only 1Mbps on the 21Mbps dongle

Inevitability

Inevitability

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Got my speedstick last week and i've been doing regular speedtests and i always get around 1Mbps.
On the rare occasion it gets up to 2-ish.
My connection manager thing always switches between WCDMA and HSPA+, and the signal goes up and down.
Sometimes it will have full signal (on WCDMA or HSPA+) but still be the same speed.
Am i doing something wrong?

It's not like i'm out in the sticks or anything... I live about 10km west of Jhb Central

The browsing experience is also very inconsistent. Sometimes i slow to a halt.
i tried to do a remote desktop into my work PC from home yesterday, and it just wasn't feasible

In comparison, my ADSL384 was able to hold the session easily, and i did whatever i needed to

I ask again... am i doing something wrong?
 
Inevitability said:
Got my speedstick last week and i've been doing regular speedtests and i always get around 1Mbps.
On the rare occasion it gets up to 2-ish.
My connection manager thing always switches between WCDMA and HSPA+, and the signal goes up and down.
Sometimes it will have full signal (on WCDMA or HSPA+) but still be the same speed.
Am i doing something wrong?

It's not like i'm out in the sticks or anything... I live about 10km west of Jhb Central

The browsing experience is also very inconsistent. Sometimes i slow to a halt.
i tried to do a remote desktop into my work PC from home yesterday, and it just wasn't feasible

In comparison, my ADSL384 was able to hold the session easily, and i did whatever i needed to

I ask again... am i doing something wrong?
Click to expand...


Hi Inevitability!

Thank you for posting your experience with our 2gb speed stick.

You should be enjoying a broandband speed of up to 21 Mbps. Please let us know your exact location and will test the connection in your area from our side.

You may email [email protected].

Regards

Cell C

" the power is in your hands"
 
Are you in the Mayfair area and what does the coverage say.
 
Hi Inevitability!

Also try to update your settings by selecting WCDMA under the options menu on the Network settings. Remember to press the "apply" button to save the settings.
then retry.

Regards

Cell C
 
I've found that the huawei E1820 dongle is extremely sensitive about its orientation

it should be flat on its back for the best reception, not upright or on its side.

I made the initial mistake of prestikking it in an upright position on the wall, got extremely bad reception

Noticed by chance that its best reception is when it's flat on its back.

So now you know.
 
I have exactly the same problem. Appalling speeds, and constant disconnecting issues. I can't even play a full game of DotA. I live about 300m from Northgate shopping centre. The whole reason I got this was because Telkom said they cannot provide me with an ADSL line due to Infrastructure problems.

Sigh.
 
Jer1cho said:
I have exactly the same problem. Appalling speeds, and constant disconnecting issues. I can't even play a full game of DotA. I live about 300m from Northgate shopping centre. The whole reason I got this was because Telkom said they cannot provide me with an ADSL line due to Infrastructure problems.

Sigh.
Click to expand...


Hi Jer1cho

Please PM me your contact details at [email protected], will be intouch.

Regards

Cell C
 
I also live about 500m from Northgate Mall in Northwold. Coverage in my area is blood red. Numerous speed tests on my 60gig stick only gave an average of 1.5Mbps with once hitting 2Mbps. Surfing is frustrating with highs and lows with long lows. Have escalated with Cell C but seeing as I'm not the only one who experienced this problem and its clearly not being resolved I am seriously considering returning it. My ADSL 512kbps was not fast but always consistent. Even had Vodacom 7.2Mbps performing better than this in Northwold. All bark and no bite Cell C.
 
It looks like the surrounding areas from Northgate is a big problem regarding coverage. I stay in Kyasands and only getting about 1.2Mbps. They said that in March about they will add more base stations in the Kyasands area. By the way, I was at Cell C in northgate Shopping Centre, with my dongle and sim card, they tested and got 10Mbps speed! That's lekker fast!

Maybe Mr. Cell C can confirm this regarding base stations going up in JHB?
 
The closest tower to Randburg, Nortriding, is in Foreways.
 
I am also struggling a bit, about 1.2km from northgate, on witkoppen drive, when I placed the router upstairs, i got peaks of about 5Mbps, but it is now down to 2-3Mbps again (local traffic). When I use the modem downstairs, no more than 1.5Mbps when I am lucky. Cell C technicians assured me that they will assess the area properly in January, as all the 'tower techies' are not from SA (China I suppose), they are all 'with their families for the holidays' (AFAIK they do not really celebrate christmas in China).

Anyways, I really hope they get things right soon!!! Not a happy camper at the moment...
 
stede said:
The closest tower to Randburg, Nortriding, is in Foreways.
Click to expand...

According to the guys at the Cell C shop in Northgate, there is a tower on Northgate's roof. They claim to get 21Mbps+++ in the shop...
 
renierp said:
According to the guys at the Cell C shop in Northgate, there is a tower on Northgate's roof. They claim to get 21Mbps+++ in the shop...
Click to expand...

Bl#ks@m, thats fast! Well I was there at Cell C with my modem and only got 10Mbps. They did say they are getting up to 20Mbps!
Regarding the closet tower, I don't know. I'm going to phone Cell C care. I'm staying in Kyasands. Currently I'm getting 2 to 3Mbps.
 
stede said:
Bl#ks@m, thats fast! Well I was there at Cell C with my modem and only got 10Mbps. They did say they are getting up to 20Mbps!
Regarding the closet tower, I don't know. I'm going to phone Cell C care. I'm staying in Kyasands. Currently I'm getting 2 to 3Mbps.
Click to expand...

That is insanely fast! Could also be a sales gimmick, trying to sell more modems... VERY FEW providers are actually able to provide the advertised throughput.

I also get about 3-4Mbps on average, not too bad I guess, but it aint great!
 
I live in Rondebosch and one minute my signal says 99% and without moving my laptop it drops to close on zero. It used to always switch back to edge after a few min and never go back to HSPA until I removed it from the computer and reconnect it again. Then the same story occurs and it switches back to edge after a few min. I tried the new software that was recommended in another thread which allows me to lock it on WCDMA and that has helped somewhat but the connection still dies after a while and there are periods where I get no throughput.

I have the 7.2mb modem and get peak speeds of about 1mbit and and average of 300kbits or below. Was wondering if this is normal? Rondebosch should be well covered according to the coverage map and cell c's blurb on the website about their network working better in buildings does not seem to be true.
 
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