GPRS and Vodacon service underwelming

[MyDraadloos]

I have logged 2 tickets with Vodacom with no response at all. Decided to call for an update, after 45min on hold I decided it was better not to sit around and listen to Pet Shop Boys on their IVR anymore.

GPRS service is unstable and unreliable. Most of my data originates from trying to connect and from resends of packets. When the connection abrubtly dies you have to reconnect and start downloading again.

As much as I hated Telkom I miss my ADSL connection. Been using my 7610 as a modem in new office as there is no Telkom infrastructure, but the frequent disconnects and bad throughtput is driving me nuts.

Funny thing is that when the bill arrives they expect you to pay ...... and I don't feel like it.

Another observasion is their choice of music for the IVR system, a very sarcastic jab at their customers. I don't know what you want but I can't give it anymore - Pet Shop Boys ........ believe it or not but that is the name of the track.

I guess ticket AS-TXQ8-8X6VQ will die a slow death and me the customer will do what customers do ......... go somewhere else.

 

[Academic]

Try using a datacard

Not wanting to defend Vodacom, but here is my experience.

Used Sony Ericsson 910i to access GPRS on MTN and had your story - frequent disconnects etc. and generally very painful.

Got a SierraWireless 850 aircard and connection on GPRS or 3G is incredibly stable. First day I stayed on GPRS the whole day without any disconnects.

Last week I again used the P910 and the disconnects were back. My conclusion is that somehow the SW 850 overcomes the disconnect problem.

 

[MyDraadloos]

I don't want to use a data card, and why should I put more money in their pockets. If there is no stable GPRS service them I am certainly not going to fork out R2.5K for a data card.

PS. I had to reconnect 3 times to write this reply.

 

[Mams]

GPRS n voda is terrible.
V3g:i did PM u long time ago about the area im in and GPRS gives about 12Kbps only..

 

[Pico_Train]

It depends where you are guys. MY GPRS/EDGE connection is very stable. Try putting your phone by the window or somewhere you get a better signal. I'm very happy with it but at the same time now wondering, rather itching, to get my hands on a convenient HSDPA/3G setup for myself...

Good luck with your issues, wish I could help more...

 

[Skeptik]

At last someone is writing their experiences of the nightmare I once had and which Vodacom just ignores. Download speeds actually decreased the longer I stayed online!!

Anyone tells you that it is not Vodacom's fault - get stuffed! Vodacom GPRS USED to work fine but not any more!

 

[MyDraadloos]

Surprise surprise ........ the service has only gotten worse. I can stay conneted for longer than 2min. Thank God I can type with more than two fingers.

 

[VMS]

At last someone is writing their experiences of the nightmare I once had and which Vodacom just ignores. Download speeds actually decreased the longer I stayed online!!

It is like it is winding down. When dead slow you just reconnect and it is all wound up again.

VMS

 

[Cell C Customer]

I also noticed that but, But not like it effects me anymore as i use Virgin Mobile now. But when i was on Vodacom i was never able to stay connected for longer than 50 minutes! so i got a little PED. I also complained repeatedly with no luck.

 

[Pico_Train]

Virgin Mobile, and the marketing push continues...

 

[Phaff]

I must honestly say I have had a few odd disconnects here and there, but in general I am very happy with the VC 3G service. I use my SonyEricsson V800 as a 3G modem and I can happily stay online for hours (OK at most its been 4) with no disconnects, transfer speeds are always 300K - 433K. (yea, I know its not suposed to go that high, but it does)

I do want to try VM but am waiting for the price of a starter pack to come down, I can get a Vodacom one for R 1.99 at P&P am not paying R 89.00 for VM even if it does come with a week free gym..

give me free DATA not free Gym...

 

[ajax]

I do want to try VM but am waiting for the price of a starter pack to come down, I can get a Vodacom one for R 1.99 at P&P am not paying R 89.00 for VM even if it does come with a week free gym..

give me free DATA not free Gym...

The starter pack includes R50 airtime, so at the outset you will pay R89 for 100 MB...

 

[whauptfleisch]

you are not alone!

I have now been using the Vodacom 3G service for the past year and upgraded to the new HSDPA card when it became avaialable. My expierences are two fold:
1) The Vodacom help desk is useless. I must admit a few months ago they where still helpfull and on the ball, but recently I give up on most calls to them as they simply do not answer. My worst expierince was last week where I held the call for 2 hours and then gave up since my cellphone battery was shot.

What I wanted to complain about:
2) Error 692 and 619. For the past two weeks I could not have a stable connection on either 3G or EDGE. A connection lasts for a few minutes (5) and then either disconnects, or I suddely discovers the connection does not download any data anymore. Trying to reconnect work 1/10 times and usually I have to reboot, recreate all profiles ext...

If Error 692 occurs, I cannot even reboot my system as Windows simply hangs. This only occurs when I get error 692.

I finally got through to the Vodacom help desk on Sunday night - thought less customers would try and call them at 23:00 on a Sunday night. After a 10 minutes of Pet Shop Boys and explained my problem (again, like many times before) and my call was assigned a reference number (again, like many times before) and I was told a techie was going to call me (again, like many times before). Needless to say, I have not had a callback - but, for some reason, my connection stays connected for a change...so what has changed?

If Vodacom continues with this I will have little choice but to ask - I am being charged more because I have a HSDPA card. Fine, I accept that, but if you want to charge me more, give me a service that works!

 

[3g_rox]

I also noticed that but, But not like it effects me anymore as i use Virgin Mobile now. But when i was on Vodacom i was never able to stay connected for longer than 50 minutes! so i got a little PED. I also complained repeatedly with no luck.

They probably knew you were a Cell-C spy so sabotaged your connection

 

[74466]

I must say, i used to get alot of errors (been using my old sony k700i as modem for 8hours a day for 11 months now) but these days the only problem i have is that the gprs network goes down for 2-3hours at a time, and this sucks donkeys ass.... I am a web developer and 2-3 hours without a connection means 2-3 hours of work down the drain.

I live in bloem, and cant get a vm sim yet, but as soon as i do, i am checking out the v-experience.

 

[MyDraadloos]

Take a number and wait in line ..........

Take a number and wait in line ; that is what it feels like.

So what's new ? I have yet another reference number.

BS-T2IW-C715L for the win !

 

[chiskop]

BS-T2IW-C715L for the win !

I see your BS-T2IW-C715L, and raise you a BS-T0QK-4K2SN and a B3-S4IZ-OU73L!

 

[tishza]

Screwed by Vodacom

I have logged 2 tickets with Vodacom with no response at all. Decided to call for an update, after 45min on hold I decided it was better not to sit around and listen to Pet Shop Boys on their IVR anymore.

GPRS service is unstable and unreliable. Most of my data originates from trying to connect and from resends of packets. When the connection abrubtly dies you have to reconnect and start downloading again.

As much as I hated Telkom I miss my ADSL connection. Been using my 7610 as a modem in new office as there is no Telkom infrastructure, but the frequent disconnects and bad throughtput is driving me nuts.

Funny thing is that when the bill arrives they expect you to pay ...... and I don't feel like it.

Another observasion is their choice of music for the IVR system, a very sarcastic jab at their customers. I don't know what you want but I can't give it anymore - Pet Shop Boys ........ believe it or not but that is the name of the track.

I guess ticket AS-TXQ8-8X6VQ will die a slow death and me the customer will do what customers do ......... go somewhere else.

Paying R500 for 1 gig
1 gig ????? R500????
If I had a choice I would never ever joined Vodacom's 3G
I pay for 3G but only have GPRS
Me thinks Vodacom is abusing us users, worse then Telkom did.
Received a warning today: Aproaching 97% of usage, this might be 3 hours old
I have saved mu updates for the last day. Now there is no way I can see if I am exceeding my limit or not. And who has got to pay?

 

[MyDraadloos]

I see your BS-T2IW-C715L, and raise you a BS-T0QK-4K2SN and a B3-S4IZ-OU73L!

Yo Cheesy!

I see your BS-T0QK-4K2SN and B3-S4IZ-OU73L, and raise you a "real live technician", which is apparently gonna come visit me.

Me thinks I have a better chance of seeing the Easter bunny !

 

[Cell C Customer]

Well i also had a techie from VC come see me he had no clue where the problem was! He was here for 2 hours and the problem happened twice to him, and the answer i got was 'i have no idea'. So don't get your hopes up.