3G Broadband Connection Freezing (again)

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alasta

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Topic # 14245 23-Jun-2007 09:19

Geekzone regulars will recall a thread late last year where 3G broadband users, and in particular Vodem users, complained about their connections regularly freezing up and requiring disconnection and reconnection to get them going again. This is an extremely aggravating problem that I have now been putting up with since late October, although the severity of the problem has varied from one month to the next. In the last week or so, I have noticed that the problem has got considerably worse despite recently having upgraded to the latest software.

I really want to try and establish which of the following is true:

- 3G Broadband is a shoddy product.

- The Vodem is a shoddy product.

- My Vodem is faulty.

At this point I'm inclined to think that it's most likely to be option 2 but I'd be really interested to hear whether Vodem users and users of other HSDPA data devices are still experiencing this problem. I suspect that I'm not alone here, but if I am then I will obviously need to take my Vodem into a service agent to get checked out.

freitasm

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Reply # 75695 23-Jun-2007 09:56

Alasta, I have a Merlin XU870 card here you can have for a while to determine if your problem is the vodem. Please let me know if you want to try it.

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alasta

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Reply # 75696 23-Jun-2007 10:16

freitasm: Alasta, I have a Merlin XU870 card here you can have for a while to determine if your problem is the vodem. Please let me know if you want to try it.

Thanks for the offer, freitasm, but I'm guessing this is a PCMCIA device? Unfortunately the only machine that I have here at the moment is a Mac Mini so I only have the option of using USB devices.

Out of interest I have just called Vodafone's tech support and the person who I spoke to said that she was aware of this problem occurring on Dell machines but apart from that it doesn't seem to be a known issue. What's interesting is that there was a period of about 4 - 6 weeks early this year when the problem briefly disappeared and the support representative who I spoke to this morning said that she believes that there was an upgrade performed in my local area around that time. So, somehow it would seem that there is a network issue which was resolved but for some reason that resolution was not permanent. Apparently the technical team will investigate and call me back next week so it will be interesting to see whether they are able to provide any answers.

freitasm

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Reply # 75697 23-Jun-2007 10:20

It's an Express Card, but it comes with a PCMCIA adapter as well... Sorry to hear you can't try it. Perhaps try the new CDMA EVDO Rev A USB device?

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alasta

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Reply # 75699 23-Jun-2007 10:36

freitasm: It's an Express Card, but it comes with a PCMCIA adapter as well... Sorry to hear you can't try it. Perhaps try the new CDMA EVDO Rev A USB device?

To be honest, I very rarely use the Vodem away from home and the 2Gb traffic limit isn't ideal so I would probably look at going back to Woosh or getting a DSL/cable connection if I can't get decent reliability out of Vodafone's 3G Broadband. I'd rather avoid making that change though since I don't want to pay a $300 exit fee on the term contract or put up with this grief for another four months to have the exit fee discounted to $150, so I want to exhaust all my options with Vodafone first.

Anyway, I will definitely post some feedback here once I've had a response from Vodafone.

freitasm

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Reply # 75700 23-Jun-2007 10:41

Ok, let me know if you want to try and I will contact someone to see if we can arrange. Grant17 enjoyed his CDMA experience...

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johnr

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Reply # 75716 23-Jun-2007 16:22

alasta:
freitasm: Alasta, I have a Merlin XU870 card here you can have for a while to determine if your problem is the vodem. Please let me know if you want to try it.

Thanks for the offer, freitasm, but I'm guessing this is a PCMCIA device? Unfortunately the only machine that I have here at the moment is a Mac Mini so I only have the option of using USB devices.

Out of interest I have just called Vodafone's tech support and the person who I spoke to said that she was aware of this problem occurring on Dell machines but apart from that it doesn't seem to be a known issue. What's interesting is that there was a period of about 4 - 6 weeks early this year when the problem briefly disappeared and the support representative who I spoke to this morning said that she believes that there was an upgrade performed in my local area around that time. So, somehow it would seem that there is a network issue which was resolved but for some reason that resolution was not permanent. Apparently the technical team will investigate and call me back next week so it will be interesting to see whether they are able to provide any answers.

Hi Al

This issue you were advised about only affect E618 data cards in some Dell machines (chipset conflict)

The E618 is not a 3G HSDPA device only 3G WCDMA

There are no known issue with the 3G or 3GBB network.

When using the Vodem do you lay it down flat?

alasta

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Reply # 75720 23-Jun-2007 16:43

johnr:
Hi Al

This issue you were advised about only affect E618 data cards in some Dell machines (chipset conflict)
The E618 is not a 3G HSDPA device only 3G WCDMA
There are no known issue with the 3G or 3GBB network.

Thanks for that. Obviously the support operator was going down the wrong path with that one.

When using the Vodem do you lay it down flat?

I effectively have line of sight to the cellular tower here, but yes, it did occur to me that the orientation of the device or local interference could be a factor. I have always had it sitting flat on the surface of my desk but last night it occurred to me to try taping it to the edge of the desktop with the SIM loading slot facing up and the Vodafone logo facing outward. Since doing this the problem appears as if it may have subsided, but given the erratic nature of the problem I would have to use it like this for several days or even weeks before I can be sure whether it's made a difference.

I also wonder if the transformers in my monitor and electric toothbrush charger which are located on my desk may be causing some RF interference, so I'm thinking that I might try getting my hands on a USB extension cable so that I can shift the Vodem to the other side of the room and see if that makes a difference.

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Reply # 75722 23-Jun-2007 16:43

johnr: When using the Vodem do you lay it down flat?

And don't forget to use the supplied Velcro it helps with reception. In my opinion the Huawei (Vodem) is just a shoddy product with a poor antenna and dodgy drivers.

alasta

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Reply # 75728 23-Jun-2007 17:33

Jama:
johnr: When using the Vodem do you lay it down flat?

And don't forget to use the supplied Velcro it helps with reception. In my opinion the Huawei (Vodem) is just a shoddy product with a poor antenna and dodgy drivers.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this. If it was designed to be used in an upright position then it should have been designed so that it sits in that position when placed on the top of a desk. After all, this is supposed to be a portable device so it shouldn't have to be permanently mounted in a particular position in order for it to work properly!

If the Vodem really is this bad then the $429 price tag is a disgrace. It won't be long before you can get an HSDPA enabled handset for that sort of money.

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Reply # 75745 24-Jun-2007 01:33

I'm sick of this, lately I keep getting the error msg: "Network not available" when tryign tog et into vodafone live, I havn't been able to get in for the past 8 hours... also, 1 out of 3 txt messages fails to send!!!

It's not my phone becuz I just got a new phone two days ago and it happened on both!!!