Merlin U740 and Dell D420

[alanjohnstone]

I see there has been quite a lot of issues with these but I can't seem to find a resolution.

Software installs no problem, insert the card and the light goes blue. Then press connect and Win XP just hangs. I deleted the profile, recreated it and then it connected for a couple of seconds before XP crashed.

The Huawei E620 works fine which makes me think the card has problem.

Any help would be appreciated

 

[Gadget_guy]

Hi, I left my PC for the IT guys to install and they messed up the Merlin Card installation.

The Vodaworld customer care couldn't help, I went there and they were also lost.

It happens because the 3G card is plugged in before the software is installed

Here's what I did (do it at own risk):
First uninstall the modem

I went to the registry then deleted any entry that said "Merlin" or "Novatel"

Do the installation again (or add a new profile on the 3G data dashboard)

Should work

 

[alanjohnstone]

Thanks. I'll give it a try.

The other problem was that when it connected it was only goving 3G speeds

 

[vodacom3g]

If you get '3G-only' speeds do the following:

1) Confirm upload / download speed on http://speed.vodacom.co.za/test

If upload exceeds 64K and / or download exceeds 384Kb/s, you're on HSDPA.

If not:

2) Check you have a HSDPA card (sometimes the obvious.....)
3) Check that you're on a 3G-profile and have 3G coverage.
4) Check that you're buying an HSDPA package and not the '3G' one. Even if you have a HSDPA card but you're on a '3G' package, you';; only get 384/64.

If you still have a problem, report it to 155.

 

[alanjohnstone]

Thanks for your sugestions - I had a bit of sucess and then failure! The contract was still 3G in spite of this card having been swapped out earlier this year for the HSDPA version - so that's solved.

Did the uninstall reinstall connected for about 10 minutes then the laptop froze. Eject the card and it reboots. Subsequent inserts of the card the light turns a pink colour and immediately locks up the machine.

Any ideas on that?

 

[vodacom3g]

CAn you try in another laptop? Sounds like the card hangs.

Might sound a bit radical but do a proper 'hard' reboot on your laptop, shut it down and remove the battery before rebooting.

 

[alanjohnstone]

I did try on another machine also no joy. Took it up to Vodaworld this morning - I have to say everyone was very helpfull. Initially they didn't want to swap the Novatel for a Hauwei but the guy I was dealing with referrred it up the line and away I went a happy customer. Installed the SW, popped in the card and presto - all working!!

Well done Vodaworld

 

[alanjohnstone]

Forgot to say - the only thing they wouldn't do is give me an new antenna. Anyone want to swap a Hauwei for a Novatel?

 

[vodacom3g]

Forgot to say - the only thing they wouldn't do is give me an new antenna. Anyone want to swap a Hauwei for a Novatel?

I should have one.

 

[alanjohnstone]

I should have one.

That's great - can I take you up on your offer. Can you let me know how we can make the exchange?

 

[vodacom3g]

That's great - can I take you up on your offer. Can you let me know how we can make the exchange?

Meet me tonight on the South dock, 1am sharp. Come alone! And no funny stuff, I'll have people watching..... Kapish?


Or else PM me a contact number and I'll call you.

 

[alanjohnstone]

Glad to see you still have a sense of humour considering what you have to put up with here sometimes!

 

[vodacom3g]

Exchange went smoothly, no funny business. Pleasure doing business with you.