HSDPA Speed Tests/Review

Vodacom Vanderbijlpark CBD

Below is the data used to calculate your download speed:

Download time: 3.425 seconds
Size of file: 500 KiloBytes
Estimated line speed: 1191.2 (kilobits/second)
Estimated line speed: 146 (kiloBytes/second)

The new HSDPA card really makes a big difference. Signal quality is essential though. This test was with 4 bars Option HSDPA card. I'll post another speed test with 1 bar signal strength.
 
Last edited:
Centurion [Lyttelton] Area:

Below is the data used to calculate your download speed:

* Download time: 4.704 seconds
* Size of file: 500 KiloBytes
* Estimated line speed: 867.3 (kilobits/second)
* Estimated line speed: 106.3 (kiloBytes/second)

Although it jumps around often, but i usually got 100-120 kilobits/sec on my old 3G card , so getting 400+ kilobits p/sec now is definitely a big leap ;)
 
Cape Town, Plattekloof/Lovenstein area
2 Bar signal
Below is the data used to calculate your download speed:

* Download time: 8.342 seconds
* Size of file: 500 KiloBytes
* Estimated line speed: 489.1 (kilobits/second)
* Estimated line speed: 59.9 (kiloBytes/second)

O no! I might be sharing the same tower as vodacom3g, no wonder my speeds aren't quite up there yet :p ;)
The HSDPA card is brilliant! Browsing and downloading in general is great, nice to finaly have "real" streaming audio! :)
 
ant101 said:
The HSDPA card is brilliant! Browsing and downloading in general is great, nice to finaly have "real" streaming audio! :)
Click to expand...
Think Vodacom likes it as well! Must be chowing up your cap at a fenomenal rate! ;)
 
http://www.tcpiq.com/tcpIQ/LineSpee...ountryId=196&ConnectionId=17596&UserId=200374
Number of tests 3
Download speed 844.84 KBits/sec -> 105.60 KBytes/sec
Upload speed 47.81 KBits/sec - > 5.98 KBytes/sec
Click to expand...

Not sure if this can be considered international , download speed pretty fast, not sure what is with upload speed. Looks like same speed i got on normal 3G connection...is it still capped at 64kbps ? Upload results consistantly locked at 48kbps .

Some random Pings:

Pinging www.l.google.com [66.102.9.147] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 66.102.9.147: bytes=32 time=367ms TTL=239
Reply from 66.102.9.147: bytes=32 time=316ms TTL=239
Reply from 66.102.9.147: bytes=32 time=315ms TTL=239
Reply from 66.102.9.147: bytes=32 time=314ms TTL=240


Pinging www.bbc.net.uk [212.58.224.125] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 212.58.224.125: bytes=32 time=455ms TTL=242
Reply from 212.58.224.125: bytes=32 time=435ms TTL=242
Reply from 212.58.224.125: bytes=32 time=474ms TTL=242
Reply from 212.58.224.125: bytes=32 time=493ms TTL=242

Pinging www.vodacom.co.za = Request Timed Out.
Pinging www.telkom.co.za = Request Timed Out.

Pinging www.saix.net [196.25.1.200] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=131ms TTL=247
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=130ms TTL=247
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=129ms TTL=247
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=388ms TTL=247


Pinging www.mybroadband.co.za [196.7.147.165] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 196.7.147.165: bytes=32 time=146ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.7.147.165: bytes=32 time=125ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.7.147.165: bytes=32 time=124ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.7.147.165: bytes=32 time=123ms TTL=245




Pinging www.mit.edu [18.7.22.83] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 18.7.22.83: bytes=32 time=1963ms TTL=238
Reply from 18.7.22.83: bytes=32 time=452ms TTL=238
Reply from 18.7.22.83: bytes=32 time=369ms TTL=238
Reply from 18.7.22.83: bytes=32 time=1237ms TTL=238
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Hi kvi, and others
I returned my HSDPA card for the same reasons. I paid R2500 for the new card and my speed was not more than 8k. I did however manage to get the speed up a bit.

Uninstall the dash totally. Then delete its folder in program files. After that I rebooted and installed the new dash 6.03. Required another reboot and then we are there.

HSDPA is faster only where there is a sustained download. On a web page by page basis the card is consistently slower than 3G. Only when I started whacking 5-20mb file downloads did I start to see speeds that were starting to catch up / overtake the 46KBps I had with 3G. I don't work with 20mb files all the time - I work with Remote Desktop Connections and web sites. Speaking of Remote Desktops - the HSDPA card consistently can't find the servers I am looking for. I have to set up a "ping -t" and leave that running for about 2mins before I am able to connect.

Doesn't warrant the price tag either, and I paid R500 less than you - kvi.

Thanks but no thanks. Upon returning the card the dealer confided that Vodacom are going to be swapping the cards for free. Yeah right. They will have to pay me to take the new card now.
 
At family in Pretoria West:

Results:
Below is the data used to calculate your download speed:

Download time: 4.717 seconds
Size of file: 500 KiloBytes
Estimated line speed: 865 (kilobits/second)
Estimated line speed: 106 (kiloBytes/second)
 
also having the slow HSPDA story... replaced 3G data card with HSDPA at Vodacom shop. How do we fix this?
 
Results:

Below is the data used to calculate your download speed:

* Download time: 4.296 seconds
* Size of file: 500 KiloBytes
* Estimated line speed: 949.7 (kilobits/second)
* Estimated line speed: 116.4 (kiloBytes/second)

This is the highest test result so far.
Yesterday (Sunday), my downloads were going at 60KB/s only. :(
 
Brand new customer! :D Just got my HSDPA card, and, with only 2 bars showing, got the following from telkom's sppedtest:

* Download time: 27.953 seconds
* Size of file: 500 KiloBytes
* Estimated line speed: 146 (kilobits/second)
* Estimated line speed: 17.9 (kiloBytes/second)

Compared to dial-up, it's wonderfull! :D
 
is there any update to the firmware?

3.15.0h? HSDPA data card, because its switching alot between 3G/UMTS and GPRS and rather slow.


3G data card was fine.
 
Just tried "Check for Updates"... comes back saying there are updates available, do you want to review and download them? Clicked yes, and... SUPRISE!... the website says there's no updates available! :confused:
 
The Novatel Merlin U740 is more 'pointy' and obviously says 'Novatel Merlin U740' on the bottom.

The Option is more square and the serial number starts with NZ.

Novatel is on v15
Option on 3.15
 
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