UMTS has disappeared

[MervynB]

I have been using the MF668 Speedstick with the 5Gb/month promotion for about 6 weeks now and for the first 5 weeks it really was Whooosh. Speed varies, as expected, but the worst download speed was better than the best I ever got from Vodacom. I downloaded the new 909Mb Ubuntu version in just over 30 minutes. The 73Mb upgrade took about 2 minutes.

There were initially some problems with the connection dropping regularly but the installtion of a powered USB hub seems to have sorted that out.

For the past week or so the UMTS connection has disappeared and the connection is now at HSPA+. The speed is substantially lower (between 2 and 3 Mbps) which is still adequate for normal browsing but, like the remarks I used to get on my school reports, "Cell-C can do better.".

To get to the point though, does Cell-C monitor it's system to the extent that it already knows that certain towers (17281 and 10761) are no longer using UMTS and I just need to be patient while they get round to sorting the problem out? Alternatively, is there an email address where this sort of problem can be sent?

 

[Ockie]

HSPA+ is based on UMTS. UMTS is basically 3G and HSPA+ is a evolution of the 3G standard.

 

[sajunky]

What program you used to use for monitoring connection? Did you changed it recently?
MDMA by example display 3G when idle and HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+ when trasnfering data.

 

[MervynB]

HSPA+ is based on UMTS. UMTS is basically 3G and HSPA+ is a evolution of the 3G standard.

OK, I'm technically only semi-literate. I was under the impression that when the dashboard showed UMTS the connection was using the 900Mhz band and when it showed HPSA+ the connection was using the 2100Mhz band. Be that as it may, the fact is that the download speed has dropped by 70 - 80% now that the dashboard shows HSPA+ rather then UMTS.

 

[MervynB]

What program you used to use for monitoring connection? Did you changed it recently?
MDMA by example display 3G when idle and HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+ when trasnfering data.

I'm using the dashboard that the MF668 installed to manage the connection. It has its quirks and shortcomings but it seems to work well enough. The dashboard shows UMTS when idle and used to maintain that setting when trasnferring data. It would occasionally change to HSPA+, presumably due to load management at the tower, but for the past week or so the display changes to HSPA+ immediately data is transferred. Coincident with this, trasfer speed has dropped significantly.

The only change to the setup has been to install a powered USB hub. The modem would regularly drop the connection if idle for a while. The powered hub appears to have resolved this.

Previously, when connecting via Vodacom, I used MDMA with an E220 modem and then later a K3520 modem and then a K3770 modem to manage the connection. MDMA does not, unfortunately, work properly with the MF668. Although it does show the tower details and the signal strength and it will actually connect, once it has connected the Connect/Disconnect button stays on Connect and will not disconnect the modem.

Signal strenth is good on both towers that I have seen using MDMA. Tower 10761, which is the tower used most often, -63dBm and tower 17281 -73dBm.

 

[sajunky]

I am aware about limitation of MDMA with ZTE modems. However you still need MDMA I think. Not for dialing/monitoring but for other things. You gave me a clue in your reply to ocleroux...
It seems there is a new 2100MHz transmitter in your area. So far it was 900MHz only. In MDMA you can force frequency to use, not sure about your modem though. It will be remebered in the modem, unless you change it back to default. Then use your dialer and see which frequency works for you the best.
EDIT: Watch towers ID's: 900MHz are ending 1,2 or 3

 

[MervynB]

I am aware about limitation of MDMA with ZTE modems. However you still need MDMA I think. Not for dialing/monitoring but for other things. You gave me a clue in your reply to ocleroux...
It seems there is a new 2100MHz transmitter in your area. So far it was 900MHz only. In MDMA you can force frequency to use, not sure about your modem though. It will be remebered in the modem, unless you change it back to default. Then use your dialer and see which frequency works for you the best.
EDIT: Watch towers ID's: 900MHz are ending 1,2 or 3

No question about still needing MDMA. At the memoent it's the only way I have of checking the signal strength and the tower's number. When I first got the new modem MDMA helped me find just the right spot for it. The signal strength improved from an initial -85dBm to its present -61dBm.

I can understand that the modem may be picking up a new 2100Mhz transmitter at the same tower (10761) rather than the old 900Mz transmitter but should this affect the data speed? Surely the 2100MHz transmitter is capable of the same sort of speed I was seeing 2 weeks ago (about 10Mbps) rather than the 2 to 3 Mbps I'm seeing now. Is it possible that the new transmitter has given so many new users access to the network that it is swammped or is it more likely that the connection between the network and the tranmitter is throttled in some way?

 

[sajunky]

I can understand that the modem may be picking up a new 2100Mhz transmitter at the same tower (10761) rather than the old 900Mz transmitter but should this affect the data speed?

No. 2100MHz transmitter is expected to have CellID ending with 4,5 or 6. On one side is the matter loading of the tower, but in your case it is probably different propagation path, penetratrion and direction of antenna beams. A point I want to make is that it was already indicated on this forum that modems for some reason prefer 2100MHz band over 900MHz even signal strenght/quality is inferior.

 

[ginggs]

I can understand that the modem may be picking up a new 2100Mhz transmitter at the same tower (10761) rather than the old 900Mz transmitter but should this affect the data speed?

A 2100MHz cell on the same tower as 10761 would end in a 4, 5 or 6, e.g. 10764.

Compare my speed test results below with the ones in the post that follows.
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/258764?p=6677086#post6677086

Notice the drop in signal strength and speed. 900MHz just has better coverage.

 

[MervynB]

A 2100MHz cell on the same tower as 10761 would end in a 4, 5 or 6, e.g. 10764.

Compare my speed test results below with the ones in the post that follows.
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/258764?p=6677086#post6677086

Notice the drop in signal strength and speed. 900MHz just has better coverage.

The cell number, according to MDMA, is 10761 and the signal strength, checked a few minutes ago, is -61dBm. So, this would seem to be a strong 900MHz signal.

The download speed last month, when the connections was shown as UMTS http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/mervyn/Speedtest6Oct19h31.jpg

The download speed a few minutes ago with the dashboard showing HSPA+ http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/mervyn/Speedtest17Nov16h20.jpg

How do I get the Whoooosh back?

 

[sajunky]

How do I get the Whoooosh back?

I am affraid you would need to use MDMA for dialing and watch cellID during connection, as it can change during connection as well as frequency. It is possible that modem constantly tries to handover to 2100MHz and it costs your throuput. It is why it is important to force modem to work on single frequency.
I know it is inconvenient, but you can terminate connection from the dial-up connection (type your name - 'mdma' in the latest mdma beta).

 

[MervynB]

I am affraid you would need to use MDMA for dialing and watch cellID during connection, as it can change during connection as well as frequency. It is possible that modem constantly tries to handover to 2100MHz and it costs your throuput. It is why it is important to force modem to work on single frequency.
I know it is inconvenient, but you can terminate connection from the dial-up connection (type your name - 'mdma' in the latest mdma beta).

I'm using MDMA v1.0.0.31 beta 8. When I connect, the tower number does not change. (10761). There does not appear to be any way of forcing the modem to use a specific frequency. The only choices are EDGE/GRPS only, 3G only or Automatic.

 

[sajunky]

You can change frequency in latest beta 10. For MDMA create dialup connection 'mdma'. Copy and paste the existing one and rename it to 'mdma'.

 

[T-Man]

Hmm, you stay very close to me.

I suspect both Vodacom and CellC run off the same tower located next to the Engen.

I will investigate and let you know what I can figure out. Probably only be on the weekend though.

 

[MervynB]

Hmm, you stay very close to me.

I suspect both Vodacom and CellC run off the same tower located next to the Engen.

I will investigate and let you know what I can figure out. Probably only be on the weekend though.

Thanks, I appreciate it. I've been without my whooosh for a while so a few days more won't hurt.

I've actually moved back to Vodacom (I cancelled the contract but it stilll runs to the end of the month) for a while as the modem has been sent in for checking. I got a firmware update from my friendly Cell-C store and now all I can get is Edge.

 

[Cell_C]

Thanks, I appreciate it. I've been without my whooosh for a while so a few days more won't hurt.

I've actually moved back to Vodacom (I cancelled the contract but it stilll runs to the end of the month) for a while as the modem has been sent in for checking. I got a firmware update from my friendly Cell-C store and now all I can get is Edge.

Hi MervynB

Some thing does not sound right there.
I have PM you.
Which Modem do you have ?

Regards
~AM~