MF190 usb modem will not connect to internet [solved]

[Pirrie]

Have setup a new MF190 usb modem and it will not connect to the internet
The dashboard shows connected Cell C, I am in Benoni (Farrarmere) with Signal strength is 3-5bars, Network type =HSPA or HSDPA or UMTS. OS=Vista (but tried it on WinXP as well). Vista diagnose says "Cannot communicate with DNS server" Vista status shows IPV4 connectivity=local & speed=7.2mbs. Have spoken to customer care a number of times, but they cannot help. Taken the pc and modem into store - also no joy. If I switch mode preference from auto to GSM only I seem to have some chance of connecting using EDGE but its not very reliable. This seems to imply that the signal is weak - but then why does it indicate 3-5 bars and in auto mode preference choose hsdpa if the signal is not adequate. Is there still a cell C network problem that I should know about

 

[Viva]

Have you tried using your modem in a different location?

 

[Pirrie]

How far a location? I have tried all around the property. I can get 5bar signal strength. I can only connect using EDGE if I force the modem to not attempt HSDPA etc
So I am now pretty convinced that the signal is good. It seems to be a problem negotiating with the tower if not using EDGE. Dashboard shows connected to Cell C

 

[Madhawk]

How far a location? I have tried all around the property. I can get 5bar signal strength. I can only connect using EDGE if I force the modem to not attempt HSDPA etc
So I am now pretty convinced that the signal is good. It seems to be a problem negotiating with the tower if not using EDGE. Dashboard shows connected to Cell C

Have you downloaded ginggs' MDMA? It will tell you if the same tower that you connect to on EDGE is the same tower that you connect to on HSPA+.

When I connect to EDGE, my tower is different to the tower that I connect to HSPA+.

 

[ginggs]

Have you downloaded ginggs' MDMA? It will tell you if the same tower that you connect to on EDGE is the same tower that you connect to on HSPA+.

No, it won't. Cell-C use a different numbering scheme for their 2G and 3G cells. MTN and Vodacom usually only vary the last digit of the Cell ID.

 

[Madhawk]

In that case, his 3G tower is down or he still doesn't have 3G in his area yet. Only EDGE.

Pirrie, do you get 5 bars on EDGE or on HSPA+ ?

 

[Pirrie]

We had one more attempt through the Cell C Customer Care support and this time the agent seemed to diagnose the problem correctly.
She was about to check if the sim was 3 g enabled when we got cut off - a short while later however, modem started connecting at very lekker speeds, so she (thank you so much) must have persued this and rectified the problem.

Solution= Make sure the SIM card is enabled for 3g
(not sure why this was not done when we purchased the prepaid bundle)

 

[Pirrie]

Was getting 5 bars on both - 3g is very definitely up and running here
(see solution above)