[April 2006] Current 3G problems - Feedback Please

[Veroland]

Connection problems in Jo Burg Central

I have been able to connect with 3G at good speeds the whole morning but this last 1/2 hour or so I have been able to connect, but I don't get any data coming down, so alas I can't get to any sites etc.

 

[Veroland]

Ok, I can connect again, was down for 1.5 hours though

 

[buz]

incompetence or ignorance ??

3G,

just in case you haven't seen yet: I replied into your mailbox ...

3G,

I am really surprised and very unhappy: Almost 2 weeks ago I informed you about my problem with the disconnections virtually every Minute when being connected and inactive and asked you for assistance.

Your reply was that you spoke to the "guys in charge" and they would come back or whatsoever.

To date NOTHING further has happened, although I supplied you twice with all information requested.

I cannot really use the 3G card and am contemplating of returning it to the Vodashop and request reembursement of my money spent so far on units as well as the purchase price for the 3G card.

Is it incompetence on Vodacom's side or just ignorance that nothing has happened so far ?

A VERY unhappy Burckhard Zoellner (BuZ).

 

[vodacom3g]

Neither...

We've been doing some checks on your setup and (unfortunately) have not found anything obviously broken. At least the same issues that resolved other subscribers problems seems to be OK on your profile.

So, we're working on it. Will get back to you today still with some further action.

3G,

I am really surprised and very unhappy: Almost 2 weeks ago I informed you about my problem with the disconnections virtually every Minute when being connected and inactive and asked you for assistance.

Your reply was that you spoke to the "guys in charge" and they would come back or whatsoever.

To date NOTHING further has happened, although I supplied you twice with all information requested.

I cannot really use the 3G card and am contemplating of returning it to the Vodashop and request reembursement of my money spent so far on units as well as the purchase price for the 3G card.

Is it incompetence on Vodacom's side or just ignorance that nothing has happened so far ?

A VERY unhappy Burckhard Zoellner (BuZ).

 

[buz]

We've been doing some checks on your setup and (unfortunately) have not found anything obviously broken. At least the same issues that resolved other subscribers problems seems to be OK on your profile.

So, we're working on it. Will get back to you today still with some further action.

Would be great, let's wait and see if and what happens ...

 

[RompelStompel]

Extremely yucky coverage on my 3G

In the Hatfield , Pretoria area.

1) Error type (one of the above) : 1
2) Description of error: unstable connections , disconnects frequently
2) Your location (as accurate as possible): 1177 Suid Street Hatfield ,Pretoria
3) The 3G cell number, first 5 digits, ex. 072-943-xxxx - only 3G use
4) Your setup (data card type, SIM type): Globetrotter Fusion Quad Lite SIM :32K
5) Your IP, DNS (do a ifconfig in a dos box)
6) Your APN (internet, internetvpn): internet


Vodafone Mobile Connect 5.00.0017


Ta in advance

Rompel

 

[buz]

We've been doing some checks on your setup and (unfortunately) have not found anything obviously broken. At least the same issues that resolved other subscribers problems seems to be OK on your profile.

So, we're working on it. Will get back to you today still with some further action.

25 hours later ... and nothing has happened ... the service is still disastrous, as the connection is now mostly dropping virtually every minute, irrespective of me doing something or not !!!

 

[bam1]

Disconnections

I have been trying to use my HSDPA at my office in Sandton. Yesterday I could not stay on for more than a minute or 2, today I cannot use the internetVPN profile, keep on getting 619 errors and the throughput is pathetic.

Using a GlobeTrotter HSDPA card and the 6.03.002 software.

 

[bam1]

Disconnections

Now can access internetVPN but still disconnecting every 2 minutes or so.

 

[buz]

@v3g, what are the chances that these disconnects are mostly attributable to 3G|HSDPA cell breathing?

Don't know what 3G|HSDPA cell breathing stands for. What I know is, that all the Vodacom Users I speak to - irrespective if they are in George or elsewhere in RSA - experience the same problem, constant disconnections and 6xxx errors when reconnecting and all of that ...

As you can see from my correspondence I am having this problem for more than 2 weeks now and am tired of hearing promisses without any changes taking place.

If Vodacom does not sort out this problem without any further delay I am going to start a campaign encouraging Vodacom Users to return their 3G cards and demand compensation from Vodacom. Maybe this then will have an impact on the non-service-provider.

I don't think it is a problem of the technical staff - I however also do not agree that we are the guinea-pigs. No problem, if this happens 1.) at Vodacoms expenses, not ours and 2.) Vodacom tells us in advance, that they are testing a newly launched product. Until proven other I however insist that Vodacom admits, they cannot handle this 3G HSDPA technology properly.

A more and more unhappy Burckhard Zoellner, George, Western Cape.

 

[Diago]

Kwazulu Natal / North Coast

In the last 2 months since having installed a Yaris antenna I have only had one random disconnect because of a problem on one of the Towers having gone down.

Using GPRS on a Options card and it's connected 24/7. I've had periods where the card has stayed connected for 2-3 days at a time. Hopefully will have the same result when I move to the HSPDA card and use Edge.

 

[buz]

In the last 2 months since having installed a Yaris antenna I have only had one random disconnect because of a problem on one of the Towers having gone down.

Using GPRS on a Options card and it's connected 24/7. I've had periods where the card has stayed connected for 2-3 days at a time. Hopefully will have the same result when I move to the HSPDA card and use Edge.

Have heard from guys using the "old" technology about such miracles like being connected for more than 2 minutes without at least one disconnect. With HSDPA ?? Forget about it !!!

 

[bam1]

I am getting the constant disconnects from home (Sandringham JHB) Office (Sandton). My signal strength is always 3 bars never had more. My point being that I do not believe that I am at the edge of 3G coverage, maybe I am wrong, so do not know if the cell breathing is the real issue here.

All I can say is that this is really not on and I am getting very frustrated.

An external antenna is not an option for me, and sort of negates the mobile connectivity thing.

 

[buz]

+site:mybroadband.co.za +vodacom +"cell breathing"

Cell Breathing is a known technical 'issue', and IMO it will result in disconnects when you're at the edge (or beyond) of a constantly breathing 3G|HSDPA cell...

<added>

If you don't have an external (outdoors) antenna and are mostly using your 3G|HSDPA from one fixed location, an external (outdoors) antenna might solve your disconnect problems - best to get advice from v3g and maybe someone from Vodacom out to run some tests...​

</added>

I like your explanation: "Cell breathing is an issue that will disconnect me if I am on the edge of a breathing cell" !!!???!!! You should have become politician !!!

Are me and my buddies in the centre of George (and all the others in RSA) at the edge of a breathing cell ?? Or is Vodacom the breathing cell at the edge ?? Should we all carry portable outside antennas wherever we go to avoid disconnects every minute or two ??

That is fishing in the dark ...

BTW: Contacting Vodacom and V3G is where I started 2 weeks ago ... got me nowhere to date ...

BTW(2): Did the cells start breathing on their own with the advent of 3G|HSDPA ?? What do you recon ?? Or why else did it work before HSDPA without problems ??

 

[buz]

What is clear from your reply, is that you have no understanding of what cell breathing actually is - first follow the link that I posted, enlighten yourself, and after doing some research you will find posts about how cell breathing increases with HSDPA compared to cell breathing with vanilla-3G. Having said that, I didn't post that cell breathing is the only possible cause of disconnects, I did post that IMO cell breathing would cause a disconnect if you ended up on the edge or outside of the current coverage of a breathing cell, in your case and that of other forumites there can be other reasons for your disconnect problems, I am merely opening up a debate as to whether cell breathing is more of a cause of disconnects since the network switchover from vanilla-3G to HSDPA.

Yep, I have no clue about cell breathing - and I do not want to know. I just found (and still find) your way of explaining this very funny. Maybe I am not serious enough, apologies for that.

Actually I want to USE the 3G|HSPDA adapter, that's why I purchased it for R2,700.00. And because I can't I entered this forum to find help.

Your opening a discussion about Vanilla and 3G and HSDPA may be nice for you, but will it help us plain und non-understanding (maybe even ignorant ???) users to get the service we are paying for ?? Or isn't it rather just for some of you guys to show off ??

Just again for clarity purposes, maybe I couldn't make you understand: No, I am NOT using my 3G|HSDPA adapter merely in one place but am traveling around and experience this problem all over the show. No, I do not believe I am on the edge or outside a breathing cell, unless the Vodacom network in George (and all the other places users complain from) only consists of edges of breathing cells ...

 

[internaut]

My connection has been quite stable and "problem" free for a while now. Even with the hectic rainy weather we're experiencing at the moment here in CT, my >>>HSDPA SPEEDSTER>>> is cookin. I gather that the non-technical people are really the ones that struggle. What I have come to realise that an antenna is essential to guarentee a flawless connection, well among other criteria, but it's the best start.

 

[buz]

My connection has been quite stable and "problem" free for a while now. Even with the hectic rainy weather we're experiencing at the moment here in CT, my >>>HSDPA SPEEDSTER>>> is cookin. I gather that the non-technical people are really the ones that struggle. What I have come to realise that an antenna is essential to guarentee a flawless connection, well among other criteria, but it's the best start.

Sorry Internaut, but you are talking - to say it mild - at least crap !! You refer to the "non-technical" people as the ones that struggle. You are technical because yours work ("... connection has been quite stable and "problem" free for a while now ..." ???!!!???) while I (as an example for the ones struggeling) am non-technical since mine doesn't work ?? What did you smoke when stating such totally unqualified nonsense ?? How do you arrive at that conclusion without even having a clue whome you are judging ?? Just because I am not interessted in cell breathing ?? Or I question the value of a discussion about vanilla and HSDPA ?? Or because I demand service for money from Vodacom ?? Maybe in limited views the world is black or white, reality is different.

Surely I use the antenna that came with the 3G Card. Needless to say that this doesn't help, or why do you think have I finally gotten to this forum (which must be seen as an achievement, for someone that is non-technical!!). For the rest I have bought a mobile solution and expect it to work as such. Hope this wasn't to "untechnical" ...

My point is clear and haven't been proven wrong! We - the customers have paid for equipment or signed contracts and are not getting what we are paying for: service. That is the simple truth behind it.

You just stay proud at your level stating "My connection has been quite stable and "problem" free for a while now. Even with the hectic rainy weather" ... hahaha ... now that was technical ... boy ...

 

[Diago]

buz,

I few questions, just to clear up the situation.

1) When you say we how many people are you actually referring too ?
2) You want your issue resolved, however are you in any way inclined to provide the service provider with any specific information regarding the problem ?
3) If this is such a big problem have you in anyway e-mailed or contacted V3G via PM and e-mail and requested from him to escalate your problem to upper management ?
4) Have you at any point taken the setup back to the Vodashop you acquired it from and had it tested on another kit ?

As with any company Vodacom has certain procedures to be followed. As a forum we try and be informed as too the various reasons 3G/GPRS can or can't work, which in this case means understading concepts like Cell Breathing or any other technical explanation. A few of the forumites actually resolved their problems by knowing what all of these are. THis does not make you technical... Just informed.

As for my questions. These are all steps I took and my problems got resolved, and I often found at these times that the problem was related to me, especially in the begining of last year when 3G was still very new.

As you are allowed to mention your problems with 3G on this forum, we are also allowed to feedback that our connections work. Most forumites are aware that during bad weather, signal drop on data occurs easily and frequently, and therefore there is some importance in what Internaut said regarding his connection being stable.

Your point is not so clear. We the users, have paid for a service and are receiving it, bar the odd problem with some towers. Most forumintes on this forum's issues have been resolved through the forum. Granted as with any service in life some users are not 100% satisfied with the service or are experencing problems, but following the right channels and by being informed they are getting them resolved, some quickly, others slowly.

Sorry Internaut, but you are talking - to say it mild - at least crap !! You refer to the "non-technical" people as the ones that struggle. You are technical because yours work ("... connection has been quite stable and "problem" free for a while now ..." ???!!!???) while I (as an example for the ones struggeling) am non-technical since mine doesn't work ?? What did you smoke when stating such totally unqualified nonsense ?? How do you arrive at that conclusion without even having a clue whome you are judging ?? Just because I am not interessted in cell breathing ?? Or I question the value of a discussion about vanilla and HSDPA ?? Or because I demand service for money from Vodacom ?? Maybe in limited views the world is black or white, reality is different.

Surely I use the antenna that came with the 3G Card. Needless to say that this doesn't help, or why do you think have I finally gotten to this forum (which must be seen as an achievement, for someone that is non-technical!!). For the rest I have bought a mobile solution and expect it to work as such. Hope this wasn't to "untechnical" ...

My point is clear and haven't been proven wrong! We - the customers have paid for equipment or signed contracts and are not getting what we are paying for: service. That is the simple truth behind it.

You just stay proud at your level stating "My connection has been quite stable and "problem" free for a while now. Even with the hectic rainy weather" ... hahaha ... now that was technical ... boy ...

 

[internaut]

I must say BUZ you've a serious attitude problem. I suggest you can it because it'll get you nowhere here. We are all here to help each other but if you are gonna arrive here like you rule the roost, well, tough luck.

 

[bam1]

Buz whilst you may be frustrated, it is no reason to attack the people on this forum, we are all here to try and assist each other as best as possible. I have also experienced constant problems with my 3G and HSDPA and the forumites have only done their best to try and assist me. V3G is great and whilst we all like to think that we are the only people contacting him with our problems, we are not and I am sure he is inundated with problems and requests, so if he does not do something for you immediately lets show him a little patience, he does come through for us all as soon as he possibly can.

Regarding my disconnects, last night at home, Sandringham JHB, I had no disconnects, so perhaps the 3G / HSDPA network in Sandton and CT CBD are just not coping with the load?