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

[Brunette Babe]

Very ungentlemanly behaviour !

Thank you Porsche Driver

 

[Solitude]

He's got a point though Brunette Babe. Logically, even if the network is working fine for you, that doesn't mean it's working fine for everyone.

Remember that Cell C's notice still stands:
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/507180-*IMPORTANT*-Cell-C-data-connection-problem-update

The Data connection problem that they are experiencing is still being fixed and there are still a lot of people being affected by it.

 

[Bundu]

Very ungentlemanly behaviour !

Brunette Babe

Location
I'm a doctor, I'm hot and I know it . . .

erm.... you can't believe all you read.... especially if it's supposedly professional and sexy but definitely tacky...

 

[kingrob]

Brunette Babe

Location
I'm a doctor, I'm hot and I know it . . .

erm.... you can't believe all you read.... especially if it's supposedly professional and sexy but definitely tacky...

Blonde babe might have explained it better.

 

[FlashSA]

Let's all take a step back for a second. As someone who recently ported to Cell C for the S4 deal, I have 2yrs with them ahead.

My thinking is that surely they will find the fix at some point? Maybe in a month? Maybe 6 months? But surely this won;t carry on forever?

Fortunately having wifi at home and work has saved me from frustration, but when I am out and about and at coffee shops \ restaurants without wifi I cringe as I can't even upload a photo to facebook sometimes....

 

[Sm00thSm0k3]

Network working just fine.

Don't generalize.

The existence of this thread is evidence enough that there are serious issues (throughput/congestion/backhaul/whatever) on the Cell C network. My Cell C data is virtually unusable in several of the Northern Joburg suburbs.

You are clearly one of the more fortunate customers.

 

[Sinbad]

Right now, speedtest.net can't even connect. HSPA+ connection, Sandton

 

[Sinbad]

 

[Brunette Babe]

Brunette Babe

Location
I'm a doctor, I'm hot and I know it . . .

erm.... you can't believe all you read.... especially if it's supposedly professional and sexy but definitely tacky...

Retarded comment from a retard !

 

[Bundu]

Retarded comment from a retard !

sooooo..... was I spot on?

 

[Bundu]

OK, so at the moment I have CellC, which runs out at the end of June and a two year 8ta contract

I need a backup for 8ta after end June, and have not used my CellC for some time, as 8ta has been super reliable - started using CellC again today, have excellent signal, but the throughput is cr^p, can't even watch a video - CellC used to be my main connection before 8ta and has always been good, but seems to have now gone to the dogs...

will see how things go, but VC or MTN will have to be my backup it seems - AKC WTF are you doing????

 

[Bundu]

Network Notices
none

Location specific Problems
HSPA+ Speeds in Gauteng Region - Known Issue (From Cell C)
Network Issues since January 1 - Western Cape
Slow upload speeds in Cape Town
Network Issues Stellenbosch
Brackenfell & Kraaifontein
3G speeds in the Berea Musgrave Morningside area

Known Problems
Stuck on EDGE, unable to switch to 3G (E1820 / E1752?)
Connected but no throughput
Constant Disconnects
Inbound Connections / Unrestricted APN
Cell C E1820 External Antenna Connector

Fix in place - Monitoring
none

Recently Resolved
Still connected but only able to access Cell C website
Data bundles not available 2011/02/07
Cell-C E1820/E1752 Dashboard Software "WCDMA only"
Motorola Defy from Red Bull Mobile doesn't have RBM portal Fix here: Setting up Android RBM

Self Help
1) Read the FAQ in this forum.
2) Read the Cell C FAQ.
3) Search this forum, and chances are your question has been answered before.

How To Report Issues
For reporting issues to Cell C Support
1) Call 084 155 5555 technical helpdesk, free from a Cell C SIM.
2) Mail online support on [email protected] or PM Cell_C with the following information (all fields mandatory, email preferred)
First and Last name:
Contact Number:
Email Address:
Number of effected SIM:
Type of service (pre- or post-paid):
Physical address, location or Coordinates:
Time of Issue:
Dongle / handset used, Make and Model:
What OS and version are you using on the connecting device (Windows / Mac / Linux):
www.speedtest.net results (if possible):
Full description of the problem with as much detail and history as possible:
Some questions to consider:

• Data Problem (GPRS/EDGE/3G)?
• Unable to connect to the Internet?
• Internet connection times out?
• Data throughput is very low (<100Kbps)?
• Data throughput is good but not excellent (<2Mbps)?
• Cannot access a specific site?
• Cannot access specific service (e.g. E-Mail, VPN or BlackBerry)?
• Is this a recurring problem?
• Have you called in the past Cell-C for the same problem?
• How long ago have you registered the same complaint?
• You know of anyone else that experiences the same issue?

For reporting New Problems in this thread (all the information is required)
Location:
Date & Time of Issue:
Device Manufacturer & Model (e.g. Huawei E1820, ZTE MF190, Not: Black Modem, White Modem):
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid):
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk:
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+):
www.speedtest.net results (if possible):
Cell ID (if possible):
RSSI (if possible, see How to check signal strength (RSSI))
Any other information relevant to the problem:

Moderator Note: Incomplete posts in this thread will be deleted. If you start a new thread to report network/data related issues without the required information it will be deleted. Do your bit to assist the rep so you can be helped in the most efficient manner.

Is there anybody home? what a farce!

 

[Mars]

Is the cell c rep still active here?

Ive been with cell c since january and I've just about had enough now. I cannot see how I am going to go through another year and a half of this crap.

I get constant disconnects, constant call failure and often people can simply not get hold of me. I phone my cell phone from my office line and it simply goes to voice mail.
Even calls to other cell c contract holders do not go through.

The prices are great, but are simply useless if the product does not function. I am going to have to somehow cancel this contract and move back to VC unless things get better drastically.

Please can you get hold of me with some kind of resolution.

MM

 

[MartyMarts]

Let's all take a step back for a second. As someone who recently ported to Cell C for the S4 deal, I have 2yrs with them ahead.

Same here...

My thinking is that surely they will find the fix at some point? Maybe in a month? Maybe 6 months? But surely this won;t carry on forever?

+1

Fortunately having wifi at home and work has saved me from frustration, but when I am out and about and at coffee shops \ restaurants without wifi I cringe as I can't even upload a photo to facebook sometimes....

+1

It's going to be a long two years if things remain as they are

 

[Bundu]

I think we are wasting our time here, until CellC rep pays attention to this thread again - I posted on their Facebook page last night and they quickly replied with:

"Hi,

We will request an urgent update from the technical / network team .

Please confirm a number we caan call you on ? Feedback will follow during the course of the day.

Regards
Cell C | TK"

 

[Cell_C]

For reporting New Problems in this thread (all the information is required)
Location:
Date & Time of Issue:
Device Manufacturer & Model (e.g. Huawei E1820, ZTE MF190, Not: Black Modem, White Modem):
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid):
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk:
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+):
www.speedtest.net results (if possible):
Cell ID (if possible):
RSSI (if possible, see How to check signal strength (RSSI))
Any other information relevant to the problem:

Good Day,

We do monitor this threads. But it helps us greatly if you PM us as much information as possible so we can escalate to our technicians for their immediate attention.

Regards
*DM*

 

[MrCman011]

I live and work in the Kempton Park area. I was able to do a simple experiment today with a regular Cell C sim card and a Red Bull Mobile (Cell C) sim card in two separate phones. Both being android based, I checked the status of the network and it read out -93 dBm and asu 10 to 12 on both phones. Both had full HSPA signal according to their network status. Did a simple browser test loading up google's home page, the Cell C phone (S3 from now) loaded it a few second after the Red Bull Mobile (RBM from now). then went on to another mobile based site on both phones pressing the "go" button at the same time. The RBM phone loaded fine, and the S3 timed out. I did the "test" at 10:00 this morning, again at 12:30 and at around 14:00. the results were all the same on the HSPA network.
What was explained to me earlier in the life cycle of my RBM contract was that the network infrastrutre was separate to cell c's base network for Data use. I got this info from the RBM tech support when there was a data outage for a day or two on RBM last year. I also have a Tab with cell c and when the S3 is down, the Tab is 9 out of 10 also down.
This all information gathered out of experience and after reading the posts in the thread. And as all the other users have noted, "GSM Only" and then I have EDGE works fine. But as so many have stated above, we don't pay for a Second generation network, when all over the Cell C homepage "LTE" is pasted left right and centre. A little knowledge from Cell C about the current short fall or capacity issues will be met with understanding.

 

[Bundu]

OK Guys, CellC Rep sent me a PM to get my details - It seems like they are now tackling the issue, so lets support them and see if this can be resolved

 

[BandwidthAddict]

The following screenshots show the problem I've been having in Boskruin, Jhb when on the Cell-C network with full signal. The first image is a speedtest I performed today (2013/06/05) showing the very strange case of limited download speeds but with pretty decent upload speeds. This is not a signal problem because a signal problem would affect downloads and uploads.



This is what happens when I try to search using chrome on the phone directly after performing the above speedtest.



Here is a speedtest I ran a few days ago on the Cell-C network but at Northgate, Jhb. These are very good speeds. So why does Northgate work but Boskruin always times out?



Lastly, here is the attempt to use speedtest from my office in Strijdom Park. Notice that my phone signal has full bars. My office never gets a usable connection and has not done so since around August last year. But prior to that, I was using the 3G connection regularly while waiting for Telkom to sort out their issues with our ADSL connection.



Basically, for most of the places I visit, I get unusable connections. This has been a progressively deteriorating problem over half a year with more areas becoming unusable. There was once a time when I could run TuneIn Pro and stream radio constantly from my phone and also in the car with very few dead spots. What's up Cell-C? At the rate you are degrading, I'm fully expecting to turn on my phone in a few months time and get a no-signal notification for all areas.

edit: I forgot to show my network details. These are for my connection at the office which cannot even connect to a speedtest.net server.

 

[Hamish McPanji]

The following screenshots show the problem I've been having in Boskruin, Jhb when on the Cell-C network with full signal. The first image is a speedtest I performed today (2013/06/05) showing the very strange case of limited download speeds but with pretty decent upload speeds. This is not a signal problem because a signal problem would affect downloads and uploads.

Am in Bromhof, very close to Boskruin. I work from home a lot, and i have 3 Cell C sims (Tablet, Phone, 3g router). Since about 2 weeks ago, i have been experiencing severe problems with data on the Cell C network.

All devices can connect without a problem, and have full signal strength but there is no data at all that can be transferred. The device will get an ip address, but browsing, email, ping, traceroute, telnet will not work at all.

Every day, when i get home at 5pm, the internet is down (since what time, i dont know). It remains down until maybe 10pm to 2am in the morning if i am lucky, then miraculously is able to connect again until maybe 7am then next morning (again if i am lucky).

I am using the Giganite package and have logged a call with Cell C, but havent heard from them since. If this persists any longer, then i need to get a refund for this, as my job requires that i work from home, which i cannot do on Cell C.