Ordering my ISDN line!

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francois3G

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Hi!

Got all the info today. Ordering a ISDN 2a line soon with 150 surfmore hours. (I don't have ADSL in my area! So don't ask)

Can't wait! This GPRS is just killing me!

Another thing, can anyone tell me how online gaming will be with this 128K ISDN line?

Thanks!
 
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francois3G said:
Hi!

Got all the info today. Ordering a ISDN 2a line soon with 150 surfmore hours. (I don't have ADSL in my area! So don't ask)

Can't wait! This GPRS is just killing me!

Another thing, can anyone tell me how online gaming will be with this 128K ISDN line?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

If you connect at 128k doesn't that mean you only effectively have 75 internet hours??
 
Cost?
Click to expand...
The cost is pretty high. According to my calculations, round about R580 a month.....but that still beats the R700 a month I'm paying for GPRS, right now (dont have 3G coverage anymore :( ).

If you connect at 128k doesn't that mean you only effectively have 75 internet hours??
Click to expand...
No, you get your full 150 internet hours a month. Spoke to Tekom yesterday. :p
More Info
 
ajax said:
If you connect at 128k doesn't that mean you only effectively have 75 internet hours??
Click to expand...
francois3G said:
No, you get your full 150 internet hours a month. Spoke to Tekom yesterday
Click to expand...
Please make very sure (telkom support are wrong more often than they are right) - AFAIK the 150hours is metered calltime and when you are connecting at 128k on isdn you are running 2 calls simultaneously
 
francois3G said:
CLICK ME!
Just scratch around there. Hopefully that's what you are looking for.
Click to expand...

Francois3G, that hardly qualifies. The webpage does not explicitly say it is for 128k calls as well. Be warned...
 
ajax said:
Francois3G, that hardly qualifies. The webpage does not explicitly say it is for 128k calls as well. Be warned...
Click to expand...

Also note that when I queried above with telkom I was advised that each call will use up your 150 hours
 
Ok, maybe I'm wrong, but I spoke to a guy on the phone that sounded at least like he knows what he was doing. Not one of those 'Eish....please say again" types. I also confirmed with him that I would get 150 free surfmore hours with my ISDN (2a) line.

And I don't know if I have the dog by the balls here, but according to THIS page, it does say the service is availbale to ISDN 2a customers (at bottom of page).

I qoute:
Don't miss out on the additional Internet add-on
For just R150 per month you get 150 local Internet hours to access the internet during Callmore time.

* Normal per second tariffs will apply to Callmore calls for the period exceeding one hour.
These options are also available for ISDN 2 and ISDN 2a customers, but will result in a higher monthly rental.
Click to expand...

Anyway, don't want to make too much of a debate out of this. :rolleyes:

I rest my case.
Thank you very much for all the positive input!
 
Another thing i notice there....

* Normal per second tariffs will apply to Callmore calls for the period exceeding one hour.
Click to expand...

Does that mean that you have to recconect before the hour expires?

If so, I wonder if Infinit call might be better.
 
francois3G said:
Another thing i notice there....

[QOUTE] * Normal per second tariffs will apply to Callmore calls for the period exceeding one hour. [/QOUTE]

Does that mean that you have to recconect before the hour expires?

If so, I wonder if Infinit call might be better.
Click to expand...

Good point, check that out too.

We're only trying to spare you from a nasty shock when the bill comes :)
The rule of thumb with Telkom is - if there is ANY dought with a Telkom service, assume they will take the route that gets them more money.
 
An attempt to clarify
You do get 150 hours on isdn 2a - but only when connecting at 64k i.e one call.
As regards the normal tarifs that apply for calls after 1 hour my understanding is that that relates to voice calls only - internet calls are excluded. If you take the 150 hours internet option you can connect at R1/hour for a cumulative 150 hours in callmore time.
 
Infinitcall is a good idea, provided you won't suffer from disconnect problems.
You can then just order a normal ISDN line without the CLOSER option and use infinitcall.
Note, on infinitcall if you dial in at 128 k, you are making two calls, so the cap will be somewhere around R17 per call AFAIK.
The cheapest 128 k ISP (from www.hellkom.co.za) is @lantic it seems - R90/month.

A tip from my brother, he is a gamer on ISDN and lives in Cape Town - he says he dials a pop in Joburg, that way he gets lower latency.
 
Wow!

Thanks mikef! It does clarify things indeed!

So it's only 75 hours for 128K then? Well, I'll only be usin 128K mode when playing games. 64K should be fine for browsing. :)
 
Thanks ajax.

That pop might come in very handy I think! :D

I think the 150 hours scheme might still work out cheaper, since I go on the internet almost everyday. R16 X 30 = R480..........eish.

I just wanna go on the internet say 1 -2 hours a day (after 7pm ofcourse!), maybe play a online game or two and disconnect.

Just wanna get this straight....ISDN 2a is 128k, right?

Thanks again!
 
francois3G said:
Thanks ajax.

That pop might come in very handy I think! :D

I think the 150 hours scheme might still work out cheaper, since I go on the internet almost everyday. R16 X 30 = R480..........eish.

I just wanna go on the internet say 1 -2 hours a day (after 7pm ofcourse!), maybe play a online game or two and disconnect.

Just wanna get this straight....ISDN 2a is 128k, right?

Thanks again!
Click to expand...
2a means you can connect an analog phone to the line to make phone calls or a fax machine etc.
the one without the "a" means you can only use digital devices on the line, so you will have to buy an ISDN phone (about R1000 or more AFAIK) to make phone calls or use your modem and pc sound card with the telephone software that comes with it.
Both ISDN 2 and ISDN2a give you 2x 64k channels

Just make sure if the internet hours are for long distance internet calls too!!
 
Spoke to telkom again today.

Asked the guy if I would get 150 hours using 128K. He said ...................YES. :p

You get 150 hours, doesn't matter if you are using 128K or 64K.

Must say, it does sound a little fishy though.
 
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