Whirlpool

Continues from: forum-replies.cfm?t=870891&p=50

This morning at Bankstown..

I have consistently had excellent speeds, and even on GPRS it always feels much faster than dial up....

personally I am extremely happy with this, I now have my dad, mum, and a few friends on this plan..

No association whatsoever with Vodafone, just a happy customer...

Test Results from Oz Broadband Speed Test
----------------------------------­
Test run on 01/02/2008 @ 08:52 AM

Mirror: OptusNet
Data: 3 MB
Test Time: 10.28 secs

Your line speed is 2.38 Mbps (2383 kbps).
Your download speed is 298 KB/s (0.29 MB/s).

rob2160 writes...

I have consistently had excellent speeds, and even on GPRS it always feels much faster than dial up....

Reading some of the comments. Some are confusing Kbps with KBs. I thought we were past that knowledge test by now.. If Voda come here, i would be happy with 60-100 KBs

rob2160 writes...

This morning at Bankstown..

I have consistently had excellent speeds, and even on GPRS it always feels much faster than dial up....

Could be because big chunks of NSW lost GPRS after 5 PM storm on 31 Jan 08

I have no GPRS at my place, had to hit the road to get signal.

Probably only good thing about this VF mobile internet, it is mobile

rob2160 writes...

I have consistently had excellent speeds, and even on GPRS it always feels much faster than dial up....


Don't Vodafone have a compressing proxy for their mobile broadband to make it faster? I'm fairly sure they USED to, and I do recall reading about it making some sites impossible to access. You had to download a different firmware to turn that off ... unless thats changed, this might explain why your GPRS access feels faster.

2.3 mbps is pretty good for HSDPA downloads :)

In response to fiish's enquiry:

Would anyone know when the datacard will be supported under Leopard? The website has said that support is 'coming soon' for quite some time and I'm eager to drop the ADSL and line rental. I rang them once to ask if I could get the USB modem for now and swap it over but they were not accommodating.

...Vodafone Mac OS Leopard Software has now been released. It is available for download from www.vodafone.com.au/mobi...adband/downloads

Thanks very much for the heads up, Greg. I will be heading down to the shops tomorrow to sign up.

Hi Guys,

Wondering if I could ask a few questions as I'm having some problems in one of our remote offices and am finding it a bit hard to troubleshoot without knowledge of VF Mobile Connect.

This is the current speed test results taken this morning:

Test Results from Oz Broadband Speed Test
----------------------------------­
Test run on 01/02/2008 @ 10:38 AM

Mirror: OptusNet
Data: 3 MB
Test Time: 607.71 secs

Your line speed is 40 kbps (0.04 Mbps).
Your download speed is 5 KB/s (0 MB/s).

As you can see it's very ordinary. And the below link is a screenshot of the VF Mobile Connect software which appears to say I've got good signal strength, and I'm connected to the 3G Network so I should be recieiving much better speeds.

img341.imageshack.us/img...347/vfonebe6.jpg

Could you just confirm that I am correct in my thinking that with both good signal and being on the 3G network I should be seeing much better speeds.

That speed looks terrible. Seems something might be wrong with the card, the setup, or the network. Hopefully its readily fixable :/

It's all configured correctly, the machine is fine... I've tried disabling AV to see if that would make it any better but made to difference.

Caffeinated Chris R writes...

or the network

I assume you mean the VF network?

I'll get our Brisbane office to give VF data services a call maybe... Don't know what else to try!(1800 638 638?)

Where is this user located? I haven't seen crap speeds like that since early Jan

Greg-Mega writes...

I assume you mean the VF network?

Indeed.

Hopefully their network guys will be able to identify what (if anything) on their end might be causing the problem.

Greg-Mega writes...

img341.imageshack.us/img...347/vfonebe6.jpg

Excuse me for butting in, but i noticed the speed on your Image is 188KBs?

Up the Creek writes...

on your Image is 188KBs?

Is that speed or data transferred since it connected? I thought it was data transfered.

Up the Creek writes...

Excuse me for butting in, but i noticed the speed on your Image is 188KBs?

That's not speed. Thats how much they've downloaded ... speed is on the right - as indicated by the up- and down-ward facing arrows ...

Greg-Mega writes...

I'll get our Brisbane office to give VF data services

The number for VF data support is 1300 650 410.

Greg-Mega writes...

Is that speed or data transferred since it connected? I thought it was data transfered.

Oh yeh..it is . Will but out now..

Up the Creek writes...

188KBs?

No, this is 188 KB loaded, total for current session, not the speed.

Edit: I am bit slow, plus I am on GPRS which is slow too.

port writes...

The number for VF data support is 1300 650 410.

Cheers, I did write it down but I managed to file it in the bin I think!

gregspears writes...

...Vodafone Mac OS Leopard Software has now been released. It is available for download from www.vodafone.com.au/mobi...adband/downloads

I downloaded and installed. Only noticeable difference is that it now asks for an admin password when you click the Activate button.

Still no SMS application like supplied for Windows.

The Statistics counter still doesn't reset back to zero when requested. Of course it wouldn't matter so much if Vodafone provided an online current usage page like every other ISP I've done business with.

wow... the service today is running great.. i think the best its ever been... web sites are loading really quick... hardly any pause whatsoever....

if they can keep this up then it can only mean good things... definately feels like broadband...

Brisbane Area.

Yeah, it's working fantastically here.
Running Windows Update while browsing a few sites in paralell & I'm doing this through my E90 (notoriously slow!) not the USB Modem.
;o)

EDIT: At this moment, Here is Footscray Victoria.

Yep, was humming along nicely in Sydney as well. About time they got the web browsing experience up to scratch - the 2 min delayed page load was not a happy thing.

Downloading and streaming always seem to work well, just the http proxy issue to resolve and I'll be happy.

hey guys,

My mrs has XP home installed w/SP 1

when she goes to install she gets this error msg:

Administrative privileges are required in order to install vodafone mobile connect, on a windows 2000, XP 4 or on windows XP SP 2.

Which is weird because her name is the only user who is signed in is herself and she is the administrator?

any ideas on how to fix it?

Thankyou

Adz

AdamStoy writes...

Which is weird because her name is the only user who is signed in is herself and she is the administrator?

Go to Control Panel, User Accounts and Check what accounts are there and who if any are Admins.

yeah its just herself, she is the only account in user accounts, also she is set as admin.

Can you confirm if she is using 32bit XP and not 64? Hardware will not work on 64 bit apparently.

Up the Creek writes...

Can you confirm if she is using 32bit XP and not 64? Hardware will not work on 64 bit apparently.

I just checked and its 32 Bit XP

It does say XP SP2 required.. No mention of SP1 , so that may be the problem

hmm i'll give that a go n see if anything changes.

thanx

hey u need SP2 installed cause i re-installed my PC last week and i got that message and then i installed SP2 and all was well.. the network has been great here in brisbane city. im getting 3.6mb/s at the moment. where r others and what speed r they getting would be good too know as vodafone has claimed that they have fixed the network. will give ozspeedtest a whirl even tho itss 1.25am here in brisbane i get good speeds even at peak times now also whereas b4 i was getting lots of read 1.2.3.4 msg`s thru firefox

Test run on 04/02/2008 @ 02:27 AM

Mirror: OptusNet
Data: 3 MB
Test Time: 12.07 secs

Your line speed is 2.03 Mbps (2030 kbps).
Your download speed is 254 KB/s (0.25 MB/s)

that was beautiful.. even got 400kb/s for a coupla secs

Test run on 04/02/2008 @ 02:28 AM

Mirror: Internode
Data: 3 MB
Test Time: 9.46 secs

Your line speed is 2.59 Mbps (2588 kbps).
Your download speed is 324 KB/s (0.32 MB/s).

vodafones network is really improving all we need now greg is a way too check the usage @ realtime and plenty of people will be very happy with the service.
thanks

Hey all,

I’m on Darwin and we don’t get 3G up here (yet). I’m still keen at looking at getting this, my only hesitation is the GPRS speed. Can anyone tell me how it compares in speed. I know it’ll be slow but is it equivalent to say 256k broadband or slower/faster?

If anyone can help...I have a few questions about this deal.

1. If you dont want to use the modem or data card that comes with the 24 month deal...can you just get the sim and use it in your own modem (Nokia E51)?
if so...can you sign up month by month or 12 months?

2. Can you use the same sim for the data plan as well as a VF call plan (bolted on) and port existing mobile number to the call plan?

3. if so which plans are eligible?

Thanks

JRG writes...

1. If you dont want to use the modem or data card that comes with the 24 month deal...can you just get the sim and use it in your own modem (Nokia E51)?
if so...can you sign up month by month or 12 months?

You can use the SIM in whatever device you choose, however, the plan is only available as a 24 month contract term.

2. Can you use the same sim for the data plan as well as a VF call plan (bolted on) and port existing mobile number to the call plan?

The data bundle has a voice plan attached - call rates are 1 cent per second, with a 20 cent connection fee.

newname24 writes...

Hey all,

I’m on Darwin and we don’t get 3G up here (yet). I’m still keen at looking at getting this, my only hesitation is the GPRS speed. Can anyone tell me how it compares in speed. I know it’ll be slow but is it equivalent to say 256k broadband or slower/faster?

According to choice magazine, it's up to 56kbps:

The coverage areas include Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra metropolitan areas; and Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth airports. Outside of these areas, connection shifts to the Vodafone GPRS network at a speed of up to 56kbps for incoming and outgoing data

Taken from:

www.choice.com.au/viewAr...ireless+internet

It's fairly old information, but I doubt the speed of GPRS will have changed since May 2006.

thanks daisy, a bit too slow for me. hopefully the deal or something similar will be around at the end of the year when they are looking to upgrade their coverage along with optus.

daisy writes...

The data bundle has a voice plan attached - call rates are 1 cent per second, with a 20 cent connection fee.

Saying that does that mean you can port over your old number to the data plan

harryhongo writes...

Saying that does that mean you can port over your old number to the data plan

Yes.

Edit: as long as you ask for the number to be tfred at the same time as you apply - once it's connected, it will have it's own number that you won't be able to port over the top of - this is the case for all VF post paid plans, though.

daisy writes...

According to choice magazine, it's up to 56kbps:

Exactly, it is UP TO and you hardly ever see the maximum speed, my GPRS runs most of the time up to 25kbps, but quite often it stays on 0 for several seconds, while 3 or 4 independend pages are pending to be open.

So UP TO is very smart way to pull wool over somebody's eyes and not lie, technically.

Because even if you never reach 56kbps they didn't lie either, smart ai?

I have my husband who is working near Rockhampton using this plan... He is in a caravan, so has no option for even dialup.

This is better than nothing when you want to chat on Yahoo!!

MissMuffitt writes...

This is better than nothing when you want to chat on Yahoo!!

But maybe, specially for the GPRS speeds, VF could create $20 option with 2GB

$39 for dialup speed is bit on the very expensive side.

Just signed up myself on the weekend.
Got it going on my Win XP lappy and Win Vista media centre (no sharing just yet). Have found that I occasionally need to close the Vodafone program, unplug the dongle and start again, but only on the XP laptop. Usually only happens after coming back from suspend.
Live at Bulimba in Brisbane, get 3G coverage from there the whole City Cat trip in to Riverside.
Happy enough with speeds, don't watch it the whole time but seen 1.5mbs in the Vodafone software.

Laughing, after being unable to get any DSL (tried Exetel Naked DSL) due to no copper in the building (or so goes the theory), and this is half the price of the Optus or Telstra cable suitable options.

Been pretty good in Melbourne CBD today..

----------------------------------­
Test run on 05/02/2008 @ 03:40 PM

Mirror: OptusNet
Data: 3 MB
Test Time: 29.78 secs

Your line speed is 823 kbps (0.82 Mbps).
Your download speed is 103 KB/s (0.1 MB/s).

Service has been dropping out for me today, and now I'm getting RAS 619 error.

Anyone have any idea of what is going on?

3G seems to be out in Woden, ACT. Can only connect to GPRS!

The service is intermittently not good, and then slightly improves in Ringwood, Melbourne, Victoria.

Question about this. Do you need a computer to use the USB Wireless modem. The thing is i want to see if i can just plug it into a wireless router and use it in my car or at home.

won't open facebook.com, msn messenger and is really slow

running it on a mac 10.5.1

Tra$h writes...

Do you need a computer to use the USB Wireless modem.

forum-replies.cfm?t=870891&p=46#r906
forum-replies.cfm?t=870891&p=46#r909
forum-replies.cfm?t=870891&p=46#r918

While I travel often Wi-fi is picked up but all shows as ecrypted.

I heard, that sometimes Macas give acces, is it true?

Is there somewhere information on free internet access to Wi-fi networks?

George writes...

Is there somewhere information on free internet access to Wi-fi networks?

go to your local industrial estate.

Argon969 writes...

go to your local industrial estate.

Thanks, will do.

Is there any hint how to get on that network, or it will say that it is not encrupted?

George writes...

Is there any hint how to get on that network, or it will say that it is not encrupted?

Even if you find an open wifi connection, it is highly likely that it is illegal to connect to it.

George writes...

But maybe, specially for the GPRS speeds, VF could create $20 option with 2GB

$39 for dialup speed is bit on the very expensive side.

Not going to happen. Vodafone are going to extend the coverage of their network greatly this year. They are saying anywhere that can get GPRS should have 3G by the end of the year.

It is not worth while for a mobile phone company to offer a post paid account with a monthly spend of $20. Three only offer low priced plans to existing customers.

what's up skip writes...

Even if you find an open wifi connection, it is highly likely that it is illegal to connect to it.

I never used one yet, so I have no practical or theoretical knowledge.

But I heard that some Macas, some Airports offer this connection to people who are on their premises as a gesture.

Is it true, or all Wi-fi networks are to be used by people who have pre-arranged permission of access to it?

Was hoping to get signed up with a data card but they say they are out on the website and a store in Melbourne I rang gave me the same story.

Anyone know when they will be back? I would prefer the card so I can share the connection using a 3g Wifi router.

Cheers
Derek

George writes...

Is it true

It's true.
Whereis shows access points.
I've never connected but I've heard it's quite slow.
www.whereis.com/whereis/home.do

Would it be viable for them to offer throttled speeds as opposed to excess download charges? I like the sound of this plan, but the excess charges puts me off since I only want to pay a certain amount.

5GB sounds like a lot of data, but with the apparently fast speeds you'll probably eat up the amount within a few weeks.

George writes...

But I heard that some Macas, some Airports offer this connection to people who are on their premises as a gesture.

These are a Telstra service and they charge a minimum of 20 cents a minute for the service. It has a maximum of 512Kbps download.

Some restaurants and cafes offer free wifi with a purchase, but you normally have to put in a username and a pin.

dannyboi writes...

Would it be viable for them to offer throttled speeds as opposed to excess download charges? I like the sound of this plan, but the excess charges puts me off since I only want to pay a certain amount.

This is an issue, but it may be difficult to do. I know Optus does it with their Virgin service, but it is running a completely seperate virtual network to do it. At the moment Vodafone is busy expanding their network, so these sorts of bells and whistles might come along next year.

Tra$h writes...

Question about this. Do you need a computer to use the USB Wireless modem. The thing is i want to see if i can just plug it into a wireless router and use it in my car or at home.

Can anyone answer this question as the links i was supplied still didn't answer it.

Looking into the same thing. Here is a link for connecting a sharing a usb modem connection using a wifi router

forum-replies.cfm?t=880784

.

Went to Lismore today, they had Huge signs outside the shop advertising this deal. Same sales brochures etc inside. I thought , "what the?" I thought it wasnt available in Lismore?.. Well, strangely, it is'nt.. At least 3G is'nt. They say it may be 12months away yet. Why the big Sales Pitch then? Got me confused. Even have a stack of modems in stock. Also well stocked at All Phones.

Tra$h writes...

Can anyone answer this question as the links i was supplied still didn't answer it.

next month according to Quentin from Billion and I think they come with a cigarette plug to run off your car as well as a 240 plug.

forum-replies.cfm?t=912061

Hoping someone can shed some light onto why i get such slow downloads with this wireless plan.

Last speed test with 4/5 bars of HSDPA reception got the following results...

Test run on 08/02/2008 @ 08:38 PM

Mirror: OptusNet
Data: 3 MB
Test Time: 128.2 secs

Your line speed is 191 kbps (0.19 Mbps).
Your download speed is 24 KB/s (0.02 MB/s).

This has been my best result in a few weeks. The first day we got the modem i had one test that showed about 2Mb speed, but since then it has been all bad. Generally i get >10KB/s. When i tracert i get a few hops with +1000ms before it shows the vodafone hop. Any help would be appreciated! :)

edit - sorry i left out i am in Cranbourne, Vic. And the modem is not a dud as when i took it to the mums house in Clayton a week ago i was getting 1.5Mb/s +

Mo3 writes...

Last speed test with 4/5 bars of HSDPA reception got the following results...

Test run on 08/02/2008 @ 08:38 PM

Mirror: OptusNet
Data: 3 MB
Test Time: 128.2 secs

Your line speed is 191 kbps (0.19 Mbps).
Your download speed is 24 KB/s (0.02 MB/s).

It looks like you have a congested (overloaded) cell. Try it out at like six in the morning. I would contact Vodafone, network services section log a fault. Particularly given you have 4/5 bars this is likely to be trouble.

gregspears writes...

Vodafone Mac OS Leopard Software has now been released. It is available for download from www.vodafone.com.au/mobi...adband/downloads

Thanks for that link - works beautifully :)

Interesting the OSX 10.5.1 download was 22MB, Vista is 75MB and I didn't need a linux driver, it was plug and play on my EEEPC and my PCLinuxOS installation.

AdamStoy, I know I'm coming in late, but it needs a usb driver that comes in SP2.
(usbccgp.sys)

what's up skip writes...

It looks like you have a congested (overloaded) cell.

Cheers, shall give them a call when i am not at work.

ACTIVATION FAILURE

I got my E800 modem and SIM card yesterday. For some technical reason Vodafone are unable to activate my SIM card. Apparently there is a software problem on their server which will not allow activation. Support told me that there are about 2% of new customers that are being effected. Has anyone else got the same problem and has it been fixed ?

Can anybody confirm that Optus/Vodafone is available in Coffs Harbour now?
The Optus Network Communcations brochure arrived today and Coffs is listed as a 3g enabled area..They were supposed to be rolling out at the same time frame using same Company.

ozsultan writes...

ACTIVATION FAILURE

I got my E800 modem and SIM card yesterday.

Do you have a full Vodafone store close to you - not a Vodafone agent. The Vodafone staff can usually help with that. Sometimes the call centre can help as well. The store I was in yesterday told me there were some problems with internet activation at the moment. They activated mine for me.

Anyone know when the 5 gig deal is going to finish

harryhongo writes...

Anyone know when the 5 gig deal is going to finish

Why would you think it is?

sooner or latter they will have to do a plan change as they all do.

I am still swaying which way I should go as I can't get my mobile to work as a modem yet on my Telstra prepaid data.

If I could work that out I would sign up.

More to the point Optus seem to make out there offers are a limited time only to force quick sign ups so I was thinking VF use that tack as well.

harryhongo writes...

More to the point Optus seem to make out there offers are a limited time only to force quick sign ups so I was thinking VF use that tack as well.

Ahhh. Originally, the five gig plan was a "special offer" available from 3 Dec to 31 Dec. It was extended indefinitely, as far as I know.

harryhongo writes...

I am still swaying which way I should go as I can't get my mobile to work as a modem yet on my Telstra prepaid data.

If I could work that out I would sign up.

The 5G plan comes with a USB lollipop modem, and a separate SIM card for it too. Worrying about using your handset is irrelevant as you'll be using the supplied device anyway.

edit: make language clear

I was driving past a vodafone store and saw something that looked like you got a discount if you bundled data plan and mobile plan. I.e. 5gb plan and $79 cap. can't find it on net, anyone seen it or something similar?

harryhongo writes...

Anyone know when the 5 gig deal is going to finish

It was to finish 31/12, but has been added as a regular product.

Is there a cooling off period if you order the 5Gb plan but not happy with service/signal/speed? Don't wish to sign up for 2 years with a dud service.

Derek writes...

Is there a cooling off period

Its been posted here on whirlpool that you have 11 days to take it back for a refund if it doesn't work in your location.

I haven't seen the 11 days figure anywhere on the website or brochures, so I don't know if its an official cooling off period. But general consumer legislation does require that a product be fit for the purpose it was sold as. So I guess they do have to give refunds if it just doesn't work.

I went down to the local VF store and asked about the cool off. they said as soon as you sign you're in it for the term of the contract.

In other threads about different matters I have read from reps that if you're aproached by a telemarketer or door to door sales thats when the cool off can be applied. If you go see them no dice.

Do Vodafone count uploads on this plan?

Derek writes...

Is there a cooling off period if you order the 5Gb plan but not happy with service/signal/speed? Don't wish to sign up for 2 years with a dud service.

I was told that there is no cooling off period, which to me looked odd to have to pay in total $936 ($39 x 24 months) for services or $600 penalty ($25 x 24 month) should I decide break the contract if I wasn't happy even after 1 day of using it.

Since December last year, on this thread was mentioned that there is cooling off period.
Some were able to break contract with no penalty, some were even able to take test simcard and modem to test 3G service availability on fringe areas where it was touch and go between broadband speed 3G and dialup speed GPRS.

Some companies like this power play, but it stinks and all companies should be made to be decent and customer friendly.

I wander wht TIO could say about this?

J.C. writes...

Do Vodafone count uploads on this plan?

Yes

Tra$h writes...

Can anyone answer this question as the links i was supplied still didn't answer it.

Yes, you can run the USB modem without a computer, and better still, you can share your 3G over wired and wireless network PLUS you can have a shared network drive.

There is a thread about this in respect to THREE 3G, but it works for Vodafone as well.

Quick head's up:
Need to buy an ASUS WL-500GP, download some customised firmware and burn to the ASUS. Plug e220 USB modem into the ASUS USB port. Use the GPRS/EDGE config option and set APN as "vfinternet.au", dial number as *99***1#. Reboot the ASUS and it will drive the USB modem directly.

Now you can share the 3G connection - plug a USB Hard Disk into the other USB port on the ASUS and it will act as FTP server or SAMBA Share (Windows Network Drive).

Just magic :-)

Derek writes...

Don't wish to sign up for 2 years with a dud service.

This is such an "unfair" one-sided requirement that many (incl me) have been totally turned off by Voda. I hope the ISP's are cornered by the Gov't like the Banks have been for their unfair terms and conditions.

XVIII.IV.MMIV writes...

This is such an "unfair" one-sided requirement that many (incl me) have been totally turned off by Voda. I hope the ISP's are cornered by the Gov't

On the plus side there is no churn cost ever.

All you need is Vodafone coverage in that particular area and you are connected.

Did anyone else get 11 SIM cards with their modem?

I did, and picked one at random to install and activate. No joy connecting to the network as yet. Not looking forward to having to call stupid LARA - but the nice Indian lady I spoke to before when I activated the SIM said I had to call LARA from now on for support :(

If you go into a Vodafone store and ask the sales staff if it will work where you live, and they say yes, and it doesn't, then you are entitled to a refund.

Apologies for the cross post, but I've updated my Vodafone Usage Calculator to address the new inaccurate totals they're providing.
Post is here: forum-replies.cfm?t=914927#r11

Cheers,
- DBP

Well I finally managed to get a connection (metro Bris, so 3G).

Even managed to log onto WoW. Haven't played enough to say whether it's actually playable, but ping was 800ms and dropping which should be okay.

Still doesn't excuse Vodafone from the suckiness of Lara though. I'd rather talk to an Indian human being than a soulless machine with a chirpy Australian accent who disconnects me after leading me through an endless series of voice-activated menus.

pootle writes...

the suckiness of Lara who disconnects me after leading me through an endless series of voice-activated menus.

Amen to that!

pootle writes...

I'd rather talk to an Indian human being

I guess you might luck into speaking with a person with an Indian accent in one of VF's Australian based contact centres, or the data support team based in Egypt... chances are slim, though, I would think.

Still doesn't excuse Vodafone from the suckiness of Lara though.

The best thing you can do about the "suckiness of Lara" is keep a note of what options you choose, or the words you tell her, and if she doesn't put you through to the right person, ask the wrong person to take a note of that information, and feed it back. If she disconnects you all together, without some kind of logical explanation (you've called data support at 2 am, and she knows they're closed, for instance) feed that information back through the website: vodafone.custhelp.com/cg.../enduser/ask.php.

I'm quite sure the people responsible for Lara will welcome the input.

daisy writes...

or the data support team based in Egypt...

This is probably the explanation, given I have talked to two people with the same accent. Didn't sound Egyptian to me, but then it's been a while since I spoke to an Egyptian person.

If she disconnects you all together, without some kind of logical explanation

"We seem to be experiencing some technical problems - please hang up and try again". This was an hour or so ago, so yes, within support hours.

Oh believe you me, I've submitted website feedback on 'Lara'.

I just pray I never need to call support ever again.

pootle writes...

Oh believe you me, I've submitted website feedback on 'Lara'.

Excellent! Hopefully it will result in some improvements to customer experiences!

This is probably the explanation, given I have talked to two people with the same accent. Didn't sound Egyptian to me, but then it's been a while since I spoke to an Egyptian person.

Besides the data support team, I don't think I've EVER spoken with an Egyptian person! And I don't think I'd be able to pick it in a line up.....

has anybody else noticed slow downs around 7pm-ish again. I don't have much luck loading pages after 7 these days. Lucky one of my neighbours has an unlocked WiFi network on for those Voda downtimes. :)

daisy writes...

Besides the data support team, I don't think I've EVER spoken with an Egyptian person!

I knew a guy at Uni, but that was many many years ago. And he'd been in England for four years so was so fluent in English it was hard to pick up any kind of accent.

vicecityrocker writes...

has anybody else noticed slow downs around 7pm-ish again. I don't have much luck loading pages after 7 these days. Lucky one of my neighbours has an unlocked WiFi network on for those Voda downtimes. :)

Where are you located and what is your signal strength?

anyone ordered theirs online? how long did it take to deliver?

i ordered mine on the 22nd of Jan and still haven't received it. Called the help line and they said by the end of the week.

I already received a $0 bill, when do they start the billing month? is it when I first plug it in and log on?

This is a request to the moderator to consider a new forum for the Vodafone $39 data cap.... with well over 100 replies this should not be a thread. :o)

I'd like to post my feelings on the current quality of service.

I bought the internet connection as a way to use skype/msn/icq/etc on my phone.
I then moved house and instead use the modem that came with it.
Ive been using it to play with two people World of Warcraft (online MMORPG) where i have been successfully able to party and do instances. Basically my ping is between 500-600ms, doesnt vary too much and i have no real packet loss. This is really quite incredible to me, that it is a viable alternative (at least in the short term) to use for online games.

One thing to note, from the heweii (whatever) modem, it gets really really hot. In fact ive wondered if it would be better to break open and add a heatsink to it hot. Instead ive decided to mount it next to my air-con, seems to be happier when its not burning my hand hot..

Im very happy with the quality.

Im not very happy with the billing.

Only because i have no freaking idea of how much ive used. I think if you are going to charge money for crossing a certain line, it shouldnt be invisible.

skythra writes...

Only because i have no freaking idea of how much ive used. I think if you are going to charge money for crossing a certain line, it shouldnt be invisible.

forum-replies.cfm?t=914927#r20

whoami? writes...

anyone ordered theirs online? how long did it take to deliver?

*raises hand*

It wasn't too bad, in all. I ordered last Monday. On Tuesday I got an e-mail saying "Congrats! Your credit check passed" and the words "we’ve notified our courier and your Vodafone Direct Deal is on its way". I foolishly took this latter statement to mean "It's been dispatched". It had not. I waited all day at work on Wednesday and Thursday (since you have to show ID, I didn't go anywhere in case it turned up while I was out). On Friday morning I rang and was told "It's being dispatched today" and sure enough it arrived on Monday (yesterday).

They need a better order tracking system IMO. The e-mail needs clarifying, and they need to send another one when it's been dispatched. People have better things to do than wait around all day for days on end.

I'd hassle them if I were you. If the credit check has passed they should be getting it out to you.

pootle writes...

Still doesn't excuse Vodafone from the suckiness of Lara though. I'd rather talk to an Indian human being than a soulless machine with a chirpy Australian accent who disconnects me after leading me through an endless series of voice-activated menus.

I was disconnected several times too, between 9 am and 6 pm, so assume hours were OK.

I too will do anything to avoid making THAT CALL.

Every time I managed to get to real person I voiced my dissatisfaction with automatic voice service, but nobody took up the conversation, nobody was interested what problems I have had and nobody provided me with any solution so my experience talking to automated service is not hit and miss, they shrugged it of and asked about my other requests.

George writes...

Every time I managed to get to real person I voiced my dissatisfaction with automatic voice service,

If you called my callcentre and voiced your dissatifaction of the automated voice system, i too wouldnt talk about it. Ill tell you why? because everyone tells me that. There is nothing I can do about it no matter how dissatisfied you may be. My boss knows about it and his boss knows about it. If they arent going to change it, they arent going to change it. If the customers are still there they probably will keep it until their return on investment is paid off.

skythra writes...

If you called my callcentre and voiced your dissatifaction of the automated voice system, i too wouldnt talk about it. Ill tell you why? because everyone tells me that. There is nothing I can do about it no matter how dissatisfied you may be. My boss knows about it and his boss knows about it. If they arent going to change it, they arent going to change it. If the customers are still there they probably will keep it until their return on investment is paid off.

Several posts earlier complaining was suggested, and I voiced how futile they are and they fall on deaf ears.
I can probably make a statement, break contract pay $550 fine and go without Internet connection as almost every company uses it.

Being on pair gain my options are limited to dialup or wireless.

As a side comment I noticed that increasingly I do not deal with companies because I love the product and am excited about the service, I deal with companies because I need product and if there is choice I try to use one that is not the worst.

Old voting with my feed trick doesn’t seem to work any more.

Hi. This is the first hour I've used this. Robina, Gold Coast. Speed is um. wtf?
----------------------------------­ -------
Broadband Speed Test Results

Test run on 12/02/2008 @ 06:34 PM

Mirror: OptusNet
Data: 3 MB
Test Time: 234.59 secs

Your line speed is 104 kbps (0.1 Mbps).
Your download speed is 13 KB/s (0.01 MB/s).

fiish writes...

Hi. This is the first hour I've used this. Robina, Gold Coast. Speed is um. wtf?
----------------------------------­ ------
Broadband Speed Test Results

Test run on 12/02/2008 @ 06:34 PM

Mirror: OptusNet
Data: 3 MB
Test Time: 234.59 secs

Your line speed is 104 kbps (0.1 Mbps).
Your download speed is 13 KB/s (0.01 MB/s).

What signal strength do you have?
I had problems with Vodafone data at peak times nine months ago on the Gold Coast. I would have hoped that it would have been resolved by now.

I'm on a Mac and seem to have no way of knowing?

The Three mobile sitting 30cm from the datacard has 3.5G signal at the moment. The light on the datacard is blue. Does that indicate the connection type?

what's up skip writes...

What signal strength do you have?

That's a good question. For about two weeks now, I have not been able to use the Vodafone connect software. I thought this may be because I connected the modem to a powered hub, but I do recall it was working for a short time after that because I moved the modem around to get better signal strength, using the voda software to show this.

But now, the voda software simply sits there saying it is trying to find the hardware.

My connection is now managed by Windows itself, so connecting is no big deal. Interestingly enough, if there is now a clash between the Windows dialler and the voda software, it was not a problem for several weeks, as I've connected this way for several weeks.

Has anyone else noticed similar?