Comments on: Getting Connected in Ethiopia http://blog.idaimages.com/2009/12/09/getting-connection-in-ethiopia/ Blog of Ida C. Benedetto, Brooklyn based media strategist and producer who works with visual media and digital technology to foster storytelling, collaboration and diversity. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:49:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dess http://blog.idaimages.com/2009/12/09/getting-connection-in-ethiopia/comment-page-1/#comment-872 Dess Wed, 16 Feb 2011 18:56:36 +0000 http://blog.idaimages.com/?p=1497#comment-872 I bought evdo device from ebay (hong kong seller) and after I got it here I was told by the telephone company that it was registered under somebody with that device's serial number ... or something like that. So I ordered another one of similar brand ( it's cheap like 27 usd) and after I got it here, the same problem. I told etc that I imported the device and there can not be a case that these devices were registered under another user because they are brand new. The tel worker told me that he faced the same problem with other devices too. And he told me that he has to call the head office and resolve the issue. I did not have the patience by then and I sticked with CDMA subscription. Is ther any chance that I can make use of these devices for EVDO? I bought evdo device from ebay (hong kong seller) and after I got it here I was told by the telephone company that it was registered under somebody with that device’s serial number … or something like that. So I ordered another one of similar brand ( it’s cheap like 27 usd) and after I got it here, the same problem. I told etc that I imported the device and there can not be a case that these devices were registered under another user because they are brand new. The tel worker told me that he faced the same problem with other devices too. And he told me that he has to call the head office and resolve the issue. I did not have the patience by then and I sticked with CDMA subscription. Is ther any chance that I can make use of these devices for EVDO?

]]> By: daber http://blog.idaimages.com/2009/12/09/getting-connection-in-ethiopia/comment-page-1/#comment-469 daber Sun, 25 Jul 2010 11:52:08 +0000 http://blog.idaimages.com/?p=1497#comment-469 why EVDO 1261 does not connect to the network ?while it generates an error 5410 why EVDO 1261 does not connect to the network ?while it generates an error 5410

]]> By: Dan Butera http://blog.idaimages.com/2009/12/09/getting-connection-in-ethiopia/comment-page-1/#comment-301 Dan Butera Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:09:14 +0000 http://blog.idaimages.com/?p=1497#comment-301 So, what I finally had to do was go to the store in Adam's Pavilion that sells EVDO devices and pay them 600 birr to switch out my device for an updated device. It appears that the EC1261 devices that are just arriving are already updated, but the old ones (like mine) are not. So, they had to buy a software from Huawei and update them. Anyway, after that I had no more trouble and I am now connecting fine with EVDO. Long process and frustrated about the extra cost, but the connection is much better than the CDMA that I was using! So, what I finally had to do was go to the store in Adam’s Pavilion that sells EVDO devices and pay them 600 birr to switch out my device for an updated device. It appears that the EC1261 devices that are just arriving are already updated, but the old ones (like mine) are not. So, they had to buy a software from Huawei and update them. Anyway, after that I had no more trouble and I am now connecting fine with EVDO. Long process and frustrated about the extra cost, but the connection is much better than the CDMA that I was using!

]]> By: Dan Butera http://blog.idaimages.com/2009/12/09/getting-connection-in-ethiopia/comment-page-1/#comment-297 Dan Butera Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:09:25 +0000 http://blog.idaimages.com/?p=1497#comment-297 The mobile partner software is the Huawei software that connects, but if you don't have it installed - don't worry about it. I think I've finally figured it out, will post back here if I do. Thanks. The mobile partner software is the Huawei software that connects, but if you don’t have it installed — don’t worry about it. I think I’ve finally figured it out, will post back here if I do.
Thanks.

]]> By: Ida http://blog.idaimages.com/2009/12/09/getting-connection-in-ethiopia/comment-page-1/#comment-296 Ida Tue, 02 Feb 2010 06:16:06 +0000 http://blog.idaimages.com/?p=1497#comment-296 I went to the Bole ETC office, which is next to Edna Mall. Mobil Partner software? Menden new? I went to the Bole ETC office, which is next to Edna Mall.

Mobil Partner software? Menden new?

]]> By: Dan Butera http://blog.idaimages.com/2009/12/09/getting-connection-in-ethiopia/comment-page-1/#comment-295 Dan Butera Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:18:44 +0000 http://blog.idaimages.com/?p=1497#comment-295 One more thing, can you tell me what firmware you have? You should be able to find out by going to Tools and then Diagnostics through the Mobile Partner software. Thanks! One more thing, can you tell me what firmware you have? You should be able to find out by going to Tools and then Diagnostics through the Mobile Partner software.
Thanks!

]]> By: Dan Butera http://blog.idaimages.com/2009/12/09/getting-connection-in-ethiopia/comment-page-1/#comment-294 Dan Butera Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:15:17 +0000 http://blog.idaimages.com/?p=1497#comment-294 Thanks for your response. Which ETC location did you register? And do you know which one the person you talked to recently registered? I tried to do it at the Mekanisa location, near Caribou restaurant. Maybe I have to try another one, they didn't seem to know too much about it at that location. Thanks for your response.
Which ETC location did you register? And do you know which one the person you talked to recently registered?
I tried to do it at the Mekanisa location, near Caribou restaurant. Maybe I have to try another one, they didn’t seem to know too much about it at that location.

]]> By: idaimages http://blog.idaimages.com/2009/12/09/getting-connection-in-ethiopia/comment-page-1/#comment-293 idaimages Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:14:28 +0000 http://blog.idaimages.com/?p=1497#comment-293 That is the same device I have, Dan. When I registered mine, there was no upgrade needed and no registration fee. I talked to someone else who registered their Huawei EC1261 very recently, and they were charged an upgrade fee as well as an activation fee. I think their upgrade fee was some 30 birr, and ETC did it. This seems strange because my USB device is working no problem, so I can't tell you what the upgrade is for. That is the same device I have, Dan. When I registered mine, there was no upgrade needed and no registration fee. I talked to someone else who registered their Huawei EC1261 very recently, and they were charged an upgrade fee as well as an activation fee. I think their upgrade fee was some 30 birr, and ETC did it. This seems strange because my USB device is working no problem, so I can’t tell you what the upgrade is for.

]]> By: Dan Butera http://blog.idaimages.com/2009/12/09/getting-connection-in-ethiopia/comment-page-1/#comment-292 Dan Butera Mon, 01 Feb 2010 08:47:44 +0000 http://blog.idaimages.com/?p=1497#comment-292 I believe that I have the same USB device. Are you using the Huawei EC1261? When I went to ETC to register it, they said that it wasn't working for EVDO and that I needed to upgrade it. I assume that they mean a firmware upgrade, but I can't seem to figure out how to do it. When I took it to the store I bought it (in Adams Pavilion) they said that they can upgrade it for 700 birr, which seems an awful lot. Anyone have ideas of what I can do? I believe that I have the same USB device. Are you using the Huawei EC1261?
When I went to ETC to register it, they said that it wasn’t working for EVDO and that I needed to upgrade it. I assume that they mean a firmware upgrade, but I can’t seem to figure out how to do it.
When I took it to the store I bought it (in Adams Pavilion) they said that they can upgrade it for 700 birr, which seems an awful lot.
Anyone have ideas of what I can do?

]]> By: Deborah Zinn http://blog.idaimages.com/2009/12/09/getting-connection-in-ethiopia/comment-page-1/#comment-287 Deborah Zinn Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:14:49 +0000 http://blog.idaimages.com/?p=1497#comment-287 Updates on my experience with EVDO (using a PC, Windows XP) First the name of the company in Getu Center is Net Computer Trading – their storefront is on the street (not inside the Center/Mall); they have other stores on Bole Rd, including one next door to Saay Cake/Pastry. (I received quotes from other companies for the competing brand ZTE(?) and the price for that modem ranged from 2,750 - 2,900 Birr. (Quite a difference in price, even for a Ferenji. And the Huawei device seems to be working just fine.)) Before I go on further, many thanks for the photos – they are VERY helpful! Cost of activation at Telecom is now 258 Birr & for that you get 50 Birr’s worth of credit (plus 15 Birr for them to be able to test your activation -- on the spot). Remember to get your photo ID, photocopied (downstairs on the 1st floor) before you go up to Tele to fill in the form. Activation is now ‘on the spot’. Also got good service at Tele Office near Edna Mall. And I bought my 500 Birr worth of scratch cards at the same place where I had the photocopying done, on the 1st floor of the Tele Building.) Your EVDO phone number is your receipt number with a ‘0’ (zero) added in front. This is important when charging your card. Be ready for the operator to repeat your number with a 251 prefix (and drop the 0) when they report back your account balance. When I inserted the Huawei device into my PC, a bunch of screens came up in Chinese. I didn’t know what to do – so I thought to ‘follow along’ by clicking ‘Next.’ But that didn’t seem to really do anything – so I think that is NOT necessary. Maybe just cancel out of all that? But it did prompt a reboot of my computer – but nothing seems to have changed. ps I later went into Control panel & uninstalled whatever software I had inadvertently installed -- it was easy to locate as it was in Chinese! I also went into Run/Config to remove the programs from Start Up.... Recommendation: Do not install the Chinese software that comes with the USB device. At the same time all the Chinese screens were popping up, my PC recognised the USB device. After I had created a Dial Up connection with the numbers, in the original post (Number to dial: #777, username: etc, password: etc) everything worked just fine. My confusion was that I was expecting to create a ‘wireless’ connection. But once the manager of the Net Computer store clarified on the phone (‘thank you’ to him for his phone assistance) that I was creating a Dial Up connection, I was fine & followed the normal PC procedures for a new Dial Up connection. (I was also confused a bit as username & password were ‘etc’ – I thought that meant ‘etcetera’, but it is literally etc (for Ethiopian Telecommunications Commission, I suppose!)) In terms of performance, the speed is not ‘lightening’ but I wasn’t expecting that. I’ve been using ETC Dial Up for about 3 years – early in the morning & after working hours. It seems that with Dial Up, my download speed was about 5 minutes for 1MB. With the new connection, download speed seems about 3 times faster – 5 minutes for 3MB. But I am still tracking performance. ps Ran into someone from USA at Tele who had brought a ‘locked’ USB device from USA. He was able to find someone to unlock it for 200 Birr (Tele offered to unlock it for 300 Birr.) The price to unlock is a substantial savings over the 2,200 Birr price for a new device. Best to have the device unlocked before one comes to Tele, as this created several return trips for him – but I suppose at least he knew the device could be unlocked? Updates on my experience with EVDO (using a PC, Windows XP)

First the name of the company in Getu Center is Net Computer Trading – their storefront is on the street (not inside the Center/Mall); they have other stores on Bole Rd, including one next door to Saay Cake/Pastry. (I received quotes from other companies for the competing brand ZTE(?) and the price for that modem ranged from 2,750 — 2,900 Birr. (Quite a difference in price, even for a Ferenji. And the Huawei device seems to be working just fine.))

Before I go on further, many thanks for the photos – they are VERY helpful!

Cost of activation at Telecom is now 258 Birr & for that you get 50 Birr’s worth of credit (plus 15 Birr for them to be able to test your activation — on the spot). Remember to get your photo ID, photocopied (downstairs on the 1st floor) before you go up to Tele to fill in the form. Activation is now ‘on the spot’. Also got good service at Tele Office near Edna Mall. And I bought my 500 Birr worth of scratch cards at the same place where I had the photocopying done, on the 1st floor of the Tele Building.)

Your EVDO phone number is your receipt number with a ‘0’ (zero) added in front. This is important when charging your card. Be ready for the operator to repeat your number with a 251 prefix (and drop the 0) when they report back your account balance.

When I inserted the Huawei device into my PC, a bunch of screens came up in Chinese. I didn’t know what to do – so I thought to ‘follow along’ by clicking ‘Next.’ But that didn’t seem to really do anything – so I think that is NOT necessary. Maybe just cancel out of all that? But it did prompt a reboot of my computer – but nothing seems to have changed.

ps I later went into Control panel & uninstalled whatever software I had inadvertently installed — it was easy to locate as it was in Chinese! I also went into Run/Config to remove the programs from Start Up.…

Recommendation: Do not install the Chinese software that comes with the USB device.

At the same time all the Chinese screens were popping up, my PC recognised the USB device.

After I had created a Dial Up connection with the numbers, in the original post (Number to dial: #777, username: etc, password: etc) everything worked just fine.

My confusion was that I was expecting to create a ‘wireless’ connection. But once the manager of the Net Computer store clarified on the phone (‘thank you’ to him for his phone assistance) that I was creating a Dial Up connection, I was fine & followed the normal PC procedures for a new Dial Up connection.

(I was also confused a bit as username & password were ‘etc’ – I thought that meant ‘etcetera’, but it is literally etc (for Ethiopian Telecommunications Commission, I suppose!))

In terms of performance, the speed is not ‘lightening’ but I wasn’t expecting that. I’ve been using ETC Dial Up for about 3 years – early in the morning & after working hours. It seems that with Dial Up, my download speed was about 5 minutes for 1MB. With the new connection, download speed seems about 3 times faster – 5 minutes for 3MB. But I am still tracking performance.

ps Ran into someone from USA at Tele who had brought a ‘locked’ USB device from USA. He was able to find someone to unlock it for 200 Birr (Tele offered to unlock it for 300 Birr.) The price to unlock is a substantial savings over the 2,200 Birr price for a new device. Best to have the device unlocked before one comes to Tele, as this created several return trips for him – but I suppose at least he knew the device could be unlocked?

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