[shadow]

Hey all,

I just picked up my new laptop last night and got the white vodem stick with it.
I'm at my old's place in Matamata at present and trying to set it up. I think I've done everything right, it says it can only find Vodafone NZ GPRS wth 50% signal. I've found a setting to lock it onto 3g only but it doesn't find a signal at all.
Looking at the coverage maps and from experience with cellsite info there are around 4-5 towers my phone can find around here so I'm surprised its not finding 3g extend.
Am I missing anything here? firmware upgrade needed?

Thanks.

[David Gadsby]

Is there another 900 mhz device that you can test?

[shadow]

Unfortunately no
I've got LOS to the cellsite on the top of the kaimais pretty much here, I don't think the VF site antenna in the middle of matamata points this direction as my Nokia 6234 doesn't hook onto it very often

[shadow]

Interesting, I just had a look at the 900mhz 3g coverage map and Matamata is noted as having low coverage, looks like the Tamihana site has 3g but the main matamata one doesn't....
Are 900mhz 3g sites still being installed?

[Craig1010]

Hi Shadow,

I completed a Speed Test using my Nokia 6121c in Matamata awhile back, see the result here:

http://forum.vodafon...a...ost&p=22426

This indicates that 3G 900Mhz is available in Matamata (albeit probably suffering from poor backhaul atm)- but you might be in a poorly covered part of Matamata.

Have you tried taking the Laptop outside & repeating the test? Also, why didn't you get the Black Vodem Stick, which supports HSUPA upto 2Mbit?

[shadow]

I won't be using the vodem often enough to need the full speed the black one does plus looking at the speed tests I've seen on this forum and geekzone it appears you wouldn't be able to max the speed on the black one.

I stood outside with the laptop and moved to nearly 100% GSM coverge but it still couldn't detect the 3g network, looking at your speedtest location I'm about 500m from where you did it (on manuka st) so yeah I'm assuming I'm sitting in a coverage black spot

[Craig1010]

I won't be using the vodem often enough to need the full speed the black one does plus looking at the speed tests I've seen on this forum and geekzone it appears you wouldn't be able to max the speed on the black one.

I stood outside with the laptop and moved to nearly 100% GSM coverge but it still couldn't detect the 3g network, looking at your speedtest location I'm about 500m from where you did it (on manuka st) so yeah I'm assuming I'm sitting in a coverage black spot

Can you please do a Speed Test from www.speedtest.net? Report back here with the results. Johnr might beable to help......

[johnr]

Sounds like a faulty device and the 3G side is not working

John

[shadow]

Sounds like a faulty device and the 3G side is not working

John

Hi John,

I found with some more moving around it did find a 2 bar 3g signal but it appears the 2g signal from matamata is stronger and the vodem is locking onto that (thats how I interpret it). Is cellsite info supported on this device?
Also my parents who I'm staying with atm say this area of matamata has dodge VF coverage. Can test it properly when I get home tomorrow as I'm only 200m from a 2100mhz 3g site.

This post has been edited by shadow: 29 August 2009 - 09:26 PM

[Craig1010]

Sounds like a faulty device and the 3G side is not working

John

Hi John,

I found with some more moving around it did find a 2 bar 3g signal but it appears the 2g signal from matamata is stronger and the vodem is locking onto that (thats how I interpret it). Is cellsite info supported on this device?
Also my parents who I'm staying with atm say this area of matamata has dodge VF coverage. Can test it properly when I get home tomorrow as I'm only 200m from a 2100mhz 3g site.

Since you have been testing ~500 metres from where I undertook my testing & achieved around ~300kB/s & don't forget I had 7 Bar FULL coverage on my Nokia 6121c then I doubt it's a coverage issue.

There is a major Vodafone cell site less than 1km away from where I conducted that test & I'm sure it's on 900Mhz UMTS for 3G, due to Matamata's population & it being a Rural area, which is Vodafone's preferred frequency for this area. Obviously at the time of my test, the backhaul to that site was poor & I don't know if Vodafone have increased the IUB's to it - but johnr would.

As for the coverage being "dodge" - well, that's not been my experience at all - I get 7 bar - Full Coverage in Matamata - obviously your family don't have a device that supports 900Mhz UMTS & I would suggest they get one - if they want improved coverage & speed in rural parts of New Zealand on Vodafone - the Nokia 6121c ($399 - or cheaper with a plan & Vodafone offer the Easy Plans now, which are great value for money, starting at $16.95 http://www.vodafone....plan/index.jsp) is ideal for this & it's very reasonably priced, or they could also try this phone, the Nokia 3120c ($349 - which is cheaper on a plan - $229 with ongoing costs of $16.95 p/m on a VF Easy 20 Plan):

http://www.vodafone....mp;voucherCode=

This post has been edited by Craig1010: 29 August 2009 - 11:11 PM

[shadow]

Mum has a TelstraClear mobile (cdma) at present but I'm picking they will get upgraded sometime once TelstraClear launch their MVNO plans on the Vodafone network so I can't do any testing with that for a little while.
Looking at the coverage maps I'm picking the 3g signal we would of found is from Tamihana (dark orange), matamata is light orange. Also I was working off the logic that the Matamata VF site may not have panels pointing this direction (i.e not giving 360 degree coverage from the antenna) hence the difference over just 500m.
A good example of this is Ruru Hill where TV3 broadcasts from, they have aerials pointing north and south on broadcast on different frequencies (so not to clash with Auckland), I can pick up both but one is very snowy.

[shadow]

I'm back at home now in Hamilton and tried the device again and getting a 100% signal from the Nawton 3g site, here is a speed test to the tauranga server



One to Chch



Didn't do one to auckland as I don't find it reliable enough

[Craig1010]

Here is my Speed Test result from Nawton, a few weeks ago.....very similar to you

http://forum.vodafon...a...ost&p=22574

[David Gadsby]

The OP has the K3565 as it's sold with prepay connections due to a lower device cost.

[coffeebaron]

Last couple of times I've been in Matamata, 3G 900 signals has not bee that great. It's OK in middle and south of town, but I got a big fat zero 3G at The Warehouse. Full 2G signal there no problem.

[shadow]

Well that indeed backs up my theory...
I've not actually noticed any mobile cellsites in Matamata except for the Telecom one by the exchange. When at my olds my phone usually hooks onto the one up the Kaimai's or Tamahana

[shadow]

Ok well I'm back in Matamata and giving it another go....trying a different part of the lounge this time
Getting a 4/5 signal - Vodafone NZ GPRS
Tried locking to 3g only, totally nothing detected

There is an XT mobile here now and its sitting fine on a 5/5 3g signal.

*update*

Tried another spot in the lounge and got a 1/5 3g (900mhz) signal, speedtest results to tauranga:



It could for only 1 second switch to HSDPA mode

This post has been edited by shadow: 12 September 2009 - 11:42 PM

[johnr]

shadow, on 12 September 2009 - 10:30 PM, said:

Ok well I'm back in Matamata and giving it another go....trying a different part of the lounge this time
Getting a 4/5 signal - Vodafone NZ GPRS
Tried locking to 3g only, totally nothing detected

There is an XT mobile here now and its sitting fine on a 5/5 3g signal.

Carriers do not copy coverage foot prints I know places you can go and get full Vodafone 3G coverage and Zero XT coverage and vice versa

Where you are in matamata I would say is a 3G blackspot

I can check next week if there is any planned work coming for that area if you like?

John

[shadow]

johnr, on 12 September 2009 - 10:33 PM, said:

shadow, on 12 September 2009 - 10:30 PM, said:

Ok well I'm back in Matamata and giving it another go....trying a different part of the lounge this time
Getting a 4/5 signal - Vodafone NZ GPRS
Tried locking to 3g only, totally nothing detected

There is an XT mobile here now and its sitting fine on a 5/5 3g signal.

Carriers do not copy coverage foot prints I know places you can go and get full Vodafone 3G coverage and Zero XT coverage and vice versa

Where you are in matamata I would say is a 3G blackspot

I can check next week if there is any planned work coming for that area if you like?

John

Hi John, that would be great. I'm picking once Mum's TelstraClear mobile contract finishes she will be switched to the Vodafone MVNO version so will end up with a 3g phone.
PM sent with location details.

Thanks.

[johnr]

New 900 3G site for Matamata Centeral on the way 8 to 10 weeks (approx time)

John