Gprs

[ash]

I tried GPRS on another computer in another area and the speeds are shockingly slow. Could it be the computer or the connection. The email works the internet doesnt, however the email times out because of slow speeds.

When i use GPRS on my computer it is fine.

 

[Tazz_Tux]

When i use GPRS on my computer it is fine.

Are we talking about on the same site ? What signal level are you getting ?

 

[bboy]

my GPRS has gone to crap lately, very painfull to use! lost connections and slow data all the time, full signal and exactly the same setup as I always use! GPRS just isn't working how it should be!

 

[Tazz_Tux]

my GPRS has gone to crap lately, very painfull to use! lost connections and slow data all the time, full signal and exactly the same setup as I always use! GPRS just isn't working how it should be!

What OS are you running ?

Cheers,

 

[Snowolf]

auto updates could be sucking your bandwidth, ensure that its set to off.
install a firewall

 

[ajax]

Yes, definetly, switch off those updates!

On another note, is it possible that Vodacom's network is getting congested by all the new users coming on board because of the reduced price?

The problem is, even if Vodacom has 1 Terrabits of bandwidth available, if there are a lot of users in the same area using GPRS, speeds will slow down.

A single GSM channel can only provide 8 time slots, or 8x14.4 kbps=115kbps for data. As each user can't get more than 4 time slots for download, it means if there are more than 2 users usings GPRS on a specific GSM frequency at the same time speeds will slow down accordingly.

A 3G phone or datacard probably is the only alternative. I think it is inevitable that GPRS will slow down.

 

[bboy]

im on xp SP2, but i'm not the kind of person to not know whats happening on my pc, been network/systems admin and software developer for the past 6 years. So i can assure you when i say GPRS itself is slow, it is the GPRS

 

[vodacom3g]

Can you please post throughput and latency numbers?

Do you use a network monitor tool on your PC to check the actual bit rate on the various interfaces? As an experienced net/sys admin, you probably have your favourite. What numbers does it give on GPRS?

First get actual, empirical numbers. Without these, you can't fix anything as you won't know if your winning or not.

Once we've got those, we can look at the components in the stack.

 

[grubsner]

What is the maximum (theoretical) UL and DL speed that can be obtained with GPRS?

I'm using DU Meter to monitor the data flow on my Notebook and have seen UL and DL speeds in excess of 115 kbps? These figures are not sustainable but come in bursts after a short period of inactivity.

Is this possible or is something fooling the DU meter software?
I'm in the Vaal Triangle and GPRS speeds in Sasolburg and Vanderbijlpark is faster that the Dialup modem i've used.
During off peak periods there is a reduction in speed but during the day time the speed is fast enough for general browsing and downloading of small files.

I did a speed test on TCPIQ on Saturday morning around 11h00 and the speed was UL and DL: 31 kbps and Latency around 655 ms.

The local website speeds were loading much faster than 31 kpbs...also monitored with DU Meter.