USB Power for modems

ZA.Schmidt said:
I can see how that might help the speed, but it still doesn't explain the disconnecting. And surely if the speed is only as fast as USB2, they should've taken that into account and used a different kind of port?
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The problem is not the speed of USB, but rather the amount of power available on one USB port. Thus Huawei supplies a double USB-plug cable so the modem can get enough power.

In some cases we've seen the modem runs low on power and disconnects. Obviously signal conditions can play a role (and often does), but by using one of these cables at least you'll ensure enough power as well as being able to lift the modem to get better reception.
 
I'd like to get more feedback / symptoms on this from you guys and especially would like to know how you power the modem. For example:

1) Plug it into a single USB port using a normal USB cable.
2) Plug it into 2 USB ports using the dual-plug cable.
3) External USB powered hub.

My Two cents worth? I use the E272 and had to use an extended USB cable to place the modem as high up as possible, to get a good signal and attempt to get good speed etc. I tried the dual USB cable and left the modem lying on my desk, where under normal circumstances I would have only two bars at most.

Using the dual USB cable, I now have five bars and did a speed test before and after doing this, before: around 1.2 Mb/s After: 3.6 Mb/s FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!!

As someone who has regularly encountered slow speed, disconnects etc, I want to say that this definitely seems to work...........so far...........so big thanks V3g, will give it a bash for a while and let you know :)
 
garyb01 said:
I'd like to get more feedback / symptoms on this from you guys and especially would like to know how you power the modem. For example:

1) Plug it into a single USB port using a normal USB cable.
2) Plug it into 2 USB ports using the dual-plug cable.
3) External USB powered hub.

My Two cents worth? I use the E272 and had to use an extended USB cable to place the modem as high up as possible, to get a good signal and attempt to get good speed etc. I tried the dual USB cable and left the modem lying on my desk, where under normal circumstances I would have only two bars at most.

Using the dual USB cable, I now have five bars and did a speed test before and after doing this, before: around 1.2 Mb/s After: 3.6 Mb/s FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!!

As someone who has regularly encountered slow speed, disconnects etc, I want to say that this definitely seems to work...........so far...........so big thanks V3g, will give it a bash for a while and let you know :)
Click to expand...

It's for sure not the answer to life, the universe and everything. But why not give the modem the best chance at success? I.e. give it enough power and lift it at the same time.

Can only help.
 
@ V3G - not to derail this thread, but if possible, can the people also indicate what make and model laptop/notebook they're using?

This can also be a specific USB controller which are prone to giving issues?

If it's not a laptop/notebook, but a desktop, also the make and model.
 
The_Librarian said:
@ V3G - not to derail this thread, but if possible, can the people also indicate what make and model laptop/notebook they're using?

This can also be a specific USB controller which are prone to giving issues?

If it's not a laptop/notebook, but a desktop, also the make and model.
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Fully agree. Think I've also mentioned it...
 
vodacom3g said:
It's for sure not the answer to life, the universe and everything. But why not give the modem the best chance at success? I.e. give it enough power and lift it at the same time.

Can only help.
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Yip, I agree, and so far...............it really does seem to be helping! No disconnects since yesterday afternoon, really good speeds as well. We obviously have to give it a good time trial, but so far so good and much better than what has been happening even very recently. :)
 
The_Librarian said:
@ V3G - not to derail this thread, but if possible, can the people also indicate what make and model laptop/notebook they're using?

This can also be a specific USB controller which are prone to giving issues?

If it's not a laptop/notebook, but a desktop, also the make and model.
Click to expand...

Using a laptop, Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Pro, Vista Home Premium.
 
garyb01 said:
Using a laptop, Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Pro, Vista Home Premium.
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Pretty much the same setup my wife has, and she has been complaining bitterly that the modem (Slipstream) disconnects all the time. I'll procure a cable and report back...
 
Colin62 said:
Pretty much the same setup my wife has, and she has been complaining bitterly that the modem (Slipstream) disconnects all the time. I'll procure a cable and report back...
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You can also try and put a 3 meter extension on it and then lift the modem higher. Use ginggs' MDMA to see if you get a better signal. (Not sure if it works on slipstream).
 
Last edited:
The signal strength is OK (it works fine in the same position connected to a WinXP desktop). I might try stick a Poynting on it just to confirm, but I have feeling that power might just be the problem.
 
I've recently aquired a new e272 modem and using single usb I immediately got better speeds(2200/1100) compared to my old e220(600-900/380). I tested it for a week and it was very consistant. I then activated HSDPA 3.6 to see what speeds I could get.

Unfortunately the past week I've been experiencing very slow speeds and extreme latency(sometimes IE just hangs and I have to do countless reloads). speed tests: 400-800 down, 1100 up.

I've now resorted to using the 2 USB option. The speeds I get are similar using 1 or 2 usb and very disapointing. down 600-1100, up 1000-1100. Also latency is a big problem.

I should have known not to activate 3.6 for 50 bucks...

All of the above leads me to beleive that one or two usb cables makes no difference and this is most likely a network problem.

V3g, what do you make of this?

Ps. Modem: E272, windows XP, Packard Bell Easynote V7919, 3-5 bar reception(one or to usb), mobile partner(because mobile connect sucks)
 
V3G, are modems like phones in that they will increase power when the signal is poor? That might explain why sometimes the modem will work fine on one USB port but other times might need two...
 
Vodacom speed test from about 2 min ago:

Last Result:

Download Speed: 2897 kbps (362.1 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 1080 kbps (135 KB/sec transfer rate)

No disconnects in the last 24hrs since using the 2 USB inputs, really good speeds, so as I said, so far so good. Thanks for info once again V3G, looks like this may just be the answer to quite a few problems we've been having of late.
:)
 
I'm on option 1 ... but all my USB ports are in use - so I can't use the dual plug cable - even though I would like to try it.

I very rarely get disconnects (this is seperate from my recent problems V3G - so you can discount all that - I'm fairly sure that is network related), on my PC. And it only happens when I've been idle for a while, so I was always wondering if that could be the reason.

On my laptop (Fujitsu Siemens Esprimo Mobile) I also only use one USB port - disconnects are also very infrequent.
 
katvis said:
I've recently aquired a new e272 modem and using single usb I immediately got better speeds(2200/1100) compared to my old e220(600-900/380). I tested it for a week and it was very consistant. I then activated HSDPA 3.6 to see what speeds I could get.

Unfortunately the past week I've been experiencing very slow speeds and extreme latency(sometimes IE just hangs and I have to do countless reloads). speed tests: 400-800 down, 1100 up.

I've now resorted to using the 2 USB option. The speeds I get are similar using 1 or 2 usb and very disapointing. down 600-1100, up 1000-1100. Also latency is a big problem.

I should have known not to activate 3.6 for 50 bucks...

All of the above leads me to beleive that one or two usb cables makes no difference and this is most likely a network problem.

V3g, what do you make of this?

Ps. Modem: E272, windows XP, Packard Bell Easynote V7919, 3-5 bar reception(one or to usb), mobile partner(because mobile connect sucks)
Click to expand...

As I've posted quite a few times over the last week, there are current issues in the Panorama/Plattekloof/Bothasig area resulting in crappy network performance.

I'm willing to put your c*$k on a block that this is what you're seeing.

Although the problem has been around for a week or so now, the guys are really fighting it and should hopefully resolve it (very) soon.
 
Last Result:

Download Speed: 2302 kbps (287.8 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 1070 kbps (133.8 KB/sec transfer rate)

Friday afternoon, end of the month, when I usually could not connect for longer than 15 seconds at a time..........So this really seems to be the answer to my problems. Thanks for raising the issue and asking us to test this V3G!!
 
Colin62 said:
V3G, are modems like phones in that they will increase power when the signal is poor? That might explain why sometimes the modem will work fine on one USB port but other times might need two...
Click to expand...

Modems are exactly like phones, so you're 100% correct.

You'll see some people have gone to the effort to solder capacitors on their USB cables to help give the modem some extra power when they need it.

I also believe a big issue is the type of USB port on the PC. It seems some PC ports can give out better (or more stable) power than others.

One thing I've not tried yet is to plug the modem into a powered hub so that it gets its power from the hub and not the PC. It should also help to extend the modem higher up, i.e. a 5 meter cable from you PC to a a higher location, say the top of a cupboard. The extension cable plus into a powered USB hub on top of the cupboard and the modem plugs into the hub.
 
vodacom3g said:
I'd like to get more feedback / symptoms on this from you guys and especially would like to know how you power the modem. For example:

1) Plug it into a single USB port using a normal USB cable.
2) Plug it into 2 USB ports using the dual-plug cable.
3) External USB powered hub.

Maybe the mods can nail up a poll for this. Something like:

Options 1 - 3 ) I get disconnects and I'm using one of the above 3 methods to power the modem.

4 - 6) I don't get disconnects and I'm using one of the above 3 methods to power the modem.

7) I get disconnects but don't believe they're power related.

@ic, you're normally quite good at designing these polls. :)
Click to expand...
Are there any changes to the suggested poll options?
 
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