Why do I lose my Internet!!! - RV-Dreams Community Forum

DorisandDave · RV-Dreams Family Member

Why do I lose my Internet!!!

3Gstore_Matt · RV-Dreams Family Member

Doris,

This is common with Cradlepoint routers within a 4G area when your traveling. These new devices don't handle 4G to 3G transition and can sometimes loose connectivity as your moving around. You can try locking the device into either 3G or 4G from the router - open browser and enter http://192.168.0.1 and use the last six characters of your Mac to login. Click on the "Modem" tab and select "Settings" from the sub menu on the left. Scroll to the bottom of the page and you'll find the LTE Multi Mode settings with auto, 4G only or 3G only. Also, I'd recommend getting a 5' or more USB extension between the router and your card to eliminate any wireless interference.

DorisandDave · RV-Dreams Family Member

Matt,

my only choices are auto, 3g or LTE

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

LTE = 4G

Be sure to use an extension for your Pantech to get it away from the router.

-- Edited by Bill Adams on Monday 9th of May 2011 08:05:16 PM

DorisandDave · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ok, so looks like i just need to get an extension cord for the air card.

-- Edited by DorisandDave on Monday 9th of May 2011 09:39:40 PM

3Gstore_Matt · RV-Dreams Family Member

DorisandDave wrote:
Ok, so looks like i just need to get an extension cord for the air card.

-- Edited by DorisandDave on Monday 9th of May 2011 09:39:40 PM

After you get an extension cable let us know if that helps improve your connection reliability.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

3Gstore_Matt wrote:

. . . I'd recommend getting a 5' or more USB extension between the router and your card to eliminate any wireless interference.

Matt:

Is the interference you are referring to from the laptop or Cradlepoint from the 2.4Ghz WiFi band that the card might be using for 3G? The card could use 900MHz or 1.9GHz for 3G. I just want to get clear in my mind where this potential interference you are cautioning about is located RF wise: Interference to 3G and not 4G which is in the 700MHz band.

Correct? – Or am I missing something which I have been known to do.

Thank you

Bill

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

The interference is between the air card and the router.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bill Adams wrote:
The interference is between the air card and the router.

OK, caused by what in the router, please The RF the frequency used by the Wifi (2.4GHz) and if so, is that only for 3G or 4G? If the interference is to 3G I could understand why that is due to the frequency in use. If it is 4G, why? What in the router is causing the interference? Internal oscillators?

Bill

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

The answer is..... no one knows. It's complete speculation on the part of those involved. It should not be an issue (there actually shouldn't even be an issue) but it is and this appears to be a workable solution.

3Gstore_Matt · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bill and Linda wrote:
Bill Adams wrote:
The interference is between the air card and the router.
OK, caused by what in the router, please The RF the frequency used by the Wifi (2.4GHz) and if so, is that only for 3G or 4G? If the interference is to 3G I could understand why that is due to the frequency in use. If it is 4G, why? What in the router is causing the interference? Internal oscillators?
Bill

I wish I could give you a definative answer on the issue with Verizon 4G as it's in the 700Mhz band quite a ways from the 2.4Ghz band WiFi uses. With WiMAX it makes more sense because that uses the 2.5Ghz band.

All I can say is in a 4G area using the device directly in the router yielded 5Mbps down and with a 5' extension speeds were in the 15Mbps neighborhood.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

I wish I could give you a definative answer on the issue with Verizon 4G as it's in the 700Mhz band quite a ways from the 2.4Ghz band WiFi uses. With WiMAX it makes more sense because that uses the 2.5Ghz band.
All I can say is in a 4G area using the device directly in the router yielded 5Mbps down and with a 5' extension speeds were in the 15Mbps neighborhood.

Thanks Matt. I know all this techo talk is “Greek” to many. But this is how we find out where the real problems are and can perhaps solve them with something other than a band-aid.

My guess is that it is an “image” frequency from the router down into the 700MHz band. There is most likely internally generated RF radiation from these “relatively” inexpensive consumer devices, like the Cradlepoint, possibly due to poor shielding. (Don’t anyone get all in a-twitter about “RF radiation.” It’s a technical term, not a health issue.) Another possibility is simple desensitizing of the 4G receiver due to the Wifi in the router. I’ll bet if an external antenna was used for the 3G/4G air-card this wouldn’t be a problem for various reasons I won’t bore anyone with.

Thanks for your help as always.

Bill

DorisandDave · RV-Dreams Family Member

Matt and Bill,

I am now running my aircard with at least a 5ft extension...had to buy a 12ft, but it's not that far away from the cradlepoint. The aircard IS attached to an external antenna via an amplifier.

We are in a 4g area and we are now getting amazing speeds....love it!

Thanks to Matt (via PM) and Bill and Bill Adams for all the help!!

Doris

Penny and Paul · RV-Dreams Family Member

Holy smokes! A 12' extension? Is that USB? Are you seeing any attenuation at that length? Where did you get it? I can see that being really handy.

DorisandDave · RV-Dreams Family Member

Haven't lost anything with the extension. Bought it at Best Buy....it was either 3 ft, 6 ft or 12 ft.

We have the cradlepoint on a shelf on the left of the rear picture window and the amplifier and aircard on a shelf on the right of the window. Needed enough cord so that it could fall below the back of the couch and below the bottom of the window.

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

You won't see signal attenuation in a single USB extension cable because it is a digital signal. Unlike the analog signal in an antenna cable extension. If you go more than 5 meters with USB you may need a booster on the second extension. But most people do not need that much extension.