Poor Network Coverage/poor Signal Strength

S

Sisyphus

Member
Joined
Apr 28, 2011
Messages
23
Reaction score
1
I live in the Little Karoo, halfway between Ladismith and Barrydale, like many farmers in the area we are dependent on service providers such as Vodacom for our cell phone and internet link up. Our problem is mainly in regard to poor network coverage by Vodacom, most of us are only able to make use of GPRS/EDGE and on weekends or public holidays the network is so slow and signal strength so weak it literally makes you see "red", forget about downloads bigger than about 5mb it is almost impossible.
About six or seven years ago Vodacom called for public comments on a proposal to erect about seven new towers in the area, there was much jubilation and celebration, (in fact we nearly declared a public holiday!!!) then we were told there was one objection to one tower, I asked Vodacom why couldn't they go ahead with the others in the meantime ...but I was told "thats not how they work".
Year after year I was given one excuse after the other, then about two years ago I was told that "it had been decided to leave the Tower with the objection and go ahead with the others" ....Eureka....or so I thought. Two years later and still no sign of anything, the signal strength from the Brandrivier Tower is worse than ever. Cell C are extending their coverage and network speed and all we seem to get from Vodacom is a change in Branding Colour.
I am so desperate I am even willing to supply one of my old windmill towers if there aren't enough towers, now is the time to show Cell C you are not just about cosmetic changes.....if money is the issue then why don't you consider and upgrade of existing Towers that could boost the signal strength ....by the time new Towers are erected we probably wont have any electricity to run our PC's ...surely there must be something that can be done............HHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/images/smilies/frown.gif
 
Hi Sisyphus. I understand your frustration! I can only imagine the irritation that must cause for you folk! If you have confirmed that Cell C's reception out by you is better, why not just swap over to Cell C and ask them to forward your cell number onto their network? (Provided you dont have something like 18months left on a 24month Voda contract)
 
Sisyphus said:
I live in the Little Karoo, halfway between Ladismith and Barrydale, like many farmers in the area we are dependent on service providers such as Vodacom for our cell phone and internet link up. Our problem is mainly in regard to poor network coverage by Vodacom, most of us are only able to make use of GPRS/EDGE and on weekends or public holidays the network is so slow and signal strength so weak it literally makes you see "red", forget about downloads bigger than about 5mb it is almost impossible.
About six or seven years ago Vodacom called for public comments on a proposal to erect about seven new towers in the area, there was much jubilation and celebration, (in fact we nearly declared a public holiday!!!) then we were told there was one objection to one tower, I asked Vodacom why couldn't they go ahead with the others in the meantime ...but I was told "thats not how they work".
Year after year I was given one excuse after the other, then about two years ago I was told that "it had been decided to leave the Tower with the objection and go ahead with the others" ....Eureka....or so I thought. Two years later and still no sign of anything, the signal strength from the Brandrivier Tower is worse than ever. Cell C are extending their coverage and network speed and all we seem to get from Vodacom is a change in Branding Colour.
I am so desperate I am even willing to supply one of my old windmill towers if there aren't enough towers, now is the time to show Cell C you are not just about cosmetic changes.....if money is the issue then why don't you consider and upgrade of existing Towers that could boost the signal strength ....by the time new Towers are erected we probably wont have any electricity to run our PC's ...surely there must be something that can be done............HHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/images/smilies/frown.gif
Click to expand...

I've PM'd you an e-mail addy. Please send me a GoogleEarth placemarker with your location.
 
Location

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions etc, I must admit there are times when I feel as though I am stuck in the 18th Century with the most expensive but unusable I'pad or Cell Phone,
Thanks also to Jannie from Vodacom for his prompt response, I have sent him my GPRS co-ordinates because (as BBSA says) its damn near impossible to navigate due to poor signal strength.
I do have data bundle contract with Vodacom that last's another eight months but I am hoping that they can come back with some positive news, I find it hard to believe that Vodacom are going to idly sit and watch Cell C overtake them in the internet market, I also hope that they don't forget about residents of the 18th Century for whom this service is not a "nice to have" but a critical form of communication with the outside world.
Thanks all
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X