BSNL EVDO service in Rajkot – truly bad experience

[vdevang]

As we all know that BSNL EVDO was first launched in Rajkot in entire India. During its launching, it was told that this is the best option for Internet connection, and will offer speed upto 2.4 MBPS. Great joke that was. Let me explain why.

I right away applied for EVDO plan, and got the CD pack with rental USB datacard instantly, got it activated after 4 days, which is truly a fast service. But before you get positive about EVDO service and run to the BSNL centre, read on the following statistics of their connectivity.

First of all giving away upto 2 MBPS speed is a big joke, rather it is half true. Because not a single user is given this much speed, but speed of 2 MBPS is shared among the users coming under same tower (as far as my logic goes, most of the towers connectivity is known to all of us). Now, when they say upto to 2 MBPS, it means from 0 bps to 2 MBPS, and they’re so true with this statement, because for last three days, I’ve been receiving speed of 0 bps constantly many times a day, and for the rest of the day, it jumps in other BPS speed. Now compared to even KBPS plans, this is pathetic, because even the Google homepage takes more than 30 seconds to open (and sometimes doesn’t open at all). So there is no way to access any other website, or even to login to our chat messengers like Yahoo!, Gtalk etc.

I’ve uploaded the screen-capture of BSNL EVDO’s speed-graph on Youtube as video and you can see it here: Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register in our forum for free by clicking here to see links. . Turn on your speaker to hear my background voice in this video.

And we all know that there is no such a thing called ‘Customer Care’ in BSNL. Of course, they provide us with some customer care numbers, which when we dial keeps on ringing and nobody picks up (may be the staff is in the canteen), or if someone picks it up, you don’t get the solution and rather they forward you to some other department (as if they’re just to pick up the phone and do nothing else).

So after trying the customer care number which is 1500, getting no response or solution, I went straight away to meet the local manager (or in-charge or whatever) who looks in for EVDO connections. I was given this local number 247 68 88 (code: 0281) to talk to incase, there is some problem with the connectivity of EVDO (and believe me, the problem remains the whole day, infact, it remained for 3 days last week, i.e. 25, 26, 27 July 2008). I tried calling up this number after 10:30, and I get it engaged most of the time, and when it rings nobody picks up, and when somebody picks up it’s not the right person (Mr. Thakkar or Thakar is the right person). So some one having no knowledge about the EVDO picks it up and tells me that Mr. Thakkar is not there, and asks me to call up after 15 – 20 minutes. Now we know, when they say 15 – 20 minutes, they really don’t mean it. It is just to delay or ignore the call.

So having no luck over the phone, I decided to rush myself to meet Mr. Thakar. Fortunately, he was there when I visited his office. I briefed him about my problem, and he instantly said that he is aware of the problem. (Thank god, at least he didn’t give other reasons for its not working.) What he had to say about the problem is this: “The connectivity is from Baroda city. This EVDO plan is being handled from Baroda. I called up to Baroda about this non-connectivity problem, and they said that due to many users using this service, the IP addresses are causing the jam, and hence they need to perform ‘dumping’ every 8 hours or so, to empty the IP address.”

So this is how BSNL manages their new plans by dumping. It’s like they provided the sanitation but forgot to provide the water. This is insane. So coming back to topic. Now from what Mr. Thakar said, if we apply our logic, it says that being the BSNL people, the dumping won’t occur on regular basis (and when it doesn’t happen you literary get the 0 bps speed, wasting your sum of rs. 550/- a month), secondly they don’t seem to have found a permanent solution till the date I’m writing this article. So BSNL EVDO in other words can be defined as ‘Dumping EVDO’. From my own experience, I can say that I can hardly get the surf-able speed for 2 – 3 hours a day utmost. For the rest of the time, the speed-graph you see is pathetic, which you will see in the video.

I will look in for more few days as my one month usage is not over yet. If the service remains as it is, I will deactivate it. So this is a red light for those who were impressed by the 2 MBPS plan with unlimited download stuff. It looks good while reading in paper just like we see big Indian cricketer names, the real result is different like they get all-out for 138 in a test match. Ditto with BSNL EVDO, the real speed is no-where near it is said to be. And one more interesting rather funny thing is that, the speed-graph sometimes jumps to over 300 KBPS and remains for a second or two, and then instantly reaches to 0 bps and then gets fluctuated between some bps speed. Truly pathetic scenario as of now. So watch out before applying for same.

[Gigacore]

well. quite bad but, what is the actual network u are receiving? CDMA 1x or EVDO ?

[vdevang]

Gigacore Wrote:well. quite bad but, what is the actual network u are receiving? CDMA 1x or EVDO ?

I've no idea unless you brief me on CDMA 1x and EVDO network.

[Gigacore]

^ In your ZTE application, do you get as 1X or EVDO ?

1X is nothing but CDMA 1x. And it offers the speed of upto 144 Kbps in theory and sometime less/more in practical. So if are getting 1X, you should get considerably low speeds.

Where as if it is EVDO, it offers 2.4 Mbps in theory. But practically very few people get that speed. But many will get from 500 Kbps - 1.5 Mbps.

If it is 1X what you are getting + if your area coverage is bad, no wonder your speeds will be less. Don't assume that max number of bars means top speeds. Even though if you get 4 bars, if the signal strength or the quality is lacking.. its of no use.

Even though if you get EVDO, sometimes there will be chances of this kinda problems.

So rather than wondering and blaming the service.. blame your area officials for this issue. Go to the exchange and complain regarding your problem. Many times I have faced disconnections and very low speeds.. like 0 bps (even with 2 - 3 bars)..... What I do is go straight to the exchange and report my problem and will make them to get it resolved it ASAP. You can also try contacting the customer care.... and if they recieve ur call, u should be lucky... but I recommend u to go straight to exchange and fire ur problems...

[nisarg86]

hmm. Ahmedabad scenario is different yaar. i get full 2 megz at home . and 800-1500 Kbps while roaming around the city. and i haven't seen CDMA 1X signals in my ZTE App. i m getting EV-DO signals all around city.

[asking]

hi mee too from Rajkot! M getting 1000-1400kbps its not constant but varying! The service is really awesome! better then other providers any page opens within 10 seconds! so i go for BSNL EVDO! M living in Rajkot!

[daitya]

(08-10-2008 02:55 AM)asking Wrote: Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register in our forum for free by clicking here to see links.hi mee too from Rajkot! M getting 1000-1400kbps its not constant but varying! The service is really awesome! better then other providers any page opens within 10 seconds! so i go for BSNL EVDO! M living in Rajkot!

Hi..
Which exchange..in rajkot.
Did you reconfigured evdo..
Do u get same speed since u started evdo?
Do u get same speed in downloading?
Please reply..
thanks..

[aasthasurg]

Hello I am using it at surat for about last 10days and getting regular speed of 1100-1200kbps sometimes it is slow but throught the day it gives even speed.
Thoughly satisfied by ev do.

[sandesh_007]

Hi vdevang,

Sorry to hear about your experience with evdo, but it is not that bad for sure...because all of use are using it with a satisfactory experience.

GO to your local exchange and reprogram your device or get a new one if you are having trouble with this because "asking" from Rajkot is also getting good speed.

I do also get very frustrated at times with EVDO, when it goes to 0 bps and remains there for some time......but my overall experience with EVDO is great

Now as far as the 2.4 speed is concerned, i will be happy man if i get half of that or even 700 to 800 kbps rate at 550 rs/month because right now i am paying Rs 1125 for a 256 Kbps broadband wired connection....

So guys.....Go for it ... it is surely a best option today for a true wireless broadband unlike tata indicom and reliance (charges Rs 1000/month for unlimited, pathetic, annoying, slow surfing and downloading, correct me if i am wrong).

[mmmishea]

yes, even i waited for 7-8 months on 1x till EV-do launched, Speds were pothetin, but i remained sticked to EV-DO just to see what EV-DO gives me, and see i am truly satisfied. now i am getting 650 - 1163 kbps speed with 3 bars, and speed increases fartehr with increase in signal strength.
And remember,
who gives u above 1mbps unlimited download in Rs 550/- in india, no one but Bsnl EVDO.
BSNL Broadband unlimited @256Kbps - 750/month. + taxes
BSNL Broadband unlimited @512Kbps - 1350/month. +taxes
tata Broadband unlimited @338Kbps - 1150/month. + taxes
reliance Broadband unlimited @256Kbps - 1200/month.

SO even now if u think EV-DO is a big joke, then u got to think over again!!