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[Varche]

I connect to the Internet using an alcatel X220 dongle with a subsidiary of 02 (movistar).

For the last few weeks it has got slower and slower till it is never faster than 150k down and 110 up. Wrongly, I assumed they had applied a limit on speed similar to that when you reach your monthly allowance of 5GB.

Their helpdesk asked me to try a different PC. I have done that and lo and behold it is fast4.6 meg. Went back to my PC which runs Vista and it is slow again.

Before |I ring them back and try and understand what is happening, any ideas would be welcome please?

My PC runs Vista all upto date with updates. Firefox version 17.0.1 and Internet explorer9

Laptop runs XP pro and I.e.8.0.6

[zirk]

Most poor 3g speeds are normally Signal related, very High Local Traffic or incorrect Software configuration, the fact your getting a higher speed on the Laptop over the PC in a basic form suggest the Lappy is picking up a better Signal (closer to the window maybe or in the centre of the room compared to being stuck behind lower down in a PC's port?).

Whats the LED status lights telling you?, normally changes colour when connected between 2.5g (GPRS slow), 3g (330K fast) and 3.5G (HSDPA Broadband).

Have you tried the Dongle on a USB cable?, closer to the window?, another thing to check assuming your getting a good signal is if the Dash Board Software is forcing it back to GPRS or 3g Speeds, theres normally an Option somewhere that lets you force the connection to 3g or 3.5g/HSDPA only.

Worst case try de installing the Software, check for updates etc and do a fresh Install.

[feeutfo]

Reboot the slower machine?

[Varche]

Reboot as in restart? I did that while the technico was on the line. Didn't make any difference.

However, I have found buried in the depths of their massive website vrsion 8.8 of their software for my dongle so am going to try that. Strange that it works better on XP with the old version of software.

The dongle is in exactly the same place (end of a two metre) USB cable so it isn't that.

I'll try the new software.

[zirk]

And what was the LED Signal State / Speed telling you with the 2 different Machines?

[Varche]

Well there is a thing. The dongle went dead (i.e. flashing red light) and then came back to green constant. allowed me to put PIN in and connect and it is now faster. I guess something has to happen at their end when you install new dongle software. Working properly now.

I wish they would tell us that there was a new version of software available rather than you find out through complaining. That is Spain for you.

[zirk]

TBH been messing with Dongles for years, in my experience, the older and more simpler the software, the better it works.

[Varche]

Both were the same . i.e. green flashing light and set to "Network selection ...UMTS/3G only"

Just downloaded their latest dongle software from the Internet companies website and uninstalled the old and installed the new. No different.
have cleared all cookies. No different

Bit lost now.

[zirk]

If your convinced the Signal is good, could be the Dongle may be on its way out, try unplugging it for a while and let it cool down.

What mobile do you have?, most are a least 3g or 3g+ these days, what happens if you tether with you Broadband Sim in the Mobile? (May need the Btoadband APN).

Edit: How long is the USB Cable, is it good quality?

[Varche]

If your convinced the Signal is good, could be the Dongle may be on its way out, try unplugging it for a while and let it cool down.

What mobile do you have?, most are a least 3g or 3g+ these days, what happens if you tether with you Broadband Sim in the Mobile? (May need the Btoadband APN).

Edit: How long is the USB Cable, is it good quality?

Don't have one. I am probably the only forum member (or come to think of it person) without a mobile.

I think the dongles aren't that well made especially for something that is on for maybe 12 hours a day.

But as I said earlier, once I got the new software loaded and the dongle had gone to flashing red for a few minutes , it all works as it should.( for a few more months) Think I'll save up for satellite Internet from Bentley Walker Tooway.