-
Join the MyBroadband community
South Africa’s biggest forum. Discuss, discover, and connect with thousands of members.
-
Question of the Day: Will you be subscribing to the new Disney+ R49 streaming package?
Top up contracts and LTE
- Thread starter Basilrsa
- Start date
jannievanzyl
Telecoms expert
Jola
Honorary Master
KleinBoontjie
Honorary Master
Yes, so any progress towards 1 April (2013 !) ?
That would make for a good April fool joke
Ockie
Resident Lead Bender
If all goes well then from tomorrow.
Prepaid too?
Ockie
Resident Lead Bender
yes
Solitude
Executive Member
I don't suppose that I can change my normal contract that I signed on Thursday to a topup contract? Eish, last week it wasn't possible for a topup contract to have LTE.
If not, can't you cancel within the cool-off period, and take a new contract?
Jola
Honorary Master
Anyone tested this today ?
Called Vodacom and the rep said "The message regarding prepaid/top-up LTE went out prematurely and we are not able to give an expected date for LTE"
I was told that the message went out at the right time but they're experiencing the same issues as with the contract roll out whereby the phone doesn't switch to 3G when there is no LTE. It sends the phone to SOS/No Service.
Was also told that we will receive an SMS when the service goes live but in the meantime all prepaid and top-up SIM cards will be provisioned.
I set my phone to the LTE APN and it worked when not in No service mode but the 3G service was woefully slow. Went back to the regular APN and it was a pleasure once again.
Jola
Honorary Master
I have been testing LTE, and IMO these issues are all related to the fact that Vodacom requires a different APN for LTE.
The Cell C setup where the APN remains the same works better and does not cause these issues.
My Vodacom LTE is quite poor, so I usually need to switch back to 3G, so this LTE APN is a PITA.
Jola
Honorary Master
If I plug an E398 LTE modem directly into my PC I get the following :
That is a DL of 1.36Mbps (APN=lte.vodacom.za; 4G only; connected to 4G)
If I just change the settings and connect via Vodacom 3G, I get :
That is a DL of 5.22Mbps (APN=internet; 3G only; connected to 3G).
So, LTE does not work for me.
That is a DL of 1.36Mbps (APN=lte.vodacom.za; 4G only; connected to 4G)
If I just change the settings and connect via Vodacom 3G, I get :
That is a DL of 5.22Mbps (APN=internet; 3G only; connected to 3G).
So, LTE does not work for me.
This could very well be the case. LTE performance is woeful. I get better speeds using 3G and the normal APN.
3G performance on the LTE APN is quite pathetic actually so much so that I've given up on using LTE.
What are your signal strengths on 3G/HSPA and LTE?
Jola
Honorary Master
The signal strengths are somewhat different.
Just simplistically, I get two bars on LTE, and 5 bars on 3G/HSPA just where my notebook is situated. Exactly the same position, I just change the network settings.
But I usually have the modem in a wifi router, and that is located in a better position, I get about 55% on LTE in that location (which has an external directional antenna).
Performance does not differ much however.
55% on LTE and how much on 3G/HSPA? Is your external antenna suited for 1800MHz?
I don't think signal strength has much to do with it. Attached is a screenshot of my LTE signal strength at home taken the other day when trying to get to the bottom of the issue. HSPA still performs better.
It's either the APN issue as Jola documented or LTE is suffering from a serious lack if spectrum.
It's either the APN issue as Jola documented or LTE is suffering from a serious lack if spectrum.
