Jump to content

KnarfOH

S4GRU Member
  • Posts

    64
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by KnarfOH

  1. I ordered this: http://3gstore.com/product/5423_surecall-magnetic-mount-antenna.html and they state the following: "The Zing/AC771S has two antenna ports - either port can be used (there is no difference in performance between the two ports)"

     

    However it did NOT help my signal at all, despite the 5dB claim.  This makes me wonder why I have seen other sites sell a Y antenna cable that connects both ports.  Would it not make sense to populate both ports?  I'm sure the old dock that Sprint sells has both ports connected, so I believe this to be wrong.

    See my response to another member above.

  2. Do you know exactly what antenna you used? I just ordered this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZAIQDCQ and it doesn't seem to affect my signal at all. I have 1 bar with and without this antenna, and still get a pretty decent connection. Usually 10+mbps but if I can get an antenna that will make it even faster, that would be amazing!! I just dont want to waste anymore time/money on antenna's that dont work, because I assume they aren't running the correct frequencies or something.

    I posted pictures of my external antenna before in this forum.  Here is a link - CLICK HERE

     

    If you want to see how it all comes together, click on this link:   CLICK HERE

     

    The difference between signals: Internal vs External antenna

     

    sprint1.jpg

     

    Since I have not been a SPRINT customer (the service and my experience with SPRINT was great!) since fall of 2015 I have not been here to see new posts.  Sorry I missed your question.  However someone did send me a personal message today and I received an EMAIL notification that a message was waiting for me so that is why, after all this time, I logged back in and saw your question posted publicly.

     

    This antenna was designed specifically for Clearwire WiMax service.  Since SPRINT actually uses 3 bands (I believe that is the reason they wanted Clearwire so badly - to get their bandwidth) I do not know how efficient this antenna is with the other bands but I know I was getting good results  CLICK HERE

     

    If anyone has questions of me - please send me a PVT MSG.  I just don't visit very often anymore and a private message results in an EMAIL notification being sent to me that someone is trying to reach out.  THANKS!

     

    If you live in the Columbus area and are interested in this antenna - send me a private message.  Would be glad to work with you.  I still have the pigtail that makes this work with the Hotspot too!  Now that it is SPRING, hopefully I will be taking the antenna down soon with warmer weather.

  3. I loved my Sprint Zing. Now Time Warner has come into my area (Canal Winchester) and I switched. No longer need the ZING or the PEPWAVE SOHO SURF. If anyone is interested in either ot both, let me know by private message.

    Sold both a long time ago. Actually got pretty close to what I paid for both. I owned for 18 months. Sorry I forgot to post this earlier. Also, I have not been visiting this forum since I sold the two items and canceled my Sprint account. I have now responded to all of you who asked if I still had them for sale. Sorry again

  4. Loved Sprint (saved my butt since only service in my area - Canal Winchester/Pickerington) but it is time to say goodbye since Time Warner just came through my neighborhood (low-density area with no other sources of internet except satellite).  It was a great ride, but now must get rid of all my equipment.  Will part VERY reasonably:  Sprint Hotspot and Soho Surf router available.  PVT me if interested

    • Like 1
  5. Anyone else other than KnarfOH able to usb tether between the zing and the surf soho?

     

    Any hints?  I have my firmware as 6.1.2, build 1550, but it still will not connect.

     

    Please help.

     

    Thanks.

    With the USB tethered, you should be able to see USB as one of your choices on this screenshot.
     
    Login to PEPWAVE MANAGER, default LOGIN and PASSWORD are both "admin" unless you changed those settings.
     
    Under Dashboard, have you dragged the USB setting to the top of "WAN Connection Status" where it shows CONNECTED and dragged the other DEVICES down to disabled?
     
    You can't just plug the ZING in to the USB port on the SOHO router.  You must also make sure it has been connected by following these instructions.
     
    Let me know!

     

    P.S. While you are doing that.. you might as well drag any UNUSED connections down to the disabled status.

     

    pepwave1.JPG

  6. Anyone else other than KnarfOH able to usb tether between the zing and the surf soho?

     

    Any hints?  I have my firmware as 6.1.2, build 1550

    Yes, it worked for me right up to several weeks ago when I cancelled my Sprint plan because Time Warner Cable just installed fiber optics in my neighborhood.  Prior to that, my only choices were Satellite, Clearwire and Sprint.  I found only that version of the FIRMWARE would work and it is the same as the one you identified - PLUS (AND THIS IS A BIG PLUS) you have to be patient, the tethering actually takes some time.  Watching the lights, it appears the devices may even be rebooting several times.  So if you are only giving it 3 or 4 minutes, THAT IS NOT ENOUGH TIME!

     

    If the power is disconnected (on purpose or power outage) you may need to give it 8 to 10 minutes to work again

     

    SOHO support says they do not support tethering to the ZING HOTSPOT, but I used it that way for over 18 months and it was great!

     

    Let me know if you get it to work!  OR buy my Soho and my ZING.... LOL

  7. I purchased the dock (reported on this in another post).  To be honest, it was worthless.  Either I had a defective docking station or it just plain had no advantage.  I purchased directly from SPRINT when I first bought my Zing Hotspot.  Fortunately, they gave me a trial period to use and test the docking station and when it didn't work, they gave me the option to return to them by UPS or I could visit a local company owned store.  I chose the later and got a full refund.

     

    The only issue I had was they could not find my account for some reason.  Thought I took everything I needed to help them locate my purchase information, but they COULD NOT find it!    Returned home - took every bit of information about my account I could find and that worked.  For example - they asked me my Sprint phone number.  Even though I don't have a Sprint phone - they do assign you a phone number.  I never thought to take that with me on my first trip.  Second visit went without a hitch and I got a full refund.

     

    I was one of those customers who originally was a CLEARWIRE WIMAX customer and I had purchased an directional antenna to help with that signal.  I ended up buying the pigtail connector so I could connect my old WIMAX antenna to my Zing Hotspot and it worked like a charm.  Problem solved.  Tripled my up and down speeds immediately!

     

    Some of my previous posts about my experiences can be found CLICK HERE

  8. I live on Waterloo Road and I am about 1 mile south of the SPRINT tower that serves this area.  That tower is across the street from KINGY'S PIZZA.

    Typically, I get 10 to 15 mb downloads and about the same for uploads.

     

    However, recently, I have experienced several episodes where I have received downloads/uploads over 20 mb.

     

    These speeds do not usually last that long, an hour or so.  Is this reflective of possible testing or something.  Just has happened in the last week or so (that I have noticed).

  9. @GMotif you live south of Waterloo right? Have you seen the fiber being installed by on your south?

    I live on Waterloo Road and Time-Warner's subcontractors are putting in the fiber optic lines in this area.  Waterloo Road runs north and south so when you ask "on your south" not sure what you mean.  Of course, there are about 6 streets in the Canal Winchester area that have Waterloo in their name, i.e.. Waterloo Road, Waterloo Street, Waterloo Court, etc.  I suspect you mean Waterloo Street which is one of the 2 main streets in Canal Winchester with High Street and Waterloo Street being the center of town.

     

    The old cable system we had in this area was INSIGHT COMMUNICATION.  That system was so old it did not include the latest in TV let alone internet (AS IN NO INTERNET AT ALL).  TWC bought them and is now upgrading our area FINALLY.  The reason I went with CLEARWIRE and now, SPRINT was because those were the only options I had in this area except for satellite internet (and that cost a fortune).

     

    One of the subcontractors showed me the map of the area that TWC is upgrading and this entire area is being upgraded (low density housing for the most part and farms).  So we are talking south of Canal Winchester and east to greater Lithopolis, etc.

     

    In July, one of the sub-contractors told me it usually takes 3 to 6 months after they initially string the fiber optic lines for TWC to turn the switch and activate the system.  Hopefully, by November (when CLEARWIRE is turning off the lights) TWC will be ready, but if not, my neighbors will have a a short wait and then TWC will come to rescue.  

     

    I switched to SPRINT (unlimited plan) about 14 months ago from my CLEARWIRE unlimited plan because the tower that services this area (across the street from KINGY'S) is about 1 mile from home and I easily doubled my speeds and often they are tripled.  

  10. When you plug the zing into a pc, it has to load special zing drivers, either from the device itself or downloaded from the internet.

     

    When I first plugged my ZING into my PC Desktop, it took a little longer to be recognized, etc.  I assumed it was either downloading drivers or installing drivers that were pre-loaded on the device itself.  After that, it immediately recognizes when I plug it into a USB port.  I really only need to do that when I want to open up the ZING HOTSPOT MANAGER and change some settings.  About 90% of the time, I have my ZING tethered to my SOHO SURF and the rest of time I am using the ZING as a stand alone hotspot.

  11. Yeah, I didn't get much help from them. They told me to use WiFi as WAN, it created so much interference that it was unusable. Pepwave even remoted into the SOHO via my old Clear Hub Express connection, after three hours they gave up. Maybe this downgrade in firmware will finally let me be able to use the damn thing.

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone 6 using Tapatalk

     

    The proof is in the pudding.  Using firmware v6.1.2 build 1550

     

    pepwave2.PNG

  12. I downloaded v6.1.2 build 1550 from the 3gstore.com support page, I'll try to revert back tonight. Thanks for the info!

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone 6 using Tapatalk

    Coincidental, but I was talking to 3gstore.com (online chat) just a little while ago.  I was looking for an antenna and perhaps a router that "officially" was supported for tethering with the Sprint Zing.

     

    SOHO had already told me they don't support their router for tethering with the ZING because it is not on the approved list.  Funny thing is, when I bought the SOHO SURF directly from PEPWAVE they made no promises but said they had other customers claim to have it working as a tethered device. They also said if I was not happy, I could return it.

     

    I got the SOHO SURF to tether with my ZING by accident (I guess) and found the only firmware that works! (once again by accident).  Versions before v6.1.2 build 1550 and after do not work.  Not that I tested them all - but I have tested several including the one they released in the last few days. v6.2.1 and I have gone back to v6.1.2 build 1550

     

    3gstore told me they instruct their buyers to connect by WAN to the PEPWAVE SOHO SURF routers they sell and not attempt to tether since it won't work.  I always laugh when someone tells me something won't work and here I am using my tethered SOHO SURF and ZING hotspot to communicate with them over their real-time chat system.  LOL

     

    Anyway, I love their store - but it is funny when someone tells you something won't work but you know for a fact it will.

     

    I have WAN turned off through control panel.

     

     

     

     

  13. Firmware I am using is 6.1.2 build 1550

     

    Remember, the pairing actually takes some time. If you're watching the device while it is trying to pair it will seem like it is not working at first. Be patient. Let me know your progress.

    Just an update for those trying to tether their Zing Hotspot to a Pepwave SURF SOHO.

     

    The only firmware version I have gotten this device to work with is the one I mentioned before:  v6.1.2 build 1550

     

    When I first got the SOHO, i updated the firmware and it did not work (at that time v6.2.0  I went back to the firmware that was included with the shipped SOHO and it tethered fine.

     

    ONE IMPORTANT NOTE:  The tethering process takes several minutes or more. So if you are connecting for the first time or have had a power outage, etc.  be patient and allow it to reconnect.  Sometimes you need to disconnect the power supply to the SOHO (during tethering the ZING gets its power from the SOHO so it will power down also) and then wait 20 seconds and plug back in.  When it reboots, give it a few minutes to find and connect to the ZING.

     

    NEXT IMPORTANT NOTE:  I received an email from PEPWAVE saying firmware updates were now FREE and they released a new update v6.2.1

     

    Same issues for me as before with v6.2.0.  The ZING connects, but only for a few minutes, then disconnects and the process starts all over.

     

    I WENT BACK TO v6.1.2 build 1550 and everything works great again.

     

    I am out a little ways from civilization and the ZING has been a godsend for me.  However, Time Warner plans to be out here in the FALL and I will probably go with them at some point.

     

    I love my ZING and SPRINT has been a good provider so not leaving for any other reason then I will finally be part of civilization and will be able to bundle my internet, phone and TV signal.

     

    zing1.png

     

     

    • Like 1
  14. I know on the Zing hotspot you can go into advanced setup and change the preference order on channels, i.e. B25, B26 and B41.

     

    I am slightly over a mile from the Sprint tower that serves my area.  B25 is always ON, but you can choose to give it a order of 1, 2 or 3.  

    Since I am using it a home (we have no alternative to internet service, except satellite) what is the recommended order for the 3 channels?  Which channel should be 1st; which channel should be 2nd; and which channel should be 3rd?

     

    Thanks for your replies.

  15. How did you get it to work with the Surf SOHO? I tried to tether via USB and it wouldn't connect. Tried WiFi as WAN, and it worked but there was too much interference so data was flaky.

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone 6 using Tapatalk

     

    Firmware I am using is 6.1.2 build 1550

     

    Remember, the pairing actually takes some time. If you're watching the device while it is trying to pair it will seem like it is not working at first. Be patient. Let me know your progress.

  16. So those of you with both the zing and the docking station;

     

    - do you still use the dock?

    - would you buy it again, or was it worth buying?

    - do you want to get rid of it?

    The dock was totally worthless.   I could not see any improvement.  I ordered online, but was allowed to take it back to a local Sprint store (company owned - not a franchise store) and they did the credit for me.

     

    Instead, I purchased a pigtail connector so that I could connect the outdoor directional antenna I had purchased for my Clearwire modem and it works great.

     

    Speedtest_12212014.PNG

     

    soho_1065_1600.JPG

    • Like 3
×
×
  • Create New...