Not impressed

A

ajax

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After using Vodacom GPRS for the last month, this morning I wanted to use MTN GPRS on prepaid. I checked MTN's website, not a hint of new prices or setup instructions. I did request the settings by dialling *123*1# as mtnbb suggested, but I needed the number to dial and possible other pc settings as well.

I then called 173 and the lady had absolutely NO CLUE how to help me.
She then gave me the number of MTN Business Solutions to call. I could not call that number from my cell phone, and from the landline it was engaged.

Not impressed MTN...
 
GPRS pc setup

Can anybody else tell me what number do I dial?
On Vodacom I dialled *99***1#, what's MTN's number?
Is the initialisation string, atd+cgdcont=1,"IP","internet" in advanced settings for the modem also needed?

I tried *99# and *99***1#, I get so far as "registering your computer on the network", on one of the numbers it actually gets "connected", but then no data comes through. Even nslookup and ping requests fails.
The other number disconnects me a few seconds after "registering your computer on the network".

I wanted to do some speed tests this morning.
Why can't they just have their s#*! together for the launch???
 
hi there

i used exactly the same setup as the vodacom gprs on my pda and it worked. I dialled *99# amd it works. So dont change any setup and try it, it should work fine. just hope i dont get billed the R25 a meg or something....even tho we all know it changed to R2/mb...
 
ash said:
hi there

i used exactly the same setup as the vodacom gprs on my pda and it worked. I dialled *99# amd it works. So dont change any setup and try it, it should work fine. just hope i dont get billed the R25 a meg or something....even tho we all know it changed to R2/mb...
Click to expand...

Are you on prepaid ash?
 
I also battled to find information on how to set up my GPRS connection, but I eventually managed to source something on mtn.co.za. I will paste it below, as I can't really remember exactly how I found this info.

Obviously, some of it won't apply, and/or it's pretty obvious already.

------------------

Installing the Bluetooth device

1. Run the TDK software following the on-screen prompts and reboot the PC manually if not prompted to.

2. After the PC has rebooted, the TDK software will launch a pop-up window.

3. If you are using the CD-Rom, click on Yes to view the tutorial otherwise click on No to exit. If however you have downloaded the software click on View TDK Bluetooth Tutorial to view the tutorial otherwise click on Exit to close the TDK Application Launcher.

4. Attach the TDK Bluetooth USB Adaptor to an available USB port of the PC.

5. The Found New Hardware pop-up window will appear.

6. The Found New HardwareWizard will begin.

7. Select Install the software automatically (Recommended) and click on Next.

8. The Hardware Installation window will appear, click on Continue Anyway to continue or STOP Installation to abort.

9. Click on Finish.



Pairing the devices

1. On the handset, press the Menu joystick in.

2. Scroll to Connectivity and press Select.

3. Select Bluetooth and press Select.

4. If Bluetooth is not turned on, highlight Turn on and press Select otherwise ignore this step.

5. Scroll to Options and press Select.

6. Highlight Visibility and press Select. Highlight Show phone and press Select.

7. Scroll to Phone name and press Select. In the Phone name field, enter MTN GPRS and press Ok.

8. Press the Back button four times.

9. On the PC, double click on My Bluetooth Places icon.

10. Click on View devices in range. The software will search for devices within range. If the handset is not discovered, open the Bluetooth menu and select Search for devices.

11. Right click MTN GPRS and click Pair Device.

12. The Bluetooth Passkey Request window will appear. In the BluetoothPasskey field, enter a four digit BluetoothPasskey for example 0000 and click on OK . (Note: If you have downloaded the TDK Bluetooth drivers, the window name as well as the field name will differ).

13. On the handset, press Yes to Add to My devices .

14. In the Passkey field, enter a four digit Passkey, which is the same as the passkey specified on the PC and press Ok.

15. On the PC, close My Bluetooth Places\Entire Bluetooth Neighborhood screen.



Setting up the handset

1. On the handset, press the Menu joystick in.

2. Scroll to Connectivity and press Select.

3. Scroll to Data comm. and press Select.

4. Highlight Data accounts and press Select.

5. Highlight New account and press Add.

6. Select GPRS data and press Select.

7. In the Name field, enter MTN GPRS and press Ok.

8. Select APN and press Edit . In the APN field, enter myMTN and press Ok.

9. Scroll to User id and press Edit. In the User id field, enter Please leave this field blank] and press Ok.

10. Scroll to Password and press Edit. In the Password field, enter Please leave this field blank and press Ok.

11. Press Save.

12. Highlight MTN GPRS and press Select.

13. Scroll to CID and take note of the CID number, as it will be referred to in step 5 of Making the connection.

14. Press the Back button five times.



Setting up the connection

1. On the PC, double click on the My Bluetooth Places icon.

2. Click on View devices in range. The software will search for devices within range. If the handset is not discovered, open the Bluetooth menu and select Search for devices.

3. Double click on MTN GPRS.

4. Right click on Dial-up Networking and click on Connect Dial-Up Networking.



Making the connection

1. On the PC, the connection window will appear.

2. In the User name field, enter Please leave this field blank.

3. In the Password field, enter Please leave this field blank.

4. Click on the Properties button.

5. In the Phone number field, enter *99***X# where X will be replaced by the CID number noted in step 13 of Setting up the handset and click on OK.

6. Click on Dial.

7. If the Network Connections screen appears, click on No otherwise ignore this step.

You will now be connected to the GPRS service.
 
I think I should give MTN a try since Vodacom atre to dam expensive. Im going to sign up contract with them. Since I need an upgrade but with Vodacom, but they expensive and dont offer any cheap handset like MTN does.
 
Does anyone know why MTN are not offering gprs access via phone or pc at all to any of their prepaid customers as of Sunday 10 April? I cant access gprs from either creating a dialup from my pc or accessing wap through my phone at all!
 
Prepaid customers can access the web.

I am on a hybrid contact i.e MyChoice Topup.

As far a know, MTN regards this contract also as prepaid.

I am able to access the web from my PC (from 11-04-2005). :)

At this stage I cannot buy data bundles. :(
I just wonder if MTN will introduce data bundle vouchers for prepaid customers.
 
I tested again tonite and finally got it working! Hooray :)
Had to figure it out myself, as customer services, 173, had no clue. :(

It seems I can use either *99# or *99***1# as the "dialup" number. I kept all my settings the same as for Vodacom, but only changed the gprs settings on my phone to that of MTN.

Now I want to do speed comparisons, but Telkom's site is down. Any other local speed test sites?

Edit: Aha! Now MTN's site no longer says prepaid users can't access the web :rolleyes:

Ah, well, agteros kom ook in die kraal :)
 
Last edited:
GPRS Settings

I've not changed anything to browse GPRS from Vodacom to MTN ... the Internet.GPRS settings works on both (both use the access point internet without usernames and passwords), so I deleted most of my settings except 1 GPRS for Internet (works on both networks), MMS for MTN and Vodacom, and WLAN for home -- so I can still swop my MTN contract SIM with the Vodacm Pre-paid SIM should the MTN network be down or something. I can definately say that Edge in Bloem City Central seems quite faster than normal GPRS. I couldn't test the speed from there, and at home my either my Communicator or the ADSL speed test site seemed a bit confused and returned a speed of 113333.3 Kpbs or 13888.9 kBytes/sec!

Calling 173 for data questions is risky at best :)

** Update **

At home I'm quite a bit from the Bloem City Centre, so I assume I don't have EDGE in the cell I'm in. Connecting my 9500 to my laptop I got between 44 and 52 Kpbs which is better than the normal modem connections I used to get before ISDN and ADSL. Not that I need GPRS at home, I'm quite satisfied with the ADSL384 at home (<grin> probably shouldn't say that aloud around here) but travel a lot and between calling cards and hotel call charges GPRS is starting to save me a pretty penny. Also I now can have always on internet in my Karoo hideaway .... (<grin> and why the (*&* would one want to have always on Internet in a hideaway .... it's like coffee or chocolates, I guess)
 
Last edited:
zaphod said:
I am on a hybrid contact i.e MyChoice Topup.

As far a know, MTN regards this contract also as prepaid.

I am able to access the web from my PC (from 11-04-2005). :)

At this stage I cannot buy data bundles. :(
I just wonder if MTN will introduce data bundle vouchers for prepaid customers.
Click to expand...

We are looking into this.
 
BloemGuy said:
I've not changed anything to browse GPRS from Vodacom to MTN ... the Internet.GPRS settings works on both (both use the access point internet without usernames and passwords),
Click to expand...

Thanx, BloemGuy, that works for me too :)

MTNbb, are you referring to data bundles for Mychoice customers or for prepaid?
 
AmonRe said:
Does anyone know why MTN are not offering gprs access via phone or pc at all to any of their prepaid customers as of Sunday 10 April? I cant access gprs from either creating a dialup from my pc or accessing wap through my phone at all!
Click to expand...

Type *123*1# from your handset and press Send/green button (free service). Respond to the menus.

You can self-activate both gprs and mms at no cost. You get a confirmation message that this has happened.

MTN also sends you the auto-configuration settings (if your phone supports these).
 
MTNBroadband said:
Type *123*1# from your handset and press Send/green button (free service). Respond to the menus.
Click to expand...

The lady at 173 said I must dial *123*14#. :rolleyes:
 
Just a quick fact that I learned when working at MTN.
*99***1# - Internet APN.
*99***2# - MMS APN.

To use MTN GRPS (I think EDGE would use the same APN No.) you have gotta put the 1
i.e the *99***1#

Something else that may help.

1.) Connect your phone to your PC by either Bluetooth, Infrared, Data Cable.
2.) Create a dialup connection in Windows, set the cellphone as the modem.
3.) Under the telephone number setting put the *99***1#
4.) Click dial and it should connect as long as you have the data subscription enabled.

Thought that may help anyone who is new to using their phone for internet access from your PC.
 
Far be it for me to argue with you on this, as I really don't have any expertise in this area, but what you've said is not consistent with the setup instructions from MTN's website (pasted below).

*99***X# <--- the X in this case refers to the CID from your phone's GPRS settings. I happen to use *99***2#, and I am able to perform all the regular internet activities; http, ftp, irc, msn etc.

That's just my two cents... MTN instructions to follow:

Setting up the handset
1. On the handset, press the Menu joystick in.
2. Scroll to Connectivity and press Select.
3. Scroll to Data comm. and press Select.
4. Highlight Data accounts and press Select.
5. Highlight New account and press Add.
6. Select GPRS data and press Select.
7. In the Name field, enter MTN GPRS and press Ok.
8. Select APN and press Edit . In the APN field, enter myMTN and press Ok.
9. Scroll to User id and press Edit. In the User id field, enter Please leave this field blank] and press Ok.
10. Scroll to Password and press Edit. In the Password field, enter Please leave this field blank and press Ok.
11. Press Save.
12. Highlight MTN GPRS and press Select.
13. Scroll to CID and take note of the CID number, as it will be referred to in step 5 of Making the connection.
14. Press the Back button five times.

Setting up the connection
1. On the PC, double click on the My Bluetooth Places icon.
2. Click on View devices in range. The software will search for devices within range. If the handset is not discovered, open the Bluetooth menu and select Search for devices.
3. Double click on MTN GPRS.
4. Right click on Dial-up Networking and click on Connect Dial-Up Networking.

Making the connection
1. On the PC, the connection window will appear.
2. In the User name field, enter Please leave this field blank.
3. In the Password field, enter Please leave this field blank.
4. Click on the Properties button.
5. In the Phone number field, enter *99***X# where X will be replaced by the CID number noted in step 13 of Setting up the handset and click on OK.
6. Click on Dial.
7. If the Network Connections screen appears, click on No otherwise ignore this step.

You will now be connected to the GPRS service.
 
Well, if memory serves, Using 1 or 2 as your APN No. makes no difference. Except using 2 pisses off the MMS guys at MTN.
You can get to the internet through both of them.
Unless they have changed the APN numbers since I left.
 
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