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Sierra AirCard 595 Locking Into EVDO For Verizon

Sprint has a cool feature in the Sprint Connection Manager, which allows you to easily tell your aircard to NOT listen to the slower 1Xrtt and only for EVDO. If you are directly in between a 1xRTT and EVDO tower, this comes in very handy. In fact, it may be the difference between being able to use an EVDO card and not being able to. When you are directly in the middle, your card may "ping pong" back and forth trying to lock into a signal and make your connection unusable.

Verizon's VZAccess Manager does not have this ability. However, for users of the Sierra AirCard 595 Rev A PCMCIA Card with Verizon, now there is a way to lock your AC595 into EVDO.

Tip: How to tell if you are directly in the middle of a slow and faster tower.

Your EVDO signal MAY bounce back and forth between NationalAccess (1xRTT) and BroadbandAccess (EVDO) and make it difficult to maintain a reliable connection. Symptoms: Flashing BroadbandAccess and then back to NationalAccess and back and forth.

Requirements:

• Sierra AirCard 595 (this only works with the Verizon AC595 card, NOT USB720, EX720, or PC5750)
• EVDO Watcher Application 0.6.55 (NOT VZAccess)
• Windows XP

This tip cannot be performed on a Mac or when the AC595 is installed on a Router, however, if you make this change and then insert your AC595 in a PowerBook or supported router, you will see the benefits (you will need the PC to switch back).

Advanced menu displayed next to the Help Menu in Sierra Wireless Watcher Application

Here are the steps to follow:

1. Use EVDO Watcher application (available from Sierra Wireless or if you purchased your AC595 from 3Gstore, contact us for a direct download link)
2. Press CTRL + D
3. When the window pops up, enter ##DEBUG (in all caps)
4. Notice next to the Help menu is an ADVANCED menu that shows up
5. Pull down on ADVANCED and select Modem Configuration
6. At the next window enter 000000 (6 zeros)
7. Go to System tab and select Preferred Mode of connection
8. Select HDR Only.
9. Click on Save and then Close
10. Wait for your modem to reset


If you get No Service on your EVDO Watcher application, that indicates that you are NOT in a EVDO area. To revert back to bother EVDO and 1xRTT, go to the Preferred Mode and select CDMA + HDR.

This tip may be a reason to actually purchase an AirCard 595 card instead of other Verizon cards, especially if you are upgrading from the PC5220 OR you are in a fringe area or in between cell towers and cannot maintain a reliable connection.

Question: How can I get this to work with a USB720, PC5750, or other Verizon Cards?

Answer: You cannot - it only works with an AirCard 595 (or older PC5220)

Question: I have seen others on the internet charging hundreds dollars more for a SuperCharged AirCard 595, what is that about?

Answer: They are charging for the free information on this page.

Question: How do I do this on Sprint?

Answer: This feature is built-in to the Sprint Connection Manager

Question: If I need help/support on this, who can I call?

Answer: If you purchased your Verizon AirCard 595 from 3Gstore.com you can call us for free support.

• Debugging an AC595, Has anyone else? - EVDOforums
  
• PC5220 Similar Tip - EVDOinfo
• Purchase Verizon AirCard 595 from the EVDO Experts - 3Gstore.com