MyWireless : Does height matter?

[Rhino]

Hi every1, I have just signed up for the 256k service, I get my modem on monday. I live in a block of flats, on the 10th floor, I have been told that this will help my connection, is this true[?]
I must be very honest, the staff @ sentech have been most helpful!! I just hope the connection is as good!
Thanks!

[ProAsm]

If you're in a high density area then height can only be an advantage although distance from the tower is the over ruling factor.

[Rhino]

Does any1 know if the overport tower in Durban is opperational?

[ProAsm]

No we have not even started on it yet as we ran into problems but it is next on the list.

[Rhino]

I live in morningside durban, and it says my signal is partial. If I was to put a patch on it, what direction should it be facing?? Kensington, overport etc??

[ProAsm]

We are currently busy with the tower at Bay of Plenty and you should maybe get that until Overport is up.
Yes a patch antenna will make a big difference.

You say you getting your modem on monday, is that this coming monday or next monday as we have not officially launched the system yet, that happens on friday 5th March although I see no reason why you shouldn't get it except you'll be operating under a Beta condition which means we're still configuring, tweaking and sometimes switch off for a while.

[Rhino]

This monday, I wasent told that it would be a beta connection..... Would I get notified when it get turned off? Will I still hjave to pay the full subscription??? No1 told me anything about this, they said it would function just fine????

[ProAsm]

It will only be till the 5th which is Friday and interuptions will only be during office hours which I'm sure you'll not be online.
Anyways I will make sure there are no interuptions in your area then.


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http://www.unrealza.co.za/proasm/mywireless.html
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[AcidRaZor]

Knowing Sentech, it will probably take you 5 days just to get the thing working [:D]

Here's what happend with me....

Tuesday (drove through to pick it up from the lame ass courier)
Tuesday night, couldn't connect (base station 12, 30% connection) got told that my signal was "planned first quater" although it ALSO said "good operational. (Wait till next day for "real" support)
Wednesday, moved my modem to the window, got base station 82, could connect and go to the registration page, username/password didn't work (apparently, this should be the same user/pass you gave on your application form, but haha, it wasn't) called support AGAIN, found out my username and password.... couldn't log in. Had to wait for the next day to reset my password.
Thursday, could connect and log in, but no internet connection, had to wait ANOTHER day for the "real" support. Friday I worked half day (i get paid by the hour btw) just to get home to be here while "real" support helped me.

EVENTUALLY, found out the bios on the modem was older than the version on the towers, hence not letting me through to the internet, got the thing flashed on wednesday (a week after I got the modem) and could connect to 82.

Turns out, I could only connect to 82 when it was cloudy because I fell just out of it's spectrum, so, carefully moved my modem around again and got numba 66 *kisses his connection*

Moral of the story... you'll only be up at LEAST 6 working days after you get your modem [:p]

[BTTB]

Hmm, so you guys up in Gauteng are sorting out the teething problems for us. Thanks. [:p]

Hopefully when its launched here in CT all the little probelms will be sorted.

<b><hr noshade size="1"></b><font size="2"><font color="red"><b>You can take Telkom out of the Post Office but you can't take the Post Office out of Telkom.</b></font id="red"></font id="size2">

[Billy]

Does height matter? In Strydom Park at desk height, 3 lights. On top of cupboard 4 lights.
Took Modem home (Hennops Park) ground level, no signal. Upstairs looking at the Groenkloof Tower, (+-9Km, Line of sight), 2 lights.

After being told 3 weeks for ADSL, and after 3 months Telkom couldn't even guess when it would be installed, MyWireless is great. Can't wait for HennopsPark to come on line[:)]

[Claymore]

Height helps. 3 lights when placed on my monitor, 1 light on my desk.

[gripen]

With these lights and signal strength spoken of all the time on the forums, does it mean signal from the modem to the tower?

I mean you can be 10km from the tower and GET good signal but that helps nothing..

Are you guys speaking of signal TO the tower from the modem?

[Rhino]

Hmmmm.. Kewl, cos im talking high, WAY high is like 10 stories high! so hopefully that will help!!

PROASM: Thanks 4 all the help.! Where would I face the patch for pay of plenty??

NOONE: Now that its up and running, R u happy wit the system?

[AcidRaZor]

Dude, it took me 2 days to download the internet (and found the nude pictures of your mom) so yes, very happy

[:D]

In all honesty, why I love this connection so much, is if I go to my new place (whenever i decide to move)

NO telkom phoning to get line moved/installed, no waiting for the technician to pitch up whenever he feels like, and no cap, period... if i felt like downloading 3 gig today, tomorrow, when feeling like browsing, I don't have speeds of 0.0002kb/s

the first day or so was cool, because i basically patched all my games AND my operating system (a good couple of gig) and afterwards, i'm like "okay, now what, this usually took me a couple of weeks to do, now i'm finished"

[:p]

[Rhino]

Wot u usin as a firewall?

[Andromeda]

So, ya all are getting excited about paying R1k plus for 512kbps. On top of that, a hugely overpriced modem, a "connection" fee and a 24month contract. This is supposed to be great service?

Frankly, if Sentech was interested in service, they'd drop the connection fee and the contract, price the service properly and offer decent speeds - maybe a 768kbps, 1.5Mbps selection. Afterall, they claim "up to 3Mbps" on their hompage (obviously they're too embarrassed to put the actual 512kbps on the first page one sees).

Sorry, as far as I am concerned, Sentech have missed a golden opportunity to lead South Africa a little closer to the digital age. Just like Telkom, they are offering an exhorbitantly priced inferior service, all the while taking consumers for a ride.

So, I'll just continue relaxing here, surfing on my 3Mbps Comcast connection. Did I mention it costs $55/mth (about R400 and you can get 1Mbps for $30 - about R210)

[AcidRaZor]

dude, i invite you to stay there, i dont want your negative ass in south africa anyway, hope you lose your passport...

Rhino : I'm using Sygate

[Rhino]

Noone: U happy with firewall??? Im using Mcafee Internet security, do u think its any good??

[Rhino]

Does any1 know where the hell "bay of plenty" is???[^]

[vangend]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Rhino</i>
<br />Does any1 know where the hell "bay of plenty" is???[^]
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

north beach area around snake park if I remember right

[ProAsm]

Correct - Bay of Plenty is where Old Fort Road meets the Marine Parade.


<hr noshade size="1"><center>http://www.unrealza.co.za/proasm/mywireless.html</center>

[Ditch]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Rhino</i>
<br />Hi every1, I have just signed up for the 256k service, I get my modem on monday.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Hmm .. I signed up on Friday for 128k, and they told me on the phone it would take 'ten working days' to get the modem etc. Why is yours so quick?

[Rhino]

I dont know? They where very helpfull, I applied on the friday, following firday I got SMS to say modem was on its way! I think maybe there is not allot of ppl in Durban waiting....

[AcidRaZor]

they're running out of stock [:p]

yes, very happy with my firewall... best i've ever seen

you can even backtrace an attack to it's ISP and log a complaint to their abuse department [;)]

[lewstherin]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Andromeda</i>
<br />So, ya all are getting excited about paying R1k plus for 512kbps. On top of that, a hugely overpriced modem, a "connection" fee and a 24month contract. This is supposed to be great service?

Frankly, if Sentech was interested in service, they'd drop the connection fee and the contract, price the service properly and offer decent speeds - maybe a 768kbps, 1.5Mbps selection. Afterall, they claim "up to 3Mbps" on their hompage (obviously they're too embarrassed to put the actual 512kbps on the first page one sees).

Sorry, as far as I am concerned, Sentech have missed a golden opportunity to lead South Africa a little closer to the digital age. Just like Telkom, they are offering an exhorbitantly priced inferior service, all the while taking consumers for a ride.

So, I'll just continue relaxing here, surfing on my 3Mbps Comcast connection. Did I mention it costs $55/mth (about R400 and you can get 1Mbps for $30 - about R210)
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Andromeda what are you trying to achieve? Any ghey ass wally living in a country with more miles of fibreoptics than roads can claim to rip us poor South Africans. The fact is that Sentech is trying to change the digital landscape here, when nobody else is (or can). We are making do with what is available, and whether its overpriced or under-performing by US or European standards, its still a step forward.
Im not saying we South Africans should settle for Sentech as is; but change is only going to happen if we get behind the companies trying to change things. The only way broadband will ever get cheap here is if companies can realise the economies of scale needed to pour on the bandwidth. The only way that will happen is if we get connected...boycotting because the bandwidth or price is worse than overseas will not help anything.

So why dont you get back to arguing over which Calvin Klein T-shirt is better or whatever it is that u broadband foreigners do.

** How can Telkom claim to "Touch Tomorrow" when it can barely touch yesterday?
Because they're a BIG, GREEDY, MONOPOLY intent on keeping South Africa in the stone age. **

[flashvc]

Don't feed the trolls [;)]

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[mbs]

...and empty the smelly trash [:(!]

[Wrayth]

Ah, guys, be nice, you'll have to make allowences for foreigners... they're obviously a bit too slow to understand the difference that an existing infrastructure and positive political environment can make to communications services...

:P

[Andromeda]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">a country with more miles of fibreoptics than roads ... that Sentech is trying to change the digital landscape here, when nobody else is (or can). ...Im not saying we South Africans should settle for Sentech as is; but change is only going to happen if we get behind the companies trying to change things. ...So why dont you get back to arguing over which Calvin Klein T-shirt is better or whatever it is that u broadband foreigners do.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

To address your points:

1. My understanding is that possibly as much as three-quarters of the fibre in South is dark fibre (My source for this is Anthony Bizos who is a pioneer in the internet in South Africa due to his early stage involvement in Internet Solutions). This fibre belongs to many companies, including but not limited to Eskom, Transnet and of course Telkom. Of course, this fibre does not address the typical problems of "last mile" connectivity. Neither does the fibre infrastructure in the US or Europe. The argument that South Africa does not have an adequate fibre-optic infrastructure is a fallacy.

2. Sentech is allegedly trying to change the digital landscape. Or are they? They are extracting the consumer surplus and then some. This is the same tactic Telkom uses. Sentech, largely state-owned, is no different from Telkom. It operates in a highly regulated environment and benefits from the tight regulation. Many others have attempted to change the digital landscape by investing in start-up companies. They have all fallen foul of regulatory restrictions. The wireless drive in the US has been led by entrepreneurs, small start-ups like Boingo. Only recently has Verizon, the large telco, started fishing in the pond. South Africans have attempted to do this. Instead of facilitating the start up of small companies, the “heavies” like Sentech have benefited from regulation and crushed the entrepreneurial spirit.

3. I’m glad that you agree that we should not settle for Sentech. However, enabling them to entrench their mode of operation will do neither broadband nor South African consumers any good. They will continue to extract the full consumer surplus. Their pricing is unrealistic and places broadband out of the reach of many. Their two year contracts seeks to lock in subscribers and avoid any potential of competition. Had they opted to price the service reasonably, do you not think that they would have easily seen a five-fold increase in subscribers? Instead of facilitating the shift to broadband they are creating the perception that broadband is only for the wealthy. Instead of worshipping Sentech, we should be lobbying for regulatory change.

5. In the US the argument is, contrary to your “informed” opinion, not about CK. Rather it is about how US consumers are subjected to pathetic 3Mbps broadband speeds. See, the US consumers are getting left behind by the Koreans with their 22Mbps and higher speeds. Imagine how silly that makes Sentech’s 128k – 512k offering look in Korea!

6. On the Calvin Klein and “ghey” comments: I’m amused to see that South Africans are still insulting of anyone that thinks differently. I guess it’s still the case that anyone that doesn’t agree with “volk en vaderland” is still a “veraaier”. Too bad you had to ruin the good points that you made with insults.

[Andromeda]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by noone</i>
<br />dude, i invite you to stay there, i dont want your negative ass in south africa anyway, hope you lose your passport...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

What a mature reaction and insightful post.

[flashvc]

Andromeda, I fail to see what you're trying to achieve here.

I've worked for one of those startup "illegal" wireless service providers. And fact is fact. BANDWIDTH IS DAMN EXPENSIVE IN SA.
We paid R120k per month for a 2.5mbit link into IS with only 1.5mbit intl access. And let's not talk about how expensive it is to link into JINX/CINX, which are the peering points for all major ISPs in SA.
Take those numbers, and try to justify a cheap broadband solution here.

We initially had the subscribers uncapped at full 802.11b speeds, but we couldn't afford to keep it that way, and eventually had to cap the users at 64k,128k,256k and 512k

In the end, the company couldn't keep head above water

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[Wrayth]

Andromeda, I understand your point... however, there are a few 'extenuating circumstances'.

1) Sentech are building the wireless infrastructure as they go. They obviously need to recoup costs... therefore they cannot offer too much of a line at first. As their customer base builds, I'm sure they will expand on their offering.

2) Further on the above, they simply do not have the extant customer base to immediately jump into massive offerings for low prices. Remember that there are more people in some of the cities in the US than in all of South Africa. It's not quite a case of comparing apples with apples, is it?

3) Sentech is not largely state-owned. To the best of my knowledge, the state have a 30% share.

4) Sentech is a company. Their priority is to make a viable profit margin, so they can feed their employees... not to revolutionise the country. Show me any real company in the US who are actually trying to be revolutionary (and not as part of some marketing campaign), and I'll eat their portfolio without butter and salt ;)

5) Regulation aside, Sentech are actually creating a competitive market, not suppressing it. Their offering is the only real competition that Telkom has as far as broadband alternatives goes, and they're probably trying to get as established as possible as quickly as possible before someone bribes the legislators on Telkom's behalf to close the loophole.

6) For someone from the US (or even the UK... where are you, anyway?) to accuse a south african of being 'insulting of anyone that thinks differently.' has to be the most hypocritical statement I have ever seen.

Anyway, in summary (and I apologise if I repeated anyone else's points... this took me a while to write between work ;)... SA doesn't have the customers, the structure and the economy to offer better speeds at lower prices, at this time. As new tech and more supporters roll in, hopefully things will improve... but we need a starting point. Finally we have some competition... don't knock them cos they being careful.

(No I don't work for Sentech, Telkom or the SA Government) ;)

[lewstherin]

In the end, we can debate ideologies of broadband forever.
The cold facts are that we actually LIVE in this country, and you are speaking from a privileged position with no actual clue about what the environment is like on the ground here.
Why do you think this forum exists? Its because "lobbying" only gets so far in this country - ultimately the government will do its own thing about telecommunications, because it has bigger problems - problems like trying to feed the masses that are starving and provide jobs for them too.

We are not in a USA situtation where enough people actually care about broadband - maybe 25-30% (max) of the people in this country can afford a telephone line rental, never mind a computer.

Given all this, its intensely irritating when someone like yourself rocks up and disses the first signs we have had of an alternative in 10 years +.

I apologise if I was unduly aggressive, but seriously you have no clue about the REALITY of this country - a REALITY that cannot change fast because we don't have the money, enough employed, educated people, or the government for it.

Oh and that whole thing about this country being full of fibre optics missed a vital point - nobody but Hellkom can legally connect those fibre networks, and Hellkom wont do that since it will hurt their own networks...its called a monopoly - another reality of South Africa that most of the starving voter base dont care about right now...

** How can Telkom claim to "Touch Tomorrow" when it can barely touch yesterday?
Because they're a BIG, GREEDY, MONOPOLY intent on keeping South Africa in the stone age. **

[pkid]

Lol. Remember the good old days. Now Sentech have only a few thousand subscribers. iBurst and the Cell phone companies are big. I have ADSL and I am happy with it (could be cheaper but what can you do?)

[ProAsm]

Lol. Remember the good old days. Now Sentech have only a few thousand subscribers. iBurst and the Cell phone companies are big. I have ADSL and I am happy with it (could be cheaper but what can you do?)
And so do 99% of the staff that were ever involved :D