3G/Novatell card crashing my laptop

[LazyLion]

OK... first it was not being able to sign into MSN. Then I would get a datafreeze and have to reboot. Now the 3G card is crashing the entire system.

after a few minutes of online activity it just causes a complete system halt. Blue Screen of death and system reboot.

Will it help if I do a firmware or driver or software upgrade? How do I know where to start?

TIA!

 

[vodacom3g]

OK... first it was not being able to sign into MSN. Then I would get a datafreeze and have to reboot. Now the 3G card is crashing the entire system.

after a few minutes of online activity it just causes a complete system halt. Blue Screen of death and system reboot.

Will it help if I do a firmware or driver or software upgrade? How do I know where to start?

TIA!

Upgrade everything that's relevant as a first step.

1) Laptop BIOS
2) Windows updates
3) Card firmware - check for latest on vodacom.co.za
4) Use latest dash - ditto above.

If above does not help, then we need to start with a more detailed debugging process.

 

[LazyLion]

OK... I have started the process on all those things you mention above... I am fairly sure everything is up to date.

just got to check the firmware.

I have begun to check each program... and am now almost 100% sure that it only crashes while using Skype.

When Skype is running ( as it usually is) my laptop will crash within ten minutes. When I go onto the 3G network without Skype running I can use it continuously... does not crash... yet.

So... next question... since Skpye works perfectly with my ADSL (I use it heavily... it saves me thousands of rands every month)... is it Vodacom that is causing my laptop to crash when I am using Skype?

Are they aware of this? is this part of their strategy to block VOIP??

if it is... that sucks... I am using the lastest version of Skype... so can't upgrade that.

I pay for the internet I use... if I use it for VOIP... that is my business. I paid for it the bandwidth. I give Vodacom enough other business as it is... and have been a loyal customer for ten years. Even paid my contract renewal fee every year... why I dunno... but Vodacom likes charging their loyal customers... a "renewal" fee.

 

[LazyLion]

Yikes... I spoke too soon... it just crashed again... and Skype was not running

OK... I went onto the vodacom site... I can't find anywhere to find support or software or updates... or anything like that.

when I try to find updates from within the vodafone software it tells me that it cannot contact the update service.

Lovely piece of equipment i have here... my laptop works fine with ADSL... now that I need to use my 3G card away from home... I start having all these problems.

Not very good PR for Vodacom.... who do I telephone to get some help?

 

[brad]

OK... I went onto the vodacom site... I can't find anywhere to find support or software or updates... or anything like that.

http://www.vodacom.co.za/services/3g/downloads.jsp

 

[LazyLion]

Thanks... yeah.. I found it.. and installed it... and the problem seems to be solved!!! Yay.. thanks guys!

I upgraded my laptop BIOS to the latest version!

The Novatell Card firmware I upgraded from version 15 to 27.

The Vodafone Connect Software I upgraded from version 6 to 7.

Once the upgrades were completed... my stated connection speed here on the Durban North Coast jumped from 230 kbps to 1.8 Mbps! (still got to run a proper speed test).

Anyway.. thanks... now if I could just figure out why some of the internet proggies are not working... like MSN... (see my other post)... then I'll be A for away.

 

[vodacom3g]

We'll have to update our software to crash Skype again on your new BIOS.


Just kidding, glad it solved your problem.

 

[LazyLion]

hehehe... you guys always have to be one step ahead of the lilttle guy huh???

with ADSL the Skype does not crash... Telkom just drops the internet connection regularly on the hour!

Ima gonna send my girlfriend down there with a bat