GPRS performance

[monstaza]

I have incredibly slow GRPS in my flat... I use Vodacom on an IMATE K-Jam. Now, normally GPRS is bad in my flat for other cell phone users (e.g. going on mixit).

But, is there any way of improving GPRS performance? I can literally bearly log into standard bank before it cuts out. That even takes a good two minutes.

Could it be something stupid, like I am dialing the wrong number? I am not sure if Vodacom has one number for edge and one for gprs...

 

[ic]

Firstly, availability of EDGE depends on where you are located, best to check on Vodacom's coverage map to see if EDGE coverage is available in your area. Vodacom has much wider 3G|HSDPA coverage compared to EDGE.

Both EDGE and GPRS are layered on top of the 2G network, which means that both EDGE and GPRS are limited by 2G time-slots [whereas 3G|HSDPA is not], so the more congested a 2G base-station becomes with people simultaneously using a specific base-station for ordinary calls, or data, the worse the performance of GPRS|EDGE data sessions is going to be via that base-station. Signal quality and signal strength also has an impact on the speeds that can be achieved - compare data throughput indoors to data throughput outdoors: http://speed.vodacom.co.za/. Another potential issue is backhaul link congestion, but you're far more likely to feel the effects of limited 2G time-slot availability before you notice backhaul link congestion.