GPRS is fine for me ...

[Dolby]

GPRS is fine for me, because I'll mostly chat (which isn't data intensive and doesn't require speed). Also, it'll be neat just paying for the data downloaded from mirc instead of time.

However, how do I make my dialup use the GPRS system? I have a Samsung D500 and MMS, GPRS etc is setup on the phone. However, when I click on the 'dial up' logo on my PC and dial up, it always dials-up at 9.6kbps and uses money for time.

Someone on another forum mentioned *99***1# or *993 - but for non-techno wizards like me don't understand where to do this

Can anyone help me? Basically it seems like the phone is setup for GPRS, but the PC isn't.

Thanks

[grubsner]

DOlby

SUbstitute the *99***1# number for the number your dialup is currently set up for, When it asks to make the change permanent you click Yes and it will use that number when next you use the dialup. If you use the data call function you must be dialing like a POP number or something. Remember: on the dial up window, erase the username AND password that you have been using for the data call.

If you can't get it sorted PM me with your number and I'll phone you ;-)

[Hintry]

Grubsner, I see your location is Vanderbijlpark - can you get 3G coverage where you are? I ask because I spend most weekends on the Loch and can only get GPRS.

[fergus]

I've had a horrible time with GPRS. I'm not sure whether its my phone, the fact that I'm quite a distance from the tower or just GPRS in general but every few minutes the connection just goes dead. It doesn't just connect but nothing happens. I have to switch off the phone, switch back on and reconnect. This happens continuasly. Has anyone had any success with Vodacom GPRS?

[Harley79]

The *99 etc fields sets your PC up to dial using GPRS on the phone.

There are a couple threads on this forum about this. check back a page or two. I got it working with these same settings on a PDA in the UK on O2, so there are standard settings. You just need to have your Cellphone software installed, this will install a modem on your PC which would allow you to create a connection with your cellphone modem as the device.

If you change your existing dialin number, you would need to change the device as well if it is not currently setup to dial via your cellphone modem. Simply changing the number will not work if your device for that connection is your standard modem

[ScrnScrm]

fergus - it works great - if you are close to a base station. remember - its a TDMA, or time division based network. so the further you are away from the base station, the greater the latency, the more error correction that needs to happen, hence a lower throughput. think of it as a stop and go on a single lane road - you have to wait for a cars to pass by before you get a go and can proceed. cars at the other end will be waiting for you - they will have a stop sign while you have a "go". except in the case of TDMA - its based on time sequencing, so the stop stays active for a predetermined amount of time, then there is a period when both sides have a stop to allow sufficient time for the oncoming car to get through (avoids head on collisions), then you get you go sign for the same amount of time the other side had. obviously, the longer the road, the longer the wait. CDMA (or WCDMA as used on UMTS [3g]) networks use, to stay in conformance with the current analogy, two roads. so there are never any timing issues. but obviously, more roads are required so frequency spectrums and code hoping between them become critically important to gaurantee everyone their own road.
Hope this makes sense to you!

[grubsner]

fergus

Have you phoned 082 155? Log a compliant with them which they will then escalate to the radio engineers.

What make and model of phone you using?

I've had similar hassles in Sasolburg (with a data card though) but the radio techs fixed the problems with a few tweaks on the Base Station within a week. An external antenna for the telephone (if possible) will help the cause.

Give them a call, you might not be the only one sukkeling with GPRS in your area!

Dolby,

Any luck with your GPRS connection?

[ajax]

I've had a horrible time with GPRS. I'm not sure whether its my phone, the fact that I'm quite a distance from the tower or just GPRS in general but every few minutes the connection just goes dead. It doesn't just connect but nothing happens. I have to switch off the phone, switch back on and reconnect. This happens continuasly. Has anyone had any success with Vodacom GPRS?

Hi Fergus, to eliminate the possibility that it is your phone or pc, get a prepaid sim from MTN, they go for about R5 nowadays, load R30 airtime and activate GPRS. If GPRS works fine on MTN, then you are either too far from the Vodacom tower for a reliable connection or Vodacom has a problem on GPRS in your area.

I've got a friend using Vodacom GPRS with about 3 bars (out of 6). His connection seldomly drops, but it is slow - approx. 25-30 kbps.

[ScrnScrm]

at the risk of being shot dead on this forum - my findings are that GPRS on Vodacom is iffy at best. EDGE a disaster at best. They never standardised on base stations right up front like MTN did, so your GPRS performance has another variable in it - base station manufacturer. The whole MTN network is Ericsson. Voda use Alcatel, Ericsson and Siemens kit - so you never really know what manufacturer you are connected to, or if the base station even supports EDGE.
I totally endorse Ajax's recommendation - get a MTN simm and give it a try. What I do is this : Voda simm for 3G where its available. If no 3G, I use MTN Edge. They are both great when they are working...

[Dolby]

grubsner ... thanks for the help

I managed to get most of it working now. The problem came in with my phone (Samsung D500). It has all the correct settings, has dataline activated - and should let me connect to internet via GPRS. However, I phoned the Vodacom customer service (who confirmed all is activated and set correctly) and after 30 minutes, he said it must be the actual phone (my SIM worked with GPRS in my brother Nokia).

He consulted someone, and came back to me saying that the D500 has a little problem, and I should go to Samsung to get the latest software upgrade. Has anyone heard of this?

[fergus]

Thanks for all the tips guys. I'll definitely be trying ajax's suggestion of getting an mtn sim. What's their prepaid rates at the moment?

My phone is a Nokia 6310i. It was damaged at one point and I had to have the screen replaced so there's a possibility of a problem with the phone itself. Its also pretty old and probably has outdated software. There might also be a driver issue since I'm using the default WinXP driver, not Nokia's. I couldn't get the Nokia one to work correctly.

This isn't such an issue to me anymore since I got iburst a few days back but I'd still like to get it working if I can. I'll let you know how it goes.

ScrnScrm: do you work for one of the cell companies. You sound like a cell guru

[Diago]

I am aware that there is various software issues with the D500 as was the case with the K700i. I was forced to use GPRS again this weekend through Vodacom prepaid and found it as stable as my 3G connection even though it is slower. Since I mainly use my internet at home for MSN and Mirc it wasn't much of a bother even though for some reason I was overcharged by Vodacom and I am taking this up with them today.

[ajax]

I am aware that there is various software issues with the D500 as was the case with the K700i. I was forced to use GPRS again this weekend through Vodacom prepaid and found it as stable as my 3G connection even though it is slower. Since I mainly use my internet at home for MSN and Mirc it wasn't much of a bother even though for some reason I was overcharged by Vodacom and I am taking this up with them today.

Will you elaborate, Diago?

[Diago]

I will find the threads tonight as Vodacom was kind enough to unlock my phones *G* As much as I think their tech department is getting better and v3g is one of the best I must admit their billing department is one of the worst to deal with at times. I yet have to have some positive assitance from them without having to fight, scream and yell.