Problems with Data (GPRS / HSDPA) [from] 20:45, 19/07/2006

[Bugzee]

Getting disconects in the Muldersdrif/Lanseria Are

 

[vodacom3g]

I initially decided not to respond to this, as most of the points are just plain wrong, but for the sake of closure will do so.

[*]i do not believe that you have 15 million data subscribers

Who ever said this ??

[*]the dude is right: maybe not "willi-nilly" but any team that takes over a week to wake up and fall back once the wheels come off isn't exactly Jack-the-Knife in IT

From where do you get 'over a week'? The problems started around 9pm, was fixed by the early the next moning, started up again by 9am and was again fixed by 11am. Those 10c engineers worked throughout the night to fix this.

[*]there must be a way to test on limited numbers

If you understand IT systems, you'll know test and production systems do not always perform the same way.

care to tell us what the reason was for the outage? that Spin statement of open-book plicy does really not hold

Thought we did? Maybe go back and read the article rpm published plus my postings here.

- rather this is a strategy issue: what is Voda's strategy? is it max gain for min cost? try that in IT and the wheels will always come off, sooner or later... has Voda played a gamble with its spare capacity? in the light of a docile ZA user ? - too much tinkering with money-spin new technology while forgetting the loyal Pay-As-U-Can masses that keep big DaDa in the high life

I'm not even going to bother to answer this.

tell me another one, Dr Spin - is Voda-Yoda doing Frankenstein experiments to improve the OVERALL reliability of the service, or are they innovating another hungry bandwith monster? another differentiator, another marketing hint scoop, with more milk/cream potential - the select few that afford it need to feed the bottom line of greed - you guys just don't get it, do you?

Neither this.

how 'bout changing the KPI's to stability, reliability, community affordability

... now get real !

Nor this.

I'm more than happy to enter in a debate on any topic, but will do so only if it is conducted in a logical, non abusive and factually correct environment.

If you don't know the facts, rather ask. Making silly, argumentative statements and using insults like those above only make you appear like someone with a hidden agenda.

 

[Rumpelstilzkin]

release from a 24mth ball & chain ?

Vodacom should get their act together or allow me to cancel and terminate my contract. I refuse to pay for something I cannot use. They should have informed me I was going to be a test platform when I signed up!

hear here !

is it a coincidence that Voda are feverishly testing new technology ahead of the September (is that date correct) migration phase - are our friends at Voda looking for some gizmo advantage to sweeten our stay in a smelly stable?!

believe it in over 10 years - for the first time my Service Provider sms me to invite me to chose an upgrade phone... four months ahead of time! - no 1st prizes on guessing what the cage is... 24mths trellidor

nice try - soon we will have the choice to go walk-about with our Voda number! & for the first time, the service will be available without the ball & chain, at a price you do not need to pawn your mother-in-law for

 

[Skeptik]

...Making silly, argumentative statements and using insults like those above only make you appear like someone with a hidden agenda.

Interesting reply. Ok, it was a bit of a rant from Rumpelstilzkin I admit, but insults (however veiled or paraphrased) have in the past been forthcoming from your corner.
---------------->> Let's keep things balanced. No prima donnas here plz.

What's with this "hidden agenda" routine. Can you not believe that a customer would make robust, critical comments without there being some ulterior motive? There are many upset frustrated people here who have tried your 'customer services' and found them wanting and hence they resort to a post or two here.

 

[74466]

Well well well, V3G, as i told you in pm before, i will never attack you personally, but to tell the truth, the company you work for, have been meassured and been found wanting. A few years back, vodacom was the way 2 go.. these days, i dont know anymore!

 

[pre-g-user]

That's a bit rough, don't you think?

Vodacom always strives to give quick and accurate info on the forum, without trying to BS anyone.

Trying to hide from a problem, ignoring it or pretending it does not exist is just plain silly and is not going to help anyone. So we don't do it, simple.

Dear vodacom3g ... while you may endeavour to give "accurate" information on this forum .. this forum is NOT an official Vodacom Support Centre.

[Vodacom's] support / customer care consultants ALWAYS dodge real questions. When they realise they are dealing with someone who "actually" knows what he is talking about then all sorts of funny suggestions come out but NEVER the truth about there being a problem.

There HAS INDEED been a problem on GPRS since last week Thursday. I have been STUFFED without connectivity for the last 5 days and this has caused me financial losses business wise. I have sent several emails in the last 5 days to Vodacom Customer Care and to people working on the Support Desk but stil no solution to my problem and NOT ONE actually informed me or admitted there was indeed a problem. That little fact slipped out from one of the customer care ladies I spoke to last night.

How one earth do you expect me to visit this forum to get support when I follow all legitimate vodacom support channels? and HOW ON EARTH can i reach this forum when my flippin connection is stuffed??????????

You know I am sick and tired of this Vodacom attitude. I have been on the Vodacom network since the very first day [Vodacom] ever turned on cell phones in the country, this was long before it became available to the public. I have also been a 3g (Pre-G) / GPRS user since the day [Vodacom] launched the service and I have a huge amount of correspondance over that time period dealing with serious network issues that relate to a poor and overloaded network.

I think [Vodacom] guys don't openly announce network problems because it gives [Vodacom's] competition something to gain customers by. [Vodacom's] network has MANY problems and that is a FACT. If you cannot realise that then you truly are living in a dream world. And after 15 or 16 months of being one of [Vodacom's] data users this is NOT the first time that network problems have been kept "secret". I am highly experienced in networking and I know a bad network when I see one.

If Vodacom does NOT want to listen to their customers then they should close shop. It's customers like me and everyone else here that rant and rave about poor service that should be treated like GOLD !!! I have been in business for many years and [Vodacom's] most vocal customers, the one's willing to complain are truly the ones [Vodacom] should hold very close.

Now if you wanted "ROUGH" as you put it .... that's just the start !!! If Vodacom thinks my correspondance over the last 16 months regarding 3G/GPRS was rough .... they ain't seen nothing yet !!!!

Tada !!!!!

 

[kaspaas]

The bottom line is that if you don't appreciate v3g's presence & assistance to forumites in this forum, then why bother posting here? - rather call 155 if that's your chosen official support channel...

Since V3G's presence on this forum, the 111 and 155 services has most definitely improved.

I usually first try 111/155 and then only contact V3G - no need to bog him down with stuff that can be handled by those numbers.

Yes, there is a network problem. And yes it is annoying. And yes, I agree, go with your money where the service is.

Vodacom failed to sell me a few megabytes of data last night - their service was unstable.

 

[74466]

Well at this moment i am still experiencing slow gprs rates, but am not complaining, as i am only sending a few emails so speed is not a concern

 

[pre-g-user]

This forum might not be an "official Vodacom support" channel, but many forumites have been helped by v3g - specifically when they as customers have hit a stumbling block.If you have followed posts in this forum, you would know that v3g encourages forumites to send him details of such deficient support calls - with a view to listening to the recorded call, and taking action - I suggest that you review your recently dialled numbers & send v3g a p.m. with the call times details.Perhaps if you viewed v3g's participation in this forum as a valuable asset to yourself as a customer, you would have asked v3g to assist in the resolution of the problem(s) you have been experiencing.Who said that you have to use this forum as a Vodacom support channel - are you co-erced by gangsters|maffioso to come to this forum?Again, if you had followed v3g's posts in this forum, you would know that he doesn't deny that there are problems.Ironically v3g's participation in this forum, as well as people high up in Vodacom that believe it is important for v3g to be here, is evidence to the contrary that "Vodacom does NOT want to listen to their customers".I suggest you re-read v3g's post - he most certainly did not want rough - as you put it.

The bottom line is that if you don't appreciate v3g's presence & assistance to forumites in this forum, then why bother posting here? - rather call 155 if that's your chosen official support channel...

Hi V3G, please don't misread my email that I am having a GO at you. I have seen many of your posts trying to help users out on this forum and I am NOT disputing your valuable presence here. At least SOMEONE (you) is willing to listen and attend to issues. The "ROUGH" was aimed at Vodacom not you.

My point is ... I do not have time to actually visit here. I manage several servers, have a few hundred web sites I have to visit, update .. and a bunch of forums I subscribe to never mind actually trying to spend some time with my family. I simply do not have time. Whenever it comes time to attend to work issues there is some sort of problem on the network.

I have now had 5 days with little, poor or no GPRS connectivity. I am in the same location, same computer, same everything. The GPRS connection here is my ONLY form of connectivity. I cannot use Telkom dialup because this is a farming community and the lines are prehistoric. I cannot get 3G because Vodacom has not installed it yet but I was told it would be done before September so I am counting the days to see if that is true. My GPRS connection has been stable for 4 months with 4 bars signal strength. Since last week Thursday when the GPRS problems started, the signal strength dropped to 2 Bars and the GPRS is awful. So I know something is horribly wrong. It was suggested to me by one of the support desk people yesterday that it could be because of higher usage in the area and more users. There is no way that is true because this area is all farms and there are only so many people living here. The only reason that I have had a reliable GPRS connection for the last 4 months is because of the numerous emails and calls of complaint preceding that 4 months.

I follow the official "155" and "Customer Care" routes because that is where I expect to get top level service. Not here on the forum. BUT ... if that's the only way I will ever get some top level support then I suppose I HAVE to make time to get hold of you via PM (and there's No mafia/gangsters coercing me to visit here I will PM you and we can switch details and I will then tell you what my problem is and see if you can finally put an end to this and keep me as a customer. I have a lot more people involved in this problem since last night so I am seeing what today reveals before I PM you.

 

[Rumpelstilzkin]

@Abe, your post unapproved - try again with zero personal attack.

whoa mate - that's ol Abe Lincoln that you are messed with !

what, you didn't like the verification on the week outage?

if you are not allowing an "attack" [sic] on the views expressed here, then your forum is ailing! and i hope that v3g is not equating his persona with his opinions, coz if he's doing that he will be signing up for extra sessions with his shrink before the year is out - so ic ! create him big enough coz he is!

and can i suggest the SPCA if you need to practice your protective instincts - you are starting to cast yourself in the role of the stooge on Voda's publicity front-end; i mean scrapping "The Better Connection" and "sour grapes" was already out of line as that was historical fact: a real live advertising campaign

(would have thought that part of the function of such a forum would be to address uncomfortable issues and deal with them

you have to be pretty paranoid to see that quote as a personal attack - personal attack involves the IS-NESS of someone, not the ROLE they are assuming (like the you are now in the guise of the peacemaker turning down the heat) - you can say what you like there is more than a good dose of spin and damage control in this whole thread - so even that term was not an out of line or an attack!

Voda knows that he who commands the media gets to write the "truth" (notice: with a small "t") coz perception of your service is everything ! what ! you really think Voda has got nothing better to do than to follow the rants of a couple of computer geeks who are actually relying on the service to work, when there is money to be raked out there ?

now Voda is even turning predatory - more consolidations - "strategic aquisitions" businesses call them - further entrenchment is the objective - consumer pocket sting is the result ! so much so that an entrepeneur from the UK with no base in this industry in this country can come here buy in the services - pay all his business connections, and still come in at 1/4 of the price of the existing players on the service that this forum covers, namely data

ever thought what they must be ripping us for?

ever reflected on the great media silence on the cell industry ? - well, who would mess with someone who is footing the bill for your major advertising revenue?

on Linux forums they wouldn't last a day with this nonsense - soon as the dudes come clean, acknowledge their b*lls-up, things change - mistakes happen everywhere, and once admitted are easily forgiven - but coverups are a ZA notoriety and irk us instinctively

i repeat: time will tell

as for the forum - think about it; you don't have to like my style - this is about the issues, and on that i still maintain

• that they are undeniable
• that yes, the facts are sometimes incomplete (but that is because there is no openess and transparency on the part of the industry)
• that this is one of the few outlets for the frustration felt by many at their helplessness in the face of this monopoly-style racketeering
  

so here is another post for you to edit or to delete... cu on the flip side, dude

Hi V3G, please don't misread my email that I am having a GO at you... At least SOMEONE (you) is willing to listen and attend to issues.

hear here

and full credit to Voda-Yoda for that

the issue of the cell-phone industry, in general, is far to big for him to tackle here... and he did put his boundary up about that - (could have played something better than the aloof card though ; ) )

(so you you see ic your eraser was quite unnecessary, and in fact unhelpful !

I have now had 5 days with little, poor or no GPRS connectivity

undeniable

 

[Skeptik]

This forum might not be an "official Vodacom support" channel, but many forumites have been helped by v3g - specifically when they as customers have hit a stumbling block.

I agree that Vodacom3g has been helpful in many respects and we must commend him for that.

Let's not forget that he's not doing it for nothing. He's a highly paid consultant. I'm sure they're not throwing beans at him every month

However despite helping out, lets not let him give him the run of the forum --

If he talks coddswallop I will tackle him about it.
If he hedges a question, I will ask again and again until he turns off his Vaio.
If he starts his 'Vodacom is the best' rant then I'll also add my 2cents about MtN or VM or any other competitor.

& If he starts insulting me again - he had better take cover or emigrate to the Lebanon

 

[74466]

hear hear

If he talks coddswallop I will tackle him about it.
If he hedges a question, I will ask again and again until he turns off his Vaio.
If he starts his 'Vodacom is the best' rant then I'll also add my 2cents about MtN or VM or any other competitor.

I fully agree

 

[Rumpelstilzkin]

1. Personal attacks...means attacks against one or more fellow forumites

1. 
   
   define attack - am i supposed to read "challenge with style" of course we must challenge views expressed here - hence the capability to quote text
   
   

   1. instead debate like a civilised person

   
   told you, you didn't have to like my style - its the issues
   
   
   

   1. what are you on about here?

   
   did you not delete the entire post ? - was that because you didn't understand it, or because you made a call that it was unintelligible?

 

[lilDeath]

Let's not forget that he's not doing it for nothing. He's a highly paid consultant. I'm sure they're not throwing beans at him every month

oh, with the toys he's got I doubt he's getting beans thrown at him... but then again working for VC does have some pretty nice perks.

I thought he was doing voluntary charity though, although VC did give him permission to be their spokesperon, but didn't think he was getting paid for it....

 

[TowerGuru]

WOW and i thought i was bad, see IC there are alot more ruder meaner people out there! and just to add my 2 cents on the issue, you do not need a engineering degree to say that Vodacom's data services this year have been alot less than desirable. the question for me is - WHY? they had managed to keep just fine up until this year, so what changed? what was missed? what didn't (or did) happen to cause these problems? these problems are an ongoing issue, and data services are essential to any tech savvy teenager, you should hear the big debate at schools when GPRS is down and people cant get onto MXit. cellphone uses today have developed a DEPENDANCE on data services, so at this stage it is essential for Vodacom to have a stable network. so to sum it up, Vodacom must get itself in high gear and SORT IT OUT!

 

[vodacom3g]

Been wondering if I should respond to the last couple of posts, lest it flares up again, but will do so, in any case. (a glutton for punishment, I am)

However despite helping out, lets not let him give him the run of the forum

Have no desire to have the 'run of the forum' and, in any case ic (nor you guys) would ever allow it.

If he talks coddswallop I will tackle him about it.

Of course, but works both ways, let's keep it factual and keep speculation and assumptions out of it. If you don't know something, ask.

If he hedges a question, I will ask again and again until he turns off his Vaio.

Will never avoid a question. Might take a while to get the answer.

If he starts his 'Vodacom is the best' rant then I'll also add my 2cents about MtN or VM or any other competitor.

Would like to think I don't do this. If I do post anything, it should be factual. If not, challenge it.

& If he starts insulting me again - he had better take cover or emigrate to the Lebanon

(Confused look), have not and will not insult anyone on the forum.

Here's the bottom line; The network was designed by humans, was installed by humans, is maintained by humans and is supported by humans.

So it's not a question of; if something will go wrong, but rather when it will do so. The important thing is how we react to that, all of us.

We all would like to live in a perfect world where there is no crime, PC's don't crash, cars never break down and mobile networks always works 100%, but it just ain't gonna happen.

It's how we react to and handle these that is important.

 

[74466]

V3G this aint an attack on u
Why, when ppl exploited the free web via vlive (dec/jan) was the data network more stable (even faster**) than it is now?

**(in relation to service available (3G))

 

[lilDeath]

@V3G, nice post!

Then there are some variables, like whether 'things' can be improved or in any way done better....

 

[feo]

GayTechie brought up MXit, v3g id like to know if Vodacom is to blame for MXit being so slow at night? Because they recently upgraded servers to cope with the load so i dont think the problem is on their side. Also people on other networks dont seem to have a problem.

 

[vodacom3g]

Why, when ppl exploited the free web via vlive (dec/jan) was the data network more stable (even faster**) than it is now?

There's no relation between the two event, its more of a time-line thing.

The 'free web via vlive' was a (mis)configuration issue, the current problems are mostly load related (I believe).

A few months ago, the network was not under the same load it's now, we did not have so many HSDPA cards out there, for example.