[April 2006] Current 3G problems - Feedback Please

[fingers121]

There's a few problems with 3G being discussed in various threads. I'd like to get a better handle on these and sort them out as soon as possible.

If you're seeing any of the above please post the following information.

1) Error type (one of the above) Combination of all three???
2) Description of error Throughput very slow for almost a week now, downloads, and then stops, and disconnects, reconnect for about an hour or so, and then disconnects
2) Your location (as accurate as possible) Various locations in and around Johannesburg, Benoni, Midrand & Pretoria
3) The 3G cell number, first 5 digits 082-55
4) Your setup (data card type, SIM type) Option Quad Lite, 64k SIM
5) Your IP, DNS (do a ifconfig in a dos box)
IP 10.52.172.XX
DNS 196.25.255.34
196.25.255.3
6) Your APN (internet, internetvpn) internet
7) Speed test, if possible:
Below is the data used to calculate your download speed:

Download time: 60.078 seconds
Size of file: 500 KiloBytes
Estimated line speed: 67.9 (kilobits/second)
Estimated line speed: 8.3 (kiloBytes/second)

Sunningdale, Johannesburg, 3G Only Profile

 

[NeBo]

v3g,

I am having a problem today. I knew i shouldn't have spoken too soon.
I connect and in about 3 mins, it drops the connection and can't reconnect without closing the port, stopping the modem, re-inserting, and reconnecting.

Will be phoning you a little later anyway.

 

[greg_SA]

I've been having these problem using my Nokia 6680 connected to my PC via USB.

While surfing, after a short while of inactivity (not loading new webpages), I can't receive anything, but if I wait a while, constantly refreshing the webpage it usually works again for a minute or two. Large downloads seem fine - no interruptions. I only have problems when I don't send data regularly - then I can't receive again - Typically while surfing webpages.

My details are:

1) Error type = 2) Connected but no downlink data.
2) Description of error = See above.
2) Your location (as accurate as possible) - D'urbanvale (Durbanville), Cape Town
3) The 3G cell number, first 5 digits, ex. 082-555
4) Your setup (data card type, SIM type) - Nokia 6680, 32k SIM
5) Your IP, DNS (do a ifconfig in a dos box) - N/A
6) Your APN (internet, internetvpn) - N/A
7) Speed test, if possible - Seems same as usual

Hope this helps...

 

[snap]

3G FYI mine never reconnects. I have left mine running for ages with the email client trying every 10 minutes and it never reconnects.

 

[Harley79]

been SHOCKING this morning in Cape Town CBD, since about 15:00 seems like it is OK, but at one stage could not even make a connection AT ALL.

 

[Slak]

Same here in Plumstead : struggle to connect and after a few minutes no data is transmitted, then connection drops a bit later.

1) Error type = 2) Connected but no downlink data.
2) Description of error = See above.
2) Your location (as accurate as possible) - Plumstead (near cemetery), Cape Town
3) The 3G cell number, first 5 digits, ex. 082-784
4) Your setup (data card type, SIM type) - data card, not sure of type
5) Your IP, DNS (do a ifconfig in a dos box) - 10.60.12.49
6) Your APN (internet, internetvpn) - ?
7) Speed test, if possible - Speed same as usual

Slak

 

[NeBo]

Everything working fine again....

 

[MrG]

I have NO problem with my connection =/ I wonder what causes these problems exactly... just gonna keep reading this thread in the future

 

[SoftDev]

Hi ,

1) Error type (one of the above)
Connection Related problems - lost connectivity, having to reconnect, etc.

2) Description of error
Connected but no response, can start within 5 min or after 30 min

2) Your location (as accurate as possible)
Faerie Glen Pretoria

3) The 3G cell number, first 5 digits, ex. 082-99x-xxxx
082-56

4) Your setup (data card type, SIM type)
Novatel 64K SIM

5) Your IP, DNS (do a ifconfig in a dos box)
IP =10.50.116.149

6) Your APN (internet, internetvpn)
internet

7) Speed test, if possible
24.9 kBytes/sec

This post took 3 reconnects to get done.

SoftDev

 

[vodacom3g]

Thanks for all the feedback, and please don't stop the info flowing.

General feedback, a potential cause has been identified and the patches are being prepared for deployment.

 

[SoftDev]

Hi all,

Since I have posted the info as requested by v3g I was contemplating what Vodacom’s response would be about this problem that has been going on for the past 10 days.

I work for a big financial institution. If a problem like this would have occurred where customers have intermitted access to their fund for 10 consecutive days’ two things would have happened. One we would be on the front page of the Business Day and secondly we would have been closing our doors by now.

It also does not really help if whoever is to blame for this problem at Vodacom is fired. I would say that the people in question, once the problem is corrected, would have learned a valuable lesson as HSDPA is not going to be the last enhancement that we will be seeing from Vodacom.

So the question remains what will Vodacom do? I know what I’ll be doing…at month end another debit order for R599 will be deducted from my account.

Has anybody had an idea as to what we as a community of GPRS/3G/HSDPA customers can do?

By the way between the last post I made and this one I had to disconnect again…well at least it is consistent ;-)

Regards
SoftDev

 

[SoftDev]

Hi ,

Apologies my error should have been number 2 "Connected but no downlink data." and not 1.

SoftDev

 

[snap]

Softdev glad to hear thought I was the only one getting upset about it.

I have been complaining for 10 days and apart from 3G who is trying his best its hard to even get anyone from vodacom to phone you back. I dont suppose it really matters to them as we still have to pay the bill at the end of the month regardless of how much we have lost through the service being down. After 7 days I called in and the help desk said they had no record of my previous complaints and they couldn't track it through the call numbers that I had been given as they have no way of doing that - makes you think doesnt it?

I suppose I am the idiot that believed it could never be down for this long and as its my only connection depend on it to make my living!

 

[snap]

Its so bad it keeps going down while I am replying to this forum so I never know if its posted or not! I give up wonder if mtn's is working?

 

[bgb]

Snap,

Can't agree more. I do not know how you guys have this problem only for the last 10 days, I'm so used to disconnect - remove - insert - reconnect by now that I don't even call the helpdesk anymore. It's been happening since Jan in Centurion.

Help desk used to call back confirming that the problem is now fixed, only to have me and 2 more guys on their back the next day.

I also depend on the connection to make a living, but had to install a pre-paid line as backup now.

 

[greg_SA]

I agree with SoftDev... I wonder if Vodacom would actually look into compensating us if we complained as a group, via a letter?

Probably no though...

 

[zoot]

Hi

I'm experiencing very poor connectivity. This has been going on for well over 2 weeks. I'm very frustrated and hope this info will help. For the fees we pay for this service, this is unacceptable. Hoping for quick resolution.... and it appears that this is the place to get results

I've had good access prior to this, so the issue is with Vodacom's network.

1) Error type (one of the above)

Primarily 2 (Connected but no downlink data), but 1 and 3 occasionally too.

2) Description of error

Connection comes up and I have access for a while, but eventually everything times out - ie no data transfer. I have to reconnect to get access again.

2) Your location (as accurate as possible)

St Andrews Rd, Rondebosch, Cape Town. Line of site with UCT campus.
Also corner Bree Street and Hout Street, city of Cape Town

3) The 3G cell number, first 5 digits, ex. 082-99x-xxxx

082 60

4) Your setup (data card type, SIM type)

GNU/Linux OS
Option Quad-lite (GT 3G Quad)
32k SIM

5) Your IP, DNS (do a ifconfig in a dos box)

Local IP = 10.63.126.125 (this changes though...)
Remote IP = 10.64.64.64 (Don't get assigned one via ppp, so defaults to this)
Network mask = 255.255.255.255
DNS cache = 196.30.82.195

My ppp connection script:

ABORT ERROR
ABORT BUSY
ABORT "NO CARRIER"
"" "ATZ"
OK AT+CPIN="****"
OK "ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0"
OK 'AT+COPS=0,0,"Vodacom-SA",2'
OK 'AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","internet"'
OK "AT+CGEQMIN=1,4,64,384,64,384"
OK "AT+CGEQREQ=1,4,64,384,64,384"
OK "ATDT*99***1#"
CONNECT ''
TIMEOUT 60

6) Your APN (internet, internetvpn)

internet

7) Speed test, if possible

 

[Hoodwink]

Linux & 3G

Hey Zoot, how do you find the combo of Linux & 3G without the problems you are now facing?

 

[snap]

Have just been told that the problem is only going to be fixed next Tuesday believe it or not!

Maybe 3G can confirm this.

 

[zoot]

I work for a big financial institution. If a problem like this would have occurred where customers have intermitted access to their fund for 10 consecutive days’ two things would have happened. One we would be on the front page of the Business Day and secondly we would have been closing our doors by now.

The problem in this country also lies with apathy from consumers. We're so used to really poor service delivery that we never really stand up to it. I turfed Telkom recently and it took them 3 months to terminate my account. Recently I've been charged R3000 for GPRS access because my provider (Supercall) failed to load the data bundles onto my SIM.

I'm in if anyone is prepared to take some action in terms of the shocking access we're given for such high fees. How to effectively action such an initiative is another thing....

Another sad reality is that there are folks (like vodacom3g) who make an enormous effort in trying to resolve issues, but their enthusiasm is overwhelmed by the overall inefficient collective that is Vodacom. This holds true for Telkom too - despite the existence of very competent and skilled people, the aggregate result is disappointing.

Aside: My sister called the Telkom helpdesk recently and when asked to help resolve an ADSL Internet connectivity issue, the lady responded: "what is the Internet?". I rest my case.

(every time I post to this forum I have to disconnect and reconnect)