All new low for Vodacom

[Deiphos]

I have been a huge supporter for 3G/HSDPA in my area (Rustenburg) and I have converted countless people from telkom internet to vodacom, but now I have seen a side to HSDPA that I don't like.

While I was downloading updates for firefox and AVG I noticed that the download speed was hovering at about 25kB/s, I wasn't worried because it was slowly increasing. Then it dropped drastically and settled at 4kB/s. I was astonished at first as to how HSDPA (which usually gave me at least 60kB/s) could even find this low number!

The problem is that I have been experiencing this since yesterday. Firstly it dropped my connection the second I connected, and it did that all morning. Now today I get the speed above. I have the same 2 bars of signal I always have (the same 2 bars that give me 60kB/s min.) and I have not changed any setting, moved the antenna or anything of the sort.

Now I would like to know why this would happen. The strange thing is websites are loading as fast as they always do, and IRC hasn't disconnected me. Now I wonder if Vodacom isn't experimenting with shaping their connections. It seems if they are they are getting it totally wrong, how can you shape an HTTP or FTP connection? It just doesn't work that way.

So now am I paying close to R550 p/m for a connection that 'could' get 1.8mb/s, but I get dialup speeds when downloading? I might aswell go back to dialup, I payed the same amount for it, didn't have a cap, and I could cancel it whenever I wanted, but now I am bound by a 24 month contract and it seems that things are just getting worse.

I live in Rustenburg, Protea Park extension 1, I am sure I am getting my signal from the Bergsig tower, which is less than 1 km away. But remember, I did get a min of 60kb/s so there is nothing wrong with my location, the service seems to be degrading at one huge pace!

 

[internaut]

I've noticed something similar that would suggest "capping" rather than "shaping".
My maximum throughput (DL) locally is 120KB/s and lnternationally it's 60KB/s.
This is irrespective of the time of day which means at some point in time cell breathing and users on the VC network shouldn't come into play.

 

[Deiphos]

I did post on this forum before that I got around about 90kB/s international, it was great, but in the past two days I have been seeing sub 10kB/s speeds, which is not good. I hope that this is only temporary.

 

[gboy]

I am 400 - 500 m from the tower, cheak my posts to see what trouble i am having with HSDPA. Something is realy gone coo-coo with HSDPA

 

[Deiphos]

Here are my results from the vodacom speed test:

Download Speed: 393 kbps (49.1 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 53 kbps (6.6 KB/sec transfer rate)

 

[Tallies]

Very low download speeds

I have been getting the low-speed problem for the last few days. Have sent a PM to V3G day before yesterday, still awaiting a response.

Here is my latest:
Download Speed: 47 kbps (5.9 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 304 kbps (38 KB/sec transfer rate)

Seems only download speeds are affected
May have something to do with the new bandwidth restriction mechanism introduced to ensure that 3G/GPRS users do not get HSDPA/EDGE speeds. If so, there is a serious problem, since I am getting only GPRS speed not 3G.

 

[Deiphos]

Yeah, I am getting 3G speeds when I should be getting HSDPA ones, so I agree with you, there is something wrong.

 

[jarr]

i've never used it, but there is an option on vodacom4me.co.za ('my account' -> 'query') where you can submit a query to vodacom and also track the progress of that query

 

[jalize]

Trying to use is and it also says "we are experiencing prloms.... try again later"

This is going on for a few days now already. Pretty much useless this site . Always have to phone 111 and trying to get hold of somebody(10-20min) Unacceptable

 

[vodacom3g]

There is also an email addy you can use. Have a look in the FAQ.

It's important to get a ref number. Every now and then Vodacom will pass credits, but they can only do it if they know about you and your problem....

 

[eagle-slayor]

im in Bedfordview, here are the stats im getting:
Download Speed: 356 kbps (44.5 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 56 kbps (7 KB/sec transfer rate)

aint bad for me i guess!

 

[ArminM]

yet here we are paying the fees.



..... whatever

 

[Deiphos]

One thing I just noticed on the account info page, why does it say I am on the 'GPRS One DC0' contract?
I am sure I am paying for 3G One and asked for it. If that which the page states is supposed to be 3G One, then I suggest changing it, I could imagine a lot of people wondering what is going on. And with the latest speeds I have been getting I wouldn't be surprised if I am limited to GPRS speeds.

 

[vodacom3g]

One thing I just noticed on the account info page, why does it say I am on the 'GPRS One DC0' contract?
I am sure I am paying for 3G One and asked for it. If that which the page states is supposed to be 3G One, then I suggest changing it, I could imagine a lot of people wondering what is going on. And with the latest speeds I have been getting I wouldn't be surprised if I am limited to GPRS speeds.

The naming thing is a nightmare as the product names have to be submitted for approval. It's slowly being sorted out.

Just for the record, there are only two speed limits, 384Kb/s and 1.8Mb/s.

But I agree, seeing a product name with GPRS in it and getting crappy speeds is going to result in a 2+2=5 type of deduction.

 

[Deiphos]

I have been trying to download a 35mb file for the past 10 mins, the highest speed my connection has achieved was 20kB/s. I especially chose a file of this size so that I can see when those HSDPA speeds are supposed to kick in. Plus the most comfortable zone for the download seems to be a cozy 0kB/s. I don't know why this is happening but it surely isn't the service that vodacom is supposed to be giving. I have restarted the download about 10 times, I have reconnected about 6, and still nothing helps.
So far the upgrade to HSDPA has really been a downgrade, I could only wish for the 40kB/s speeds that 3G gave me, and now HSDPA, the all and wonderful 'up to' 1.8mb/s connection is giving me on average 0kB/s on this download.
I am downloading Cubit, which is from a local site, so there is nothing to do with international stories here. Even so, international downloads are just as slow.
So far I have 6 question marks to the estimated time of completion, they look like this: '??:??:??' which basically means that FlashGet cannot determine the time it will take to download this file, because it isn't downloading at all. What is the use of a connection that is potentially the fastest in SA, when it cannot even match dialup speeds?

 

[vodacom3g]

I have been trying to download a 35mb file for the past 10 mins, the highest speed my connection has achieved was 20kB/s. I especially chose a file of this size so that I can see when those HSDPA speeds are supposed to kick in. Plus the most comfortable zone for the download seems to be a cozy 0kB/s. I don't know why this is happening but it surely isn't the service that vodacom is supposed to be giving. I have restarted the download about 10 times, I have reconnected about 6, and still nothing helps.
So far the upgrade to HSDPA has really been a downgrade, I could only wish for the 40kB/s speeds that 3G gave me, and now HSDPA, the all and wonderful 'up to' 1.8mb/s connection is giving me on average 0kB/s on this download.
I am downloading Cubit, which is from a local site, so there is nothing to do with international stories here. Even so, international downloads are just as slow.
So far I have 6 question marks to the estimated time of completion, they look like this: '??:??:??' which basically means that FlashGet cannot determine the time it will take to download this file, because it isn't downloading at all. What is the use of a connection that is potentially the fastest in SA, when it cannot even match dialup speeds?

Not close to my desktop at the moment to check, have you mailed or PM'ed me your details to follow up on this?

 

[Deiphos]

PM Sent

 

[vodacom3g]

Got it, won't you check your mail please.

 

[Deiphos]

Got the mail, I just sent you the information you requested in the mail to your email.

 

[internaut]

From about 12PM this afternoon my connection went pear shaped as well. I got about the same "reaction times and stutters" in the network. Most noteably was the +/- 20KB/sec speed.