X220 Gobi 3000 ~slow~

[GobiGuy]

I have an X220 (Win7-64-bit) through work.  Recently ordered the Gobi 3000 (Sierra Wireless) embedded WWAN device.  I installed it per the instructions that came with it.  Activated using the Lenovo Mobile Broadband Activation (on Sprint).

I can connect to Sprint just fine using any of the following connection methods:

1) create a DIAL modem entry and use the Gobi 3000 modem interface

2) native Win7 WWAN NDIS (i.e. using the Gobi 3000 device as an NDIS "Network Adapter")

3) Using Lenovo Access Connections 7

Here's the problem..... it's SLOW!  With an external Sierra Wireless AirCard 402 (also on Sprint EV-DO Rev-A), I get screaming 3G speeds (2.2+ MBps down, 1.5 MBps up)....full signal 5 bars.

However, with the embedded Gobi 3000 in the same location, I get barely 800kbps down and 450 kbps up. 

I made sure that the driver is the latest. 

What am I doing wrong?  I can't think of anything as to why this is so slow.  It's as if I'm only getting 1xRTT speeds and not EV-DO Rev-A.

Activation isn't the issue..it connect... just SLOW.

Stumped!

[x220forMe]

Have you attached the antennas connectors clearly and properly?
Check out the signal level, broadband interface capabilities and quality of signal (percent of errors):

- open the console window (cmd)

- type netsh mbn sh int . Copy the value of the 1st string Name

- type the following strings:

netsh mbn sh cap int="@Name"

netsh mbn sh conn int="@Name"

netsh mbn sh sig int="@Name"

where @Name is the value you've remembered earlier (should be in quotes).

[GobiGuy · Accepted solution]

OK, the plot thickens!

First of all, x220forMe, thanks for your reply.  I've captured the info you requested and pasted below, but I don't know that it matters now.

I seemed to have gotten past this problem.  Here's how...

I switched the activation from Sprint over to Verizon.

On Sprint, in the same location (my office) I was only getting 4 bars (of 5) and very slow...about 500 to 700 kbps down and way too slow to mention upload speeds.  :-(

On Verizon in the same locaiton (office desk), I'm getting 100% signal (see info below) with MUCH FASTER results.

A speed test (speedtest.net) indicates:  2.40 MBps download and 0.58 MBps upload.

Those are more like it!  Exactly what I was expecting from an embedded device.

Maybe it's just that Sprint isn't strong enough here?  I thought at first that might be the case, but when I was out at meetings and testing from an outdoor location in an urban environment where Sprint shows full EV-DO Rev-A coverage on their map, I was getting the very same slow speeds!    I still cannot explain it.

Nonetheless, I'm leaving it on Verizon and enjoying their much faster network and far batter coverage.  Only reason I chose Sprint was because that's what my previous Sierra Wireless AirCard 402 (ExpressCard) was and when I gave that up to get an embedded Gobi 3000 chip, my IT department just switched over the Sprint activation to use the new device IMEI/IMSI, etc.  I wasn't aware that they were still able to activate our employees on Verizon and we were...so I had them switch it.

Moral of the story:  Beware when using Sprint with the Gobi 3000 embedded! (Sierra Wireless MC8355)

C:\>netsh mbn sh cap int="Mobile Data"

Device capability information for interface Mobile Data:
-------------------------------------------------------
    Device type                  : Mobile Broadband device is embedded in the system
    Cellular class               : CDMA
    Voice class                  : Simultaneous voice and data
    Sim class                    : SIM is logical or embedded in the device
    Data class                   : 1xRTT, 1xEVDO, 1xEVDO REVA
    CDMA band class              : 800 MHz, 1900 MHz
    SMS capability               : PDU receive, PDU send
    Control capability           : Hardware radio switch functionality available
                                   Configured for mobile IP with simple IP as fallback
    Manufacturer                 : Sierra Wireless Inc
    Model                        : Sierra Wireless MC8355 - Gobi 3
    Firmware Information         : D3600-STSUVH-1576 0d010008
    Maximum activation contexts  : 1


C:\>netsh mbn sh conn int="Mobile Data"

Connection information for interface Mobile Data:
-------------------------------------
    Interface State       : Connected
    Register State        : Home
    Register Mode         : Automatic
    Provider Name         : Verizon Wireless
    Provider Id           : 00000
    Provider Data Class   : 1xEVDO REVA
    Number of connections : 1

      Serial number #1
        Connection Id         : 3
        Access Point Name     :


C:\>netsh mbn sh sig int="Mobile Data"

Signal information for interface Mobile Data:
-----------------------------------------------
    Signal         : 100%
    RSSI           : 31
    Error Rate     : 0
    Rssi interval  : 30
    Rssi threshold : 5

[x220forMe]

The best result is good result which we expect!
We see the main options:
Data class : 1xRTT, 1xEVDO, 1xEVDO REVA
Provider Data Class : 1xEVDO REVA
Firmware Information : D3600-STSUVH-1576 0d010008
Signal : 100%
Error Rate : 0

From my point of view these results show that the low speed in Sprint network wasn't 3g card related. Some carriers limit the data transfer speed or have not enough network resource or have the bad signal.
It would be interesting to compare your test for Verizon with Sprint one. Just for the future. Of course, it is not necessary to do.

[billbolton Community Moderator]

---

GobiGuy wrote:

Maybe it's just that Sprint isn't strong enough here?  I thought at first that might be the case, but when I was out at meetings and testing from an outdoor location in an urban environment where Sprint shows full EV-DO Rev-A coverage on their map, I was getting the very same slow speeds!    I still cannot explain it.

---

Strong signal levels are no guarantee of good connectivity if the wireless service has been oversold and has become congested with traffic.  This is a fairly common issue worldwide with WWAN services of any technology type.

Cheers,

Bill