Does Virgin EDGE really exist???

G

garyb01

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Hi All

I have been reading this forum with interest and decided to join as many of you seem very experienced and seem to have gone through the process of connecting to VM. I have a Mot V360 phone and just cannot seem to be able to connect TO VM EDGE! (Recently ported from VC) VM call center tells me that I will not see the "E" on my phone as with the other networks, but only notice the increased data speeds?? Well....NO!!.....no fast data speeds here, and I have confirmed with Cell C that I am indeed in a EDGE coverage area. So my question is, is this correct regarding the E and secondly, if anyone out there has had the same problem, how was it resolved? Please, I am growing more frustrated by the minute with the slow GPRS speeds after having HSDPA with VC. May just be worth biting the bullet and paying the R2/meg???? Any advice would be great.

Thanks
 
Thank you for that info andres101, really looking forward to that happening!!! Very happy with being on VM WRT everything else, just the data speeds and slow downloads that are so annoying, average of 3 kb /s..........Would still like to get this EDGE thing sorted out though, because we dont know how long the 3G roll out will take. Have tried my Nokia 6680 as well, but no luck, so its not a setting on the phone. This 3 kb /s download speed is a bit frustrating.....
 
I am not aware of an "E" display on any of our networks when in EDGE coverage.

Also to confirm that CellC themselves admitted not having 3G in the pipeline.
 
Hmmm, I wonder why I was getting between 25-30k/sec when I was using Virgin data last week. Edge or gprs??

Style
 
Cell-c No Capacity

Ok guys & dolls please listen up.

Cell-c has EDGE enabled on quite a few Towers throughout the country. However some areas might not have EDGE but the problem is not with having a Base Station EDGE enabled but rather with the number of Radios they have in their Cabinet. Currently the high volume data areas are being packed with radios to support Voice and Data however in most outlying areas of the CBD's the normal eight radios per cabinet are installed and are EDGE enabled. When Siemens did the Cell-c Network they did not anticipate or quote for heavy data users like us using virgin mobile on our laptops or desktops. The EDGE or GPRS was merely for mobile phone usage and applications. Now that we are choking the data network we find the speeds dropping to 5kbps. One EDGE connection is sometimes shared by as many as 10 people. The rest of the radios are allocated to Voice calls. Remember currently the networks believe voice is a priority. A radio then drops the data connection and allows the voice call to go through. Thats the reason why we get disconnected so many times. Also when we are connected to the internet by no data moving through. A voice call is using that channel. When that particular call is finished you will find the data moving again. Cell-c is trying their best to install more radios in most of their Base Stations however it is taking rather long and might only be finished by December 2007
Maybe when we are experiencing higher EDGE speeds then Virgin will charge R2 a meg. Try using your Virgin mobile connection between 1am - 2am in the morning and do post your speeds on this thread. I once received a speed of 225kbps thats 23KBS which is very good. The Cell-C network is getting choked with data users at the moment. I cannot understand why they dont just rollout 3G. They have a licence to do that or maybe share their licence with some overseas company like HUTCH to build out the 3G network and use the Cell-C branding.

DXL - mobile
 
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Cell C will not be rolling out their own 3G network within the next year.

I can confirm that I get EDGE on my Nokia 6680 when the network is manually set to Cell C, otherwise it sticks to Voda and their slow gprs. In the same areas on a Moto v360 it sticks to Voda even though Cell C is set for the highest priority and the only network. Doesn't seem to be a setting for exclusive use of Cell C like on the Nokias. If your phone says Vodacom as the operator you are on Vodacom's network and won't get EDGE coverage.
 
Firstly, thank you very much to all who have taken the time and effort to reply and provide some information and assistance.

DXL, really appreciate the info, makes everything a lot clearer and your info makes a lot of sense. Insider, when I put a VC sim into the phone or find myself roaming on VC because VM has no coverage then the E that I referred to immediately pops up. When you connect to the data network then it states EDGE ACTIVE on the phone and the speeds are much much faster. This is why I was confused and asked the question if VM edge really exists or not? (Was tonge in cheek of course) because with VM / Cell C, this does not happen and the speeds are so much slower. I even purchased a MTN prepaid, bought 10mg data quickly and did a speed test: Result: EDGE Y, very fast Y. So here's to hoping that that the 3G roll out does happen very quickly and I think that we all concur on that point.

To anyone from VM who may be reading this: Thank you for the great pricing on both data and calls and your call center is up there with the best of them. But please listen to your customers regarding our requirements and you will have us for life!

Once again, thank you to all who have posted replies, I thought that I knew quite a bit about these things until I read how knowledgeable you all are, so thank you once again!
 
garyb01 said:
To anyone from VM who may be reading this
Click to expand...

There aren't any VM representatives around here. We've asked VM to send one, but to no avail.
 
"There aren't any VM representatives around here. We've asked VM to send one, but to no avail".

OOPS?? That doesn't sound right:mad: Surely they would have someone on a forum such as this. As a businessman, I would love the opportunity to have a direct insight into what my clients are saying about my product and how they feel about it, both good and bad, so this would be a perfect opportunity for them...........maybe we should give SIR Richard a mail drop?????:D
 
garyb01 said:
Insider, when I put a VC sim into the phone or find myself roaming on VC because VM has no coverage then the E that I referred to immediately pops up. When you connect to the data network then it states EDGE ACTIVE on the phone and the speeds are much much faster.
Click to expand...
That doesn't sound right to me. Looking at the three coverage maps we can conclude that the networks don't have EDGE coverage in the same areas. Cell C has coverage mainly in Gauteng where Vodacom doesn't have a single EDGE spot the last time I checked. Vodacom has coverage in some deserted areas where Cell C has none. If you are getting EDGE on Vodacom, you would know if the speed is anything above 8kB/s, it is very very very likely Cell C does not provide EDGE coverage and the operator you spoke to is sniffing a sock. This could all be avoided if the networks were to share towers again. I guess you'll just have to wait till Cell C gets access to Vodacom's 3G network or use MTN's gprs+ which I have seen reaching speeds of 10kB/s. Now where is that Vc prepaid data dungle... :rolleyes:
 
Prometheus said:
Now where is that Vc prepaid data dungle... :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Been looking for that one for a long time as well..........and by the looks of the posts in the other forums, so have many others.........;)

As for the coverage aspect that you mentioned, I am located in good old PE and honestly do have egde, 3G, HSDPA with VC, 3G and EDGE with MTN, (using Nokia 6680, Moto V 360 and Huw HSDPA card, as the need arises) and EDGE with VC??????? Or so they tell me, yet to find it.....:rolleyes: Until the 3G is sorted on VM / Cell C, it looks like a pre-paid MTN data bundle for me, 1GB @ R 499-00 means about R0.50 per meg, so its about the same? Was trying to get out of the swapping sims thing by finding VM Edge?????:confused: , but looks like that is the way its going to have to be for now in any case.
 
Vodacom Improves Backhaul for 3G

Vodacom Improves Backhaul for 3G
The backhaul switches supplier, Celtro has announced that South Africa's Vodacom is deploying it's solution for the expansion of 3G services and rollout of HSDPA. Deployment of the Celtro DynaMate solution will enable Vodacom to increase network capacity, improve service delivery, and maximize network flexibility.


To introduce new broadband mobile services, Vodacom will deploy DynaMate systems at over 850 sites this year, enabling rollout of 3G and HSDPA on existing backhaul infrastructure. With DynaMate systems optimizing and statistically multiplexing 2G and 3G backhaul traffic, Vodacom backhaul network performance will be measurably enhanced - delivering more capacity and better service.
"With our current focus on delivering GPRS, EDGE, and HSDPA data services, Vodacom's backhaul transmission resources were being stretched to their limits. We evaluated a number of options to address the backhaul challenge in delivering data services. Celtro's DynaMate was simply the best - a mature, carrier-class solution that optimally converges 2G/3G backhaul traffic, enabling us to supply these services on our existing backhaul infrastructure," said Johan Engelbrecht, Managing Executive, Networking Management and Support for Vodacom S.A. "The performance of the DynaMate cellular backhaul switching solutions has been excellent, and we remain very pleased with Celtro's commitment and ability to meet our needs."
"We are proud to have been selected by an innovative industry leader such as Vodacom," said Ron Zor, CEO of Celtro. "We see Vodacom as a valuable strategic partner. We look forward to continued future cooperation with Vodacom following the successful implementation of Celtro solutions in their network.

DXL - mobile
 
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DXL said:
Vodacom Improves Backhaul for 3G
The backhaul switches supplier, Celtro has announced that South Africa's Vodacom is deploying it's solution for the expansion of 3G services and rollout of HSDPA. Deployment of the Celtro DynaMate solution will enable Vodacom to increase network capacity, improve service delivery, and maximize network flexibility.


To introduce new broadband mobile services, Vodacom will deploy DynaMate systems at over 850 sites this year, enabling rollout of 3G and HSDPA on existing backhaul infrastructure. With DynaMate systems optimizing and statistically multiplexing 2G and 3G backhaul traffic, Vodacom backhaul network performance will be measurably enhanced - delivering more capacity and better service.
"With our current focus on delivering GPRS, EDGE, and HSDPA data services, Vodacom's backhaul transmission resources were being stretched to their limits. We evaluated a number of options to address the backhaul challenge in delivering data services. Celtro's DynaMate was simply the best - a mature, carrier-class solution that optimally converges 2G/3G backhaul traffic, enabling us to supply these services on our existing backhaul infrastructure," said Johan Engelbrecht, Managing Executive, Networking Management and Support for Vodacom S.A. "The performance of the DynaMate cellular backhaul switching solutions has been excellent, and we remain very pleased with Celtro's commitment and ability to meet our needs."
"We are proud to have been selected by an innovative industry leader such as Vodacom," said Ron Zor, CEO of Celtro. "We see Vodacom as a valuable strategic partner. We look forward to continued future cooperation with Vodacom following the successful implementation of Celtro solutions in their network.

DXL - mobile
Click to expand...
Sounds a lot like Cell C's deployment of an MPLS network. In the end it's just eye candy for the media so your company looks good especially now with MNP. We still have to see the benefits of Cell C's "upgrade" and I don't believe we will see the benefits of Vodacom's either. The only way to really improve a network is to upgrade the backhaul and links. You can't expect to suddenly run at optimum level when your users were using more than what is available. It's like saying your car can only do 100km/h so when you go onto the highway you'll simply put in thinner oil.
 
"VM call center tells me that I will not see the "E" on my phone as with the other networks, but only notice the increased data speeds??"
- garyb01 -

Here in the U.S. there appears to also be some confusion on this issue
with my carrier (Cingular). I presently use two cell capable PDAs;
HP 6515 & HTC 8525. The 6515 is WIN OS Mobile 4 with EDGE and the
8525 is WIN OS Mobile 5 with 3G (UMTC).

Neither phone will display an "E" when in EDGE coverage. I know when EDGE
exists as I can monitor the data rate which reaches peaks of 100Kbps.
An older non-EDGE cell phone connected to the internet is just 25-35Kbps.
The 8525 will display a "U" when in 3G coverage, but never an "E"
just a "G" as does the 6515. The 3G data rate approaches 200Kbps
on the 3G ("U") network which is about what my PDAs' data rates
are when connected to my home wireless network.

Numerous calls to my carrier tech support haven't resolved the issue.
I've also visited the carrier's stores where sales personnel have
had the new Samsung Blackjack (WIN Mobile 5 variant - but not a
true PDA) and it display an "E". when my 8525 displayed just a "G".
A check of the data rate indicated EDGE connections.

So the problem appears to be the result of how each phone/PDA/OS
interprets the carrier mode data, i.e. G/E/U (1G, 2G, 3G), as the
data is being transmitted. Maybe someone has a better explanation.

Loren
California
 
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Posted by garyb01
VM call center tells me that I will not see the "E" on my phone as with the other networks, but only notice the increased data speeds??
Click to expand...

When I insert my VM sim into the phone I get the red "E" when I'm connecting and I think if I'm correct the d/l speed I'm getting lately must be EDGE.
 
I cant understand something. I use vw for internet in a non edge phone. My other phone I use everyday, is the motorola v360v. I've never seen a E sign anywhere. So I contacted Motorola, and they told me That phone does not show a E sign, but also that would just see increase in data speeds. So is there maybe something I do wrong, or maybe a setting on the phone? A while ago I downloaded opera on my phone, and it didn't work if my internet profile was set to use vodafone live, so I downloaded normal gprs settings, and now it work. can someone pls tell me their's also something I do wrong. Why does opera not work with Vlive settings?
 
jacqvt said:
I cant understand something. I use vw for internet in a non edge phone.
Click to expand...

I can't understand something either: you mean you use VM, because, last time I checked, VW still only manufactured automobiles?

jacqvt said:
My other phone I use everyday, is the motorola v360v. I've never seen a E sign anywhere. So I contacted Motorola, and they told me That phone does not show a E sign, but also that would just see increase in data speeds. So is there maybe something I do wrong, or maybe a setting on the phone?
Click to expand...

Motorola should know - your phone probably just doesn't display an "E". Are you getting EDGE speeds? If so, there's nothing wrong.

jacqvt said:
A while ago I downloaded opera on my phone, and it didn't work if my internet profile was set to use vodafone live, so I downloaded normal gprs settings, and now it work. can someone pls tell me their's also something I do wrong. Why does opera not work with Vlive settings?
Click to expand...

Whoa there - Virgin Mobile does not use VLive!. VLive! is a service from Vodacom, so obviously you can't use VLive! settings on a different network. Who is your service provider again? :confused:
 
I use vodacom in my v360 for calls,and I use opera also on it. The vlive settings download automatic when I got the phone. I never saw the E sign,even in a edge area,and also not faster speeds.
 
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