Vodacom HSUPA Not 1.4Mbps Anymore

[dex_10]

I don't know whether it's just me, but I have noticed that my Huawei E272 would not reach upload speeds of above 384kbps anymore.

As far as I understand that all Vodacom users, contract and prepaid, are supposed to get upload speeds of up to 1.4Mbps.

Anybody else noticed this? I have tested it on the Vodacom speedtest site as well as speedtest.net.:confused:

[P0is3nIvy]

My Novatel's max upload is 384. Just did 2 VC speedtests and got over 350 up on both counts. Maybe your prob is localised.

[dex_10]

My Novatel's max upload is 384. Just did 2 VC speedtests and got over 350 up on both counts. Maybe your prob is localised.

I doubt whether it's localized cause I tested it on 3 different computers. If you think about it your Novatel can only do up to 384 and you are getting just over 350 which should be correct. I also get just over 350 where my modem is however capable of 1400.

[P0is3nIvy]

Hmmm, then they're probably shaping it.

[dex_10]

Yep, I reckon it's got something to do with Seacom going live. I suppose there might be some glitches like these in the coming few days.

[jasweb]

Not 1.4 but close:

http://www.speedtest.net/result/524992369.png

Huawei K3715

[dex_10]

Nope mine is still low.

http://www.speedtest.net/result/525029535.png

[Basilrsa]

I don't know whether it's just me, but I have noticed that my Huawei E272 would not reach upload speeds of above 384kbps anymore.

As far as I understand that all Vodacom users, contract and prepaid, are supposed to get upload speeds of up to 1.4Mbps.

Anybody else noticed this? I have tested it on the Vodacom speedtest site as well as speedtest.net.:confused:

I am not too worried about the upload as my results are pretty close to the max, but the download is far from pre May results. After the net fell over in early may, I have never managed to better 2.4mbs at any time. This is quite far from the max of 3.6mbs that I am on.
However using the VC speedtest I can get 3.4mbs d/l easily most times.
That leads me to the conclusion that the problem lies with the backhaul from Telkom from Midrand onwards.
So speeds of 7.2 mbs are a pipe dream until Telkom sorts out their side.
I have also run on Telkom 3G from my location and could easily d/l at near 5mbs but their ping was terrible: about 240ms.
Both the VC and Telkom towers are about 800m from my location.
Therefore I presume the bottleneck is in Midrand.
http://www.speedtest.net/result/525188256.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

[morkhans]

Vodacom speed test is fine.

Download Speed: 3672 kbps (459 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 992 kbps (124 KB/sec transfer rate)

Edit: Using my B970

[Telegamer]

Vodacom speed test is fine.

Download Speed: 3672 kbps (459 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 992 kbps (124 KB/sec transfer rate)

Which model modem are you using?

[morkhans]

Which model modem are you using?

B970

[CraigViking]

the other day I got 9800kbps upload and 1400 down LOL also with a B970

telegamer you from the ps3 forum

[dex_10]

I decided to eventually contact the 155 specialists about my problem and typically they started blaming my hardware setup for the problem. Well I didn't get upset, cause I knew this before hand;)

I then told them, let's do an interesting test and see what a MTN connection does on my setup. Voila, MTN tests at 732kbps and not only up to 384kbps!

Now it's the typical 24hr turn around time as usual:sick: A technician will come back to me.

[Antonf]

Now it's the typical 24hr turn around time as usual:sick: A technician will come back to me.

...and strikers will stop littering, the economy will boom by Wednesday and the next Pope will be married...

[VodacomData]

I decided to eventually contact the 155 specialists about my problem and typically they started blaming my hardware setup for the problem. Well I didn't get upset, cause I knew this before hand;)

I then told them, let's do an interesting test and see what a MTN connection does on my setup. Voila, MTN tests at 732kbps and not only up to 384kbps!

Now it's the typical 24hr turn around time as usual:sick: A technician will come back to me.

Guys

If you need help or have problems you have to PM me i cannot assist if your problem is described in the threads you create and you dont get me involved by using the options in my sig

so dex_10 pm me your number in question and ref if you have it at hand

Regards
VodacomData

[dex_10]

Vodacom eventually phoned me back after the 24hr turn around time has already expired. First thing that the technician told me is that I need to be aware that they do not currently give support to Windows 7 customers. That blew my top! Never the less, I told him that I did the test on my Win 7 desktop, Win XP desktop and Win XP laptop and that they all yielded the same upload results of below 384kbps. I was then asked to go to another location with my laptop and do the test again.(Mmm... since when do I work for Vodacom?).

I haven't had a chance to do it yet so I did a test a few minutes ago from my same location and at last my increased upload results:

http://www.speedtest.net/result/528595239.png

I don't know what has changed in the mean time from the side of Vodacom, but I must say my Internet experience definitely feels snappier.:)

Let's hope it stays that way.

[docusource]

Same here - for the past 4 weeks I have experienced consistent slow speeds - downloads 30 KB/s - 50 KB/s range and uploads 5 - 28. Same high latency trend as mentioned. Interesting fact - even the quality of my phone connection is poor (voice) Called 155 numerous times - no real answer or response, guy from Networks called back and said problem with the tower in my area - however that was 2 weeks ago. Still no improvement. Usual speed is in the 200 Kbps range with either the 620 or the 272

It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out there is a something wrong - it seems in a lot of area's judging by the posts (see thread Vodacom Problems: Slow Throughput, trying to Connect, DNS, High Latency )- just wish somebody at Vodacom would give a concise answer to "When will it be fixed?"

nukem - please tell me how do you get the tower id?

[dex_10]

nukem - please tell me how do you get the tower id?

I get my tower id by using Ginngs Tool (http://www.nerve.org.za/mdma/).

[fismail]

Interesting who supports Beta OS's when selling a service / hardware that runs on top of an OS that is released to the paying public (besides 1 techie supporting another for the sake of getting things to work) ?

Rather do the tests from a supported OS (as per the product documentation and requires in this case the VMC software and supported hardware) as beta support is non-existent unless its Microsoft supporting you ie Technet and so on.

Any techie should know this but as long as your connection is working fine under XP & Vista then you should be ok (which seems to be working now as per your reply)

You are aware that MTU settings are different between XP , Vista , Server 2003 , Server 2008 , Mac OS , Linux , SGI , SunOS - Solaris.


Vodacom eventually phoned me back after the 24hr turn around time has already expired. First thing that the technician told me is that I need to be aware that they do not currently give support to Windows 7 customers. That blew my top! Never the less, I told him that I did the test on my Win 7 desktop, Win XP desktop and Win XP laptop and that they all yielded the same upload results of below 384kbps. I was then asked to go to another location with my laptop and do the test again.(Mmm... since when do I work for Vodacom?).

I haven't had a chance to do it yet so I did a test a few minutes ago from my same location and at last my increased upload results:

http://www.speedtest.net/result/528595239.png

I don't know what has changed in the mean time from the side of Vodacom, but I must say my Internet experience definitely feels snappier.:)

Let's hope it stays that way.

[docusource]

What should the mtu be for a Linux connection fismail? I must admit I thought it is only relevant on a router not on a usb modem ? I have mine currently set at 1500 - and that seems to support all my linux systems, OS x 10.5.7 and the server 2003 ? I agree when running at the bleeding edge with a beta you are just about on your own!

[Steinie]

When the 3.6 service was introduced, I had no problem getting d/l speeds of up to 3.6 mbps. Of course, it helps to live within 500m of the base station.;)

Recently, I noticed that d/l speeds have been dropping to the point where I am lucky to get these speeds:

Download Speed: 1561 kbps (195.1 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 1131 kbps (141.4 KB/sec transfer rate)

Interesting to note that the upload speed is great. So, why not the download speed? :confused:

[Steinie]

Still no joy! Whatever happened to my 3.6 speeds?

Download Speed: 1751 kbps (218.9 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 1176 kbps (147 KB/sec transfer rate)

:mad:

[docusource]

I am sitting in exactly the same spot from where my Vodacom modem gives me 10% of the speed - welcome to wonderful MTN infrastructure !!! 3Mb/Sec !!! I was happy when I got 1.8 from Vodacom and then in my opinion justifiably upset when that dropped to approx 350kbs (40KB/sec) some 6 weeks ago. Below is the result from my speed test and the Vodacom one further down at about the same time! (Same modem - same location , same software, same idiot user and attitude)

http://www.speedtest.net/result/542706227.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

Thank you to everybody at Vodacom for making the effort to try and resolve my slow connection problem in the past 6 weeks - I now realise that I am just I small customer and that it is really not that important to resolve an issue that is clearly a network problem even though the individuals concerned really tried!
Both my modems, a 272 and an e620 in a linksys router returned speed result similar to the one in the link below - this after always getting speeds in excess of 200KB/Sec. The reply from Vodacom nothing substantial yet = still waiting really - some dude said it is the tower, the call centre tries to fix my Linux PC to no avail, a tech that came on site was instructed to reload my firmware - very logical since both the modems gave the same speed test results ! I refused when he was obviously clueless when it came to linux ... (p.s. the firmware that he brought for the Linksys router (not the modems) failed to install anyways - (I tried later that evening to flash the router ) In the end I loaded OpenWRT) Finally he used his laptop and modem to run his test - and oddly got the same results - 40KB/sec ... and since then I have heard nothing from Vodacom... When the connection dropped intermittently (and remained off for up to 4 hours) during the weekend - I had to suffer the ignorance yet again of call centre staff that cannot support a customer with half a brain - i.e. one that knows when it is not his computer or modem but the network.... maybe Vodacom should have a menu choice for people that dont want support (unplug your modem sir and reload your software... O sorry we don't support Linux sir ...) but would like to report a connection problem.... Thank you to Gerhard Grobler at Vodacom who tried to be understanding after this incident ...
However.... here is the results from the Vodacom speed test on Http://speedtest.net

http://www.speedtest.net/result/542693856.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

So finally after trying my damnest to remain loyal to Vodacom (Silly fool me) I have eventually given up - I bought a MTN data package - thank heavens for choice - and the result is quite pleasing - my suggestion to other users - stop stuffing around with poor customer service and infrastructure disguised by excuses and hot air - take your business elsewhere. I am sure Vodacom won't miss me (only 6 - 8 Gb per month) ... but maybe they will miss another 10 000 users....

Good bye Vodacom Hello Yello !!!!

By the way I am also porting all my phone numbers... the only thing I might miss will be the vodacom4me website....

[VodacomData]

I am sitting in exactly the same spot from where my Vodacom modem gives me 10% of the speed - welcome to wonderful MTN infrastructure !!! 3Mb/Sec !!! I was happy when I got 1.8 from Vodacom and then in my opinion justifiably upset when that dropped to approx 350kbs (40KB/sec) some 6 weeks ago. Below is the result from my speed test and the Vodacom one further down at about the same time! (Same modem - same location , same software, same idiot user and attitude)

http://www.speedtest.net/result/542706227.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

Thank you to everybody at Vodacom for making the effort to try and resolve my slow connection problem in the past 6 weeks - I now realise that I am just I small customer and that it is really not that important to resolve an issue that is clearly a network problem even though the individuals concerned really tried!
Both my modems, a 272 and an e620 in a linksys router returned speed result similar to the one in the link below - this after always getting speeds in excess of 200KB/Sec. The reply from Vodacom nothing substantial yet = still waiting really - some dude said it is the tower, the call centre tries to fix my Linux PC to no avail, a tech that came on site was instructed to reload my firmware - very logical since both the modems gave the same speed test results ! I refused when he was obviously clueless when it came to linux ... (p.s. the firmware that he brought for the Linksys router (not the modems) failed to install anyways - (I tried later that evening to flash the router ) In the end I loaded OpenWRT) Finally he used his laptop and modem to run his test - and oddly got the same results - 40KB/sec ... and since then I have heard nothing from Vodacom... When the connection dropped intermittently (and remained off for up to 4 hours) during the weekend - I had to suffer the ignorance yet again of call centre staff that cannot support a customer with half a brain - i.e. one that knows when it is not his computer or modem but the network.... maybe Vodacom should have a menu choice for people that dont want support (unplug your modem sir and reload your software... O sorry we don't support Linux sir ...) but would like to report a connection problem.... Thank you to Gerhard Grobler at Vodacom who tried to be understanding after this incident ...
However.... here is the results from the Vodacom speed test on Http://speedtest.net

http://www.speedtest.net/result/542693856.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

So finally after trying my damnest to remain loyal to Vodacom (Silly fool me) I have eventually given up - I bought a MTN data package - thank heavens for choice - and the result is quite pleasing - my suggestion to other users - stop stuffing around with poor customer service and infrastructure disguised by excuses and hot air - take your business elsewhere. I am sure Vodacom won't miss me (only 6 - 8 Gb per month) ... but maybe they will miss another 10 000 users....

Good bye Vodacom Hello Yello !!!!

By the way I am also porting all my phone numbers... the only thing I might miss will be the vodacom4me website....

Hi Docusource

Real sorry that things turned out like they did , i will advise trialist to cancel investigation.

Regards
VodacomData

[Keeper]

Guys

If you need help or have problems you have to PM me i cannot assist if your problem is described in the threads you create and you dont get me involved by using the options in my sig

err...quick question....

if everybody is PMing you, then you don't get the mybb community involved?

isn't the point of a forum, that other users can search for their problem and read the suggestions on their own?

also, it brings more members as the problems are indexed by google - that's how I found MyBroadband.co.za - due to Vodacoms problems.

i'm just saying, if you post "put it on 3G only guys" then ALL OF US can learn, and fix problems, not just 1 person.


help him in the thread rather than PM, is what i'm basically saying.

[BBSA]

err...quick question....

if everybody is PMing you, then you don't get the mybb community involved?

isn't the point of a forum, that other users can search for their problem and read the suggestions on their own?

also, it brings more members as the problems are indexed by google - that's how I found MyBroadband.co.za - due to Vodacoms problems.

i'm just saying, if you post "put it on 3G only guys" then ALL OF US can learn, and fix problems, not just 1 person.


help him in the thread rather than PM, is what i'm basically saying.

Agree 100%.

PM's should only be used for personal data.

[VodacomData]

err...quick question....

if everybody is PMing you, then you don't get the mybb community involved?

isn't the point of a forum, that other users can search for their problem and read the suggestions on their own?

also, it brings more members as the problems are indexed by google - that's how I found MyBroadband.co.za - due to Vodacoms problems.

i'm just saying, if you post "put it on 3G only guys" then ALL OF US can learn, and fix problems, not just 1 person.


help him in the thread rather than PM, is what i'm basically saying.

Hi

What you suggestion has been numerous times already , i try to always advise to please post a topic on the subject .

Some do some don't :rolleyes: and there are alot of cases where they don't i have over 400 pm`s(30 of that from SmKnAcE) like i said some do some don't.

Regards
VodacomData

[CraigViking]

the reason for using a pm is for personal info vodacomdata will require to help "Personally" solve your individual problems

[Keeper]

the reason for using a pm is for personal info vodacomdata will require to help "Personally" solve your individual problems

Yeah fine, PM for personal info, but:


If you need help or have problems you have to PM me i cannot assist if your problem is described in the threads

It sounds like he is saying he cannot help us if we post in threads?

i'm just saying, PM only helps 1 person at a time, where a Thread can help 500.
(also 50 brains working on the problem, and not just 1.)

[VodacomData]

Yeah fine, PM for personal info, but:



It sounds like he is saying he cannot help us if we post in threads?

i'm just saying, PM only helps 1 person at a time, where a Thread can help 500.
(also 50 brains working on the problem, and not just 1.)

You taking it out of context this is a PM i got as a perfect example and this is how most describe their problems .Thus me saying (If you need help or have problems you have to PM me i cannot assist if your problem is described in the threads)


Subject please investigate

Hi,

I've had slow responses for about 6 weeks .

For the last 2 nights my latency has shot up constantly to 300ms

here is 1 of my better speed tests:

Download:873
Upload: 342

I also have to restart my connection to move from 1 page to the next

There is a major problem with vodacom.

Not much i can do

Regards
VodacomData

[docusource]

This pm issue is a serious breakdown of a public site that in my humble opinion is there to inform the consumer about the issues - good and bad of various suppliers on the playing field - this is not really an official support site for Vodacom or anybody else for that matter - if Vodacom chooses to respond to negative feedback on this site by resolving the customer issues - that is their prerogative - it might be a good idea to publicise the "fix" - in my opinion but again their decision if they want the good or bad press.

What is an issue is that the "pm" takes the complaint out of the public domain - and the consumer cannot get an overall view of a service providers ability - i.e like if you dial 155. The interesting thing is - most of us know that you can dial 155 - why do we still have to resolve to pm VodacomData? - it is a fundamental breakdown in their service if your complaint/request does not get resolved using their official channel - but gets priority when you log it via mybroadband ?

Back to the original slow throughput complaints littering the threads on this site - I am by no means a technical expert - but what I can see is a pattern - the site has done exactly for me what the site should do - it indicated a problem amongst the user/subscriber base and I could as a result make an informed decision - if I had stuck to 155 I would have believed that there is either something wrong in my area or with my OS/equipment or perhaps myself. Thanks mybroadband for keeping me informed.

To VodacomData - I understand that you are trying to do your job to the best of your ability - to protect your employer and to assist customers - it becomes frustrating and generally speaking by the time a consumer complains he is also frustrated a recipe for disaster - it is however the difference between organisations who care and those who don't - How you treat a very difficult customer. If you would like to use these forums to assist your official service offering by all means nobody can stop you - but what needs to remain in the public domain is the nature of the problem I believe it would be contrary the founding of mybroadband and user groups in general if any supplier gets the opportunity to "hide" behind pm's

It is also quite clear that nobody that has bothered to post their dissatisfaction about the slow throughput is very happy - the crux of the matter lies in that VodacomData - a lot of people with similar problems - the question begs is there something wrong more centrally at Vodacom ?

Answer that in an open forum

In the meantime - you were quite happy to cancel the investigation into my slow throughtput because I chose to go to MTN - are there not other users in my area that are experiencing the same problem - and maybe they deserve a improvement in service?

Secondly in public interest my speeds at MTN has remained high - however - the Vodacom 155 is a dream compared to dialing 173 * 5 at MTN

[VodacomData]

This pm issue is a serious breakdown of a public site that in my humble opinion is there to inform the consumer about the issues - good and bad of various suppliers on the playing field - this is not really an official support site for Vodacom or anybody else for that matter - if Vodacom chooses to respond to negative feedback on this site by resolving the customer issues - that is their prerogative - it might be a good idea to publicise the "fix" - in my opinion but again their decision if they want the good or bad press.

What is an issue is that the "pm" takes the complaint out of the public domain - and the consumer cannot get an overall view of a service providers ability - i.e like if you dial 155. The interesting thing is - most of us know that you can dial 155 - why do we still have to resolve to pm VodacomData? - it is a fundamental breakdown in their service if your complaint/request does not get resolved using their official channel - but gets priority when you log it via mybroadband ?

Back to the original slow throughput complaints littering the threads on this site - I am by no means a technical expert - but what I can see is a pattern - the site has done exactly for me what the site should do - it indicated a problem amongst the user/subscriber base and I could as a result make an informed decision - if I had stuck to 155 I would have believed that there is either something wrong in my area or with my OS/equipment or perhaps myself. Thanks mybroadband for keeping me informed.

To VodacomData - I understand that you are trying to do your job to the best of your ability - to protect your employer and to assist customers - it becomes frustrating and generally speaking by the time a consumer complains he is also frustrated a recipe for disaster - it is however the difference between organisations who care and those who don't - How you treat a very difficult customer. If you would like to use these forums to assist your official service offering by all means nobody can stop you - but what needs to remain in the public domain is the nature of the problem I believe it would be contrary the founding of mybroadband and user groups in general if any supplier gets the opportunity to "hide" behind pm's

Am happy to answer any question in the forum Pierre, like i said before i try to post as much info in the forum as possible.

It is also quite clear that nobody that has bothered to post their dissatisfaction about the slow throughput is very happy - the crux of the matter lies in that VodacomData - a lot of people with similar problems - the question begs is there something wrong more centrally at Vodacom ?

Answer that in an open forum

Like you know we trying to upgrade as best we can, there’s no central problem. Its either like in your case the power went out for the Rhento tower this i told , i then called Johan Smit who deals with the area and asked him is there any problems in the area , what is wrong with the Rhento tower and why are you having so much issues on the tower.His reply there is nothing wrong as his been out to the tower checked the cells and all is fine,


In the meantime - you were quite happy to cancel the investigation into my slow throughtput because I chose to go to MTN - are there not other users in my area that are experiencing the same problem - and maybe they deserve a improvement in service?

I really couldn't ask the technician to go out and you weren't using the service any more.


Secondly in public interest my speeds at MTN has remained high - however - the Vodacom 155 is a dream compared to dialing 173 * 5 at MTN




:D