Connection speed/quality: Data card vs Nokia N70

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sjpslabbert

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Hi. Maybe someone can help me. I recently signed up for one of Vodacom's specials (a Toshiba notebook, 3G Datacard and 500MB data per month).

I am quite happy, except I was a bit disappointed with my downloading speed (we only have GPRS in our area at this moment). I make use of a small program called Netmeter to measure my data usage. It works quite well and it gives a graphic representation of data throughput. I used my Nokia N70 for some time before getting my datacard and my average throughput (according to Netmeter) was quite good. Sometimes when downloading from a fast server I averaged 10.4Kbs. When this happens Netmeter draws a nice solid red graph with few or no gaps. After getting my Datacard I realised that my average throughput is now below 6Kbs. I tested the difference between the Datacard and the N70 to see if I was only imagining things. The graph in Netmeter is quite erratic with lots of gaps and inconsistencies. I started downloading a file with the datacard and then paused the download at 50%. I then inserted my sim in the N70 and resumed the download for the rest of the 50%. I tried this on few different occasions.

I find it strange that my N70 has consistently performed better than the datacard (higher average download speed). I almost never get a full signal with my datacard, even with the external antenna attached. My N70 always shows a full signal. Could it be that there is some problem with the datacard?

Could anyone please advise me as to how I can test the card to make sure that it is working correctly? I was in Pretoria for a few weeks and I did get quite high download speeds, although the graph in Netmeter also showed a lot of gaps. I did not test my N70 in Pretoria to see if there was a difference.

I would be grateful for anyone who could help me
Sarel
 
Sarel,

I am in a similar situation: phone/s doing data, datacards with various SIMs, Netmeter and only GPRS in our area. One quick warning you may have realised: the bar graph for signal strength is not really a good indication of the 'real' signal strength. There are no standards for this graph, so that what, say, a Nokia phone might indicate as a full five-bar signal could just as easily be interpreted by the Dashboard software, say, as three bars. Also bear in mind that your phone shows voice signal strength, not necessarily GPRS.

In my experience phones tend to be better receivers than the data cards, which is why using an antenna for the cards is always recommended. This may explain some of your anomaly. I've also found my various datacards to be more 'picky' about signal strength and quality (there is also an issue called 'latency' which is not necessarily reflected in your signal-strength bar); at three bars or below in the Dashboard software, my data signal starts to struggle, with interrupted packets and long download times. Eventually I took the plunge and bought one of Poynting's fancy data-specific antennas, which boosted my (Dashboard) signal strength to a consistent 4 bars (5 on MTN) and repaid its considerable investment by yielding an almost flawless download every time, with respectable and almost maximum GPRS speeds.

Good luck!

Terencek
 
@sjpslabbert, did you do the N70 & data card & Netmeter speed tests indoors or outdoors? Try doing the tests outside where the signal quality and strength should be better, also try http://speed.vodacom.co.za.

Welcome to MyBroadband :).
 
Thanks Terencek. My problem is probably the same as yours. I feel better knowing I am not the only one with this problem. Regarding the antenna: what is the model number of your antenna? how much does it cost? is it portable? I look at their website but they have lots of different types. I am not sure what to look for.

ic... I tested it in and outdoors with no noticeable difference. I will try the link at some stage. Maybe that could show me the real difference between the Nokia and the Data card. Thanks
 
I would actually suspect the data cards to be a bit better in throughput (if at all) than the phones. The data card are there for one thing only' data, while handsets must do lots of other things.

I wonder if you not maybe picked up EDGE on your handset but got GPRS on the card? Longshot, I agree but which data card have you got? And where are you?
 
Vodacom3g.... it is quite possible. But then again, why doesn't the datacard also pick up Edge? I also suspected a beter connection with the datacard, that is why I am surprised at the slower throughput. I am currently trying to run the speed test at Vodacom on both, but I am struggling to get it to work.
 
sjpslabbert said:
Vodacom3g.... it is quite possible. But then again, why doesn't the datacard also pick up Edge? I also suspected a beter connection with the datacard, that is why I am surprised at the slower throughput. I am currently trying to run the speed test at Vodacom on both, but I am struggling to get it to work.
Click to expand...

That's why I need to you your model of data card and your location.
 
I have a Huawei E620 data card. I live in the Northwest in a little town called Migdol. Although my cellphone does read Migdol I learned a while back that the towers in our area are: Katbosfontein, Delareyville, Genadewater and sometimes Doornpan. I do not know if this will help you.
 
vodacom3g... I am having difficulty running the speed test. I log into the site and I can see the page with a huge white space in the middle. When I right click on this space I get the following message: movie not loaded and the option about Flash 9. At the bottom there is a link for results, but they ask for a user name and password. Am I missing something?
 
sjpslabbert said:
vodacom3g... I am having difficulty running the speed test. I log into the site and I can see the page with a huge white space in the middle. When I right click on this space I get the following message: movie not loaded and the option about Flash 9. At the bottom there is a link for results, but they ask for a user name and password. Am I missing something?
Click to expand...

you'll need to install flash on your system.
 
I did... I followed the link and installed the latest version. Maybe something went wrong. I will try to get it to work, but at this time I have some responsibilities keeping me from playing with this. Thanks anyway.

I am still hoping that Terencek read this post... I am interested in the antenna he is using.
 
You can also use the Telkom speed test. There should be a link on the myADSL home page.

Look in the FAQ for details on the antenna.

I don't think you've got EDGE in your area.
 
Poynting antenna

Hi again SJP:

Actually I also live in NWP, out in the bush (near Marikana/Buffelspoort dam) where we are highly unlikely to get 3G in the fullness of time. So GPRS is the only way to go.

I got my Poynting antenna directly from them (see below), though they are also available through some agents, and a couple of the better IT shops in places like Jhb. Where you may have a problem if you choose the IT shop route is in getting the 'pigtail' (patch cord) you need to connect the standard (usually 7 metre) cable from the antenna to your specific datacard. I really don't recommend messing with the very professionally-attached plug on the antenna itself!

You also need to be aware that these antennas are for data only, that they are very direction-specific (i.e. you need to mount the antenna pointing [no pun intended...] directly at the mast, including adjusting its elevation if you live in a hilly area or the mast is on a hill.

Total cost (with the pigtail) was not cheap, around a thousand bucks, but well worth it in that it DOUBLED my download speeds (within the limitations of GPRS, obviously) from using the little Voda clipon antenna -- and it took my signal strength up to a consistent 4 bars from 2 or 3, rising on a good day to 5.

The model number is LPDA-A0021; you can look it up on http://www.poynting.co.za/productlist.php?id=2&view=all&app=0&type=0
There is also a downloadable pdf brochure available from that site.

If I am not mistaken it comes standard with 7 metres of cable; their techies reckon you lose about 1 dB of your original 11 dB signal gain per metre, but 7 metres seems to be a good compromise. I believe you can get a longer cable, but this obviously impacts quite seriously on your gain. (For comparison, I understand the standard clipon antenna provides just 2 dB of gain).

Installation is a breeze, outdoor or indoor, and there's a mounting U-bolt supplied for a pole-mount.

Warning: do not be tempted to buy a generic (so-called 'Yagi') cellphone antenna, as occasionally offered by cellphone store staff who really don't know any better. They are designed only for the voice frequencies, as I discovered to my cost, and are worse than useless for data.

Good luck, and I'll keep an eye on this thread in case you need further help.

terencek
 
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