Call Failure: Going slowly insane

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exportgoldman

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#25037 10-Aug-2008 10:15

Hello Everyone,

I have been experiencing a more than the usual horrific network problems with Vodafone. For the last few weeks (and it's been getting steadly worse) I cannot make calls around Auckland and the North Shore, I dial the number and my phone just sits at that screen with the number on it and 30-45 seconds later fails.

If I do make calls, about half will drop out with Call Failure even though I have full signal and are not moving, so I assume this to be a problem futher down the network (i.e. backhaul or signal switching in the core of the network) rather than just the poor coverage I'm used to.

I have checked around and other people are experiencing this, and also having problem with text messages coming through hours later...

Anyone know whats going on, or when things are going to improve, or is it a matter of just waiting until Telecom shows Vodafone how it's done and builds a reliable network?

Tyler - Parnell Geek - iPhone 3G - Lenovo X301 - Kaseya - Great Western Steak House, these are some of my favourite things.

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BDFL - Memuneh
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#155563 10-Aug-2008 10:28

One would assume you have checked for updated firmware for your handset? Also have you tried changing from 3G to 2G (if 3G is available in the area)? Another thing to do is to turn the phone off, remove the battery, wait a few minutes and try again.

How does it work?

exportgoldman

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#155565 10-Aug-2008 10:36

freitasm: One would assume you have checked for updated firmware for your handset? Also have you tried changing from 3G to 2G (if 3G is available in the area)? Another thing to do is to turn the phone off, remove the battery, wait a few minutes and try again.

How does it work?

Dude... Done all that bar the battery (iPhone :-) I also have reports from someone else which uses a Motorola Razr which has the same issues, different handset suppliers etc.

It makes absolutly no difference. When I switch back on and try and make a call I have the same problems, or the call will drop with Call Failure.

I have the latest (2.0.1) iPhone firmware, but it was happening with the old one. It is Vodafone's network for sure. That much I'm certain.

It started about two weeks ago, when they had a mini network meltdown nationwide and it took me 10-15 retries to make a call each time and then calls would drop out. Well they fixed that the same day but then things have just been more unreliable. Always seeing Call Failure.

Now, I'm a pretty heavy user so I think I notice things more than other users (7K/Year Vodafone bill.)

Tyler - Parnell Geek - iPhone 3G - Lenovo X301 - Kaseya - Great Western Steak House, these are some of my favourite things.

kingjj

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#155628 10-Aug-2008 16:34

I feel for you exportgoldman, and its not just happening up North. Having issues down south with text messages disappearing from the network, or coming through at half three in the am, as well as calls failing to connect or dropping regurally. Have not recieved a response from customer support yet...

Kyanar

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#155699 10-Aug-2008 20:39

Having the same problem myself with an N70 - calls outgoing will just sit there at the calling screen, then an error message pops up on the phone - happens with both normal calls and extension dialling calls (those sent direct to our PABX). Inbound calls will also quite often just drop into nowhere as soon as I hit the answer button too. Driving me insane. Can't go applying firmware updates or anything either, because it's a company phone - and the other Nokia models (not even the same one) throughout our company have the same problem.

BrentR

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#155729 10-Aug-2008 22:43

Having plenty of issues here in Wellington also.

I had at least 12 dropped calls last week around the region and across 4 different handsets.

richms

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#155734 10-Aug-2008 22:52

I have being getting the whocalled texts instead of ringing quite a bit recently. Thats 2g in crap coverage, but its always being enough to ring and if I get near a window communicate ok.

3g data seems ok at the moment. Still no answer on my ticket from a while ago about incoming calls from off telecom, or my complaint ticket about not having an answer on the first ticket... TDRS time in 4 weeks...

Richard rich.ms

bender

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#156068 11-Aug-2008 21:48

Same problem here, I'm getting call failed frequently, today I had two instances where it took me 5-6 attempts to place a call, and lots of message pages when I wasn't on the phone.

On top of that I've been trying to get Vodafone to fix my plan re sign fee (they charged me $525 instead of $150) for weeks, they've acknowledged it's wrong and I've had no call backs, I've even been into the Queen St store and told someone would sort it out and call me the same day, nothing either. As a result I've removed my credit card authorisation from Vodafone and will be ignoring my bills until they stop ignoring customers.

On top of that the customer service staff in Egypt are totally useless, they can only deal with simple queries, and you frequently get cut off mid call and it's like talking to someone on the moon with the amount of latency to the call.

It's as if the only thing Vodafone do is fund their marketing department as much as possible, and suck all the cash out of customer service and their network budget.

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richms

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#156079 11-Aug-2008 21:57

My gsm phone shows good signal at home now, took a call and didnt sound like I was talking on an underwater tincan so something has changed for the better at least here in beach haven. took the gsm phone downstairs and still showed ok signal. Didnt try calling since there is no credit on it and I am avoiding topping up if I can help it.

Richard rich.ms

freitasm

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#156090 11-Aug-2008 22:12

Vodafone turned half rate off last week.

thomasj

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#156093 11-Aug-2008 22:16

I too am having my sanity slowly chipped away by Vodafone.

I haven't been able to make a call first time for the past few days, peaking today when it was taking me 5-6 attempts to dial numbers, at which point the phone was seriously close to going out the window. I was also having reception issues at my desk at work, calls breaking up, in the middle of Parnell.

Is this part of a master plan of Vodafone? I don't see how their customers are going to spend money with them if their phones are in a million pieces and are committed!

I'm not even going to go into the customer services. The "we can't help you" attitude of the CSRs, iPhone helpdesk, Sales and Vodafone Retail Stores. Having to battle for all my clients to be charged the correct amounts. It's very draining.

richms

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#156120 12-Aug-2008 00:01

Well I just walked thru all of downstairs on a call (was just to the 777 IVR since im not game to call anyone this late at night and there is only $4 left on the phone) and it didnt miss a beat - no cricket noises or missed words, signal never dropped below 3 bars despite me moving it to places I know miss calls.

So I guess I have all your signal here, you can pick it up on a weekday evening before 10:30 ;) :)

Richard rich.ms

exportgoldman

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#156418 12-Aug-2008 21:59

OMG! I can make and recieve calls in Parnell. Full coverage through all my apartment, perfect call quality. Crisp clear calling.

It's weird, because my iPhone 3G is locked in 2G mode, even when using Google Maps, but 2G isn't too slow. Hmmmmm

This is the first time in a few years I can make and recieve calls at home. Perhaps I can now get Vodafone @ Home.

Half rate sucked, I don't know how much engineering it took to turn full rate back on, but I'm thankful to now have enough reliable bandwidth for voice calls. You can really hear the difference.

It looks like the cell coverage mapping has been redone, my biggest problem in Parnell was having too many cell sites, and they were not configured correctly for the overlays, at least I think, I'm not a radio engineer :-)

Thankyou Vodafone.

Tyler - Parnell Geek - iPhone 3G - Lenovo X301 - Kaseya - Great Western Steak House, these are some of my favourite things.

grant_k

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#156429 12-Aug-2008 22:19

exportgoldman: OMG! I can make and recieve calls in Parnell. Full coverage through all my apartment, perfect call quality. Crisp clear calling.
...
Thankyou Vodafone.

They must have heard the bleating all the way over the hill from Parnell to Vodafone House in Fanshawe St

Kind of like the new-born lambs bleating down in the valley from our neighbour's property over 1km away...

Fair enough, it's your right. If I was spending $7k per year with Vodafone as you are, I would be pretty upset if I couldn't make/receive calls within my house as well.

Maybe, just maybe, Vodafone do act on feedback they get from these forums. They must have a lot of other customers in Parnell who would have been suffering from the same problem.

Goodonya Vodafone and Kudos to Paul for taking the time to listen

exportgoldman

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#156685 13-Aug-2008 20:15

grant_k: Maybe, just maybe, Vodafone do act on feedback they get from these forums. They must have a lot of other customers in Parnell who would have been suffering from the same problem.

Goodonya Vodafone and Kudos to Paul for taking the time to listen

It's most excellent news, I'm now looking at getting Vodafone @ Home now I can get crystal clear calling at home :-) I think I saw the iPhone guys down the road posting that they are rapped with the coverage improvements as well.

Pauls a good man and is doing a excellent job flying the Vodafone flag.

I put my iPhone into diagnostic mode, and can see only 5 cell sites now instead of the 13 or so I could usually see so I think they shrunk the footprint of the sites, to make it more stable.

In my mates apartment downstairs where calls would simply go to voicemail and txts wouldn't work unless you stood by the door I'm now getting FULL signal.

So so happy.

Oh, and the 2G problem was me being a egg, I turned off 3G and forgot on my iPhone. :-)

Tyler - Parnell Geek - iPhone 3G - Lenovo X301 - Kaseya - Great Western Steak House, these are some of my favourite things.

johnr

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#156691 13-Aug-2008 20:33

richms: My gsm phone shows good signal at home now, took a call and didnt sound like I was talking on an underwater tincan so something has changed for the better at least here in beach haven. took the gsm phone downstairs and still showed ok signal. Didnt try calling since there is no credit on it and I am avoiding topping up if I can help it.

this is due to some new 2G hardware on the site across the water from you that use to be 3G only.

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