Inbound Connections / Unrestricted APN (Now Testing!)

Do you want/need an APN that allows connections initiated from outside the APN?

  • No thanks, no idea what this means - don't think it applies to me

    Votes: 8 4.5%

  • No thanks, I know what it means and I will never need it

    Votes: 4 2.3%

  • Yes please, for [desktop or other] remote support

    Votes: 110 62.5%

  • Yes please, for hosting

    Votes: 49 27.8%

  • Yes please, for some other reason explained in my post in the thread

    Votes: 33 18.8%

  • I clicked a 'Yes' option above, and am prepared to accept the risk of being hacked

    Votes: 107 60.8%

  • I clicked a 'Yes' option above, and am NOT prepared to accept the risk of being hacked

    Votes: 9 5.1%
  • Total voters
    176
My recent inquiry regarding this, was met by...well nothing...silence...
Wish they would at least provide something concrete, even if it is a NO.

Using the Vodacom Unrestricted APN (on application only) at the moment....pity about the extortionist data rates.

As a matter of interest 8ta/mtn seems to be unrestricted, so might be a temporary option as well.

But yes, some feedback here please Cell C.
 
Good day All

Cell C are looking into it, but we have more pressing matters at hand.
We are not saying we will not have unrestricted APN.
But it will not be in this year.We are testing, and if do launch unrestricted it will be early next year.

Regards
~AM~
 
Thanks for the feedback Cell_C.

Would be a great idea to somehow sticky your comment at the beginning of this thread somehow, or above or below the Poll on page 1.

Well I guess it's stuck with the Vodacom unresticted APN (8ta?) for now.... *checks budget*...*feels pain in nether regions*
 
Cell_C said:
Good day All

Cell C are looking into it, but we have more pressing matters at hand.
We are not saying we will not have unrestricted APN.
But it will not be in this year.We are testing, and if do launch unrestricted it will be early next year.

Regards
~AM~
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot, at least we know where we stand now. Does somewhat break the spirit aaaah guess I too moving to 8ta my speedstick data bundle ends next month n I'm rather fedup of the crappy speeds as opposed to what I got last year nov, HarHarHar no cell c revisits. That 10gb for R199 seems awesome @ 8ta ?
 
Cell_C said:
Good day All

Cell C are looking into it, but we have more pressing matters at hand.
We are not saying we will not have unrestricted APN.
But it will not be in this year.We are testing, and if do launch unrestricted it will be early next year.

Regards
~AM~
Click to expand...

I'm honestly disappointed to read this.
This issue blocks the use of VPN's on the Cell C network? How many contracts are still going to Vodacom/MTN because you cannot do business on these data accounts?
 
Hi All

We have an early Christmas present just waiting to be unwrapped by You.
Cell C has been urged to provide Unrestricted APN for ages and We finally taking the plunge …. Well almost…

The “unrestricted” APN has been created based on customer demand and we require your expertise during the beta phase.
We want your feedback , to insure we on the right path and ready to rock your internet world.
Interested parties , willing to assist with testing the product will be required to complete an application form before access to this service will be granted.

“The Power is in Your Hands.”

Regards
~AM~
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi All

Please when sending Email.
Put your MYBB names lol.

thanks
~AM~
 
Awesome! hey Cell_C , where about can we provide our feedback on the service? here?
 
kabir said:
Awesome! hey Cell_C , where about can we provide our feedback on the service? here?
Click to expand...

This seems like the most sensible place to provide feedback and discuss testing scenarios, results etc.
Not sure if it would be a good idea to start yet another thread.

I will be applying my two newly provisioned unrestricted APN sims to the following:

My testing application is a remotely accessible cctv DVR system, which requires inbound access (port 80 for simplicity) for a browser based web management live video and playback management interface.
Also to allow the cctv system to stream live compressed H.264 video (and audio) to a mobile phone on demand.

All this only for short durations when required of course, as data costs could be shocking!
Not sure if our mobile networks are mature enough to be able to accommodate constant live streaming video anyhow.
(especially for multiple users simultaneously)

My second testing application is a GSM/GPS vehicle tracking unit, which sends around 30byte heartbeat data packets every 30 seconds and around a 120byte longitude/latitude position every minute over GPRS. This is sent directly to a "listening" tracking application running on a computer, hence the inbound port requirement.

Both scenarios make use of a 3G router with wired LAN connections on the one side and a Cell C ZTE MF-190 on the WAN side.
(with all the necessary port forwarding and the like)

My criteria is 24/7 availability, reliability, response and throughput performance.
I will be comparing this with the Vodacom unrestricted APN that I have been testing for some time now.
Data usage and costs analysis form part of the solutions' viability.

Initial testing was done using ADSL, but ADSL provisioned fixed line connections to some remote locations is not always feasible.
ADSL has performed very well and satisfied all my criteria, and from a running costs, reliability and performance point of view is hard to beat.

However, new offers such as 8ta's R199 10GB and other pending promotions may change that.
Of course Cell C's network problem in the Cape Town area for several hours last night, does not bode well...
 
Base122 said:
This seems like the most sensible place to provide feedback and discuss testing scenarios, results etc.
Not sure if it would be a good idea to start yet another thread.

I will be applying my two newly provisioned unrestricted APN sims to the following:

My second testing application is a GSM/GPS vehicle tracking unit, which sends around 30byte heartbeat data packets every 30 seconds and around a 120byte longitude/latitude position every minute over GPRS. This is sent directly to a "listening" tracking application running on a computer, hence the inbound port requirement.
Click to expand...
Hi Base122 are these gps devices available locally and if so where can one buy them. thanks.
 
rory said:
Hi Base122 are these gps devices available locally and if so where can one buy them. thanks.
Click to expand...

Take a look at:
http://www.electromannsa.co.za/shop/?q=node/202

I am using the G204 unit.
There are newer (and different) ones available, but be aware of the restrictions regarding tracking software installation.
Some have a one year subscription to a web based tracking server (easier) and then you have to pay an annual fee.
The missed call, returning a map link by sms feature, seems to work well for those not wanting live tracking.
Relay control is a bonus.
 
Base122 said:
Take a look at:
http://www.electromannsa.co.za/shop/?q=node/202

I am using the G204 unit.
There are newer (and different) ones available, but be aware of the restrictions regarding tracking software installation.
Some have a one year subscription to a web based tracking server (easier) and then you have to pay an annual fee.
The missed call, returning a map link by sms feature, seems to work well for those not wanting live tracking.
Relay control is a bonus.
Click to expand...
This module looks good value for money. Pity the pc software seems locked.
Would be nice to be able to find out how it connects to the server ie which port and what protocol it is using so one could write ones own socket program to grab the data and using google maps api overlay the coordinates on it.
I have been using several of falcom's bolero devices from www.rfdesign.co.za (would include link but I see they are not available at present on their website) that communicate via a socket connection to a pc where the data is stored and used to analyse our courier routes etc. They work well but are more expensive.
 
I found the following ports to be open on the "unrestricted" APN:

22, 23, 25, 80, 110

And the following ones to be closed:

81, 119, 143, 389, 443, 1503, 1720, 2525, 3389, 5631, 5900

I didn't test the whole range of available ports, though. These are just the default ones as tested by Port Detective.

Most notably, 3389 (RDP) is still closed, so I still can't Remote Desktop to my PC at home (unless I change the listening port in regedit or something).

This is what my config looked like when I connected: http://i.imgur.com/auzsF.png
 
@rory
I got my G204 working to this site:
http://gps-trace.com/?page=home

Worked fairly well, restricted to one user only for non commercial use.

But I wanted to specifically run the tracking software supplied with the unit.
The software can only be installed on one PC, as the unit transmits its IMEI number as an identifier and can only be configured to send tracking data packets to one address and not multiple addresses. Therefore it is only possible for one computer to do the active tracking and display.
Of course, you could also run you own web server. There is software out there for that apparently.

Some kind soul has actually written a socket listener for this unit.
It shows the string of data in each packet. Packet is not encrypted, so is all plain text.
Very easy to write your own functionality around that I guess.
 
@SarelSeemonster
Can you confirm your unrestricted IP address range?
Mine seem to be 41.55.x.x

Also, I cannot ping my unrestricted IP addresses like I can with the Vodacom unrestricted APN addresses.
Anyone else confirm?
 
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