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MyDraadloos
Expert Member
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- May 6, 2004
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Could work, but the netstats utility shows all tcp connections, exactly what I need, must just the bloody license....
I suspect it the M$ mail back-end doing this and need to get to it via the internet apn.
Does CE have the same send and receive settings as normal Outlook ?
For pop3 / imap accounts, pretty much. But if you sync to an Outlook Server, it uses push technology, on Mobile 5 at least.
pre-g-user
Active Member
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- Apr 5, 2006
- Messages
- 61
That is VERY interesting !!!! When i pointed out to Vodacom employees that their Dashboard software (now in version 6) is horribly innacurate they said they know about it (duh) but that it could never be trusted.
They then went on to say "The Vodacom4me web site is the ONLY accurate reflection of your usage" they proceeded to sms me my login details for the Vodacom4me web site (relating to my data card) and I was very clearly instructed ONLY to check my usage stats "accurately" on that web site.
How the FFFFFFF
can they now conjure up their own internal billing which obliterates all others. WWWhooooaaa dude I would get a lawyer onto their asses for that and DEFINITELY they HAVE to furnish you with PROOF under the Promotion of Access to Information Act and they may only charge you a nominal fee for printouts !!!!
I will certainly be keeping a much stricter eye on my usage and keeping my own "court admissable" traffic monitoring logs
Surely must be enough incorrectly billed people here on the forum for a class action (or something of that nature) against Voda????
pre-g-user
Active Member
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2006
- Messages
- 61
mmmmmm .... just tried to check my own usage tonight and I get:
We are currently experiencing problems accessing your account information.
Please try again later.
We are currently experiencing problems accessing your account information.
Please try again later.
Yes that is a constant result with anything on vodacom.co.za - I cant even get my mms settings sent to me anymore. The website doesnt work (they dont come through) and *111# gives the error you mention too. Painful... guess you have to phone them for everything
"That is VERY interesting !!!! When i pointed out to Vodacom employees that their Dashboard software (now in version 6) is horribly innacurate they said they know about it (duh) but that it could never be trusted.
They then went on to say "The Vodacom4me web site is the ONLY accurate reflection of your usage" they proceeded to sms me my login details for the Vodacom4me web site (relating to my data card) and I was very clearly instructed ONLY to check my usage stats "accurately" on that web site."
With regards to the above statement, when I tried to force Vodacom to bill me for the usage based on the Vodacom4me website, they quickly came out with the legal mumbo jumbo, telling me that by using the website, I had agreed to be bound by their terms of use, which indemnifies them in the case of incorrect billing / usage.
So another one of those - "we've got you by the balls, and we're going to squeeze you until you cry, and then squeeze some more".
They then went on to say "The Vodacom4me web site is the ONLY accurate reflection of your usage" they proceeded to sms me my login details for the Vodacom4me web site (relating to my data card) and I was very clearly instructed ONLY to check my usage stats "accurately" on that web site."
With regards to the above statement, when I tried to force Vodacom to bill me for the usage based on the Vodacom4me website, they quickly came out with the legal mumbo jumbo, telling me that by using the website, I had agreed to be bound by their terms of use, which indemnifies them in the case of incorrect billing / usage.
So another one of those - "we've got you by the balls, and we're going to squeeze you until you cry, and then squeeze some more".
pre-g-user
Active Member
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2006
- Messages
- 61
A comparison between the itemised report from Vodacom4me and the bytes sent/received reported by pppd (for 31 July to 12 August) correlates to 99.94% - I think that is accurate enough. There probably are some handshake bytes not counted somewhere.
Billing Accuracy
Hi have just checked the balances/usage billing on vodacom4me now, for the first time, didn't even know it was possible to check this.
I use the MTN HSDPA card, with VC prepaid sim (for VC HSDPA, if u call 350-500kbps 'high speed'). I normally use it until all the munny runs out, and the card disconnects...., and add credit again when I wanna use it.... so no screwing me over with billing surprises on next month's bill. But of course, there's still a chance of incorrect charges, and more credit deducted from the prepaid account than should be.
The usage I see 'seems' correct, looking at the few ones I remember seeing on the (MTN card) dashboard, when disconnecting.
But without checking properly, I can't be sure. And there was that funny feeling the other day, when the card disconnected, and checking the usage, I could have sworn there was enough prepaid credit to do a few more megs.........
I will start checking properly from now on.
I don't know what the VC card software is like though.
But, looking at the itemised usage. There are 2 different descriptions: GPRS, and "Data usage".... now, I only use the card for connecting to the internet, no voice or anything else.
So, wtf, is the difference between GPRS and "Data usage"... I only went up to matric and few years of technikon, no fancy degree, so to me, that means same thing... isn't GPRS usage also data usage? How many kinds of data usages are there?
Hi have just checked the balances/usage billing on vodacom4me now, for the first time, didn't even know it was possible to check this.
I use the MTN HSDPA card, with VC prepaid sim (for VC HSDPA, if u call 350-500kbps 'high speed'). I normally use it until all the munny runs out, and the card disconnects...., and add credit again when I wanna use it.... so no screwing me over with billing surprises on next month's bill. But of course, there's still a chance of incorrect charges, and more credit deducted from the prepaid account than should be.
The usage I see 'seems' correct, looking at the few ones I remember seeing on the (MTN card) dashboard, when disconnecting.
But without checking properly, I can't be sure. And there was that funny feeling the other day, when the card disconnected, and checking the usage, I could have sworn there was enough prepaid credit to do a few more megs.........
I will start checking properly from now on.
I don't know what the VC card software is like though.
But, looking at the itemised usage. There are 2 different descriptions: GPRS, and "Data usage".... now, I only use the card for connecting to the internet, no voice or anything else.
So, wtf, is the difference between GPRS and "Data usage"... I only went up to matric and few years of technikon, no fancy degree, so to me, that means same thing... isn't GPRS usage also data usage? How many kinds of data usages are there?
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I have been listening to the recorded messg now while dialling 082-155 to get an operator.... they say if u have a data bundle, you will get 2 free sms's.
1 to let u know that your data bundle is almost depleted, and 1 to notify that the bundle is now fin.
u guys getting the sms's?
so, if u haven't rec the sms yet u know you r still in bundle, so they should not be chrging u for out of bundle..... that is, assuming the system worx.
1 to let u know that your data bundle is almost depleted, and 1 to notify that the bundle is now fin.
u guys getting the sms's?
so, if u haven't rec the sms yet u know you r still in bundle, so they should not be chrging u for out of bundle..... that is, assuming the system worx.
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MyDraadloos
Expert Member
- Joined
- May 6, 2004
- Messages
- 3,257
My question for Vodacom billing this morning will be very simple.
I would like to see the audited process detailing how the billing is assembled.
Also want to know at which part in the network the data usage is being measured ; because it certainly is not reaching me.
If they are using a specific tool to measure data usage then I want access to the same tool. No, logging into Vodacom4Me does not count.
I would like to see the audited process detailing how the billing is assembled.
Also want to know at which part in the network the data usage is being measured ; because it certainly is not reaching me.
If they are using a specific tool to measure data usage then I want access to the same tool. No, logging into Vodacom4Me does not count.
last night I decided to check the billing on V4me...
Here's what I could see :
My prepaid a/c was R0
So I add a R29 voucher.
started up my (MTN) hsdpa card.
used it for +-1 hour (01:01:38)
do screen dumps of the card's dashboard usage indicator, and WindowsXP dial up network properties, (where it shows u'r connection, sent & received)
According to MTN card, I sent 597Kb, and received 3 531Kb, so that's 4139Kb, so should cost R 8.28 (R2/Mb)
according to WinXP, I sent 601.763 bytes, and received 3 536 672 bytes, that's 4 138.435Kb, so the cost should be R 8.28 (R2/Mb)
When I checked my Vodacom4me, account balance : R18.22
So Vodacom has deducted R 10.78 for this usage.
So where did the difference of R 2.50 go to????
Even if VC charges for full Mbs and not portion of Mb that should be 5Mb=R10...
So how is it charged?
If this is the variance on <5Mb, just think about the possibilities with 500Mbs, and more....
Here's what I could see :
My prepaid a/c was R0
So I add a R29 voucher.
started up my (MTN) hsdpa card.
used it for +-1 hour (01:01:38)
do screen dumps of the card's dashboard usage indicator, and WindowsXP dial up network properties, (where it shows u'r connection, sent & received)
According to MTN card, I sent 597Kb, and received 3 531Kb, so that's 4139Kb, so should cost R 8.28 (R2/Mb)
according to WinXP, I sent 601.763 bytes, and received 3 536 672 bytes, that's 4 138.435Kb, so the cost should be R 8.28 (R2/Mb)
When I checked my Vodacom4me, account balance : R18.22
So Vodacom has deducted R 10.78 for this usage.
So where did the difference of R 2.50 go to????
Even if VC charges for full Mbs and not portion of Mb that should be 5Mb=R10...
So how is it charged?
If this is the variance on <5Mb, just think about the possibilities with 500Mbs, and more....
last night I decided to check the billing on V4me...
Here's what I could see :
My prepaid a/c was R0
So I add a R29 voucher.
started up my (MTN) hsdpa card.
used it for +-1 hour (01:01:38)
do screen dumps of the card's dashboard usage indicator, and WindowsXP dial up network properties, (where it shows u'r connection, sent & received)
According to MTN card, I sent 597Kb, and received 3 531Kb, so that's 4139Kb, so should cost R 8.28 (R2/Mb)
according to WinXP, I sent 601.763 bytes, and received 3 536 672 bytes, that's 4 138.435Kb, so the cost should be R 8.28 (R2/Mb)
When I checked my Vodacom4me, account balance : R18.22
So Vodacom has deducted R 10.78 for this usage.
So where did the difference of R 2.50 go to????
Even if VC charges for full Mbs and not portion of Mb that should be 5Mb=R10...
So how is it charged?
If this is the variance on <5Mb, just think about the possibilities with 500Mbs, and more....
CeeBee, why don't you mail me the whole billing breakdown you did with all the details and I'll forward it for comment?
sure, will mail thru.
I don't think anybody expects a prepaid system to be 100% correct.
But it will be interesting to understand how the billing is done.
If I get a contract or data bundle and R50 worth of data "disappears" over a month I would sure like to understand why.
This here laptop is less than 2 weeks old, with quite strict security on, so no evidence of viruses (yet), and still, any virus induced data transfers should show up on the bytes used?
At least if us normal users understand how the billing is done, you guys will get less gripes about billing complaints
If there are legitimate variances between our systems and Vodacom's system, we can understand why, and try to accomodate this in our planning/costing....
I don't think anybody expects a prepaid system to be 100% correct.
But it will be interesting to understand how the billing is done.
If I get a contract or data bundle and R50 worth of data "disappears" over a month I would sure like to understand why.
This here laptop is less than 2 weeks old, with quite strict security on, so no evidence of viruses (yet), and still, any virus induced data transfers should show up on the bytes used?
At least if us normal users understand how the billing is done, you guys will get less gripes about billing complaints
If there are legitimate variances between our systems and Vodacom's system, we can understand why, and try to accomodate this in our planning/costing....
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V3G,
This is very interesting!
Later last night I connected with the VC sim again.
But just now, when I checked Vodacom4me again, I see that my current balance, is R19.85! (u saw my screendump showing bal R18.22)
And this includes the later connection's charges.
Now in the itemised statement area, I see that the connection refered to above, 4.2Mb, was billed at R8.07, being 4 221 642 in volume (bytes I assume).
Now that's more like it! But it is still odd, if it is seen as 4.222Mb why not charged at R8.44? I don't wanna lose munny, but I also don't wanna win... I just want the system to charge correctly, so I can feel confident that it is reliable, and doesn't need checking.
My public appologies to VC for my negative feelings about the charges!
But still, why the changes now? That's what I'm saying, about understanding the system...
There still seems to be bit of a variance between usage on the cards software, WinXp, and V4Me, but not big though.
Oh yes, and talking about vodacom4me transaction list... what is the difference between GPRS and Data usage? Why the need for two different descriptions, means the same to me?
This is very interesting!
Later last night I connected with the VC sim again.
But just now, when I checked Vodacom4me again, I see that my current balance, is R19.85! (u saw my screendump showing bal R18.22)
And this includes the later connection's charges.
Now in the itemised statement area, I see that the connection refered to above, 4.2Mb, was billed at R8.07, being 4 221 642 in volume (bytes I assume).
Now that's more like it! But it is still odd, if it is seen as 4.222Mb why not charged at R8.44? I don't wanna lose munny, but I also don't wanna win... I just want the system to charge correctly, so I can feel confident that it is reliable, and doesn't need checking.
My public appologies to VC for my negative feelings about the charges!
But still, why the changes now? That's what I'm saying, about understanding the system...
There still seems to be bit of a variance between usage on the cards software, WinXp, and V4Me, but not big though.
Oh yes, and talking about vodacom4me transaction list... what is the difference between GPRS and Data usage? Why the need for two different descriptions, means the same to me?
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Arzy
Honorary Master
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 29,019
Just a silly question, not sure if it pertains or how it is calculated, but when I signed up with Cell C for EDGE I was informed that rounding of data sent and received would take place as in 1kb would be rounded up to 5kb so as to make the billing and usage calculation easier blah blah blah. What I'm wondering is if VC isn't applying somewhat of the same principle and if so, when are they applying this rounding? Per session? per file? or per actual byte?
3G billing accuracy continued
I've been checking my billing logs on my invoice and comparing them to the billing logs on the Vodacom4me website.
Although the usage logs are the same (at least the ones I've checked so far), the totals don't seem to correspond with each other.
I will be able to confirm this as soon as I complete this task (hopefully this coming week still)
I've been checking my billing logs on my invoice and comparing them to the billing logs on the Vodacom4me website.
Although the usage logs are the same (at least the ones I've checked so far), the totals don't seem to correspond with each other.
I will be able to confirm this as soon as I complete this task (hopefully this coming week still)