Bandluxe C120 and Mecer(?) WM726 Problems

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rrejustin

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I have just taken out the 8ta 10GIG for R199 per month. (2 contracts in fact) I checked coverage - they checked in store - ALL GOOD so I took the plunge - First mistake.....I think that this article is true below cost broadband battle

I have 2 modems (both from Mecer) Bandluxe C120 HSDPA 7.2Mbps and a Mecer(?) WM726 21Mbps the latter cost me less than R500 - neither of these were able to detect signal on the network - MTN/Vodacom no problem. So I forked out the R700 bucks for the Huawei E367 from 8ta and can now connect. All the specs on the Mecer indicate it should work - identical to the Huawei w.r.t. frequencies etc. COuld even come out the same factory?

Connect with Huawei via 8ta connect software - signal seems so low that its only connecting on EDGE! so obviously I will need to get an antenna? Of course the guys at 8.ta take their ques from telkom and are about as helpful. Hence the reason I bought the Huawei.

Has anybody had experience with the above mentioned Mecer (OEM) modems and 8ta - how did you get connected.
Any advice on boosting the signal? which antenna (poynting?)

I would appreciate any advice.
 
Hi rrejusin i took the 10GB contract last week as well. When i got home i couldn't connect tried everything without luck. I took the sim card back to Telkom direct, they did a sim swap, everything works perfectly now.
 
Thanks I'll try push for a Sim swap - wasn't an option by the counter sales - rather sold me another modem....my issue is now that although I should be sitting in the middle of 3G heaven according to the website I only get EDGE speeds
 
According to online coverage map my area is not covered i took a risk and took out the contract knowing that if it doesn't i can still use it at work. I couldn't pick up the connection anywhere i went even in areas supposedly covered, that's when i decided to take the SIM card back to them, it turned out the SIM was the problem. I get speeds even at home where according to their map I'm not covered.
 
brettwlewis said:
My signal in my home office is very grotty just with the option 505 modem I bought here - http://www.3gmodems.co.za/.

So I bought a router, antenna and patch cord here - http://www.dbg.co.za/product_info.php?cPath=32_35&products_id=663.

Now, with the roof mounted antenna I get a 40-50% signal (per the router). And I get up to 4mbps down and 1mbps up. I'm happy.
Click to expand...

Thanks I have managed to get 3G signal now out in the yard - damn old corrugated iron roofing. I think I'll defiantly sort myself out with the antenna as suggested.
 
rrejustin said:
Thanks I'll try push for a Sim swap - wasn't an option by the counter sales - rather sold me another modem....my issue is now that although I should be sitting in the middle of 3G heaven according to the website I only get EDGE speeds
Click to expand...

Strange, I did not know the 8ta towers had EDGE(2g).
 
DuCy said:
According to online coverage map my area is not covered i took a risk and took out the contract knowing that if it doesn't i can still use it at work. I couldn't pick up the connection anywhere i went even in areas supposedly covered, that's when i decided to take the SIM card back to them, it turned out the SIM was the problem. I get speeds even at home where according to their map I'm not covered.
Click to expand...

I decided to go for the new 8.ta prepaid deal R149 for 2GB anytime + 1GB midnight-to-five data because according to their coverage map my flat couldn't get signal. As you did, I thought "...that if it doesn't i can still use it at work". But I got home, plugged the 3G card into my router and no problems! I got 6Mb d/l 1Mb u/l and 110ms ping! Awesome...now I'm going to sign up for the "Go Big 10GB" contract.

I think everyone who experienced the (no connecting until taking the sim back to store) issue is due to the lack of knowledge of the store clerks when you purchase the data bundle. According to the clerk I spoke to, they have to provision the cards first for "pure 8.ta" network usage. IOW, normally when they issue sims for voice they are allowed to piggy back off MTN's network, but when you take the 10GB contract or the 2GB+1GB prepaid package it works solely off 8.ta's network and that's why you have to sign a disclaimer (and do a mandatory coverage check) before they grant you the data package.
 
Great post Silvatyrant. Cleared things up for me. Wish we had a "thank poster" button on our forum. Just 1 question - if I want voice as well, I should get a seperate SIM for that, then?
 
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