o2 Connection Problems

bijou

Hi all,

Just wondered if anyone out there can give advice regarding the connection problems I'm having with my o2 dongle.

I have an E270 dongle connected to an Edimax 3G-6200n router. Just lately the dongle has been constantly disconnecting itself changing from a constant light blue light to the flashing green light and not re-connecting.

Was wondering if the router might have anything to do with the disconnecting issue. Having said that I've always had on/off problems with this connection (even when the dongle has been connected directly to the laptop). o2 advise me that the there are no issues in the area.

Getting to the stage now where I'm ready for throwing the thing out the window :rolleyes:. I know congestion is a major factor with mobile BB (OK maybe I've just answered my own query )

We have no other means of connecting to the internet (no line of sight to the nearest wireless provider, eircom won't upgrade the lines etc etc etc....). My only alternative is Sat broadband which I'm not that keen on due to the cost and latency issues.

Getting to the end of my tether now so maybe I'm clutching at straws with the router. Any ideas????

Thanks

iwantbroadband

Have you worked out if it's a signal issue? What kind of strength of signal (percentage wise) does the modem pick up? You can either see this in the router dashboard, or plug the modem directly into your computer for a while.

If you're at the edge of the cell, your dropouts could be due to cell breathing, where the coverage radius shrinks the more people using it.

If it's a low signal issue/cell breathing, you could maybe consider an external aerial. I use a directional aerial mounted on our roof (on TV aerial pole) which points in the direction of the mast, non line of site, 6km away. It brought our signal up from 13% and constant dropouts, to 48% and stable all of the time.

It would be a bit of an investment at approx €70-100 for the aerial, and a new modem with an external aerial connector (assume yours doesn't have one but might do) but it's well worth the money.

bijou

iwantbroadband wrote: »

Have you worked out if it's a signal issue? What kind of strength of signal (percentage wise) does the modem pick up? You can either see this in the router dashboard, or plug the modem directly into your computer for a while.

If you're at the edge of the cell, your dropouts could be due to cell breathing, where the coverage radius shrinks the more people using it.

If it's a low signal issue/cell breathing, you could maybe consider an external aerial. I use a directional aerial mounted on our roof (on TV aerial pole) which points in the direction of the mast, non line of site, 6km away. It brought our signal up from 13% and constant dropouts, to 48% and stable all of the time.

It would be a bit of an investment at approx €70-100 for the aerial, and a new modem with an external aerial connector (assume yours doesn't have one but might do) but it's well worth the money.

Yeah was considering an external aerial but if it's down to congestion would that help?? I've had the dongle plugged directly into the laptop all day and it's still dropping signal (fluctuating between wcdma/hspa) showing 2 bars on the o2 dashboard.

All I've had from o2 is "sorry but can't do anything for you if you want to cancel that's no problem". Doesn't inspire confidence and if I decided to cancel I've no other alternative (unless I get my landline reconnected and go back to dial up - does that even exist anymore???) :rolleyes: Not in an NBS area (have already tried that route and complained to comreg who reckon NBS is not needed in my area). It's frustrating & heartbreaking really:mad:

Oh and to top it off my router has ceased to existed altogether tonight - have tried to reset and re-install it but it sadly doesn't want to know!!!

bijou

iwantbroadband wrote: »

It would be a bit of an investment at approx €70-100 for the aerial, and a new modem with an external aerial connector (assume yours doesn't have one but might do) but it's well worth the money.

Just out of curiosity iwantbroadband where would I look if I decided to invest in an external aerial?? The E270 I have does have the socket on the back for one of these.

iwantbroadband

This is the one I got, complete with 5m of cable and a CRC9 pigtail connector to connect to the Huawei modem.
http://www.connextech.co.uk/3g-external-high-gain-directional-antenna-bundle---200202-231-p.asp

Use Siteviewer to find the nearest 3G mast and point it in the direction of it.

eirator

OP I get exactly the same issue with the same router (different dongle) on the 3 network. Its just too many users as the issue, while it can happen at almost anytime of day and sometimes night, is always worse at peak times in the early evening.

btw check you have the latest firmware and the site you get the most updated from afaik is http://www.edimax.eu/en/support_detail.php?pd_id=305&pl1_id=3 version 2.24p. I've been on V2.24g for about a year and that works fine for me but you need to set up the APN and number to dial yourself as othewise it defaults to the phone APN 3ireland.ie and not the required APN 3internet. Edit - sorry forgot your on O2 but check the settings anyway as I'm not convinced they are all correct if picked from the pull down menus.