3G coverage

You can appreciate that the map was not generated by people driving around the country measuring actual signal strenght. This way we would have had to wait for a long time to get a map out.

The map is based on computer simulations done by the radio planning department. There'll be some %error on the mapped data. Not to sure what it is but I'll see if I can get a number.

When the first postings about the map was made, I requested they relook at the accuracy and I understand this is happening.

Will get an update again.
 
celeborn, unfortunatelly for you in your area at this particular point in time your signal sucks. I think the "mounting aerial on roof" saga you may just be getting confused with the iBust forum. Correct me if I am wrong but besides your comment I have not seen anyone on this 3G forum talking about mounting aerials on roof's, unless they perhaps in your similar area.

Personally, for me and alot of other people, 3G is an always on solution, and is very mobile. Vodacom are rolling out +-100 bases a month this year so coverage will increase rapidly and with this extension of coverage, I challenge you to find a wirless operator with similar or more extensive coverage in the market today.

It seems to me like Vodacom's rollout as been mostly in the Gauteng region as Durban's coverage also SUCKS! (I am a Durban boy so it hurts :) ) Look at comments re: Sentech and iBust, if you had 3G you would still be better off, at least you are guaranteed that things will work as soon as they roll out the bases in your area. iBust have been promising since November '04 and still have not won. 3G is the newest player in this market, and has been FAR FAR FAR more successful than any other ever before EVER!

But, at the end of the day, you are free to take your negativity and go and play with iBust, we, here at the 3G forum, will see you crawl back in 1.5 months time

Thats my two cents for today... and no I do not work for Vodacom :)
 
Harley79 said:
Personally, for me and alot of other people, 3G is an always on solution, and is very mobile. Vodacom are rolling out +-100 bases a month this year so coverage will increase rapidly and with this extension of coverage, I challenge you to find a wirless operator with similar or more extensive coverage in the market today.
Click to expand...

Main thing about Vodacom: If 3G is not available, you have GPRS to fall back to. It is not a case of everything or nothing.

As to getting your 3G antenna on your roof: Vodacom is doing proper antenna jobs on their base stations. I can't get a consistant signal for voice at home because I'm to high on the hill. Walking 20 m down the hill and I have a reliable signal.
 
ic said:
:cool: thanks again v3g :).

Someone I know is considering Vodacom 3G as a mobile connection solution in & around Sandton, I had a look at the coverage maps for the area where coverage is required the most, it was dark green, is there an easy way of testing the signal before signing a contract?
Click to expand...

Maybe try and borrow a 3G phone, drive around and monitor its signal?
 
I'm busy putting a process in place that will allow us to channel these requests directly to the radio planners for the relevant region. They're the best people to respond to coverage questions. Should be in place soon.

The new map is nearly ready. Had a long chat to the Head of Radio Planning and there are a few factors that influenced the map's accuracy. Most of these parameters are now know and will reflect correctly on the new map.

I believe a new front-end for the map is also on it's way.
 
Although most people use 3G for it's mobility, there is a substantial number of people who needs access at home in a more fixed type of installation. Especially where no other broadband capabilities exist. The request for the PCI adaptors shows this, for example.

In such an environment a fixed antenna can actually work better because you're always fixed in relation to the tower. A Yagi antena with directional gain will make more sense. Vodacom is busy testing some of these and, as always, as soon as any info becomes available, the forum will hear about it.

Ajax, the suggestion to drive around with a mobile handset is actually a great idea. Maybe you can convince the Vodashop where you intend to buy, to drive out with you using their laptop / phone. After all, they want your money....
 
Harley79 said:
Correct me if I am wrong but besides your comment I have not seen anyone on this 3G forum talking about mounting aerials on roof's, unless they perhaps in your similar area.
Click to expand...

It was mentioned on the 3G forum by someone in Cape Town can't seem to find it now - after they moved house they had no signal anymore.
 
WRT the bluetooth chipsets mentioned by ic in post #17 of this thread...I/m using a Nokia 6600 and a bluetooth dongle I purchased from Matrix warehouse for R199. I use the USB dongle on both my Desktop and Laptop and found data throughput in both directions acceptable. The highest maximum data download speed I measured up to know is 93 kbps on GPRS but avg is around 45 kbps as measured with DU Meter graph. The dongle is manufatured by Broadcom and drivers by WidComm, no compatability problems thus far...

Since last week Wednesday the GPRS speed in the Vaal Triangle has increased for some reason?! On Tuesday last week, I could not get decent speeds after 8 pm but lately the GPRS speeds is faster than the Telkom dailup I'm no longer using. I purchased the R150 GPRS/3G bundle and at R1 /MB I'm smiling :-)

Any obvious reasons for the GPRS speed increase vodacom3g?
 
The GPRS network is busy being upgraded (both new coding schemes as well as back-end systems) and you might be in one of those areas already done.

grubsner, what kind of throughputs are you seeing?

ic, without checking, I assume the bundle price is R1/Mb on that specific bundle. Out of bundle is R2/Mb.
 
New coding schemes? EDGE by any chance ..... or is that a secret ;) ?
 
No, (not yet, in any case) it's coding scheme 3 & 4 for GPRS.

As stated before, the limited availability of EDGE devices is a big concern.

Obviously the 3G devices are also limited at the moment, but we always need to consider what the handset vendors are doing. And currently they're all focusing on 3G, so we need to ask: Is there long term viability in EDGE?
 
They way I see it is edge = evolution, 3g = revolution.

I think the EDGE strat for MTN is really stalling for time until they launch 3G, since they have to go that way eventually.
 
EDGE is a viable technology, as you said, an evolution to GPRS.

However, market forces are killing it, including the fact that the operators (especially in Europe) paid obscene amounts for their 3G licenses. They need to recover these costs and thus are putting huge pressure on the vendors to focus on 3G and not on EDGE.

What does this mean for SA and the rest of the world? There's little future in EDGE as everyone will be going 3G.
 
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