Elevate 4G - device intermittent, randomly reboots, and loses signal.

[microchip01]

This device has always been a little flakey. Does anyone know if there is a firmware update?

Often after losing the connection on my laptop, I check the Elevate's LCD and find no bars and it says "searching for network." This has happened several times in areas where I know there is a strong signal. 

The only way to make it bahave half decently is to pull the battery and start over again. It works ok for around an hour then goes back to it's older ways. 

Any ideas or suggestions?

[H82typ]

If it's still under warranty, replace it. US carriers lock and brand their units. Most phones (all the ones I've owned) have not been able to be upgraded.

[rdcinhou]

Mine wouldn't even connect to the AT&T network when I first got mine.  It said "Connected.  Network - None".

After consulting many online forums (including this one), many blame bad SIM cards.

Examining the SIM card holder, it is very unforgiving.

After removing and reinstalling my SIM card, my Elevate 4G worked right away.

As for signal loss...you might be near to a Microcell that it is trying to connect to, but can't because it isn't programmed into it.

[rdcinhou]

My Elevate 4G has begun to act "sporadically"--it doesn't really want to talk to the Internet and will sometimes lose the ability to connect to the net.  It seems to get slower as you use it until it doesn't even connect at all.

It even responds v-e-r-y slow to the "att.elevate" admin login.

I've tried rebooting multiple times and it seems to restore connection, but the speed is nowhere near as fast as it should be.

Searching online, I found that one detailed review found this to be a frequent problem with this device.

What I want to know is why the AT&T version of the documentation says that you can download and update the firmware from the Sierra Wireless site, but when you follow the links, there is no download for firmware whatsoever.

It appears that this device is truly "flakey" and needs a firmware rewrite to fix this behavior problem.

I'm starting to have buyer remorse/regrets!

[metrofails]

I'm wondering what the failure rate of this device is.  I bought mine in 2/2012.  I updated the firmware in 06/2012 and now the AT&T Elevate is in a state where it reboots every 2-4 minutes.  Since this device is less than year old, I'll be getting a replacement but I'm worred it won't last another 12 months and after the warranty expires.