purwater Premium Member join:2002-10-25 Bluefield, VA |
purwater
Premium Member
2012-Oct-25 11:15 am
Swapping sim card from MiFi 4620L to Pantech UML290I've read any threads that I can find about doing the sim card swap from the 4620L to the UML290. I understand I'll need the sim card adapter. I have a couple of questions that I didn't see mentioned in the other threads, and if I'm repeating something asked I apologize. First, if I do the swap will I be able to use any 3G service on the Pantech modem? I wasn't sure how that worked since 4G is tied to the sim. Second, when you're looking for a UML290 on ebay do you look for used ones or do you buy new? Reason I ask is I wasn't sure how that worked as far as not activating it through Verizon. I know with phones some sellers are selling it with the stipulation that you need to activate service under a contract. I've had the 3G service through Millenicom for 2 years with my Cradlepoint MBR1000 and was hoping to use that with the Pantech. Currently I'm using the MiFi as my router as well, but the past couple of days when I get home the wifi has quit working. It won't show up on any computer or phone until I reboot the MiFi or pull the battery and power on. I'm figuring I can eliminate the problem by going with the Pantech and using my cradlepoint router that has worked great since I've had it. Plus the cradlepoint has a much stronger signal inside and even outside my house. Thanks for any input. |
actions · 2012-Oct-25 11:15 am · (locked) |
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Yes, you will need a sim card adapter. After trying several adapters myself, there is only ONE company I would get this adapter through: » microsim-shop.com/Secondly, you'll be able to use 3g service without a problem. Even though it is a 4g sim, they will fall back to 3g if 4g is not available. I use a 4620l and a UML290 myself and routinely swap between them depending on how I want to connect. The sim card makes it very convenient to use it this way as all the details of the mobile number and all are tied to the sim card and not the device at all. When purchasing the UML290, make sure the device has a clean ESN number, that's pretty much it. As far as your cradlepoint router, make sure you are running the latest firmware and latest modem drivers. These are readily available for download from cradlepoint's website. With this, the UML290 works fine in the cradlepoint (how I use mine) |
actions · 2012-Oct-25 2:53 pm · (locked) |
purwater Premium Member join:2002-10-25 Bluefield, VA |
purwater
Premium Member
2012-Oct-25 8:49 pm
Thanks for the input. I ordered a couple of different sim adapters today from amazon. Both had great reviews so I hope they work out ok. Found a 290 on ebay for a good price so I'm hoping things go smoothly. This evening marks the 3rd day in a row that I've come home to find the wifi not working on the mifi again. Hopefully the 290/cradlepoint is the combo I need. |
actions · 2012-Oct-25 8:49 pm · (locked) |
jferris33Comcast Extreme TG862G Gateway join:2003-04-09 Lusby, MD |
to purwater
I agree with Kevnich24 about which SIM adapter to buy. I got the same one from Amazon and it works just fine. Just make sure that you don't try to put the adapter into the UML290 without the SIM card - the adapter will get caught in the UML290 and you won't be able to get it out easily (trust me on this).
I use the exact same setup that you have. I ordered the Hotspot plan from Millenicom and purchased my UML290 from eBay. With the UML290 plugged into my Cradlepoint MBR1000 it works just fine and will provide an excellent WiFi connection with 4G or if that fails (my 4G connection has dropped out a number of times) you can force the UML290 to connect to 3G (by using the settings in the MBR1000) and it also works fine (but of course not nearly as fast as 4G).
When I first swapped the SIM card into the UML290 I downloaded the latest version of the Verizon Access Manager along with a UML290 firmware update (which is included with VZAM when you download it) . I then ran the firmware update on the UML290 and it did update the firmware (it checks to see if you need it or not) so I now have the latest firmware installed. I then ran VZAM and let it fire up the UML290 and get connected to test things out. Once that was done I just plugged the UML290 into my Cradlepoint and was good to go.
My Cradlepoint MBR1000 is loaded with version 2.0.0 of the firmware and WiMAX Modem driver version 6.1.2 (not sure if this is needed or not but it doesn't hurt to have it). |
actions · 2012-Oct-25 9:55 pm · (locked) |
purwater Premium Member join:2002-10-25 Bluefield, VA |
purwater
Premium Member
2012-Oct-29 7:58 pm
I got my UML290 and sim card adapter in the mail today and worked on setting everything up this evening. I set up everything using my laptop to install VZAM and updated everything once it was installed. I was only getting 3G connected to the laptop. Had to update the firmware on the router and I did update the modem files too. Everything has been very erratic so far. When I boot the router it sometimes never connects to Verizon. Sometimes it connects 1X or 3G. Finally after several attempts it did connect to LTE. I set the modem to LTE only in the cradlepoint settings. I had strong signal in the -70 to -78 range. I definitely found that the SINR had the biggest effect on my speeds. I moved it around several places in my house and when I got my SINR up to 10 I finally got speeds up to around 17-18 mb. I then moved it to one more spot that usually gets good speeds on the mifi and it wouldn't connect again. Finally gave up for the evening and put the sim card back in the mifi. As soon as I did I'm back to seeing 22-27 mb speeds with a SINR of 14-20. I'm not sure if my SINR levels are causing my connection issues or if it's something flaky with my router. I'm wondering if an antenna outside may help out. If anyone has any suggestions or input on what might be causing my issues then I'm very grateful. I thought with the blizzard going on outside and other stuff to do I'd wait to do some more experimenting. |
actions · 2012-Oct-29 7:58 pm · (locked) |
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to purwater
Try a 10 ft. USB extension cable on the router. Find a place for the modem that will produce the best signal. A higher place in the room should work better, a window toward the tower is best. After working with a Cradlepoint tech for two weeks this is what worked best for me. The UML290 LTE modem needs to have a good clean signal to produce the fast speeds. Go to a Wide Band outside antenna if more is needed. |
actions · 2012-Oct-29 10:03 pm · (locked) |
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purwater Premium Member join:2002-10-25 Bluefield, VA |
purwater
Premium Member
2012-Oct-30 2:23 pm
I ordered a 10' cable and I'll give that a try. Gonna try a couple more things when the blizzard is over and I can get around the property a little better. Might look into a good antenna. I hate to buy one when the MiFi gets such good speeds just sitting in the window, but I may have to do it. |
actions · 2012-Oct-30 2:23 pm · (locked) |
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to purwater
anyone got a link to which SIM card adapter I need. I am getting frequent disconnects with my mifi, so Im going to try the UML290 route. I cannt MC and they said "put it in 3g only, it will not go dormant" if I was going to do that, I wouldnt have upgraded to the 4g |
actions · 2012-Nov-5 8:38 pm · (locked) |
Jim_in_VA (banned) join:2004-07-11 Cobbs Creek, VA |
kevnich24 posted the link earlier in this thread for the adapter. I concur with him |
actions · 2012-Nov-5 8:57 pm · (locked) |
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to purwater
yes, but it has 3 different sims on it, and not sure what the mifi is......
ALso tried to buy a 3 pack of em, and it wouldnt let me. Maybe I need t o try again some other time. |
actions · 2012-Nov-5 9:01 pm · (locked) |
Jim_in_VA (banned) join:2004-07-11 Cobbs Creek, VA |
well, you certainly have a choice here: » www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ ··· +adapter |
actions · 2012-Nov-5 9:21 pm · (locked) |
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thanks Jim, wasnt sure if it was a micro or nano. |
actions · 2012-Nov-5 9:24 pm · (locked) |
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to Bosgarage57
Heres the link for the micro sim to sim adapter: » microsim-shop.com/microsim.htmlI wouldnt recommend any other place but this one. Reason being the other adapters dont allow the sim card to fit just right and when its inserted in the device, its a tad thick and extremely hard to remove. Very easy to damage the sim card, device or both. That store is overseas but definitely worth the wait in my opinion. |
actions · 2012-Nov-5 10:06 pm · (locked) |
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thanks Kev, I keep trying to order, but getting an error when going to paypal......i'll try again tomorrow.
Does anyone know of any other router than the CBR400 that has the feature of auto connecting when it detects it is not connected to the internet anymore? |
actions · 2012-Nov-5 10:09 pm · (locked) |
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What do you mean auto connecting when it is not connected to the internet anymore? |
actions · 2012-Nov-6 6:35 pm · (locked) |
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are you referring to the mifi or CBR400?
On the mifi, there is a setting under wwan settings "auto connect" I assumed that meant if connection drops from the tower to mifi it will try to reconnect, but it doesnt.
On the CBR400, it is the same way (I believe). I do not have a cbr, and am not going to pay $200 for one. But it says they have an auto reconnect feature.
I've purchaged a pantech and a sim card hopefully this will fix it all...........we shall see. |
actions · 2012-Nov-6 7:08 pm · (locked) |
purwater Premium Member join:2002-10-25 Bluefield, VA |
purwater
Premium Member
2012-Nov-6 8:52 pm
Well I received my 10' USB extension cable and had time to set it up this evening. Thanks xrayman for the suggestion and I had a couple others recommend trying this from other forums. I'm not sure why, but after using the extension cable I am getting much better performance and the Pantech is working well with my mbr1000 now. It was very erratic before when plugging the modem directly into the router. Getting -77 dBm and 11 to 17 on SINR with the modem in my office window and no external antenna. I still may try an antenna, but for now it's working pretty well.
ETA: Speed tests are showing an avg. 20Mb down and 5-7Mb up. Slightly below the averages of my MiFi, but still very solid. |
actions · 2012-Nov-6 8:52 pm · (locked) |
cellguru join:2008-09-22 Pleasant Grove, UT |
to Bosgarage57
said by Bosgarage57:Does anyone know of any other router than the CBR400 that has the feature of auto connecting when it detects it is not connected to the internet anymore? All of the current Cradlepoint routers have the "Aggressive Modem Reset" funtion. |
actions · 2012-Nov-22 9:01 pm · (locked) |