ADSL alternatives

[The_Assimilator]

Last week Monday (13/10/2008), Telkom decided to bugger up my ADSL. I called 0800 375 375 twice that week and elected to receive a call-back, as opposed to waiting for hours listening to the horrible music they play. They never called me back, so the following Monday (20/10/2008) I called that number again and remained on the line until I got through to a consultant, who logged my fault.

This morning (24/10/2008) I got an SMS informing me that the fault has been resolved. However, my brother has confirmed that he still cannot connect to the Internet, so Telkom has lied to me. (Big surprise!)

In light of this fact, I'm looking into other Internet connectivity options that I can use when my ADSL line goes down:

- Neotel isn't an option because they don't yet supply coverage to my area (Rondebosch), and I haven't heard good things about them.
- WiMax is out because (as far as I understand) it's similar to ADSL in that it uses a Telkom exchange, and we all know how reliable those damn things are.
- iBurst coverage in my area is decent, but there's no way in hell I'm paying R 3,000 for a router that I'll use 1 month out of 12.
- Cellphone connectivity options are something I haven't looked into very much, mainly because I don't know very much about them.

Can anyone give me some advice? Have I missed anything obvious?

All I'm really looking for is a connection that will allow me to surf the web and check my email, but ideally I'd like something that would allow me to play EVE Online (a MMORPG) as well.

TIA!

 

[gifs]

I would get a 3G modem and a prepaid sim, then load some data bundles when your adsl is off.

 

[The_Assimilator]

That would be an option, except that 3G coverage ends about 10m outside my house .

 

[Scoliosis]

So on Sunday at around 14:00 my ADSL loses synch...try to phone Telkom and give up after 60 mins. Try off and on during the course of the evening for 20 mins at a time, and still no joy. Phone them at 06:00 this morning and a very helpful oke logs my call. Hang up at around 06:15 having logged my 37th ADSL fault in the last 24 months. I have had more problems than that, but if they manage to reset the link on the exchange remotely, they don't log a fault.

Imagine my surprise when I get a SMS at 06:45 to say the fault has been repaired and my ticket closed. Yessir, my ADSL is working! At around 09:00 it dies again, and I am now told that a manhole cover wasn't closed properly, and the recent rains have affected 2500 lines in my area. I may not re-open my ticket from 3 hours previous, nor log a new ticket, as it is a 'general' fault.

They also can't give me an expected time of completion, as so many lines are affected, although two weeks or so is a good guess....

Earlier this year I applied for a new ADSL line, as Telkom seems incapable of repairing my existing line. I was told that I couldn't have a new line, as ADSL was already 'active' at that address...

Oh and the 0800 600 126 number for 'customer care' is even worse....