terrible 3G reception

[owentb]

probably a dumb question but i'm not getting 3g cvoerate in blairgowrie, randburg with vodacom.

i have an mtn contract with a 500mb data bundle and i connect my pc through my n95 via a usb. i was getting two bars of 3g coverage with mtn but only with the network settings on the phone set to umts, not dual or gsm (i only get edge with those) but still pretty good download speeds. somehow i used up my entire bundle in one week which seems a little strange but i decided to just get a pay as you go and put a prepaid bundle on to carry me through to next month while i installed some bandwidth monitors.

this is where i decided to give vodacom a go as my contract it up soon. i got a prepaid sim and loaded a 500mb bundle on it. i now get terrible gsm service, i don't even get edge coverage and if i select umts and try for 3g i get no reception - i can't even call out. it sucks because i already have the bundle loaded and i don't see me ever getting 500mb usage out of it.

any ideas? is it just me being a dumbass somehow?

 

[vodacom3g]

probably a dumb question but i'm not getting 3g cvoerate in blairgowrie, randburg with vodacom.

i have an mtn contract with a 500mb data bundle and i connect my pc through my n95 via a usb. i was getting two bars of 3g coverage with mtn but only with the network settings on the phone set to umts, not dual or gsm (i only get edge with those) but still pretty good download speeds. somehow i used up my entire bundle in one week which seems a little strange but i decided to just get a pay as you go and put a prepaid bundle on to carry me through to next month while i installed some bandwidth monitors.

this is where i decided to give vodacom a go as my contract it up soon. i got a prepaid sim and loaded a 500mb bundle on it. i now get terrible gsm service, i don't even get edge coverage and if i select umts and try for 3g i get no reception - i can't even call out. it sucks because i already have the bundle loaded and i don't see me ever getting 500mb usage out of it.

any ideas? is it just me being a dumbass somehow?

Did you check your Vodacom coverage on the coverage map on vodacom.co.za

 

[owentb]

i haven't as yet - my connection is too slow to consider loading big maps

i'd be very surprise if my area wasn't covered though, i'm 6km from santon city and about 2 from the waterfront. i'd imagine the whole of northern jhb was covered

 

[vodacom3g]

i haven't as yet - my connection is too slow to consider loading big maps

i'd be very surprise if my area wasn't covered though, i'm 6km from santon city and about 2 from the waterfront. i'd imagine the whole of northern jhb was covered

There might be a local anomaly. Best to check the map.

 

[Just_Ice]

Well if MTN's isnt great as well then maybe as v3g said, its just the coverage in your area, or a "local anomaly".... kwl word

 

[vodacom3g]

Well if MTN's isnt great as well then maybe as v3g said, its just the coverage in your area, or a "local anomaly".... kwl word

Yeah, Neo might be flying around there.....

Could just be a dip, for example, that could cause you to be in a 'shadow' and not get a great signal.

Remember if you can't see the tower, the tower can't see you.

 

[owentb]

no way - they sure updated that coverage map since i last looked at it. it seems my street isn't covered - it must be because i'm at the top of the hill i think, that's where it seems to cut out.

i'll have to try plough through the data slooow now

 

[vodacom3g]

no way - they sure updated that coverage map since i last looked at it. it seems my street isn't covered - it must be because i'm at the top of the hill i think, that's where it seems to cut out.

i'll have to try plough through the data slooow now

At least you know the answer now.

If the coverage stops close by on the map, I'd go for an external, high-gain antenna. It'll do wonders and probably get your speed right up there.

And it'll work for both Vodacom and MTN.

Check out Poynting's site for the correct unit.