Afrihost MTN Fixed LTE-A Thread

Hopefully you can get better speeds if you move the router to a better position.

I have been fiddling around with your suggestion of changing the bands on my B618 to see if I can improve my speeds. The LTE_ALL batch file (800+900+1800+2100+2600+2600TDD) gives me the best performance by far. I get slower speeds if I choose single bands such as 900, 1800, 2100 etc. The new spectrum in 2600Mhz does not appear to be available at the moment.
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New spectrum – What you can expect from Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, and Rain

ICASA has issued temporary spectrum to Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, Rain, and Liquid Telecom. Here is what you can expect from these companies.
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eagle2k said:
Question:

Will Afrihost Fixed LTE work with my B535 or B311 router.

I see they are also CAT 11 routers and advertised as fixed LTE routers. Especially by Telkom
Click to expand...
  • Only approved CAT6 devices will work with Pure LTE (MTN) SIM Only packages on the MTN LTE-A Network.
    This range of devices includes:
  1. Huawei B525
  2. Huawei B612
  3. Huawei B618
  4. ZTE MF286
 
Dirk1805 said:
Hi Guys, I want to give a follow up on the MTN "toys out the cot" saga above. I got a call from a very nice gentleman at MTN technical services yesterday. I explained to him what happened on Saturday morning with the other rude dude from MTN. He apologized and said that it was very unprofessional of him.

He said that of course I am allowed to fit an external antenna. Nothing wrong with it. He also told me exactly where the three MTN masts are in Sedgefield and that I can pick and choose the one that gives me the best signal/speed.

Now, here is the interesting thing. MTN does NOT tower lock you on fixed LTE anymore. You can move your router anywhere now. The router and sim are however married. You can not swop sim cards.

They (MTN) are sending a team out to my house to look at installing a booster in my house due to the horrible signal that I am getting on voice calls.

Thought you all may find it interesting.
Click to expand...
@AfriGuy is this true AfriMan?
 
AfriGuy said:
I'm not understanding the question?
Click to expand...
I can move around my Fixed LTE as long as it's in the same router when I activated it? As the gent above describes.
Or will my package still get locked if I move it around in the same router?
 
eagle2k said:
I can move around my Fixed LTE as long as it's in the same router when I activated it? As the gent above describes.
Or will my package still get locked if I move it around in the same router?
Click to expand...
You cannot move it around. It's fixed at one location and one device (the ones I listed earlier)
  1. Huawei B525
  2. Huawei B612
  3. Huawei B618
  4. ZTE MF286
 
Have you tried putting the router in a different position? What router are you using? Are all the LTE bands switched on? I usually get better speeds than that on my B618 using just a single carrier and there are many other customers that get much better speeds than I do.
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Sorry to hear that you aren't getting the great speeds that many of us are. Maybe you could try here if you haven't done so already to see whether it gives you any useful information about the location of your tower.

Rain Tower Location: PM me your Cell ID's

I might have found a way to locate the Rain tower that you are connected to if you are wondering where to point your external antenna. PM me your Cell ID, and I will reply with the tower location. It can be found under Settings >> System >> Device Information. Look next to 'CELL_ID:'
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I am able to connect at reduced speeds to the 900, 1800 and 2100 carriers individually using the Huawei B618 band tool. Currently I have all frequencies turned on - LTE_ALL.bat (800+900+1800+2100+2600+2600TDD) - which gives me the best speeds. I'm not sure when the new Covid-19 spectrum is coming online but I have not been able to connect to anything on 800 or 2600 or 2600TDD. My 618s-d22 does not support 700 or 2300MHz.

These are my signal stats - your stats appear to be much better?
RSRQ: -11dB
RSRP: -94dBm
SINR: -5dB

I don't see an RSSI figure on the Device Information page of my router.

You could try to look for a cheap secondhand Poynting or Otto antenna to see if that helps. I think that you are already too late if you want to downgrade your bandwidth package to a smaller bundle due to the lower speed as the cutoff date is the 15th - you would have to discuss that with Afrihost. It appears that if you change your bundle to a smaller one from the Client Zone you forfeit any roll over data!
 
I remember when signing up they said MTN fixed LTE is locked to a specific cell tower and my home address, is this still the case.
With lockdown I have to go work on a site on the other side of Pretoria just for a day, and I have to take along my own Internet. Would it work at another location?
 
bigboy529 said:
I remember when signing up they said MTN fixed LTE is locked to a specific cell tower and my home address, is this still the case.
With lockdown I have to go work on a site on the other side of Pretoria just for a day, and I have to take along my own Internet. Would it work at another location?
Click to expand...

Nope. MTN will throw you off the network quick quick (speaking out of experience).
Worst still, if you take the router back home you will still be cut off and have to request a reset from the ISP (which in theory can only be done once a year for free).

Probably best to buy day bundles on your phone and just wifi/usb tether.
 
AfriGuy said:
You cannot move it around. It's fixed at one location and one device (the ones I listed earlier)
  1. Huawei B525
  2. Huawei B612
  3. Huawei B618
  4. ZTE MF286
Click to expand...

@AfriGuy with some of those models being discontinued by Huawei, such as the B618 and I think the B612, is MTN allowing their replacements to be used such as the B818. I would like to future proof and not spend money on discontinued products.
 
tkbaby said:
@AfriGuy with some of those models being discontinued by Huawei, such as the B618 and I think the B612, is MTN allowing their replacements to be used such as the B818. I would like to future proof and not spend money on discontinued products.
Click to expand...

I'll find out and get back to you.
 
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