We have really CRAP bdbnd yet my son can connect with his smart phone ?

flynnboy

We have painfully slow broadband, it is so bad that we are not able to watch ANY video whatsoever or download sound, surfing is a nightmare, watching paint dry doesn't come in to it..... YET my step-son has arrived for a holiday with his new smart phone and he can connect no problem and way faster that I can on the computer - how is that ? I assumed there would be no point in me buying a smart phone because our signal for the computer is so bad (o2 Dongle) I thought a smart phone would not work either ?

Can anyone tell me how a smart phone works in my house yet my computer is so painfully slow I usually feel like throwing it out of the window most of the time !?

gctest50

Are you o2 also ?

Is the dongle down the back of the computer in a corner or similar ?

Could just be a faulty/bad dongle.

You could get one of these yokes to try : http://www.o2online.ie/shop/view/content/mobile-broadband

Ask here first though : http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1147

vibe666

it will depend on what network you are on compared to him as to how strong your signal is. if you're on the same network, you may just have an old or faulty dongle but capable of the same speeds as his smart phone.

flynnboy

Don't know what network he's on, he's still in bed..... and yes the computer is in a corner as there is nowhere else for it but the dongle is on a window sill. I didn't realise that other networks might have coverage here because for example Vodaphone would not work at all here and o2 was the only choice left to us. If Vodaphone dos not work and o2 is ropey how come another mobile smart phone network seems to work ?

flynnboy

What I do not understand is this, if his network works here, why doesn't my o2 or vodaphone ?

flynnboy

His network is Giff-Gaff, UK network - still don't understand how his can work and yet Vodaphone does not at all and o2 is pathetic ?

flynnboy

He just sat here and still connected no probs so it's not a 'black-spot' where the computer is.

Pro Hoc Vice

flynnboy wrote: »

His network is Giff-Gaff, UK network - still don't understand how his can work and yet Vodaphone does not at all and o2 is pathetic ?

Get him to check which network he is roaming on, (it will cost him a fortune to roam btw) he will be roaming on any of the following O2, Vodafone, Three or Meteor. I am guessing it will be either meteor or three. If it is, then your best bet would be to switch to one of them.

ED E

He's roaming so, I REALLY hope he isnt on billpay or he may get a big shock when he(or his mother) gets the bill.

Two explain some concepts:

• There are four real operators here right now, o2, Vodafone, Meteor(eMobile) and Three. They sometimes share masts(just a big pole) but not transmitters. That means you dont always have the same coverage for all networks. Three are a good example of this as they only have their own transmitters in urban areas and pay to use vodafones out on the sticks.
• Handsets vary. A good antenna in a modern phone can do more with the same signal than an old phone or a cheapo dongle.
• Position in the house can make a big difference. Yours may be in the window, but if the mast is on the far side of the house thats jack all use.

EDIT: If he gets coverage where you dont, he's probably roaming on another network. He can find out in the settings menu on his phone who he's currently connected to.

flynnboy

He can't find anything in settings, the browser that comes up is 'Opera Mini' - does that help?

flynnboy

He's on o2 mobile web it seems, so if he is on o2 and he is connecting OK then what the!!!!

Pro Hoc Vice

flynnboy wrote: »

He's on o2 mobile web it seems, so if he is on o2 and he is connecting OK then what the!!!!

Look at his screen, there should be a signal strength indicator and next to that there should be the logo for the network he is connected to. What is that logo?

flynnboy

He's o2

Pro Hoc Vice

flynnboy wrote: »

He's o2

Sounds like there is a problem with your dongle. Do a speed test on both devices. BTW he is I believe paying 45p per MB which will add up very quickly. 1mb is about 15 seconds if YouTube.

degsie

Can you tether his mobile to your computer and see what speeds you get? Might be a problem with your PC.

Turtle_Tommy

If ye are both on o2, you could be using the 2g network while he's using the 3g network. In your settings on your o2 windows app, make sure your connection is set to WCDMA/3g only and not any of the other settings.

flynnboy

degsie wrote: »

Can you tether his mobile to your computer and see what speeds you get? Might be a problem with your PC.

How do you do that ?

flynnboy

Turtle_Tommy wrote: »

If ye are both on o2, you could be using the 2g network while he's using the 3g network. In your settings on your o2 windows app, make sure your connection is set to WCDMA/3g only and not any of the other settings.

Can I set my puter to 3G - if so how ?

Thanks

long_b

Is his speed good everywhere inside or just in one particular place in the house ?
I had a small 1m "cube" of space in my kitchen that gave great speed.

Turtle_Tommy

flynnboy wrote: »

Can I set my puter to 3G - if so how ?

Thanks

Go here for instructions on how to change your connection type: http://community.o2online.ie/t5/Help-Support/How-do-I-change-my-Broadband-connection-type/ta-p/559290

flynnboy

long_b wrote: »

Is his speed good everywhere inside or just in one particular place in the house ?
I had a small 1m "cube" of space in my kitchen that gave great speed.

It's good everywhere even sitting here next to the puter.

flynnboy

Hi Turtle Tommy,

I have looked at that and the instructions for my device are as follows:

- Open the Connection Manager. Do not connect to the Internet.
- Click Settings and then Connection Type.
- Select 3G Only.
- Click Apply.

However I have looked at my 'connection manager' - which I presume is the box that pops up for me to choose to connect or not - and there is simply no option for 'settings' ... any ideas ?

Thanks for your help

flynnboy

I have been looking around and I do not know why the instructions tell me I can select 3G because I cannot.
I can find a tab for 'Network Type' and the only options I have are:

GSM only
GSM preferred
WCDMA only
WCDMA preferred

Then there is a 'Bands' tab, under that these are the choices:

All bands GSM 1900
GSM900/GSM1800/WCDMA2100

I do not have a 3G option as stated in the instructions for my modem - which is a Huawei E220

So do o2 know what they are talking about ?

Turtle_Tommy

Does your page look like the attached picture?
If so, click Tools - Options - Network - Change the network type to 3g/WCDMA/UMTS only - Click Apply - Click OK.
If you can't find it like this, look around the options on the connection manager until you find "Network" and switch the connection to 3g/WCDMA/UMTS only.
Hope that will help.

Turtle_Tommy

Select the option "WCDMA only". That is the 3g network.
Also select "All bands".

flynnboy

There is deffo no mention of 3G anywhere, only as I listed. I did try WCDMA preferred and I just could not connect at all. I have now connected with GSM only. I'll go and try WCDMA only

Thanks for your help TT !

Pj!

Could the fault (slowness) be with the computer?

flynnboy

Well, I cannot connect with any of the WCDMA options, every time I try I just get the message "You cannot connect before register an available network"

I am now connected using GSM preferred and now don't know which of the GSM options I should be using..... ? So much for o2's instructions for my modem type.

flynnboy

Pj! wrote: »

Could the fault (slowness) be with the computer?

I am pretty sure it's not my computer, but how can I tell ?

ED E

flynnboy wrote: »

There is deffo no mention of 3G anywhere, only as I listed. I did try WCDMA preferred and I just could not connect at all. I have now connected with GSM only. I'll go and try WCDMA only

Thanks for your help TT !

If WCDMA only doesnt work and GSM does, that dongle is only picking up a 2G signal. Get a new dongle.

Turtle_Tommy

When you switch to WCDMA only, do you get any signal on the connection manager? Both GSM networks are the same but they are extremely slow as they are the 2g network.

flynnboy

I have just done a speed test, which doesn't mean much to me but might to you guys:

Download Speed = 0.09 Mbps
Upload Speed = 0.07

Turtle_Tommy

That speed test definitely shows you are using the 2g network. Can you try this? Change your settings back to "WCDMA only". Then click Tools - Options - Network - Registration mode - Manual search and register. Does the o2 network or any other network show up if you do this? If the o2 network does show up, click on it, press ok and then try to connect.

flynnboy

Turtle_Tommy wrote: »

That speed test definitely shows you are using the 2g network. Can you try this? Change your settings back to "WCDMA only". Then click Tools - Options - Network - Registration mode - Manual search and register. Does the o2 network or any other network show up if you do this? If the o2 network does show up, click on it, press ok and then try to connect.

What I get is this :

Meteor (3G)
3IRL (3G)
voda IE (3G)

Turtle_Tommy

flynnboy wrote: »

What I get is this :

Meteor (3G)
3IRL (3G)
voda IE (3G)

This means that o2 doesn't have 3g coverage in your area. If you change your provider to one of the networks above, you should have a much faster connection compared to your o2 2g connection. It's likely that your son is roaming using either Meteor, 3 or Vodaphone which is why his connection is so fast compared to yours.

flynnboy

Okay ! So, if I change to Vodaphone for example I might have a 3G ?

flynnboy

Just one thing..... my son's phone setting says that he is on o2 roaming... ? So, if they do not have 3G here how is he connecting so much faster on his smart phone ?

Turtle_Tommy

flynnboy wrote: »

Okay ! So, if I change to Vodaphone for example I might have a 3G ?

Yes, the search you did above shows that Vodafone, Meteor and Three have 3g coverage in your area. I'd suggest buying a Prepay broadband sim card from one of these networks first to test the speed before you enter a long contract in case the network also turns out to be very slow.

TheChizler

Try moving the dongle around a bit, above the computer, on a shelf, on it's side etc. Try with a USB extender if you have another one.

flynnboy

TheChizler wrote: »

Try moving the dongle around a bit, above the computer, on a shelf, on it's side etc. Try with a USB extender if you have another one.

Tried all of that Chizler !

Turtle_Tommy

flynnboy wrote: »

Just one thing..... my son's phone setting says that he is on o2 roaming... ? So, if they do not have 3G here how is he connecting so much faster on his smart phone ?

Can you check this mast locator from Comreg http://www.askcomreg.ie/mobile/siteviewer.273.LE.asp and check if the o2 mast nearest to you has 3g? This may take a long time to load considering you have such a slow connection.

flynnboy

Turtle_Tommy wrote: »

Yes, the search you did above shows that Vodafone, Meteor and Three have 3g coverage in your area. I'd suggest buying a Prepay broadband sim card from one of these networks first to test the speed before you enter a long contract in case the network also turns out to be very slow.

Thanks TT, I'll go into Donegal Town next week and speak to Vodaphone (perhaps this is why there is no 02 store there ....?) When we fist came here 4 1/2 yrs ago Voda just would not work at all, perhaps things have changed ?

Thanks very much for all of your help ! Very much appreciated.:)

flynnboy

Honest to God this is like living in the dark ages !

Turtle_Tommy

flynnboy wrote: »

Thanks TT, I'll go into Donegal Town next week and speak to Vodaphone (perhaps this is why there is no 02 store there ....?) When we fist came here 4 1/2 yrs ago Voda just would not work at all, perhaps things have changed ?

Thanks very much for all of your help ! Very much appreciated.:)

You're welcome! The mobile networks are always expanding their network coverage so it seems they now have coverage in your area. Remember to check the mast site locator at http://www.askcomreg.ie/mobile/siteviewer.273.LE.asp to firstly make sure o2 don't have a 3g mast in your area.

Pro Hoc Vice

flynnboy wrote: »

Thanks TT, I'll go into Donegal Town next week and speak to Vodaphone (perhaps this is why there is no 02 store there ....?) When we fist came here 4 1/2 yrs ago Voda just would not work at all, perhaps things have changed ?

Thanks very much for all of your help ! Very much appreciated.:)

A question, are you close to the border, if so it maybe that your son is actually on O2 UK hence why he is getting 3G.

flynnboy

Turtle_Tommy wrote: »

Can you check this mast locator from Comreg http://www.askcomreg.ie/mobile/siteviewer.273.LE.asp and check if the o2 mast nearest to you has 3g? This may take a long time to load considering you have such a slow connection.

I'm afraid I'm getting nowhere with this, I have the map and it gives me location numbers but when I type in the location # it tells me it does not exist!....... oohhhh I am in Donegal TT Sorry

flynnboy

Close to Donegal Town

Turtle_Tommy

flynnboy wrote: »

I'm afraid I'm getting nowhere with this, I have the map and it gives me location numbers but when I type in the location # it tells me it does not exist!....... oohhhh I am in Donegal TT Sorry

There seems to be many o2 3g masts around Donegal town. Instead of entering a location, can you zoom in on your location in Donegal and then look at the masts around you?

flynnboy

Thanks TT unfortunately I have been called away and must go but will be back in 1/2 hr or so. Thanks very much for your help !

flynnboy

OK TT this is what I get:

Site Id 563
GSM tick
3G X
LTE X
Operator o2

Does this help ? I hope so !

flynnboy

BTW I had a heart stopper when I came back to the computer as I could not connect with any of the networks from my manager, I had to shut down and re-start !