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

Location: 36 Farmer's Folly street, Lynwood, Pretoria
Date and Time: Since the 28th May. All day long and late night.
Device: ZTE MF668
Contract type: R3000 once off deal. 5GBpm x12.
RAT: HSPA+
CELL ID: 32100 (I think)
RSSI: Dont know but cellc software shows full signal.
OS: Windows 7 Pro.
1323268650.png


I started using this modem on the 28th May and my download speed hasn't reached 1Mbps yet. Highest is =0.8 and lowest 0.05! Same goes for upload.
The cellc software shows full signal and HSPA+ most of the time and the task manager shows a 28Mbps connection.
I often get disconnected from games and Skype.

I called cellc yesterday and they told me to reinstall the software which I did but made no difference.

Thank you in advance.
 
Location: Hospital Park, Bloemfontein
Time of issue: 2011-06-03; from about 11h00
Device (Huawei / ZTE): Huawei Black Stick E1820 11.831.03.00.00
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): post
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: 1379133
www.speedtest.net results (if possible): not possible
Any other information relevant to the problem: frequent disconnects; connects, but no throughput; no connection at all... in other words, the USUAL :sick:
RSSI: -89dBm
MCC: 655
MNC: 07
LAC: 46
RNC ID: 305
Cell ID: 49343
SNR: -103, -17
 
Location: West Riding, Table View
Date & Time of Issue: constant since purchase several weeks ago
Device Manufacturer & Model: ZTE MF 190 White USB stick
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): prepaid
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: Emails & online complains have gone unanswered
www.speedtest.net results (if possible): not possible
Any other information relevant to the problem: My neighbour and I have the same issue of only being able to connect on EDGE, whereas coverage map states full HSUPA should be available. Problem is constant and has been since we purchased the "speed"sticks several weeks ago
 
Location: Hospital Park, Bloemfontein
Time of issue: 2011-06-05; from about 17h00
Device (Huawei / ZTE): Huawei Black Stick E1820 11.831.03.00.00
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): post
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: 1379133
www.speedtest.net results (if possible): not possible
Any other information relevant to the problem: frequent disconnects; connects, but no throughput; no connection at all... in other words, the USUAL :sick:
RSSI: -89dBm
MCC: 655
MNC: 07
LAC: 46
RNC ID: 305
Cell ID: 49343
SNR: -103, -17
 
Location: Hospital Park, Bloemfontein
Time of issue: 2011-06-06; all day
Device (Huawei / ZTE): Huawei Black Stick E1820 11.831.03.00.00
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): post
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: 1379133, 1391134
www.speedtest.net results (if possible): not possible
Any other information relevant to the problem: frequent disconnects; connects, but no throughput; no connection at all... in other words, the USUAL :sick:
RSSI: -89dBm
MCC: 655
MNC: 07
LAC: 46
RNC ID: 305
Cell ID: 49343
SNR: -103, -17
 
Location: Witkoppen, Johannesburg
Date & Time of Issue: Since 2011-06-02 all day all times
Device Manufacturer & Model: Huawei E1752 (white stick)
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): pre-paid 12 month
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: n/a
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): HSPA+
www.speedtest.net results (if possible): can't connect
Cell ID (if possible):
RSSI (if possible) -77dBm ~ 89dBm (observed)
Any other information relevant to the problem:
I just moved to Witkoppen and only had my PC setup on Thursday. Moved from Blairgowrie, Randburg where the connection was perfect and I almost always got full throughput. Without any config changes it is now completely unusable in Witkoppen. It always shows connected at full 7.2mbit. Usually when I connect I'll get throughput for 20-30s then it's just dead thereafter. Sometimes if I leave it connected for an hour or 2 it will start working again; albeit at quite a crawl. I get no disconnects and no band switching.
 
Location: Greenstone Hill, -26.112730, 28.158624
Date & Time of Issue: Since 23 May 2011 on and off
Device Manufacturer & Model: Huawei E1820
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): Post
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: Sent email but did not receive ref number
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): HSPA+
www.speedtest.net results (if possible): http://www.speedtest.net/result/1329402970.png
Cell ID (if possible):
RSSI (if possible)

Any other information relevant to the problem:
See below what results from a ping directly to cell c's web site
Pinging www.cellc.co.za [41.72.143.60] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=66ms TTL=52
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=85ms TTL=52
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=55ms TTL=52
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=64ms TTL=52
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=253ms TTL=52
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=1004ms TTL=52
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=2399ms TTL=52
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=1786ms TTL=52
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=539ms TTL=52
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=1584ms TTL=52
Request timed out.
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=1748ms TTL=52
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=40ms TTL=52
Request timed out.
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=2367ms TTL=52
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=459ms TTL=52
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=1788ms TTL=52
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=3049ms TTL=52
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=3049ms TTL=52
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=739ms TTL=52
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=1470ms TTL=52
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=1647ms TTL=52
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=1750ms TTL=52
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=1309ms TTL=52
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=1404ms TTL=52
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=1264ms TTL=52
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=438ms TTL=52

Ping statistics for 41.72.143.60:
Packets: Sent = 35, Received = 25, Lost = 10 (28% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 40ms, Maximum = 3049ms, Average = 1214ms
 
Location: Stikland - Bellville (Cape Town)
Date & Time of Issue: 03 Jun - 06 Jun
Device Manufacturer & Model: Huawei E1820
Contract Type: Prepaid
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): HSPA+
RSSI (if possible): -75dbm (usually mine as MUCH MUCH better)
Any other information relevant to the problem: 56K speed, varied speed, no throug... you now the drill... I does not work properly. Actually the only time it did work great was the first month after I purchased it. Since then it's been average and lately it's been disgraceful :sick::mad:
 
Disconnects

Location: Hatfield Pretoria
Date & Time of Issue: 5 Jun 2011 till present
Device Manufacturer & Model : Huawei k3675
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): prepaid
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: none
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): HSPA
www.speedtest.net results (if possible): ran multiple times results range from ping 90-500ms, down speed 120-620kbps, up speed 10-400kbps
Cell ID (if possible):
RSSI (if possible)
Any other information relevant to the problem: Tried switching to manual register mode with limited success, Switching to WCDMA preferred makes the HSPA connection last for a couple of minutes then drops to EDGE. Swicthing to (WCDMA only) causes total connection drop after about 30min to an hour. I use the Mobile manager dash. The 3G tower doesnt even appear on the registration list after it disconnects.
 
Glipsie said:
Thank you cell c for fixing my download speed:


Upload speed could use work, but I'm happy

Location: Sunninghill, Johannesburg
Time of issue: 10:30AM 2011-05-28
Device (Huawei / ZTE): Huawei 1820
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): Prepaid
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: 1374524
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): HSPA+
www.speedtest.net results (if possible):
Cell ID (if possible): 19172
RSSI (if possible): -70 dbm
Click to expand...


ARG this is frustrating!
 
My connection (midrand, carlswalh a/h) has also improved dramatically on 7-June. Gone from 0.4Mb/s d/l, 0.04Mb/a up on 6-June to 5.4Mb/s d/l and 0.61Mb/s up on 7-June. About the same today.
It's a miracle...whatever has changed, don't change it back....
 
Location: Paulshof, JHB.
Date & Time of Issue: 1 May to Present
Device Manufacturer & Model: Huawei E1820
Contract Type: Prepaid
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): HSPA+
RSSI (if possible): dunno what this is or where to find it
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: 1388346
Any other information relevant to the problem: 56K speed, varied speed, no throughput, top speed of around 1mbps only (when it can get that much at all). Been happening for over a month now.

Edit: here's what "Whooosh" looks like to me: http://postimage.org/image/20q0uich0/

It barely works for a few seconds and then I get download speeds worse than dial-up. I'm seriously considering going back to Mweb Uncapped ADSL. Sure, it was the slowest and most unreliable ADSL I ever used, but compared to Cell-C it's positively golden...
 
Last edited:
147GTA said:
My connection (midrand, carlswalh a/h) has also improved dramatically on 7-June. Gone from 0.4Mb/s d/l, 0.04Mb/a up on 6-June to 5.4Mb/s d/l and 0.61Mb/s up on 7-June. About the same today.
It's a miracle...whatever has changed, don't change it back....
Click to expand...

Yep. Midrand much better past week! Dont change anything!
 
Cannot connect to HSPA+ in Springs areas (Selcourt/Sharon Park)

Location: Selcourt, Springs, Johannesburg
Date & Time of Issue: Since 2011-06-10 all day all times
Device Manufacturer & Model: Huawei E1752 (white stick)
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): pre-paid 12 month
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: n/a
Any other information relevant to the problem:
The network has been working fine all along since beginning of the year. Since this morning have been trying to connect on HSPA+ but it does not find a fast network. When I do manual search for network on CellC Dashboard, it only sees other network providers' network and not CellC. I can only connect on Edge when I choose "WCDMA preferred" as I cannot get it to work anymore on "WCDMA Only" option.
 
Getting extremely slow and inconsistent signal in the Highveld Techno Park area. Signal goes up to -63dBm or so, then falls to -99dBM without anything else changing. Pages time out. UMTS is unavailable most of the time, but even when it is and it has 3 bars or more signal it gives me dial up speeds. This started a week or two ago, before that I was able to download at 100kB/s+. Got it in May, problems started now. Sad thing is I don't even need a 21Mbps connection, I just want at least 512kbps that is at least somewhat reliable.

I can literally have working internet, walk out of the room to get coffee, and find it unusable on my return.


Location: Eco Park, Highveld, Centurion
Time of issue: 12:31PM 2011-06-11
Device: (Huawei / ZTE): Huawei 1820
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): Post-paid
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: None
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): HSPA+
www.speedtest.net results (if possible): Won't load

Towers:
2011/06/11 12:09:22, Serial #: 137
Message ID: 50, DCS: 1, Page 1/1
ZWARTKOP-3
RSSI: -99 dBm

2011/06/11 12:18:32, Serial #: 136
Message ID: 50, DCS: 1, Page 1/1
ZWARTKOP-2
RSSI: -93 dBm

Others I've seen are HIGHVELD TECHNO PARK-3 and IRENE. All with equally terrible results. I'm not sure if upgrades are being done, or what's going on, but my internet is pretty much useless to me currently.
 
Location: Greenstone Hill, -26.112730, 28.158624
Date & Time of Issue: Since 23 May 2011!!!!!! :(
Device Manufacturer & Model: Huawei E1820
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): Post
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: 1387026
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): HSPA+
www.speedtest.net results (if possible): http://www.speedtest.net/result/1338240763.png
Cell ID (if possible):
RSSI (if possible)

Any other information relevant to the problem:
See below what results from a ping directly to cell c's web site
Pinging www.cellc.co.za [41.72.143.60] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=86ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=2585ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=3669ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=1029ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=1259ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=168ms TTL=46
Request timed out.
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=84ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=79ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=109ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=182ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=72ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=68ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=258ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=76ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=705ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=64ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=63ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=1563ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=568ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=68ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=117ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=76ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=775ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=804ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=1154ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=1499ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=359ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=1906ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=473ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=61ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=257ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=2447ms TTL=46
Request timed out.
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=2094ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=600ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=201ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=68ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=97ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=72ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=181ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=1580ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=1238ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=2159ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=989ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=478ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=78ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=104ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=84ms TTL=46
Reply from 41.72.143.60: bytes=32 time=324ms TTL=46

Ping statistics for 41.72.143.60:
Packets: Sent = 50, Received = 48, Lost = 2 (4% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 61ms, Maximum = 3669ms, Average = 688ms
 
Getting some really bad latency in Greenstone at the moment.

Location: Greenstone Hill, -26.112730, 28.158624
Date & Time of Issue: 13 June 2011
Device Manufacturer & Model: Huawei E1820
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): Post
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: 1387026
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): HSPA+
www.speedtest.net results (if possible): http://www.speedtest.net/result/1338240763.png
Cell ID (if possible):
RSSI (if possible)

Pinging www.myadsl.co.za [41.203.21.137] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 41.203.21.137: bytes=32 time=807ms TTL=51
Reply from 41.203.21.137: bytes=32 time=1015ms TTL=51
Reply from 41.203.21.137: bytes=32 time=1069ms TTL=51
Reply from 41.203.21.137: bytes=32 time=1090ms TTL=51
Reply from 41.203.21.137: bytes=32 time=1024ms TTL=51
Reply from 41.203.21.137: bytes=32 time=1128ms TTL=51
Reply from 41.203.21.137: bytes=32 time=769ms TTL=51
Reply from 41.203.21.137: bytes=32 time=795ms TTL=51
Reply from 41.203.21.137: bytes=32 time=790ms TTL=51
Reply from 41.203.21.137: bytes=32 time=813ms TTL=51
Reply from 41.203.21.137: bytes=32 time=773ms TTL=51
Reply from 41.203.21.137: bytes=32 time=743ms TTL=51
Reply from 41.203.21.137: bytes=32 time=713ms TTL=51
Reply from 41.203.21.137: bytes=32 time=721ms TTL=51
Reply from 41.203.21.137: bytes=32 time=723ms TTL=51
Reply from 41.203.21.137: bytes=32 time=743ms TTL=51
Reply from 41.203.21.137: bytes=32 time=733ms TTL=51

Ping statistics for 41.203.21.137:
Packets: Sent = 17, Received = 17, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 713ms, Maximum = 1128ms, Average = 849ms
 
Please fix, I can't take it anymore! I've posted about this before and it's slower than my GPRS on my phone.

Location: Stikland Bellville, Cape Town
Date & Time of Issue: Past 3 Weeks!!!
Device Manufacturer & Model: Huawei E1820
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): Post
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): HSPA+
www.speedtest.net results (if possible): http://www.speedtest.net/result/1339520551.png

1339520551.png


I used to have some of the best speeds in Cape Town. What is going on!?
 
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