Argghhh! Please help? PPP disabled

[titeroper]

So, with great enthusiasm I went and grabbed myself a b960 router and sim card from my local Telkom Direct store -

Got home (North-East suburbs of Jozi), and I have been struggling ever since -
Setup:
b960 gateway, sim card inserted and pin accepted - set pin to auto validate.
Signal light shows green = excellent signal according to the leaflet provided.
The Mode light is blinking green - should this be the case?

I have my Sony Vaio laptop with Win 7 Enterprise from work - I have disabled my work network proxy settings, and have set firefox to auto-detect settings...

I have plugged in e960 via the LAN cable as per leaflet for setup.

Win 7 recognises it and applies home network settings - correct?

I can access the router start-up page and adjust settings -

PPP is disabled all the time???? = No internet access!

WLAN works great, but WAN settings are a no show...

When I go to sim card settings status it says:
Sim Card status- ready
Network - No service
Bandwidth - unknown
another setting with No service

In conclusion:
Has my sim card REALLY been activated?
The two leaflets have differing settings in terms of PPP - which settings take priority?
The profile settings, which one do I pick - prepaid or postpaid?

Any help? I have the modem at work so I can do some quick testing...

Your help is appreciated in advance...please help?

T.

 

[MadMailMan]

Put the sim card into your cell phone and see if it registers on the network.

 

[titeroper]

Put the sim card into your cell phone and see if it registers on the network.

Thanks M

I have the e960 setup at work, not connected to any pc, WLAN on, and it works fine!

I see that the mode indicator light is now showing a constant blue - so that means all is good? At home its a flashing green...

I wonder what is up at home? I get full 3g signal there from my voda cell phone...

I will do the cell phone test as soon as i can find a pin to open my iphone sim tray...

 

[titeroper]

Hmmm, scrutinizing the coverage map again it looks like I'm on the verge of averag/little signal quality in my area around The Wilds -geez - bad signal quality in a major metropol, perhaps I need the antenna from poynting?

signal is great in Randburg, but that doesn't really help my home situation

So, looks like more bucks to spend, in January...

sigh...

Just bumping the mode indicator light issue I described above - if it is not on a constant blue light does that mean no signal? (i.e blinking green light)
Anyway to rectify this, even if I go down to EDGE in the settings?

 

[ginzu]

Hmmm, scrutinizing the coverage map again it looks like I'm on the verge of averag/little signal quality in my area around The Wilds -geez - bad signal quality in a major metropol, perhaps I need the antenna from poynting?

signal is great in Randburg, but that doesn't really help my home situation

So, looks like more bucks to spend, in January...

sigh...

Just bumping the mode indicator light issue I described above - if it is not on a constant blue light does that mean no signal? (i.e blinking green light)
Anyway to rectify this, even if I go down to EDGE in the settings?

Put it near a window facing your closest tower, that worked for me, now get full 5 bars.

 

[moribond]

It is also possible that due to being at the edge of the signal margin that the tower is simply throwing you off during peak usage periods:

see reference: http://www.poyntingdirect.co.za/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=K-LPDA-A0021-7M

"Will the Poynting Antenna increase the 3G signal strength and reduce 'inactive' connection periods?"
" Regarding inactive periods the following (simplified) explanation: The base stations normally does power control. It operates on a contention basis and the better connected users will shut out those on the margin of the signal in peak periods. To reduce these inactive times a high gain antenna will definitely help, in the sense that the mast will interpret it as a better connection."

 

[DXL]

External UMTS - 3G Antennae works Wonders

It is also possible that due to being at the edge of the signal margin that the tower is simply throwing you off during peak usage periods:

see reference: http://www.poyntingdirect.co.za/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=K-LPDA-A0021-7M

"Will the Poynting Antenna increase the 3G signal strength and reduce 'inactive' connection periods?"
" Regarding inactive periods the following (simplified) explanation: The base stations normally does power control. It operates on a contention basis and the better connected users will shut out those on the margin of the signal in peak periods. To reduce these inactive times a high gain antenna will definitely help, in the sense that the mast will interpret it as a better connection."

External UMTS - 3G Antennae works Wonders -

We use it and are very happy - Unfortunately the cost is a bit scary -

Not sure exactly what they are selling for right now.

It was about R1500 about 2 years ago. It might have come down now though.

Wishing you well with the new antennae.

Email - Telkom and request 3G coverage in your area. You might be surprised that there is a base station coming to the area soon - so i would email and check and maybe save the R1500 if they have plans for a tower for your area.

Roll-out is speeding up now. Don't rule out the possibility of your area getting a Tower.

Telkom-Mobile is going to be everywhere soon.

DXL - Technical

 

[titeroper]

thanks everyone

External UMTS - 3G Antennae works Wonders -

We use it and are very happy - Unfortunately the cost is a bit scary -

Not sure exactly what they are selling for right now.

It was about R1500 about 2 years ago. It might have come down now though.

Wishing you well with the new antennae.

Email - Telkom and request 3G coverage in your area. You might be surprised that there is a base station coming to the area soon - so i would email and check and maybe save the R1500 if they have plans for a tower for your area.

Roll-out is speeding up now. Don't rule out the possibility of your area getting a Tower.

Telkom-Mobile is going to be everywhere soon.

DXL - Technical

Thanks everyone

I have to move and reset my e960 gateway when I' m at home sometimes - a bit irritating, really looks like it likes to drop me down to slow speeds during peak periods.

DXL - Any way you can plug me into a Telkom email addy that should get answered?

When the service is fast, its very nice.
I browse the net on my iphone, fiance is on her laptop, and ps3 is d'loadig demos and such, and no problems - quite impressed overall.