[Resolved]  Airtel — Internet connectivity via 3G data card is very inconsistent.

Address:

Kamrup Metropolitan, Assam

My Airtel data card, despite the Connection Manager showing full signal strength, doesn't stay connected to the Internet for long. And this happens on a daily basis for a good part of the day, mostly during working hours when my Internet necessities are higher. I have contacted the Customer Support toll free number numerous times. They always provide the same solution: delete temporary files using the Run command and then clean files using Disk Cleanup. If that doesn't sort it out, they redirect the call to some kind of 'senior', who tells me to change the Network preference (WCDMA only) in Connection Manager settings and then do a manual search for networks, and select 'Airtel 3G' from the list. This has happened more than four times. Then the 'senior' would tell me he can't help any more, and that a complaint has been registered, and that I will be getting a text message and a call in the next 24 hours. Neither the text nor the call ever came. To start with, this is how the Connection Manager looks like. Notice the signal strength. Also notice the Error 500 on the left pane, which is the advertising pane. The error is due to no Internet access, although the software is connected. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26494507/screenshot1.png Now please let me show the order of events with timestamps. 18:25 - I connect the data card, and the Connection Manager pops up. Hovering the mouse over the signal bars shows a 97% signal strength. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26494507/Untitled.png 18:26 - I have clicked the 'Connect' button but the software refuses to connect. This happens at this time of the day almost everyday. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26494507/Untitled1.png https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26494507/Untitled2.png 18:28 - Finally connected. Airtel welcomes me with its pop up page. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26494507/Untitled4.png 18:29 - Reddit doesn't open. The rest of the tabs were open before the connected to the Internet. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26494507/Untitled4.png 18:30 - Google opens. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26494507/Untitled7.png 18:31 - Reddit opens. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26494507/Untitled8.png 18:35 - Gmail doesn't open. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26494507/Untitled10.png 18:36 - Google opens. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26494507/Untitled11.png 18:39 - Youtube doesn't open. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26494507/Untitled12.png 18:42 - Speedtest.net opens, but test is timed out. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26494507/Untitled13.png 18:43 - Speedtest.net test timed out second time. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26494507/Untitled14.png 18:45 - Speedtest.net test finally successful. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26494507/Untitled15.png 18:53 - Dropbox doesn't open. I wanted to upload the screenshots there. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26494507/Untitled16.png At this point, fed up with the pathetic connection, I went out for a stroll and left the Connection Manager connected. I came back after about an hour. 20:08 - Outlook doesn't open. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26494507/Untitled17.png 20:10 - Youtube doesn't open. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26494507/Untitled18.png 20:15 - Still can't upload the screenshots to Dropbox. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26494507/Untitled19.png 20:59 - Almost 9 and no Internet. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26494507/Untitled20.png It only grew worse with time. I usually top up for the 12GB plan; twice a month due to my heavy usage. So I'm paying 3, 000 INR a month for this pathetic service. I have seriously never felt more cheated in my entire life. Today I'm not even going to call the horrible Airtel people. I'll just wait till I have Internet and then post it.