Coverage in Durbanville

[greg_SA]

Hi,

Is anyone using Cell C 3G in Durbanville? I only seem to get EDGE Have try re-registering the network as suggested in the other thread about EDGE, but no luck.

When the dashboard show WCDMA, it should 0% signal... So it looks like my specific area doesn't have cover? The coverage map doesn't allow you to zoom in enough to see enough detail, but if I search for my street, it is shown in the darkened area, but close to the edge.

Cheers,
Greg

[Zaffer]

Hi Greg

I'm in Uitzight which is partly in Durbanville. My 3G now works . I could also not get a 3G link normally and had to connect the 3G modem to the old TV antenae on the roof of the house (yes, that thing TV's used before the dish). I now get a great connection: 4-5.5mbits download and about 1mbits upload with a low latency.

hope this helps

[Jola]

Hi Greg

I'm in Uitzight which is partly in Durbanville. My 3G now works . I could also not get a 3G link normally and had to connect the 3G modem to the old TV antenae on the roof of the house (yes, that thing TV's used before the dish). I now get a great connection: 4-5.5mbits download and about 1mbits upload with a low latency.

hope this helps
Fredl

Which modem have you got, and how did you connect it ?

[greg_SA]

Hi,

Yes, I'd also be interested in how you connected it to you TV antenna?

I see that for WCDMA, my RSSI (signal strength) is -103dBm, which is very low. For EDGE, it is -63dBm. I'm going to try a USB extension into the roof or next to the window.

Cheers
Greg

[Zaffer]

Hi

I'll cut and paste a comment I made someware else. Hope this helps:

I went from no connection (only EDGE) to a stable 5mb/s 3G link.

First, you need to have at least some 3G reception. This in my case was always close to a window. The blue light (green=EDGE / Blue = 3G) on my E1820 use to flick once or twice and sometimes I even got a 3G connection for a minute or two but it always changed to EDGE after a while. The 3G (when I got it) gave me about 1-2mb/s download speed. Not good.

Step 1:
I purchased an usb extension. This helped a bit because your laptop’s communication interferes with the modem (if the signal is weak like in my case). I use the usb extention to get my modem 1-2m away from the laptop.

Step 2:
I then connected the CellC modem to the old TV antennae on the roof of the house (yes, that old TV's antennae that was replaced by a dish).
It was very easy. I purchased one of the small antennas mentioned above by 1geoff99. The small external antenna did not provide a great improvement but did help a little (or so it appeared). I then got the idea from someone to cut the cut the wire of the small antenna and use it to link the 3G modem to my old antennae on the roof. I’m not technical at all but this is simple since you connect only two wires.

The effect is great. I have more than a 100% improvement on performance and my 3G never drops which happened often previously. I now get a great stable connection with an average download of about 5mb/s .

My end product: an antennae on the roof that is connected to a CellC modem that is in a usb extension that plugs into a Sitecom 3G ready router (WL326) purchased from Incredible Connection. So my house has wireless internet.

http://www.speedtest.net/result/992053675.png
Does this help?

[Zaffer]

Some more info that might help:

My average link before I connected the TV antennae:
edge link
http://www.speedtest.net/result/988603612.png

HSPA
http://www.speedtest.net/result/988673785.png

My average link link after I connected the TV antennae:
HSPA
http://www.speedtest.net/result/992537730.png

enjoy