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biometrics

biometrics

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I'm generally happy with 3G now. Problems like DNS, disconnects, smtp and download speeds seem ok now.

My gripe is uploads. I am a software developer and need to upload our products to our FTP site. Typically it is 50 MB.

I'm getting an average of 2 KBps (and 3 KBps on a good day) out of a maximum of 8 KBps. This means it takes me 6-8 hours to upload rather than 2-3 hours. Needless to say this freaks out clients and I loose a day.

What speeds do you get? Try this test: http://www.broadbandreports.com/stest

I'm trying to figure out of it's radio interference in my area. Koeberg and the airfield have lots of radio and radar equipment in the area.

Btw, I am sitting on Melkbos beach ... this is what 3G was meant for!
 
Biometrics, I've been toying with the idea that we should look at EDGE for your (upload) requirement. The only problem is an EDGE/UMTS data card but something like a 6680 could work till the HSDPA cards come along that will support EDGE and 3G as well.

This way you can switch to EDGE for uploads and back to 3G when you primarily work in the download direction.

Note, the above is just an idea. I'll pick it up with Danie and Eric and keep you in the e-mail trail.

Makes sense?
 
Hey vodacom3g,

My understanding of EDGE is that you need good 2G signal, does bio have this ? /me thinks back on the pic that was posted :|

Laterz !!!

vodacom3g said:
Biometrics, I've been toying with the idea that we should look at EDGE for your (upload) requirement. The only problem is an EDGE/UMTS data card but something like a 6680 could work till the HSDPA cards come along that will support EDGE and 3G as well.

This way you can switch to EDGE for uploads and back to 3G when you primarily work in the download direction.

Note, the above is just an idea. I'll pick it up with Danie and Eric and keep you in the e-mail trail.

Makes sense?
Click to expand...
 
vodacom3g said:
Not sure, need to check. But it's the only thing I can think to do to get Peter to do those uploads while on the beach....
Click to expand...

Well, If I can sit next to Peter on the beach every day (emphasis on beach and not Peter), I'll run with that information wherever he wants me to run
 
2G signal is very good. I'm only due for a contract renewal in January though.

Note though that on 3G I have a yagi with line of sight of the tower with 4/5-5/5 bars. Uploads go up and down continuously: from 1 KBps to 8 KBps. So clearly it can go at 8 KBps.
 
16 KBps? How? With EDGE? Can my Novatel U630 do EDGE? Or do I need to get a new phone? What's the upload speed of EDGE? And does Melkbos have EDGE?
 
A Siemens radio guy did tests by my house and got consistent uploads at around 7 KBps. He used a phone though. So interference isn't the issue.

So the datacard? Wouldn't suprise me as my first card blew in two weeks.

V3G, can you lend me a known-to-work card to test with?
 
vodacom3g said:
Biometrics, I've been toying with the idea that we should look at EDGE for your (upload) requirement. The only problem is an EDGE/UMTS data card but something like a 6680 could work till the HSDPA cards come along that will support EDGE and 3G as well.

This way you can switch to EDGE for uploads and back to 3G when you primarily work in the download direction.

Note, the above is just an idea. I'll pick it up with Danie and Eric and keep you in the e-mail trail.

Makes sense?
Click to expand...

/me shakes his head in amazement. V3G Recommending a Cellphone in place of datacard? Who would have ever thought :D

To answer some of the questions on this thread :
1. 3G has a max upload speed at the moment of 64Kbps. In theory, it can go to 128Kbps, but I suspect this will not happen given that HSDPA is around the corner.
2. EDGE works on time slots. The maximum speed you can get at the moment per time slot is 59.2Kbps on MCS9, of which you require a very good signal (-70 to max -85 dBm). Of course, you also need a device that is capable of using two time slots for uploading, otherwise you will be worse off than on 3G. Class 10 Devices currently support 4 download slots and 2 upload slots, so you can effectively get 118.4Kbps maximum.
Oh, and the Base Station needs to be provisioned for at least 4 times slots on GPRS...

The novatel and option 3g Cards do NOT support EDGE, but you will at least get CS4 (20Kbps per time slot), so it will be faster than normal CS2 GPRS...

Check out these threads for a much more detailed technical explanantion.
Cheers ~
ScrnScrm

http://www.mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=20565&page=1&pp=15
http://www.mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=18301&page=2&pp=15
 
vodacom3g said:
Agree you should get 8KB/s (and we ned to fix it) but won't 16Kb/s be better? :)
Click to expand...

8KB/s is faster than 16Kb/s V3G :D
You meant to say 14.8KB/s (118.4 /8) ????? :p
Cheers ~
ScrnScrm
 
vodacom3g said:
I'll bring my own Option and Novatel cards around, if you buy the beers....Saturday?
Click to expand...

Depends on the weather. If nice weather I need to go and climb Table Mountain for my weekly fix.
 
V3G, any chance you could take a drive out to Melkbos this week and do a test while parked in front on my house (I'm working from the Cape Town office for a change). This upload issue is a major issue for me and I'd rather have this solved sooner than later ...
 
OK, did some tests today at Melkbos. Here are the results. Will post a seperate message with my interpretation.

------------------------
Melkbos, Big Blue Cafe - 9:00, 18 September

Test Setup: Internet APN - 3G-only, Novatel U630 v15, VMC Dash v5.00.0017, Durbanville Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2005

Signal Strength: 2 bars, no external antenna

Connected to Telkom side, 10.15.6.132

Telkom ADSL Test:

Below is the data used to calculate your download speed:

Download time: 13.828 seconds
Size of file: 500 KiloBytes
Estimated line speed: 295.1 (kilobits/second)
Estimated line speed: 36.2 (kiloBytes/second)

FTP from Beach Server (internal Vodacom Server):

Download - 29.05KB/s
Upload (1MB file) - 6.55 KB/s, 6.33KB/s, 6.70KB/s, 6.50Kb/s

FTP to ftp.biometrics.co.za:

Upload - 5.53KB/s, 5.72KB/s, 6.08KB/s, 5.81KB/s, 5.39KB/s, 5.48KB/s
--------------------------------------------

Internetvpn APN - 3G-only

Signal Strength: 3 bars, no external antenna

Connected to IS side, 196.46.160.209

Telkom ADSL Test:

Below is the data used to calculate your download speed:

Download time: 13.594 seconds
Size of file: 500 KiloBytes
Estimated line speed: 300.1 (kilobits/second)
Estimated line speed: 36.8 (kiloBytes/second)

FTP to ftp.biometrics.co.za:

Upload (1MB file) - 5.17KB/s, 5.79KB/s, 5.50KB/s, 5.00Kb/s, 5.80KB/s

-----------------------------------------------
Plattekloof - 19:00, 18 September

Test Setup: Internet APN - 3G-only, Novatel U630 v15, VMC Dash v5.00.0017, Boschendal Lanoy 2002

Signal Strength: 2 bars, with external antenna

Connected to IS side, 10.15.185.103

Telkom ADSL Test:

Below is the data used to calculate your download speed:

Download time: 13.438 seconds
Size of file: 500 KiloBytes
Estimated line speed: 303.6 (kilobits/second)
Estimated line speed: 37.2 (kiloBytes/second)

FTP from Beach Server (internal Vodacom Server):

Download - 27.90KB/s
Upload (1MB file) - 5.93 KB/s, 5.89KB/s, 6.05 KB/s, 5.93Kb/s

FTP to ftp.biometrics.co.za:

Upload - 4.45KB/s, 4.08KB/s, 4.07KB/s, 5.11KB/s, 4.51KB/s, 3.72KB/s
 
V3G,

Thanks a lot for the testing. The only difference I see is that I am using the v14 firmware. I uploaded 50 MB on Friday night and again it took 6 hours. So the last thing to try is v15 firmware. Please email it to me. If that still doesn't work then I suspect the card. How do I explain that to the Vodashop to get a swap?

The only other difference I see is that I usually have the Durbanville Hills at Orca - could that be a clue? 9 AM, tsk tsk, I usually wait for lunch. ;)

To summarise things we are able to exlude: uploads to SA vs US servers, signal strength, VPN, non dash software, radio interference, antenna.

Btw, did you also observe the up and down of the throughput or was your uploads at a consistent rate?
 
Orca only opens at 9:30, can you believe it? Must say, I'm quite partial to a nice dry white for Sunday breakfast.... :)

Although the average throughput is around 5-6Kb/s, it bounced all over the show, as you've seen as well. I've confirmed this at a few different locations around the country, not just in Melkbos. Escalated it to Siemens last night and they're looking into it.

You could always do the upload test at the Vodashop and see if another card makes a difference. Or else we can swap for a few days? Or, even better, we can meet at Orca and do comparative tests?
 
V3G, I'd like to take up that card compare offer. Sent you an email.
 
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