Potential Blackberry Owners : AVOID VODACOM!

Dolby said:
I'm sitting here in Paulshof and can't connect to a site - even though I have 3G (5 bar) with BIS active.
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We are in the same boat...
My BIS has been shocking...I have signal, but constantly have BIS issues..
 
Is that page too large to display error related to this? I get it constantly and have given up browsing on BIS. I had solid BIS connectivity on VC for the last year but in the last month BBM/EMail is off at least once a day.
 
dts said:
Is that page too large to display error related to this? I get it constantly and have given up browsing on BIS. I had solid BIS connectivity on VC for the last year but in the last month BBM/EMail is off at least once a day.
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i dont get the page error....i just get service unavailable please try later..etc etc
 
Totally agree. Blackberry on Vodacom is terrible... no issues at all with BIS after switching to MTN. The only problem comes with unreliable billing and absolutely useless support from MTN.... although too be honest the vodacom support was also very bad!
 
I tried MTN out for a month. And I must agree with Hugo_ZA, MTN's speed is absolutely terrible! Download speed doesn't exceed 40kbps. Its usually in the 20kbps range. Whereas with VC I've gotten upto 270kbps in the exact same spot.

Ya, VC gives *** now and then. But what's the use having a bis connection when its so slow you can't do much anyway and almost anything you try downloading times out. So I think both vc and mtn need to get their act together. But for me, VC BIS is definately better than MTN's snail speed.
 
I'd prefer a slower, constant, stable connection rather than something that's down randomly every day for 10-15% of the time.
 
Must be location, i only had trouble with my BIS twice and the 2nd time was cause by RIM updating their main servers for BIS3.0, there was an international down time of about 6 hours.
Otherwise here in Somerset West i get perfect EDGE and 3G, Strand however only gets GPRS and 3G, as i really dont care too much i usually just disable 3G as i seldom download attachments or send large emails.

You say avoid Vodacom, but have you considered calling them to see if they can fix the problem, the problem you having is more likely a location thing and MTN or CellC will have the exact same problems elsewhere. Not sure how true this is but according to a Data guy at Vodacom BIS is not only network Dependant but also tower Dependant, apparently the BIS and BES runs off a dedicated network band so there are even areas where BIS simply does not work and a technician needs to be sent out to make the required modifications to the tower(s) in your area. As i said, not sure how true that is.
 
I've called numerous times in the past (before BIS - as I've data issues for 8 months too) and it does work for a while.

As I say, 12 months ago I'd get 2mpbs+ and 160 ping and today its 500kbps and 260 ping.

One contract isn't even usable, as I signed up for a netbook purely so I didn't need to go upstairs with every query. While downstairs has always had worse signal, its now unusable ... So paying for nothing
 
Hugo_ZA said:
I was on MTN and have now switched to Vodacom. A friend and I did a speed test the other day, sitting at the same spot with the same phones with identical firmware, and my Vodacom BIS totally kicked ass.

My average download speeds when downloading through BIS is in the hight 150kbps region. Always have full 3g signal as well.

I operate in the Fourways/Pineslopes/Sunninghill areas.

My mtn BIS, on the other hand, would refuse to load 75% of websites, and downloads timed out all the time, in the same area. When I was lucky enough to be on 3G the speeds were poor at best. The rest of the time I was on EDGE, and I may as well not have had a blackberry :-(

Conclusion? The speed problem seems to be highly localized. I would suggest a petition to the networks to ensure a consistent delivery and quality of service throughout their coverage area, as the fluctuations on these levels are simply out of control.
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I think Dolby may have used his BB in those areas...

Dolby said:
I'm sitting here in Paulshof and can't connect to a site - even though I have 3G (5 bar) with BIS active.
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Nvm :D
 
Malasius said:
Totally agree. Blackberry on Vodacom is terrible... no issues at all with BIS after switching to MTN. The only problem comes with unreliable billing and absolutely useless support from MTN.... although too be honest the vodacom support was also very bad!
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They sorted that out at the beginning of the year, definitely a non-issue these days. And it wasn't as bad as people made out either.
 
Done installing...busy with the first startup now (which will take, like, forever no doubt!)
 
The girl that works with my wife also have a BB with Vodacom. My wife has got the same BB with MTN (both of them use 8520's).

My wife never has any problems with her phone but the other girl has got endless problems.
 
Always remember that 3G on the BlackBerries is a bit of a problem due to network infrastructure - it's either excellent reception or crap. I run my BB on 2G and only switch on 3G if I really need it (also saves on battery usage). I am on Vodacom with little problems, we run about 100 BBs in the company, both Vodacom and MTN, and everyone has confirmed that their BB runs a lot better when set to 2G instead of 3G.

Dom310 said:
but i'm worried that vodacom has ownership of my blackberry Pin( BBM pin)
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Why would they? You own the device. The PIN is tied to the device. If you're really worried, get BBM 5 and set up remote back-up. You can then restore your contact list to any device as soon as you set it up with the same mail address. You can also to a local backup to the memory card.
 
Just when I thought the network couldn't get much worse, I pick up my phone to use it and it's on SOS ... no signal :/

It comes back up after 5 minutes - but sits on GSM for about 20 minutes. I reboot but still - won't get on BIS or any data.

Comes on about 10 minutes later to GPRS which is near useless - so what used to be 10-15% downtime per hour, is 50% for the past hour.
 
Dolby said:
Just when I thought the network couldn't get much worse, I pick up my phone to use it and it's on SOS ... no signal :/

It comes back up after 5 minutes - but sits on GSM for about 20 minutes. I reboot but still - won't get on BIS or any data.

Comes on about 10 minutes later to GPRS which is near useless - so what used to be 10-15% downtime per hour, is 50% for the past hour.
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Does not help much complaining here, i am from WEstern Cape and i know dozens of BB users and other than the big downtime that affected the entire planet there has been 1 or 2 others that have afected us.
Also i see many users complainin but nobody is posting thier location, if each affected user did that then its possible that a specific area could be narrowed down as yes there are a few complaints but it does not seem like its a vast majority of BB users.
In my personal experience caling vodaocm is usually a way to solve such problems so if all of you post your areas and it does indicate a specific are then that can be brought to vodacoms attention and it can be fixed then all of you can stop complaining about poor service and enjoy good service.
The warning against vodacom is also quite premature as who's to say MTN does not have a similar problem in another area, just because nobody has come to complaint about it does not mean it does not exist, same can be said for cellc but as they new to BIS they will automatcally be excused.

Come on guys, all those following this, if you are having problems and know others also having problems post the area that you are in or where you experience your most trouble and maybe we can get this sorted out.

Before anyone asks i do not work for vodacom, but we are a community here so whats the point if we are all moaning when we could be working together to come to a solution, vodacom is simply a company and its not possible for them to know of 100% of the faults 100% of the time.
 
I could probably pull a ton more ...

But you're right - moaning doesn't help because the standard reply is 'call the callcentre'.

After 15 minutes you're asked about your phone, firmware, SIM card and advised you're the error. That said, I did log a calla few days ago and need to post information.

From past experience, they fix it for a few weeks before it'll be broken again.

Dolby said:
I do believe it has something to do with the network here (Randpark Ridge).
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Dolby said:
Oh - seems data is down in Randpark Ridge / Jackal Creek again too
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Dolby said:
I'm in Randpark Ridge - but I'm beyond logging faults
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Dolby said:
I'm in Randpark Ridge and although you don't have an issue, I definatley do and it's ruining the Blackberry experience. Many guys have expressed the same symptons as I have (either disconnects for 5-10 minutes or no throughput while connected) All I'd like is an acknowledgement to say 'we are aware of a few issues in Johannesburg and it's because of xyz'
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Dolby said:
I can't get on anything in Randpark Ridge. Displays HSDPA - but no throughput.
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wishblade said:
Are you in the Honeydew/radiokop/wilgehuewel area Dolby???

Seem to be having the same problem for the last few days... Thought it would have been fixed by now...
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Dolby said:
Randpark Ridge ... very close ... obviously an issue then :/
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Dolby said:
I'm stil having the issues at my place in Randpark Ridge (Trinity House side) - and my tenants have just called to ask about signal in the house (near Rhema), because there's is doing the same thing (GPRS, disconnecting etc).

I'll follow the links in your sig :/
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rabbiddog said:
VodacomData

Have they been resetting the towers in Randpark Ridge? I have had loss of signal a few times.
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Dolby said:
In all honesty - do Vodacom not have a network monitoring system that pops up and says 'issues in Randpark Ridge'? It's a multi-billion Rand company with almost 20% of the population using the network.
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