Vodafone (ZTE) K4505-Z freezing, disconnecting and other stories of pain

R

RyanC

Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2010
Messages
25
Reaction score
0
Location
midrand
Hi all.
Im a complete muppet when it comes to how vodacom etc works, but hopefully someone can point me in the right direction!
I have a vodacom K4505-z HSPA+ USB stick, that I use with a pre paid sim card. I loaded 2 gigs of data.
Im using windows vista business with office 2007 my GF uses vista home premium both machines do the same thing.
The card connects to the internet, but after about 5 to 10 minutes the computers "network and sharing centre" says Im on local only, and I cant check mail or do anything online
The vodaphone program says Im still online, downloading at around 64 bps and uploading at 3.8kbps

To get back on again I have to restart the vodaphone program which is a real PITA
Ive gone through all the settings I can find, and there is nowhere that tells the connection to close.
I also connect my sony erricson 702 on MTN, through a data cable and it works perfectly.

Any advice would the hugely appreciated.

Cheers

Ryan
 
RyanC said:
I have a vodacom K4505-z HSPA+ USB stick, that I use with a pre paid sim card. I loaded 2 gigs of data.
Click to expand...
A friend of mine recently got the same modem and had similar complaints, he switched back to using his Huawei E220.

Have you tried using the double USB cable that came with the modem? This will provide extra power to the modem and may prevent it dropping out.
 
ginggs said:
A friend of mine recently got the same modem and had similar complaints, he switched back to using his Huawei E220.

Have you tried using the double USB cable that came with the modem? This will provide extra power to the modem and may prevent it dropping out.
Click to expand...

I recently upgraded from a Novatel MC950D modem to the faster K4505-z. The K4505-z came with a single-type USB cable with which I could not keep a connection going for more than a few seconds. I instinctively plugged the new modem into the double-type cable that came with the Novatel. This solved the problem.

I think many more people might be struggling with this. Is this a problem only with some computers / USB ports? Are all salespeople aware of the problem and its solution?
 
SoTrue said:
The K4505-z came with a single-type USB cable with which I could not keep a connection going for more than a few seconds.
Click to expand...
Weird, my friend's modem definitely came with the cable with two type-A connectors. :confused:
SoTrue said:
Is this a problem only with some computers / USB ports?
Click to expand...
In my experience, yes, even some ports on a one computer, for example I find on a typical desktop chassis the USB ports at the rear (directly on the motherboard) work better than those in the front (which have cables to the motherboard). I have exactly the same issues with external 2.5" USB hard-drives.
 
ginggs said:
Weird, my friend's modem definitely came with the cable with two type-A connectors. :confused:

In my experience, yes, even some ports on a one computer, for example I find on a typical desktop chassis the USB ports at the rear (directly on the motherboard) work better than those in the front (which have cables to the motherboard). I have exactly the same issues with external 2.5" USB hard-drives.
Click to expand...

I actually experienced the exact same problem on my desktop. When using the USB that is soldered to the board it works fine ,but when using the the ones in front it disconnects. This drove me crazy for about 30mins..........lol
 
Hey guys,

I have the same problem, but I don't think I understand what you guys are saying. My K4505 modem is like a flash drive, no cables to connect. I only got the USB "extension" cable with, which is worst.

I know the E220 had that 2xusb-2-mini usb, but that won't work on this modem.

I phone the vodashop where I bought it and they said I must take it to them to test. The thing is, it works on my laptop, but on the 3 other guys' laptops where is should work, it doesn't.
 
SharkBait said:
My K4505 modem is like a flash drive, no cables to connect. I only got the USB "extension" cable with, which is worst.
Click to expand...
My friend's K4505-Z is the same, but it came with a USB extension cable with 2 x USB Type A plugs and 1 x USB Type A socket.
 
ginggs said:
My friend's K4505-Z is the same, but it came with a USB extension cable with 2 x USB Type A plugs and 1 x USB Type A socket.
Click to expand...

I wasn't that lucky. Anywho, I have changed the modem with an E220 and gave the new one to someone else, where it does work. I hate SA "broadband"
 
Did you check inside the box? A friend of mine was also looking for his USB cable and it was hidden inside the box in another layer. He didn't even know about it. It was hidden in some compartment in the box.
 
Tried the double cable, tried generic dashboards..... . . .

The K4505Z works fine untill it overheats and then shuts itself down. Unplug it, leave it to cool down for a while and then it works again. Ok, I know I live in a "marginal" area but my E220 copes - has for the past 4 years.
 
ZR6RON said:
Tried the double cable, tried generic dashboards..... . . .

The K4505Z works fine untill it overheats and then shuts itself down. Unplug it, leave it to cool down for a while and then it works again. Ok, I know I live in a "marginal" area but my E220 copes - has for the past 4 years.
Click to expand...

I use an extension cable to prevent overheating. However, the single type cable that came in the box does NOT work. Fortunately for me I had the double type cable from an older modem, and with this the K4505Z works all day. The modem feels extremely hot though.

The situation is bad for Vodacom, as it is probably selling hundreds (thousands?) of these, and I expect there must be a lot of returns/swaps on this model.
 
SoTrue said:
I use an extension cable to prevent overheating. However, the single type cable that came in the box does NOT work. Fortunately for me I had the double type cable from an older modem, and with this the K4505Z works all day. The modem feels extremely hot though.
Click to expand...

What I have found helps for this is to run the modem on an extension cable and put it on top of my external HD enclosure that's made of aluminium. It helps a great deal to dissipate the heat. I only use that drive for backups, so it's not on for long and thus not generating it's own heat. One could probably go out and get a heat sink to do the same job.
 
My ZTE K4505-Z started giving this same problem yesterday after working well for a few months. Running it via the cable does seem to help, but only postpones the disconnect. It seems to die completely and is not even visible under "USB Safely Remove" anymore. Plug out, leave for a bit, plug in seems to work most of the time, but sometimes a restart is required. I have never been able to get the K4505-z to work with any other VMC than 9.4.8 on Windows 7. I also can't find any FW or driver updates for this thing.
So it looks like its back to Vodacom to just get the same thing back untouched after a few weeks.
 
Hi,

I'm pissed off as hell. I always used the E220 and now renewed my contract with this waste of time K4505. PS I’m currently on my ADSL as the modem disconnects so much while plugged in (as well as being connected). I must be the dumbest F*** to be under the impression that a brand new modem sold by Vodacom would be more efficient that a 5 years old E220. IF I don't resolve this this weekend, i will get my lawyer to cancel my contract with Vodacom. The hours I’ve spent on this damn modem and software as well as going to the Vodacare shop FAR exceeds the RETAIL price in lost billable time of this modem and contract profit margin. And I average a R3000 monthly total income for Vodacom with all my accounts.

I'm going to try downloading the latest VMC v 10 software and look cracked firmware for win 7 64bit. Any advice would be extremely welcome.
 
Hi, I have found on a few K4505-Z modems here at work that after an hour they will just suddenly disconnect without warning ?!?!?!?! There are definitely serious errors with this piece of junk.
 
GPT said:
Hi, I have found on a few K4505-Z modems here at work that after an hour they will just suddenly disconnect without warning ?!?!?!?! There are definitely serious errors with this piece of junk.
Click to expand...

Same here, especially when I want to use the internet connection.
 
USB cables don't work well for the reason that modem load is pulse in nature. Connect modem as close as possible to the power source. I found that powered USB 2.0 hub works. You need a hub with at least 2A power supply. Connect modem ditectly to the hub - no cable. The best would be a battery inside a hub, but I couldn't find shuch things.

It doesn't solve overheating problem though.

Correction: It might help if modem picks-up stronger signal, then transmit level might be adjusted. So position it closer to the window, experiment a bit changing orienation.
 
Last edited:
My Vodafone K4505-Z is acting up on me, what's wrong with it?

I bought my Vodafone K4505-Z 3G card in June this year and it's now giving me problems.

Sometimes while watching a Youtube video, say a music video, it would buffer the music video halfway, that was when I first used my 3G card. But now it's worse, a short video like a movie trailer would buffer a third of the time of the video and then stop.

Another thing that happens with my 3G card is it sometimes suddenly stops, meaning it disconnects itself and shuts itself down. At first it would happen when I've used it for prolonged periods of time because it overheats and stuff, but now it happens even after using it for 15 minutes sometimes. I don't get it.

I think my laptop is a very fast laptop. It's an Acer Laptop and it has:
An Intel I5 CPU
2.27 GHz
4 GB memory
64 bit operating system
Windows 7 Home Premium

I am planning to take it to a Vodashop tomorrow, I would like some input with regards to what's wrong with my internet connection devise :).

Thanks
 
Sly21C said:
I bought my Vodafone K4505-Z 3G card in June this year and it's now giving me problems.

Sometimes while watching a Youtube video, say a music video, it would buffer the music video halfway, that was when I first used my 3G card. But now it's worse, a short video like a movie trailer would buffer a third of the time of the video and then stop.

Another thing that happens with my 3G card is it sometimes suddenly stops, meaning it disconnects itself and shuts itself down. At first it would happen when I've used it for prolonged periods of time because it overheats and stuff, but now it happens even after using it for 15 minutes sometimes. I don't get it.

I think my laptop is a very fast laptop. It's an Acer Laptop and it has:
An Intel I5 CPU
2.27 GHz
4 GB memory
64 bit operating system
Windows 7 Home Premium

I am planning to take it to a Vodashop tomorrow, I would like some input with regards to what's wrong with my internet connection devise :).

Thanks
Click to expand...

Best would be to take it to your nearest Vodacare.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X