Mobile Broadband Connection Issues

[onlinewilly1963]

Hello,



For the last month my 3G+ connection keeps grinding to a halt when I am browsing the internet.



When I first make a connection everything is fine and if I am quickly going from one web page to another or downloading something there is still no problem.



However, if I am not downloading or leave the computer alone for a minute, then when I try to connect to another web page nothing happens. The VMC Lite window still says I am connected to "Vodafone UK 3G+" but the Kbps counters just flicker and stay on 0.



If I disconnect and then connect again or switch to 2G and back to 3G it usually comes back to life until I leave it again.



The same problem does not occur if I use the 2G connection but this is too slow.



I have a Huawei E-220 USB modem, my postcode is DT4 9PY and I get a 3 bar signal for 3G+. For the last 6 months I have been getting varying speeds at all times of day but before that I could only download stuff in the middle of the night and browsing was painfully slow during the day.



I have tried deleting and reloading the VMC Lite software (V3.2.1.156) from the USB modem but this has not helped. Would it be worth trying the other software?



Can you let me know if there is a problem with the transmitters or if there could be a fault with my USB modem?

[samsmith60]

Hi Sam

Thanks for coming back to us.

I've taken a look into this for you and the 3G service on this site seems wot be working correctly again. Could you confirm that this is still an issue?

I've also had a look at the General 3G coverage for your postcode and can confirm that it is very patchy so you will struggle to get a solid 3G connection indoors.

Let me know if you have any more questions and we'll be happy to help

Thanks

Wayne

eForum Team

Hello Wayne,

Thank you very much for your response. I am still experiencing difficulties and issues - its taken me 5 attmepts to get on here this afternoon! And it still keeps dropping out!

Sam

[Retired-Daz_V]

Hi Samsmith60,

I have been puzzled by this one, but fear not, we're here to help!

Can you try the SIM in your Tocco - connecting to the internet on here, does your internet stability increase? If so, there might be an issue with your computer blocking the outgoing request attempts (say a firewall or actively scanning anti-virus checker)... can you now try the SIM back in modem? it could just be the SIM needed to update its connection details to the network.

If not, this eliminates this then. Can you next try setting your modem to 2G Only from the Vodafone Mobile Connect? If you're having difficulty finidng this option, simply download ourt latest VMC and go to your Settings > Select Network and choose 2G only.

Let us know how you get on with these above suggestions!


Daz

eForum Team

[helpmevoda]

Hi there,

I don't wish to hijack someone's thread but I appear to be having the exact same problems in PL4 8HS.

Symptoms:
Inability to load web pages although VMC Lite still says it is connected.
Blue light lit solid on dongle.
Disconnecting and reconnecting sometimes brings it back to life, sometimes it takes several attempts.
Firefox eventually times out when trying to load a web page.
This is the same on my laptop and PC.

I've been looking for a solution in the forum but have only found questions not answers so I have tried a few tests.

GPRS works OK (well OK for GPRS anyway)
3G works fine all the time despite reporting a low signal strength sometimes.
The fault only occurs for me when VMC reports a 3G+ connection.
3G+ sometimes works well, but when the connection stops it is always on or in the process of switching to 3G+
When the connection drops back to 3G from 3G+ I can download web pages again (I usually have to refresh the page to kickstart this) - this does not require reconnecting
When I disconnect and reconnect, if I have a 3G connection I am up and running again. If it jumps up to 3G+ it doesn't work and I have to try reconnecting.

Pinging google.co.uk from a working 3G connection:

Pinging 209.85.229.99 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 209.85.229.99: bytes=32 time=566ms TTL=239
Reply from 209.85.229.99: bytes=32 time=553ms TTL=239
Reply from 209.85.229.99: bytes=32 time=549ms TTL=239
Reply from 209.85.229.99: bytes=32 time=477ms TTL=239

Ping statistics for 209.85.229.99:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 477ms, Maximum = 566ms, Average = 536ms

Pinging google.co.uk from a 3G+ connection that won't download web pages:

Pinging 209.85.229.99 with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Reply from 209.85.229.99: bytes=32 time=322ms TTL=239
Reply from 209.85.229.99: bytes=32 time=339ms TTL=239
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 209.85.229.99:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 2, Lost = 2 (50% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 322ms, Maximum = 339ms, Average = 330ms

Interestingly there is an internet connection but not one which can give me a web page.

Trying to open the google homepage in Firefox when the 3G+ connection won't give a webpage shows in TCPView that a connection has been established (i.e. the 3-way handshake has successfully completed). Firefox reports looking up google.co.uk, connecting to google.co.uk and finally waiting for google.co.uk. The status never changes freom waiting and Firefox eventually times out.

So, the internet connection appears to have dropped out but I am in fact still connected to the internet (although unable to download a web page). Firefox is waiting to receive the data but it never gets there. Refreshing the page just repeats the connecting then waiting process.

When away from home if the signal goes from 3G to GPRS or vice versa I have effectively no working connection for about 30 seconds while VMC sorts itself out. Could the problem be caused by the dongle dropping down from 3G+ to 3G and then going back to 3G+ again repeatedly? VMC only reports a 3G+ connection - it doesn't show the connection hopping from one to another.

As I at least have a usable connection with 3G all the time (signal dependent) is there a way I can disable the 3G+ which is giving me so many problems? The options in VMC only give me 3G and GPRS (no 3G+) and using GPRS in a 3G area is shooting myself in the foot.

Finally, to the OP, if my problem is not identical to yours and it is not the 3G+ that is troubling you, then my apologies to you and let me know and I will start a new thread.


P.S. I seem to be getting a result with constantly pinging google. (I haven't tried it for very long though.)

ping 209.85.229.104 -t

The connection must be working first for this to work. If it isn't (yes all bl**dy evening) then one disconnect and reconnect and it works.

Right I'm going to ping vodafone constantly until they sort this out. I don't see why google should take the load.

Good luck all.

[onlinewilly1963]

Hello



In response to your post. The first reference number was given as FIT165 on March 9th. The second reference number I have is 7025663 on 11th March. On March 12th I received another e mail with the same reference number 7025663 which informs me that, and I quote………….



Hi Mr Williams,

I've been investigating this, and it appears to have been a fault with the modem's SIM card connecting to the local GPRS mast. I tried a procedure this end to resolve it last night, and wanted to monitor its activity over night and into this morning - all appears fine from my readings so just wanted to confirm all is indeed fine now.



I replied in the negative and have heard nothing since.

[onlinewilly1963]

Hi Both,

I appreciate how frustrating this is for you two.

Have you both got any sort of reference number for any faults that you have had raised via ourselves?

This way we can check the status of this fault and update you accordingly.

Thanks

Wayne

eForum Team

Hello



In response to your post. The first reference number was given as FIT165 on March 9th. The second reference number I have is 7025663 on 11th March. On March 12th I received another e mail with the same reference number 7025663 which informs me that, and I quote………….



Hi Mr Williams,

I've been investigating this, and it appears to have been a fault with the modem's SIM card connecting to the local GPRS mast. I tried a procedure this end to resolve it last night, and wanted to monitor its activity over night and into this morning - all appears fine from my readings so just wanted to confirm all is indeed fine now.



I replied in the negative and have heard nothing since.

[WJF84]

Hi there,

I don't wish to hijack someone's thread but I appear to be having the exact same problems in PL4 8HS.

Symptoms:
Inability to load web pages although VMC Lite still says it is connected.
Blue light lit solid on dongle.
Disconnecting and reconnecting sometimes brings it back to life, sometimes it takes several attempts.
Firefox eventually times out when trying to load a web page.
This is the same on my laptop and PC.

I've been looking for a solution in the forum but have only found questions not answers so I have tried a few tests.

GPRS works OK (well OK for GPRS anyway)
3G works fine all the time despite reporting a low signal strength sometimes.
The fault only occurs for me when VMC reports a 3G+ connection.
3G+ sometimes works well, but when the connection stops it is always on or in the process of switching to 3G+
When the connection drops back to 3G from 3G+ I can download web pages again (I usually have to refresh the page to kickstart this) - this does not require reconnecting
When I disconnect and reconnect, if I have a 3G connection I am up and running again. If it jumps up to 3G+ it doesn't work and I have to try reconnecting.

Pinging google.co.uk from a working 3G connection:

Pinging 209.85.229.99 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 209.85.229.99: bytes=32 time=566ms TTL=239
Reply from 209.85.229.99: bytes=32 time=553ms TTL=239
Reply from 209.85.229.99: bytes=32 time=549ms TTL=239
Reply from 209.85.229.99: bytes=32 time=477ms TTL=239

Ping statistics for 209.85.229.99:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 477ms, Maximum = 566ms, Average = 536ms

Pinging google.co.uk from a 3G+ connection that won't download web pages:

Pinging 209.85.229.99 with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Reply from 209.85.229.99: bytes=32 time=322ms TTL=239
Reply from 209.85.229.99: bytes=32 time=339ms TTL=239
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 209.85.229.99:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 2, Lost = 2 (50% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 322ms, Maximum = 339ms, Average = 330ms

Interestingly there is an internet connection but not one which can give me a web page.

Trying to open the google homepage in Firefox when the 3G+ connection won't give a webpage shows in TCPView that a connection has been established (i.e. the 3-way handshake has successfully completed). Firefox reports looking up google.co.uk, connecting to google.co.uk and finally waiting for google.co.uk. The status never changes freom waiting and Firefox eventually times out.

So, the internet connection appears to have dropped out but I am in fact still connected to the internet (although unable to download a web page). Firefox is waiting to receive the data but it never gets there. Refreshing the page just repeats the connecting then waiting process.

When away from home if the signal goes from 3G to GPRS or vice versa I have effectively no working connection for about 30 seconds while VMC sorts itself out. Could the problem be caused by the dongle dropping down from 3G+ to 3G and then going back to 3G+ again repeatedly? VMC only reports a 3G+ connection - it doesn't show the connection hopping from one to another.

As I at least have a usable connection with 3G all the time (signal dependent) is there a way I can disable the 3G+ which is giving me so many problems? The options in VMC only give me 3G and GPRS (no 3G+) and using GPRS in a 3G area is shooting myself in the foot.

Finally, to the OP, if my problem is not identical to yours and it is not the 3G+ that is troubling you, then my apologies to you and let me know and I will start a new thread.


P.S. I seem to be getting a result with constantly pinging google. (I haven't tried it for very long though.)

ping 209.85.229.104 -t

The connection must be working first for this to work. If it isn't (yes all bl**dy evening) then one disconnect and reconnect and it works.

Right I'm going to ping vodafone constantly until they sort this out. I don't see why google should take the load.

Good luck all.

Hi,

This is a known problem in the South-west (I'm also in PL4, but it also seems to be affecting people in Exeter).

The fault has been given reference number 1805111.

Ignore them when they tell you it's a problem with your PC/Sim/Dongle/Signal etc.

[helpmevoda]

Hi,

This is a known problem in the South-west (I'm also in PL4, but it also seems to be affecting people in Exeter).

The fault has been given reference number 1805111.

Ignore them when they tell you it's a problem with your PC/Sim/Dongle/Signal etc.

Thanks WJF,

I can't remember when this first started happening but it has been a while now. It has caused many hours of frustration so far. This has certainly opened my eyes to vodafone. I am extremely disapointed with their level of service. I shall be voting - with my feet.

All the best.

[KD]

Hi Guys

As it's a Sunday we don't have access to the system to look into this for you.

I'll get someone to look into this for you tomorrow.

Speak to you soon!



Kirsty
eForum Team

[samsmith60]

Hi Samsmith60,

I have been puzzled by this one, but fear not, we're here to help!

Can you try the SIM in your Tocco - connecting to the internet on here, does your internet stability increase? If so, there might be an issue with your computer blocking the outgoing request attempts (say a firewall or actively scanning anti-virus checker)... can you now try the SIM back in modem? it could just be the SIM needed to update its connection details to the network.

If not, this eliminates this then. Can you next try setting your modem to 2G Only from the Vodafone Mobile Connect? If you're having difficulty finidng this option, simply download ourt latest VMC and go to your Settings > Select Network and choose 2G only.

Let us know how you get on with these above suggestions!


Daz

eForum Team

Hi Daz, Thanks for your suggstions
I tried both of these methods - switching the SIM's didn't make any difference
Then I went on to the 2g - this is OK, it seems to be staying connected all day today since I did it this morning, however it is SO SO SO SO SO SO SLOW!! Its like having dial up again! Took about 10 mins to load this page, is there nothing else that can be done? I feel I'm not getting the service I was promised when I got the dongle!!

Sam

[Retired-Jon_V]

Hi Daz, Thanks for your suggstions
I tried both of these methods - switching the SIM's didn't make any difference
Then I went on to the 2g - this is OK, it seems to be staying connected all day today since I did it this morning, however it is SO SO SO SO SO SO SLOW!! Its like having dial up again! Took about 10 mins to load this page, is there nothing else that can be done? I feel I'm not getting the service I was promised when I got the dongle!!

Sam

Hi Sam,

2G connections do only run at dial-up speeds so this is normal. Now that we've confirmed that this is a 3G+ issue, however, and not a problem with your device, we can raise it to our faults team for further investigation. An email is on its way to you now

Jon

eForum Team