Rain 5G issues due to load-shedding

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MyBroadband Newsfeed
Staff member
Joined
Jun 28, 2017
Messages
6,800
For those who have a Rain 5G service, are you experiencing slow or no throughout when trying to connect to the Internet?

We are currently conducting tests on Rain 5G, and the service this evening (12 March) has been unuseable.

Attempting to "optimise" the service on Rain's 5G activation page has also resulted in the router not being able to establish a connection to Rain's 5G network.

Any feedback on your experiences is really appreciated.
 

werfie

Expert Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2010
Messages
2,626
Yeah. I have problems before, during and after load-shedding. Randomly. I assume cause I have a tower relatively close by that falls in a different load-shedding group (always off 2 hours before us).

Sometimes I then get 40mbps for those two hours before LS, then during load-shedding I get 90mbps (I have a generator). So not sure what it connects to then because there is a 5G tower closer to me that is also in my load-shedding group which would then be off, but then the speed is faster
 

DaDon

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2009
Messages
297
During load-shedding,connection drops to 4G,but speeds are no near 4G,think that sums it up
re-positioning the router does nothing,it always connects to the same cell_id tower
but currently speeds are very slow regardless of load-shedding or not

Cheers
D
 

cavedog

Honorary Master
Joined
Oct 19, 2007
Messages
22,658
5G has no battery backup at all so there are a few scenarios that take place.

1st. The tower you connect to is situated in an area that has a different loadshedding schedule than you. So when they go off you are left without connection or barely usable 4G connection.

2nd scenario is that the tower is on the same loadshedding schedule as you so even if you have backup batteries it goes back to 4G until that dies.

Depending on how many 5G towers are in the area the congestion is a problem especially in densely populated area where the tower already on backup power for 4G has to contend with Rain Mobile, Rain 5G users, Rain fixed LTE users and Vodacom users roaming on it.

It kills the tower batteries quick and speeds are a disaster.

Also take note that for Rain 5G users 4G fall back is only available on their 1800MHz FDD band and not on their 2600MHz TDD LTE band which is a real shame. I do believe this should be looked at because the 1800MHz band is as we all know extremely congested.
 
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Nate_za

Active Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2020
Messages
44
I have been down since load shedding started again. I have had the the router since beginning Feb and it has been on for a total of 3 weeks the rest of the time its been down with tower issues. They told me yesterday that it will be down until load shedding is done. I will have to consider other options if this is the way forward unfortunately.
 

cavedog

Honorary Master
Joined
Oct 19, 2007
Messages
22,658
I have been down since load shedding started again. I have had the the router since beginning Feb and it has been on for a total of 3 weeks the rest of the time its been down with tower issues. They told me yesterday that it will be down until load shedding is done. I will have to consider other options if this is the way forward unfortunately.

Sometimes the tower does not return after loadshedding and the system automatically logs a ticket with network technicians to attend. I'm guessing the Loadshedding is keeping them very busy to bring towers back online.
 

Nate_za

Active Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2020
Messages
44
Sometimes the tower does not return after loadshedding and the system automatically logs a ticket with network technicians to attend. I'm guessing the Loadshedding is keeping them very busy to bring towers back online.
That makes sense, i am also thinking that with the constant load shedding its going to keep going down so they are maybe waiting for it to pass and then sort them all out? It is just a nuisance for the consumer as we want to be online when the lights are back on.
 

Impala

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2019
Messages
630
Our tower is on the same loadshedding schedule as us. Normally the tower takes about 10-20 minutes to 'stabilize' I guess. After the power comes back, the router connects, disconnects a few times and then after a reboot it will normally connect with no problems. Speeds stay around the same (yesterday it started at around 180 mbps and after around a hour it was back at around 250 mbps)
 

Jimmy

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Joined
Apr 12, 2011
Messages
472
Our tower is on the same loadshedding schedule as us. Normally the tower takes about 10-20 minutes to 'stabilize' I guess. After the power comes back, the router connects, disconnects a few times and then after a reboot it will normally connect with no problems. Speeds stay around the same (yesterday it started at around 180 mbps and after around a hour it was back at around 250 mbps)
I experience something similar to this.
 
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