Help! Can't connect to Vodafone Live!

[Danny West]

I tried to connect to Vodafone Live last night and again this morning but to no avail. I keep reading "Packet data not available, check network services."

Whats this all about?

Any help appreciated.

[whatleydude]

First stop: Vodafone CS.
191 from your handset.

See if there's any network problems in your area..

[Danny West]

Cheers fella, so it's not likely to be something I have done by mistake? That was my main concern.

[whatleydude]

Even if it was - Vodafone normally re-send the Vodafone Live settings just in case.

Any luck with fixing it?

[Danny West]

No not yet matey, having problems with Vodafone and password.

[whatleydude]

Oh dear..

:o
Good luck!

[Ben]

It sounds a lot like GPRS is currently unavailable in your area. I take it you've turned the phone off and on again? Try taking off the battery cover and removing the battery while the phone is still switched on... that was always my favourite way of giving a handset a kick in the nuts when it wasn't doing what I wanted ;)

[Danny West]

I couldn't access vodafone live or any other WAP sites at 3.30pm, I finally sorted out the password issues with Vodafone and they kindly sent me the settings. Hopefully within the next 24 hours I will have WAP access again.

[Danny West]

I was told it may take up to 24 hours for the settings which were sent to me to become effective (no probs with that). When I used to connect to Vodafone Live! or other WAP sites before I was connected via "contract WAP" now when I try (not working yet) it is trying to connect via "Vodafone GPRS", is this ok? Will I be charged when I eventually connect?

[Ben]

That's fine, I use Vodafone GPRS as well. It all works fine for me at the moment, unless there's a service problem in your local area I'm a little bemused at why you'd be unable to get connected - I don't buy the 'waiting for the settings to become effective' malarky.

[Danny West]

Thanks Ben, so I don't get charged for being connected via "Vodafone GPRS" then? It's still the same as "Contract WAP"? :confused:

Still not connecting comes up "Packet data not available, check network services." :(

[Ben]

No, browsing Live! is still free using Vodafone GPRS as the access point.

On your phone's signal display, are you in 2G or 3G? Underneath the little signal icon (it'll either look like a rotary washing line or '3G') does it have the two arrows facing away from each other made out of dotted lines? If so, what happens to this when you try to connect - does it flash?

[Danny West]

2G at present.

When you say access point is this just what comes up when I try to connect?

Still no joy Ben still giving it "Packet data not available, check network services."

Looks like it could be 24 hours then!

[Ben]

Underneath the signal icon, at the top left of your phone display, can you see the picture of two arrows facing in opposite directions?

[Danny West]

No Ben it's the washing line symbol.

[Ben]

No arrows means, usually, that a GPRS connection is not offered by the base station your handset is currently connected to.

On my 6680 I always had two dotted arrows present at all times. These then became solid when a connection was active. Did that used to be the case for you as well?

I'd recommend taking your phone somewhere, like the next town/village/area so you're certain to be connected to a different mast, and seeing if it'll work then.

Of course if GPRS isn't provisioned on your account then Vodafone may well have been right in saying you have to wait up to 24 hours - but it's the fact that you had it in the first place and it suddenly stopped working that makes me think that this explanation is unlikely.

If you can get a connection when you take your phone somewhere else then it's definitely an issue with your local mast, and you can report that to Vodafone.

[3g-g]

On my 6680 I always had two dotted arrows present at all times. These then became solid when a connection was active. Did that used to be the case for you as well?

If you go Tools>Settings>Connections>Packet Data>Packet data connection

Is your connection setting set at "When available"... If you set it to that you should have the two little dotted arrows under the signal strength, if it does go this way the cell you're attached to is GPRS enabled.

I'm surprised at Vodafone taking so long to resolve your connection issues! I'm sure it's just a profile setting, which should resolve issues almost straight away!

[Danny West]

Once again tried to connect to Vodafone Live! and it is still coming up "Packet data not available, check network services."

My connection setting is set at "When available" as well!

Starting to get a little fed up with this now!

I will give it until 3pm and then phone them up again!!!!

[maxspank]

Have you accessed VF Live before on your handset? Try a manual roam (network settings/operator selection, manual, choose a diferrent network it'll say No network access, then select vodafone. This'll make sure that you are updated on the network, which can also cause a problem if it isn't. Also the settings sent to your handset, will kick in immidiatley. You may not have been provisioned, when they do this it can take up to 24 hours.

[Danny West]

I have accessed Vodafone Live! on numerous occasions since receiving the handset. The last time before yesterday was on Thursday evening.

I have tried Maxspank's idea suggestion with regards to Network Selection and selected Vodafone but to no avail.

[whatleydude]

Bizarre man.

And you haven't made any changes to your handest/contract at all recently?

I remember once I changed my SMS package with Vodafone and whoever put the new one on managed to disable my access to GPRS...
DOH!

So check that too.

[Danny West]

Latest installment, I phoned them up again and the fella said turn off the handset and give it 10 -15 minutes, turn it back on and if it hasn't worked to phone them on a landline and they will go through some settings over the phone!

[Danny West]

Great! I can now access Vodafone Live! as well as other mobile internet sites.

Why didn't the girl I spoke to yesterday tell me to turn the handset off and then back on??

Right the last thing I want to check is the following.

After trying a manual roam (as suggested earlier) can someone confirm that my NETWORK SETTINGS should be NETWORK MODE - DUAL MODE and OPERATOR SELETION - AUTOMATIC.

May I also thank all the individuals who offered me advice on this matter, it was appreciated!!

[Ben]

That's correct, congrats! :D