Free HSDPA Swapout

Have you already swapped your old 3G data card for a new HSDPA data card?

  • Yes, I now have an HSDPA data card exchanged for old 3G data card

    Votes: 35 81.4%

  • Don't select this option [IOW please don't vote for this option]

    Votes: 8 18.6%
  • Total voters
    43
nextstep said:
I've done just that, please get back to me (Autopage do not have stock, they claim that Vodacom will look after their own shops first) ...
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Got your PM, but will rather reply here.

Does not matter with whom your contract is, you can swap at any dealer. So you can find anyone with stock (Vodashop, for example) and they must swap you.

ONLY time you must go to your 'original' shop is when you bought the 3G card cash.

Btw, all the shops order the cards from a central warehouse, so the 'preferential treatment' story is a bit suspect....
 
vodacom3g said:
Btw, all the shops order the cards from a central warehouse, so the 'preferential treatment' story is a bit suspect....
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I tend to agree with you, it would not really be in Vodacom's interest to 'discriminate' against 3rd party dealers.
 
vodacom3g said:
Does not matter with whom your contract is, you can swap at any dealer. So you can find anyone with stock (Vodashop, for example) and they must swap you
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And so they did, with a non-branded card "nogal" (it's red, but without any Vodafone labels) ;)

Will keep you posted regarding performance and uptime levels ...
 
That reminds me. There are two HSDPA ads running at the moment that are exactly the same except for one difference. In the one ad the card has no markings and in the other you can clearly see it's an Option Nzomi card.
Weird, hey? :)
 
internaut said:
That reminds me. There are two HSDPA ads running at the moment that are exactly the same except for one difference. In the one ad the card has no markings and in the other you can clearly see it's an Option Nzomi card.
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Mine is a Novatel card, but there are no Vodafone markings on the card itself (the packaging has vodafone and vodacom all over it, though).

On the downside, the Linux howto won't work as it stands now (it's geared for the Nzomi card) ...

Updated: Although the card does not have any Vodafone markings, the product itself is clearly identified. It is a Novatel Merlin U740 card (model NRM-U740). I'll post more about the card on the FAQ thread.
 
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vodacom3g said:
A large number of the Novatel U740's came without branding but we thought you'd take them branded or naked, so we rather shipped them....
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No problem, my only concern now is that the U740 might not work with Linux - I could not find any drivers so far.
 
vodacom3g said:
ANYTHING works with Linux, you just make it work!

Won't it be similar to the 3G Novatel card?

Tazz?
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Eventually, yes!

It might work similar to the U630, I'm waiting for a response fro Tazz on this (I could not get round trying it myself just yet).

Anyway, maybe we should take the rest of the weekend off? ;)

While I'm at it, V3G, thanks for all your hard work here, it is certainly making a difference!
 
HSDPA - Beware!!

I have upgraded to the HSDPA card and my old 3G card performes at least 5 times faster than the HSDPA version. In a 5km radius from my home, I could only find one loaction where I managed to get speeds >1Mb/s. Vodacom clearly unable/unwilling to solve problem and I have no option but to revert back to 3G or possibly ADSL.
 
MikeN said:
Vodacom clearly unable/unwilling to solve problem and I have no option but to revert back to 3G or possibly ADSL.
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Please (URGENTLY) PM me the Help Desk call-number where you logged your problem with Vodacom and they indicated they were unwilling to resolve your problem.

I'll take it up with the call-desk management.

If there is a legit technical reason, it's one thing, but just being unwilling is not acceptable.
 
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For general forum feedback;

MikeN did not actually log a call, so at this point in time Vodacom is unaware that a potential problem exist. MikeN PM'ed me to explain the comment was meant in the 'broader' context.

So neither the claims that Vodacom is unable or unwilling to fix the problem are factually correct.

The important point here is to log a problem if you have some kind of issue. It's rather unfair to expect resolution if no knowledge of the problem exists!

Also, rather log earlier than later. The quicker the problem become known the faster it can be attended to.
 
My dear vodacom3g - how you came to this conslusion from my PM to you is a total mistery and posting your reply without checking your facts a little arrogant!

I have actually reported the problem on at least three occassions and have been batttling with Vodacom Sales and Support people since early April!

The primary issue is this: Vodacom is handing out the HSDPA cards like it is going out of fashion knowing full-well that they do not have the appropriate infrastructre in place to make them work properly!
 
MikeN said:
The primary issue is this: Vodacom is handing out the HSDPA cards like it is going out of fashion knowing full-well that they do not have the appropriate infrastructre in place to make them work properly!
Click to expand...

Sorry if I misunderstood you. I asked for the call numbers and you replied your comment was meant in a 'broader' sense. I therefore assumed you did not log a call.

Please post or PM me the call numbers and I'll follow up for you.

Every 3G tower in the Vodacom network is HSDPA enabled. Again, please furnish me with the details on the lack of appropriate infrastructure. If we somehow missed upgrading one 3G tower to HSDPA, we need to do so immediately.

Won't you post the area you're in and maybe a cell-id of the closest 2G tower?
Which HSDPA card do you have?
How many bars on the dash?
What speed do you get on http://speed.vodacom.co.za/test/ ?
 
MikeN said:
I have upgraded to the HSDPA card and my old 3G card performes at least 5 times faster than the HSDPA version. In a 5km radius from my home
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Are you using a "Preferred 3G" profile, or a "3G Only" profile? According to the manual that was included with my card, one can get better performance levels when using the "3G Only" profile.

Personally, I'm getting a better signal with the new HSPDA card (constant 2 bars as opposed to a single bar with the older card), and that's without even using the small external antenna.
 
Free HSDPA swop

The offer sounds really great but I've been trying in vain for two weeks because NO-ONE seems to be able to have a card in stock. Does anyone know of a shop where I can actually exchange my 3G for a HSDPA card????
 
Speedster said:
The offer sounds really great but I've been trying in vain for two weeks because NO-ONE seems to be able to have a card in stock. Does anyone know of a shop where I can actually exchange my 3G for a HSDPA card????
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I got mine from Vodashop at Vodaworld on Friday (28/04) - just had to show that I have an existing contract.
 
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