Recent Intermittent Connection Failures

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Methuselah

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Hi guys.
Apologies if this is a repeat, but after 10 pages I gave up looking for similar threads.

I am interested in finding out if anyone else is experiencing intermittent disconnects. I recently upgraded the firmware and software of the E220 and am unsure if this is related to the software or some Vodacom policy.

Running Vista Ultimate and VMC 9.3.6 client, I find that every now and then I get a "No Device" message and the system then detects the USB device again - same as is I just plugged it in. I then have to re-connect, which usually works without further ado.
The issue with this is particularly irritating as the assigned dynamic IP then changes as well. This plays havoc with some sites. We had introduced session re-establishment code on our webpages to handle this as some of our 3G users were having issues losing typed-but-not-yet-saved data.

Curious.
Robin.
 
Methuselah said:
Hi guys.
Apologies if this is a repeat, but after 10 pages I gave up looking for similar threads.

I am interested in finding out if anyone else is experiencing intermittent disconnects. I recently upgraded the firmware and software of the E220 and am unsure if this is related to the software or some Vodacom policy.

Running Vista Ultimate and VMC 9.3.6 client, I find that every now and then I get a "No Device" message and the system then detects the USB device again - same as is I just plugged it in. I then have to re-connect, which usually works without further ado.
The issue with this is particularly irritating as the assigned dynamic IP then changes as well. This plays havoc with some sites. We had introduced session re-establishment code on our webpages to handle this as some of our 3G users were having issues losing typed-but-not-yet-saved data.

Curious.
Robin.
Click to expand...

It looks like Vista looses connection with the modem.

Are you using the 2 connector power cable supplied with the modem? Many of these cases of the E220 dropping of the USB bus have been related to it not getting enough power.

Why only now and possibly after an upgrade? Most likely something changed that's affecting the power, including:

1) A new PC.
2) Different USB ports on the PC.
3) Different USB cable.
4) Power management profile on Vista
5) Higher modem speeds (UPA, 3.6) consuming more power.
6) Modem is in a warmer environment.

So (obviously first) check for the latest USB drivers in the BIOS and OS and then look at the way the modem gets power. You can also try a powered USB hub.
 
Robin is right. I also had a lot of 'No Device' errors + lots of RAS 619 errors recently.

Never had it before.
 
kingrob said:
Robin is right. I also had a lot of 'No Device' errors + lots of RAS 619 errors recently.

Never had it before.
Click to expand...

I would think these are essentially two different errors:

- 'No device' must be a problem on the local PC, i.e. your PC can't even see the modem. This is where the power problem, the DVD player issues, etc. come in. But it's not network related.

- '619' means that the modem is working but can't connect to the network. This can be caused by many things, from you not having money in your account to something else being broken, including the network.
 
It is intermittent.

This morning I could get on with any problems, but when I connected now, I had to click repeatedly on my browser's refresh button to get my homepage coming up.

Maybe it's an update for Vista that screwed something up. I really dont know.
 
...

Mine is intermitant for the last week. Connection speed is 100% while its connected and then it just disconnects with a "Mobile connection not possible" (Or something similair, cant remember now that I am typing this) with an OK button. I click the button and then simply click reconnect.

Very irritatting when doing uploads to web servers or connected to my clients London Server via Terminal Services, or just playing games.

Anyway, this is only a problem I have had the last week or so, prior to that I had about a cool 6 weeks or so of near perfect connection (3g/HSDPA and hardly disconnecting).

I am running VISTA Home Preimium which I keep updated (Through manual selection of windows updates, not auto downloaded updates) but I have not installed any Windows updates in the last month, if that is relevant.

I am using the longer cable that came with the E220 and has the assistant power USB cable looping off it but not used. The modem was also upgraded about 2 months ago at Vodacare in Witbank.

USB 2.0 drivers on the motherboard is up to date. Nothing has really changed apart from new games installed and few other applications for my development (Visual Studio 2005, SQL Express 2005), hardware hasnt changed either.

Only thing I can think is that something with the network in my area is wrong or something possibly interfering with the signal.

Been considering getting a External High Gain antenna but not sure if this will make the connection drop less or not.

Will using the shorter USB cable that came with the modem help ? The PC is under the desk by the way so I have a 3M USB extender cable so that the modem can hang by the window. I was using this setup prior to the intermitant connection problems so it cant be that surely.

Regards and thanks
John
 
When these errors occur, try and see if it is because the modem disappeared from the OS, i.e. Windows can't see it any more.

If Windows still sees the modem and you lost connection, it's most likely on the network side.
 
...

Windows sees it no problem. I've just had the disconnect again.

Basically it gives me this message in a dialogbox with an ok button "Mobile connection not possible.

Ensure that no other programs are using
your selected device, and try again in a short while."

I click OK, shows no device for about 4 or 5 seconds then shows 3G or HSDPA again and I reconnect.

Been like this for a week or so, night and day make no difference.
 
zanzibarwinds said:
Windows sees it no problem. I've just had the disconnect again.

Basically it gives me this message in a dialogbox with an ok button "Mobile connection not possible.

Ensure that no other programs are using
your selected device, and try again in a short while."

I click OK, shows no device for about 4 or 5 seconds then shows 3G or HSDPA again and I reconnect.

Been like this for a week or so, night and day make no difference.
Click to expand...

Where are you?

Send me your details as per the template in my signature under my posts. Include all possible details.
 
Yes, I only start experiencing this from last Thursday.

Before that, had no problems with Vodacom's HSDPA service.

*V3G, someone from Vodacom did phone me and I'm keeping him up-to-date. Thank you for all your help!
 
...

3g, slight correction in the description I sent you regarding the problem.

When it disconnects, the VMC software shows no device detected for a few seconds, then finds the device without any intervention, then finds the network and then gives me the Connect button.
 
I have a similar scenario - upgraded to 3.2.1.156 last week, since then frequent disconnects (after about 20 to 30 minutes), with autoplay dialogue box coming up automatically after the disconnect. When you select it to run, it opens VMC, but when you click on Connect, it gives an error relating to the modem being connected already, or something like that. Only way to sort it out is to remove e220, plug back in, and then it works fine until next disconnect.

I have not made any hardware changes, only changes are firmware update and dashboard update.
 
PapLepel said:
I have a similar scenario - upgraded to 3.2.1.156 last week, since then frequent disconnects (after about 20 to 30 minutes), with autoplay dialogue box coming up automatically after the disconnect. When you select it to run, it opens VMC, but when you click on Connect, it gives an error relating to the modem being connected already, or something like that. Only way to sort it out is to remove e220, plug back in, and then it works fine until next disconnect.

I have not made any hardware changes, only changes are firmware update and dashboard update.
Click to expand...

Where are you? :rolleyes:
 
I am in Johannesburg - and this happens while I am in Weltevredenpark, the south of Johannesburg or in Parktown. I forgot to add that I am running Vista Home Premium.
 
PapLepel said:
I have not made any hardware changes, only changes are firmware update and dashboard update.
Click to expand...

What firmware did you upgrade to??

I have found that when I upgraded to 11.117.09.04.00 that I had problems with it. Random disconnections and taking longer to connect or reconnect.

I downgraded back to 11.110.05.00.00, and it resolved those issues for me. I only get 3.6 speeds now, but at least it's a much more stable connection.

I've had a few friends who've also had problems with the newer 7.2 firmware (11.117.09.04.00) and random disconnections.
 
Update on environment

Hi guys.
Thanks for all the responses . . . the scenarios are similar to mine . . . with the autoplay dialogue box coming up after the disconnect. (Close it, don't select an option . . . if you do, you will get the error relating to the modem being in use already, and then you seem to have no option but to remove the E220, plug back in, and start again)
The best response is to close the Autorun dialog and wait for the VMC software to detect it again and then re-connect.

No hardware or environment changes other than the firmware and dashboard switch (VMClite to VMC 9).
1) A new PC --> No
2) Different USB ports on the PC --> No
3) Different USB cable --> No
4) Power management profile on Vista --> Unchanged (that I'm aware of)
5) Higher modem speeds (UPA, 3.6) consuming more power.
6) Modem is in a warmer environment --> No

Interestingly, last night I was on (VPN) for about 4 hours without any disconnect - using the "short" cable, so unclear as to what could cause increased power consumption.
I have not tried the other USB cable yet, will start that test this week and keep you posted.

Robin.
 
Methuselah said:
Hi guys.
Thanks for all the responses . . . the scenarios are similar to mine . . . with the autoplay dialogue box coming up after the disconnect. (Close it, don't select an option . . . if you do, you will get the error relating to the modem being in use already, and then you seem to have no option but to remove the E220, plug back in, and start again)
The best response is to close the Autorun dialog and wait for the VMC software to detect it again and then re-connect.

No hardware or environment changes other than the firmware and dashboard switch (VMClite to VMC 9).
1) A new PC --> No
2) Different USB ports on the PC --> No
3) Different USB cable --> No
4) Power management profile on Vista --> Unchanged (that I'm aware of)
5) Higher modem speeds (UPA, 3.6) consuming more power.
6) Modem is in a warmer environment --> No

Interestingly, last night I was on (VPN) for about 4 hours without any disconnect - using the "short" cable, so unclear as to what could cause increased power consumption.
I have not tried the other USB cable yet, will start that test this week and keep you posted.

Robin.
Click to expand...

Anything else you can think that have changed, did you upgrade modem firmware.

I'm not denying that these disconnects are not happening, just trying to figure out what changed.

Your modem / firmware rev?
 
Apologies if I was unclear:

My trouble started with the Slovenia DNS issues (80.x.x)
As a result of that, I had the firmware and software upgraded.
Only then did I notice the disconnections, previously I had no issues other than when the machine went into hibernation/screen saver mode.

Vista Ultimate SP1: Unchanged.
Dashboard: Switched from VMC Lite V2.2.2.1 to VMC 9.3.6
Firmware: upgraded to latest (E220Update_11.117.09.04.00.B268.exe)
 
Methuselah said:
Apologies if I was unclear:

My trouble started with the Slovenia DNS issues (80.x.x)
As a result of that, I had the firmware and software upgraded.
Only then did I notice the disconnections, previously I had no issues other than when the machine went into hibernation/screen saver mode.

Vista Ultimate SP1: Unchanged.
Dashboard: Switched from VMC Lite V2.2.2.1 to VMC 9.3.6
Firmware: upgraded to latest (E220Update_11.117.09.04.00.B268.exe)
Click to expand...

Hmmm....

Wonder if you should not try Lee's suggestion to roll back one rev on the firmware.

I've escalated this in the mean time.
 
Rollingback one firmware revision can't hurt. Will give that a whirl as well ;-)

Update: I cannot find a link in the downloads section to the previous revision. Can you advise ?
 
Last edited:
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