Cell-C UMTS 2100

[ginggs]

Thanks sajunky for a great post.

Now I wonder whether disabling the bands we don't want or can't use (GSM850, UMTS1900) will reduce the power requirements of the modem and reduce the time taken to register on the network?

Take note that the bit value for UMTS900 is a 64-bit number (2000000000000). Until the E1820 and E1752 came along, old versions of MDMA expected a 32-bit number here. This is why they values were messed up by MDMA when changing the connection type. Be aware that there are still other dashboards out there that will do this.

 

[sajunky]

Now I wonder whether disabling the bands we don't want or can't use (GSM850, UMTS1900) will reduce the power requirements of the modem and reduce the time taken to register on the network?

The first time probably yes. The next time it will try memorised data first. Reducing power? I agree with this. Unused hardware will be shut off.

Take note that the bit value for UMTS900 is a 64-bit number (2000000000000).

I see what happened.

 

[UnUnOctium]

So are there algorithms at the BTS as well as in mobile phones and 3G modems? Which take preference?
Does using a high gain antenna mess with these algorithms?

Yes, BTS always has the right to tell CPE to not connect and if the device is rogue, just won't provide the basis function which it needs to access.

The algorithms are dynamic, so an antenna won't mess as much as cause them to change/adapt.

Now I wonder whether disabling the bands we don't want or can't use (GSM850, UMTS1900) will reduce the power requirements of the modem and reduce the time taken to register on the network?

Only marginally as the device will be mainly receiving which has minimal power requirements. If it's constantly switching between the two on the other hand is a different story

 

[sajunky]

Only marginally as the device will be mainly receiving which has minimal power requirements.

I don't have enough data to argue on this, but I think that modern dual receivers with equalisers (meaning high frequency DSP) can take large amount of power.

Edit: Ok, I found it. If receiving has minimal power requirements, why in HSPA+ specification DRX is a part of CPC? I might be wrong about 3GPP terms, but this matter takes further attention in R8, it clearly states that "Release 8 reduces battery consumption by introducing DRX in CELL_FACH".

Source: Technology Evolution of 3GPP HSPA Family, Amit Kumar, MCA1, Jyotsna Sengupta, Ph.D.2, and Yunfei Liu, Ph.D.
The Pacific Journal of Science and Technology (Volume 10. Number 2. November 2009)

 

[Polemus]

Cellc 3G (iPhone)

The title is not misleading, for the last few weeks iv'e been picking up #G on my iPhone in Blouberg (Cape Town), with my CellC Simcard. I've also been getting pretty decent speeds of close to 1.5Mbps, which is definately not EDGE speeds.

Could it be that CellC is rolling out a few 3G Towers?

 

[arf9999]

Huh? http://www.cellc.co.za/coveragemap

 

[ajax]

I'm going to hazard a guess:
The OP has a Iphone 3GS which can only do UMTS 2100. Cell C has been putting up UMTS 2100 towers in "oversubscribed" areas and so the OP has started to experience the whoosh on his phone.

 

[BDG2010]

cell c 2100mz coverage map

Hi there,

My phone does not support 900mz, could you email me a coverage map of the 2100mz covered areas?

 

[OMB]

 

[Cell_C]

Good Day BDG2010

We do not have area specific that are 2100mz, as we are just using 2100mz for congestion.
As we improve the are we will remove the 2100mz.
So am unable to answer as could be there to day and gone the next.

Regards
~AM~

 

[kidnotorious]

Its really sad when Voda rescues CellC

So I've been struggling with connection speeds on CellC. Situation has been getting worse over the past 6 weeks or so. I have one of those black E1820 speedsticks.

So I recall reading somewhere on this forum that CellC has started mixing its H900 stuff which whatever frequency the other networks use.

I have an unlocked Voda E220 dongle. I popped my CellC sim into my Voda dongle and voila, http://www.speedtest.net/result/1610423466.png

And to think of the hours I have spent trying to resolve CellC speed issues!

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

It's actually a Vodacom branded Huawei E220, not a Vodacom E220.

 

[kidnotorious]

Touché

 

[zizo911]

 

[kidnotorious]

@Zizo

What I was trying to get across was that there are many of us who from time to time have had speed issues with CellC and the black Huawei E1820 speedsticks.

I decided to put my CellC sim into a Huawei E220 dongle and it has fixed my speed problems.(mine E220 modem is Vodacom branded but I removed the Voda firmware and replaced it with the standard Huawei firmware)

 

[ginggs]

So I've been struggling with connection speeds on CellC. Situation has been getting worse over the past 6 weeks or so. I have one of those black E1820 speedsticks.

So I recall reading somewhere on this forum that CellC has started mixing its H900 stuff which whatever frequency the other networks use.

I have an unlocked Voda E220 dongle. I popped my CellC sim into my Voda dongle and voila, http://www.speedtest.net/result/1610423466.png

You can also set your E1820 to 2100MHz only using MDMA 1.0.0.31.

 

[Ockie]

@Zizo

What I was trying to get across was that there are many of us who from time to time have had speed issues with CellC and the black Huawei E1820 speedsticks.

I decided to put my CellC sim into a Huawei E220 dongle and it has fixed my speed problems.(mine E220 modem is Vodacom branded but I removed the Voda firmware and replaced it with the standard Huawei firmware)

It could be because the E220 is a 2100mhz modem only. This might be forcing your sim to use a 2100mhz tower from Cell C. I have read here somewhere a guy reporting the 2100mhz towers giving much better speed than the 900mhz towers.

 

[ginggs]

It could be because the E220 is a 2100mhz modem only. This might be forcing your sim to use a 2100mhz tower from Cell C. I have read here somewhere a guy reporting the 2100mhz towers giving much better speed than the 900mhz towers.

I think it depends on how far you are from the tower and how congested the 900MHz and 2100MHz cells are.
I get much better results from the 900MHz cell, compare these results with the ones in the post that follows.

 

[Ockie]

I think it depends on how far you are from the tower and how congested the 900MHz and 2100MHz cells are.
I get much better results from the 900MHz cell, compare these results with the ones in the post that follows.

Yip...I agree. Just reporting on a post that I read here in the Cell C section

I do think it stands to reason that the 900mhz towers will be more congested seeing that they cover a much bigger area....unless Cell C have artificially turned the power down on these towers to make the cells smaller somehow?

 

[sajunky]

unless Cell C have artificially turned the power down on these towers to make the cells smaller somehow?

It is called "Cell breathing". It gives more codes in the cell to the users having good signal quality. Sotware controlling it can be adjusted by set of parameters. I believe CellC has always been tuned up for smaller cell (prefering maximum speed) than competitors.