Cannot connect to 4Gs network!

J

Jonnyboy

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Hi

Im in need of help please.

Just tossed my vodacom voadafone 3G, to upgrade to Cell-C 4G. Seems like I was better off with Vodacom 3G.

I cannot seem to connect to the 4G Cell-C network. It only connects to EDGE? It is extremely slow. Did a test on Speedtest.net and here the results:
Download speed 0.2 kbps
Upload speed 0.04 kbps

When I bought my 4G 24 gig package (the R1499 package as advertised on TV), they said my area, Scottburgh, KZN was covered for 4G. I checked it myself and it shows Scottburgh to be in the very dark red zone ie. that 4G is in my area, but I can only connect to EDGE?

Please can someone help? It really annoys me when you buy a product and it doesn't do what it says it will.

Thanks
 
I have a feeling you work for Vodacom lol. kidding mate. have you tried the call center? give them a call
 
Well seems for the last hour or so I can't get 3.75g either, just Edge :( Was fine up to about 10am and then it just dropped.
 
If you have a notebook perhaps go stand outside to see if the signal improves at all. Otherwise take a trip to the store where you bought it (with the notebook) and see what you signal looks like there. It might also be worth taking a read through this thread to see if you are affect but this bug: http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/272499-Stuck-on-EDGE-unable-to-switch-to-3G

PS. These are the ramifications of CellC's confusing marketing system. They have a 3.75G network not 4G, but by calling it 4Gs the average person assumes it's 4G.
 
Just to confirm ....are you using CellC's USB dongle or the CellC Data SIM in your Vodacom 3G dongle to connect?
 
It's hard to know what signal is like unless you try it. Maybe get a PAYG Cell-C sim and see what it does on your cellphone first before commiting to a contract.
 
MyView said:
No Mobile Network offers 4G in South Africa...
Click to expand...

A useless atatement that does not help the OP. Don't think he cares about the network specification.

TerrorBite said:
Just to confirm ....are you using CellC's USB dongle or the CellC Data SIM in your Vodacom 3G dongle to connect?
Click to expand...

We need more info:
1. What dongle/usb stick? (if cell c branded: did you install the drivers correctly? Make sure you use a usb port at the back of the PC as some usb ports on the front of PC's have insufficient power to run the dongle or have special cards in the PC to make them work)
2. Are you seeing edge on your phone or on the cell c branded software that comes with the dongle? (mines says WCDMA and shows HSPA+ when connected)
3. What did Customer support say? (did you speak to Technical department, what you can do is put the SIM in a phone and phone customer support 140 and than ask for technical department, than give them your phone number (not the sim card number) and they will phone you back to trouble shoot the problem.
4. Also immediately notify the cell c shop that you are having a problem, so that they can log it. remeber the 7 day return policy. Clarify the last date of return and ask them to followup on the problem and to call you back later in the day to let you know whats going on? This important as if the device/sim is broken than they need to replace it as an Out-of-bundle failure which takes 14 days to rectify but just say you find that unacceptable and that they should just give you a new bundle while they fix the old one (They can phone customer service to get clearance to do this).
5. If you know someone with a working bundle ask them to please test it out at your home to see if they get HSPA+ coverage> If not let technical department know. And let them know that mits thier fault that they advertised coverage there isn't any so that they either fix it or they accept a return without handling fees. BTW make sure you get this done beore the 7 day limit reached.

PM cell_c about your problem.

not one of us work for cell c but we want you to solve your problem as the more customers cell c has the better the service will be.
 
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I don't get why people would take out 2 year contracts or purchase a 24Gig bundle without checking whether they can connect to the network first

step 1) buy a sim - it's only R2
step 2) put 20 bucks airtime on it.
step 3) test the service - check whether you have decent reception.

easy, isn't it?
 
Keeper said:
I don't get why people would take out 2 year contracts or purchase a 24Gig bundle without checking whether they can connect to the network first

step 1) buy a sim - it's only R2
step 2) put 20 bucks airtime on it.
step 3) test the service - check whether you have decent reception.

easy, isn't it?
Click to expand...

if those sims where 3G enabled
 
Well, if they advertise availability in your area it should be available, not?
 
If there is coverage in your area, you should at worst be able to pick it up with an antenna.
 
Keeper said:
I don't get why people would take out 2 year contracts or purchase a 24Gig bundle without checking whether they can connect to the network first

step 1) buy a sim - it's only R2
step 2) put 20 bucks airtime on it.
step 3) test the service - check whether you have decent reception.

easy, isn't it?
Click to expand...

As wndrbees points out only the SIMs sold with the data promotion are provisioned for the 3G network. You cannot check for signal with a PAYG SIM, it will only connect at EDGE speeds.
 
MightyMuffinMan said:
A useless atatement that does not help the OP. Don't think he cares about the network specification.



We need more info:
1. What dongle/usb stick? (if cell c branded: did you install the drivers correctly? Make sure you use a usb port at the back of the PC as some usb ports on the front of PC's have insufficient power to run the dongle or have special cards in the PC to make them work)
It is the Cell C branded dongle that I got witht he package. It seems like all the drivers were installed correctly
2. Are you seeing edge on your phone or on the cell c branded software that comes with the dongle? (mines says WCDMA and shows HSPA+ when connected)
I see EDGE in the bottom left hand corner on the Cell C branded software that comes witht the dongle
3. What did Customer support say? (did you speak to Technical department, what you can do is put the SIM in a phone and phone customer support 140 and than ask for technical department, than give them your phone number (not the sim card number) and they will phone you back to trouble shoot the problem.
I did call. The said my sim wasn't registered in the Cell C 3G network. So they registered it, but still can't connect to the 3G network!
4. Also immediately notify the cell c shop that you are having a problem, so that they can log it. remeber the 7 day return policy. Clarify the last date of return and ask them to followup on the problem and to call you back later in the day to let you know whats going on? This important as if the device/sim is broken than they need to replace it as an Out-of-bundle failure which takes 14 days to rectify but just say you find that unacceptable and that they should just give you a new bundle while they fix the old one (They can phone customer service to get clearance to do this).
Well I have one day left. I bought it on 13/10/2010
5. If you know someone with a working bundle ask them to please test it out at your home to see if they get HSPA+ coverage> If not let technical department know. And let them know that mits thier fault that they advertised coverage there isn't any so that they either fix it or they accept a return without handling fees. BTW make sure you get this done beore the 7 day limit reached.
I don't have any friends with this :)
PM cell_c about your problem.

I've just been all around Scottburgh, and I cannot pick up Cell C 3G anywhere!
I tried to maually search for network under: settings>network
it actually doesn't pick up Cell C 3G
it only picks up: Cell C 2G, Voda 2G/3G, MTN 2G, SA02 3G

I tried clicking on voda 2G/3G, and then refreshing networks, but it still can't seem to find Cell C 3G??

Really frustrating!
Gonna try call Cell C again :)
hope this info helps

Thanks for all the replies, u guys r a great help!
Click to expand...
 
Hi Jonny,

Jonnyboy said:
I've just been all around Scottburgh, and I cannot pick up Cell C 3G anywhere!
I tried to maually search for network under: settings>network
it actually doesn't pick up Cell C 3G
it only picks up: Cell C 2G, Voda 2G/3G, MTN 2G, SA02 3G

I tried clicking on voda 2G/3G, and then refreshing networks, but it still can't seem to find Cell C 3G??
Click to expand...

Just to make sure,
When you clicked on voda (2G)(3G) did you click on register and wait for it to fail and then refresh again?
 
maybe he should set his modem to "3G only"...would that help?
 
wndrbees said:
Hi Jonny,



Just to make sure,
When you clicked on voda (2G)(3G) did you click on register and wait for it to fail and then refresh again?
Click to expand...

Hi,
Yeah I clicked Voda (2G)(3G), then waited for it to fail and then clicked refresh. Still no Cell-C 3G network, only C-Cell 2G.Spoke to Cell-C they said there is coverage in my area, and they are apparently registering my sim on the Cell-C 3G network...so frustrating, cause the way things are going with these guys, im guessing it won't work!
 
Jonnyboy said:
Hi,
Yeah I clicked Voda (2G)(3G), then waited for it to fail and then clicked refresh. Still no Cell-C 3G network, only C-Cell 2G.Spoke to Cell-C they said there is coverage in my area, and they are apparently registering my sim on the Cell-C 3G network...so frustrating, cause the way things are going with these guys, im guessing it won't work!
Click to expand...

Registration issues from their side... I hope they sort you out soon man.
 
Keeper said:
I don't get why people would take out 2 year contracts or purchase a 24Gig bundle without checking whether they can connect to the network first

step 1) buy a sim - it's only R2
step 2) put 20 bucks airtime on it.
step 3) test the service - check whether you have decent reception.

easy, isn't it?
Click to expand...

Only data bundles can access HSPA+ but you can purchase an data bundlke sim and have the serice loaded on a standard 64K sim so that your cell phone can access HSUPA eg for an Iphone 3/4.

Jonnyboy said:
What did Customer support say? (did you speak to Technical department, what you can do is put the SIM in a phone and phone customer support 140 and than ask for technical department, than give them your phone number (not the sim card number) and they will phone you back to trouble shoot the problem.
I did call. The said my sim wasn't registered in the Cell C 3G network. So they registered it, but still can't connect to the 3G network!
4. Also immediately notify the cell c shop that you are having a problem, so that they can log it. remeber the 7 day return policy. Clarify the last date of return and ask them to followup on the problem and to call you back later in the day to let you know whats going on? This important as if the device/sim is broken than they need to replace it as an Out-of-bundle failure which takes 14 days to rectify but just say you find that unacceptable and that they should just give you a new bundle
Click to expand...

Ok you got one day left. Very important to take it back tomorrow because they saying that the problem is on thier side so... do what I did... phone customer care today and tell them it still not working and can you have your bundle swapped with a new one as you have only one day left in the 7 day period and you have not truly tested the product as yet. they must either extend the 7 day period or offer to replace it so you can test it. the tech guys are quite cool and when I phoned he suggested that they replace the bundle for me so ask your tech guy to give the go ahead. tomorrow morning phone the cell c shop and tell them to sort out the mess and tell them you will arriving around lunch time to pick up the new bundle if the tech guy agreed to have it swapped (make sure they swap the sim as it is the problem): and you want answers because the product never worked from day one and that the technical support says there is a problem with the sim.

When you get there they must tell you what they are planning to do to solve your problem. if they can't replace the sim card (which is what they did for me, they swapped the entire bundle) than you must ask them to either log a Out-of-bundle failure or cancel it (if you cancel you have to pay the handling fee but in this case it should be waived as they having a problem on thier side.)

I would not suggest keeping it with out confirming your HSPA+ coverage yourself past the 7 day limit as you end up without coverage and you lose your right to return it for a full refund. It safer to log an Out-of-bundle failure tomorrow if the problem not fixed to protect your right to return the product for a full refund. Also if they give you an entire new bundle to try out tomorrow than ask the salesperson if they will log a out-of-bundle failure for you via telephone (before closing time) if you phone in and say it still not working (the cell c shop offered me to log the out of bundle failure via phone call because I could not make it to the shop on day 6 and 7. and I would take it to them on day 9 when I had time, They warned me that the out-of-bundle failure must be logged by them on day 7 before closing time not day 8).

if you got a laptop take it so that if they swap the entire bundle you can test in in the shop.

PM Cell_C ( I sent him a copy of the thread link)

It alot of effort but worth it when you get it to work. just remember if they dont want to swap the bundle or extend the 7 day period you should log an out-of-bundle failure.
 
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