Connected but no throughput (except to Cell-C) [SOLVED]

ginggs

ginggs

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A little while ago, I connected to Cell-C but was unable to visit any websites.
Device: Huawei E3276 w/ Poynting LPDA-A0044
Signal strength: -71dBm
Cell ID: 40544 (2100MHz)

*101# reported:
Available Balance: R 0.00 .Data: 101950.45 MB.
Click to expand...
IP configuration:
>ipconfig /all
...
Ethernet adapter Huawei LTE Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : HUAWEI Mobile Connect - Network Card #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 0C-5B-8F-27-9A-64
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 41.53.133.213
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.252
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 41.53.133.214
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 41.53.133.214
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 41.48.23.29
41.48.23.61
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 12 April 2013 22:52:40
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 18 April 2013 22:52:40
Click to expand...
DNS was working:
>nslookup mybroadband.co.za
Server: dns-neotel-1.cmobile.co.za
Address: 41.48.23.29

Non-authoritative answer:
Name: mybroadband.co.za
Address: 41.203.21.137

>nslookup www.cellc.co.za
Server: dns-neotel-1.cmobile.co.za
Address: 41.48.23.29

Non-authoritative answer:
Name: www.cellc.co.za
Address: 41.72.157.60
>nslookup www.google.co.za
Server: dns-neotel-1.cmobile.co.za
Address: 41.48.23.29

Non-authoritative answer:
Name: www.google.co.za
Addresses: 173.194.44.248, 173.194.44.255, 173.194.44.247
Click to expand...
Traceroutes were not:
>tracert www.cellc.co.za

Tracing route to www.cellc.co.za [41.72.157.60]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 * * * Request timed out.
2 * 88 ms 101 ms 41.48.23.33
3 322 ms * * 10.228.223.70
4 * * * Request timed out.
5 * * * Request timed out.
6 * * * Request timed out.
Click to expand...
I could not visit mybroadband.co.za and google.co.za.
I could partially load www.cellc.co.za but external elements (api.twitter.com, ds.serving-sys.com) did not load.
http://www.cellc.co.za/recharge opened up quickly.

I tried setting the modem to 900MHz only and the Cell ID changed to 40541, but I still couldn't access any sites besides www.cellc.co.za.

This is similar behaviour to a SIM with no airtime loaded (see here).
 
Last edited:
S

sajunky

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A quick guess...Huawei counters.

Second thought is that there might be a transition to LTE on the 2100MHz band, so LTE devices must have properly provisioned SIM card. But if accounting depends on LTE/nonLTE allowance -> go back to the original guess.
 
ginggs

ginggs

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sajunky said:
A quick guess...Huawei counters.

Second thought is that there might be a transition to LTE on the 2100MHz band, so LTE devices must have properly provisioned SIM card. But if accounting depends on LTE/nonLTE allowance -> go back to the original guess.
Click to expand...
Just to be clear, "Huawei LTE Connection" is what I've named the network interface, I didn't like "Local Area Connection #21" or whatever it was Windows named it.
The base station with cells 40541 and 40544 does not currently have LTE, or at least not the last time I checked. My SIM is provisioned for LTE and does work in areas with LTE coverage.

I did try disconnecting and reconnecting several times for about an hour last night and then gave up. I haven't tested again.
 
Last edited:
ginggs

ginggs

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Still happening today.

*101# still reports:
Available Balance: R 0.00 .Data: 101950.45 MB.
Click to expand...
At least they aren't taking my MBs. :)

IP configuration (same for 900MHz and 2100MHz):
>ipconfig /all
...
Ethernet adapter Huawei LTE Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : HUAWEI Mobile Connect - Network Card
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 0C-5B-8F-27-9A-64
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 197.172.46.45
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.252
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 197.172.46.46
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 197.172.46.46
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 41.50.20.29
41.50.20.61
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 14 April 2013 11:21:38
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 20 April 2013 11:21:38
Click to expand...

Signal strength: -57dBm
Cell ID: 40541 (900MHz)
>tracert mybroadband.co.za

Tracing route to mybroadband.co.za [41.203.21.137]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 * * * Request timed out.
2 80 ms 77 ms 109 ms 41.50.20.1
3 * * * Request timed out.
4 * * * Request timed out.
5 93 ms * * 41.50.0.3
6 * * * Request timed out.
7 * * * Request timed out.
8 * * * Request timed out.


>tracert cellc.co.za

Tracing route to cellc.co.za [41.72.157.60]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 * * * Request timed out.
2 78 ms 79 ms 80 ms 41.50.20.33
3 * * * Request timed out.
4 * 153 ms * 41.50.16.1
5 * * * Request timed out.
6 * * * Request timed out.
7 * * * Request timed out.
Click to expand...

Signal strength: -75dBm
Cell ID: 40544 (2100MHz)
>tracert mybroadband.co.za

Tracing route to mybroadband.co.za [41.203.21.137]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 * * * Request timed out.
2 * 102 ms 108 ms 41.50.20.1
3 * * * Request timed out.
4 * * * Request timed out.
5 * * * Request timed out.


>tracert cellc.co.za

Tracing route to cellc.co.za [41.72.157.60]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 * * * Request timed out.
2 1171 ms 107 ms 99 ms 41.50.20.33
3 * * * Request timed out.
4 * * * Request timed out.
5 * * * Request timed out.
Click to expand...

sajunky said:
Is the same address on both Cell ID's?
Click to expand...
I notice the traceroutes are slightly different between 900MHz and 2100MHz, but the IP configuration does not change.
 
ginggs

ginggs

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OK, just tried with a friend's SIM card:
Data: 1505.12 MB.Current Usage: R 0.00 .Your Next Payment: R 180.60 .Due Date:04/30/2013.
Click to expand...

Same modem, same cell ID, everything works.

I think this proves the issue is with the backend, in other words, with the account that my SIM card is linked to.
 
Last edited:
S

sajunky

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Thanks ginggs. Why it happens to you? At least we have full analysis of the problem. Can Cell_C can fix affected SIMs? I mean, at least for forum members. :)
 
Solitude

Solitude

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On my side I've got the problem with the two different sim cards. One contract and one prepaid. Now it can be that they are both affected sims but it's not even possible to make phone calls even with full signal. There's no throughput at all.

I'm thinking of maybe buying another sim to test your theory ginggs.
 
DWPTA

DWPTA

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Jul 28, 2006
Messages
4,366
I have a prepaid sim in my iPad and no 3G. Have a contract on my Galaxy S2, can make phone call but no 3G.

I only noticed this Sunday morning when I was in Centurion, then last night in PTA North and now this morning as well in Midrand.
 
Jola

Jola

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I've had this problem with 5 or 6 different sims.
 
ginggs

ginggs

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DWPTA said:
Nope, don't think so. I have full signal, 3G but cannot access any internet site.
Click to expand...
Read the first post again, a symptom of my problem is that the Cell-C site is still accessible.
 
ginggs

ginggs

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I PM'd the details to Cell_C who checked it out and found that the airtime window had expired so the sim was temporarily hotlined. He extended the airtime window and it is working now.

Thanks Cell_C!
 
T

The_Unbeliever

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Messages
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ginggs said:
I PM'd the details to Cell_C who checked it out and found that the airtime window had expired so the sim was temporarily hotlined. He extended the airtime window and it is working now.

Thanks Cell_C!
Click to expand...

Weird.

The hotlined sim, though.

Glad to hear the rep was able to help.
 
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