Telkom Mobile roaming on Vodacom

Ah ok. And the 30GB that comes with the package, is that 30GB all network data or is there a limit to the amount of this roaming data that you can use? Can't seem to find the info on the Telkom site...
No extra fee for 3g mtn roaming, it'll use the30gb bundle
 
So the roaming is working well in Richards Bay. Tested it on a prepaid simcard. Compared cell id with a Vidacom sim to confirm that the cell id are the same on both the Telkom and Vodacom sim.

I will take screenshots and pics.
 
Didn't work on my Telkom mobile Sims here in Verlorenkloof close to Dullstroom.

Luckily got a Vodacom sim too which worked (they are the only ones with 3G coverage here) but bloody hell data on the red network is expensive.
 
i wonder when the vodacom roaming will be rolled out nationwide for telkom mobile..
 
Hello Guys, anyone with some insight know when this Vodacom roaming will be fully functional and working? My Telkom coverage is still very poor and spotty in and around JHB and it's becoming a real pain all these dropped calls
 
Hello Guys, anyone with some insight know when this Vodacom roaming will be fully functional and working? My Telkom coverage is still very poor and spotty in and around JHB and it's becoming a real pain all these dropped calls
By June I would imagine. That's when their current arrangement with MTN ends.
 
Well now that I know a bit about roaming (thanks guys) everything here is falling into place.
I am on Telkom prepaid LTE and their tower is about 2 km away.
This made me get a Poynting Xpol-6-10M antenna to get a better signal which I mounted temporally outside.
My signal here is -80 dBm and my download speed is around 85 Mbps most the time.
On the 8th January I set out to permanently mount the antenna on the roof.
While setting it up I found that I could now get a signal from the Vodacom Tower of -70 dBm which totally baffled me and I thought Telkom had put LTE on this tower.
Btw, all tests were done on 2300 Mhz - Band 40, mode 4G only on a B315 router.
After testing on this new place I was only able to get 52 Mbps which I found a bit odd.
So I found an old rotator in the garage and put that up there, now I can turn the antenna between the 2 towers.
Oh, btw, roaming is switched off on the router.

Edit ***
Just testing now in that if you move the antenna 20 degrees past the Vodacom tower, although the signal drops, the SINR increases to 30 and the downloads increase to 80 odd Mbps
https://speedtest.co.za/result/27839
 
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Well now that I know a bit about roaming (thanks guys) everything here is falling into place.
I am on Telkom prepaid LTE and their tower is about 2 km away.
This made me get a Poynting Xpol-6-10M antenna to get a better signal which I mounted temporally outside.
My signal here is -80 dBm and my download speed is around 85 Mbps most the time.
On the 8th January I set out to permanently mount the antenna on the roof.
While setting it up I found that I could now get a signal from the Vodacom Tower of -70 dBm which totally baffled me and I thought Telkom had put LTE on this tower.
Btw, all tests were done on 2300 Mhz - Band 40, mode 4G only on a B315 router.
After testing on this new place I was only able to get 52 Mbps which I found a bit odd.
So I found an old rotator in the garage and put that up there, now I can turn the antenna between the 2 towers.
Oh, btw, roaming is switched off on the router.
Where are you located - more or less - no need to be specific if you dont feel comfortable ? Then it's very strange that you would pick up the Telkom roaming on 2300MHZ as Vodacom do not have spectrum. Could it be that telkom also have capacity on the second tower?
 
Where are you located - more or less - no need to be specific if you dont feel comfortable ? Then it's very strange that you would pick up the Telkom roaming on 2300MHZ as Vodacom do not have spectrum. Could it be that telkom also have capacity on the second tower?
I'm in Hilton - KZN.
Yes the frequency also struck me as odd but thats where it is.
I tried the Vodacom frequency of 2100 Mhz but that's dead.
If I switch to Band 3 - 1800 Mhz then I get a signal from anywhere I like :)
Before it only worked when pointing directly at Telkom.
Band 38 - 2600 Mhz, Toolbox or LTEWatch cannot do, although LTE_Band_Tool_v0.1 can do it I have not tried.
 
Also waiting to see telkom signal popping up.
 
You would need a Voda sim. Note down your Cell-ID and then compare once you know Telkom has switched on roaming to see if you connecting to the same Cell-ID. Google your phone's codes that can show you cell info.

/credit to @cavedog for that tip. :thumbsup:

@ProAsm Can you post a guide on the forum how you set up the rotator :cool: please? That is pretty smart. :love:

Wonder how you would be able to tell on an iphone if its telkom or vodacom
 
"...............
@ProAsm Can you post a guide on the forum how you set up the rotator :cool: please? That is pretty smart. :love:

I just used an old TV Rotator, but I got it about 30 years ago when we used to swing our TV aerial around to different SABC towers :)
They are very simple to install and go in series with the mast you bracket to the wall.
The one I used is a bit big, if you can find a smaller one go for it.
I've seen some Radio Hams use old windscreen wiper motors as well and works pretty good.
Here is one identical to mine.
https://www.gumtree.com/p/antennas/yamato-antenna-rotator/1209591190
https://www.ebay.ie/itm/Yamoto-YS-130-antenna-rotator-with-controller-cable-see-video-/152895473748

lterot.jpg
 
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The last few days around JHB, TM data has been acting a little strange.
Have had full signal, but very little/no data connectivity.

Anyone else notice anything strange?
Assuming it may have to do with the switch to Vodacom
 
The last few days around JHB, TM data has been acting a little strange.
Have had full signal, but very little/no data connectivity.

Anyone else notice anything strange?
Assuming it may have to do with the switch to Vodacom

I'm still happily roaming on MTN in Cape Town.
 
The last few days around JHB, TM data has been acting a little strange.
Have had full signal, but very little/no data connectivity.

Anyone else notice anything strange?
Assuming it may have to do with the switch to Vodacom

Have noticed this as well fruatrating to say the least
 
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