Does ANY mobile broadband work well?

G

grahame

Active Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2006
Messages
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Location
Muckleneuk, Pta
8ta - disconnections every 5 minutes render it useless (24 month contract, with 12 to go)
Cell C - as slow as treacle (3GB prepaid sim)
Neotel - even the salesman advised against it: too many returns because of poor connections

MTN and Vodacom - rip-off artists - price per GB is outrageous


So that seems to be it for mobile broadband Any other options out there?
 
I should add that I'm based in Pretoria, 600m from the big Telkom tower. Fat lot that helps.
Hey, maybe that's the problem!
 
Basically all dependent on your area. Both Cell C and Vodacom in my area is great. Also the more densely populated areas will probably have the worst quality wireless connections.

Looks like you will have to try Vodacom, they may be expensive but I haven't had issues with them in the past with speeds.
 
I use 8ta 60+60 along with huawei router/modem (r900) that connects 8 devices.
best deal ever, R1,800 once off for 1 year.
Connection in cape town suburbs is rwally good, 5mbs on speed test.
 
ADSL won't work for me - I use the sim card in a laptop, and move around Pretoria.
iBurst? Have no knowledge of, but will investigate.
Thanks
 
grahame said:
ADSL won't work for me - I use the sim card in a laptop, and move around Pretoria.
iBurst? Have no knowledge of, but will investigate.
Thanks
Click to expand...

Meaning an internal 3G modem?
Maybe try borrowing someones USB modem & see if its any differant.
Other thing would be to see how strong/weak your 8ta signal is - as to whether that might be why its disconnecting all the time.
 
Tun@ said:
Meaning an internal 3G modem?
Maybe try borrowing someones USB modem & see if its any differant.
Other thing would be to see how strong/weak your 8ta signal is - as to whether that might be why its disconnecting all the time.
Click to expand...

Yes, 3G embedded. Your thoughts mirrored mine. Tried various USB dongles, with little change. Had 8ta techies out 3 times -they concluded that although I was deeply in their coverage area, for some strange reason, my signal was weak and/or "corrupted by too many towers". I think they were saying that there was just too much traffic to support a firm connection. Dropping every 2 to 3 minutes defines frustration.
 
grahame said:
8ta - disconnections every 5 minutes render it useless (24 month contract, with 12 to go)
Cell C - as slow as treacle (3GB prepaid sim)
Neotel - even the salesman advised against it: too many returns because of poor connections

MTN and Vodacom - rip-off artists - price per GB is outrageous


So that seems to be it for mobile broadband Any other options out there?
Click to expand...

Sexy Grahame,

My CellC Edge connection has close to 100% signal with the following:

A small coffee tin, plastic cover slit with a knife across just wide enough for my modem to fit it, USB cable from modem to the back of my PC.

I'm too lazy to post a pic, but it's easy enough to understand. Mybb feels faster on my Edge connection at home than DSL at work.
 
teraside said:
Sexy Grahame,

My CellC Edge connection has close to 100% signal with the following:

A small coffee tin, plastic cover slit with a knife across just wide enough for my modem to fit it, USB cable from modem to the back of my PC.

I'm too lazy to post a pic, but it's easy enough to understand. Mybb feels faster on my Edge connection at home than DSL at work.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the compliment ;)

I love the low-tec philosophy.
 
Voda seems to be the most consistent...but painfully expensive.

On the whole 3G is pretty much a no-win scenario...unless by chance you've got good coverage from CellC/8ta.
 
HavocXphere said:
Voda seems to be the most consistent...but painfully expensive.

On the whole 3G is pretty much a no-win scenario...unless by chance you've got good coverage from CellC/8ta.
Click to expand...

From my experiences, I've come to the same conclusion.

Coverage maps seem to be exercises in futility.
What are the technical challenges with this medium?
And why would such a technically-challenging medium be launched in the first place?
 
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