Gigacube and slow to load pages

[rgiblin]

We have just moved from EE 4GEE to Vodafone Gigacube due to the unlimited data package.  Only 1 day in and there is definitely an issue with the Gigacube devices or firmware.

Whilst the speed is 50+mbps loading of pages can take upto a minute.  

I have dropped the sim into another unlocked 4G device and this worked without an issue, so the fault with the Huawei device which is really disappointing.

I have seen a few other issues but seriously need to resolved this within the next 13 days because if its not fit for purpose then I will raise further.

Can I please get some guidance. 

[Adamt201]

Hi,

I have the same device Vodafone engineers blamed device first till they admitted maintenance failures basically Vodafone have rushed into 5G without the infrastructure to support it so all you are going to get is 4G and be charged royally for 5G whatever device you are using

[hollow88]

Yeah this is a common issue and there's no fix...I've changed the APN settings on numerous occasions, tried everything but web pages still don't load/zoom meetings are awful etc. The speeds are great but the webpage loading makes this basically unusable.

There's another thread on it here: https://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Mobile-Broadband/Continuing-issues-with-Gigacube/m-p/2669522/highlig...

I'm contemplating buying the Hauwei 5g CPE Pro 2 from Amazon (the same router as Gigacube) and buying a 5g sim to see what happens

Has anyone successfully cancelled their plan as I'm currently around 4 months into mine...?

[bkkjustin]

Thanks for the input hollow88.

Same as me, I've tried lots of different APN settings none of which work long term.

The issues always come back and these are major delay in loading webpages, timeouts when trying to load some web pages, Slack not loading properly and timing out.

The issue is definitely not 5g coverage as this really falls below 100-200Mbps. The issue is definitely with the Gigacube and the APN settings.

I am now trialling the default 'Vodafone Pay Monthly - Internet' APN settings and will report back on results.

I also plan to go down the route of returning Gigacube and cancelling 24mth contract (I am only on day 5 of 14 day cooling off period) and buying the latest Unlocked Huawei CPE Pro 2 then Vodafone Unlimited 5g Sim Only on 1mth rolling contract.

Do you think the above solution could possibly make the difference we are looking for?

I can't see to find any alternative 5g routers on the market that we could use in place of the Gigacube..

[hollow88]

I’ve had it 4 months and nothings changed...still the same and I don’t think it will get better soon.

also shouldn’t have to change around with settings this much, it’s not normal!

if you do decide on getting the Huawei router unlocked please let me know how you get on with it as I’ll end up doing the same!

[bkkjustin]

Hi Hollow88,

Yes I will definitely let you know how I get on if I do source the Huawei CPE Pro 2 elsewhere.

Just to note: The Gigacube I have is Model H112-370. This is the old model ie. Huawei CPE Pro.. If you source elsewhere you can now buy an unlocked Huawei CPE Pro '2' - Model H122-373.

It maybe that upgrading to the newer model alone solves the problem? Who knows.. Only advantage here being that you could re-sell or even return the unit without being at much of a loss.

I would also only take out the sim only deal on a 1mth rolling contract.

Have you found any (other brand) 5g router alternatives to the Huawei?

[bkkjustin]

Just to answer another one of your questions on the other thread Hollow88:-

I am also a Mac user and after connecting my iMac directly to the Gigacube I can confirm it works faultlessly..

It's the wifi connect to my MacBook where the issues lie. I can in theory also connect this device by ethernet too if I buy the correct adapters but I have lots of other devices ie. 2 x Apple TV's 2 x LG smart TV's etc. whereby it is just not practical to connect via ethernet..

[rmcc]

I have the Huawei CPE Pro H112-370 model, and the APN solution works perfectly on this older model for me... so I doubt the newer model will make much difference.

I hope you guys can get this sorted, it must be very frustrating.

[bkkjustin]

Just as an update I purchased the updated version of the Gigacube ie. the Huawei 5G CPE Pro 2 WiFi 6+ Router H122-373 from Amazon. This device is also unlocked and can be used on any network.

I then took out an Unlimited Data 5g (data only) Sim Only (1 month rolling contract) deal with Vodafone.

Using this router, the Sim Only sim and the Cloudfare APN settings posted by @rmcc it seems to be working really well.

I am therefore returning the Gigacube and cancelling 24mth contract.

Although I have had to payout initially for the full cost of the device, with this option if anything goes wrong or stops working I can cancel contract with 30 days notice and also resell the unlocked Huawei 5G CPE Pro 2. This option also works out almost 50% cheaper on the monthly payments.

[hollow88]

How bizarre - I was just about to reply to this thread!

how long have you had the router from Amazon? Are you getting web page loading issues at all? Or any other issues?

[bkkjustin]

Ha bizarre indeed!

So I've only been running the new router for say 2 weeks but so far none of the issues experienced with the Gigacube.

Very occasionally it will pause slightly before loading webpages but nothing that I would deem unacceptable.

I have about 10 devices connected at all times.