Mobley problem!

[Isaac-1]

In my testing over the last few days I have determined the following with some degree of confidence:


1, An unregulated transformer type (the heavy kind) wall wart DC power supply sized with a no load output of about 15.9VDC or higher and at least 300 ma output rating (typically labeled as 12VDC to 14VDC output) will power a Mobley with no obvious timeout shutdowns occurring. I have confirmed this using 3 different wall wart style transformers of various ratings between 12-14VDC and 300 - 700 MA, I have also found 1 Wall Wart style light weight (switching?) power supply with output in the 15.7VDC range that seems to keep it alive. Other light weight switching power supply wall warts outputting 12.0 - 12.3 VDC with more stable output let it go to sleep after time out. I don't know if this is due to output voltage drift with load changes or AC ripple. (if I can find one with a no load output below 15VDC I will try it out)



2, Shaking or moving a Mobley around during the initial time out run time does seem to extend operation, but only by a random amount, ie shaking a Mobley from time to time during the first 30 minutes of operation will tend to extend the 30 minute sleep timer to some point, perhaps 40 minutes, perhaps 50...


3, Powering a Mobley from an independent power source (portable USB power pack) while in a car, then taking it for a 15 mile drive will apparently disable the 30 minute time out. I have done this twice now, both times the Mobley continued operating after reaching the destination for over 45 minutes, with a total run time of over 1 hour from booting before I disconnected it. I don't know if this is due to vibration detection, or due to switching between cell towers, etc.



4, There seem to be some physical orientations where the Mobley time out is bypassed, think sitting on its left or right side, nose up or down slightly. Repeatability on this is questionable, though shut down after 30 minutes sitting upright on a flat surface with label up seems close to 100% repeatable. This testing was done with the USB to 12VDC adapter that outputs a fairly stead 11.87VDC and the USB battery power pack.


5, Stable output voltage from a bench power supply up to at least 15.5VDC will not keep a Mobley running, though voltages over 15.0 VDC will sometimes extend run times beyond the 30 minute time out.


p.s the Take away from this should be that it seems nearly any old style transformer type wall wart rated at 12VDC and over 300ma will likely run a Mobley indefinitely and bypass the power save timer.

[rehlerd]

This issue is discussed in depth at rvmoblieinternet.com . There are a few options to beat the issue. Briefly you can set a timer to power cycle the Mobley every 2 hours, or there is a device that senses the WiFi going down and power cycles when this occurs. Links are given to amazon for purchase of the devices. Both are under $20. Here is a link to the topic:

https://www.rvmobileinternet.com/att...-save-setting/

[CoachStreamr]

Yes, I am aware of those devices (and outlet timers) and in fact have one here from Qwest DSL issues from years ago (pings the device or a wan IP and if timeouts, power cycles a/the device).

However, that is no good if you are in the middle of live streaming (Netflix, Prime etc) or what I need it for, to live stream video (up) from a location, with the time it takes the Mobley to reboot.

I also understand it's $20/mo, no complaining! Just trying to find a solution to this and how AT&T (with Mobley v1.0.3) is restricting this for some owner's needs (and we know it's not what AT&T wants their $20/mo unlimited LTE used for).




Dusty - CPS apc not used for years!

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[Isaac-1]

CoachStreamr, if you are not concerned about the occasional Mobley random lockup, then an OBDII pigtail adapter like https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F16HC12/ (note wiring color code is wrong compared to the online reference) pin 16 positive and pin 4 or 5 (either one) to negative mated to a 12VDC transformer type wall wart, possibly like this one on ebay https://www.ebay.com/itm/Jameco-Reli...t/122167946201 should do what you want. Though that is an educated guess based on the specs.


From my testing all 12VDC transformer type wall warts that I have tried have worked to keep the sleep timer from turning off, and only 1 light weight universal input voltage switch mode style wall wart has worked.


p.s. for those less comfortable doing wiring an OBDII connector like this might be easier to work with https://smile.amazon.com/Michigan-Mo...dp/B0141UPYDC/ splicing to the wall wart power supply

[frede]

I purchased the Mobile AC Adapter for AT&T ZTE Mobley – OBD Cellular Wi-Fi Hotspot Device no shut off problem.

[bruceisla]

It would appear some shut down and others don't. I have no explanation.
There have been a few reports that having the Mobley in an upright position that is 180 degrees opposite of the position in a car keeps the Mobley running. I.E., connector down. Mine has always been that way anyway .... it's hanging in a cellphone holder on the window. I have had the usual occasional lockup or performance degradation but no timed shut down. Mine is on a timer with a power cycle at about 3am every day.

[tnedator]

Originally Posted by bruceisla

It would appear some shut down and others don't. I have no explanation.
There have been a few reports that having the Mobley in an upright position that is 180 degrees opposite of the position in a car keeps the Mobley running. I.E., connector down. Mine has always been that way anyway .... it's hanging in a cellphone holder on the window. I have had the usual occasional lockup or performance degradation but no timed shut down. Mine is on a timer with a power cycle at about 3am every day.

I'm finding this orientation theory that many are espousing highly dubious. Unless the Mobley has an inclinomitor or some other type of solid state gyroscopic functionality, it simply makes no sense that the orientation matters.

I believe it was posted in this thread what ZTE states regarding to going to sleep, which is voltage and activity (I believe it was activity). It's highly unlikely they also built in something to detect movement solely for the basis of keeping it on (again, they were using voltage for that, so why go to the expense of sensing movement/orientation just to keep it on).

[Isaac-1]

Dubious perhaps, but experimental evidence suggest there is something positional likely going on. If this is vibration sensor, positional sensor, or something to do with radio signal is unknown.

What can say from my testing is some of the time when my test Mobley was sat at an odd angle it would stay running, also if shaken occasionally it seems to also extend the time before shut down, possibly restarted the countdown, when connected to a stable voltage power source..

p.s. there is also the chance that this is some unintended side effect of what ever method the Mobley uses to detect a fluctuating voltage power supply, ie mechanical stress from vibration effecting the voltage reading, etc. Maybe they are using some cheap cheat to detect voltage fluctuation, like a hall effect switch which can be tricked by movement or position relating to the local magnetic field.

[CoachStreamr]

Originally Posted by frede

I purchased the Mobile AC Adapter for AT&T ZTE Mobley – OBD Cellular Wi-Fi Hotspot Device no shut off problem.

That is the one I also ordered, hopefully have it here by the end of the week.

I posted the seller's Company website earlier in this Thread to.

And again, I appreciate the time you put into testing Isaac

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[theoldwizard]

Some how I missed this the first time around ! W3DKP, that one connector looks "different" ? What is it ?

Originally Posted by W3DKP

Here is the schematic and PCB layout for the timer I built to reset the internal timer in my Mobley. My timer is powered through a non-switched DC distribution system off of the house batteries.
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There is a .pdf file with the schematic, PCB layout and photos of each side of the board and one of it installed on my Mobley.

The .PDF is all you need.

For those of you who are only moderately "electronic literate", here is a couple of tips.

• The 1A diode is not critical as long as it is rated at 1 A (any of the 1N4001-1N4009 diodes would work). It will drop the incoming voltage by about 0.93V. If you think dropping the voltage more would help, just add another diode in series.
• The P-channel MOSFET is not critical. The OP used a IRFD9120. Any P-channel MOSFET rated at 1A or above and a Vgs of >-10V would work.
• If you don't want your LED to blink connect the cathode to ground. If you want it to blink at the rate the voltage is changing connect it to the pin driving the MOSFET.

Now if you really want to get "fancy" you can use the basics of this same circuit to run a cell phone vibrator ! I will leave the details as an "excercise" for the student.

[Isaac-1]

Those are not technically the right style connectors for the OBDII pins, the correct type is more of a square box looking connector. I suspect the wider connector on the negative lead was used so that it connects to both pin 4 and 5 at the same time. Either pin 4 or 5 will work for the negative connection, you don't need to connect to both, but it does not hurt anything to do so.

[W3DKP]

Since I built the prototype from my junk box I used what I had. The circled connector is a standard ¼” spade lug and spans both ground pins on the OBDII connector. The smaller connector is a 1/8” spade lug. Your tips on the other parts are right on the mark.

[CaptBill]

I don't know what this means, if anything, but my original (2017) Mobley, which HAS has had the firmware update, was in my barn and powered by a 1.25A 12v switching adapter. I did not measure the actual voltage.

When I first used it in the barn (to stream music), I had it laying flat. After the FW update, the unit would time out, and I'd have to disconnect/reconnect power to reboot. I thought the problem may have been a weak cell signal, so I put a piece of velcro on the label side of the Mobley, and the other piece of velcro high up on the wall.

So now the Mobley is upright, with plug on the bottom. It doesn't time out. I don't know why.

[rgvtexan]

Originally Posted by CoachStreamr

What is the Mobley's firmware version?

Your Mobley was already activated?


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Sorry I missed this question.

VM6200V1.0.3 and yes it was activated ran right out of the box.

It does not timeout on my old E-Bay PS but does on the one.

I connect to the Mobley with David Botts Nanostation connected to a Net Gear Router and have had many devices connected.