connections to 3G are so crap

M

mc721221

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The connections to 3G are so crap that I have stopped using 3G and now only use GPRS when mobile or ADSL at the office.

The connections drop so often that I can't keep any sessions open. eg. I had 3 drops in 5 minutes this morning.

I really did not appreciate Vodacom's answer this morning that "things will improve over time." I'm currently paying the full price, so I expect the real deal!

Why could they have not warned me when I signed up. All they had to say was - "Sir, please bear in mind that coverage is crappy and you won't have a stable connection"
 
Dropped connections and external antennas

Some of you have experienced (and still are experiencing) dropped connections on the 3G network.

There are three possible reasons for this.

1. Software setup issues on your laptop: If your client software (browser and mail, for example) is configured to automatically create and drop connections as needed, you might see a disconnect caused this way. The obvious resolution is to disable these settings, if you have it configured this way.

2. Network related issues: Certain technical issues were detected and rectified over the last few days. This is an ongoing process in tuning the network as it rolls into production.

Can you please confirm if you've seen an improvement over the last few days? Accurate feedback will greatly help determine progress made on this.

3. Signal Strength: Sometimes you'll be on the edge of a 3G cell, resulting in low signal strength that could result in a dropped connection. To improve signal strength in these situations, Vodacom will make available, to all 3G Data Card users, an external antenna at no cost.

As soon as the stock is available, all 3G data card subscribers will be made contact with to ensure they receive their antennas.

Feedback on your experience with the above will be appreciated.

Do you see an improvement in dropped connections?
Is it possibly a software setup on your client software?
 
Whether I am at home or work, I have three or four bars of reception, so I don't think it is a signal strength problem. I have also throughly checked all browser and email client software settings to ensure there is no automatic time out.

I had a huge battle yesterday and the day before with connection drops (couldn't keep a connection open for longer than about five mins), and some issues this morning, but it seems to be getting better this afternoon.

This is seriously frustrating

How is everyone else doing?
 
I've seen another problem.

When I get disconnected, the dashboard hangs. I then cannot close the application. Even when I kill the process, it won't start up again and requires a reboot. Like the driver broke as well.....

Anyone else seen this?
 
My biggest problem is signal. If I move my laptop to the middle of my desk, I go from 3 bars to 1 bar (I should move my office to the garden, good reception there) I had problems with the dashboard with it telling me it could not connect when the connection dropped, but on the second connect attempt it would connect.
My connection does not drop like it did last week.
 
hmmm,

it seems that Vodacom, should have learned from WBS and started with a pre-release testing phase.
 
Fun with ThreeGee

Well I have to say, I've been attempting to test the 3G service here in Cape Town - Claremont area - and have had similar issues. What I find most irritating is that the coverage map is very misleading! The three areas I have tested in have been in the "Very Good Coverage" zone. Of the three areas, only one has been vaguely successful, and I believe that is because Im sitting on the second floor of a building. In all areas I have near perfect cell reception.

Upon phoning Vodacom support I get told that Claremont has 62% coverage and it should work perfectly. I then get told that while I am in the 3G coverage zone, it is possible we're experiencing these issues because certain base stations with stronger reception havent been upgraded to 3G yet and that they're taking preference over the 3G enabled stations.

The solution? Well apparently it should be resolved in the first half of this year. In the interim just turn your card on and off until it finds a base station that is 3G enabled.

This is not a solution. Especially not a R600/month solution. Thank G0d Im not paying for this service, and wont be until it actually becomes reliable.

Regards
Celery
 
Last edited:
As indicated, those with marginal signal strength (celeborn, rabbiddog, et al) can soon utilise the add-on antenna to help improve reception. These will be available shortly.

In terms of the dropped connections, any feedback on how it is this morning?

If you could indicate your area plus experience, it'll be great.

Once again, Vodacom appreciates your feedback.
 
today seems better as I have been connected now for 45min with no drop, even with 2 bars. (things are looking up) :o
 
I'm so glad I didn't opt for 3G. I really considered it as they discussed in on the radio and it was said that it would be priced very agressively as they want to be the biggest in the market.

I really don't think R599 per month with a 1Gig cap it aggresively. Maybe I misunderstood by what was meant with pricing it aggresively, I thought it meant cheaper that ADSL and affordable.

Now it seems that the service isn't reliable which makes it even worse.
 
i'm just gonna go put my own 3g tower up, and make my own sim card, and make my own network!
 
bboy said:
i'm just gonna go put my own 3g tower up, and make my own sim card, and make my own network!
Click to expand...

Go right ahead!

Find R1.3B, build 480 base stations, build a back-haul network and run your own radio network. Let's see how well you do.....Did you also build your own car?

Í've been on the 3G network from day 1 and don't regret a minute of it.

I've also been affected by drops, but from this forum it's obvious Vodacom is working hard to get the service stable. The fact that there are current problems might just be an indication that the network is being loaded, which is great. Can only lead to price reductions.

It's a new network, of course there's going to be teething problems.

It's one thing to do pre-launch testing, quite another to do full load testing. How do you get 3000 test users on?

It's just not logical for Vodacom not to get the network humming. They need many more users and forums like this can make or break them.

When I called Vodacom about the drops, they claimed it affected a small number of cells, in the JHB area mostly and that improvements over the last few days should have improved the service.

Since last night I've not been dropped once. Been up now for more than 20 hours. Hopefully it's now fixed.

When I used dial-up, I got dropped much more. Same with ISDN. My office ADSL router hangs up every now and then.

Networks have technical challenges, it's how the opertor respond to those that counts.
 
Neo said:
Find R1.3B, build 480 base stations, build a back-haul network and run your own radio network. Let's see how well you do.....Did you also build your own car?
Click to expand...


Well yip,i did build my own car :)

anyway, i was just entertaining the idea of using my own "little" 1 tower cellphone network so that i can connect with my laptop to my home dsl line,
my work is very close to my home
 
bboy, maybe I over-reacted. :rolleyes: Apologies

I get so fed up with people that are quick to be critical and point fingers at a service like this. Of course we all want it perfect, and ,of course, it's not going to be.

I would venture that most people on this forum are technically minded and probably are in a technical work environment.

I wonder how many of them complain every day that their own users give them grief about servers, networks and applications that don't work 100%? And then they lament that the users are "unreasonable"

There are one or two compulsive complainers on this forum and I suspect they'll never be happy with anything in life.

Regarding your requirement. Do you have line-of-sight to your work? You might try directional 802.11?
 
3G is very slow.

Pinging www.myadsl.co.za [209.128.108.131] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 209.128.108.131: bytes=32 time=3085ms TTL=106
Request timed out.
Reply from 209.128.108.131: bytes=32 time=3357ms TTL=106
Reply from 209.128.108.131: bytes=32 time=3500ms TTL=106

Ping statistics for 209.128.108.131:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 3, Lost = 1 (25% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 3085ms, Maximum = 3500ms, Average = 3314ms
 
Tracing route to www.myadsl.co.za [209.128.108.131]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 513 ms 568 ms 599 ms 10.15.128.1
2 * * * Request timed out.
3 * * * Request timed out.
4 * * * Request timed out.
 
I had a call on Friday morning from Vodacom about the 3G dropping connections and they said they found the problem and applied a "patch" - Should that not have been done BEFORE the launch? I then told them I have no more time to waste on 3G. I'll try it again next month.

Why should we be paying to full retail price for being beta-testers?

I can't say what I want to say (and I have some interesting info)without them setting their lawyers on me :( But I will "ask" the following: Does Vodacom have the necessary staff and experience to enter the ISP market?
 
mc, I assume you use a PC? Every time Microsoft make a new patch available do you call their help desk and tell them they should have patched their OS before releasing it, and that you'll stop using your PC for a month? Or do you keep on using XP, Office or your favourite app, now patched, glad it's more stable, bug free etc.

Patching is a fact of life. Your office router, your PC, PDA, mobile, all are patched or upgraded on an ongoing basis. I had to upgrade my TV remote a while ago!

Maybe in your world software works perfectly, all the time?

At least Vodacom had the decency to call you and tell you they've found a problem and are trying to rectify it.

How many other service providers has the decency to do this? Read some of the other forums on this site and see for yourself.

I've also got a gripe with the current service. In addition to coverage and drop issues, I have a problem with the client software. But I'll rather work with Vodacom and resolve it than bitch and moan all the time. Rather provide constructive criticism. That way we all go forward.

ic, I take (and agree with) your point that Vodacom could have used the user community in a load test program.

This service is now up for a month and if, as someone else posted, the take-on rate is high, I'd give it another month or two. If it's not stable by then, vote with your feet!

mc, if you have relevant information on 3G, why not post it here? If it's true you cannot be touched.
 
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