Dropping the Connection

[Dave A]

You're most likely seeing something called 'cell breathing'. This is where the size of the 3G cell shrinks as more users connect.

Is this not time to upgrade the capacity of this tower then.

The site is most likely congested, if you say you have such good signal, but slow through-puts and disconnects. I would suggest trying the 3G external antenna pointed towards Sunward Park tower, and see if that helps. Otherwise, log a call with 082 155, and see if they will tell you when they will be upgrading the site to support more users.

Surely Vodacom can see the problem coming well before it actually arrives? A "breakdown maintenance strategy" is more than a little frustrating from the user's side of this capacity problem.

 

[vodacom3g]

Surely Vodacom can see the problem coming well before it actually arrives? A "breakdown maintenance strategy" is more than a little frustrating from the user's side of this capacity problem.

We do (got very cool tools for this), and there are certain thresholds to automatically activate the upgrade process.

But if it is cell breathing, the only solution is to build another tower. And (if you're lucky enough to get permission and transmission) it could still take up to 3 years.

If the problem is just backhaul an order is placed for more backhaul. And it goes into the 8000+ queue....

As I always say, we have no desire for you not to be able to connect and consume data. After all that's where the revenue comes from. But it's not always seamless.

 

[Dave A]

Thanks for expanding on that. It helps ease the pain a little.

 

[Basilrsa]

We do (got very cool tools for this), and there are certain thresholds to automatically activate the upgrade process.

But if it is cell breathing, the only solution is to build another tower. And (if you're lucky enough to get permission and transmission) it could still take up to 3 years.

If the problem is just backhaul an order is placed for more backhaul. And it goes into the 8000+ queue....

As I always say, we have no desire for you not to be able to connect and consume data. After all that's where the revenue comes from. But it's not always seamless.

Hi Vodacom 3G,
I must report back that the system is now back to normal in Sunward Park Ext 5.
A day or two ago I say a few guys at the towers nearby, but I am not sure which tower they were working on.
I have not had a disconnection in two days, and I am happy with the upload and download speed,
Maybe we have a bit more backhaul from Telkom?

 

[vodacom3g]

Hi Vodacom 3G,
I must report back that the system is now back to normal in Sunward Park Ext 5.
A day or two ago I say a few guys at the towers nearby, but I am not sure which tower they were working on.
I have not had a disconnection in two days, and I am happy with the upload and download speed,
Maybe we have a bit more backhaul from Telkom?

Could be. Or maybe something was broken and they fixed it.

 

[SoTrue]

For the past two weeks (maybe more) the number of disconnects when using the internet on my notebook at a client site has been awful. I have to reconnect at least 30 times per day. The location is corner of Arcadia and Hilda Streets in Hatfield, Pretoria and the signal strength indicator is at max (excellent signal)

I am using a Novatel MC950D modem. I dont' think it is the modem or notebook settings, because it never happens at home. I called 155 and they first made sure that I had the latest version of VMC, which I have. I've also recently upgraded the modem firmware to the latest version found on the Vodacom website. Apart from making me switch device settings in VMC from 3g preferred to 3g only and back, nothing else could be done on their side.

Any suggestions?

 

[SoTrue]

For the past two weeks (maybe more) the number of disconnects when using the internet on my notebook at a client site has been awful. I have to reconnect at least 30 times per day. The location is corner of Arcadia and Hilda Streets in Hatfield, Pretoria and the signal strength indicator is at max (excellent signal)

I am using a Novatel MC950D modem. I dont' think it is the modem or notebook settings, because it never happens at home. I called 155 and they first made sure that I had the latest version of VMC, which I have. I've also recently upgraded the modem firmware to the latest version found on the Vodacom website. Apart from making me switch device settings in VMC from 3g preferred to 3g only and back, nothing else could be done on their side.

Any suggestions?

The situation is still the same (in Hatfield) - frequent disconnects. Is there nothing that can be done?

 

[Basilrsa]

OK, this is what I have done so far.
I have been to Vodacare in East Gate and found a very helpfull representative, who told me he on contract to VC (Maybe that explains things).
In any case he loaded my laptop with VMC 9.3.0.8940 which is the latest version. He also loaded the file on my desktop for my other computers.
I also have connected my Novatel to my rooftop yagi with a connector supplied by Poynting.
Results: A full 5 bar reading on the dashboard and I have not had a disconnect in the past week.
BTW: The signal meter on the above version seems to be a bit more generous with the readings. My reading is now a solid 5 bar from a previous 3-4 reading on the old dash, without the yagi connected.
Throughput is still not up to the pre crash era.

 

[SoTrue]

OK, this is what I have done so far.
I have been to Vodacare in East Gate and found a very helpfull representative, who told me he on contract to VC (Maybe that explains things).
In any case he loaded my laptop with VMC 9.3.0.8940 which is the latest version. He also loaded the file on my desktop for my other computers.
I also have connected my Novatel to my rooftop yagi with a connector supplied by Poynting.
Results: A full 5 bar reading on the dashboard and I have not had a disconnect in the past week.
BTW: The signal meter on the above version seems to be a bit more generous with the readings. My reading is now a solid 5 bar from a previous 3-4 reading on the old dash, without the yagi connected.
Throughput is still not up to the pre crash era.

I also have an antenna setup at home, this works very well and there are NO disconnections. I can stay connected for hours. Therefore, the problem is not with my notebook and modem and must be with Vodacom's network. I appreciate that Telkom (should) provides the biggest part of the backbone.

However, putting up an antenna at a client is obviously not possible. My question is - is my experience in Hatfield (a high density area) similar for other Vodacom clients? What prevents Vodacom from fixing this?

 

[SoTrue]

I also have an antenna setup at home, this works very well and there are NO disconnections. I can stay connected for hours. Therefore, the problem is not with my notebook and modem and must be with Vodacom's network. I appreciate that Telkom (should) provides the biggest part of the backbone.

However, putting up an antenna at a client is obviously not possible. My question is - is my experience in Hatfield (a high density area) similar for other Vodacom clients? What prevents Vodacom from fixing this?

I'm happy to report that the last few days the connection in Hatfield has been great. Today only one disconnect. Not sure what has changed (no changes on my side), but sure enjoying not having to reconnect every few minutes.

 

[kingrob]

I'm happy to report that the last few days the connection in Hatfield has been great. Today only one disconnect. Not sure what has changed (no changes on my side), but sure enjoying not having to reconnect every few minutes.

Oh, so it's you!

No wonder I've been having non-stop disconnects the whole day!

Switch off your computer now, or there will be blood.