Cell C's Black Hauwei E1820 Modems: Are their RX(receive) capabilities inferior?

[Tun@]

Was mentioned on another thread here where someone couldn't get Cell C 3G coverage inside with a black modem(E1820), changed the sim over to a white modem(E1752) & 3G could then be received.

I found that rather interesting as i own a black modem & also could not get coverage inside but was able to get coverage outside.
I since fixed my problem by spending R1400 odd on an antenna to get coverage inside the house.

At the moment i don't have another UMTS 900 capable modem to compare with but i just checked out the specs of my phone (Samsung S8300) & it is 3G HSDPA 900 capable.

From the same place as the modem is used i put the sim from my Cell C modem into my phone and BAM 3G+ network available in the blink of an eye...Surfs the net quick/quick.
The E1820 modem however won't even get enough 3G signal to even log on without being connected to an outside antenna.

Is this comparison fair to lead us to believe that perhaps the receive capabilities of the E1820 are not so great or am i comparing apples to oranges?

From the amount of people having trouble with signal related problems i'm starting to wonder if these black modems aren't half the cause & aren't up to the job.

 

[SinghDude]

Well i am in empangeni, and i cant pick up anthing at times. Constant disconnections, however when im up the road at work (4km) everything works well.Im clueless .

 

[FrancTheTank]

That is strange and hope its the modems. 900Mhz is supposed to have superior coverage and distance capabilities as apposed to 1800/2100 3G. This is why CellC chose it, as they need to put up less towers. I'm still keen on the 2G/month for R149, I have a K3565 modem which is 900Mhz 3G capable, if the E1820 is not up to the job.

 

[Jola]

Can't say that I've had any problems with the E1820 and K3565, in Umhlanga and Johannesburg.

Had some issues with poor reception on the E1752, but I'm sure that was just the area that I tried to use it in (East London).

 

[Dre21]

What area where you trying to use it in East London?

 

[pkid]

E1820 in Pinetown and Sunningdale. 95% reception according to the Cell C software. No issues at all with signal or speed. Had a little wobble a few weeks ago with speeds and the connection freezing. It lasted for a couple of days and now everything has been wonderful since. I will often download at 6 - 10 mb/s.

 

[Decotey]

Mine modem often connects then receives nothing and I have to d/c a few times to it eventually establishes a reasonable connection. All in all I havn't had a pleasant experience with my E1820. My signal strength is also always better than -80dB so the reason for the constant lockups is lost to me.

Perhaps if someone could do a few tests with a vodacom sim card in the E1820 in a few locations and compare it to a Cell C sim in the same modem it could be interesting to see.

 

[elf_lord_ZC5]

Had good connections with E1820 modem, using Cell-C, Vodacom and 8ta SIM's, but then I am in a good coverage area ...

 

[shovenose]

this is mine

MTN 40 percent
Vodacom 42 percent
8ta 36 percent
Cell C 43 percent.
Sometimes Voda goes to 50 then sometimes cell C they make turns except 8ta stays on 33 to 36 percent. But they all connect and dont let go once they connected. Been using Cell C 7.2mbs modem 280kbs is highest so far but it was from a megaupload server.
Only problems is when the weather is bad. But I still get a connection at 31 to 33 percent Even if I have to sit with one foot in the air