GPRS and Vodacon service underwelming

[vodacom3g]

Received call from technician that they have made some changes to the tower and added some GPRS timeslots.

Seems better and more stable ........ will keep testing / using.

Many thanks V3G ,for putting some boot-to-ass.

If it remains stable for the next few days I will put in my order for HSDPA.

Cool, let's watch it, especially the disconnects.

 

[lilDeath]

I am already seriously hoping / praying tomorrow night will be ok in Houtbay on HSDPA.
Last week the night ended prematurely with the problems that were experienced....

 

[MyDraadloos]

Nope seems the problems are still there. They have tested from my office and the average speed is still around 500 bits.

 

[lilDeath]

not a good prognosis....

 

[rabbiddog]

It's my fault. (down loaded just over a GIG in the last few days)

 

[MyDraadloos]

It's my fault. (down loaded just over a GIG in the last few days)

Dear Hydrophobic Mutt,

It is a good thing we don't share the same cell or I would have had you castrated.

Thanks goodness there is some distance between me and Randpark Ridge, unfortunately there is a good number of homes containing PFY's (pimple faces youths) between me and the cell tower.

PS. A little bird told me that tonight might a be a good night to go to bed early and leave the Internet alone. More so if you are in the Centurion region .... the network or about 30 nodes will be reset some time between 11 and midnight.

Arf !

 

[vodacom3g]

Nope seems the problems are still there. They have tested from my office and the average speed is still around 500 bits.

Are the 'they' the Vodacom techies or your own people? , i.e. must I escalate?

 

[MyDraadloos]

Are the 'they' the Vodacom techies or your own people? , i.e. must I escalate?

These chaps were from Vodacom, said they were gonna work on it again tonight. Mentioned something about resetting 30 nodes on the network later tonight.

He spoke about some RF stuff and the shrinkage of the cell, which translates to me as ..... There is no chance I am gonna get a decent connection.

I know I need to get HSDPA, but I feel like I am being blackmailed.

It's like trading in your old car for the same brand new vehicle when the old one gave you nothing but trouble.

I have never broken or lost a cell phone, but I am not that far from launching this one into the parking lot and getting myself some carrier pigeons and a hand full of memory sticks.

 

[vodacom3g]

Sounds like an external antenna could also work, but then they're only for the data cards.....

What if I organise you a card you can test with your own SIM for a while?, you can then test GPRS, 3G and HSDPA. I can send you one of mine.

 

[vodacom3g]

MyDraadloos

Just spoke to the techie who met with you today. This is the current status:

1) Your 2G signal quality is good.
2) Your 2G throughput is cr*p. (How's that for stating the obvious!) So the problem is somewhere upstream.
3) They were going to work on some kit upstream tonight, but it can only happen tomorrow night. So no resets tonight.
4) They'll obviously keep on looking for the problem until it is cleared.

5) You are close to the edge of the 3G coverage.
6) If you experience 'cell-breathing' an external antenna should fix it.

 

[MyDraadloos]

MyDraadloos

Just spoke to the techie who met with you today. This is the current status:

1) Your 2G signal quality is good.
2) Your 2G throughput is cr*p. (How's that for stating the obvious!) So the problem is somewhere upstream.
3) They were going to work on some kit upstream tonight, but it can only happen tomorrow night. So no resets tonight.
4) They'll obviously keep on looking for the problem until it is cleared.

5) You are close to the edge of the 3G coverage.
6) If you experience 'cell-breathing' an external antenna should fix it.

Thanks for the offer, let me know how this would work.

1) Never had a problem with voice at the new building
2) Even more troublesome than my personal GPRS connection is the fact that the Credit Card machine's connection has started to act up. This is another GPRS modem that connects to Vodacom.
3) Aah, I was so looking forward to a few moments of having a good connection while everyone goes to bed.
4) I am starting to feel bad for the amount of effort they have gone to, but I do hope they are able to fix it. So be honest do you think I am making a big fuss over nothing. Or should I just shut up and buy a HSDPA modem ?
5) So I guess 3G/HSDPA will work moderately well ............
6) ......... but better if I put a directional external antenna outside the building.

Which reminds me, I should check the connectivity at the factory as well.

 

[ic]

...
4) They'll obviously keep on looking for the problem until it is cleared.

....
4) I am starting to feel bad for the amount of effort they have gone to, but I do hope they are able to fix it. So be honest do you think I am making a big fuss over nothing. Or should I just shut up and buy a HSDPA modem ?

No, you should not feel guilty for complaining about problems you're experiencing - you are paying for the effort that Vodacom's techies are expending .

5) You are close to the edge of the 3G coverage.
6) If you experience 'cell-breathing' an external antenna should fix it.

5) So I guess 3G/HSDPA will work moderately well ............
6) ......... but better if I put a directional external antenna outside the building.

Since you're on the edge of a 3G|HSDPA cell's coverage, if you switched from GPRS to 3G|HSDPA, as v3g says, you would most certainly experience disconnects & low speeds - without an external high gain outdoors antenna. Note that cell breathing is a 3G|HSDPA phenomenon [it's just how the technology works for 3G implementations around the world], and AFAIK GPRS|EDGE does not suffer from cell breathing...

 

[MyDraadloos]

Well I think I am going to stick to my guns then and say that I am going to wait untill the GPRS is fixed before I order a new HSDPA modem.

I might change my mind as I am sick of struggling. But then again I could also go on a comando mission and hack into the Sentech tower sitting next to the office with a hacksaw.

 

[ic]

Well I think I am going to stick to my guns then and say that I am going to wait untill the GPRS is fixed before I order a new HSDPA modem.
...

IMO a wise decision - you're already frustrated with GPRS and GPRS|EDGE doesn't suffer from cell breathing, switching to 3G|HSDPA right now could increase your frustration levels if you're on the edge the 3G|HSDPA cell [although the external antenna should overcome that].

 

[vodacom3g]

Well I think I am going to stick to my guns then and say that I am going to wait untill the GPRS is fixed before I order a new HSDPA modem.

I might change my mind as I am sick of struggling. But then again I could also go on a comando mission and hack into the Sentech tower sitting next to the office with a hacksaw.

Had a long chat to the person in charge of the Pretoria region this morning and did mention that we must give a HSDPA card to test before you buy.

In the conversation, he mentioned the cell phone you're using only supports CS1 and 2. If you want to stay on GPRS, you must try and get a terminal that will support CS 3 and 4 as this will make a big difference on GPRS throughput.

 

[MyDraadloos]

Had a long chat to the person in charge of the Pretoria region this morning and did mention that we must give a HSDPA card to test before you buy.

In the conversation, he mentioned the cell phone you're using only supports CS1 and 2. If you want to stay on GPRS, you must try and get a terminal that will support CS 3 and 4 as this will make a big difference on GPRS throughput.

The test unit will be nice if possible.

My handset upgrade is 8-days away, I have not decided as yet. This will be something that has all the bells and whistles. The 7610 was the best that was available 24-months ago.

I was thinking I should get something like the HP6515 and a small phone like the Nokia 8800.

Alternatively:
9500
9300
N90
E61
N92
N93

I am stuck on Nokia because I have always been able to maintain my contacts and calender by syncing with Outlook.

My current disappointment with 7610 is that I have never been able to make a backup of my phone data (Data Suite 6.80.22), which is a life saver when your drop your phone in the cooler box ....... hic

The techie mentioned that he wanted a number from my handset, not sure if it was the Imei or something else.

 

[MyDraadloos]

The 3G card is better than the running GPRS through my cell phone, but it aint blowing my sox off. Http download is only doing about 6kB.

Installation was very straight forward, which means they have either made it idiot proof of that I can read instructions.

The signal strength is sitting at about 2 bars, which I guess is not good when sitting on the perimiter of the cell.

Will try it outside tomorrow, to bloody cold at the moment.

Note: Is it better to have it connecting to 3G only or to use the 3G / GPRS combo profile ?

 

[chiskop]

I've been told by the 155 operators that to rather use the individual profiles 3G Only and GPRS Only.

I hope you're coming right with this MyDraadloos. I've been following this thread, I feel your frustration.

 

[ic]

Definitely better to use the 3G-Only or GPRS-Only profiles - it should be in v3g's FAQ somewhere .

 

[vodacom3g]

Note: Is it better to have it connecting to 3G only or to use the 3G / GPRS combo profile ?

Typically better to use 3G-Only and GPRS-Only. Most of us have found it's better to decide yourself when to switch. The cards tend to switch to quickly.