@Bernard. Thanks for the in-depth info.<br>@Bogibenda. The help being offered is a band-aid. I want a solution to the problem. Not a quick fix. <br>By asking him to answer these questions transparently, i am looking for clarification from the horse&#39;s mouth before we go ahead with anything.<br>
<br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Nov 2, 2011 at 8:32 AM, Bogi Benga <span dir="ltr">&lt;<a href="mailto:bogibenda@gmail.com">bogibenda@gmail.com</a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
Well said Bernard, <br>Watchie, I wonder why you are refusing help!!! I can sum it up like this,<br><br><b style="color:rgb(255, 153, 102)">1. What are the expected data connection speeds for the bundle?: <span style="color:rgb(0, 102, 0)">Unlimited..capped at 256 last time i checked, </span><br>


2. What are the expected data connection speeds on 3G with Safaricom?<span style="color:rgb(0, 51, 0)"> </span></b><b style="color:rgb(0, 102, 0)">This is a shared Best effort service: if your SIm card profile is not throttled, then you ll get the highest possible speeds when you are alone(depending on your radio conditions, tx bandwidth and user equipment) </b><br>

<b style="color:rgb(255, 153, 102)">3. Is there a limitation if i use a tethered device or a modem? <span style="color:rgb(0, 102, 0)">Oh yes, the tethering interface introduces major bottleneck</span><br>4. Do i need specialized equipment with Safaricom sim&#39;s to get better bandwidth?</b> <b style="color:rgb(0, 102, 0)">definately: all depends on the UE category, currently varied from the lowest 3.6Mbps to the highest 21.1Mbps. As for the SIMs, I believe when an operator announces 21.1Mbps on its network, the first thing is to ensure all the SIM cards can reach that speed. This is done by setting a QOS profile </b><b><span style="color:rgb(0, 102, 0)">with an appropriate extended Bitrate tied to your APN</span></b><br>

<br><b style="color:rgb(0, 0, 153)">So when the safcom dude asks you for the your number, he just wanna confirm this. just accept the helping hand and share the results with us</b><div><div></div><div class="h5"><br><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Nov 2, 2011 at 12:38 AM, Bernard Mwagiru <span dir="ltr">&lt;<a href="mailto:bmwagiru@gmail.com" target="_blank">bmwagiru@gmail.com</a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div>@watchman,</div><div><br></div><div>The questions you&#39;ve raised are valid. Allow me to contribute(I believe Safaricom has an official response somewhere)</div>

<div><b style="color:rgb(255, 153, 102)"><div><b style="color:rgb(255, 153, 102)"><br>
</b></div></b><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0.8ex;border-left-width:1px;border-left-color:rgb(204, 204, 204);border-left-style:solid;padding-left:1ex">


<b style="color:rgb(255, 153, 102)">1. What are the expected data connection speeds for the bundle? <br></b></blockquote></div><div>This is dependent uponthe bundle type.Safcom launched data bundles to suit the different categories of users.Choose the data plan the suits you here: <a href="http://www.safaricom.co.ke/mydataplan/" target="_blank">http://www.safaricom.co.ke/mydataplan/</a>. Unlimited plans are throttled. As to the actual throttled speed, you are better off tweeting @bobcollymore : <a href="http://www.kachwanya.com/2011/07/28/safaricom-unlimited-data-bundle-speed-at-256kbps-not-baaad-but/" target="_blank">http://www.kachwanya.com/2011/07/28/safaricom-unlimited-data-bundle-speed-at-256kbps-not-baaad-but/</a></div>


<div>In addition, the time-based bundle 2/- per min is also capped/throttled.</div><div> My understanding and experience is that the throttled bandwidth has been adjusted with time in accordance with customer demands, many times via the power of Skunkworks :-). </div>

<div>
<div><br></div><div><br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0.8ex;border-left-width:1px;border-left-color:rgb(204, 204, 204);border-left-style:solid;padding-left:1ex">


<b style="color:rgb(255, 153, 102)"></b><b style="color:rgb(255, 153, 102)">2. What are the expected data connection speeds on 3G with Safaricom?<br></b></blockquote></div><div>For the limited bundles and out bundle usage, I have managed an average of 800Kbps and a peak of 2Mbps on ftp and heavily seeded torrents.This is on the HSDPA(3.5G). For HSPA+, speed test shows a peak of about 5Mbps DL <a href="http://db.tt/EYcCIe0N.In" target="_blank">http://db.tt/EYcCIe0N.In</a> other words, no fair usage policy applied. A disclaimer though is the prevailing environment conditions that are known to affect the quality of radio signal covering your area e.g. hilly terrain, diffraction due to forest cover, power lines/equipment that may cause frequency interference, etc.</div>

<div>
<div><br></div><div><br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0.8ex;border-left-width:1px;border-left-color:rgb(204, 204, 204);border-left-style:solid;padding-left:1ex">


<b style="color:rgb(255, 153, 102)"></b><b style="color:rgb(255, 153, 102)">3. Is there a limitation if i use a tethered device or a modem?<br></b></blockquote></div><div>This is again dependent on the device and tethering mechanism. Tethering using bluetooth maxes out at 500Kbps -1Mbps. Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR should max out at about 3Mbps, which would practically give you a peak of about 2Mbps. While using a Nokia 5230 tethered via USB, and using Nokia Ovi Suite, the task panel indicated 460.8Kbps. This I believe is the max possible bandwidth, even though the 3G backhaul can offer me a lot more. The speed is affected by the USB standard for the cable/interface:1.0, 2.0,etc. The latest the USB, the better the experience.</div>

<div>
<div><br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0.8ex;border-left-width:1px;border-left-color:rgb(204, 204, 204);border-left-style:solid;padding-left:1ex">


<b style="color:rgb(255, 153, 102)"></b><b style="color:rgb(255, 153, 102)">4. Do i need specialized equipment with Safaricom sim&#39;s to get better bandwidth?</b></blockquote></div><div>Any modem that conforms to 3Gpp standard is sufficient.The SIM is very generic. The actual policies reside logically per subscriber/number, again depending on the service subscribed as mentioned above.</div>


<div>However, there are modems that offer better experience than others. Some are 3.6Mbps(Huawei E160), 7.2Mbps(Huawei E1750), 14.4Mbps(Huawei E1820),etc. Most are available in the retail shops. I suggest you visit and check out the actual specifications per modem.The range is 2k to 10k.</div>


<div><br></div><div>Again, if the service subscribed will ultimately determine whether the speed is capped or not.</div><div><br></div><div>Check out modem specs:</div><div>Huawei 3G modems: <a href="http://www.3gmodem.com.hk/Huawei.html" target="_blank">http://www.3gmodem.com.hk/Huawei.html</a></div>


<div>ZTE 3G modems: <a href="http://www.3gmodem.com.hk/ZTE.html" target="_blank">http://www.3gmodem.com.hk/ZTE.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br>regards,<br>bernard</div><div><br></div><div>Using the new Gmail look: <a href="http://youtu.be/vfW5e6jVsMs" target="_blank">http://youtu.be/vfW5e6jVsMs</a></div>

<div><div></div><div>
<div><br></div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Nov 1, 2011 at 9:18 PM, Watchman <span dir="ltr">&lt;<a href="mailto:skunkingrahim@gmail.com" target="_blank">skunkingrahim@gmail.com</a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">


@John doe.<br>I think what i&#39;m considering here is not to do with protocols. If you start stating protocols, we should also consider contentions and other factors. <br><br>The question here is, what is the bandwidth being provided by a 3G network? is it being provided by Safaricom when they say 3G Network unlimited data. <br>



<br>I rec&#39;d a mail from someone on-list working for Saf Com yesterday incognito asking me what my data number was and he wanted to check on it. I haven&#39;t provided any details to him waiting for a reply to my questions to him being:<br>



<b style="color:rgb(255, 153, 102)"><br>Mind if i put this conversation back on-list? <br></b><b style="color:rgb(255, 153, 102)"><br>Before we move on to the tech diagnosis. <br><br>Let&#39;s get clarification since we&#39;ve got you on-list.<br>



<br>1. What are the expected data connection speeds for the bundle? <br>
2. What are the expected data connection speeds on 3G with Safaricom?<br>3. Is there a limitation if i use a tethered device or a modem?<br>4. Do i need specialized equipment with Safaricom sim&#39;s to get better bandwidth?<br>




<br>W.<br></b><br>There has been no further communication from him. I also have it from a source that Safaricom was testing the B/width usage and this i believe is more plausible because when it was first announced, i hit speeds of <b>1.3MB/s</b> on a torrent. and now it&#39;s capped at <b>50KB/s. </b>Not exactly a truthful venture if you ask me, but in any case, thing here is. <br>



<br>is <b>50KB/s</b> Maxing out the <b>3G </b>limit?<span><font color="#888888"><br><b><br>W.</b></font></span><div><div><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Nov 1, 2011 at 5:02 PM, John Doe <span dir="ltr">&lt;<a href="mailto:fivepings@gmail.com" target="_blank">fivepings@gmail.com</a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br>



<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div>The Elephant in the room that we all ignore when discussing speeds. If my office has a 2Mbps link and I am all alone at 1.00 a.m in the morning downloading a single 10 GB file from a server in Newzealand, will I get a download speed of 2Mbps?</div>





<div> </div>
<div>@ Watchie,There are many more factors to speed than what the Service provider sells you e.g</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Protocol used (say HTTP vs FTP, TCP vs UDP), Window size, MTU, Round trip time, application e.g (peer to peer ) etc.</div>
<div>So I guess the correct answer is, it depends :-)</div><div><div></div><div>
<div><br><br> </div>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Nov 1, 2011 at 12:12 PM, Bernard Mwagiru <span dir="ltr">&lt;<a href="mailto:bmwagiru@gmail.com" target="_blank">bmwagiru@gmail.com</a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote style="border-left:#ccc 1px solid;margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;padding-left:1ex" class="gmail_quote">File sharing mongers can bring mobile ops to their knees...hence the need for fair usage. 
<div><br></div>
<div><font color="#888888">bernard<br><br></font>
<div class="gmail_quote">
<div>
<div></div>
<div>On Tue, Nov 1, 2011 at 12:05 PM, ndungu stephen <span dir="ltr">&lt;<a href="mailto:ndungustephen@gmail.com" target="_blank">ndungustephen@gmail.com</a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br></div></div>
<blockquote style="border-left:#ccc 1px solid;margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;padding-left:1ex" class="gmail_quote">
<div>
<div></div>
<div><span style="font-family:tahoma, sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,153)">A little secret - even if you are on the unlimited monthly bundle - the moment you cross the 5GB download line - you are automatically capped to 128 kbps or 512 kbps... I know one or two networks that do this.</span><br style="font-family:tahoma, sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,153)">




<br style="font-family:tahoma, sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,153)"><span style="font-family:tahoma, sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,153)">It is a term called &quot;Fair Usage Policy&quot;  - meant to keep file-sharing mongers in check </span><img style="margin:0pt 0.2ex;font-family:tahoma, sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,153);vertical-align:middle" src="cid:330@goomoji.gmail" goomoji="330"><img style="margin:0pt 0.2ex;font-family:tahoma, sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,153);vertical-align:middle" src="cid:330@goomoji.gmail" goomoji="330"><img style="margin:0pt 0.2ex;font-family:tahoma, sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,153);vertical-align:middle" src="cid:330@goomoji.gmail" goomoji="330"><br style="font-family:tahoma, sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,153)">




<br style="font-family:tahoma, sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,153)"><span style="font-family:tahoma, sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,153)">Such are the workings of capitalist minds </span><img style="margin:0pt 0.2ex;font-family:tahoma, sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,153);vertical-align:middle" src="cid:1B2@goomoji.gmail" goomoji="1B2"><img style="margin:0pt 0.2ex;font-family:tahoma, sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,153);vertical-align:middle" src="cid:1B2@goomoji.gmail" goomoji="1B2"><br style="font-family:tahoma, sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,153)">




<br></div></div>
<div>_______________________________________________<br>Skunkworks mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke" target="_blank">Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke</a><br><a href="http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks" target="_blank">http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks</a><br>




------------<br>Skunkworks Rules<br><a href="http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&amp;t=94" target="_blank">http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&amp;t=94</a><br>------------<br>Other services @ <a href="http://my.co.ke/" target="_blank">http://my.co.ke</a><br>




</div></blockquote></div><br></div><br>_______________________________________________<br>Skunkworks mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke" target="_blank">Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke</a><br><a href="http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks" target="_blank">http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks</a><br>




------------<br>Skunkworks Rules<br><a href="http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&amp;t=94" target="_blank">http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&amp;t=94</a><br>------------<br>Other services @ <a href="http://my.co.ke/" target="_blank">http://my.co.ke</a><br>




</blockquote></div><br>
</div></div><br>_______________________________________________<br>
Skunkworks mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke" target="_blank">Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke</a><br>
<a href="http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks" target="_blank">http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks</a><br>
------------<br>
Skunkworks Rules<br>
<a href="http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&amp;t=94" target="_blank">http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&amp;t=94</a><br>
------------<br>
Other services @ <a href="http://my.co.ke" target="_blank">http://my.co.ke</a><br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br></div></div><div><div>-- <br><font style="color:rgb(102, 102, 102)" size="2">get to know more about me. <b><a href="http://about.me/rahiminkara" target="_blank">http://about.me/rahiminkara</a><br>



</b><br>this list is being <b>watched.</b> <br><br><img src="" height="40" width="40"></font><br>
</div></div><br>_______________________________________________<br>
Skunkworks mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke" target="_blank">Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke</a><br>
<a href="http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks" target="_blank">http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks</a><br>
------------<br>
Skunkworks Rules<br>
<a href="http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&amp;t=94" target="_blank">http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&amp;t=94</a><br>
------------<br>
Other services @ <a href="http://my.co.ke" target="_blank">http://my.co.ke</a><br></blockquote></div><br></div>
</div></div><br>_______________________________________________<br>
Skunkworks mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke" target="_blank">Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke</a><br>
<a href="http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks" target="_blank">http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks</a><br>
------------<br>
Skunkworks Rules<br>
<a href="http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&amp;t=94" target="_blank">http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&amp;t=94</a><br>
------------<br>
Other services @ <a href="http://my.co.ke" target="_blank">http://my.co.ke</a><br></blockquote></div><br>
</div></div><br>_______________________________________________<br>
Skunkworks mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke">Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke</a><br>
<a href="http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks" target="_blank">http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks</a><br>
------------<br>
Skunkworks Rules<br>
<a href="http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&amp;t=94" target="_blank">http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&amp;t=94</a><br>
------------<br>
Other services @ <a href="http://my.co.ke" target="_blank">http://my.co.ke</a><br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><font style="color:rgb(102, 102, 102)" size="2">get to know more about me. <b><a href="http://about.me/rahiminkara" target="_blank">http://about.me/rahiminkara</a><br>
</b><br>this list is being <b>watched.</b> <br><br><img src="http://www.megapixels.co.ke/images/lantern.jpg" height="40" width="40"></font><br>