Novatel Ovation MC727
A reader pointed out that CAT now offers a new EV-DO rev A modem in addition to or instead of the CCU-680.
I haven’t tried the MC727, but it should give you the same performance as the CCU-680. The EV-DO specs are exactly the same.
The difference is that the MC727 has a slot for a micro SD memory card. It can double as a card reader for micro SD cards up to 4 GB. The CCU-680 has 64 MB of on-board flash memory.
The specs for the Cradlepoint router list the Sprint Novatel U727 as being compatible. The U727 is the same modem as the MC727 sold in the US under a different name, so the MC727 should work with the Cradlepoint too.
So should you buy the CCU-680 or the MC727? I’d buy whichever model the local CAT office has in stock. If they have both, I’d get the cheapest one, which would be the MC727 according to CAT’s web site. My guess is they’ll phase out the CCU-680, as it’s more expensive, and doesn’t have any extra features.
Update: Turns out my guess is correct. If you want wireless broadband in Phuket now, the MC727 is your only choice now.
We went to the Phuket Town CAT office last week with my MacBook and tested both. Windows wise, I should think you get the same performance… But we spent a good 3 hours in their office testing initially the MC727 and then the CCU-680 on the Mac. We could get around twice the speed with the CCU-680 compared with the MC727. The MC727 Mac drivers were awful; we couldn’t connect half the time, kept having to change the modem settings, and because it’s so new there was hardly any information available online. The CCU-680 however had a ton of information online and once we got it working we could connect/disconnect at will. I wanted the MC727 as it was cheaper and newer, but until they sort-out the drivers for Mac (and Linux) I would recommend that anyone wanting to use it on a non-Windows platform should go for the CCU-680.
Thanks for the write-up Jan - great blog.
Comment by rj — Monday, 8 December 2008 @ 11:55
Thanks for your input, RJ.
I don’t own a Mac, so I can’t comment on Mac compatibility. When searching online for MC727 information, search for “Sprint U727″. That’s the US version of the MC727, just like the Franklin CDU-680 is the US version of the c-Motech CCU-680.
One way to bypass software issues is to use the modem with a 3G router like the Cradlepoint MBR1000 which I have. The MBR1000 is compatible with the U727, and thus should work with the MC727 too. I haven’t tested it though, since I don’t have the MC727.
Comment by Jan Goyvaerts — Monday, 8 December 2008 @ 14:49
Thanks Jan; searching for “Sprint U727″ does indeed throw-up many more results.
Comment by rj — Tuesday, 9 December 2008 @ 10:34
Both the CCU-680 and MC727 come with a driver CD and on that CD are drivers for MacOS. The CCU-680 Mac drivers require you to run a terminal script every time you insert the USB modem and also whenever you connect to the internet you need to type “atdt#777″ into a pop-up terminal window which is quite annoying, but once you get used to it it becomes second-nature. The CCU-680 connects seamlessly once you get this practice worked-out.
My couple of hours experience with MC727 on a Mac was just painful. The drivers at first appear to be much better; there are no terminal windows or connection strings to enter; you actually get a proper Mac software installation which sets-up the modem and configuration so that you should just be able to plug-in the USB modem and connect. The reality was that 1 out of every 10 times I tried to connect I was successful. The CAT engineer couldn’t help either. We were rebooting, changing the modem type in the configuration and trying different USB ports, but nothing would result in any understandable procedure for a successful connection.
In the end I choose the CCU-680. Even though it requires a messy command line to connect, at least it connects. I expect however that once they sort-out the drivers for the MC727 that it will be a much cleaner experience. Also, even when I was connecting with the MC727 the up/down speed was about half that of the CCU-680 - another driver issue I suspect. Also, also; with both the CCU-680 and MC727 the USB slot where you first configured the modem is the one you have to use each time thereafter… any others just don’t appear to work.
This experience was with a MacBook OSX 10.5.5 and the standard drivers which came on the CD.
Comment by rj — Wednesday, 10 December 2008 @ 10:17
So This is my experience so far ..
For some time now I have been thinking of trying the CAT CDMA system , so after talking to the nearest CAT office
to confirm that if I took my Apple Mac to them , could they set up a MC727 modem on it , so I could see and test it on my iMac , to which they said yes , so I arrived at the CAT office and spoke to the manageress who had originally confirmed that yes they could set up a MC727 modem on my Mac
I then ask if an Engineer could set up a MC727 modem on my Mac, which I had took with me , Sorry but the engineer has not come to work to day, he is sick said the manageress. As its a long way to the CAT office I was not too pleased and asked if another engineer was available to set up the modem on my Mac, no sorry only one engineer knows how to set up a Mac computer.
The managerress then said go and get your Mac and I can try and set the modem up for you , what do I have to loose I thought , so off to the pickup and back to the CAT office carrying a huge box containing the iMac 24 inch , well the whole office went quiet when the Mac was taken out of its box and placed on the manageress desk, I could tell by her look and the large crowd gathering around the Mac , that things were going to get interesting from this point on. I booted up the Mac and loaded the MC727 software CD , it was recognized ok, and the manageress followed the on screen setup , at first the iMac would not connect to the internet, I then thought does the modem have to be activated on the CAT system to allow the internet connection?, I pointed this out to the manageress who gave the normal Thai smile , and she went over to a computer and activated the Modem connection number. Well after trying for 10 minuets to no avail. the manageress picked up her mobile phone and called some one in Bangkok, who talked her through the connection settings , and finally the internet connection was made. I then ask if I could do a internet connection speed test .. Ok no problem , so these are the results of the MC727 modem connected to an iMac 2.8 24 inch running 10.5.5 situated at a main CAT office ( with a very large Tower at the back )
1st test = Down 1049
Up 273
2nd test = Down 1358
Up = 257
3rd test = Down = 1422
Up = 306
4th test = Down 1180
Up = 280
5th test = Down 1371
Up = 281
So I packed up the Mac , and told the manageress that I would now pay for antenna ( 1,800 Baht ) and return home and install it on my roof , and then return a few days later to collect the MC727 modem for one days try test ( as previously agreed ) , if the modem did not produce good results over the day’s test
period I would return it and be given my money back . The manageress knowing I have to do a long round trip
to the CAT office , then offered a new option, I pay for the MC727 modem , pay for the antenna , take the modem home , install the roof antenna and test out the modem , and if it does not give good results return the modem and the antenna to the CAT office for a full refund and I had ” 5 ” days to test every thing out , I agreed to this offer
Now ive been trying out the MC727 modem on my iMac 2.8 Intel 10.5.5 , the modem is connected to the new external roof antenna , purchased from the CAT office . The roof antenna is well above the roof height of my house and pointing in the general direction of the nearest CAT tower which is I would guess about 3-4 Km away. I booted up the Mac and then plugged in the modem , remembering to use the same USB point on the iMac as the modem was originally set up at the CAT office, then as arranged I called the CAT manageress to let her know I was ready to try the new modem, She then activated it and asked I telephone her back later to let her know how things were going.
The iMac recognized the MC727 modem settings that had been previously set up in the CAT office, and connected
to the internet with no problem and I did some surfing.
I then decided to shut down the iMac and re boot again , to see if the modem would connect again a second time, this time the Mac again recognized the modem setting , but would not connect to the internet , as I knew that the modem settings were ok , and as I did not want to re set any thing, I thought there must be something else not allowing the modem to connect to the internet other than the set up , so I decided to shut down the Mac again and re boot it , this time the again the modem was recognized by the Mac , but it would not connect to the internet .
so this time before re booting the Mac I un plugged the modem , and then re booted up. I let the Mac start up with out the modem being connected , then once the Mac was up and running I inserted the modem into the same USB socket and tried to connect to the internet , this time the connection was made ok, so it seems at this stage I have to remove the modem from the Mac when its been shut down, and then the next time I re boot the Mac I just let it run , then insert the modem , which then connects to the internet every time, with out a problem.
After working out how to connect to the internet every time , I then decided to do some internet connection speed tests using several international test web sites , this is the results over a 24 hour period , the tests were made through out the day .
Download / Upload
1951 / 297
1827 / 195
1780 / 253
1626 / 266
1559 / 260
1541 / 239
1518 / 247
1513 / 276
1505 / 251
1501 / 277
1453 / 282
1452 / 251
1438 / 247
1429 / 291
1420 / 247
1397 /248
1387 / 320
1351 / 317
1348 / 238
1334 / 225
1025 / 266
giving an average of 1461 / 253
I have tested downloading some large files, and viewing Youtube videos etc with very good results, but not as yet done any Uploading.
I have Tweaked the roof antenna by altering the direction it points to in a 30˚ angled arch , this movement did seem to fine the best position .
At the moment The modem has been connected to the internet continually over 24 hours , and its not as yet disconnected it self in any way, and the speeds have been fairly constant .
So far my only complaint is I will have to un plug the modem every time I switch off my iMac, there may be a fix some where for this problem, but I really don’t want to up set the current settings that seem to be doing so well .
The CAT office offers a Month Un limited option , ( No contract ) at 790 Baht + Tax , the bill is sent to your house and you can pay at most banks or post offices. to stop using the service they require you tell them One month in advance.
So at this time I am very pleased , and compared to my past dial up connection speeds I am in internet heaven .
Comment by William — Wednesday, 17 December 2008 @ 17:46
William, the speeds you’re quoting are simply excellent for an EV-DO connection. They confirm that the MC727 works well on OS X 10.5.5.
As for having to unplug the modem, my guess is that your Mac doesn’t power down its USB ports when you turn it off. Modern PCs don’t power them down either. The modem probably needs a reset too after you’ve rebooted.
My CCU-680, which is plugged into a 3G router that’s permanently on rather than a PC, sometimes (few times a week) loses its connection too, and won’t reinitialize until I plug it out of the router and back in.
I wouldn’t worry about having to unplug the modem when you’re not using it.
Comment by Jan Goyvaerts — Thursday, 18 December 2008 @ 14:37
Well so far every thing with the MC727 has been running Ok, there’s been no signal disconnections and not much variation in speeds, so over all I am happy . When I was at the CAT office the manageress tested the MC727 out on her PC, and I seem to remember seeing on the PC monitor a small signal strength bar type readout , which shows the signal strength that was being received, but Ive not been able to find out how to show this signal strength meter on my iMac , does any one know
how I can get this showing on screen Please ?
William
Comment by William — Sunday, 4 January 2009 @ 0:07
Things are going well with the MC727, only one signal drop off, and the speeds are staying constant, Ive noticed for sale some signal amplifiers for sale , ….
http://3gstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=41&products_id=156
and wondered if any one was using some thing like that ?
any comments Please …
William
Comment by William — Wednesday, 28 January 2009 @ 23:41
A signal amplifier can be useful if you’re so far from the nearest cell tower that even with an external antenna your CDMA device is showing a very low signal strength.
At the speeds you’re quoting, William, a signal amplifier would be a total waste of money. Real-world EV-DO rev A speeds don’t go much higher than what you’re getting.
The only thing that can give you more speed is CAT upgrading their network to EV-DO Rev B and selling us a new Rev B device. Rev B gives two or three times the speed of Rev A, but it also uses two or three times as much wireless spectrum. I doubt CAT will make this upgrade, unless they think they can charge you two or three times as much for your connection.
Comment by Jan Goyvaerts — Thursday, 29 January 2009 @ 9:18
Thanks Jan , The reason why I am looking at the possibility of an amplifier / signal booster , was not based on the current speeds I am receiving , but the signal strength , when I originally went to the CAT office to set up my Mac , the CAT office manageress first tested the MC727 modem out on her office PC , when she first connected the MC727 to the CAT system a small signal strength box appeared on the PC monitor , and showed the signal strength being received by a graduated bar scale and this bar signal strength was showing ”Full ” bars , as I could not find how to get this graduated bar scale onto my Mac , I installed the MC727 CD software onto a Windows XP lap top I have , and using the same external roof antenna connection as I use on the Mac, when the MC727 was connected via Windows XP the graduated signal bar scale showed only ”One ” bar . which leads to me think that the actual signal strength I am receiving from the Cat Tower could be some how improved, or have I got this signal thing all wrong some where .. just a thought ?
William
Comment by William — Thursday, 29 January 2009 @ 20:08
Ive just read of some on using the CAT CDMA MC727 , and also using a CAT supplied external antenna that came supplied with the coaxial cable ,the user was experiencing some signal drop off and low speed problems , so they requested a visit by a CAT Technician , but not from the same CAT office who had originally supplied the external antenna, the first thing the technicians checked was the antenna cable, when they saw the cable they started laughing. The cable supplied with the antenna was 75 Ω , and the Technicians said for the antenna to work correctly the cable had to be 50 Ω . The cable was changed for 50 Ω and the signal drop off’s have not returned . I was wondering if any one else was using an external antenna and what is the Ω size of the cable ?
Thanks William
Comment by William — Friday, 30 January 2009 @ 16:32
If you’re getting slow speeds, or frequent disconnects, then a low signal strength indication may be an indicator that the problem is with your wireless connection. If you’re getting high speeds and no more than a few disconnects per day, then stop worrying and be happy with what you have. Don’t try to fix what is not broken.
Comment by Jan Goyvaerts — Friday, 30 January 2009 @ 17:07
Hi Jan, thanks for your thoughts, unfortunately ive never been one to sit back and just accept things that to some may seem normal . Those who are happy with what they have and never try, will never know the feeling of better.
Thanks
William
Comment by William — Friday, 30 January 2009 @ 18:50
I am looking for some one who may be running a C-motech CCU 650 modem, any one here please ? I would like to know what sort of antenna adaptor cable I need .. Thank You
Comment by Thailife — Tuesday, 17 February 2009 @ 18:10
hi, i bought the ovation MC727 modem for about 2 months now and noticed that my hp pavillon laptop starting experiencing blue screen shut down problems right about the same time i intalled the ovation mc727 on my laptop. I discontinued the use of this modem for about a month and within this period i haven’t experienced any blue screen shut down, however last week i used the modem again and on the same day i notice a blue screen shut down. I went on to use this modem on another HP 510 laptop and experience a blue screen shut down.
Has anyone had this experience and how did you resolve it?
Comment by dida — Wednesday, 18 March 2009 @ 20:26
Hi,
I have used the MC727 for 2 months in Kamala/Phuket and had no probleme. It was no disconnect and other bad things. Only good connections. So I´m very pleased.
Comment by Ejje — Wednesday, 25 March 2009 @ 18:25
I have had my MC727 for about three months. I installed the software on my MacBook PRO and I was never able to get the Mac to enable the modem - I keep getting error messages. Since I have ADSL as well I did not proceed further. However today my ADSL is not available…
I also installed the MC727 on a Windows XP and a Vista PC and it worked fine.
Recently I have noticed that my Acer Laptop (Windows XP) shuts down occasionally when I am connected using the MC727. I also note that Firefox shuts down frequently too. I have not installed any other software on my Acer since installing the MC727 - so I wonder if it is a Novatel driver issue.
Does anyone know where I can download updated Mac or XP drivers - Novatel’s web site says contact the supplier. I have looked on the CAT telecom site and cannot see any driver download info.
Comment by Chris — Saturday, 6 June 2009 @ 9:19
Hi, Chris , I am running a MC727 on an iMac , with no problems, The MC727 was set up using the Mac;s own system, I would be interested to know what your settings are on the Mac, so I can compare them to mine, and let you know if there’s a difference . also may be have a look here…
http://evdoinfo.blogspot.com/
http://evdotips.blogspot.com/2008/03/homebrew-yagi.html
http://www.evdoinfo.com/content/view/2301/64/
http://support.sprint.com/guides.html?&selectedDeviceId=9209
Regards William
Comment by William — Tuesday, 16 June 2009 @ 14:22
Over the past few day’s ive noticed a constant problem with my CAT CDMA EV-DO
connection, so I did some surfing about the problem , and found I was not alone
in having the problem of the system disconnecting , reading some other forum comments it seem’s the problam may be wide spread. Can any one here comment on how their connection is at the moment please
the comments can be found here
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Whats-Cat-Cdma-t273392.html
William
Comment by William — Monday, 22 June 2009 @ 14:36
My CDMA connection disconnects a few times per hour too. It has done this since I first got it. It also reconnects in just a few seconds, so this isn’t a problem for browsing the web. For downloading large files, use a download manager that automatically resumes interrupted downloads.
Comment by Jan Goyvaerts — Tuesday, 23 June 2009 @ 12:53
Hi I am moving to live in south pattaya area within the next 2 months, however house has no net connection or phone installed, can anyone advise most reliable option for me, probable usage for me around 2 hours per day, only for mailing and opening attached files/documents. thinking whether to install into house or buy dongle type for mobility.
Any advice appreciated
John
Comment by john — Sunday, 24 January 2010 @ 17:34
John, if you can’t get a telephone line at all in your area, then an EV-DO connection from CAT CDMA is your only option right now. It’s going to take some time before competing 3G services get their licenses approved.
Comment by Jan Goyvaerts — Monday, 25 January 2010 @ 7:46
Pour ma part, j ai achete la MC727 DE NOVATEL en 2008, elle fonctionne bien et je n ai pas de coupure, je mets la radio francaise, je pars en course, deux ou trois heures apres, je rentre, la radio est toujours en route. J ai eu l’occasion de la tester en Issan, ca fonctionne, en mer, cela fonctionne presque partout dans la baie de PHAN GHA, Je suis a Phuket dans un parc, ca fonctionne aussi avec un debit maximum. Seul probleme aujourd hui, j ai windows 7 et je ne trouve pas de drivers pour cette cle.
Si quelqu un peut me dire ou je peux trouver ce drivers?
Comment by Claude — Sunday, 17 October 2010 @ 21:17