Mobile Broadband Dongle Performance Problems - Laptop Specific

[alistairkiwi]

I have been using a Vodafone pay-as-you-go mobile internet USB modem for more than two months. It has generally been satisfactory, although I’ve been a little disappointed in the extent of 3G coverage. I have many times been in areas where only GPRS is available to me but other networks, most notably 3, have had 3G coverage available. Is Vodafone expanding the extent of their 3G network?

My USB modem is a Huawei K3565. The first time I connect it each session, the Vodafone Connect software starts as expected, and the “Searching for Device” message appears. Then I get a “No device” message, and it all just sits there. I then unplug the modem, wait 10 seconds or so, and reconnect it. The software starts as before, and this time goes through to “Searching for network”. Finding a network often takes a very long time, especially if the signal strength is two bars or less, and sometimes it doesn’t happen at all and I have to start again. When the “Network Found” message comes up and I click “Connect”, it can again take quite a few seconds before it connects. My wife’s older laptop never has these problems and will often connect when mine will not, and it is always much faster than mine to get online, despite hers being older and of lower spec than mine. There are also times when signal strength is low that mine will not connect but hers will, or mine will connect but not send or receive any data, but hers will perform quite normally and with good speed, all with the modem remaining in exactly the same location.

Can anyone suggest anything I should be looking at in my software setup that will improve its reliability and performance? I’ve looked for updates but I’m up to date, and in any case, both laptops have the same Vodafone software, and we both run XP SP3. I’ve uninstalled (via Control Panel) the Vodafone software three times but there has been no change after the reinstall.

Thanks.

Alistair

[techmind]

Can you just clarify, are you and your wife using the very same actual modem-device on both laptops? (or do you each have one of your own but of the same model?)

Two different modems may have slightly different sensitivity due to manufacturing spread, or if different models I imagine could have different maxmium transmit powers. But if it's the same modem, that rules that out.

Strictly "the same place" could be really quite critical as the wavelength of the 3G signal is only 13cm, so if the radio environment is complex (lots of reflections) then as little as 1-2cm can make a big difference. More generally though, if the signal is weak then it's not usual for one corner of a room to work but not another. However if you say your wife's system consistently works better than yours and you use them in a range of locations then this doesn't sound like it's a significant factor.


If you both have the same operating system and VMC software, then there could still be some other software on your system which is causing problems (anti-virus / firewall are common culprits, but it could be anything, or especially something like an instant-messenger client, peer to peer, or software-updater which keeps polling the network connection).

Another possibility (putting on my electronic engineer's hat) is that there's an issue with the USB port on your laptop - perhaps it's underpowered and/or electrically "noisy". If you've got a different USB port - particularly one on the other side of your laptop (which is likely to be on a different hub) it might be worth trying that.

On the USB port theme I the last thing I can think of is there could be an issue with the USB driver software - there may be updates available from your laptop manufacturer and/or "optional" hardware updates on Windows Update (though I wouldn't recommend applying updates for anything else which you don't already suspect you have a problem with).

On my computer there's something not quite right with my USB ports and if I plug in another USB device (digital stills camera, USB memory, USB mp3 player) to the same set of sockets it's liable to kill the 3G conection. If by chance you had something similar happening, it would do no harm to try plugging your 3G modem into a different cluster of USB sockets (and perhaps ones you don't have anything else connected to in that set).


That's some ideas to try anyway. Good luck.

[alistairkiwi]

Thanks Techmind. We're using the exact same modem - the modem stays where it is and we simply swap the USB cable from one laptop to another. The environment is fairly clear electrically - the modem hangs on a curtain in a window of our motorhome (we're from New Zealand and are touring in UK).

Thanks for the ideas - I'll explore them as best I can. It's not a major issue, but it can be frustrating when we're camping in a low-signal area.

Alistair

[Retired-Helen]

Hi Alistairkiwi

Wow, techmind has certainly given you loads to play around with on this one! Thanks techmind !

It is strange that you get different reactions to the same modem in the same location. To me that would indicate the laptop that your using as it's the only difference in what your both using. I would go with the suggestions techmind has made and try playing around with the different USB ports, and check for any differences in the operating systems your using and programmes you have both got installed.

While your travelling around it might be an idea to register for My Account. It's our fantastic online service that allows you to manage your account online, saving you loads of time and making it even easier to keep on top of your usage!

Let us know how you get on with things,


Helen

eForum Team

[ToddKersal]

hi im jeremy gilstrap post code manchester can i bring down my  plan to the cheapest mobile wifi plan pls until further notice?

[drey_p]

Hi there

As long as you aren't mid contract, you will be able to decrease your price plan.  If you are mid contract, you won't be able to decrease your plan until you have completed the minimum term.