ZBT WG3526, MC7455. SPRINT USA DISCONNECTS OR DOWNLOAD SPEEDS FALL

[namyzzo]

First of let me say I am a n00b when it comes to cell tech. I have 20+ yrs working as a hardware & DOS/Windows nerd.

I am new to posting to this site. Sorry if I posted in the wrong section - my main goal is getting a ZBT-wg3526 & MC7455 working together, but I'm enclosing other information & hardware used during my troubleshooting process.

For 14mos I have been getting my internet service from a guy on Ebay. Sprint service, No Cap/throttling. Using a Sprint branded LG-6100d router. Service was AWESOME..!.. 15-50 avg download & 2-7 avg upload speeds using the little antennas that come with the device..

Then one day - it all went down hill and wouldn't connect. Rebooting and resetting that modem would eventually allow 1 computer to connect to it with ok speeds. but as soon as another computer/device was connected to the 4-port router/modem = it would start to drop signal, reconnect, drop signal..etc.. 1 computer ok, more than that = SEARCHING/Connecting repeatedly..

So, figuring it was a bad modem = I ordered 2 new ZBT-WG3526 boxes with Goldenorb & MC7455 rev. A modems. 1 box configured with Sprint programming/SIM and the other box with AT&T programming/SIM. The AT&T setup always worked. I used it during the Sprint troubleshooting to no avail. I sent the Sprint box back and got a NEW box and NEW sim = SAME PROBLEMS.. Thinking it might be a signal strength issue using this different setup - I tried using one of those Window antennas = but this device did nothing for Sprint signal strength, however it would affect the BAND/Channel usage... (Window antenna works great for the AT&T setup though with noticeable signal strength improvement)...

>Main issue from 4months ago: With a new ZBT-wg3526, MC7455 rev.A and Sprint service in Indiana/USA = The internet will cease to work requiring a reboot. Once rebooted the internet is connected. Speeds are noticeable slower than I used to be getting with the device I had been running for 14mos. Also, when I try and download any large files = the speeds eventually drop down to Kb speeds. Eventually the file will just give up, time out..etc. It doesn't matter where I download from, Zdnet, Microsoft, direct connection to a friends download server, express VPN...etc.. = every way results in slow downloads speeds or timeouts. (The router stills shows an IP address from Sprint, the modem respsonds to AT commands = but its just like the modem and router arent talking to each other)...


12/13/2018 = I have an external enclosure, MC7455 rev. C modem flashed with the newest 2018 PRL/Firmware, 6' USB cable from the local gas station, win7 machine with 4GB ram(a really slow machine) = and it works almost perfectly..Still might disconnect when not in use = but its FAST.!.. I can do everything - Torrents..etc..

My internet "guy" doesn't know about this modem. I am using the SIM of course that he registered with Sprint. Is this setup working because Sprint doesn't have the Rev C. modem registered / on-file?????
I did NO configuration on the Windows 7 machine.. It was all setup by Windows or what is programmed into this REV C. modem..

I will post some pics of the Win7 setup that is working for reference.... And the next post that follows will be more steps I tried the past 3 mos that led upto this point..

THANKS in advance for any help... Again, sorry if I confused anyone or BORED you too much..

[swwifty]

sorry if this sounds like a dumb question, but why don't you just use your AT&T sim instead, if Sprint is giving you so many issues?

A lot of the issues you describe are common problems it seems on the Sprint network.

[namyzzo]

AT&T speeds are slower.. I get same signal strength with the built in Antennas - as I do with the Sprint setup. If I use the Window Antenna I get a significant boost in signal strength on AT&T. .fyi..

(I am currently using the ZBT-WG3526 & the MC7455 with the AT&T network. It's my main internet for the moment, while I troubleshoot and learn about Sprint and cell tech..)

[namyzzo]

CONTINUED:


So after no luck with the First and Second ZBT-wg3526 configuration - I ordered a few goodies for testing/flashing purposes. I got a simple USB adapter, also an external enclosure that came with the adapter board for the modem and I seen a MC7455 Rev. C modem so I purchased that just to see what happens..


A new "Generic" file was just released on the Sierra website - which is why I decided to get the USB devices.

I removed the Rev. A modem from the ZBT box. Since the Antenna leads were glued on - I used the basic USB board to do the flashing. Used a Windows 10 laptop to do the flashing and YAT (Yet Another Terminal) to configure and do some learning about AT commands... With the new PRL/Firmware and the laptop = Speeds were Great.. But, when the modem is installed back into the ZBT box = it fails once again... Slow downloads, modem/internet disconnects and wont connect on its own.. (I enabled/tinkered with the Keep Alive/Ping which really didnt help much..)..

I tried the Rev. C modem inside the ZBT box. Straight out of the packaging = no change... Flashed & programmed to newest specs = NO change when used in the ZBT router. Again I tried the small antennas and the Window antenna - with no good results..


Since the whimpy little external box and antennas do so good with Rev C modem = I really dont think the signal strength is my main issue.. (again, I had low signal strength with my First Sprint 6100d box = and it worked great for 14 months.!)


Here are the YAT screen shots of the Rev C modem configuration and how the Win7 machine sees it..

[swwifty]

I want to say Sprint requires some kind of registration with them for a specific modem in order to use it, but I'm not familiar enough with all these configurations unfortunately.

If you get a lot better signal with At&T when you put an antenna in the window, odds are you will get A LOT better connection if you have some external antennas. Have you given any thought to mounting some external antennas outside?

When I had my modem in my window in my house, best download speeds I could do was about 20mbps down, and 1-2 mbps up. With dedicated band 2 antennas outside of my house, I now get about 80mbps down, and 20mbps up. A massive difference.

Check out my post on my setup, and maybe it will give you some more ideas.

http://wirelessjoint.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=123&sid=3271ba1632c5af4f43b4489e1ebe165a