EDGE connections?

[MarkSnell]

Are EDGE connections supported by Exetel wireless broadband?

When the signal is not good enough for HSPA, my modem (Huawei B932) falls back to GPRS (56k) and then tries to bump this up to EDGE (384k).

In these circumstances (when I visit the Upper Yarra Valley in Victoria, for example), the GPRS connection seems to work ... until the modem gets the idea to try for EDGE.

The modem tells me it has a strong signal and it has a connection with IP addresses allocated, but a ping plot shows that in fact there is no connection. (I have my modem's IP but nothing beyond.)

The modem can be set to WCDMA preferred, GSM preferred, WCDMA only or GSM only. Unfortunately, setting it to GSM only still allows it to attempt EDGE connections.

I have line of sight to the Woori Yallock tower, but have been told that this is so congested I am seldom able to get a connection through it. (When I do, it is an acceptable HSPA connection.)

Is this problem likely to be:

• 1. A modem issue?
  2. Because EDGE connections aren't supported?
  3. Due to contention for data connections in the local area?

All the best

Mark

[KavindaS]

Are EDGE connections supported by Exetel wireless broadband?

When the signal is not good enough for HSPA, my modem (Huawei B932) falls back to GPRS (56k) and then tries to bump this up to EDGE (384k).

In these circumstances (when I visit the Upper Yarra Valley in Victoria, for example), the GPRS connection seems to work ... until the modem gets the idea to try for EDGE.

The modem tells me it has a strong signal and it has a connection with IP addresses allocated, but a ping plot shows that in fact there is no connection. (I have my modem's IP but nothing beyond.)

The modem can be set to WCDMA preferred, GSM preferred, WCDMA only or GSM only. Unfortunately, setting it to GSM only still allows it to attempt EDGE connections.

I have line of sight to the Woori Yallock tower, but have been told that this is so congested I am seldom able to get a connection through it. (When I do, it is an acceptable HSPA connection.)

Is this problem likely to be:

• 1. A modem issue?
  2. Because EDGE connections aren't supported?
  3. Due to contention for data connections in the local area?

All the best

Mark

Hi Mark,

It seems to be the connection is lowering to 2G when the signal drops. Compatibility is depend on the particular tower you get connect through the supplier. For testing purpose would you please try below and monitor the service. If no change sends an email to residentialsupport@exetel.com.au indicating your service number so you will receive a ticket number. Update the forum with that reference number so we can better assist you .

1. Open your Optus wireless broadband window
2. Select Tools and select options.
3. Under options select Network.
4. From the network options change the following settings,

Network type - WCDMA only
Bandwidth type - “All bands"

After making those changes save the settings and check the connection.

[MarkSnell]

I submitted this issue to Residential Support on May 31 (before I asked my questions in this forum) and was given ticket #5235873. Is this adequate?

I have changed the settings to "WCDMA only" and "All bands" and do not notice any difference.

The following is a tabulation of my experience for about 30 minutes this morning from around 7.30am to 8am.

This was compiled using the log from Celltrack91 on a Nokia 6121 mobile phone, the "network type" from the Huawei modem web interface and the ping from Pingplotter on my computer.

The Celltrack log only records new announcements of towers. It does not record periods without signal. I have inserted these to the nearest minute.

It should be noted that all the columns up to and including "tower" come from the phone. So the signal strength is the phone's reception, not that of the modem.


All the best

Mark

Code: Select all

Date		 Time	  CID 	 LAC		RNC		Net			 SS		dbm		Tower(?)			    Type 	Ping

20120610	072533	37091	3100 	0		 505	02		57%		-93		*:Monbulk (GSM)
20120610	072544	41503	33350	2305 	505	02		100% 	 -95		no info (WCDMA)
20120610	072800	37091	3100 	0		 505	02		71%		-89		*:Monbulk (GSM)		Edge
20120610	072812	41503	33350	2305 	505	02		100% 	 -93		no info (WCDMA)		Edge 	No
20120610	072900														no signal
20120610	073024	37091	3100 	0		 505	02		71%		-89		*:Monbulk (GSM)		GPRS
20120610	073038	41503	33350	2305 	505	02		100% 	 -95		no info (WCDMA)		Edge 	No
20120610	073100														no signal
20120610	073244	33721	3100 	0		 505	02		86%		-87		*:Emerald (GSM)		Edge 	No
20120610	073258	41503	33350	2305 	505	02		100% 	 -95		no info (WCDMA)		Edge 	No
20120610	073400														no signal
20120610	073514	33721	3100 	0		 505	02		86%		-87		*:Emerald (GSM)		GPRS 	Yes
20120610	073528	41503	33350	2305 	505	02		100% 	 -95		no info (WCDMA)		Edge 	No
20120610	073700														no signal			
20120610	073735	33721	3100 	0		 505	02		71%		-91		*:Emerald (GSM)		GPRS 	1845ms
20120610	073748	41503	33350	2305 	505	02		100% 	 -95		no info (WCDMA)		Edge 	No
20120610	073900														no signal 			
20120610	074209	37091	3100 	0		 505	02		71%		-91		*:Monbulk (GSM)		GPRS 	Yes
20120610	074221	41503	33350	2305 	505	02		100% 	 -95		no info (WCDMA)		None 	No
20120610	074429	33721	3100 	0		 505	02		71%		-91		*:Emerald (GSM)		GPRS 	1642ms
20120610	074442	41503	33350	2305 	505	02		100% 	 -95		no info (WCDMA)		Edge 	No
20120610	074500														no signal
20120610	074651	33721	3100 	0		 505	02		71%		-91		*:Emerald (GSM)		GPRS 	1641ms
20120610	074704	41503	33350	2305 	505	02		100% 	 -95		no info (WCDMA)		GPRS 	Yes
20120610	074800	41503	33350	2305 	505	02		100% 	 -95		no info (WCDMA)		Edge 	No
20120610	074830														no signal	
20120610	074909	33721	3100 	0		 505	02		71%		-91		*:Emerald (GSM)		None 	No
20120610	074924	41503	33350	2305 	505	02		100% 	 -95		no info (WCDMA)		GPRS 	No
20120610	075000	41503	33350	2305 	505	02		100% 	 -95		no info (WCDMA)		Edge 	No
20120610	075100														no signal
20120610	075129	33721	3100 	0		 505	02		86%		-89		*:Emerald (GSM)		None 	No		
20120610	075141	41503	33350	2305 	505	02		100% 	 -95		no info (WCDMA)		GPRS 	1494ms
20120610	075236	41503	33350	2305 	505	02		100% 	 -95		no info (WCDMA)		Edge 	No
20120610	075352	37091	3100 	0		 505	02		71%		-91		*:Monbulk (GSM)
20120610	075406	41503	33350	2305 	505	02		86%		-99		no info (WCDMA)
20120610	075621	33721	3100 	0		 505	02		71%		-91		*:Emerald (GSM)
20120610	075634	41503	33350	2305 	505	02		86%		-99		no info (WCDMA)
20120610	075850	5681 	3100 	0		 505	02		71%		-91		*:Woori Yallock (GSM)
20120610	075959	33721	3100 	0		 505	02		71%		-91		*:Emerald (GSM)
20120610	080021	5681 	3100 	0		 505	02		57%		-93		*:Woori Yallock (GSM)
20120610	080030	37091	3100 	0		 505	02		43%		-95		*:Monbulk (GSM)
20120610	080043	37031	3100 	0		 505	02		43%		-95		*:Mt Dandenong (GSM)
20120610	080107	5681 	3100 	0		 505	02		57%		-91		*:Woori Yallock (GSM)
20120610	080149	33721	3100 	0		 505	02		57%		-93		*:Emerald (GSM)
20120610	080214	37031	3100 	0		 505	02		57%		-93		*:Mt Dandenong (GSM)
20120610	080241	33721	3100 	0		 505	02		43%		-95		*:Emerald (GSM)
20120610	080314	37031	3100 	0		 505	02		43%		-95		*:Mt Dandenong (GSM)
20120610	080332	5681 	3100 	0		 505	02		71%		-89		*:Woori Yallock (GSM)
20120610	080346	33721	3100 	0		 505	02		71%		-91		*:Emerald (GSM)
20120610	080437	41503	33350	2305 	505	02		43%		-107  	no info (WCDMA)
20120610	080445	41449	33350	2305 	505	02		57%		-105  	no info (WCDMA)
20120610	080502	41503	33350	2305 	505	02		43%		-107  	no info (WCDMA)
20120610	080554	41449	33350	2305 	505	02		71%		-103  	no info (WCDMA)
20120610	080644	33721	3100 	0		 505	02		43%		-95		*:Emerald (GSM)
20120610	080700	41503	33350	2305 	505	02		57%		-103  	no info (WCDMA)
20120610	080911	33721	3100 	0		 505	02		100% 	 -85		*:Emerald (GSM)

[Kaushalya]

I submitted this issue to Residential Support on May 31 (before I asked my questions in this forum) and was given ticket #5235873. Is this adequate?

I have changed the settings to "WCDMA only" and "All bands" and do not notice any difference.

The following is a tabulation of my experience for about 30 minutes this morning from around 7.30am to 8am.

This was compiled using the log from Celltrack91 on a Nokia 6121 mobile phone, the "network type" from the Huawei modem web interface and the ping from Pingplotter on my computer.

The Celltrack log only records new announcements of towers. It does not record periods without signal. I have inserted these to the nearest minute.

It should be noted that all the columns up to and including "tower" come from the phone. So the signal strength is the phone's reception, not that of the modem.


All the best

Mark

Hi Mark,

I have checked the history and could find that we have already escalated this matter to our wholesale supplier and already explained you of the current situation. This is due to the network limitation of the tower that you are connected due to the increased number of users on that site. Unfortunately we are unable to provide an estimated time of resolution in regards to the placing new sites in that area.

Regards,
Kaushalya

[MarkSnell]

I accept that Exetel staff have already done what they can with Optus to resolve this matter and, as you point out, had already done so when I posted this question and my other related questions in the Mobiles forum at viewtopic.php?f=59&t=39454#p300621.

The purpose of my question was to find out some basic technical information that would help me determine what strategies might be open to me at a local level to attempt to get the best possible service in my circumstances ... before contemplating Telstra.

I still don't understand why my modem seems to establish a GPRS connection, but drops this in favour of an Edge connection which doesn't exist or, if it does, immediately drops out.

The higher speeds/protocols may very well be congested with no connections available. Why won't it just stick with the GPRS connection that it has established and get on with the job (albeit slowly)?

The questions I raised in the Mobiles forum were pointed here by staff and several of those questions, similarly, remain unanswered.

I want to make it clear that I do not want to appear ungrateful and I am not expecting Exetel staff to take any further action.

I just thought, that as a "forum", there might be somebody here who would know and could give technical answers to my questions.

If not, fair enough!


All the best

Mark