Vodacom Problems: Slow Throughput, trying to Connect, DNS, High Latency

[inkunzi]

let's work not test out our internet connectivity

sorry to say I've been on MTN since yesterday afternoon (duh. why am I sorry?).

I've been managing my expectations ever since I got to this country. (blah blah in England I had uncapped 1-2Mb/s for £20/mth yeah yeah) ... I used to get 8Mbs for £40 but i downgraded

Now I think that although the Vodacom balance enquiry via SMS etc is quite smart I may as well ....

1. accept that every month or whatever I will take the SIM out of my E220 and put it in my cell to do some admin
2. load up my 1 or 2GB. don't allow much overhead (OOB pre paid airtime)
3. when it runs out it runs out. if I go OOB I don't care, I've limited the resources that can be used
4. Yippee I don't have to constantly look at my download stats, I've got work to do
5. go recharge as necessary. Obviously I'm not a fool so I'll keep vouchers in my office (I do work nocturnally)

 

[inkunzi]

It sounds like you have not upgraded to the latest VMC-Lite version that has SMS capabilities, there are also the HMC and HMP dashboards...

No just to clarify I tried to use VMC Lite when I first arrived as a novice (last month) and within a week I had uninstalled it, reflashed and I will now always use Mobile Partner. The VMC Lite software is shocking. So you are saying VMCL now supports SMS? well OK there's an improvement!

What I am saying is that Vodacom's 100/balance (also 100/MyGig XXX) enquiry is quite handy but why do we have to keep track of our usage all the time. MTN does not have these features but they seem to have a usable network.

YMMV and no doubt things will change. I will keep my options open. Trouble is I need to do some work, not piss about on this forum all the time

 

[vodacom3g]

What I am saying is that Vodacom's 100/balance (also 100/MyGig XXX) enquiry is quite handy but why do we have to keep track of our usage all the time. MTN does not have these features but they seem to have a usable network.

You keep track of your usage to prevent bill-shock with the OOB rates. both on Vodacom and MTN.

How do you check your usage on MTN? Sounds like you're saying there is no '100' type service? If so, how do you prevent going OOB?

 

[Csnoopy]

Bill Shock

There are several threads that discuss the Bill-Shock issue in some way or another, on how to manage your bundle useage because if you don't manage it yourself you are in big !!. The tools that are provided are unreliable or limited. Data has to be waisted searching for other tools that are more relaible and accurate, to manage your tools yourself.

@inkunzi I suggest you download the version of VMC-Lite 2.2.2.1 from Vodacom. Also Version 7.03 of VMC This dashboard also works well with E220 Modem.
http://www.vodacom.co.za/services/mobile_data/downloads.jsp

If this does not work for you then download the dashboard from the original Manufacturer.

www.huawei.com/mobileweb/en/doc/list.do?type=-1&id=736

You can download Both, the UTP File is HMP & HOST is HMC.

Try and see which one you like.

 

[Csnoopy]

APN problem

I had 6 disconnects early last night between 16:30 & 18:45. Phoned 155 the suggested try this and that etc. which I had already done. I then changed from Internet APN to Internetvpn and was ok after that.

I am now back onto internet APN and has been ok today.

 

[Csnoopy]

@Csnoopy, please note that inkunzi actually uses HMP.

Thanks. I noticed that. Just giving him all the options.

 

[nextstep]

Open letter to Vodacom 3G

I'll be brief...

When you launched the 3G (HSDPA) service, was the intention to provide an always-on, 24/7 service?

If that was the idea, too bad. It's not working. I cannot stay online for more than 4 hours without having to resort to a disconnect/connect procedure.

I simply cannot see how anybody can use it in a business environment, I'm taking a gamble whenever I need to interact with international clients. And no, I'm not talking Skype here (no pun intended) ...

*sigh*

 

[nextstep]

... I then changed from Internet APN to Internetvpn and was ok after that.

I am now back onto internet APN and has been ok today.

I'm on internetvpn, but am not impressed at all ...

open letter to vodacom 3g

 

[MrOoze]

Been getting 619's, Disconnects and very erratic pings since 17:30.

All has been working so well here.. am very disappointed.

MrOoze
PPBD
E220
Newlands, Cape Town.

 

[ginggs]

Been getting 619's, Disconnects and very erratic pings since 17:30.

Tonight I had one 619, and one connected-but-can't-resolve-any-DNS-queries, just disconnected and reconnected and all was fine. Also in Cape Town.

 

[inkunzi]

Thanks. I noticed that. Just giving him all the options.

Yes thank you CSnoopy, I soon settled on HMP after being supplied with VMCLite by Vodacom. Also gingg's e620tool.exe seems useful, just doesn't send SMS. But it does send USSD so one can access the menu at *111#

You are right, data has to be wasted in order to avoid going OOB. More to the point time has to be wasted. And the irony is, there is no 100% accurate solution anyway

1. The SMS 100/balance is probably the most accurate. Although it seems important to disconnect first so that the "reserved" quota effect doesn't overestimate what the user has used.

2. The web portals - I had a brief look at voda4me and it seemed very messy and slow. Also inaccurate?

3. Our own meters. HMP is not bad (likewise e620tool.exe) but at the end of the day it is our reading not Vodacom's

It is all a lot of hassle. I still maintain that I want to use the internet without worrying about this stuff (all the time).

 

[Veroland]

I must also say for the last 3 weeks or so its been very seldom that I can be connected and get data throughput for more than a few minutes.

Very frustrating. Last night was a bit better but I'm starting to look at alternative options now...

 

[morkhans]

I was seeing a lot of white pages last night while surfing (9:30-10:30pm). Kept having to hit refresh for pages to load.

 

[AirWolf]

Yes thank you CSnoopy, I soon settled on HMP after being supplied with VMCLite by Vodacom. Also gingg's e620tool.exe seems useful, just doesn't send SMS. But it does send USSD so one can access the menu at *111#

You are right, data has to be wasted in order to avoid going OOB. More to the point time has to be wasted. And the irony is, there is no 100% accurate solution anyway

1. The SMS 100/balance is probably the most accurate. Although it seems important to disconnect first so that the "reserved" quota effect doesn't overestimate what the user has used.

2. The web portals - I had a brief look at voda4me and it seemed very messy and slow. Also inaccurate?

3. Our own meters. HMP is not bad (likewise e620tool.exe) but at the end of the day it is our reading not Vodacom's

It is all a lot of hassle. I still maintain that I want to use the internet without worrying about this stuff (all the time).

From my experience both the HMP data counters and also Netmeter are fairly accurate compared to Vodacom's calculations. I only had a problem once when using a download manager, then Vodacom's calculation was like 8 times what HMP and Netmeter stated for the day.

 

[arf9999]

The only time I can connect for more than an hour at a time is if there is no 3G coverage....GPRS seems stable.

 

[nuyork]

Where in Pretoria are you Veroland?

nextstep: have you logged a call with 082 155?

 

[vodacom3g]

I came up to Jhb and had to switch my laptop off, was connected for more than 6 days at that point.

Obviously you're not seeing the same.

Sounds like the both the posts above might be in the same area, so there might be a common cause.

PM me your exact physical addresses and let's look into it.

 

[Iam3G]

I came up to Jhb and had to switch my laptop off, was connected for more than 6 days at that point.

Obviously you're not seeing the same.

Sounds like the both the posts above might be in the same area, so there might be a common cause.

PM me your exact physical addresses and let's look into it.

I do believe that it is a Always On Service. As, at work, i am connected all day without any disruptions.

At home however, i do get disconnects at times. So it appears that only certain areas experience the problem.

So i agree with you there.

 

[LandyMan]

I am having a fun morning ... earlier today I had a lot of disconnects. Now, I am connected for a couple of minutes, and then the data flow just stops ... nothing coming in or out ... then it is reconnect and the same happens after a few minutes

 

[nextstep]

nextstep: have you logged a call with 082 155?

Not yet, might do so soon - what is the average time for such a call to be taken and concluded?

Just a correction, 4 hours without a disconnection is actually pretty good, the average continuous connection period is closer to 15-30 minutes ...