Trouble gettting Telecom T-stick working on Vodafone

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codyc1515

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#53604 11-Dec-2009 11:23

Hi all, I have a Telecom T-stick from the recent giveaway ($29.95 for credit, & free T-stick), and was just wondering how to get it going on Vodafone NZ.

I have tried changing the APN to www.vodafone.net.nz, and checking the balance, and changing all the related settings and signal, it can send & recieve txt's and check the sim card contacts, etc, but I cannot use the data on it, it simply won't connect, giving me the error "The remote server is not responding in a timely fashion.".

I am using it on Windows 7, and it works fully on XT, and according to the manual it should support Vodafone NZ.

Any help would be much appreciated, here is a few screenshots:

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#281456 11-Dec-2009 11:50

Does the vf sim work in another vf approved device and connect using the www.vodafone.net.nz apn?

codyc1515

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#281464 11-Dec-2009 12:20

Yes, I tried it in one of my other phones, and set it to use the www.vodafone.net.nz apn,
the colour on it changed from yellow (no connection) to green (GPRS), however it still would not connect.

manhinli

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#281483 11-Dec-2009 13:40

codyc1515: Yes, I tried it in one of my other phones, and set it to use the www.vodafone.net.nz apn,
the colour on it changed from yellow (no connection) to green (GPRS), however it still would not connect.

I have a T-Stick (MF626) and it works wonderfully on Vodafone.

You must set up a additional APN and then click "Set Default" so that your Vodafone APN setting is shown on the right before clicking "Connect" on the main interface.

Here are my APN setting details:

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codyc1515

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#281484 11-Dec-2009 13:46

Sweet, thanks manhinli!!
It would appear that the only think different was the Dial Number, which I had left blank, and the apn I was using which was: www.vodafone.net.nz

I wonder why/what the dial number is for?? It seems necessary..

Thanks a bunch.

manhinli

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#281486 11-Dec-2009 13:51

codyc1515: Sweet, thanks manhinli!!
It would appear that the only think different was the Dial Number, which I had left blank, and the apn I was using which was: www.vodafone.net.nz

I wonder why/what the dial number is for?? It seems necessary..

Thanks a bunch.

Dial number is required - it's just how it works.

"www.vodafone.net.nz" is an acceptable APN to use as well, I just use "internet" and it gives pretty much the same results. You might want to use "www.vodafone.net.nz" if you're over GPRS since it does some optimisation of websites so they don't load as slow.

You can see the APN differences here.

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codyc1515

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#281488 11-Dec-2009 13:58

manhinli:
codyc1515: Sweet, thanks manhinli!!
It would appear that the only think different was the Dial Number, which I had left blank, and the apn I was using which was: www.vodafone.net.nz

I wonder why/what the dial number is for?? It seems necessary..

Thanks a bunch.

Dial number is required - it's just how it works.

"www.vodafone.net.nz" is an acceptable APN to use as well, I just use "internet" and it gives pretty much the same results. You might want to use "www.vodafone.net.nz" if you're over GPRS since it does some optimisation of websites so they don't load as slow.

You can see the APN differences here.

Yes, cause I just tried a 2degrees sim and it worked, what is the *99# for anyway?

EDIT: Oh, I see it is for a data connection code. Thanks

Jughead

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#281785 12-Dec-2009 16:39

Can I ask the obvious... why do you want it on the voda network? XT is much better for data

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codyc1515

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#281815 12-Dec-2009 18:13

Jughead: Can I ask the obvious... why do you want it on the voda network? XT is much better for data

Just wanted to know if I could use it occasionally on Vodafone NZ, because according to my own "independant studies", Vodafone proves to have better coverage, while XT is faster in more places. Some places have Vodafone coverage, whilst others dont, etc. However slightly unrealted, pricing is equal, eg: Vodafone: 100mb = $10 = $1/mb, or XT: 120mb = $12 = $1/mb

richms

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#281848 12-Dec-2009 21:10

codyc1515:
Jughead: Can I ask the obvious... why do you want it on the voda network? XT is much better for data

Just wanted to know if I could use it occasionally on Vodafone NZ, because according to my own "independant studies", Vodafone proves to have better coverage, while XT is faster in more places. Some places have Vodafone coverage, whilst others dont, etc. However slightly unrealted, pricing is equal, eg: Vodafone: 100mb = $10 = $1/mb, or XT: 120mb = $12 = $1/mb

How did you do these "independant studies" because from my ones, the only place that I have crap XT performance is my house. Its constantly outperforming vodafone in the other places I try it. Even plenty of places where I can use it and only have GPRS off vodafone so they are unusable.

Richard rich.ms

codyc1515

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#281913 13-Dec-2009 11:24

richms:
codyc1515:
Jughead: Can I ask the obvious... why do you want it on the voda network? XT is much better for data

Just wanted to know if I could use it occasionally on Vodafone NZ, because according to my own "independant studies", Vodafone proves to have better coverage, while XT is faster in more places. Some places have Vodafone coverage, whilst others dont, etc. However slightly unrealted, pricing is equal, eg: Vodafone: 100mb = $10 = $1/mb, or XT: 120mb = $12 = $1/mb

How did you do these "independant studies" because from my ones, the only place that I have crap XT performance is my house. Its constantly outperforming vodafone in the other places I try it. Even plenty of places where I can use it and only have GPRS off vodafone so they are unusable.

Just after the XT network launched, I was in the store at midday and the store was packed.
I drove from Feilding down to Wellington, Flew to Christchurch, and drove to Oamaru (this was all over a 2 week period). I then averaged all the results when I got back to Feilding, and it was blatantly obvious that Vodafone had much, much better coverage in all of these areas.

nzbnw

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#281929 13-Dec-2009 12:38

As with all wireless networks there is a a process of network optimisation, I would give it ago again? Also do you know if CDMA preformed in these areas?

nzbnw

codyc1515

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#281934 13-Dec-2009 13:14

nzbnw: As with all wireless networks there is a a process of network optimisation, I would give it ago again? Also do you know if CDMA preformed in these areas?

nzbnw

Understandbly, there is room for variation, and this was done practically the day after the XT network launched.
I will be doing the tests again when I go down to Timaru this time, on the 19th I think..

I did not test for the CDMA network, however, that may be something I add this time.
The equipment I used was:

Samsung C522: XT network

Generic Nokia phone: Vodafone NZ

Generic Nokie phone: 2degrees

iPhone: GPS & secondary testing of XT

Netbook -> iPhone: Recording GPS data, and network status

So it was fairly complex and took out a good chunk of my holidays, I'll start a new thread when I finish this "project" :)

--cody

3g

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#281941 13-Dec-2009 13:45

codyc1515: what is the *99# for anyway?

EDIT: Oh, I see it is for a data connection code. Thanks

Some further info (warning - might put you to sleep):
- APN's are stored in what is called a context
- Each APN is normally set into the modems memory using the command below:
AT+CGDCONT=X,"IP","<APN>"
where "X" is the context eg 1, 2, 3 etc
and <APN> is the Access Point Name (APN) for the mobile network

eg to set www.vodafone.net.nz into context#1 you would send to a modem:
AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP", "www.vodafone.net.nz"

- When you want to start a data connection (eg start PPP negotiation), you dial
*99***X#
where "X" is the context that you want to activate
- It's quite common for people to use *99# as the dialstring, and it normally means the same as dialling *99***1# (but it depends on the modem/chipset, which means that you're better using the explicit/long version of the dial command to be sure you're getting what you expect!)
- My guess is that if you just add the Vodafone APN to the Telecom software, it will store the information in a local config file, but won't have set the APN to be the default (normally context/location #1).
- If you want to find out what APN's are set in a modem, you can send:
AT+CGDCONT?

I've seen numerous support cases over the years where people set the APN in the modem, not realising that it's been set to context ID 2 or 3 (often 1 is locked to the network of the SIM card provider).
If you use *99#, the results can be "random", whereas if you explicitly tell the system which context to activate (by using the long version - *99***X#), then you'll be a lot safer.

Nigel H.

richms

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#281961 13-Dec-2009 15:43

codyc1515:

Just after the XT network launched, I was in the store at midday and the store was packed.
I drove from Feilding down to Wellington, Flew to Christchurch, and drove to Oamaru (this was all over a 2 week period). I then averaged all the results when I got back to Feilding, and it was blatantly obvious that Vodafone had much, much better coverage in all of these areas.

Ok, well my testing involves places like the warehouse in newmarket, 277 in newmarket, the shops up in highbury, glenfield mall, few office buildings in the CBD, and a constant occurance is no 3g on vodafone.

the generic nokia used for 2 degrees and vodafone, was it 900MHz capable? GSM fallback coverage is irrelevent when comparing coverage needed for mobile internet, and thankfully is not something that is a problem when using a tstick on telecom, but will be if you take that tstick to vodafone as you will miss out on the 900MHz coverage in the middle of nowhere areas that you are testing it in.

Richard rich.ms

codyc1515

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#282013 13-Dec-2009 20:14

richms:
codyc1515:

Just after the XT network launched, I was in the store at midday and the store was packed.
I drove from Feilding down to Wellington, Flew to Christchurch, and drove to Oamaru (this was all over a 2 week period). I then averaged all the results when I got back to Feilding, and it was blatantly obvious that Vodafone had much, much better coverage in all of these areas.

Ok, well my testing involves places like the warehouse in newmarket, 277 in newmarket, the shops up in highbury, glenfield mall, few office buildings in the CBD, and a constant occurance is no 3g on vodafone.

the generic nokia used for 2 degrees and vodafone, was it 900MHz capable? GSM fallback coverage is irrelevent when comparing coverage needed for mobile internet, and thankfully is not something that is a problem when using a tstick on telecom, but will be if you take that tstick to vodafone as you will miss out on the 900MHz coverage in the middle of nowhere areas that you are testing it in.

The generic Nokia, was indeed 900MHz capable.
NOTE: The tests were for coverage not data speed

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