Feeling As If I Have Been Cheated...

[Zhongjie]

Recently I have purchased a contract with vodafone for mobile broadband, the usb modem lite.

I live in South London (Tooting specifically) and because of the giant mast in Crystal Palace I would have thought that reception for 3G services would be at least half decent where I am.

Instead all I can connect to is GPRS and the only 3G network available to me is "roaming"??? Why do I have that option even though I live in the UK?

GPRS connection is horribly slow, connection manager shows something between 10-45 kbps maximum. When the advertised speed is 7.2mbps i wasn't naive to think "yes that is what I'd be getting" but was hoping to have at least a stable 1mbps connection, guess I had my head up in the stars even then.

Now onto my specific problems:

I have changed the usb modem to only detect 3G networks only, I can detect it but the signal is VERY POOR and it has a "r" in a square next to it showing that it is roaming. When I try and connect I get RAS error code 678, from a little research this means that the server I am trying to connect to is not responding or does not exist.

I have tried to connect using the windows network manager instead of the mobile connect software. Same error code.

Only other thing I can think of is that my machine is under a desk, but I severely doubt that makes such a huge impact on reception.

Are there any hints or tips to improve my situation or am I just going to have to return it and try something else?

[Neil_Brown]

he only 3G network available to me is "roaming"??? Why do I have that option even though I live in the UK?

Roaming just means a non-home network (i.e. another operator's network), not necessarily a foreign network (although a foreign network is, by definition, roaming)

When I try and connect I get RAS error code 678, from a little research this means that the server I am trying to connect to is not responding or does not exist.

I have tried to connect using the windows network manager instead of the mobile connect software. Same error code.

It might be worth checking that your account is provisioned correctly, as it sounds as if you do not have correct access configured for the Vodafone network?

Failing that, if you bought online, you have a 14 day return period, which you might wish to use?

[Zhongjie]

Roaming just means a non-home network (i.e. another operator's network), not necessarily a foreign network (although a foreign network is, by definition, roaming)


It might be worth checking that your account is provisioned correctly, as it sounds as if you do not have correct access configured for the Vodafone network?

Failing that, if you bought online, you have a 14 day return period, which you might wish to use?

Thing is I can connect to GPRS fine, just not 3G. If I am not mistaken its not possible to only purchase a GPRS only package.

But if this is the case: how do I go about sorting this out (I still highly doubt it as I have connected to 3G before, it was just a very weak signal).

Before when I connected to a 3G network, there was no "r in a box" either.

[Neil_Brown]

Sorry - you managed to connect to the 3G network successfully elsewhere?

Does it work if you move the computer to another location?

[Zhongjie]

Sorry - you managed to connect to the 3G network successfully elsewhere?

Does it work if you move the computer to another location?

I managed to connect in a small town outside of newbury (postcode rg18 4es) with 2 bars and that was stable.

But now im in LONDON I cannot find a 3G network, I phoned vodafone support and they just fobbed me off with "this area has a lot of people trying to connect" which makes 0 sense on why the reception is close to non-existent.

[Neil_Brown]

"this area has a lot of people trying to connect" which makes 0 sense on why the reception is close to non-existent.

It does not explain signal strength, but might explain slow speeds, due to cell congestion... not that this gets you any further

Your comment about being able to connect in the countryside does make my suggestion about an incorrect setup look rather out of place - sorry!

[Zhongjie]

It does not explain signal strength, but might explain slow speeds, due to cell congestion... not that this gets you any further

Your comment about being able to connect in the countryside does make my suggestion about an incorrect setup look rather out of place - sorry!

Judging by the sheer volume of topics on this forum about the problems this service has I think it's probably best if I returned the ###### thing..

But is there a way to revoke the contract also? I have no need for a vodafone sim card...

[richie1913]

Hi Zhongjie,you say that your machine is under your desk,well believe it or not that may be your problem,the usb dongles are very senistive to reception and if you treat it more like a t.v aeriel you may have more luck.When I first got mine I tried it on my computer which was downstairs and under my desk,no signal at all,I placed it on the end of the usb cable and moved it around and managed to get a gprs signal,now I have a very good 3g signal as I purchased a extension usb cable and now use my computer upstairs with the dongle bluetacked to the window and have never had any problems since,download speed is usually around 1.5mbps - 1.9mbps.So have a go at moving the dongle around as the difference between a bad signal and a good signal is about a flight of stairs
As for the 'R' Roaming If the above doesnt solve that then Neil will be the man to listen to,as always.

[Zhongjie]

Hi Zhongjie,you say that your machine is under your desk,well believe it or not that may be your problem,the usb dongles are very senistive to reception and if you treat it more like a t.v aeriel you may have more luck.When I first got mine I tried it on my computer which was downstairs and under my desk,no signal at all,I placed it on the end of the usb cable and moved it around and managed to get a gprs signal,now I have a very good 3g signal as I purchased a extension usb cable and now use my computer upstairs with the dongle bluetacked to the window and have never had any problems since,download speed is usually around 1.5mbps - 1.9mbps.So have a go at moving the dongle around as the difference between a bad signal and a good signal is about a flight of stairs
As for the 'R' Roaming If the above doesnt solve that then Neil will be the man to listen to,as always.

This sounds promising but I live in university halls so I cannot just up and move wherever I want to unfortunately (further hindered by the fact that I use the dongle in a desktop pc and not a laptop).

I could try moving it to the window with a usb extension cable but the 1.5m distance to where it is now, I am sure is not going to make any difference.

[richie1913]

You never know,It could make all the diference get some bluetack and stick the dongle to the window.By the way I use a desktop as well and your right its not the easiest thing to move around all the time,Its o.k for me as I just use it up here all the time now,but no good to you so just try putting the dongle on the window if no joy try other places in the room,you will be suprised at how little movement it takes to get the signal to change for the better or worse.Good Luck.
Richard