Help a technophobe!

3

3gtothemax

New Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2007
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
Please forgive me,

I am woefully technically challenged! I have PM'd v3g and i'm sure he's going to help me out. I just am so frustrated that i wanted to post something to see if anyone can help me.

The situation:

I bought a laptop along with a E220 modem and prepaid sim card from Makro in Woodmead, Joburg. I live in The Crest in Sunninghill, on Navaisha Road. I am on the ground floor and i can only connect to 2G (GPRS). I don't know much about it but i didn't pay R2000 for the modem to connect at dial up speeds - from what i can gather from the dashboard anything from 0kbps to like 17kbps. Doesn't matter where in my flat i put the laptop i can't get 3G.

I contacted the Vodacom Customer Care line who told me that the 3G coverage ended literally 50 meters over the road, cut out my complex and started again about 100 meters down the road. Is this even possible? How can the coverage be so specific as to cut out one complex (on the coverage map we are a little blank square in a sea of red!!!

What can i do to connect to 3G?

Any help would be appreciated. (especially if you live in the Crest and have access to 3G - that might mean there's something wrong with my modem?)
 
Vodacom's 3G|HSDPA coverage map would have been a good place to start before buying the E220 modem, I shall say no more about that.

As a matter of interest, have you tested the E220 with your notebook, outdoors, and what profile setting are you using, e.g. 3GPreferred? - I suggest taking your E220 and notebook outdoors, use the 3GOnly profile setting, and see if you are able to get any signal whatsoever - if not, then you can always consider an MTN SIM card if MTN provides HSDPA coverage in your area, failing that I suggest asking Makro for a refund...
 
I'd do the outdoor coverage test first and if it works, the next step would be an external antenna.

The E220 does not come with a socket for an antenna, but we seen positive posts on using one of the RF-coupled systems from Poynting.

The fact that the map shows a hole in the coverage, together with your confirmation that there indeed is a hole around your property, indicates that a known element is causing the lack of coverage, probably something geographic, a hill, etc.

In a case like this, the best short-term solution is an external antenna. The permanent fix would be more 3G towers in the area, but if these aren't planned yet, might be a while off. (finding sites is the biggest challenge).

Will chat to the local guys and let you know.
 
Thanks IC,

I admit i should have checked the coverage map before buying the modem, i just wasn't aware that the coverage could be so specific. I know other people in the Sunninghill area and they have 3G coverage so just assumed i would be able to get it - my bad. But if you look at the coverage map my complex is literally a square in the middle of the coverage - check out the link:

Apologies i was going to include the link but couldn't be bothered with the 23 minutes associated with zooming in on my connection speed! Will put it up tomorrow at work.

Does anyone know how this can happen? Surely if there is coverage all around us it not an issue of distance from a tower. Is it because maybe there are less people in my complex so they cut us out so that there are less users on the tower? I have tried using the notebook outside on the veranda and i think i can even see the tower from my garden but no luck. Where can i find the profile settings - can't find it on the VMC Lite window.

Is it a case of Vodacom simply including us in the coverage or will they eventually put up another tower. Oddly i checked the coverage map and my folks house should not have 3G coverage yet we can connect to 3G there?!?! I know the map isn't that accurate but their house is in the middle of a large black zone! Going to get some answers from Vodaworld on Saturday aswell.

So am i correct in thinking that my Vodafone branded E220 would be compatible with an MTN SIM Card? If they have coverage in my area i wouldn't be totally out of pocket with the modem?
 
Thanks v3g. Look forward to hopefully sorting it out. Don't want to move to MTN if i can help it.
 
3G Coverage I have noticed is very prone to any type of interference. I was looking at a place in Welgemoed Cape Town the other day. The road right outside the house has 80% 3G Signal, walk inside the house, nothing. No Network Coverage. Another house in the same complex, walk up the stairs, you get 3 or so bars of signal, go downstairs (one flight of stairs), niks again.
 
MrG said:
3G Coverage I have noticed is very prone to any type of interference. I was looking at a place in Welgemoed Cape Town the other day. The road right outside the house has 80% 3G Signal, walk inside the house, nothing. No Network Coverage. Another house in the same complex, walk up the stairs, you get 3 or so bars of signal, go downstairs (one flight of stairs), niks again.
Click to expand...

Just the physics around Radio Frequency transmission.
 
Wireless data transmissions are simplistically electro-magnetic radiation [radio] signals, the behaviour of which is scientifically predictable - including the interference of a structure that demarcates an indoors area from an outdoors area.
 
ic said:
Wireless data transmissions are simplistically electro-magnetic radiation [radio] signals, the behaviour of which is scientifically predictable - including the interference of a structure that demarcates an indoors area from an outdoors area.
Click to expand...

Hey, people are going to think we discuss posts before posting!! :)
 
3gtothemax said:
I bought a laptop along with a E220 modem and prepaid sim card from Makro in Woodmead, Joburg. I live in The Crest in Sunninghill, on Navaisha Road. I am on the ground floor and i can only connect to 2G (GPRS). I don't know much about it but i didn't pay R2000 for the modem to connect at dial up speeds - from what i can gather from the dashboard anything from 0kbps to like 17kbps. Doesn't matter where in my flat i put the laptop i can't get 3G.
Click to expand...

Just btw, since you mentioned the complex and all...my sister lives in the EXACT same place ..she also gets REALLY bad to ZERO 3G reception on Vodacom. She's on a higher floor though, but i think that area just plainly got bad coverage or it's those buildings [i saw some big building going up there next to Acer and that Planet Fitness coming up further down the road] .....

Only reason why i blame the buildings is that i can STILL not fathom that reception can be so bad in that area...i mean we're talking Sandton here...PWC HQ sits like 500m from there [thus we're talking huge businesses too] ....you'd think reception would get worse further from the center....guess not ;) Maybe it's the "eye of the storm" in that spot...


3gtothemax said:
So am i correct in thinking that my Vodafone branded E220 would be compatible with an MTN SIM Card? If they have coverage in my area i wouldn't be totally out of pocket with the modem?
Click to expand...

Yes, MTN will work without having to even change your settings/software. Just get a prepaid sim and test. I remember getting 3G on MTN right there in the complex [i am still teasing my sister about it, as she signed a vodacom contract so have to use it ] . But overall i've found both MTN/Vodacom reception a bit dodgy there.
 
Last edited:
vodacom3g said:
Hey, people are going to think we discuss posts before posting!! :)
Click to expand...
LOL :).

What always surprises me, is how most people seem to think that wireless must be infinitely pervasive and unaffected by the environment of an area through which it passes. Just bcos it's wireless doesn't mean that the laws of physics [as we humans currently understand them] get thrown out the nearest window.
 
ic said:
LOL :).

What always surprises me, is how most people seem to think that wireless must be infinitely pervasive and unaffected by the environment of an area through which it passes. Just bcos it's wireless doesn't mean that the laws of physics [as we humans currently understand them] get thrown out the nearest window.
Click to expand...

It's cool to see people come here and ask for info and advise (and to see all the great answers). What often floors me is when people are these self-proclaimed experts but quickly show a complete lack of understanding of first principles of the topic under discussion.

For example, someone told me today they've developed technology to transmit 802.11 over 50 miles using standard specs (i.e. no power amps!)....and in non-LOS......:rolleyes:

The laws of physics were established a very long time ago, it's not going to change any time soon....except if the big crunch is imminent. And we'll probably see Telkom offer free broadband before that's going to happen....:rolleyes:
 
vodacom3g said:
It's cool to see people come here and ask for info and advise (and to see all the great answers). What often floors me is when people are these self-proclaimed experts but quickly show a complete lack of understanding of first principles of the topic under discussion.

For example, someone told me today they've developed technology to transmit 802.11 over 50 miles using standard specs (i.e. no power amps!)....and in non-LOS......:rolleyes:

The laws of physics were established a very long time ago, it's not going to change any time soon....except if the big crunch is imminent. And we'll probably see Telkom offer free broadband before that's going to happen....:rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Hmmm I suspect it's more likely that the laws of physics will change before Telkodemonopolies offers affordable and true broadband...

IMO the first step with any signal issue, is to take the notebook & modem outdoors and monitor signal strength as well as data throughput - an outdoors test should give an indication as to whether getting an external antenna for indoors use, is remotely worth considering.

However, based on what 3gtothemax and diabolus have posted, as well as what the coverage map is telling 3gtothemax about the area, and that 3gtothemax is at ground level, it sounds like an external antenna might not help much.

Obviously there must be a very specific reason for the coverage black hole - unlikely to be a lack of base-stations in the area, so an obstructive building like diabolus suggested sounds like the most likely culprit...
 
ic said:
Hmmm I suspect it's more likely that the laws of physics will change before Telkodemonopolies offers affordable and true broadband...

IMO the first step with any signal issue, is to take the notebook & modem outdoors and monitor signal strength as well as data throughput - an outdoors test should give an indication as to whether getting an external antenna for indoors use, is remotely worth considering.

However, based on what 3gtothemax and diabolus have posted, as well as what the coverage map is telling 3gtothemax about the area, and that 3gtothemax is at ground level, it sounds like an external antenna might not help much.

Obviously there must be a very specific reason for the coverage black hole - unlikely to be a lack of base-stations in the area, so an obstructive building like diabolus suggested sounds like the most likely culprit...
Click to expand...

I've asked the regionmal guys why there is a hole there. We'll see what they have to say.
 
Thanks for all the feedback, a lot to consider. It is weird that my complex is in a black zone, considering there are a couple of large buildings around but nothing enormous. Even give that my flat is the last before the road that is going to eventually push through to Fourways, over my wall i can see the other side of Sunninghill and can actually see the tower (at least i think it is!).

Will pilgrimage to Vodaworld this weekend to see if there's anything to be done, failing that i might go with MTN - poor 3G signal is a damn sight better than GPRS.

Thanks again
 
Here's a thought, i am on pre-paid thus not locked into a contract. Could i go and get an MNT Sim Card and use that in my complex and where ever else MTN has coverage and if i go to an area without coverage i could use my Vodacom Sim. Would this work? There wouldn't be any unlocking issues?
 
ic said:
LOL :).

What always surprises me, is how most people seem to think that wireless must be infinitely pervasive and unaffected by the environment of an area through which it passes. Just bcos it's wireless doesn't mean that the laws of physics [as we humans currently understand them] get thrown out the nearest window.
Click to expand...

I think that's partly the hype - go wireless! Get 3G and connect anywhere! - all that sort of thing. Non-tech-savvy people don't stop to think, and the marketing doesn't hint at any issues.
 
Cathryn said:
I think that's partly the hype - go wireless! Get 3G and connect anywhere! - all that sort of thing. Non-tech-savvy people don't stop to think, and the marketing doesn't hint at any issues.
Click to expand...

VERY TRUE!...The average user doesn't think about other things that affect wireless connection. They just want it to work.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X