Vodacom 3G and constant call disconnects

[Cat011]

Hi All

I rarely read this forum, so my apologies if I step on any toes. I have read the stickies and browsed through the first few pages of topics, but I don't see an answer to my issues.

I use my Nokia as a 3G modem when I'm on the road, and it works pretty well. The problem is that 3G connectivity is extremely patchy and unreliable. I travel all over Joburg and Pretoria and experience this problem almost everywhere, so I can't log a call with Vodacom and give them detailed information about every place I battle to get connectivity.

About a year ago I logged a call about my constant voice call disconnects. I was eventually told to switch my phone from "dual mode" (3G) to "GSM", which I did. This definitely makes a massive difference as far as call quality and disconnects are concerned. I now manually switch 3G on when I need to use data.Scary that you have to "downgrade" to the older technology to get a better quality call.

Is the 3G network really that bad, or am I the only person experiencing this problem? I know most of my friends also battle with call disconnects but I rarely see any mention of this on the forums. Have we all just learned to accept it?

Curious to hear your comments

 

[VodacomData]

Hi

Is this cellphone calls and data calls , if the problem is everywhere you go have you tried a different cellphone /connection. Remember 3G problem does not follow you all over jhb and pta unless there is something wrong with the device.

Regards
VodacomData

 

[Cat011]

Hi

I have tried 3 different handsets with similar results. This is not a static issue that I can replicate. Some days I can have 10 calls disconnect in 1 hours worth of calls. Other days it's fine.

I find data connections very patchy and phones switch between "3G" and "GSM" regularly which can be extremely irritating if I'm trying to download a file and the connection keeps dropping. When in "3G" more the handoff between towers seems very unreliable which makes it almost impossible to be mobile with the phone in "3G" mode.

My friends report similar problems, and this is not confined to Vodacom.

 

[Ockie]

I know this is not what you going to want to hear, but many of my Blackberry Bold clients started complaining after I started issue this phone. They thought its the phone that is faulty, but I told them to switch the phone to GSM only mode. Improves call quality and battery life. They all said this improved call quality and drop rates a lot for them. I have noticed on my old 3G phone that when it makes the handover between 3G and 2G, it tends to drop.

 

[Cat011]

Hi OC

Thanks, that is exactly what I want to hear, because it confirms that others are having the same problem. I really think this should be widely publicised. How many people are going around with their phones on 3G and battling with constant call disconnects, unaware that there is an alternative. From what I understand the 3G cells are smaller than the GSM ones which means that there will be more handovers as you travel between cells, but surely the cell companies have the expertise to ensure that the cells overlap correctly so that calls can be handed over without dropping?

As things stand the cell companies are making extra revenue because of the constant reconnects. The only "solutions" are to switch off 3G, or log a call every time you disconnect and have them reconnect you. Neither of these is particularly attractive or practical.

 

[VodacomData]

Hi OC

Thanks, that is exactly what I want to hear, because it confirms that others are having the same problem. I really think this should be widely publicised. How many people are going around with their phones on 3G and battling with constant call disconnects, unaware that there is an alternative. From what I understand the 3G cells are smaller than the GSM ones which means that there will be more handovers as you travel between cells, but surely the cell companies have the expertise to ensure that the cells overlap correctly so that calls can be handed over without dropping?

As things stand the cell companies are making extra revenue because of the constant reconnects. The only "solutions" are to switch off 3G, or log a call every time you disconnect and have them reconnect you. Neither of these is particularly attractive or practical.

Hi Car011

You correct in saying

but surely the cell companies have the expertise to ensure that the cells overlap correctly so that calls can be handed over without dropping?

The only problem here is the footprint for 3G, its much smaller mainly because we can only transmit on 1900mhz .We tried to get onto the 900mhz to improve penetration but i believe that Cell-C has won that right.Also keeping in mind that 3G is not everywhere you go unfortunately.

Regards
VodacomData

 

[Ockie]

Hi Car011

You correct in saying The only problem here is the footprint for 3G, its much smaller mainly because we can only transmit on 1900mhz .We tried to get onto the 900mhz to improve penetration but i believe that Cell-C has won that right.Also keeping in mind that 3G is not everywhere you go unfortunately.

Regards
VodacomData

Yes, and remember that 3G is more prone to interference from geological terrain and weather etc etc. Anotherthing to remember is that when you loose your 3G signal, then the handset needs to switch down to the lower 2G frequency and that might also be causing the call to drop.