Vodafone 3G disconnects in Bayswater, Western Australia are increasing to the point of "they are a shit bag service". So, please cut it out. (No pun intended :-)

Will tell the whole internet and post signs in the City of Bayswater (several suburbs) to stay away from Voda ... So, pull your flapping socks up.

Vote in poll .. tell me you luuuvvv them .. :-) :-(

I am in the northern beaches of Sydney and I am sooo sick of the disconnections I have set up a wireless network off my machine and without fail as soon as the other machines in the house try to connect to the voda modem disconnects. I would say on average I am getting disconnected 20 to 30 times an evening. This service is definately poor. Combine that with the lost downloads which you have to restart and there for cut into your download limit and I feel I am getting ripped off big time. Vodafone you need to get your network sorted out People are paying good money and you are deliverying crap service. Look at oyur usgae rates especially during peak hours when all the tossers are on their mobiles while driving home and the teenagers are downloading there favourite after school garbage. I have loggedthis as problem to the technical team and got the run around with out ever talking to a real person. I hope you are making good profits as you are not making happy customers Voda

I have only had 1 disconnection, ever. Lane Cove, USB modem, iBook, mainly just the 1 computer but have shared the connection with 2 other computers for a while when the iiNet ADSL modem stopped working.
I am generally happy with my experience, and am sorry to read of other users bad experiences.

How strange...just had 2 disconnections in 3 minutes.

I called up vf and complained about this I live in Brisbane Queensland and was getting a drop out every few minutes, They told me to change my connection type from 3g preferred to 3g only, Although Im still getting disconnected its only happening every 2 or 3 hours now, So try and change the setting on the vodafone software under manage connections, It does stop you from a lot of disconnections

lbigfella writes...

I called up vf and complained about this I live in Brisbane Queensland and was getting a drop out every few minutes, They told me to change my connection type from 3g preferred to 3g only, Although Im still getting disconnected its only happening every 2 or 3 hours now, So try and change the setting on the vodafone software under manage connections, It does stop you from a lot of disconnections

Same town, same situation, VF told me the same thing.

I get more disconnections now that I'm on 3G only.

Anyone know why it disconnects? When I'm not forced to 3G only it never goes off 3G/HSDPA anyway as I'm an entire...10m or so from the tower. It does the same d/c routine on all my computers so I know it's not the pc.

lbigfella writes...

I called up vf and complained about this I live in Brisbane Queensland

I'm afraid with house prices the way they are in Sydney, you'll have to stay in Brisbane for a while mate. (I don't think VF can do much about that either) :\

Mark@SMSFun writes...

Anyone know why it disconnects?

It's screwed?
I know mine is.
Only 4 drop-outs today, 3 yesterday & 9 each the previous 2 days.
That's fairly average.
Speeds have crashed in the past couple of weeks too & they were the only thing I was happy about.
Cheers

Could the wet weather have anything to do with disconnections ?? It definitely affects WiFi & as I understand both WiFi & GSM use the same frequency.

dougy99 writes...

Could the wet weather have anything to do with disconnections ?

Strangely, no.
Well not in my experience anyway.
If anything, mine seems to be a bit more stable when it's wet.

as I understand both WiFi & GSM use the same frequency.

Not quite.
WiFi uses the same as your microwave & cordless phone, the GSM/3G is different again.
Cheers

dougy99 writes...

It definitely affects WiFi & as I understand both WiFi & GSM use the same frequency.

No, they don't.

GSM is deployed on 900 and 1800 MHz, and Wifi B/G is in the 2.4GHz range, along with Bluetooth and a lot of other class-licensed crap such as some DECT systems.

Could the wet weather have anything to do with disconnections ??

Yeah, more people on the 'net in the crappy weather. :)

edit: Wifi/BT = 2.4, not 2.1

port writes...

Wifi B/G is in the 2.1GHz range

Wifi is 2.4GHz

Not having disconnections would be out of the norm for me. They're generally RAS errors nowadays though, although I did have periods of no data movement with no errors yesterday.

I'm in South West Sydney by the way.

I've just had my Voda contract killed and gone back to 3.

Having tried all the major mobile broadband providers, IMHO only 3 and Telstra provide satisfactory access.

Had to reboot the computer to get the modem to unlock earlier, after ½ an hour of being locked out.
Not often get the lock-up, more the drop-out.
Either way, the service is getting worse every day.
Cheers

Cy_Kosis writes...

Had to reboot the computer to get the modem to unlock earlier, after ½ an hour of being locked out.

I think unplugging and plugging back in has the same effect. It sort of 'resets' it for me when things go bad, assuming the network isn't stuffed up in the first place.

Just 'exit' the VMC, & fire it again.

edit: mebbe also have the 'allow software to power-off device on exit' thingy ticked too.

dannyboi writes...

I think unplugging and plugging back in has the same effect.

It was after trying that I needed to re-boot :-/
Oh well, another phonecall to my lest favourite bot

In the Gold Coast Hinterland i get disconnected about once a day.It doesn't bother me because i know wireless is not as stable as ADSL and for $39 for 5 Gig. i'm not complaining.

My last plan was Primus 12 Gig with landline for $120 per month,so i'm saving $80 per month.

For that saving,i'll cop a disconnection and the mobility is amazing as i travel a lot and there's no more hotel dial up and ADSL connections to worry about.I use it a lot on my boat on the Gold Coast and i can stay connected upto 15km offshore from the Southport tower and all the way from the Gold Coast Broadwater to Moreton Bay.

I've currently been connected for 16 hours 23 minutes.

Today's speed is 1,352 kb/s.

It's a great service.

hmm... that's how it starts... before you know it, you're hooked!

Well I lodged an official complaint against Vodafone last night (to their customer center)

Took me 48 minutes all up, from yay to nay. I spoke to Lara (got I hate that b&*%^) and I was disconnected twice from the automated service, after typing my mobile number in.

Third time I got through. I lodged my complaint officially, and was advised they had recieved lots of calls regarding this issue. Took me 18 minutes to log the complaint once I was speaking to someone, including the initial time trying to circumvent 'Lara'..

I want out of this Vodafone contract. I'm outside my 10 day cool off, but still on my first free month. Any suggestions?

I've been connected for 15 hours and 47 minutes today with no dropouts.

But then again my tower doesn't have congestion problems and hasn't had since i joined on December 7.

Everyone is going to have different connection issues as each tower's efficiency is dependent on the amount of users and voice has priority over data.

I've been disconnected once in 5 days.

Great service.

There has been an improvement for me of late. Just to set the record straight.

Now, I have probably put the mockers on myself ..

(I think they need the publicity of a team in Le Tour de France – they say they are a big worldwide service – are they?)

graham.lv writes...

they say they are a big worldwide service – are they?

Vodafone?
Yeah, they're the largest mobile phone company on the planet.
Hasn't helped them get the wireless right though.
Cheers

Cy Kosis writes...

Hasn't helped them get the wireless right though.

It was working fine last year.

The obvious thing to state would be that they're over-subscribed.

so had anyone called up Vodafone ??

do they know of the problem and trying to fix it ??

what stops me calling them is i am worried i will have my time wasted with them telling me to re-install the software, etc, etc, as if we are clowns who dont know what we are doing..

i know that was how bigpond used to always try and resolve problems.. you'd waste hours before they admit its something at their end..

Ignition writes...

as if we are clowns who dont know what we are doing..

When in fact it it's them that are the clowns without a clue.

do they know of the problem

Ohhhh yes.

and trying to fix it ??

Who knows.
I keep hearing The whole network is being upgraded but from what I can tell they've been saying that for a year & so far I haven't heard of anyone's VFWBB improving.
In my situation it's just got worse, especially in the past 3 weeks.
I'm thinking of telling VF to stick it & going iiNet naked.
Cheers.

Cy Kosis writes...

I'm thinking of telling VF to stick it & going iiNet naked.

I am thinking the EXACT same thing !! :)

Ignition writes...

I am thinking the EXACT same thing !! :)

It's available in your postcode too.

Great Service? I'm jealous, nothing but disconnections last few days, and speed? sure would be faster to write something out than download at times.

no one has added to this thread for a while.. are your disconnects fixed ???

Mine is still the worst ever. Last night i dont think i went more than 10 mins without it locking up or disconnecting..

and that was for the entire night....

Ignition writes...

no one has added to this thread for a while.. are your disconnects fixed ???

Not fixed, I reckon everyone is too busy trying to log onto the internet to post here lol.
Locked up first thing this morning & 6 drop-outs so far.
Speeds rubbish too.

Guys I'm guessing you have complained to the company. If so and you are still not satisfied then ring or email the TIO if you are not getting anywhere with the company. I wish I had contacted them a lot sooner, one email and it was all sorted. I wish I hadn't persisted with it for as long as I did.

i dont see how calling them is going to sort anything out.. Many of us are all suffering the same thing...

are you trying to say they can fix everyone's connection problem on a per call in basis ???

Ignition writes...

are you trying to say they can fix everyone's connection problem on a per call in basis ???

I suspect he means escaping their clutches without penalty.
I've just had 7 drop-outs since 6.30.

Cy Kosis writes...

I suspect he means escaping their clutches without penalty.

I've just had 7 drop-outs since 6.30.

oh yes having read the other threads i see what he means. Well yes I plan on getting rid of Vodafone but am waiting for my Naked DSL to be installed. Most likely 2 week wait.

drop outs.. got home at 5:40pm.. its an hour later.. i havnt been counting but its in excess of 10.....

its getting so bad its almost unusable except to quick view web pages.. dont even try to have a chat with someone on MSN..

Ignition writes...

i havnt been counting but its in excess of 10..

I just use Window's Event Viewer to give me the number.

Well yes I plan on getting rid of Vodafone but am waiting for my Naked DSL to be installed. Most likely 2 week wait.

As little as 10 days appears to be the current average.

its getting so bad its almost unusable except to quick view web pages.. dont even try to have a chat with someone on MSN..

Streaming media is off the plate, VOIP of any flavour (I use Skype) isn't really usable at the moment whereas it used to be fine.
I haven't even attempted oovoo recently.

I've just had 6 dropouts since 7pm.

I don't know whether it's just plain slow or what, but I seems to be getting another kind of dropout – time out... Despite the modem is showing bright blue light (3G or better), there are times that the internet is completely dead, like all outgoing packets just gone and disappeared in the ocean... May be Vodafone's 10.0.0.0/8 private IP is causing them routing issues...

Mines been dead tonight.

Been dead most nights

andretti writes...

there are times that the internet is completely dead, like all outgoing packets just gone and disappeared in the ocean...

yeah thats what i get most of the time.. and have to force a disconnect and reconnect.. then it works for a little while before it happens all over again...

but usually locks up when in HSDPA mode.. rather than 3G....

Have been having the same problem in Fremantle, WA.

Called up last week to complain. They logged a job with their technicians to 'test' my connection (how?).

The Indian muppet phoned me back the next day and said there's congestion on my tower and offered me a contract cancellation with no fee. I jumped on that and am now with '3' 6gb for $39. Flawless service so far (but that's how it started with Vodafone....)

Ignition writes...

yeah thats what i get most of the time.. and have to force a disconnect and reconnect.. then it works for a little while before it happens all over again...

but usually locks up when in HSDPA mode.. rather than 3G....

Exactly.

Also, the chance of dead (mortality rate perhaps...) is much higher if I have more than 1 application opened that uses the internet, or try to open several web pages at the same time in different tabs.

i loathe signing into contracts, but this offer was just too good to refuse. until i actually used the service. i live in sydney and most times it drops out every few minutes; other times i can't even connect. its ridiculous. i use it around the city and the eastern suburbs.. if it doesn't work in sydney, i'd hate to think what its like elsewhere......

andretti writes...

Despite the modem is showing bright blue light (3G or better), there are times that the internet is completely dead

Same here, I was trying to process a purchase and it took me 3 goes before I had a connection last longer than 2 minutes! Thinking my conection was still there cos I had the solid light, click process, and then upon checking VMC its at 0bps GRRR!
I havent made any calls to Vodafone at all re: constant disconnections and freeze ups.
I just think, is it worth a call, just to get a crappy excuse?