work in that other (second) Windows user profile. By not working, I mean dashboard/the card is unable to find the gsm network (displaying the "no network" or similar error message). When this occurs, delete all dashboard profiles and recreate them.

 

[Diago]

THe Dash start's minimized when you select the option to start it with windows and will also automatically connect when started. I am not sure of the Option dash is the same as the Novatell one though.

 

[Airmatix]

I've set my Dash to start with Windows, and it automatically starts minimized. Then I just use Network Connections to connect and disconnect to the net. I agree that it is a PITA, but until some new software comes along, this seems to be the only solution.

 

[anythingc]

Novatel Card Problems FIRST day

Just got my set up, nice and easy just to add on to existing line, set it up, only to be unable to get any network, 3G or GPRS, and then multiple Error 619 "Port disconnected"

Had a 45min conversation with Heather from 155 (very helpful) but together we could not resolve the problem.
Must be a faulty card, guess Vodacom got stuck with all Vodafone's OBF's....

Will try sort out tomorrow and see

 

[Airmatix]

Just a quick observation: When I installed the software with my Novatel card, I also ran into various Error 619 problems. I could, however, send and receive SMS. In the end I uninstalled and reinstalled the software a couple of times, and finally identified the problem that I was having.

It seems that, for some reason only Bill Gates could explain, the Dash software installed fine. However, at the point where it prompts you to insert your card, Windows failed to pick up the new card quickly. So I assumed (bearing in mind that assumptions are the mother of all bugger-ups) that the necessary drivers were being installed together with the card by the Dash software. How wrong I was. Turns out I was supposed to wait until Windows picked up the new hardware, and prompted me for the drivers. The drivers are, obviously, on the CD that came with the card.

I'm hoping that you have the same problem. If, however, you installed everything properly, I'm afraid I have nothing to add except good luck

 

[goodgirl]

I also get the same error Error 619 "Port disconnected" but it only just now appeared, everything worked fine for a week.

I have tried rebooting, inserting the card only after rebooting, leaving it in while rebooting, restarting the application but so far no luck.

I don't think it's a faulty datacard cause it worked fine so far, it can also check for SMS and receive them.

It can also still switch between GPRS and 3G lights and tell me how many bars I have, just can't connect.

"This device is working properly" in the device manager of WinXP Pro SP1, recognized as a modem Novatel Wireless UMTS Modem primary port.

Init commands set to AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","internet";

Driver 1.3.5.1 Novatel Wireless Inc 11/9/2004

IRQ 7 No conflicts

Also tried two different SIM cards


Also tried uninstalling the Vodafone application, rebooted, re-installed with CD, same error.

Restarted application again, now
application crashed "encountered an error and needs to close"

After that I started it again, "searching for Merlin U630 .."

could not find the card, searched for a long time ..

removed and re-inserted card, now it found it again

but still same error 619


Maybe something weird stuck in the Windows registry for the application? I have absolutely no option to re-build my machine because it's my office and my only machine.

I will try one more thing and uninstall it again and make sure to manually delete all possible files or config files left over anywhere on the drive.

Ok, the uninstall did not leave any files I made sure no dlls or config files were left over, re-installed again, same error.

Also made sure that the device was removed from the hardware list after uninstalling it and yes it was removed completely.

Now I am really at the end of my debugging ideas, could it be a message coming from the network, since it only happens after trying to connect?

I will try calling 155.

 

[goodgirl]

Ok - I already suspected this, error 619 is a signal problem.

This means in my case that the SIM card is not activated for data.

The guy I spoke to on 155 was suprised that I was able to connect in the past 6 days with that SIM card, he had no explanation for how that worked.


They did not correctly add the 1GB of data I purchased last week to my contract, but I was still able to connect.

Today I got them to doubel-check and to ensure the 1GB is added, this is why right now it takes 24 hours to be put onto my contract and tomorrow it should work again.

Why was I able to connect on the Messenger contract without the 1GB added in the past few days?

I should have just kept it the way it is, the guy on 155 said he can't see a record of data having been used



So this is also the reason for this same error 619 coming up when I wanted to test connecting with my prepaid SIM card, because the service is not activated for it.

 

[Mean_Monster]

When will a driver be released for the Novatel Card that does not require one to use the dashboard to enable the card?

 

[vodacom3g]

MM, I've mailed the developers with this question.

How do you guys do it under Linux? With AT commands? Can't we create a Telnet script (DOS batch file?) to initialise the card in a similar fashion under Windows?

 

[Tazz_Tux]

MM, I've mailed the developers with this question.

How do you guys do it under Linux? With AT commands? Can't we create a Telnet script (DOS batch file?) to initialise the card in a similar fashion under Windows?

Hey v3g,

Linux activates the card using PCMCIA commands, we basicly just start sending the AT commands. I am looking into keeping the card alive without having the dash active. I think it also has something to do with the fact that Linux "sees" a single port on the Novatel where as Windows "sees" a multi-function device (two+ serial ports?) and can shut it down. If my ("bad" ) memory serves me well, the Novatel card does start if you insert it into the slot while Windows is running, it only gets powered down once the dash is closed? (What if we crash the dash? )

Later

 

[949BFN]

After a two hour battle tonight to get the Novatel card to connect, I was able to determine what the problem is - now to find the solution: When inserting the card, two devices are added in Device Manager : Novatel Wireless UMTS Modem Parent and Novatel Wireless UMTS Modem Secondary Port (Com#). The Multifunction device installs fine, but the port has a yellow exclamation next to it after inserting the card. At first I tried updating the driver of the port from the Vodacom CD each time it does that, but that requires a restart after the update. Eventually I discovered that the easiest way of getting the card working, is to simply uninstall the port after inserting the card and if it has the yellow exclamation mark next to it. After uninstalling the Secondary Port from within Device Manager, remove the card and re-insert it. Windows will this time round install the port properly. I have tested this at least 5 times after a reboot, and the pattern stays exactly the same and so does the solution. So, the question all you clever people, is why is this happening? Why would Windows not install the Secondary port properly after a restart? And why if I uninstall it then with the uninstall utility in Device manager, removing and inserting the card, does Windows install the second device (port) properly? Obviously it has to be related to the Windows drivers cash? At least I now know how to get the card working!

 

[949BFN]

It was a long day!

 

[Liposuck2004]

Hi 949BFN,very common prob with the novatel,there are possible solutions here.the 1 that usually works is: go to the device manager oce the card is inserted,look for the "wireless novatel umts modem parent" under the multifunction devices,then dbl clk to get its properties,select the resourcs tab at the top ,go untick the "use auto settings" then in the drop down box select an oveeride config...generally config 4 or 5 works.....as per my post under the novatell crd whats the use , this happens cause of irq conflicts.....this should work.......lemme know and try to assist if you dont win ...

 

[949BFN]

It appears to be the solution! What I did is to look for an override configuration that doesn't report a conflict when selected. (Config 6 for my laptop). I applied the change and after a few seconds, the yellow exclamation disappeared. Thanks a million. I must have wasted at least 5 hours in total on this and the problem has such a simple solution! Thanks a million.

 

[Liposuck2004]

no prob at all....thats why we all log on here!