[April 2006] Current 3G problems - Feedback Please

Did you experienced a Vodacom data throughput-stalling problem in April 2006?

  • No, I did not experience this problem using Vodacom for data in April 2006 [wait until May to vote]

    Votes: 8 10.0%

  • Yes, I have experienced this problem using Vodacom for data during April 2006

    Votes: 70 87.5%

  • Also, my vote above applies to GPRS

    Votes: 39 48.8%

  • Also, my vote above applies to EDGE

    Votes: 5 6.3%

  • Also, my vote above applies to 3G

    Votes: 55 68.8%

  • Also, my vote above applies to HSDPA

    Votes: 21 26.3%

  • Also, my vote above applies to the 'internet' APN

    Votes: 32 40.0%

  • Also, my vote above applies to the 'internetvpn' APN

    Votes: 13 16.3%

  • Also, my vote above applies to a Data Card

    Votes: 39 48.8%

  • Also, my vote above applies to a Cellphone (used as a modem)

    Votes: 21 26.3%
  • Total voters
    80
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vodacom3g

Vodacom Representative
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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.

I'm seeing three problems being reported here:

1) Connection Related problems - lost connectivity, having to reconnect, etc.
2) Connected but no downlink data.
3) Slow throughput

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

1) Error type (one of the above)
2) Description of error
2) Your location (as accurate as possible)
3) The 3G cell number, first 5 digits, ex. 082-99x-xxxx
4) Your setup (data card type, SIM type)
5) Your IP, DNS (do a ifconfig in a dos box)
6) Your APN (internet, internetvpn)
7) Speed test, if possible

I want to establish common parameters to help the Engineering guys better track these gremlins.

Your feedback would really be appreciated and hopefully we can isolate and wipe out these bugs.

ic, some glue please?
 
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Hi 3G

FYI have the losing connection after inactivity problem described here on 2 notebooks and 2 datacards tried south coast natal, southern suburbs cpt and west coast. This occured since friday last week and has been reported. A vodacom shop just let us borrow their SIM card and all works now. SIM card swop with the same number doesnt work. Problem appears to be related to certain numbers.

Will post all the other details you asked for if you like.
 
snap said:
Hi 3G

FYI have the losing connection after inactivity problem described here on 2 notebooks and 2 datacards tried south coast natal, southern suburbs cpt and west coast. This occured since friday last week and has been reported. A vodacom shop just let us borrow their SIM card and all works now. SIM card swop with the same number doesnt work. Problem appears to be related to certain numbers.

Will post all the other details you asked for if you like.
Click to expand...

Please do.

And these are data cards, not handsets being used as modems? Please PM me the numbers being affected as well as the ones that are actually working.
 
Hi V3g

Problem no 2 (Connected but no downlink data) has been a sporadic problem in CT since I have been using 3G - even tried to log it with 155 but was told to test with another phone which I didn't have at the time. I have experienced it across all APN's I have access to i.e. vlive, internet, internetvpn with a datacard and phone, various simms (numbers and contract/prepaid) & in different areas. I will definetely let you know when I experience it again.
 
Hi v3g,

I am in the northern suburbs of Cape Town and have had 3g since October last year. I have had absolutely no problems at all except for an occasional connection drop but i have set it to automatically reconnect. I don't even lose my msn connection. I connect at full speed every time and average at about 50KB/sec on big downloads. I am very pleased with 3g.

Just thought a positive comment would be nice. No offence to the guy having problems.
 
Ploempie said:
Hi v3g,

I am in the northern suburbs of Cape Town and have had 3g since October last year. I have had absolutely no problems at all except for an occasional connection drop but i have set it to automatically reconnect. I don't even lose my msn connection. I connect at full speed every time and average at about 50KB/sec on big downloads. I am very pleased with 3g.

Just thought a positive comment would be nice. No offence to the guy having problems.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the feedback, can you also give some details, especially your 3G number, just the 5 digits, for example 082-99x-xxxx as well as your type of SIM (32/64K)
 
OK, here goes,

1) Error type (one of the above) = Connected but no downlink data

2) Description of error = Every light and msg that shows a healthy connection is OK but browser times-out eventually with a "cannot reach server" error

3) Your location (as accurate as possible) = Cape Town, Surrey Estate

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

5) Your IP, DNS (do a ifconfig in a dos box) 10.61.143.13 196.25.255.34

6) Your APN

7) Speed test, if possible 155ms pinging DNS server

Another thing to consider is when I pinged while my connection was timed out
I would get a "request timed-out" error and as soon as I disconnect a "destination host unreachable" error popped up.
 
internaut said:
Another thing to consider is when I pinged while my connection was timed out
I would get a "request timed-out" error and as soon as I disconnect a "destination host unreachable" error popped up.
Click to expand...

This makes sense, if you disconnect you'll loose the dfault gateway, so there would be no routing defined.

Thanks for all the input, beginning to see a trend.
 
vodacom3g said:
Thanks for the feedback, can you also give some details, especially your 3G number, just the 5 digits, for example 082-99x-xxxx as well as your type of SIM (32/64K)
Click to expand...
Ok,

I am in the Edgemead/Bothasig area. My number is 082775xxxx and its a 32k sim. I also use Biometrics dialer, not the Dashboard. I also have a procedure for removing my datacard when i disconnect and shutdown my notebook. Anything else?

EDIT: Oh, using the internetvpn APN.....
 
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Ploempie said:
Ok,

I am in the Edgemead/Bothasig area. My number is 082775xxxx and its a 32k sim. I also use Biometrics dialer, not the Dashboard. I also have a procedure for removing my datacard when i disconnect and shutdown my notebook. Anything else?

EDIT: Oh, using the internetvpn APN.....
Click to expand...

Great, thanks!
 
ic said:
If it's a problem that causes IP routing issues, it might be an idea for everyone to go back to their posts & hit the Edit button to add the following:
#8: What OS and service pack are you running? - e.g. Windoze heXPee SP2
#9: Are you using the VMC dashboard s/w? If so, what version? If not what are you using?
Click to expand...
Using Windoze heXPee SP2 (latest) and as per previous post, Biometric dialer.... :cool:
 
I'm just wondering whether if 3G goes down does it take EDGE with it and all the rest incl. HSDPA. What about voice - is that immune to the same gremlins?
 
WatchDog said:
I'm just wondering whether if 3G goes down does it take EDGE with it and all the rest incl. HSDPA. What about voice - is that immune to the same gremlins?
Click to expand...

There are essentially two access radio networks, HSDPA/3G and EDGE/GPRS. They are independent but use common transmission networks and back-end systems.

What is affected is obviously dictated by where the problem occurs, just in the 3G network or in a common back-end system.
 
Uptime problems

Problem started about a week ago - end of last month when I upgraded both the dialer and the firmware on my data card to make best use of my data.

1) Error type (one of the above) = Connected but no downlink data

2) Description of error = DU traffic only shows slow upload, with no down load - browser/outlook times-out eventually with a "cannot reach server" error

3) Your location (as accurate as possible) = Witbank Del Judor

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

5) Your IP, DNS (do a ifconfig in a dos box)
PPP adapter 3G Only Auto DNS Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.50.167.190
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 10.50.167.190

6) Your APN Internet


7) Speed test, if possible 134ms pinging DNS server


Are making use of the Auto DNS setting. Have not tried the manual setting yet.

Lastly, I might be dreaming, but it seems as if outlook is more susceptable to this. (maybe it is only because I use outlook in the background with errors popping up every 5 minutes...)

VMC 6 & Ver 14.2 on Novatel

Tel No xxx x550640

Just been saying "Vodacom 3G is the best now that all the bugs have been sorted" and then all this starts to happen....

That is was happens if you tempt Murphy:confused:
 
SJB, thanks for the detailed info.

I'd like our technical people to make direct contact with you, if you don't mind?

Won't you please PM me a contact number and e-mail. As well as the FIRST 5 digits of your 3G SIM (the ones you missed above)

Again, thanks.
 
3G connection errors

V3G, I have problems connecting:

Both type 1 and 2 problems

2) Description of error
Get either error number 619 error, or
connection status is fine on dashboard + card, but do not get data through.
2) Your location (as accurate as possible)
3 different places, Centurion (Wierda Park, Midrand (around Boulders Shopping Centre) and Jhb Central (cnr Commisioner and Mooi)
3) The 3G cell number, first 5 digits, ex. 082-99x-xxxx
082 44
4) Your setup (data card type, SIM type)
Novatel U630, with 32K SIM with new dash and firmware
5) Your IP, DNS (do a ifconfig in a dos box)
IP 10.49.118.244
DNS - no DNS info
6) Your APN (internet, internetvpn)
Internet
7) Speed test, if possible
could not get this, sorry.

New test this morning in JHB central:
IP Address:10.48.32.129
Default gateway 10.48.32.129
APN - Internet
Speed
Ping to smtp.vodacom.co.za gives avg. 193ms
 
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