Which service am i using? (GPRS, GPRS+ or EDGE)

How can i see which service i'm using?

I get a connection speed of 2 kbyte/s using std GPRS settings. I do get the "Yello broadband signal", but my phone is a SE K700 with no EDGE support.

Do distance effect the connection speed? The tower is about 40 km away.
The MTN sp told me that GPRS only works in a 10km radius.

What can i do to improve my connection speed, short of buying a EDGE capable device? (And will that even help?)

Hi GPS

Welcome to the forum.

AFAIK, distance affects your speed only as far as the signal strength is concerned. You should be able to use GPRS up to the normal (voice) cutoff distance of the tower, usually 35 km, but then your signal would probably be very weak giving you slow speed. Where are you situated exactly?

Also see this thread: http://www.mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=18301

To improve GPRS speed, try to improve your signal, maybe try the window or a different part of the building you're in our maybe outside with your laptop?

Hi

The slowest GPRS connection speed established is 9 kbps (for GPRS) which is coding scheme 1 - poor radio conditions.

The standard GSM maximum tower radius is 35 km. (I'm not talking 3G which is far less, or 1800 Mhz which has much lower penetration). Beyond this distance the timeslot allocation of one user is delayed so much it interferes with the timeslot of a user closer to the tower. Therefore GSM will not connect at a greater distance - although you may still 'see' the signal. 40 km is borderline so I am not sure whether you are in range of a standard site or not.

In order to extend coverage in very low traffic areas we have special extended-range sites which span 105 km radius. These work by supporting fewer users and therefore allowing a bigger gap between users. The tradeoff is that GPRS only works on one timeslot (the equivalent of one user) and therefore you only get 9 kbps maximum. If the signal is very weak (this would show on your handset) you would be better off getting an antennae.

If you provide the cell id which you get by setting your 'cell broadcast' setting to channel 900 I can find out whether your are in an extended range site.

Hi Ajax and Mtnbb

You are right about the distance, at 40 km away i can not recieve a normal signal. Have to use a "Yagi" external antenna, even for voice calls.

I'm in the Northern Cape, using a roadside tower (Glen Allen). Mtn sp at Upington says i'm using a extended range tower.

So i'm screwed as far as speed is concerned? What about EDGE?

Hi MTNBB,
I am also in the Kalahari. The id of the tower that I pick up is: "Dithaba Game lodge" Will you be able to check whether this is an extended range tower? If it is not, can you give me a thumbsuck as to when EDGE might be rolled out at this tower?

Thanks for a very informative forum.

You can see if you have EDGE by the Y'ello Broadband cell broadcast which comes on in place of the location name.

The sites which were planned for the Karoo and Kalahari are all live already.

An extended range site give a theoretical max upload and download on EDGE of 59.2 kbps, down to 8 kbps in really poor conditions. If the radio signal is OK this beats telephone dial-up!

Hi everybody and MTNBB!

MTNBB, now that you guys have fixed the vpn problems I'll start bugging you on this! (fingers crossed)

Reading all the posts on this thread, am I correct in assuming the following:

1. An extended data range tower will work at a max of 9.6 kbit for GPRS or not at all, depending on distance. Max distance could be up to 105 km, depending on conditions/antennas etc.

2. For EDGE, max of 59.2 kbps, depending on distance. Max distance is what? 10km? Under ideal conditions.

3. If my cell displays: "Y'ello Broadband", I'm in range of a EDGE capable tower, but not necessarily close enough for EDGE to work.

4. Can you confirm that the "Glen Allen/Allan" tower is an extended range tower? MTN SP at Upington probably "thumbsucked" that info for me.

5. How difficult is it to relocate a tower?

(only kidding , but the closest tower to me are located very badly We'll sponsor the relocation, really.)

Thanks for the VPN and keep up the good work!