Wifi LTE Router R212 issue

[mrw8419]

Recently purchased the R212 vodafone wifi lte router. Loaded up a prepaid sim with 20gb on it and while in my house in Green Point Cape Town the screen says Limited Service. In the house though my Iphone 5 gets perfect lte service that I've been tethering with. I wanted to get the LTE modem so I don't have to have my phone connected the whole time.

Have called support and been in the store twice now to get it resolved with no success. Wondering if anyone on here has any advice before I return the device.

 

[MR.C]

Check a setting that chooses LTE only or any speed. I have a R201 router and I can select 3G only or auto or something like that if memory serves me well.

If your device is set to only choose LTE and your LTE is not very strong then its maybe not falling back to 3G or edge.

 

[mrw8419]

Check a setting that chooses LTE only or any speed. I have a R201 router and I can select 3G only or auto or something like that if memory serves me well.

If your device is set to only choose LTE and your LTE is not very strong then its maybe not falling back to 3G or edge.

This isn't really a solution as I want to be able to have LTE service. Also my iphone gets LTE reception right next to the device.

 

[fr13d]

I recently bought the R212 and seem to have the same problem. Things that I have noticed:
1. Some shops and customer service reps tell me that prepaid SIMS are limited to 3G. You need to buy a contract to be able to use LTE. So you need to change the setting on your device and limit it to 3G connections, since it will try to do 4G but will be limited by the SIM.
2. The device does seem to have much poorer signal reception than a phone (Samsung Note in my case). 0-1 bars on the R212 seems to correspond to 3-4 bars on the phone. Move around, or try an external antenna (no info on those, though). (On a different note, seems the Wifi signal also doesn't propagate well through e.g. metal-reinforced floors, etc.)

New buyers might want to try and loan a device to try at their location before shelling out the moola.

 

[fr13d]

1. Some shops and customer service reps tell me that prepaid SIMS are limited to 3G. You need to buy a contract to be able to use LTE. So you need to change the setting on your device and limit it to 3G connections, since it will try to do 4G but will be limited by the SIM.

I can now confirm that I do in fact get 4G connections on a prepaid SIM. Works beautifully too. Just need to find a spot where the R212 can get sufficient reception (2 bars at least).

 

[VodacomData]

also remember you need the LTE apn activated on sim.

Regards
VodacomData

 

[dutchdog]

also remember you need the LTE apn activated on sim.

Regards
VodacomData

This device is a royal pain in the ***

Every time it powers down, you need to go back into admin mode, toggle between 4g preferred and 3g, save, and then only it starts connecting to a network again to get internet.

Definately NOT plug and play. (as in power up and browse) This ritual is becoming very annoying. It shows that it sees the network, it just doesnt have a connection. Going into admin mode to do above just has become very annoying. Maybe there is a firmware update for this issue, else I will be returning it under warranty.

 

[GTHORN]

This device is a royal pain in the ***

Every time it powers down, you need to go back into admin mode, toggle between 4g preferred and 3g, save, and then only it starts connecting to a network again to get internet.

Definately NOT plug and play. (as in power up and browse) This ritual is becoming very annoying. It shows that it sees the network, it just doesnt have a connection. Going into admin mode to do above just has become very annoying. Maybe there is a firmware update for this issue, else I will be returning it under warranty.

I have had the same problems and have finally given up after battling with it for almost three months. I'm taking the unit back to Vodacom this morning (shudder). I bought the R212 to replace my R205 since I needed a modem with a WPS button to enable Wi-Fi to a video webcam. I have reverted to the R205 which has NEVER disconnected from Vodacom, or lost it's charge, or turned off the Wi-Fi side in > 18 months.

 

[VC-1]

I have always had bad service experiences using a Prepaid/Contract SIM on Edge/3G/Lte if the signal Rx conditions indicate < -100dBm. Signal bar strengths are NOT a good indicator of strength. This is the root cause of many of the forum postings.
Look out for a signal around -79dBm for good experiences.

 

[Nidri]

Okay so I've recently purchased this device and it definitely has some issues. In my experience performance is laggy and stuttery (DNS issues) compared to what you get with the same SIM card (in the same location) on a last-generation device like the Huawei e586. However it seems that most (if not all) of these issues have been solved by a beta firmware update (v. 3.5), which unfortunately is not readily available. As far as I know, all units are currently shipped with firmware v. 3.1

As a response to user issues logged on the Vodafone UK forums, official members of the Vodafone Tech Team shared this firmware with users, most of whom reported improved performance

See here
(http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Mobi...-MiFi-Not-Loading-Pages-On-HSUPA/td-p/1591280)
and here
(http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Mobile-Broadband/R212-Firmware-Upgrade/td-p/1780164)

Can someone from Vodacom SA please share this firmware with myself and any other users who are having issues?

Thanks.
Nidri

 

[VC-1]

Okay so I've recently purchased this device and it definitely has some issues. In my experience performance is laggy and stuttery (DNS issues) compared to what you get with the same SIM card (in the same location) on a last-generation device like the Huawei e586. However it seems that most (if not all) of these issues have been solved by a beta firmware update (v. 3.5), which unfortunately is not readily available. As far as I know, all units are currently shipped with firmware v. 3.1

As a response to user issues logged on the Vodafone UK forums, official members of the Vodafone Tech Team shared this firmware with users, most of whom reported improved performance

See here
(http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Mobi...-MiFi-Not-Loading-Pages-On-HSUPA/td-p/1591280)
and here
(http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Mobile-Broadband/R212-Firmware-Upgrade/td-p/1780164)

Can someone from Vodacom SA please share this firmware with myself and any other users who are having issues?

Thanks.
Nidri

Why not send a PM or Email to the Vodacom Rep - VodacomData and study the contents of this link: http://mybroadband.co.za/news/company-representatives
This is a useless statement "Can someone from Vodacom SA please share this firmware with myself and any other users who are having issues?" solving the problem can only be done if you contact the VC rep.

 

[GTHORN]

Okay so I've recently purchased this device and it definitely has some issues. In my experience performance is laggy and stuttery (DNS issues) compared to what you get with the same SIM card (in the same location) on a last-generation device like the Huawei e586. However it seems that most (if not all) of these issues have been solved by a beta firmware update (v. 3.5), which unfortunately is not readily available. As far as I know, all units are currently shipped with firmware v. 3.1

As a response to user issues logged on the Vodafone UK forums, official members of the Vodafone Tech Team shared this firmware with users, most of whom reported improved performance

See here
(http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Mobi...-MiFi-Not-Loading-Pages-On-HSUPA/td-p/1591280)
and here
(http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Mobile-Broadband/R212-Firmware-Upgrade/td-p/1780164)

Can someone from Vodacom SA please share this firmware with myself and any other users who are having issues?

Thanks.
Nidri

After many visits, Vodacom has upgraded the firmware on my R212 from 3.1 to 4.2. This has solved the Wi-Fi side connection problems, but not the broadband side. If the broadband connection is lost for any reason (like even just powering it off and on again), the modem won't reconnect unless you log into it, and toggle the settings. Vodacant is not interested to assist any further.

 

[SCONES]

Hi
I am another lucky one to end up with this router. It is the most frustrating couple of days to get this thing to work. I have:
1. Called Vodacom customer care a million times to no avail. Every time they test the sim, tell me to restart the device etc.
2. I have asked the customer care about the firmware. They just referred me to a technical shop. It doesn't really sound like they know what firmware is.
3. The Vodacom shop referred me to another Vodacom repair shop.
4. I have gone as far as to contact ZTE, the manufacturer of the router. Still awaiting a reply.
5. I have arrived at the end of the road with this piece of junk, unless... Anyone has got a solution for me

The device connects to the internet, my laptop/cellphone/tv connects to the router, but it last for a couple of minutes before I lose access to the internet. And yes, I do have data (this was off course one brightspark's possible cause for the error) It is on contract. I will really appreciate some valuable advise on this thing.

 

[dutchdog]

After many visits, Vodacom has upgraded the firmware on my R212 from 3.1 to 4.2. This has solved the Wi-Fi side connection problems, but not the broadband side. If the broadband connection is lost for any reason (like even just powering it off and on again), the modem won't reconnect unless you log into it, and toggle the settings. Vodacant is not interested to assist any further.

The thread i made on Vodacom forum explains all settings to be made step by step. 4.2 solved ALL isuess. I did sell device ages ago though as was fed up