Cell C black speedstick problem narrowed down.....but what now?

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Jacques_mybb

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Oct 7, 2010
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230
RichardG said:
Seems like you do have a faulty dongle - I have 2 Black dongles 1 working perfectly without any errors or disconnecting(It has been connected 7 days non-stop so far) and have another 1 that is giving me endless problems (only connected to the network/internet for about 1 minute) then automatically gets disconnected unplugged - then windows detects the USB again..

If we could flush the firmware on the dongle and re-install it ourselves this would probably solve the problem you are experiencing.
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I actually flashed the modem with new firmware that I found on the international huawei forums, but had to revert back to the old ones as the modem couldn't connect to 3G anymore. But in order to revert I needed a flash code that I obtained from another site, just can't remember now...will look for the link though.

The 2 modems that you have, are they running the same firmware? If they are then I guess my modem is screwed.....
 
B

BGE

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I think the modems are overheating, which is, in turn, damaging the unit... hence why they worked fine at the start, then after some use they become problematic! Once again I believe that CellC knows exactly what's happening, but don't know exactly what to do about it, replacing the modem can be a costly affair! I wonder if they are following the prescribed specs for setting up the cell base stations, if the stations are too sparely spread out, this could mean weak signal, which means the modem has to run full power when transmitting, since causing too much heat??

Mr B... that's my conspiracy theory for the day!
 
R

RichardG

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Jacques_mybb said:
The 2 modems that you have, are they running the same firmware? If they are then I guess my modem is screwed.....
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Both of them are running the same firmware version software even tried to re-install the firmware version on the dongle now, same problem seems after 1-2minute of use the dongle decided to not be discovered then discovered again plug n play - un play n play....

If your dongle disconnects after 1-3minutes of use then your dongle is faulty, going to take it into a cell c branch tomorrow and wait for them to send me 1 back which will take probably 2-3weeks or months waiting :(

Happy to report my number 1 black dongle was on for 7 days non-stop decided to go off as the RSSI levels are now fluctuating...

@BGE - I agree with you but this is a brand new dongle wasn't even able to use it for 5minutes or more use.


Dongle Number 1 uses a USB extension and happy to report since using USB extension I haven't disconnected from the base station.
 
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Dave_LF

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Oct 12, 2010
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how to solve the heat issue

Hey guys, actually had to pop my voda sim in just to be able to view this thread... my Black super Cell C modem could not even manage that.

What i have found to resolve the heat issue, since the entire units case is plastic which is a terrible disapator of heat, is remove the sim cover and use it like that, problem solved.

I too have had terrible bandwidth issues, struggle to open a local website. I have managed to get my issue escalated to theh GM @ Cell C, they have engineers coming to inspect the base station where i peer into.

Which is all good, but this morning i did speedtest @ 7am below,
http://www.speedtest.net/result/1158023675.png

this afternoon tried to do that same thing, could not even get onto the site.

Soo i'd probs say they will find nothing wrong with the Base station, i fortunately know a fair amount about GSM coms, i QA'd the national roads rollout in 94/95 for Vodacom.

Cell C dont have base station issues, its not a signal issue, the problem is pure, they have bandwidth issues, how fast can they resolve this, well i found out today they are going to extend the Black Speed stick special for a few more months, what this means for us, well if you are even able to get onto the website you'll be lucky. It will get worse alot worse, until Cell C address the issue at hand - MORE bandwidth.

Simple terms take 100 desktops and cable them into a switch which is connected onto an adsl line and see how good the internet experience is, now do the same with 10 desktops. This is purely as an example to demonstrate the problem Cell C has.

They need to come clean, and fast, the more we spam here, and the more people see it, the fewer there will be in the same situation as us - Contracted and stuck.

Its really crappy to have to make posts like this on a South African company which are advertising all sorts of good things, and bringing such huge expectations to the potential client, sad really sad.

PS : if you cant see this post, then take your cell c sim out and use anything else.
 
A

ajax

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Oct 29, 2003
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5,605
Dave_LF said:
What i have found to resolve the heat issue, since the entire units case is plastic which is a terrible disapator of heat, is remove the sim cover and use it like that, problem solved.
Click to expand...

Yes, I also run mine without the sim cover. The sim isn't going to just fall out magically anyway.

I am worried about them extending the special. They can't magically overnight triple backhaul capacity. And with more users connecting in the same area means those in the fringe areas of coverage will just see their signal strengths decrease over time until no connection can be made. Tonight e.g. I am reading 10dB less than what I usually get on average. Looks like I will be making a bigger corner reflector soon.
 
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avanie

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Well after another night's worth of testing and having baught a earial from Poynting (now getting a full signal on the windows meter and not the lying celc tool)
The bad performance and disconnects are still with me. the modem is still getting soo hot that it starts disconnecting even with the earial.
I have switched sims, putting my MTN sim in the CellC black dongle.. again it massively overheated and started disconnecting (this is on a second loan unit, new out of the box)
if i put my cellC sim in my MTN dongle i just get my regular disconnects and not the overheating.

This modem is a piece of crap.. wanted to buy a powered 3g router but Poynting was out of stock... that will be my next move.
 
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Jacques_mybb

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avanie said:
Well after another night's worth of testing and having baught a earial from Poynting (now getting a full signal on the windows meter and not the lying celc tool)
The bad performance and disconnects are still with me. the modem is still getting soo hot that it starts disconnecting even with the earial.
I have switched sims, putting my MTN sim in the CellC black dongle.. again it massively overheated and started disconnecting (this is on a second loan unit, new out of the box)
if i put my cellC sim in my MTN dongle i just get my regular disconnects and not the overheating.

This modem is a piece of crap.. wanted to buy a powered 3g router but Poynting was out of stock... that will be my next move.
Click to expand...

Did some testing last night, but results are the same, it works for 5 minutes and disconnects, then I can only use for like a minute or so. If I force edge it stays connected and wprks great but the speed is very bad. There is basically one option left and that is to return it. Avanie, please let me now what happens with the router.
 
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avanie

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I ordered the router, will only receive it next week some time..but will try and post the results at that time.
 
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Jacques_mybb

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I can now confirm that heat is causing the modem to disconnect and I suspect it is slowly killing the unit. After trying all kinds of methods to try and stay connected for more than 5 minutes I decided to think of a way in which I can cool the modem in order to see if that helps. So.... I took a damp cloth and tightly wrapped it around the modem and there it is....... no disconnects, for the first time I could play online more than 5 minutes! I am returning this piece of crap over the weekend and I will demand a refund so I can buy a router or modem that works.
 
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RichardG

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Jacques_mybb said:
I can now confirm that heat is causing the modem to disconnect and I suspect it is slowly killing the unit. After trying all kinds of methods to try and stay connected for more than 5 minutes I decided to think of a way in which I can cool the modem in order to see if that helps. So.... I took a damp cloth and tightly wrapped it around the modem and there it is....... no disconnects, for the first time I could play online more than 5 minutes! I am returning this piece of crap over the weekend and I will demand a refund so I can buy a router or modem that works.
Click to expand...

There we go you have confirmed the problem exactly as I suspected that the heat is causing the modem to disconnect after 5minutes of use, then reconnect after 1minute of use. - Lars will be sending over a technician not sure when and on another thread it seems CELL C are going to use another supplier for the dongles (I don't want to spread rumours) also if you read MTN Forum, many folks are complaining about this E1820 if you able to get it to work.. I know the E1752 modems work without any issues...

Jacques_mybb send lars a PM if you don't come right/they can probably exchange it OBF.
 
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