South Coast, no 3g access

davemc said:
Bwaaahahahahahaha.
1. Look at their published profits.
2. If we already have EDGE and GPRS, obviously the towers are already up.
Click to expand...

2G has a larger footprint than 3G so will cover a larger area. If you want the same 3G coverage as you have 2G coverage not only do you need more equipment you also need more towers. There is no point in enabling 3G on a tower if you don't have enough backhaul to serve the tower, something which can be a problem in remote areas. I'm sure each location has different reasons for not having 3G, but people need to understand that there is more to it than just slapping on some 3G kit.
 
morkhans said:
2G has a larger footprint than 3G so will cover a larger area. If you want the same 3G coverage as you have 2G coverage not only do you need more equipment you also need more towers. There is no point in enabling 3G on a tower if you don't have enough backhaul to serve the tower, something which can be a problem in remote areas. I'm sure each location has different reasons for not having 3G, but people need to understand that there is more to it than just slapping on some 3G kit.
Click to expand...

I asked once why Vodacom and MTN for example dont share sites...and the response was that that it is not that simple. It depends for one thing also on whether the tower can actually support the additional equipment etc. It might sound easy peasy to do, but I guess there is much more to it than meets the eye. If it was a simple case of slapping on a 3G transmitter, hooking it up to a power outlet and bobs your uncle, then we would be in heaven....but we not. :-(
 
morkhans said:
<snip>If you want the same 3G coverage as you have 2G coverage not only do you need more equipment you also need more towers.<snip>
Click to expand...
I don't want 3G to have the same coverage as 2G.
Why add your own condition to the argument?
If the existing towers had 3G implemented, then I would be asking for more towers in my area, but, the existing towers do not have 3G implemented, so my 2 points still hold water.
 
davemc said:
I don't want 3G to have the same coverage as 2G.
Why add your own condition to the argument?
Click to expand...
Because you are ignoring the technical differences and requirements between 2G and 3G. And why not, surely the basis of a discussion is to add opposing points and additional commentary?

davemc said:
If the existing towers had 3G implemented, then I would be asking for more towers in my area, but, the existing towers do not have 3G implemented, so my 2 points still hold water.
Click to expand...
You are missing the point. Even if your current 2G tower was upgraded to 3G you might still fall out of the 3G coverage footprint.

Best references I can find on Wikipedia at the moment:
2G: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSM
Cell horizontal radius varies depending on antenna height, antenna gain and propagation conditions from a couple of hundred meters to several tens of kilometres. The longest distance the GSM specification supports in practical use is 35 kilometres (22 mi). There are also several implementations of the concept of an extended cell,[12] where the cell radius could be double or even more, depending on the antenna system, the type of terrain and the timing advance.
Click to expand...

3G (UMTS): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UMTS
Compared to GSM, UMTS networks initially required a higher base station density. For fully-fledged UMTS incorporating video on demand features, one base station needed to be set up every 1–1.5 km (0.62–0.93 mi).This was the case when only the 2100 MHz band was being used, however with the growing use of lower-frequency bands (such as 850 and 900 MHz) this is no longer so. This has led to increasing rollout of the lower-band networks by operators since 2006.
Click to expand...

I think at the moment that distance is about 5km.

LTE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3GPP_Long_Term_Evolution
In the 900 MHz frequency band to be used in rural areas, supporting an optimal cell size of 5 km, 30 km sizes with reasonable performance, and up to 100 km cell sizes supported with acceptable performance. In city and urban areas, higher frequency bands (such as 2.6 GHz in EU) are used to support high speed mobile broadband. In this case, cell sizes may be 1 km or even less.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Thanks guys for all your contributions.
I did speak to Shelly Vodacom and they were quite helpful and suggested an antenna, whilst this is great i'm still not sure whether this will solve the problem plus the antenna is expensive +- R1300.00. I am currently waiting for a technician to visit to test the signal etc before i do anymore.
However...if i need an antenna and as i was informed that there was coverage before i took out the contract (which is why i did it take out the contract) will Vodacom pay for the antenna???? secondly if there is no coverage of 3g then i have been sold a contract under false pretences and surely some assistance must be warranted????
Love to hear from you guys and your comments.

Regards
 
snowy said:
Thanks guys for all your contributions.
I did speak to Shelly Vodacom and they were quite helpful and suggested an antenna, whilst this is great i'm still not sure whether this will solve the problem plus the antenna is expensive +- R1300.00. I am currently waiting for a technician to visit to test the signal etc before i do anymore.
However...if i need an antenna and as i was informed that there was coverage before i took out the contract (which is why i did it take out the contract) will Vodacom pay for the antenna???? secondly if there is no coverage of 3g then i have been sold a contract under false pretences and surely some assistance must be warranted????
Love to hear from you guys and your comments.

Regards
Click to expand...

Mmmm....not sure if that's gonna fly. I first tested 3G reception in my area with my cellphone, before I signed up for a Topup 400 + free B970 router.

But, if Vodacom's coverage map shows that you should get 3G coverage, then you might have a point. Saying that, there most probably will be some sort of disclaimer with the coverage map.

Best is to negotiate with your Vodashop, you might be surprised.
 
If you tell me what road you stay in they I can suggest a solution. If you have a usb modem, you could try a wok-tenna....or elevate your modem until you have line of sight.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X