Afrihost MTN Fixed LTE-A Thread

[BCR]

EDIT : 5th Jan 2022 @ approx 8h30 am :

can confirm that the switch (on my account) from MB to GB takes place sometime on the 5th day of the month ; why done like this is a mystery, and would be surprised if Afrihost (Support) would know themselves, without a dev looking into it further.


... my main point being, if one wants a snapshot of data usage to compare against for a certain time-period during the month (to that in the router), then the daily GB totals aren't necessarily accurate enough because only one decimal point is used - see attached for late last month.

One then has to go to the CSV file, download it do a manual comparison - @AfriNatic & Co are currently looking into this now / soon ; possible I picked up a discrepancy which could result in changes affecting us all, more positively, on fixed MTN LTE.

I hadn't wanted to go into that whole explanation (along with screenshot/s - subsequently removed) but as I was drawn into it, hope it makes more sense now as to why a request for daily totals in MBs in the app is more warranted - IMHO of course ... each to their own.

 

[BCR]

MTN fixed LTE been working well for about 3 weeks.

About 2 hours ago a sudden drop in signal strength at same time call using Cell C SIM cut out.

Sure the 2 are linked, because of Cell C using the MTN network ?

Since then, changed MTN in router from "B3 only" to "Auto" but no difference, except mainly on 4 bars instead of the usual, recent 5 (last few weeks), and sometimes complete loss of signal - zero bars lit up on router.

Can't believe I'm the only one in the country experiencing & reporting this ; no notifications whatsoever from Afrihost & I have set the app up to receive them in my suburb / region.

Fixed wireless - "everything is fine" ..... yeah, right.

 

[BCR]

Upload and ping are screwed, @AfriNatic :

(see previous post for further explanation)

Speed Test – Fast, reliable, and ad-free internet speed test

Speed test result: Latency: 330ms | Download: 1.17Mbps | Upload: 0.48Mbps | Provider: PT Telkom Indonesia | Test your Internet connection speed with our fast, reliable, and ad-free tool. Measure your Internet speed now.

speedtest.co.za

ISP: Air Mobile
Ping: 40ms
Download: 50.13Mbps
Upload: 1.96Mbps

Air Mobile – 2022-01-07 18:15:23
Server: ZA - Cape Town

My upload is usually around 45 Mbps and ping 25 ms.

My main point being, when things go wrong on your part (Air Mobile) of the MTN network, you guys aren't even (made) aware of them
... in order to notify Afrihost customers per suburb / region, even though when one "signs up" for network notifications, you do so based on the suburb (you want to / live in).

 

[BCR]

On Linux Mint machine, Brave browser, in Client Zone - Account History (Download Your Account History) ... only options to d/load in CSV and HTML formats ; why not a PDF format like is standard in the industry & how I remember it used to be ?

Maybe @AfriNatic, you only have it setup for PDF's in Windows - if that's true, can your dev/s allow for PDF d/loading in LInux machines ??

 

[BCR]

MTN fixed LTE been working well for about 3 weeks.

About 2 hours ago a sudden drop in signal strength at same time call using Cell C SIM cut out.

Sure the 2 are linked, because of Cell C using the MTN network ?

Since then, changed MTN in router from "B3 only" to "Auto" but no difference, except mainly on 4 bars instead of the usual, recent 5 (last few weeks), and sometimes complete loss of signal - zero bars lit up on router.

Can't believe I'm the only one in the country experiencing & reporting this ; no notifications whatsoever from Afrihost & I have set the app up to receive them in my suburb / region.

Fixed wireless - "everything is fine" ..... yeah, right.

After some time, changed back to "B3 only" and full signal restored along with decent d/load & uploads ; pings to afrihost.com just under 25ms so fine again ; to google.com around 40ms mostly .. so the 2 posts from Friday can be ignored, assuming you'd intended replying to them on Monday ?

The only 2 o/s things I'd like feedback on, still - @AfriNatic - are :

1.) printing a statement in PDF format (in Linux), assuming it's still available on Windows (which I seldom use these days) ;

2.) data usage query / discrepancy ... have you managed to meet with your dev/s to discuss what I sent through to you via e-mail - for comparison/s and conclusion ?

 

[AfriNatic]

After some time, changed back to "B3 only" and full signal restored along with decent d/load & uploads ; pings to afrihost.com just under 25ms so fine again ; to google.com around 40ms mostly .. so the 2 posts from Friday can be ignored, assuming you'd intended replying to them on Monday ?

The only 2 o/s things I'd like feedback on, still - @AfriNatic - are :

1.) printing a statement in PDF format (in Linux), assuming it's still available on Windows (which I seldom use these days) ;

2.) data usage query / discrepancy ... have you managed to meet with your dev/s to discuss what I sent through to you via e-mail - for comparison/s and conclusion ?

Morning,

Our statements are in HTML format which allows clients to use the Print to PDF or save to PDF in browsers if they wanted a .pdf copy.

I will follow up with Dev on the data depletion today and provide feedback as soon as I get any.

 

[BCR]

Have replied to your pvt. message, @AfriNatic ; thanks for it.

 

[Quad!]

Just got this Pure LTE package (MTN sim).. And i am not feeling the "Pure Joy"

 

[BCR]

View attachment 1225676

Just got this Pure LTE package (MTN sim).. And i am not feeling the "Pure Joy"

I suggest logging into the router settings ....

It's probably set to "Auto" in Network Selection (or similar description depending on router).

Change to (if able) & test on "B3 Only" ; I find I get better, more consistent results.

Also try "4G only" & see if it improves, but for me it's basically the same as the "Auto" setting.

EDIT :
If no noteworthy improvements, looks like it's congestion at the tower router's connecting to, with low download speed, but decent upload - I'm no expert on this, though.

Maybe @AfriNatic can provide further input.

 

[AfriNatic]

View attachment 1225676

Just got this Pure LTE package (MTN sim).. And i am not feeling the "Pure Joy"

Hi,

Do you see 4G+ in the router when doing a speedtest?

 

[Quad!]

I did change the Frequency Band to "LTE-Advanced" (as seen in Pic).. Beter Ping and Speed.

But The Router Still only Shows 4G and NOT 4G+

 

[AfriNatic]

View attachment 1225768

I did change the Frequency Band to "LTE-Advanced" (as seen in Pic).. Beter Ping and Speed.

But The Router Still only Shows 4G and NOT 4G+

Interesting result. The B618s-22d doesn't support Band 44 so that isn't correct but it's a much improved result.

4G+ only means that LTE carriers are aggregated and you can get still get good results on a single LTE carrier with mimo which the B618 supports.

 

[Quad!]

What i can figure out is that the LTE Watch App (as in Pic) show LTE-Advanced / Band 44, so its LTE-Advanced OR Band 44.. So the router Just used the "4G only" setting if i log in to the router. Then on my Cell i got the HUACTRL app.. and with that setting "4G only" I can see its on B3 1800MHz.

I did Test the Router in PTA East (With a Vodacom Sim) before bringing it to Its Location (BHS Dam) with Afrihost and then did Get the 4G+ Carriers Aggregated.. But Still Now not getting the 4G+

Question: I am in only getting 4G (NOT 4G+) because its Locked to 1 cell Tower that only supports 1800MHz? Can I update my Router Location with you? Cause when I signed up for the Pure LTE I could only set Street name and not True location. Where it about 500m away from my true location?


What i Figured out there is 4-5 MTN Cell Towers around me.

 

[AfriNatic]

What i can figure out is that the LTE Watch App (as in Pic) show LTE-Advanced / Band 44, so its LTE-Advanced OR Band 44.. So the router Just used the "4G only" setting if i log in to the router. Then on my Cell i got the HUACTRL app.. and with that setting "4G only" I can see its on B3 1800MHz.

I did Test the Router in PTA East (With a Vodacom Sim) before bringing it to Its Location (BHS Dam) with Afrihost and then did Get the 4G+ Carriers Aggregated.. But Still Now not getting the 4G+

Question: I am in only getting 4G (NOT 4G+) because its Locked to 1 cell Tower that only supports 1800MHz? Can I update my Router Location with you? Cause when I signed up for the Pure LTE I could only set Street name and not True location. Where it about 500m away from my true location?


What i Figured out there is 4-5 MTN Cell Towers around me.

Usually Band 1 + Band 3 will give you 4G+

It might be worth it to reset the router and just leave it on Auto to see what it does and if you get 4G+

4G+ will likely only show up when transferring data and once the connection is idle it will display only 4G.

 

[Quad!]

Usually Band 1 + Band 3 will give you 4G+

It might be worth it to reset the router and just leave it on Auto to see what it does and if you get 4G+

4G+ will likely only show up when transferring data and once the connection is idle it will display only 4G.

When I force the router to 1 Band at a time Only I get the following..

Band 1 (2100 MHz) I get NO Signal at all.. No connection (Where you stated B1+B3 should give me 4G+)
Band 3 (1800 MHz) Ping is 52ms, 30Mbps Download
Band 8 (900 MHz) Ping is 16ms, Only 3.5Mbps Download

So, I think there Something Wrong on the Cell towers?

 

[AfriNatic]

When I force the router to 1 Band at a time Only I get the following..

Band 1 (2100 MHz) I get NO Signal at all.. No connection (Where you stated B1+B3 should give me 4G+)
Band 3 (1800 MHz) Ping is 52ms, 30Mbps Download
Band 8 (900 MHz) Ping is 16ms, Only 3.5Mbps Download

So, I think there Something Wrong on the Cell towers?

Okay that is oddd because most towers do indeed have band 1. Can you drop me a pm with your email address and the cellid from the router let me log a request with MTN to see if there is any alarms on the tower you are connected to.

 

[Quad!]

Okay that is oddd because most towers do indeed have band 1. Can you drop me a pm with your email address and the cellid from the router let me log a request with MTN to see if there is any alarms on the tower you are connected to.

PM Send

 

[Quad!]

Network Totally Unusable, Unstable ..
2022-01-20 20:40
Cell-ID: 2419712
Band 3 (1800 MHz) Only one that's working in this area
Band 1 (2100 MHz) I get NO Signal at all.. No connection (Band 1 still not working even after Afrihost Reported it)

 

[AfriNatic]

View attachment 1230204

Network Totally Unusable, Unstable ..
2022-01-20 20:40
Cell-ID: 2419712
Band 3 (1800 MHz) Only one that's working in this area
Band 1 (2100 MHz) I get NO Signal at all.. No connection (Band 1 still not working even after Afrihost Reported it)

Hi,

Sorry for the issues experienced. We are still working with MTN and EchoSP on the issue causing degraded performance on MTN Fixed LTE and Afrihost mobile data. I'm hopeful that we will have a solution by close of business today.

 

[BCR]

Not the best day / time to be doing maintenance, as I for one (in the next few hours at least) will definitely want to know how much rollover Anytime data I have left to burn through until midnight.

Around 6am today (when Night data goes to Anytime) I still had 14GB of Anytime data available but haven't taken note since as was only dealing with the Notification issue earlier in the day.

Just hope data usage figures are restored soon enough ....