Very slow 3G

BBSA

BBSA

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Got my card last week and I am not very impressed. Although my signal strength is most of the time 100%, it is very slow.
My download speeds is about 7KB/sec. If I download the same file via my Telkom analogue line I get about 10KB/sec.

Phoned the helpdesk and they say it is because I have a 32K SIM card. They will send me a 64K SIM card and it should solve the problem (not sure why they sold me a 32K SIM in the first place). Must say the helpdesk was very helpful and efficient.

Will a 64K SIM card help or is there anything else I can do?
 
a 64K SIM is not necessarily a silver bullet : are you definately connecting to a 3G base station? Maybe change your profile to "3G only" and see if it makes any difference... Also catch up on the 3G FAQ sticky in the 3G forum for some tips on configuring your card.

3G FAQ Sticky

Firmware Upgrades

Hope this helps!
Welcome by the way ;)
 
BBSA, 7KB/s can't be right, should be much more than that.

When you're connected what colour light do you see on your card? You might be on GPRS (although 7KB/s is a bit on the high side for GPRS)

The 64K SIM won't affect your speed but will help with switchover between 3G and GPRS.

Try ScrnScrm's advice and create a 3G-Only profile and try that. If you're stuck call 082-155 and they'll talk you through.
 
v3g, maybe you can help...
what does a 64k sim card cost , if i have a 32k one ? and what will it help with... for example, i just got my nokia 6680 and it's a awesomephone...

Also, what are the settings for the vodafone apn for a non vodafone 6680 ?
 
Slow #G

Thanks for the help ScrnScrm/vodacom3g

I have set my profile to "3G only" and upgraded the Frimeware.

Did not really make a different, still get about 7KB/sec.

vodacom3g: my colour light is blue and I did phone 082-155, they said they will send me a 64K SIM (Ref: BN-91MK-4G1CI)


Any other ideas?
 
TheflyOfCapeTown said:
v3g, maybe you can help...
what does a 64k sim card cost , if i have a 32k one ? and what will it help with... for example, i just got my nokia 6680 and it's a awesomephone...

Also, what are the settings for the vodafone apn for a non vodafone 6680 ?
Click to expand...

The 64K SIM will benefit you in areas where the extra storage comes in, for example loading apps onto the sim.

Will check up on the 6680 settings.
 
BBSA said:
Thanks for the help ScrnScrm/vodacom3g

I have set my profile to "3G only" and upgraded the Frimeware.

Did not really make a different, still get about 7KB/sec.

vodacom3g: my colour light is blue and I did phone 082-155, they said they will send me a 64K SIM (Ref: BN-91MK-4G1CI)


Any other ideas?
Click to expand...

Can you PM me a contact number?
 
Still getting very slow download speeds. Anybody had similar problem, and how did you fix it?

Also I would like to compare notes with other users, is 7KB/sec normal or should I get better speeds than that?

Here is the results from the Telkom speed test:

Below is the data used to calculate your download speed:

Download time: 72.385 seconds
Size of file: 500 KiloBytes
Estimated line speed: 56.4 (kilobits/second)
Estimated line speed: 6.9 (kiloBytes/second)

Any help will be appreciated
 
BBSA, as we saw last night with the tests, the radio performance is much higher than 7KB/s, but I agree we need to further investigate. I've asked some of the support guys to get hold of you.
 
Thanks V3G, looking forward to the call.

Is there anybody else except for Vodacom employees who are using 3G, and if so I would really like to hear what speeds they get.

Just did another test and here are the results

Below is the data used to calculate your download speed:

Download time: 97.901 seconds
Size of file: 500 KiloBytes
Estimated line speed: 41.7 (kilobits/second)
Estimated line speed: 5.1 (kiloBytes/second)

VERY BAD!!
 
As far as I know only V3G works for vodacom.

There is a thread that shows speeds.

* Download time: 18.625 seconds
* Size of file: 500 KiloBytes
* Estimated line speed: 219.1 (kilobits/second)
* Estimated line speed: 26.8 (kiloBytes/second)
 
I usually get 150+ kilobits/second on 3G [3 bars reception], but there has been times where it also went as low as 40 kilobits/second. There's definitely a time-of-day trend too regarding speeds [where i am anyway]. I remember a 2 week period in May where i had the absolute worst speeds , then it came back and i gained an additional bar of reception [had 2 bars originally]. So i assume there were some "interference" in some form, maybe maintenance or something.

Btw assuming you connect on a PC, what does it say in the traybar when you connect? Does it at least say sometihng like "Connected at 384.0 kbs " ? Dunno what happens if you fiddle with those DUN settings [does it actually matter? i.e. the speed of the "modem" you can set that say 9600 or 112000 etc]
 
Last edited:
i use my phone as a modem and am getting 50KB a second with out a datacard :rolleyes: Your speeds could be due to the fact that ur profiles are not setup properly(155)

as for 6680 the VLIVE setting cannot be put or loaded on to the phone VODAFONE does not allow that.However there will be 6680vlive phones coming out mnth end i think
 
SFW007 said:
i use my phone as a modem and am getting 50KB a second with out a datacard :rolleyes: Your speeds could be due to the fact that ur profiles are not setup properly(155)

as for 6680 the VLIVE setting cannot be put or loaded on to the phone VODAFONE does not allow that.However there will be 6680vlive phones coming out mnth end i think
Click to expand...


If you bought your 6680 from Vodacom.Vodacare will load the Vodafone Live software FREE OF CHARGE.But the software should be available in August
 
SFW007 said:
i use my phone as a modem and am getting 50KB a second with out a datacard :rolleyes: Your speeds could be due to the fact that ur profiles are not setup properly(155)
Click to expand...

I agree, if the other users are getting good speed then it should be some setting on my side. If I can just workout which setting. :mad:

Vodacom help line say it is because I have a 32K SIM, but according to others in this forum (including V3G) it is not.

V3G said somebody will phone me, let’s hope it is soon and that they can figure out what is the problem.
 
Every now and then we get a tower that needs a bit of a wake-up. Maybe it's the case here.

Just spoken to the support guys and they'll definitely call you tomorrow morning.
 
BBSA said:
Now I'm worried, I thought they have a few thousand employees :p

Your speeds look good, are you using a 32K or 64K SIM?
Click to expand...

:D

64K sim

My speed is the same as it was at the start. Vodacom came and fixed the direction of tower, after it was relocated. ;)
 
Slow 3G

V3G,

Any known problems with towers in the Sunnyside area of Pretoria in the last two days? I am at the corner of Kotze and Leyds and notmally get good service but the last two days when I have logged on outside business hours I have had several occasions when using Internet when I have lost connection with sites although the dash and card still indicate 3g connection.
 
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