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Internet connectivity in South Africa
Having a look at the various options for connectivity is a real pain, esp. if you are a novice. ADSL, 3G, HSDPA, Satelite... and the list goes on. I signed with IBurst and had 7-days to test the product, I tested and tested, the download transfer rates were what I was looking at, on a connection of 1Mb i'm only getting (average) 28.9KB/s transfer rate, surely this should be a lot closer to 128KB/s? Contact my supplier, they send technicians to install all sorts of expensive antenas and signal enhancers, so transfer goes up to 33.7KB/s but fluctuates between 6.9KB/s and 57.7KB/s, ok, take down all these expensive antenas and we're back to 32.2KB/s with a fluctuation between 19.9KB/s and 44.3KB/s, at least a little better, my AVG updates don't download to well with massive fluctuations. The point I'm trying to make, when is the supplier legally bound to provide the service that one pays for? Surely a 1Mb connection should be held to certain rules, say, between 700Kb (87.5KB/s) and 1Mb (128KB/s) that's 300Kb or 37.5KB/s difference would be acceptable fluctuation? Even this would not be what I would consider as "Best effort" (another vague clause in these contracts), How does one solve the problem?
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Today Defines Tomorrow
Errare Humanum Est Remitto Divinus -
So I take it your 7 day grace period is gone...
Problem is in the contract itself whereby the companies themselves leave so many loopholes for themselves to give crappy service... Family of mine is in JHB and he also only got decent connection speeds on IBurst once he installed a major antenna on his roof...
Contact them and try and speak to someone higher up the monkey chain, if that fails, try http://hellopeter.com/comp_comment.asp?cid=766 and launch a complaint... IBurst is one of the companies that do respond to what people are saying on there and that would probably help getting you a decent connection...
Good luck and let us know of the outcome
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Yes, the 7-days are long gone, and I have already spoken with IBurst and in all fairness, they have treated me civilly, the problem is my area is on the back side of a mountain chain and they have a problem with permissions to erect towers, etc. The nearest tower to me is some 10-12Km distant, perhaps in the not-to-distant future they will get to erect something closer, but they do not say that this is on the cards at all, by the by, I'm in Bloubosrand, Randburg.Today Defines Tomorrow
Errare Humanum Est Remitto DivinusComment
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Did you go for the 24month contract or the month-to-month package? Might not be a bad idea to get in contact with someone who has HSDPA to spend a few minutes at your place and check out whether or not that might be an option...
One of my clients recently purchased the HSDPA card(2grand) and Vodacom has the new option of buying data bundles which allows for data at 20c/MB which in all fairness seems like it's going to trump any ADSL package hellkom can throw down to the public(disgusting)...
Far as I know Randburg is 100% covered for HSDPA so should not be a problem if you decide to go that way, depends on your contract with IBurst though...
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i feel for you, the fact that you have fallen into the 24 month contract with a service provider.
I recommend you contact someone that has a good knowledge about wireless and can assist you in that regard. Dont trust what people tell you until multiple people say that same thing.Wellinformed.co.za - Networking Forums SA partner site. Let's support each other for a better South Africa.Comment
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Softdux, please draw me a picture...
How do you get to 9c/MB ?
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You just also need to factor in the ADSL line rental...
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IBurst and ADSL
Hi Folks,
I've been reading comments on rentals for ADSL and IBurst and I'm a bit confused about pricing. My Iburst ISP is Interprise and I pay R749.00 p/m, this includes 3 x e mail addresses, all hardware, 3GB cap, 1GB connection. I.E. Total package deal. How does this compare to other suppliers and ADSL?
Unfortunately ADSL is not available in my area.
Today Defines Tomorrow
Errare Humanum Est Remitto DivinusComment
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I am not someone that like contracts, infact contracts are imo debt because there are always some surprising costs the was never mentioned.
Question?
So I buy a HSDPA modem cash at Vodacom for R2699 and then buy 2GB Databundle each month (Without a contract) @ R 449.00
Compared to
Telkom, buy DSL modem @ R350 + R437.50 dsl instalation and then monthly pay DSL Up to 384kbps @ R152 p/m + line rental @ R245p/m Total monthly as advertised by Telkom = R397p/m (Any hidden costs I missed will be appreciated)
Which is realistically the better deal?
Is the above a true reflection of what I can expect to pay in your experience?Roelof Vermeulen (Entrepreneurship in large organizations)
Enterprise Art Management Software| Rock flaps south africaComment
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Softdux, you're missing ADSL line rental as well as telephone line rental. Do yourself a favor and hop on over to http://www.hellkom.co.za and read about being Unproudly South African!
Dave S, http://www.hellkom.co.za/ispprices/ should give you a better understanding regarding prices.
Welcome Chatmaster! Realistically speaking, splash on the HSDPA... It's a bigger upfront layout, but can be written off to TAX and you gain more. If you take into consideration only speed, 384kbps vs 1.6MB if your coverage is good, it would be like flying a Fokker F100 vs a Supersonic Jet!
At 22c/MB it's a huge bargain, specifically if your on the road or planning to take extended leave of absence from your abode/office and would like to be able to have connectivity wherever you are...
(Does that 397p/m include the bandwidth?)
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hrm.... maybe i should have posted in this thread a bit sooner :P
ok here is the breakdown of what your costs are going to be including the hidden ones:
Line rental (telephone)
ADSL Line Rental (ADSL Line)
ISP Cost
Those are monthly charges now as for the startup costs
Monthly Rental x2
ISP Cost
ADSL Modem/Router + filter to make your line dual with fax or phone
Labour charges (IT Company or you could do it yourself)
as far as the actual R amounts you looking at a change in august. There will be a decrease in pricing on the Telkom side of things.
Now as far as recommending a solution.... if you mobile take 3G/HSDPA if you stationary take ADSL (its less expensive and you can do more with it like remote connections etc) If you got the Cash get ADSL + 3G for mobile. BEST SOLUTION as you can remote into your ADSL line and collect your mail from your local mail server and such things.
If you lost ..... Ask :PWellinformed.co.za - Networking Forums SA partner site. Let's support each other for a better South Africa.Comment
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I don't like the taking future changes in to a decision that I need to make today, only after ICASA has approved Telkom new charges can one base decisions upon that. Currently Telkom is NOT cheap. Look here
When taking line rental, isp cost (3Gb) and access cost you get R583.92
This is for residential line, 3gb advanced access and 384kbps line.Comment
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do note that the amount you mentioned needs to be multiplied by 2 for startup costsWellinformed.co.za - Networking Forums SA partner site. Let's support each other for a better South Africa.Comment
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