Getting Started with Vodafone

Rinkhals

Rinkhals

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Hi,

I've been handed a Red Vodafone PCMCIA card and told to get it working.

Where do I start?

Does the user need an ISP?

Does the unit come with a contract?

What is available under that contract, (if it exists).

How do I activate it?

Many Thanks,

Rink.
 
Rinkhals said:
Er, yes.

It's a 64k Vodacom simcard, by the look of it.
Click to expand...
Ok, you could put that sim card into an ordinary cell phone, and then call 155 to find out the contract details, although 155 is likely to want to speak to the actual account holder...

Another option would be to find out what the sim card's cell number is, then register it on www.vodacom4me.co.za, and look at what the account details say on v4me. To find out what the cell number is for the sim card, try sending a 'please call me' sms to your own cell number - this would give you the 64k sim card's cell number.

Also, on the bottom of the data card, it should have the manufacturer's name printed and maybe a model number as well, current manufacturers for Vodafone branded data cards are: Option, Novatel and Huawei.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for your help.

The card is a
Vodacom Mobile Connect
HSDPA/3G/EDGE/GPRS
data card

Manufacturer is HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES

I've found out what the SIM card's number is and am currently waiting activation of vodacom4me registration.
 
The Contract details are as follows:

Contract details
Phone Type:
Cell Number : *********
SIM Number: *******************
Class: National
Subscriber State: Active
SIM Type: 64k
Subscription Type: Contract
Subscriber Start Date: 2006-09-16 09:51:10
Tariff: 3G Broadband
Tariff Start Date: 2006-09-16 09:51:11
Service Provider: Nashua Ltd

Does this mean anything to you?
 
Okay we've installed the software.

It says "Connecting" for quite a while and then quits with an error message "619, the port is not connected"
 
Rinkhals said:
Okay we've installed the software.

It says "Connecting" for quite a while and then quits with an error message "619, the port is not connected"
Click to expand...
Hmmm 619 is usually a problem with low or poor quality signal, what is the signal strength indicator saying in the Vodafone Mobile Connect [VMC] software? - the best is to first check on Vodacom's 3G coverage map to see if your specific location is actually covered, if it is then try going outdoors and then connect - if you can get a signal and successfully connect outdoors then the issue is probably that the building you are in is blocking the signal and you will have to move around to find a signal-sweet-spot.

You could also try switching to GPRS, but that involves creating and selecting a GPRS profile in VMC.

I'm not entirely sure, but it could also be that the sim card is not yet activated or enabled for data...
 
ic said:
Hmmm 619 is usually a problem with low or poor quality signal, what is the signal strength indicator saying in the Vodafone Mobile Connect [VMC] software? - the best is to first check on Vodacom's 3G coverage map to see if your specific location is actually covered, if it is then try going outdoors and then connect - if you can get a signal and successfully connect outdoors then the issue is probably that the building you are in is blocking the signal and you will have to move around to find a signal-sweet-spot.

You could also try switching to GPRS, but that involves creating and selecting a GPRS profile in VMC.

I'm not entirely sure, but it could also be that the sim card is not yet activated or enabled for data...
Click to expand...

Quick question: Would the Vodaphone software automatically set the "extra initialization commands" in the phone and modem options to the correct string for the card as a modem? I seem to recall having the same problem when I first loaded the software and remember having to load this manually under phone and modem options in Control panel. Just a thought, it may help.
 
vodafone 3G data coverage

garyb01 said:
Quick question: Would the Vodaphone software automatically set the "extra initialization commands" in the phone and modem options to the correct string for the card as a modem? I seem to recall having the same problem when I first loaded the software and remember having to load this manually under phone and modem options in Control panel. Just a thought, it may help.
Click to expand...


i got onto this site to help in my decision to get onto a 3G network for data services, so i have found the comments very useful.
however, i am unable to view the vodacom 3G coverage map, but i live in 'observatory', do you have an idea if there is coverage there.

thank you.
 
dudu said:
i got onto this site to help in my decision to get onto a 3G network for data services, so i have found the comments very useful.
however, i am unable to view the vodacom 3G coverage map, but i live in 'observatory', do you have an idea if there is coverage there.

thank you.
Click to expand...

V3G will be able to answer you on that one. From previous posts in this and other threads, i suspect that there is but will check on the site and come back to you.
 
garyb01 said:
V3G will be able to answer you on that one. From previous posts in this and other threads, i suspect that there is but will check on the site and come back to you.
Click to expand...

Seems to be a problem on the site with regards to viewing the data coverage map, but I am sure that V3g will pick up your post and reply.

Welcome to the Forum by the way!:)
 
A few comments:

@Rinkhals - Phone 155 and see if the sim is activated for data. If the dashboard says Vodacom at the bottom, you'll have a signal. The number of bars will show the signal level.

@garyb01 - The dash will initialise the modem. You don't need to add extra strings.

@dudu - map here: http://www.vodacom.co.za/services/3g/coverage_map.jsp (I see it's down...:mad: , will follow up)
 
vodacom3g said:
A few comments:

@Rinkhals - Phone 155 and see if the sim is activated for data. If the dashboard says Vodacom at the bottom, you'll have a signal. The number of bars will show the signal level.

@garyb01 - The dash will initialise the modem. You don't need to add extra strings.

@dudu - map here: http://www.vodacom.co.za/services/3g/coverage_map.jsp (I see it's down...:mad: , will follow up)
Click to expand...

@ V3G

Cool thanks, was just a thought because it has happened to me before, just wasn't sure if it was with the dash program or not. :)
 
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