BSNL EVDO - have some queries about speed and charges

kuduku · Sep 16, 2012

cisco_tech said:
Dushie Voice working as well ?

All BSNL CDMA connections - whether voice or data or 1x or EVDO or ESN or RUIM are voice and SMS capable . It is locked in 8700 but can be unlocked in all other including 8700

Dushie said:
Yes, voice is working very well, have not test data though, i am able to make and receive calls and sms

you did it same way as we discussed by that individuals help ? Now flash some STV for cheap voice calls , default is 0.60p per minute i think

hayabusa_ryu said:
This is my present signal result using the old device, BSNL ZTE AC8700(no RUIM). I hope it will surely improve with newer devices.
View attachment 14643

Look at your signal and echo . Have you even gone through them ? -61dBm and -0.37dB ........ You are sitting in a signal hot tub what else do you want ? . My signal is -80 dBM and echo is 6dB . DONT EXPECT ANY SIGNAL IMPROVEMENT WITH 595U . DONT BUY IT . Only negative your device is Rev 0

Dushie · Sep 16, 2012

@kuduku : Nope this time i did it without his help, i went on line searched for an hour on various forums, and finally was able to dig the 16 digit code. Got multiple codes, finally after trial and error got one working and flashed it. Is there any link which has the STV details. On the southzone portal i saw Rs 15 recharge for per second billing with 90 days validity. There are few other too, but confusing.

Good part is i can flash it back whenever needed as i have the code with me.

kuduku · Sep 16, 2012

@Dushie here you go http://www.bsnl.co.in:9080/opencms/bsnl/BSNL/services/mobile/recharge_coupons.html
and
http://www.bsnl.co.in:9080/opencms/bsnl/BSNL/services/mobile/special_tariff_voucher.html
the unlimited 1x data plan looks cheap and i think 1x is enough for emails and stuff . Whichever plan you try update here also . I am thinking of finally utilizing the Palm Plixi
Note - South zone plans might differ +-1 INR

hayabusa_ryu · Sep 16, 2012

kuduku said:
All BSNL CDMA connections - whether voice or data or 1x or EVDO or ESN or RUIM are voice and SMS capable . It is locked in 8700 but can be unlocked in all other including 8700

you did it same way as we discussed by that individuals help ? Now flash some STV for cheap voice calls , default is 0.60p per minute i think

Look at your signal and echo . Have you even gone through them ? -61dBm and -0.37dB ........ You are sitting in a signal hot tub what else do you want ? . My signal is -80 dBM and echo is 6dB . DONT EXPECT ANY SIGNAL IMPROVEMENT WITH 595U . DONT BUY IT . Only negative your device is Rev 0

But I have Rev 0 device and BSNL network is Rev A, that's why i want to upgrade & i need more upload speed too. Surely with Rev A i will get more up/down speed. With Rev A device I hope to get 2.40 mbps+ at least. My speed is limited to 2.4 mbps which i want to improve.

Dushie · Sep 16, 2012

Thanks, i logged in on the south portal and some of the options i see below are : -

- - - Updated - - -

first option all @ 49 seems to be a good option for calling other good option is per sec plan for Rs 15

kuduku · Sep 16, 2012

@Dushie Your connection was a data connection earlier so will 150 bucks 3.5GB work ? @ 49 is best plan go with it . If frequent calls in seconds than per second and if long chatter group than @ 49 plan . If no STD than on net @ 20 and off net @ 40 at 40 bucks even better for local calls

DarkAngel · Sep 16, 2012

hayabusa_ryu said:
This is my present signal result using the old device, BSNL ZTE AC8700(no RUIM). I hope it will surely improve with newer devices.
View attachment 14643

What software did you use to find the signal strength. I too have a AC8700 lying around. It was with BSNL connection but now disconnected.
kuduku varkey Can we find BSNL signal strength using this modem for a particular location.

Sorry if my question sounds stupid.
I have a Wi-Max at my current location and get max speed using that. Does EVDO and Wi-Max share towers?
My signal strength(Rssi) is -65dbm to -70dbm and CINR of ~25-27, if i point the outdoor CPE properly towards the tower which is some ~2-3kms away.

kuduku · Sep 16, 2012

DarkAngel said:
What software did you use to find the signal strength. I too have a AC8700 lying around. It was with BSNL connection but now disconnected.
kuduku varkey Can we find BSNL signal strength using this modem for a particular location.

Sorry if my question sounds stupid.
I have a Wi-Max at my current location and get max speed using that. Does EVDO and Wi-Max share towers?
My signal strength(Rssi) is -65dbm to -70dbm and CINR of ~25-27, if i point the outdoor CPE properly towards the tower which is some ~2-3kms away.

Yes generally BSNL BTS has EVDO and WIMAX both . And -65 dBM is good signal strength

hayabusa_ryu · Sep 16, 2012

@dark, I used AxesstelPST EvDO for measuring my EVDO signal strength.

DarkAngel · Sep 16, 2012

kuduku said:
Yes generally BSNL BTS has EVDO and WIMAX both . And -65 dBM is good signal strength

Last year I burnt my fingers trying out EVDO. The signal strength i get is possible only if I turn my outdoor CPE of the wimax in a particular direction.
If i get the direction wrong it will even dip to about 16-17. Worth a try considering the AC8700 is pretty weak at signal capture.

One more option I have is to get the Sierra modem from US when my cousins come over here in the next 3-4 months. Is it a better option to go with that?

Another query is whether I can check the signal strength with the connection being disconnected.

Edit: Guess not. The s/w gets stuck in COM port status.
I guess I will go the prepaid route this time and get it activated for Rs.350 and get a Rs.150/500MB 30 days plan.
But if I have good strength and want to upgrade to UL plan then does someone know how to change the plan for prepaid user?

kuduku · Sep 16, 2012

DarkAngel said:
Last year I burnt my fingers trying out EVDO. The signal strength i get is possible only if I turn my outdoor CPE of the wimax in a particular direction.
If i get the direction wrong it will even dip to about 16-17. Worth a try considering the AC8700 is pretty weak at signal capture.

One more option I have is to get the Sierra modem from US when my cousins come over here in the next 3-4 months. Is it a better option to go with that?

Another query is whether I can check the signal strength with the connection being disconnected.

Thats why directional antennas are either very good if you align it correctly or very bad
Get the modem its the best EVDO modem . Available on ebay from $10 to $20 for peti pack pieces .
Yes signal can be checked when its disconnected

varkey · Sep 16, 2012

DarkAngel said:
I guess I will go the prepaid route this time and get it activated for Rs.350 and get a Rs.150/500MB 30 days plan.
But if I have good strength and want to upgrade to UL plan then does someone know how to change the plan for prepaid user?

Just get a prepaid CDMA voice connection for some 40-50 Rs and you can activate any EVDO plan on it.

If you are in South Zone, they have a very good portal to manage pretty much everything -- CDMA Customer Portal: Login

DarkAngel · Sep 16, 2012

varkey said:
Just get a prepaid CDMA voice connection for some 40-50 Rs and you can activate any EVDO plan on it.

If you are in South Zone, they have a very good portal to manage pretty much everything -- CDMA Customer Portal: Login

Thanks for the link and suggestion

I am in TN. Will get the CDMA prepaid SIM then. The ZTE AC8700 i have has a SIM slot (RUIM?) So I guess there should be no worries.

cisco_tech · Sep 17, 2012

hayabusa_ryu said:
But I have Rev 0 device and BSNL network is Rev A, that's why i want to upgrade & i need more upload speed too. Surely with Rev A i will get more up/down speed. With Rev A device I hope to get 2.40 mbps+ at least. My speed is limited to 2.4 mbps which i want to improve.

Upload is still capped even if you upgrade to Rev A modem. it is still capped at 153 Kbps.

kuduku · Sep 17, 2012

cisco_tech said:
Upload is still capped even if you upgrade to Rev A modem. it is still capped at 153 Kbps.

see even with Rev A modem I am stuck with Rev 0 speeds plus the upload caps . What does your card show ? . Go in Watcher options , General , last ,enable NIC for data connection . Then it goes in NIC connection mode . I have attached the screenshot of my 2.4 Mbps . After going in protocol stats i have changed the meter to read 3.1Mbps but still i am at Rev 0 speeds where as in watcher it shows connected to Rev A network

cisco_tech · Sep 17, 2012

@kuduku even on mine it shows 2.4 Mbps but i do get 2.8-3.0 Mbps. Rev.A connected.

hayabusa_ryu · Sep 17, 2012

Well even if upload speed is capped i will get increase in download speed by at least 600kbps+. Its practically impossible to get 3.1 mbps all the time but -5% to 10% of the 3.1 mbps is achievable. Take an example, if u can get 90kBps in 100KBps connection then u will surely get 135KBps in 150kBps connection albeit you should have same signal strength in both the cases.

kaneunderground · Sep 17, 2012

Any one buying battries ?? I am running out of juice !
You guys recommend these ??
http://orders.ebay.in/ws/eBayISAPI....rch&qwd=595u&cid=-1&qbtn=Search&_udlo=&_udhi=

hayabusa_ryu · Sep 21, 2012

I was about to buy Sierra 595U but some ppl outside this forum suggested me to buy Sierra 598U instead. And luckily, I got an unlocked 598U(factory version) deal. So I bought a Sierra 598U and its on the way to me in 10-15 days. At other forum it is said that 598 is better than 595, in every aspects.
I dont think it will be hard to use Sierra 598 factory unlocked version in BSNL EVDO.

varkey · Sep 21, 2012

^ For the 595U, you have tools available to "fix" the ESN so that you don't have to beg BSNL to register the ESN in their system. I am not sure if similar tools are available for the 598. In case you are not able to "fix" the ESN, you need to get BSNL to register the ESN, and that mainly depends on the person in-charge of EVDO in your area.