Problems with Telstra 3G/4G netgear wireless modems

[generdawg]

Get a good quality 3G 'broomstick' aerial and place on top of your Winegard...

Price: $185.00
Choose Connector & Cable: *
*500mm LMR195 tail with N-Female connector
*10m LMR195 cable with SMA-Male connector

Which one?

And will I still be able to use the old Sierra Wireless model that you show in earlier post, the shiny black model, not the "Advanced 4G Modem" one?

dawg

[pelbo]

Depends what patch lead you have!

I suggest you phone them and discuss what you have and need. That way you can blame them if it's wrong! They are good people and will help you far better than I can! That is what i did! I AM NOT AN EXPERT on this!

I suggest you go for 10 metre lead so you can feed the lead through a wall (You can buy a special wall fitting for this from caravan dealers / parts.

If you can wait a few weeks until I get the new advanced one and test it out, Telstra MUST supply the new one because of their changes to the system making the DC signal stuff up.

You will also need a pool pole and a bracket to fit your a-frame or bumper bar.

Have a look at my post on the other forum to save typing it all out and getting photos!

http://caravanersforum.com/viewtopic.ph ... ae#p592666

[pelbo]

dawg,

See photos of the standard FME male fitting:



Plus photo of the through the wall fitting that can take any size antennae lead, complete with plug screwed in place for travelling.



I placed this in cupboard where my modem is situated. It is under the awning to keep ant rain out when cable is in place. I loop the cable down as second insurance!

Paul

[Jon and Kay]

[quote="pelbo"]dawg,

See photos of the standard FME male fitting:



You must have missed the sex lesson classes

[pelbo]

Definitely the male! Click on the photo to bring it up to full size (so to speak!) and you will see it has a little male thing....that fits into the female receptor...

[generdawg]

Depends what patch lead you have!...

If you can wait a few weeks...

Do these help? I ken wait a few weeks, but no more.
Lead may not be suitable as it was left over for a connection to my Samsung A412 phone. No change with antenna connected so I binned the antenna and saved the lead. Why? Dunno.

DSCF7679x.jpg

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DSCF7681x.jpg

[pelbo]

Dawg

That's fine! If ordering the new antennae, ask for the end to have the female FME fitting.

I will pick up my new modem from the Mulwala Post office on Monday. I'll let you know how it goes when up and running.

Currently in Beechworth with my current modem like yours. I am getting a good 4G signal. But it keeps switching to DC and losing the connection - still connected with full bars, but no Internet!

If it works the way the gurus state it should, I would suggest all of you with the Sierra Modem demand a free replacement upgrade. You will need to speak to a supervisor to get anywhere. Then if no luck, mention the ombudsman. Or demand an escalation to higher tech service. They are very aware of the current problem with the DC signal failing in the older sierra modems. Make sure you talk to the butcher, not the block (head)

You can read about the new modems here:

http://www.goodgearguide.com.au/review/ ... ed/532839/

[Shirley]

I thought I remembered someone posting that you could lock your modem to 3G or 4G which ever one gave the strongest signal??

We traveled with a sierra modem (like the one pictured) from home thru outback Qld to Kurumba, across to Cairns & home in 2012 & it worked great, only a couple of places that we didn't have internet, we do have a dual aerial.

[pelbo]

Shirley
Yes you can - but DC (Dual Carrier) is part of the 3G or 4G, where Telstra has incorporated this Dual Carrier into smaller towns. The Sierra modem cannot handle the DC signal. Nothing can be done with the sierra modem to stop it from switching to the DC signal. Once it does, you lose the Internet.

Telstra have finally confirmed that you cannot turn off the DC signal in the Sierra modem.

The Advanced 4G modem, Telstra tells me, overcomes this problem. Which is why they are supplying me with a new Advanced 4G modem at no cost.

If you have a Sierra Modem, and travel to various towns that now have the DC signal, ask for a new one.

[Greynomad]

Is there any cost involved in upgrading modems?
My simple 'steam-powered' two-light Sierra (the white one shown on p1 of this thread) seems to be working OK.
Given the discussion on DC and losing internet connection, I might just wait until it's all completely sorted.