Cell C Network Issues: Disconnects, Coverage, Throughput Problems - Report Here

Location (address were you stay narrow down): Esther Roberts Road, Glenwood, Durban
Time of issue: All the time really
Device: E1820
Contract Type: pre paid(paid 3k on april 1st)
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: 1358652
Speedtest Result: tried to do one now and page time out....
Any other information relevant to the problem: Well its been like this since the end of april-beginning of may. Has trouble staying connected for more than 10 minutes or is very inconsistent with speeds. IT opens half a webpage blisteringly quickly and then takes ages too load the rest of the page
Tower: 30551
RSSI: -81db- 77db
RAT: HSPA +
I've pmed you before AM, at the end of April already, you then phoned me and promised to help sort it out. I've had this help desk number for about 3 weeks now, and nothing has come of it. A technician was promised to come out to my place. I blame the holidays and i know there were alot in the past 2 weeks, but you can understand my frustration when i cant stay connected when all the signal strength indicators says i can. I know you had a big meeting with the bosses yesterday, maybe some feedback(if your allowed to that is?) I really need to sort this out and I was promised that a technician would come out to where i live so a they can see the situation and can recommend what i do and. If that still fails i must return this speedstick and get mtn or vodacom or whatever as the full services promised were not delivered and get my full refund - minus the data i've so far used. And i will not pay a "handling" fee for a device when its obviously not the devices fault, but the network.
 
Location: Trichardt Rd, Lyttelton, Centurion
Time of issue: Started happening on May 3, 2011
Device (Huawei / ZTE): Huawei E1820
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): 2x prepaid 5GB SIMs
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: None (haven't logged anything yet)
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): 3G (blue light) while idle, it seems, but then always switches to HSPA+ (cyan light) as soon as there is traffic, and then goes back to 3G again when idle for a short period (a few seconds). It's been doing that from day 1, though.
www.speedtest.net results (if possible): http://www.speedtest.net/result/1281317561.png
Cell ID (if possible): 22492
RSSI (if possible): -73dBm

Any other information relevant to the problem:

Web pages have started timing out intermittently. Just now I had to refresh 3 times before I was able to load the mybroadband.co.za website. The first two times only "Connecting to mybroadband.co.za..." showed in my browser and then it eventually timed out ("The connection has timed out. The server at mybroadband.co.za is taking too long to respond"). When it did finally load, it took almost a minute. This is the first time I have had such an issue. Web pages have always loaded very fast for me in the past.

A traceroute done immediately after the first timeout:

C:\>tracert -d mybroadband.co.za
Unable to resolve target system name mybroadband.co.za.

Tried a second time right after that, and then it did resolve:

C:\>tracert -d mybroadband.co.za

Tracing route to mybroadband.co.za [41.203.21.137]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 * * * Request timed out.
2 203 ms 209 ms 109 ms 41.157.83.14
3 * 144 ms 69 ms 10.0.238.34
4 459 ms 159 ms 189 ms 41.157.83.14
5 * * * Request timed out.
6 * * * Request timed out.

Ping test done right after that:

C:\>ping mybroadband.co.za

Pinging mybroadband.co.za [41.203.21.137] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 41.203.21.137: bytes=32 time=477ms TTL=53
Reply from 41.203.21.137: bytes=32 time=67ms TTL=53
Reply from 41.203.21.137: bytes=32 time=477ms TTL=53
Reply from 41.203.21.137: bytes=32 time=87ms TTL=53

C:\>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : SarelSeemonster-PC
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

PPP adapter Cell C:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Cell C
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 197.169.xx.xxx(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 41.157.83.51
41.157.83.50
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

Mobile Broadband adapter Mobile Broadband Connection 2:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : HUAWEI Mobile Connect - 3G Network Card #
2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1E-10-1F-C6-C7
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
 
Location: Sunninghill, Johannesburg
Time of issue: 19:25 2011-05-04 (ongoing since mid april see http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthr...wer-problems?p=5958000&viewfull=1#post5958000)
Device (Huawei / ZTE): Huawei 1820
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): Prepaid
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk:
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): HSPA+
www.speedtest.net results (if possible): http://www.speedtest.net/result/1281398282.png and http://www.speedtest.net/result/1281415308.png
Cell ID (if possible): 19172
RSSI (if possible): -70 dbm
Any other information relevant to the problem:

Latency is very inconsistent:
Ping statistics for 41.72.143.60:
Packets: Sent = 50, Received = 50, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 42ms, Maximum = 111ms, Average = 59ms
 
Tracing route to mybroadband.co.za [41.203.21.137]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.1.1
2 * * * Request timed out.
3 * * * Request timed out.
4 * * * Request timed out.
5 1466 ms 179 ms 79 ms 41.157.83.14
6 * * * Request timed out.
7 * * * Request timed out.
8 * * * Request timed out.
9 * * * Request timed out.
10 * * * Request timed out.
11 * * * Request timed out.
12 * * * Request timed out.
13 * * * Request timed out.
14 * * * Request timed out.
15 * * * Request timed out.
16 167 ms 158 ms 159 ms 41.203.21.137

Trace complete.
 
Location: Kenridge, Cape Town
Time of issue: last few days
Device (Huawei / ZTE): Black Cell C modem
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): prepaid
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: n/a (haven't bothered phoning yet - heard it's pointless)
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): Not 3G
www.speedtest.net results (if possible): 0.7 mbps download, 0.20 mbps upload, ping: 268 ms
Cell ID (if possible): not sure
RSSI (if possible): not sure
Any other information relevant to the problem: problems with coverage, throughput

Okay, this might be a tad long, and I stumbled through the above info, but I figured I should post this here. Anyway:

Recently my former ISP shut up shop and I had to look for another net solution. I'd been on dialup (eeek!) for five years (supplemented by MTN data bundles) and was sick and tired of it. I wanted to go broadband. But after past hassles with Telkom, I didn't want anything to do with them or their ADSL. According to the online DSL checker, I wasn't able to get a line put in, but I didn't bother following this up with Telkom.

So I thought about wireless, and I had three options: Cell C, MTN, or Vodacom. I was leaning towards Vodacom, seeing as my brother hasn't had any coverage problems with them (and I haven't had much in the way of coverage problems with MTN in the past, seeing as I think there's a tower just up the hill from where I live), but then I read about speculation that Vodacom was trying to con consumers into a 24 month contract, even though there was an option to opt out after the 13th month and all that. They supposedly altered their T&Cs, but after that, I thought "stuff that!" I'll go with Cell C then.

No contracts, and I can buy it prepaid. No worries about OOB rates, and other factors.

I went to Cell C in Tygervalley on Saturday to purchase the 5 GB per month Cell C black speedstick (I think that's what it's called). I bought it prepaid, and got my modem. I took it home, read through the manuals that were included.

It was the last day of the month, so the salesman, Rudi, said he would connect me the next day, Sunday, which was the first day of the month no less.

I got my number and password that morning. I had some trouble setting up my modem. It doesn't seem to like being removed when not using it, and then replaced later on. I had to do two or three reinstalls with the modem, and eventually settled for a USB port at the back of the tower instead of the more high traffic area with my two USB ports at the front. I just leave the thing in.

Problem solved, it seems.

I also had some trouble trying to set up my modem connection settings, but I read that it was best to just use the defaults that came with the install process; that it was just plug and play. I went online on Sunday and had a wonderful time. It was quite fast (not sure how fast though) - I only used speedtest.net later.

Monday afternoon it was all right, but that evening we had a thunderstorm. Could hardly get through; connection took ages to be established; throughput was barely anything at all. It was bloody slow. "Blame it on the weather", I thought.

Tuesday it was also slow. Hardly any 3G at all, whereas Sunday it was mainly 3G the whole time. Tried setting the modem to UMTS only, but couldn't get any service - no signal at all. Switched back to automatic. Got stuck with EDGE for the rest of the day. That's what you get when you complain.:D

I tried moving my PC tower closer to the window, seeing as I've read about walls and the like blocking signals. It seemed to improve the signal, but it was still on EDGE. Speeds were above dialup, but still not satisfied.

Wednesday. Still stuck with EDGE; slow; throughput not so great. Connection often halts. I'm not dropped (that's only happened once), but just no throughput at times.

I'm looking into trying manual network connections and playing around with UMTS only again. I'm also thinking of getting a USB extension to get the modem near the window, and away from the PC, seeing as they say that other cables and such can interfere with your signal. There's also a phone on the desk, which I've moved away from the modem. Little things that they say can have an impact. I've unfortunately got these big burglar bars on the window, and I've read that metallic surfaces and the like can mess around with signals. I would try a laptop and even sit on the roof of the house if I could. Will look into borrowing one from my brother.

I'm also looking at 3G routers, and I had a gander at a thread here about coverage in Durbanville/Kenridge not being so good. It seems according to the coverage map of the end of 2010, we're near the fringe of the red zone. I saw that at least one fella in D'ville had good results with a USB extension, 3G router, and connecting his setup from the router to the TV antennae - however that works.

I'm still within my 7 Day "trial" period. Rudi at T/V said to my brother that I had 7 WORKING days to bring it back, but I've been advised to bring it in after 7 normal weekly days, seeing as they'll try and argue about it. I'm right in saying that even the R200 handling fee will be waived seeing as I'm supposed to get coverage, but clearly it's not that great.

What are your thoughts? Should I try some signal-improving techniques? Take the modem back and try for a refund (read that it takes ages)? Hang it out with Cell C, and if still not happy weeks or months later, go to the Consumer Forum? Go with another provider like Vodacom or MTN? Try for ADSL with Telkom instead?

I've heard that the situation might improve seeing as there are new Cell C towers being put up within the next few weeks. Heard that it was more up in Springbok, might gradually come down this way.

I walked into the whole wireless game without knowing much, and I'm only really learning about it as I go, over the past few days. Just not sure I made the right decision here guys. Help me on what to do. Time's running out on this trial period.

Sorry for the essay.
 
Location: Northcliff, Randburg
Time of issue: since early this morning (04/05/2011)
Device (Huawei / ZTE): E1820
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): prepaid
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: n/a (haven't bothered phoning yet - it's pointless)
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): HSPA+
www.speedtest.net results (if possible): not possible
Cell ID (if possible): 12292
RSSI (if possible): -87dBm
Any other information relevant to the problem: modem connects but no throughput at all
 
I hope somebody at Cell C is really going to read this. Looks like the last few posts haven't received any attention. Well here goes:

Location: Greenstone (Edenvale), Gauteng
Time of issue: 28 April 2011
Device (Huawei / ZTE): Black Speed Stick (Cell C MF668)
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): Prepaid
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: n/a (have emailed with no response yet)
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): HSPA+

www.speedtest.net results (if possible): 0.78 Mbps down, 0.2 Mbps up, ping 236 ms [all values vary a lot]

Cell ID (if possible): 000100214 [this is the "Pack Number" on the box]
RSSI (if possible): n/a [not same dashboard/layout so I can't see it]

Any other information relevant to the problem: Without being too long winded, obviously the connection speeds are nowhere near the 21Mbps promised. Obviously its exceptionally fast, but with an average download speed of 0.8 Mpbs, it goes without saying that its not acceptable. Furthermore I have a seriously temperamental connection. Sometimes it is so slow it times out and disconnects automatically. Other times I have to wait around 5 minutes for it to reach surf-able speeds. Very annoying when trying to Skype, etc.

According to the menu, I have 5 bars of signal and I am connected to HSPA+ so I can't see why the connection is so terrible? Please help Cell C. I've only had it for about a week and considering I paid R 3000 up front, I expect somebody to at least get back to me about the issue.
 
Location: Bellville, Cape Town
Time of issue: 4 May 2011
Device (Huawei / ZTE): Black Speed Stick
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): Prepaid
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: logged calls previously, but helpdesk is just useless, so have not bothered.
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): HSPA+

www.speedtest.net results (if possible): 1.2 Mbps down, 0.03 Mbps up, ping 160 ms (all values change a lot, not consistent at all)

Cell ID (if possible): unknown
RSSI (if possible): -65 (usually -78)

Any other information relevant to the problem: Usually speeds are fine (except ping jumps around a lot) until today. Ping shown from speed test is not accurate. Playing online games today gives me a ping that varies from +-250 to timeout.
 
Stasoft said:
Location: Summerstrand , Port Elizabeth
Device: Black Cell C modem E1820
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): Prepaid
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: n/a
www.speedtest.net results (if possible): http://www.speedtest.net/result/1279250493.png
1279250493.png


My problem is not the speed,but the constant disconnects all the time. It is not specific to a particular laptop or PC etc.
I have had more than 8 disconnects just this morning. I am very fast loosing faith in this product.

*edit* It is now so bad that I can't keep a connection at all for longer than 15 mins. Switched over to wired lan now.
Click to expand...

*update 05 May 2011* It is not possible for me to keep a stable connection at the moment. I have been disconnected 4 times in less than 20 mins now
 
gifs said:
Location: Northcliff, Randburg
Time of issue: since early this morning (04/05/2011)
Device (Huawei / ZTE): E1820
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): prepaid
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: n/a (haven't bothered phoning yet - it's pointless)
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): HSPA+
www.speedtest.net results (if possible): not possible
Cell ID (if possible): 12292
RSSI (if possible): -87dBm
Any other information relevant to the problem: modem connects but no throughput at all
Click to expand...

Update: Internet was working again this morning, let's see how long it lasts.
 
duk3 said:
Location: Kenridge, Cape Town
Time of issue: last few days
Device (Huawei / ZTE): Black Cell C modem
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): prepaid
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: n/a (haven't bothered phoning yet - heard it's pointless)
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): Not 3G
www.speedtest.net results (if possible): 0.7 mbps download, 0.20 mbps upload, ping: 268 ms
Cell ID (if possible): not sure
RSSI (if possible): not sure
Any other information relevant to the problem: problems with coverage, throughput
Click to expand...

http://speedtest.net/result/1280002958.png
http://speedtest.net/result/1282498647.png

Seems to be a bit better now. I'm using an extension cable to get it to the window, away from the PC. First stable 3G connection for days. Speed could still be a lot better though. Better than it was by miles however. Like was said before, we'll see how long it lasts. It's got today and Friday to stay like this or get better, otherwise I'll have to take it back.

Bought the cable today, and I also looked into a 3G router, but the Netgear ones don't support Cell C from the sound of it.
 
Last edited:
gifs said:
Update: Internet was working again this morning, let's see how long it lasts.
Click to expand...

Mine is on EDGE :/

I haven't used it for 3 days ; return and it's on EDGE. I guess better than the 0 I got for 10 days.

Any guys in Randburg and surrounds do NOT get Cell C.
 
Location: Hyde Park
Time of issue: 19:10
Device: White Cell C modem
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): Prepaid
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: n/a
www.speedtest.net results (if possible): n/a
Any other information relevant to the problem: No throughput every evening. Clearly Capacity Issue. Test with VC 3G and it flies.
 
Last edited:
Location (address were you stay narrow down):Parklands Cape Town
Time of issue: All day
Device: White 7,2mbps
Contract Type: Pre-Paid
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk:1105054260 forgot the older one
Speedtest Result: http://www.speedtest.net/result/1282978737.png
Any other information relevant to the problem: The best speed i get is 1.1mbps which lasts for a few seconds.
Cell id:40633
RSSI:-79dBm
RAT:HSPA+

I average 10kbps and 200kbps on a good day. This from 2mbps in Feb.
 
Dolby said:
Mine is on EDGE :/

I haven't used it for 3 days ; return and it's on EDGE. I guess better than the 0 I got for 10 days.

Any guys in Randburg and surrounds do NOT get Cell C.
Click to expand...

My connection appears a little more stable than last night, but still disconnects every few minutes (better than the few seconds I had since the weekend). So I assume something has been done on the towers, but it is still not close to where it was, and even further from where it should be.
 
Good day All

I have taking all detail down and am looking into it, have log area TT.
Please keep posting as you do, as it help a lot
thank you for the effort

Regards
~AM~
 
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