Unrestricted APN

Do you want/need an APN that allows connections initiated from outside the APN?

  • No thanks, no idea what this means - don't think it applies to me

    Votes: 17 8.5%

  • No thanks, I know what it means and I will never need it

    Votes: 15 7.5%

  • Yes please, for [desktop or other] remote support

    Votes: 110 55.3%

  • Yes please, for hosting

    Votes: 61 30.7%

  • Yes please, for some other reason explained in my post in the thread

    Votes: 27 13.6%

  • I clicked a 'Yes' option above, and am prepared to accept the risk of being hacked

    Votes: 93 46.7%

  • I clicked a 'Yes' option above, and am NOT prepared to accept the risk of being hacked

    Votes: 6 3.0%
  • Total voters
    199
Vodacom Unrestricted / private APN - Questions

Working on a global connectivity project and was asked some questions by colleagues of mine in Europe.

On the Vodacom unrestricted and private APN, is there a feature for static IP addresses ?

They mention something about mobile termination in terms of requests sent initially to the device via a specific port which then opens the socket connection. Can anybody shed some light on this matter ? Would this work in SA on the unrestricted APN ? ( I know that all ports are unblocked, but will the service work)

Any feedback would greatly be appreciated !
 
I'm not too clear on your question, but here's my situation, and maybe it'll help.

The company that I work for has a private MTN APN from MTNNS, and the IP addresses in the private 10.*.*.* range.
We run 2 radius servers at our premises. These radius servers use the cellphone number, username and password to authenticate the device. Once authenticated, the device is allocated an IP from the radius server. We maintain all these settings.

So the unique cellnumber, username and password combination will always get the same IP.

We have just enabled our Vodacom APN via MTNNS, and it seems to work in the same way, however the vodacom IPs had to be in a different 10.*.*.* range.

Our servers make a connection to the device on a specific port, and because the IPs are "static", we know which device we're talking to.
I'm sure that the device could initiate the connection, but haven't tested this.

Hope that helps.
 
The unrestricted APN will give you a dynamic address to which you can route any unsolicited traffic. i.e. if you are hosting an application that a client or technician needs to connect to from a remote location, you can do that. You can use a service like dyndns to give you a predictable way of contacting the device.
 
morkhans said:
The unrestricted APN will give you a dynamic address to which you can route any unsolicited traffic. i.e. if you are hosting an application that a client or technician needs to connect to from a remote location, you can do that. You can use a service like dyndns to give you a predictable way of contacting the device.
Click to expand...

Thanks morkhans,

Problem is I am not using PC's. I will be using various biometric devices which only work off ip's so cannot use a dyndns client. Will have to go private APN.

Another question for APN providers, IS or MTNSS ? Can I not setup one directly with Vodacom ?
 
Mangoman20 said:
Thanks morkhans,

Problem is I am not using PC's. I will be using various biometric devices which only work off ip's so cannot use a dyndns client. Will have to go private APN.

Another question for APN providers, IS or MTNSS ? Can I not setup one directly with Vodacom ?
Click to expand...

You can talk directly to Vodacom. Best is probably to call Vodacom Business, otherwise PM VodacomData who can hook you up with the correct person.
 
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Hosting a dota game with HSDPA

Hi there,

I cannot seem to host a dota game with my phone's HSDPA the connection is great and I play SC2 and it's all good, I just have a problem hosting dota games.

I have an HTC Desire on the Vodacom network

Should I have to worry about portforwarding with HSDPA?

Thanks, I hope this in the appropriate section.
 
Metaphysical said:
Hi there,

I cannot seem to host a dota game with my phone's HSDPA the connection is great and I play SC2 and it's all good, I just have a problem hosting dota games.

I have an HTC Desire on the Vodacom network

Should I have to worry about portforwarding with HSDPA?

Thanks, I hope this in the appropriate section.
Click to expand...

You want to apply for the unrestricted APN
 
morkhans said:
You want to apply for the unrestricted APN
Click to expand...

Thank you,

I will make the assumption that this is the only way? I will not be able to allow only the required ports needed to host dota? thus leaving my anoos vulnerable to the whole interwebs.
 
Port forwarding for Hua Wei 3G/HSDPA modems.

Hi,
Please excuse me if I have touched on a previous subject but I was unable to find the information I am looking for any where!
I have a Hua Wei K3565 USB modem with a prepaid Vodacom SIM. I am playing an online game called Warcraft III and I am able to play online. The problem is if I host a game online other people can see the game but cannot join. I have found that the problem lies with the port forwarding. Various forums and answers explain how to fix this common problem if you are using a router but I have found nothing for a USB modem.
I am using AVG and I have opened the required ports (6112-6119 TCP and UDP) on Windows firewall but the PFPortchecker still says the ports are closed when I test them. I also tried enabling IPv6 (thought it might help) but it does stay enabled when I reconnect to the internet.
Please can someone help me!
Thanks.
 
Nitro Mini said:
Hi,
Please excuse me if I have touched on a previous subject but I was unable to find the information I am looking for any where!
I have a Hua Wei K3565 USB modem with a prepaid Vodacom SIM. I am playing an online game called Warcraft III and I am able to play online. The problem is if I host a game online other people can see the game but cannot join. I have found that the problem lies with the port forwarding. Various forums and answers explain how to fix this common problem if you are using a router but I have found nothing for a USB modem.
I am using AVG and I have opened the required ports (6112-6119 TCP and UDP) on Windows firewall but the PFPortchecker still says the ports are closed when I test them. I also tried enabling IPv6 (thought it might help) but it does stay enabled when I reconnect to the internet.
Please can someone help me!
Thanks.
Click to expand...

Your problem is not port forwarding (which only applies when you are using a router running NAT). You need to apply for the unrestricted APN if you want to allow unsolicited inbound connections.
 
morkhans said:
Your problem is not port forwarding (which only applies when you are using a router running NAT). You need to apply for the unrestricted APN if you want to allow unsolicited inbound connections.
Click to expand...

Thank you for clearing that up! So how do I apply? Through Vodacom?

Ok I found it! Thank you so much! http://old.vodacom.co.za/services/unrestricted_apn/get.jsp

I will revert back here if I find any new information that is helpfull.
 
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Maybe somebody could shed some light on this issue I'm having.

I have a K3765-Z modem and vodacom prepaid. I use this with internet connection sharing to play on Xbox Live (I can't get better internet where I live :/) and want my NAT settings to show "Open" which requires Unrestricted APN, from what I've read.

Anyway. I contacted Vodacom to set up my Unrestricted APN. Scanned the forms, sent them through, recieved the e-mail all was good and APN was unrestricted some time later.

When connecting to Xbox Live it would still show my NAT settings as "Moderate", which was weird, considering I've done what needed to be done. I called it a lost cause and left it at that, thinking this problem would never come right (I need my NAT settings on "Open" for matchmaking purposes and IM on Xbox Live). Some time shortly afterwards my Xbox RROD'd on me and died, so I bought a new one and it came shortly after.

When setting the new Xbox up, I connected to Live and my NAT settings showed "Open" - Success!

So I played my heart out that evening and switched off the Xbox once done. After that, every time I connect to Xbox Live it shows me "Moderate" NAT settings again. I can never win.

I was wondering if this issue is not because of automatic IP on the Xbox, opposed to a static and my DNS settings on auto. I'm not too clued up on networking, so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!
 
Hymn said:
I was wondering if this issue is not because of automatic IP on the Xbox, opposed to a static and my DNS settings on auto. I'm not too clued up on networking, so any help would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
If I'm understanding your setup correctly, you have Windows PC with Internet Connection Sharing sharing a Vodacom dial-up connection on the 'unrestricted' APN.
Your Xbox should be set to automatically get its IP and DNS configuration.
In this setup, your PC is acting as a router, so although you have the 'unrestricted' APN which allows incoming connections through to your PC, you still need to set up port-forwarding on your PC so that incoming connections for the ports required by the game on your Xbox get forwarded to the Xbox.
 
The key question is where is the K3765-Z plugged into and have you changed the APN settings to "unrestricted"? If you have it plugged into a router then that needs to forward ports to the Xbox.
 
My Vote counts too! why close the Poll?
I've got an Unrestricted APN from vodacom. Was a bit of a mission filling out a form etc.
They shouldn't make it such a hassle!
Mweb just has an option in their console.
Its all very well that they're protecting the n00bs, but they must TELL THEIR CUSTOMERS THEY'RE BLOCKING CONNECTIONS.
I wasted 4 hours trying to figure out if there was a bug in the software I was writing or what. Its a real pain in the ass if they block incoming connections without telling you.
At least now I know that some ISPs do it.
By the way if you want an unrestricted APN on vodacom do this:

Send vodacom their lame APN indemnity form
make a dialup connection
user/pass (blank)
number: *99#
Control Panel>PhoneModems>ModemsTab>Modem Properties>Advanced>Extra
initialization Commands>
Unrestricted AT string: at+cgdcont=1,"IP","unrestricted"
 
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Unrestricted apn and incoming connections

Adsl has been down at the office for a few days so we plugged a 3G card into the server. We moved the card contract to the unrestricted apn (internetvpn) and it connects fine. Everyone inside the office is browsing fine however the outside the office people are unable to connect to the server via dyndns and pop3. We have checked firewall and configuration settings from our side and all seems right. The data helpdesk says the sim is on the unrestricted apn and "all incoming ports" are open. Anyone else had this happen before?
 
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