Getting 3G working on my iPhone 5 in SA

[CapeTownMac]

I have an Iphone 5 (model A1428) with a Vodacom nano sim which I activated today. It works for phone calls and WiFi and sometimes I get 3G or Edge but very infrequently. There is no consistent way that I can find which will get a 3G signal once its disappeared, initially changing the APN from iphone.vodacom.za to internet seemed to help but then I lost the signal for good. I can't seem to receive sms's while the data signal is missing. I have read up on the topic and it seems anecdotally that the MTN 3G signal does work consistently on these phones (can anyone confirm this?). In the official apple spec sheet there is no difference in the GSM capabilities of the A1428 model (GSM only) and the A1429 model (GSM and CDMA) so there is no obvious reason why there should be a difference in the ability to receive a 3G signal, the SA press has reported that the A1428 model uses different frequencies but this is not borne out if you examine the official specs. However, the different models do use different LTE channels which may become an even bigger problem because the A1428 uses the two LTE channels prevalent in the USA and Canada whereas SA is more likely to use the European standards.

I'm going to try and return my phone and get a refund from the Apple Store in New York if they'll accept it and wait for the SA version in the absence of a solution which will get me at least 3G if not LTE.

If anyone can add any info or even better, personal experience, it would be gratefully received.

 

[ginggs]

I'm going to try and return my phone and get a refund from the Apple Store in New York if they'll accept it and wait for the SA version in the absence of a solution which will get me at least 3G if not LTE.

I'd wait a bit. There are reports the iPhone 5 is working on MTN's network. Vodacom probably just need to roll out a software fix on their network.
IIRC, a similar thing happened when the original iPhone 2G came out.

 

[morkhans]

IIRC, a similar thing happened when the original iPhone 2G came out.

Correct. Vodacom used Jannie's phone to test and solve the problem.

No doubt Vodacom is already looking into the iphone 5 problem. I'm sure some of the execs have brought in phones and will want them working, but you won't have any word from Vodacom until the phone is officially launched in SA.

 

[Nissan23]

I got my iPhone in the UK and my nano sim from Cellucity. Everything is working fine but I also have the same problem of not getting a 3G connection. I at least get Edge all the time which isn't the greatest but not the worst. Under settings I only have the option to enable 3G or not. There isn't an LTE option like in the link provided in this thread. I briefly used my phone on the 3 network in the Uk but with the Vodacom sim in all the APN and MMS settings have automatically changed to the Vodacom ones.

Any further guidance how to get 3G or shoud I just wait for the SA release and hope Vodacom fix something so that mine starts picking up 3G?

 

[CapeTownie]

Has anyone had issues with the iphone 4s and vodacom reception?

 

[morkhans]

I have been told iPhone 5 issues with 3G on Vodacom has been fixed.

Feedback please.

 

[Nissan23]

I have been told iPhone 5 issues with 3G on Vodacom has been fixed.

Feedback please.

Not for me. At home I always have a constant 3G connection on my iPad and iPhone 4 so it's not due to where I live. I have not once seen a 3G connection on my iPhone 5. It's permanently on Edge.

 

[morkhans]

Not for me. At home I always have a constant 3G connection on my iPad and iPhone 4 so it's not due to where I live. I have not once seen a 3G connection on my iPhone 5. It's permanently on Edge.

What is the model no. of your phone?

 

[Nissan23]

What is the model no. of your phone?

A1429. Bought in London

 

[Nissan23]

I phoned customer care tonight and activated LTE. Got a text confirmation. Lady told me to wait up to 6 hours. Have changed my APN to lte.vodacom.za like it says on vodacom website. I wonder if the dreaded "E" will change to anything later.

 

[morkhans]

I don't know if the LTE provisioning will have any effect, but keep us posted.

 

[jannievanzyl]

I phoned customer care tonight and activated LTE. Got a text confirmation. Lady told me to wait up to 6 hours. Have changed my APN to lte.vodacom.za like it says on vodacom website. I wonder if the dreaded "E" will change to anything later.

Activating LTE won't do anything. The LTE on your iPhone is not enabled by Apple.

Regarding the ipHone 5, I know a fair number that are working 100% on Vodacom.

 

[AvinashD]

iPhone 5 A1429 GSM version

Voice and Data (switching between Edge and 3G) is active.

I have used iPhone Configuration utility, and created a profile with APN "lte.vodacom.za". LTE service has been activated on the nano sim more than 24 hours ago.

I still don't see the toggle button to "enable or disable LTE" in settings-->general-->cellular

Is this problem being experienced by all? Please help. Is it perhaps an update of the carrier settings that are needed in order for the iPhone 5 A1429 GSM to work on the Vodacom network?

Have escalated this to data division at Vodacom, and they couldn't provide any assistance.

 

[fxit_man]

Is it perhaps an update of the carrier settings that are needed in order for the iPhone 5 A1429 GSM to work on the Vodacom network?

yes. updated settings are not yet available.

 

[Nissan23]

Activating LTE won't do anything. The LTE on your iPhone is not enabled by Apple.

Regarding the ipHone 5, I know a fair number that are working 100% on Vodacom.

My iPhone 5 now connects and holds a 3G connection which I'm pleased about. I know that there isn't the option yet to turn LTE on, but despite saying 3G, my phone is showing speeds between 15-19Mbps using the speediest.net app. My iPhone 4 never came close to that speed so it's strange then that if my iPhone 5 is just on 3G that it should register such a speed.

 

[Dave]

My iPhone 5 now connects and holds a 3G connection which I'm pleased about. I know that there isn't the option yet to turn LTE on, but despite saying 3G, my phone is showing speeds between 15-19Mbps using the speediest.net app. My iPhone 4 never came close to that speed so it's strange then that if my iPhone 5 is just on 3G that it should register such a speed.

Not really, the max speed on the 4 is 7.2Mbps and the 4s is 14.4Mbps, the iPhone 5 is 42Mbps on 3G, and most networks are implementing 21Mbps HSPA+ which the i5 will benefit from while the 4 and 4s won't.

 

[Nissan23]

Not really, the max speed on the 4 is 7.2Mbps and the 4s is 14.4Mbps, the iPhone 5 is 42Mbps on 3G, and most networks are implementing 21Mbps HSPA+ which the i5 will benefit from while the 4 and 4s won't.

Thanks I didn't know that.

 

[jannievanzyl]

Not really, the max speed on the 4 is 7.2Mbps and the 4s is 14.4Mbps, the iPhone 5 is 42Mbps on 3G, and most networks are implementing 21Mbps HSPA+ which the i5 will benefit from while the 4 and 4s won't.

Actually, a large portion of the network is already on 42Mb/s, also called Dual-Carrier (DC).

I constantly get about 15Mb/s in Sandton on a iPhone 5 on DC. This is prettyclose to what LTE will give.

 

[R13...]

Actually, a large portion of the network is already on 42Mb/s, also called Dual-Carrier (DC).

I constantly get about 15Mb/s in Sandton on a iPhone 5 on DC. This is prettyclose to what LTE will give.

What does large portion of the network mean? In fact, for some of us, speeds are degrading (like happened yesterday with me).

 

[phiber]

Got an iphone5 1429 and a vodacom nano sim, but cant get 3G, only getting edge. Anyone else still having this problem/know if there is a fix?