Airtel HSDPA [Sri Lanka]
Posted by Dushi on April 18, 2009
Hi folks! Couldn’t write for about a month I think. But now I m back again with my Brand new HSDPA kit. Well HSDPA means speedy internet isn’t it? But I would have to say that life would be little more difficult and hard when you have Airtel HSDPA!
Airtel+e220
I’m using Airtel’s middle package. 600Rs per month, 3 GB free download and 1Mb/s speed. Ya its worth. But the problem is there coverage. It sucks. Not totally. But mostly! I also brought a Huawei e220 modem from Dialog GSM. It’s in good shape after unlocking. Now they both working well. But as I mentioned early I m not satisfied about Airtel HSDPA coverage and their system. Usually when some one tries to connect to a network (as other service providers do) it detects the user and gives the required setting. Like its ‘APN’ and stuff. But Airtel isn’t capable of that. I didn’t get any HSDPA settings when I tried to connect them for the 1st time. So I had to have some calls to a friend (chanux) of mine requesting to google the setting. Luckily I didn’t call their customer care, because after some time I found that its something like fallen from the sky (more..) . There APN was AirTelLive and I gave the access number as *99#. It worked! But first I got only GPRS signals. That’s because when the signal strength is low the modem software detects it and only allows the device to receive the most available signal type. If you are an Airtel data user this would be your ‘Frequently Faced Problem’. To avoid this you can set the modem only to receive WCDMA/HSDPA signal frequencies. If you are also using an e220, go to Tools -> options -> Network and set the Network Type as WCDMA only. The handy thing is these setting are also being saved in the device. So Linux users like us don’t have to suffer thinking to find solutions to run the modem software in Linux.
So after doing some work now I’m receiving HSDPA signals. Now it only varies between WCDMA and HSDPA (no more GPRS). The signal strength is about 40% but it’s far better than having GPRS. Under 40% of signal strength I got hardly satisfied about my service provider. Also I didn’t find a way to detect my data usage over the month. It doesn’t matter if the Data package is unlimited. But there should be a way to detect it for limited users like us. And have to say another thing! If you ever thinking to get support from Airtel’s website, then forget about it. Its totally Crap!
………………………Later……………………..
harish said
where can i get this?working only in colombo?
“nice blog you have
-harish
Dushi said
@ Harish
Thanx for the complement.
mmm…. you can buy the data sim from Airtel Branch @ kollpety. dont know about other outlets are issuing or not. and i got only the modem from dialog (bambalapitiya) for 9990Rs.
Cricket Tragic said
It is also available in narahenpita also. I get fab coverage in Kotahena. Where are you Dushi?
Dushi said
ah..Im @Kaduwella budy.
harish said
Thankx.i have a mobitel dongle.will try air tel.i bought mobitel becoz of their advertisment on pappers with a ‘youtube window.’but poor quality.
how did you register on the site mayalanka.i’ve a wordpress blog.i want to attach that.
Dushi said
@harish
airtel would be nice for you if and only if you can have good signal. its good if you can check on that before buying their data sim. and you also should unlock the mobitel modem to use it with another service provider.i dont know the kind of it. but if its an e220, it can be done.
and the mayalanka thing…..well they send me an invitation. thats how i got to know about them.there is a link for registration @ their home page.any way for your convenience follow this link,
http://www.mayalanka.com/registerhtm.php
and send me your web address bud!
Nilusha said
heloo
im from srilanka i live in nugegoda
i use an USB extender for my E220 modem and keep it outside the house
i get full signal 100% HSDPA
but download speeds are very low (about 40kbps sometimes even lower)
do you know how to fix it?
thanks
RoshJay said
Nilusha, what do you mean by an USB extender? How long is it? I use the E220 with Dialog but never get 100% HSDPA although we have a Dilaog tower very close by. The E220 is inside the house. Please let me know how I can get an “USB extender”. Thanks…
Dushi said
@Nilusha
well if u have meant the ‘long type extended USB cable’ by mentioning as ‘ a USB extender’ and if ur getting the full signal strength, most of the time it can be something with the cable.when Ur using cables which comes with the modem thats ok. but when ur using somthing more longer you should be concerned about its quality.it effect a lot.
and also keep in mind that, service providers never give the exactly speed which there mentioning.
Nimal said
hey easily unlocked dialog modem….
http://www.seejay.net/2009/02/how-to-unlock-huawei-e220-hsdpa-modem.html
Sampath said
NEVER buy airtel 300 and 600 limited data packages..for an additional 1mb they charge 5.12 rupees..that means a half a cent per KB..so an additional 1gb usage will cost you more than rs5000…anyway when i looked at the telecommunication regulatory commission website it said the approved charges for airtel 300 and 600 data packages are 0.05 cents per an additional kb. http://www.trc.gov.lk/images/pdf/Airtel_tarrif.pdf .i went to the airtel store and asked about it they said that it should be a “printing mistake” in trc website and CS didnt allow me to talk to their superiors..when i called CS hotline they told me that i may have made a mistake bcoz they have been operating packages for 4 months without a problem. But this is serious since they are charging 10 times more than accepted trc rates for pathetic speeds….I tried to compare airtel with other operators…mobitel charges 5 rs. per additional 10MB …dialog – Rs1 for 1 Mb…so Airtel charges 10 times more than mobitel and 5 times more than dialog…I asked about this also and they replied that they don’t have rentals.they only have monthly commitments..so their charges cant b compared with the other operators…THIS IS WORSE THAN DIALOG.becoz they charge 10TIMES more than what has been approved… But What can we do? Please halp me…
Dushi said
@Sampath
Yes I agree with you 100%. But getting an AirTel connection means that we have agreed with their rules and regulations. So we cant do anything on that except leave their service. But we can do an inquiry for ‘telecommunication regulatory commission’ about this. Il also look forward about this. and f u guys can also can tell this to those authorities that l be able to give some affect on that.
Nuranga said
HI Dushan,
I’m from Kurunegala, i was really lookin forward to airtel data packages being available in kurunegala but after i saw what u had to say i am havin second thoughts. i heard that airtel 3g will soon be available in Kuru and i’m plannin to buy the unlimted data package. whats ur thought on that? is it still full of crap?
Dushi said
@Nuranga
well Airtel HSDPA has improved a lot. but it still sucks in downloading. if ur planing to do lot of downloading it wont for for u.
Lilantha said
I want to buy a huwai E220 hspda modem to law price in kandy. Plz help me .
Dushi said
@Lilantha
I have no idea in kandy. But now there is a low price prolink HSDPA modem at ‘unity plaza’
Shanaka said
Airtel is very slow.,u cant download rapidshare through it,they are using shared ip.
mevan said
hi guys
whats the best option ? mobitel postpaid or airtel unlimited? seems using airtel may be daunting experience.
please advise
Ps
i hate dialog. it sucks
thanks
Dushi said
@Mevan
, then get mobitel. else get airtel. 
if you are a big downloader
Gihan said
I still think SLT is better because they dont have the Fair use policy where they limit ur speed based on usage. I am using the 512kbps package, the bill is 1500 and i get 51kbps all the time if i download the right file.
No other service provider can give u this promise. SLT adsl ROCKS!!!
jkbnuwan said
Plz tell me. I’m planning to buy a unlimited Airtel internet package. I’m planing to do lot of downloading. I wanted to think twice after looking this blog. So Tell me Which one is better?
Dialog or airtel?
Dushi said
@jkbnuwan
don’t by any of them. Try to find out mobitel HSDPA. Its cheap, stable and really good for downloading.
Dushy said
Seems there are loads of problems with airtels HSDPA side… Really slows speeds.. Have tried the calling them but the agents dont know what they are talking about..Had to speak with a techi guy to fix it.. Anyone having a prob can call..0755841241
lasith said
Guys, i just wanted 2 use dialog prepaid broadband on my pc. Can any one tell me a place to buy a low priced hsdpa modem? (except dialog, mobitel outlets)
Dushi said
Try shopping at Unity Plaza
or now there are Prolink HSDPA modems for about 9400LKR. But as I heard it has some issues with Linux. So better find something else. Happy shopping 
Troy said
Hi Lasith
Visit Abans ,u can take from there 6900/=
u can visit airtel branch in kolpiti,there is a abans branch in side that airtel branch. those are unlock HSDPA modem. u can use with any sim.
Suresh said
Hi,
I need the get you’re Information.If i want Unlocking my Modem.If you know how to do it? Please contact me .Thank you.
Suresh.
Dushi said
@Suresh
hello suresh this link will give you all the instructions you need –>
http://www.seejay.net/2009/02/how-to-unlock-huawei-e220-hsdpa-modem.html
happy unlocking
thara said
can some one tell me how can i unlock my huawei E1550 hsdpa,i boght it from dialog outlet,
thanks