Preface: as earlier promised to some members showing how to check your area got DC-HSPA+ network (telco's say is true or not) or whether your modem is getting at DC-HSPA+ mode now or not, here this thread for you. Also to cater repeated PM question of what DC network is about, what's the big deal of having dual carrier network... so 1 thread for everyone. Very simple info here, no theory, every one can work on it by yourself after reading.

Disclaimer: not act as guru here, just sharing a bit what i know. just 1 simple way among others.


Objective:
=======
1) Help understand DC-HSPA+ network simple what-about
2) HOW TO VERIFY DC-HSPA+ network exist at your area by yourself
3) What big deal of having DC-HSPA+ or not having.



so topics will be presented as below:
==========================

post #2: What DC-HSPA+ is about from end user point of view?
post #3: How can you VERIFY existance of DC-HSPA+ by youself without listening/relying on other info.
post #4: What bid deal of DC-HSPA+? obvious performance gap seen immediately.
post #5: Inteprete your 3G network at your own site - QOS.
post #6: Appendix - line quality (fluctuating signal), LTE
post #7: Extra info: war driving? no, it is site surveying!

This post has been edited by coolstore: Sep 20 2012, 09:27 PM

post #2: What DC-HSPA+ is about from end user point of view?

For end user like us the most simple understanding way:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DC-HSPA+ network is offering DUAL CHANNEL (dual carrier) 3g connection concurrently to u.

Meaning u are getting DOUBLING SPEED by using a DC-HSPA+ 42mbps class modem if DC-HSPA+ network present in your area. If using non DC-HSPA+ modem, then no enjoying doubling speed.

On the other hand, under HSPA+/HSDPA/HSUPA network you are only getting SINGLE CHANNEL (single carrier) 3g connection here. Regardless using whatever class of 3g modem (DC-HSPA+ 42Mbps or non DC modem 28Mbps and below), u still can't get doubling speed.

quite similarly to computer RAM performance: SDRAM vs DDR-SDRAM

DC-HSPA+ is the top 3G network standard now.


local 3G telcos that offering DC-HSPA+ network now are:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1) u-mobile (first one)
2) maxis (now got)

celcom was quoted would upgrade to HSPA+ first, then further move into to DC-HSPA+.

digi.... unknown...

This post has been edited by coolstore: Sep 20 2012, 09:29 PM

post #3: How can you VERIFY existance of DC-HSPA+ by youself without listening/relying on other info.


ok, now we know how significance DC-HSPA+ network on performance impact.

But how do we know if it really exist?

Normally, we rely on these way:
1) Check telco website to see the coverage area. (true or not?)
2) Guessing:
a) some users guess it based on speedtest result: over 10Mbps got DC-HSPA+ network, under 10Mbps no DC (but this has been proven wrong concept, next post you will see this).
b) use MDMA to check qos link speed, and guess.
c) listen to what other people say, may being misleded.

The only 100% confirmation way is to VERIFY IT YOURSELF.
Yes, NOW YOU CAN DO THIS ALONE as long as you got a QUALCOMM chipset DC-HSPA+ 42mbps modem in hand! (nowadays most advanced modem are using Qualcomm chipset)


Your tools checklist:
==============
1) computer with Windows 7 or Windows XP.
2) a DC-HSPA+ 42mbps QUALCOMM chipset usb modem (don't be so silly to use non DC-HSPA modem (28mbps or below) to diagnose).
3) 3G telco simcard
4) install software provided by Qualcomm: QPST and QXDM

* note: i'm not showing the link to download (not allowable here), u just google it and already can find it.


My testing tools:
===========
1) Windows XP SP3
2) [DC-HSPA+ modem] ZTE MF680 & Huawei E372; [HSPA+ Non DC modem] Huawei UMG1831 & E367 (for fool proof test)
3) Umobile prepaid 40 monthly plan, Maxis prepaid 42mbps hotlink plan.
4) QPST version: 2.7.366; QXDM version 3.12.714

Let's begin!


Steps:
====
1) Install QPST first. Next install QXDM.

2) Plug in your DC-HSPA+ modem now. (DO NOT DIAL UP NOW, JUST PLUG IN BEING DETECTED)

3) Go to control panel to bring up the device manager. (u should know how)

View the Ports break-down, to ascertain the modem diagnostic port number.


for ZTE, should pick 'ZTE diagnostic Interface (COM xx).
for Huawei, can choose 'Huawei Mobile Connect - 3G application interface (COM xx)'.

whereby the COM xx indicates the port number to be used in the test later.


4) Next, start using QPST program.

From start menu, QPST > QPST configuration.

Click the 'Ports' tab, click 'Add New Port'.


If u don't see the needed port number being shown, uncheck the 'show serial and usb/qc diagnostic port only'.
Select the correct port number. In my case COM 16. Done. It is in use now.
Minimise QPST program to system bar, DON'T CLOSE/EXIT THIS PROGRAM.






5) Now, start up QXDM program. This is the main diagnostic program with great UI info.

From start menu, QXDM professional > QXDM professional.


Select Options > Commnunications. Next, move to 'Target Ports' and select the port number that just being entered into the QPST earlier. Click OK.



Back to main page, u would see the communication port has been established successfully with some statistic data shown.



6) Then you can dial up your modem to the 3G network by using any dialup manager u want. Connect to 3G network now!
DO NOT USE VPN, stop them before dialup, need a clean connection!



7) Back to QXDM after connecting to 3G network.

Select: View > New > WCDMA > WCDMA HSDPA Decoding Statistic:



Now can you see the window there showing Carrier 0 and Carrier 1, this is what called dual carrier (dual channel), we will look into this to verify got dual carrier in operation or not.

Now load a webpage/youtube with lots and continuously data, so we can see the real time actual data flow.

See the both Carrier 0 and Carrier 1 running data? and also bottom window showing data come from both carrier line, this means the network is DC-HSPA+ ! YEAH!

At right hand side, you would notice 'Percentage Dual Carrier: 100%'.



take note: Huawei E372 didn't show up data at this testing option, don't know why. Luckily we have a 2nd method to double verify DC-HSPA+ network.


8) Double confirmation: View > New > WCDMA > WCDMA Power.

This option is actually showing the real time 3G signal level (real time monitoring, fluctuating signal level can be seen).



Ok, load a webpage/youtube with lots and continuously data again.

For dual carrier operation, you would notice 4 color horizontal lines at bottom (2 pairs). Carrier 0 (first channel) with blue and purple lines. Carrier 1 (2nd channel) with cyan and orange color lines.

BINGO! THIS IS DUAL CARRIER NETWORK! YEAH!!! (this is UMOBILE being tested)

The green line at top is the transmission power of modem to the base station - modem do communicate back, it not just receive signal.

OK, now i turn to MAXIS HOTLINK 42mbps prepaid plan to verify is that really what they claim DC-HSPA+ network?




Yes, it also DC network here !!!



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OK, after confirming Umobile and Maxis running at DC-HSPA+ here, now doing a fool proof test by using non DC-HSPA+ 42Mbps modem to see how. Any 28Mbps or below modem are not DC capable, so any model can test. Took Huawei UMG1831 21Mbps as testing tool.

Non DC modem used on umobile:




Non DC modem used on Maxis:




See no dual carrier operation available, this modem run at single channel only.

Double confirm, no dual carrier capability.




Sub-conclusion:
===========

This are the simple steps u can do it alone to verify got DC or no DC network at your place, simple, fast, low cost just need a DC-HSPA+ modem. Way better than u guess or ask ppl around.

This post has been edited by coolstore: Sep 20 2012, 09:59 PM

post #4: What bid deal of DC-HSPA+? obvious performance gap seen immediately.

OK, after confirming both Umobile and Maxis at my place are DC network.
Now to see the big deal of DC-HSPA+ network with DC modem and non DC modem.

last time:
simcard: Umobile, modem: DC-HSPA+ 42mbps ZTE MF680
speedtest: (download) 15.48Mbps (upload) 1.43Mbps


simcard: Umobile, modem: non DC 28Mbps Huawei E367
speedtest: (download) 6.67Mbps (upload) 1.31Mbps


simcard: Umobile, modem: non DC 21Mbps Huawei UMG1831
speedtest: (download) 5.05Mbps (upload) 0.31Mbps



lately:
simcard: Maxis, modem: DC-HSPA+ 42mbps ZTE MF680
speedtest: (download) 8.34Mbps (upload) 1.66Mbps


simcard: Umobile, modem: non DC 21Mbps Huawei UMG1831
speedtest: (download) 4.36Mbps (upload) 0.62Mbps



so now u should have understand what big deal of DC-HSPA+ network to us = almost double up the speed by using DC-hspa+ modem.


common misunderstanding heard:
========================
Example 1: I saw others get around 20Mbps only by speedtest, so i guess using 21mbps modem enough here ...
the truth is (that he didn't mention):

a) If that user is using DC-HSPA+ modem under DC+HSPA+ network and showing 20Mbps, means he is actually getting 10Mbps + 10Mbps dual channel. If you use a 21Mbps non DC modem there, u only get around 10Mbps, surprised?

b) If that user is using HSPA+ only modem under DC-HSPA+ network and showing 20Mbps, means he didn't use up the full potential yet. By upgrading to a DC-HSPA+ modem, he will be enjoying 20Mbps + 20Mbps almost full speed already.

c) If that user is using DC-HSPA+ modem under HSPA+ only network and showing 20Mbps, it means the modem is getting single channel now but very good 20Mbps indeed for him. If the telco upgrade the network to DC-HSPA+ one day, then doubling speed forseeable.

* so the point is that we need to collect more info before come up with a conclusion, don't simply guess/influenced.


Example 2: under 10Mbps no DC, over 10Mbps got DC.
the truth: It is not, (see maxis above?) speed wise depends on network performance. We have seen DC of 2Mbps + 2Mbps too.



sub-conclusion:
===========
1) Under DC-HSPA+ network, using a DC-HSPA+ modem (42mbps class) will enjoy full dual channel speed.
2) Under DC-HSPA+ network, using a Non DC-HSPA+ modem (28mbps class or below) only get 1 channel speed. simply too wasting.

i think write till here the main questions already answered.

This post has been edited by coolstore: Sep 23 2012, 09:03 PM

post #5: Inteprete your 3G network at your own site - QOS.

The questions like 'do our telcos really provide us 42mbps?' , 'what's the max speed we can get here', for this can check newtork QoS value for reference purpose.

Majority users have known to use MDMA to view the network QOS - downlink & uplink, no need to say more, lots of guru out there. But main problem is modem other Huawei hard to get that info, including ZTE, Sierra etc.

ZTE modem no showing either in Umobile or Maxis in my place:



Huawei modem shows this at my place:
Umobile: Downlink: 42000; Uplink: 5760


Maxis: Downlink: 8640; Uplink: 8640.


OK, do u notice my Maxis Downlink just only 8640? BUT IT GOT DUAL CARRIER CONNECTION IN FACT WITH DOUBLING SPEED! (4Mbps+4Mbps testing result). That's y go verify yourself, rather than believing only certain QOS got DC connection. This is the objective.


Besides of MDMA, QXDM also allow us to view the qos value, and much details info. And ZTE,Sierra modem also can view it!

View>New>WCDMA>WCDMA NAS QoS
At Connection ID Filter, click to bring down the drop down list and select the device.
'Maximum Bit Rate - UL' = uplink
'Maximum Bit Rate - DL' = downlink



umobile: QXDM qos


maxis: QXDM qos


* Somehow the MDMA QoS downlink value of umobile is contradict with QXDM downlink value. Wonder if this QXDM version not up to date. Might need to find newer version again later.


Sub-conclusion:
===========
So what level of speed we can get is network dependant. And also depends on these factors:
1) device capability (modem)
2) location (indoor, outdoor, blocking...all that)
3) distance from base station
4) number of simultaneous users.

* If you got a pack of the latest Maxis Hotlink 42Mbps prepaid simpack, these factors are listed 'nicely' at right bottom part. You may call it 'escape terms', but telco mentioned 'UP TO 42Mbps', not 'AT 42Mbps'.
But with DC network availability and DC modem capability, at least u can get doubling speed, this is the point!

This post has been edited by coolstore: Sep 21 2012, 10:23 AM

post #6: Appendix - line quality (fluctuating signal), LTE

post #7: Extra info: war driving? no, it is site surveying!

---

Added on September 20, 2012, 9:25 pmreserved

This post has been edited by coolstore: Sep 20 2012, 09:25 PM

reserved...

added. other info later time/day lah, tired.

at least did fulfill my word to describe a bit.

easy to use, but hard to master the software full features.

since promise is promise, so got to do this thread. hope now they are reading and figure out how actually by themselves. Also easy for me, next time any question i redirect to here, pm explanation is too tiring and not comprehensive.

yup some did ask.

and present this way help everyone to understand with pictures, no pm back and forward.

---

Added on September 21, 2012, 9:47 pmthis is Qualcomm pro diagnostic software, i think actually more used on phone network diagnosting.

without entering own command line (programming) won't change any.

for viewing only free to click any part to view the info. now this already becoming common software in end user computer.

This post has been edited by coolstore: Sep 21 2012, 09:47 PM

probably u have dial up to the internet too early, that'y qxdm not able to recognise.

only dial up to internet AFTER U succesfully establish the target port in qxdm, no hurry. see details in step 5 and 6.

you may need to select another huawei port to try out.



This post has been edited by coolstore: Oct 7 2012, 01:14 PM

add on reminder:

ar, as chuah have said before and i answered before:

for general users who use these Qualcomm specific program just to view options and functions, then free to click and view around.

but if you plan to enter ur own command or tweak the default value of modem, e.g. increasing wireless transmission tx power beyond the modem default value (FCC testing approval value) (overclocking to be easy for u to understand), then:

a) be ready to face a hardware risk that surpassing risk of flashing wrong firmware ya (overclocking the tx power make it looks great at early stage with great signal level, but also speed up the wear and tear process, or may lead to sudden dead at unexpected moment if the modem hardware really cannot sustain it).

b) and confronting different RF (radio frequency) Radiation Emission level (no longer the reported approval safety level in FCC document).

it is same way when happening to overtweak wifi router/wifi adapter.

flashing firmware problem: the worst lead to 'brick' status, but still reversible bcoz no hardware failure.

hardware wireless transmission unit (tx power) malfunction: no wireless activities any more, dump to dustbin.

This post has been edited by coolstore: Oct 7 2012, 01:21 PM

yes, just RM5 simpack only.

as receiving feedback from some members that Maxis map is actually 'not accurate', some place actually don't have DC-HSPA+ yet but showing got.

---

Added on October 27, 2012, 10:45 pmthey don't share 3g tower facities, roaming now available on both 3g network instead.

maybe when it come to LTE, they may start to share tower.

This post has been edited by coolstore: Oct 27 2012, 10:45 PM