Problem with 4G connection on Novatel MiFi 4510L - Frustrating!

[temoore]

I have had my new modem for about 4 days. Works fine until I am in an area with only 3G connection. Once it switches to 3G, it will not go back to 4G even though I am in a strong 4G area. Reset to factory settings does not help. I have discovered that I can go into the Verizon modem software and force to LTE only, then do a reset, and it will connect to 4G. If I go into a 3G area, I have to go thru this process all over again. I have had a case in for several days, but no real communication from Verizon. Very frustrating, may return the modem and try Sprints version.

Anyone else have this problem? How about Verizon support? They sure do not communicate. I feel like I am left hanging.

[GME2815]

Same problem here.  My Novatel lasted about 15 minutes before it fell back to 3g...and could never again connect to 4g.  Tech support is aware of the problem and says Novatel is working on a fix.  In the meantime, they told me to either set it for "LTE only" to get 4g, or "Global" to get 3g.  Seems you cannot have both...until Novatel fixes it...which is stupid.  

Why was this product released? 

I'm getting my money back.  

[harryjr23]

 I'll try to lte only setting and see what happens.  My connection has been unusable otherwise.

[michael24]

Just happened again.  Wow I can't believe more people are not complaining though I really suspect they don't even realize it and just assume its due to bad coverage of LTE in their area.

[GME2815]

Here's a question.  If you're having this problem did you reset you Admin password?  

Reason I'm thinking this has something to do with the problem is that my 4510l worked fine, until I changed the admin password.  Suddenly, no 4g and the story is as I have already posted.  Well, I just exchanged the old one for a new and...same thing.  Worked fine, until I went into the setup and changed the admin password and SSID and stuff.  Bang...drops to 3g.  So I change the admin password back to admin...and, it works normally again.  

Another strange thing...changing the default wifi password screws up my MacBook Pro.  Can't log on...won't even ask for the new password.  I have to go back in through my iPhone and change it to Wep 64-bit.  

Very strange password behavior...

[#6]

We are working to resolve this issue, but we need more information from you all first. For the people having this issue, I would like you to first try resetting your device by inserting an unfolded paperclip into the reset hole on the back of the device to see if that resolves the issue. I have seen some people say that helps. If you are still having an issue, please send me a PM with your mobile number, zip code, and how often this happens, so that I can forward this information to our product team. 

[Rasengan254]

Marquia,

I haven't had any issues with the new unit I have now, but I haven't travelled outside a 4g area either where the device had to switch from 3g to 4g or vice versa.  I'll be driving to Houston this weekend and I'll let you know if it does have the same problems some are having in this thread .

[jaytheh]

1 day in, and this is very frustrating.   I had the 3G mifi and it worked fine.. never an issue.  I use the device on a train.. moving in and out of 3g and 4g.   The device gets confused... the wifi is on, but the wwan loses itself often..   

Interestingly.. it won't even respond to the 192.168.1.1 when it reaches this state.. I would imagine it's in a tight infinite loop.. should be easy for a programmer to find.   It becomes compleletely unresponsive until you pull the battery and start it up again.  Occationally, it will 'hear' the power off button, and restart.

Verzion - are you going to start fixing this mess before you have more frustrated 4G users aboard?

[jaytheh]

So I have gone to the admin page.. and set wwan and under settings.. set it to use LTE only... it rebooted and seems to have held signal properly for the past 20 minutes / 20 miles...  This is encouraging...

I can set it to 3G only when I get out of range of 4G and see how it does...

[jaytheh]

So it works great!!   Take the settings off Global (the default).

If you are in a 4G area, use LTE only.   If the light drops from green to light purple, then you aren't in 4G any more.    Go and switch it to use EVO only.   (Don't use the other non-4G settings, as that defaults to 2G .. )

192.168.1.1 is the url to get to the admin page.  

Hopefully, Verizon will get the global setting working soon, but in the meantime, you can have solid 4G and 3G surfing!! 

Hope this helps..

[simonspooner]

Same problems here. Bought my mifi his week, having returned a virgin mobile the day before as it was terrible.
Day 1 was fabulous. 4g all the time, 7-9 megabits, fantastic.
Then the device would not connect at all, web page, ping unresponsive, paper clip brought it back to life into 3G mode.
Since then I've seen LTE once. I've filed a trouble ticket and the guy even told me on the phone to make sure I was in "global" mode, couldn't have been more wrong.

Switching to LTE only and now I'm back to green. After 2 days of modem diags telling me LTE was "Not Available"
Feels like a fairly simple firmware bug in how the radio is controlled, and possibly how signals back from the radio are handled.
Hopefully the novatel guys can sort this out pretty quickly.

[Aussie_boy]

I just had the same problem as everyone else.

I just went inot the router software and changed it the WWAN Preferred Mode to LTE only and the problem now seems to be resolved.

PLEASE CAN SOMEONE AT VERIZON HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM RECURRING FREQUENT PROBLEM??????

[cobmsdn]

It looks like the most recent firmware for the 4510L addresses the issues relating to the transitions between 4G and 3G.  I've noticed a bit more reliability on my unit once this was installed.

[Disneymkvii]

I live on the edge of a 4G area so my device constantly tries to switch back and forth between 3G and EVDO. You can imagine how well that works. I would be shocked if I didn't reset or moneky with this stupid thing 5 times a freakin day. I have already tried lickoing it into 4G only, but when the 4G signal drops a little bit, then it does nothing as you would guess. So then I have to go back to 3G for a bit, then after a while I can go back to 4G.....  **bleep** me off to no end!!!!  It's funny because even with a weak 4G signal, I still get great transfer speeds. Why won't it just stay locked into the tower at 4G.

BTW, i'm using this at my home, not moving it around and plugged up all the time.

[John_Getzke]

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Disneymkvii wrote:

I live on the edge of a 4G area so my device constantly tries to switch back and forth between 3G and EVDO. You can imagine how well that works. I would be shocked if I didn't reset or moneky with this stupid thing 5 times a freakin day. I have already tried lickoing it into 4G only, but when the 4G signal drops a little bit, then it does nothing as you would guess. So then I have to go back to 3G for a bit, then after a while I can go back to 4G.....  **bleep** me off to no end!!!!  It's funny because even with a weak 4G signal, I still get great transfer speeds. Why won't it just stay locked into the tower at 4G.

BTW, i'm using this at my home, not moving it around and plugged up all the time.

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If you are on the edge of a known 4G service area then you should purchase an external antena to boost your reception. 

An external antenna should provide a noticiable improvement over the default one that is built into the MiFi.  There is a small antenna port on the side of the MiFi to allow this accessory to connect.  If you want to spend more then some home antenna kits will come with  a wireless cradle.  Wireless cradles are nice because they help you avoid connecting to another wire. 

[jackib]

I am in the 4G LTE area when zooming in on my address on the coverage map.  I am very close to being in an extended network.  I got the external antenna which seemed to help a little bit with the signal, but really my signal isn't bad (between -73 db and -84.   I can stay online constantly without losing connection when on EvDO only.  When on LTE Only, it will drop the connection every hour or so.  I have called tech support twice and been told it might be overheating since I was leaving it plugged in, so I stopped leaving it plugged in and even when unplugged, it will lose connection on LTE only.  I was told by another technician over the phone that I was in the extended network and I would have to stay on 3G.  I paid for this thing so I could have 4G LTE, not 3G.  I wish somebody would tell me what the heck is going on with this 4G Network where i live, it's very discouraging, I only have 3 days left to return the thing,and I was really hoping I could use this on 4G at home.  The unit does seem to get hotter when set to 4G, but if unplugged and the unit was cooled down, why am I still dropping connections on 4G????  I have tried the setting to 801.1.G and B only to no avail. After data was "refreshed" by technician on the phone, it seemed to behave better for about a day but then reverted back to kicking me off every hour or so.  HELLLLLPPPPPP!!!!! I am getting nowhere and don'twant to get stuck in a two year contract if I cannot resolve this issue.

[marvetnam71]

still haven't been able to connect for maybe 5 minutes, and today I find out that I am in a 3G area. so what do I do now,  HELP