problems with 3G JasJams, Telstra Aust --> Vodafone NZ

Forums › One NZ (including Farmside) › problems with 3G JasJams, Telstra Aust --> Vodafone NZ

jturnbull

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#10193 9-Nov-2006 13:20

Hi all,

I want to start out by saying that I have fully read the threads on this forum about Vodafone apns, and also importing phones to NZ & Vodafone's disclaimer too.

And I agree it is all fair enough!

But I have just rolled out 65 JasJams to Sales Reps in Aust & NZ, and thought it would be worth sharing my recent experiences with the new 3G JasJam out of interest, and also I would be also interested in your approach to resolving it my Vodafone connectivity problem!

BACKGROUND

The JasJams mainly run a homebuilt Merchandising sort of app, and we also are taking advantage of Outlook Mobile Access to give them push email.

(I also want to add that much of what I have done with these devices is thanks to great info and feedback I have got from this site! Thanks Mauricio & friends!!)

Anyway, our plan was to buy the Aust devices in Aust, and the NZ ones in NZ, but at the last moment our supplier said it was cheaper & faster to buy them all in Aust, so we did. (and I did declare them & pay customs by the way!)

So then at the start of this week I came to NZ, and popped some Vodafone 3G SIMs in them, expecting that I could just choose some sort of 'carrier' setting for Vodafone NZ and all would be fine. I was very wrong!!

Firstly, the Vodafone agent/supplier of our SIM cards had real problems activating them - some took 5 attempts over 2 days!! (Telstra had been a breeze the prev week in Aust, by comparison!)

TELSTRA ROM KILLS 3G IN NZ

Also, I noticed, when setting a brand new JasJam up in Auckland earlier today, that initially it showed the 'U' icon, meaning that it was connected on the 3G network. But then after the Telstra ROM installed itself, it immediately dropped back to 'G'PRS!

VODAFONE 3G SETTINGS VERY HARD TO UPDATE ON A TELSTRA 3G PHONE
So after a few calls & visits to the agents, they recommended going to the Vodafone website (wireless.vodafone.co.nz) and running the 'GPRS Configurator'. I sometimes had success with this, but usually not!

But even if I did successfully send the text 'package' to it, it still did not ever get the 'U' symbol for 3G.

VODAFONE JASJAM CAB FILE NEEDED?
The first issue with the Vodafone configurator is it does not have a JasJam option, so I had to choose JasJaR instead.
(I did log a request with Vodafone to 'Please add the i-mate JasJam to the phones configurator! [Incident:061108-000019]')

I found that usually (but not always) the sending of a text from the configurator would work. (I believe it is just an XML file which somehow delivers a CAB file?).
(this problem of not receiving the configurator text message is probably a complication since initially the SIMs had call barring on, but we had to get it turned off to get the configurator text message to arrive - I doubt the competency of the phone shop that supplied the SIMs in ).

WHICH APN??

But almost always the device could still not send or receive data after it's configuration !!

So then I would also have to go in and replace the APN from the Testra OZ one and put in the NZ one (www.vodafone.net.nz), but often it STILL did not work.

And some of the JasJam's that DID work said they were connecting to 'VFNZ Internet'.

I do not know from WHERE that 'VFNZ Internet' setting comes from, because I could not see it anywhere in 'Connections'!! But only some of the JasJams that had the configurator message had 'VFNZ Internet' - the others I had to manually put www.vodafone.net.nz

Anyway, after speaking to 3 diff Vodafone 'service centre' people yesterday, they recommended "Just bring them in, it will take 2 days, and we'll completely wipe it, and flash-update it! Then give it back to you with only factory settings installed.

That is a too long & painful for us, we already have the apps installed & configured etc - so my main point of this long email, is to ask geekzoners for advice on whether it is possible to get whatever Vodafone CAB files we need to use?! Then we could just install it over the top of the current Telstra config that is causing us grief.

Then we could easily distribute it remotely to JasJam users, via Intellisync, or worst case via a microSD card.

And secondly, who to contact further for advice on this.. I am ok with paying for consulting on this!
I was planning to send one of my team over to NZ next week to resolve this if possible.

Thanks very much!!

James.

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#51728 9-Nov-2006 13:30

Life would be great if it is like anything in "Click". Sadly it is not.

First off, I am sorry to hear that this is giving you quite a bit of grief and sure is frustrating. Perhaps your gut instinct would have been great if you decide to get Australia's from there and NZ's from here.

Mind I ask who you source the devices from? Perhaps you can try talk to them that the Australia devices aren't working in NZ and it is not the plan you had in mind, and this has now costing you more effort to try to get them to work in NZ. Perhaps if they see this hardship and they knew better they shouldn't have suggested getting the whole lot from Australia and hope they will sympathise by allowing refund on those NZ's units?

If that fail, perhaps you can try to get/negotiate with Vodafone NZ to get their Vodafone NZ customisation page and force it install into Telstra's ROM. Failing that, try contact Imate and see what they can do? I would say someone will have/want to do something as you are running this as company devices, and if it doesn't do what you want, you can "threaten" that the devices doesn't do what you want, the services aren't provided and/or taking care of your needs, and that you will look elsewhere for business in future etc etc.

I do hope there will be an happy ending. Good luck.

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#51730 9-Nov-2006 13:53

Interesting problems you are having there. I certainly don't think not accessing the Vodafone over 3G is related to the ROM, but rather to the Connection configuration. You see, it could be the device thinks it should be connecting to Telstra instead?

You should try manually configuring your device. These are the steps:

- Start | Settings | Connections | Connections (icon) | Advanced | Select Networks (button)]

Create a new setting and call it [Vodafone], tap Modem and add a new connection called [VodafoneConnection]. Select modem as "Cellular Line (GPRS, 3G)". Tap next and enter "www.vodafone.net.nz" in APN name. Tap next and enter "voda" and "fone" for user name and password (you can leave it blank if you want, I rather enter something).

Tap Finish.

Make sure this new connection is the one with the button selection and tap OK.

Back on the Network Management dialog, make sure you select BOTH Internet and Work settings to connect through "Vodafone", which was just created before.

Tap OK all the way back to your Today screen.

Make sure you have a Vodafone SIM card and try again.

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hoopzta

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#51902 10-Nov-2006 17:07

Mauricio,

I am working with James on this problem and have tested your advice using a NZ vodafone simcard and still had no luck with the 3G aspect. I could still connect without issues to the internet but it would still be over GPRS.

Are you aware of anyone that has a Vodafone NZ image which we can use to overwrite the Telstra image which we are currently using? I have spoken to many Vodafone agents today through Palmerston North, Wellington and Auckland and had many varying answers but no resoloution.

Thanks for your assistance.

Ryan

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#51903 10-Nov-2006 17:15

You could try register one of the jasjam on to club imate and see what customisation .CAB is available from the website. Last i checked for my Smartphone2, it listed other countries too. Worth a try.

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#51919 10-Nov-2006 19:08

Folks, chiefie's suggestion is sensible. Yet, I don't think it's a ROM problem, although Telstra could be bad enough to do it.

I suppose you have already done a hard reset in one of the devices and tried configuring the Vodafone APN? Make sure you don't have any of the Telstra other connections on the list.

If you go to Start | Settings | Phone you should be able to set [Network Selection] manual and search for Vodafone.

Also in the Phone Settings, change to the Settings tab and tap on Band Selection. You should have "Auto" in [Network Type] and "Auto" in [GSM/UMTS Band]. If both are already set to automatic, you can try changing [Network Type] to "UMTS" to force it, and [GSM/UMTS band] to UMTS 2100 because this is the UMTS band in New Zealand (which should be the same as in Australia, except Telstra HSDPA which is 850 MHz - perhaps your Pocket PC is set like this?).

Note that if [Network Type] is set to "UMTS" only then you won't be able to place voice calls when not in 3G coverage.

IIRC, the Jasjar ROM update comes with all operators and a drop down list that allows you to select which one to use, so I believe it'd be the same for the Jasjam. As far as I am aware though it is only for creating the proper connection settings, nothing in terms of operator-specific customisations.

You could give that a try. Failing that, please contact me directly with more background information and I will try and contact someone at Vodafone. No guarantees though.

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jturnbull

11 posts

Geek

#51979 11-Nov-2006 12:55

Hi Mauricio,

I think you may have cracked it!!

On the Telstra SIMmed JasJam that I have back here in Australia, under Start | Settings | Phone | Band it has;
'Network Type' = "Auto"
'GSM/UMTS band' = "GSM(900+1800)+UMTS(850)"

but you are saying that it for NZ Vodafone it needs to say 'GSM/UMTS band' = "GSM(900+1800)+UMTS(2100+850)"

Ryan (love your avatar by the way!!) - can you call a rep and try it out on Monday?

Thanks again Mauricio!!