Can't Send/receive Email Or Access Some Sites

[synuge]

Hi,

I've happily been using my USB broadband dongle for about 6 weeks with no issues whatsoever. I have an email account with an ISP and I had configured Outlook to send and receive emails via the ISP.

Within the last week, however, I can no longer send or receive emails at all. In addition, I can't seem to access any website over https . If I connect to another wireless network everything works. Only when I use the Vodafone 3G network do I get these problems. I haven't consciously changed any settings recently but I guess I can't rule it out completely.

Does anyone have any idea where to look or what I can try? As I can't send/receive when I'm on the road it's somewhat of a showstopper. My netbook is running Windows XP SP3. My version of Mobile Connect Lite appears to be up to date.


Many thanks,

Simon

[JimmyQ]

Hey VFmobilebbnewbie,

Great to see you found our little eForum!

Well, I can certainly appreciate your frustrations on this, but thought I'd explain.

Whilst it may indeed appear that the whole of the service is down, I assure you, this is not the case, and even logged on to https sites (including Hotmail) myself only yesterday on my E220 as part of my everyday net activities. This issue you describe can sometimes indeed be a feature of connection in a specific locale (for example, connections through a faulty packet switch), or sometimes down to local machine MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit).

To help us get a clearer picture of what's going on, can you:

-Test the connection on 3G Only.
-Test the connection on 2G Only.
-Try the modem with another PC.
-Try the modem in another location.

Can you please let us know how you fare with this!


Daz

eForum Team

Daz,

Exactly how many of these 'I can't connect to SSL sites' posts do you need to see before you acknowledge that the the problem lies with Vodafone and not with obscure settings on a users PC or network congestion?

Sure, the Vodafone network is slow, we all accept that, but do you really think that a faulty switch or MTU settings may be causing these problems for all of these users? I have never seen MTU settings be the cause of any client side connectivity issue, so they very suggestion of this as a solution to the widespread SSL connectivity issue displays either lack of technical expertise, desperation on the part of VF technical support or an attempt to fob-off and confuse end users with technical jargon instead of providing real support to paying customers. Please could you advise which of these is the case?

Many thanks and best regards
Jim

[glenn.back]

Dear Daz

I can't easily undertake your tests, for the perhaps odd reason that I am using my VF USB connected to my desktop PC and not a laptop! What I can say is that I have no trouble accessing https sites using the same browsers on my PC connected through my fixed broadband line. I only have troubles when using the VF dongle (through a GPRS connection, which is all I get).

I'll see if I can try the USB dongle in a different computer and will post the results.

... but as I said in my first post, I know others can successfully use these dongles on their computers, so I'm not sure what that test will reveal.

[Retired-Daz_V]

Hi JimmyQ,

Thanks for your input! However, in our experience with what is quite a common problem with multiple causes, it's often best to 'hone in' on what the most likely case is. We have millions of USB modem users whose connection exhibit none of the issues seen on our eForum, so it's therefore then a matter of figuring out, step-by-step, what the cause is before throwing all the chips down in one place

If you're suffering the same as VFmobilebbnewbie, I do urge you to let us know with as much detail as possible what's going on. Feel free to post your investigation / results here



Hey VFmobilebbnewbie,

I wasn't aware you were using a desktop, you didn't mention this earlier. If you can provide as much detail up front as possible, it'll form a clearer picture of what's going on much quicker

The point of location-based testing is to determine whether there is some trouble routing from a certain SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node) to the area. It is just one basic test that is required to let us know -if anything- there's no fault in that area. If in another location there is no problem, then we can investigate the routing in a specific area - if the problem carries then there might be something wrong with your number.

Likewise, a test of trying the modem in another computer is very useful for us to see whether there is a local issue on your machine. As a techie, I'm completely immune to amazement after years of seeing the types of problems Windows manages to cook up for itself from scratch. This again, removes a variable from the equation - if the problem goes away with a computer change, then it might just be down to your PC, I'm afraid... if it doesn't then it's likely network based. As you said in your post, you know others who use the modem in their PC's with no trouble.

Please do let us know! I appreciate that it might not always be conveniant to try tests out, but we don't have any other way to find this information out otherwise.

I look forward to hearing from both of you!


Daz

eForum Team

[glenn.back]

Well I'm not sure how far this will get us in explaining the original problem.

I was able to connect to a laptop today in a different location. I got 3G and was able to access https sites.

I then connected to a laptop where I live but for the first time it connected at 3G. The laptop was able to access https sites.

So I then tried it in the desktop and I also got 3G and was able to access https sites.

So the only thing different at home is that I am now able to get an admittedly poor 3G signal - and it now connects to https sites.

[glenn.back]

As if to complicate matters, this morning I can only get GPRS on my VF USB but I still seem able to access https sites.

[Retired-Jon_V]

As if to complicate matters, this morning I can only get GPRS on my VF USB but I still seem able to access https sites.

Hi VFmobilebbnewbie,

I'm glad to see that you're up and running at least! If the problem happens again, do let us know

Jon

eForum Team

[geoffking39]

Vodafone my lack of access to https sites is know sorted! i was so hacked of with Vodafone i went to o2 but cancelled after 12 hours as there Mobile Broadband service is c**p where i live (slower than dial up) so i started a new contract with Vodafone and guess what using the same laptop and PC , same operating systems XP and Vista , same USB dongle , i have access no problem to the secure sites , on reflection my problem appeared to coincide to the time when my previous 12 month contract finished and changed to month by month , so either the system changed something or a finger did! i guess this will not really help anyone with the problem if there contract is current , as for the assistance provided by the tech dept , more a case of say anything to get you of the line , cheers Geoff .

[Retired-Dave]

Hi GeoffKing39,

Great to hear that this is now working for you! I'm not sure how coming to the end of your contract would have affected anything as the contract period is a minimum period of commitment, after which the contract would simply roll on unless you renewed, upgraded or provided notice of cancellation. So it's strange that it's now resolved - I am aware that we recently resolved a different issue regarding access to some sites, so it is possible that this was a knock-on of the same issue.

That said, let's not question whatever has got it working again...

Anything else, please drop us a line!

DaveN

eForum Team

[geoffking39]

Please can you give more details concerning the differant issue that was resolved ref access to some sites , what was the specific issue?when it was resolved? which sites?how many people were affected? ie the sort of questions you ask each time somebody puts a question on this forum , Geoff .

[Retired-Reidar]

Hi Geoff

i'm also glad to hear your service has improved,

I'll have to consult Dave so he can shed more light on the cases he was refering to, he should be able to comment further as soon as he's in again.

Thanks

Reidar

eForum Team