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

Apologies, date and time of issue, I have no idea. Will have to check tonight.
 
As reported by @TL (thread closed)
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthr...issues-today?p=6591904&viewfull=1#post6591904
Yesterday I was unable to connect to mybb. I managed to connect in the end - via an international proxy.

This morning, the cellc speedstick won't connect.

We have two phones on contract. My wife's phone shows 'emergency only' and mine alternates between CellC and Vodacom signal.

Is there any known issues with the CellC network?

No, Yesterday I couldn't browse MyBB from Vodacom network too.
 
From the Cell C Facebook page:

We have a number of sites down in Pretoria and Midrand affecting both voice and data services.
Technicians are on-site, working hard to restore services soon.
We apologise for the inconvenience and will make an announcement as soon as the problem has been resolved.
 
Constant connectivity problems

I am having constant connectivity problems, including:
Connection only stable on edge
Not able to even connect on edge despite full signal
HSDPA/any other connection does not authenticate

I sometimes get my modem working by worsening my signal so that it only finds edge. No other connection speed works. Sometimes I connect on edge, can ping, but cannot browse anywhere.

I see a new CellC tower has been erected (can see it from where my PC is) but I don't think it's active yet. Anywhere I can find out when it will be active?
Any idea how I can stabilise my connection? Even a stable "fast" edge connection will do, I'm desperate.

Location: Millgate (Farmall, Fourways/Randburg, Next to Lion park), within advertised coverage
Date & Time of Issue: Constant since March 2011
Device Manufacturer & Model: E1752
Contract Type: Prepaid 2G/month once off R1499
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: None
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+):Any
www.speedtest.net results: Ping 339ms, Download 0.06Mbps, Upload 0.01Mbps
Cell ID (if possible):
Device
Device name: E1752
Application port: COM14
Serial number: O45TAA1070200707
IMEI: 353444044419268
Hardware Version: CD6ATCPU
Firmware Version: 11.126.13.00.00
Software Version: 16.001.06.06.368

Network status
Network name: Cell C
RSSI: -79dBm (constant)
CS network registration: Registered
PS network registration: Registered
PS network attachment: Attached

Network settings
APN: internet
Network selection mode: Manual (Auto sometimes works...)
 
HI Hard Rain / PKruger / Glipsie

I have taken your TT up with Supervisor. in networks.
Requesting feedback.

***aquadog : I have PM you for details.

Regards
Armando

Did anything come of this? If so, problems have returned:

Local:


International:


2011-08-05 23:50

Info again:
Location: Sunninghill, Johannesburg
Device (Huawei / ZTE): Huawei 1820
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): Prepaid
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: 1374524 + others
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): HSPA+
Cell ID (if possible): 19172
RSSI (if possible): -70 dbm
 
Last edited:
Location: Ferndale, Randburg 2194
Date & Time of Issue: Friday August 5, 2011 From 06h00 till Midnight - similar problems reported in July.
Device Manufacturer & Model: Huawei E1820
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): Prepaid Black Smartstick Promo 5GB
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: 1071502793 This number from my July issues - never resolved
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): 3G - but may as well be Ali G
www.speedtest.net results (if possible): Speedtest?, I cannot even send a 5K email to CellC!!
Cell ID (if possible): N/A
RSSI (if possible, see How to check signal strength (RSSI)): Between 70 and 100%. Depends on the mood of the Tower and probably Julius for all I know.
Any other information relevant to the problem: I am running Windows 7 Ultimate 64Bit, i5 CPU 3,3Ghz Quad Core, 8 Gig Ram, 700 Gig Free Space, using CellC Connector v 1.0.1.53 (64 Bit version)

Most days I get the Cyan signal and can operate reasonably well. Download speeds differ between 1Mb and 3Mb but I used iBurst for 3 years, so I'm not complaining. What is happening is that I suddenly get the Green (light of Death)
which stays on for hours, Whooosh becomes a glowing green ornament and I catch up on my paperwork. Yesterday I had to submit a 4Mb Business Plan to GEDA which I had completed the previous evening. Needless to say I awoke to
the dreaded green glow. My patience wore out at 2pm then I drove to a friend (on Telkom) to send my proposal. Returning to my Home/Office I watched my green ornament until midnight. This morning back to Cyan.
I have a Laptop running XP SP3 - same result, plus another PC running Windows 7 Ultimate 32 Bit. Tried all USB Ports plus installing and uninstalling the software. I lost 500Mb last month because I could not connect on the 31st July.
No joy from CellC. Obviously it is totally beyond them to post on their website where they are having problems on their network. Perhaps I can send my Son to sort out their IT Department so it functions properly. (8ta is now looking good).
Not a happy bunny.
 
Location: Douglasdale, Gauteng
Time of issue: 18:30 2011/08/07
Device: Huawei E1820 and ZTE MF190
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): Prepaid
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk:

3G network is down in Douglasdale

I can connect when I force GSM network only, but it won't connect when I force UMTS only , or even when I manually select the 3G network. Also, when I am connected to the 3G network services such as *147# don't work.
 
Location: Douglasdale, Gauteng
Time of issue: 18:30 2011/08/07
Device: Huawei E1820 and ZTE MF190
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): Prepaid
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk:

3G network is down in Douglasdale

I can connect when I force GSM network only, but it won't connect when I force UMTS only , or even when I manually select the 3G network. Also, when I am connected to the 3G network services such as *147# don't work.

3G is still down, I am only able to connect on EDGE. Here is some additional information, I am surprised that I haven't heard anything back from the CELL_C...

Location: Douglasdale, Johannesburg
Date & Time of Issue: 2011-08-07 to 2011-08-08
Device Manufacturer & Model: Huawei E1820 & ZTE MF190
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): Pre-Paid (both)
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk:
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): 2G

Signal: -69dBm 22asu
Location: LAC=32 CID=6530eb
Neighboring CID: no neighboring cells
Towers: New Life Church-3, New Life Church-6
 
Location: Port Elizabeth - Summerstrand
Date & Time of Issue: 10:00am 2011/08/10
Device Manufacturer & Model (e.g. Huawei E1820, ZTE MF190, Not: Black Modem, White Modem): Huawei E1820
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): Prepaid
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk:
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): 3G / HSPA+
www.speedtest.net results (if possible): http://www.speedtest.net/result/1425912328.png
Cell ID (if possible): 0742716375 / IMEI : 357893030511866
RSSI (if possible, see How to check signal strength (RSSI))
Any other information relevant to the problem:

This is not the first time I reported a problem with my Cell C Speedstick. All previous attempts to resolve the issue was fruitless.
I haven't been using the speedstick for a couple of months now due to the poor speed < 1 KB/s and thought I would try again this morning,but too my surprise...the same problem still persists.
I downloaded the latest Cell C Drivers & Desktop connection software for Windows 7 64 Bit ,but this also did not make any difference. Whether I make use of the speedstick on my Laptop or Home PC also make no difference. I keep on getting disconnected after about 10mins and during that time, I can hardly browse the web, let alone download anything.
While my speedtest results appear to be very good, as soon as I try to browse or download anything the speed drop to <1 KB/s.
 
3G is still down, I am only able to connect on EDGE. Here is some additional information, I am surprised that I haven't heard anything back from the CELL_C...

Location: Douglasdale, Johannesburg
Date & Time of Issue: 2011-08-07 to 2011-08-08
Device Manufacturer & Model: Huawei E1820 & ZTE MF190
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): Pre-Paid (both)
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk:
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): 2G

Signal: -69dBm 22asu
Location: LAC=32 CID=6530eb
Neighboring CID: no neighboring cells
Towers: New Life Church-3, New Life Church-6

Just picked up 3G again , looks like the problem has been resolved ... hope it stays this way


Sent from my HTC Desire using MyBroadband Android App
 
Location: Rangeview, Krugersdorp
Date & Time of Issue: 10 August 2011
Device: iPhone 3GS
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): Prepaid
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk:N/A (bad taste in mouth from your call center)
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): 3G
www.speedtest.net results (if possible):N/A
Cell ID (if possible):
Any other information relevant to the problem: 3G is non-existent. I have to resort to Edge speeds, horrible! I'm not actually feeling any "swoosh", its' more like "Slouch".
 
Just picked up 3G again , looks like the problem has been resolved ... hope it stays this way


Sent from my HTC Desire using MyBroadband Android App

3G is down again , looks like it was up for a whole of 3 hours


Sent from my HTC Desire using MyBroadband Android App
 
Brackenfell DOWN AND OUT

Location: Brackenfell South, Cape Town
Date & Time of Issue: 11 August 2011 - 18h30 (again)
Device Manufacturer & Model: Huawei E1820
Contract Type: pre-paid 5gig
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: N/A
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): HSPA+
www.speedtest.net results: Not able
Cell Tower ID: 45542 Brackenfell Convenience Center
RSSI: -61dBm
Any other information relevant to the problem: Normal download - 6-7 mb/s, upload 1.70 mb/s - now it is basically dead, download at 0.5 and upload at 0.2

Same problem occurred end of last month and again beginning of this month - PLEASE FIX


Thanks 13/08/2011
 
Last edited:
Location: Norscot
Date & Time of Issue: past 3 nights (9th, 10th and 11th August) between 19:30/20:00 and 21:30/22:00
Device Manufacturer & Model: Huawei E1820
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): pre-paid 5gb
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: N/A
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): HSPA+
www.speedtest.net results (if possible): connection so slow speedtest won't even load, or loads with errors
Cell ID (if possible): N/A running modem through router
RSSI (if possible, see How to check signal strength (RSSI)): N/A
Any other information relevant to the problem: Data connection has been slow to the point of being useless, I have the modem connected to a 3G router and an external antenna which is pointed in the direction of The Buzz Centre in Fourways
 
Location: Honeydew Ridge
Date & Time of Issue: Similar to OMB (post above) I had issues the last couple of evenings starting at around 6:30pm. In the morning and during the day things are fine again. I do not know if this is a new issue since I only got the speedstick recently.
Device Manufacturer & Model: ZTE MF688
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): Prepaid 5gb
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: N/A
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): HSPA+
www.speedtest.net results (if possible): connection so slow speedtest won't even load, or loads with errors (same as OMB)
Cell ID (if possible): 12903 (hope it's the right Cell ID that's asked for)
RSSI (if possible, see How to check signal strength (RSSI)): -53dBm
Any other information relevant to the problem: If I force it to use Edge then I can load sites (albeit slowly) but on normal HSPA+ sites won't load and it automatically chooses HSPA+. However if it's put inside my new TP-Link TL-MR3420 then it doesn't load sites even if set to only use Edge. In the mornings and during the day it all works fine though, even in the router, using HSPA+.

Of course, now that I connect again it all seems fine. Whereas 30 minutes ago it wouldn't load anything. Last night and the night before it wouldn't load anything either.
 
Location: Bruma JHB
Date & Time of Issue: 12.08.2011 - 20:51
Device Manufacturer & Model: E1752
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): prepaid 2GIG
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: N/A
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): HSPA+
www.speedtest.net results (if possible): Took 5 minutes to just get the background grey to load. Gave up after that.
Cell ID (if possible): N/A No supported in Linux Mint Network Manager
RSSI (if possible, see How to check signal strength (RSSI)): N/A
Any other information relevant to the problem: Data connection has been slow to the point of being useless
 
Unstable for weekss

Location: Glen Marais, Kempton Park
Date & Time of Issue: This weekend (13/14 August) most of the day and past week during peak hours (19:30-22:30)
Device Manufacturer & Model: ZTE MF668
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): pre-paid 5gb
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: N/A
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): HSPA+
www.speedtest.net results (if possible): Doesn't even load at all, or loads with errors. Normally upwards of 6Mbps outside peak times.
Cell ID (if possible): Not sure how to find this
RSSI (if possible, see How to check signal strength (RSSI)): N/A
Any other information relevant to the problem: I get occasional spurts of throughput, but peak hours are almost entirely dead. For all intents an purposes, I have no Internet access, despite having five bars.
 
Slow speed East London

Location: Beacon Bay EL
Date & Time of Issue: 15.08.2011 - 20:55
Device Manufacturer & Model: E1820
Contract Type (pre- or post-paid): prepaid 5GIG
Existing reference numbers from Helpdesk: 1435324
RAT (2G/3G/HSPA+): HSPA+
www.speedtest.net results (if possible): Download 1.5Mb, upload 0.03Mb
RSSI (if possible, see How to check signal strength (RSSI)): -85dBm
Extremely slow in loading webpages, steam connects but cant connect to any game servers. To post this took 26min.
 
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X