ADSL Dilemma - help?!

[Diego Tristan]

Hi, so my dad has finally considered introducing internet at home!! Now the problem is choosing the right ISP and package, i've boiled it down to MWeb 384k uncapped R349pm OR telkom capped 4mb 5gb (Do BB lvl 3) R556 - which one?

We have a telephone line and i stay in Sinoville (Wonderboom Airport, PTA) if that helps...
Not a heavy downloader, casual internet user so wouldn't generally exceed a cap if one were in place. Not much of a gamer, don't have the pc for heavy gaming, virtually only DoTA so gaming would be on local servers regardless.
My concern is that 384kb will be paralyzingly slow and would make me tear my hair out (read that performance deteriorates - fluctuating speeds and I fear that the exchange or whatever would become clogged with everyone jumping to mweb), on the other hand i could do 40gb p/m ; Whats playing with my emotions is that telkom will soon, maybe Aug., be freely upgrading the 4mb to 8/10/12mb + more bandwidth -- is that not reason enough to go Telkom!? I read that telkom's line speed is generally stable... Myth or what. Thanks

 

[AcidT]

Choices choices....

MWEB makes use of SAIX and IS for their backbone network but that does not say you won't have problems when the Seacom cable goes down as this is the cable they use to access the IS network for international conectivity. A while back when Seacom was down their was a number of complaints about MWEB not being able to provide enough bandwidth to sustain the demand (could have changed by now).

On the other hand Telkom uses SAIX of which it has a huge share as it is part of Telkom so there should always be enough bandwidth for international conectivity via SAT3 and SAFE.

So it boils down to pricing and stability at the end of the day...

My opinion is get the DO3 package (R549/month + Line Rental) and then go to someone like Axxess or Afrihost for a second account that will range from R19 - R50 per gig of blended bandwidth per month that runs on the IS network and have both account types available to connect via SAIX or IS. Seeing that you would not realy benefit from uncapped as the browsing and gaming is at a minimum as stated above. The DO3 package offers 5GB blended and 30GB local bandwidth. Then like I did I use Axxess Lite that costs R19 per gig unshaped on a monthly basis renewable until you cancel the service. Both backbone providers is then catered for if you have connection issues with one of them.

Hope this helps...

 

[DMH88]

I will choose mweb any day. They in fact have their own backbone

 

[AcidT]

I will choose mweb any day. They in fact have their own backbone

I agree that MWEB has their own backbone but remember it still has to connect to SAIX and IS in some way....

 

[Bosvark@]

I agree that MWEB has their own backbone but remember it still has to connect to SAIX and IS in some way....

Not so sure - It uses Telkom ADSL line but then as far as i know they pass the traffic to MWEB who then does with it what they want (again probably over Telkom infraco but Telkom / IS does not interfere with the sharing / shaping etc... of the "independant" first tier providers (unless the DSLAM is congested).

I think both of those are pretty good options - but what about webafrica titan? http://www.webafrica.co.za/adsl/titan_dsl_special

 

[Sting]

How much do your folks use the telephone to make calls to friends, family or business?

If quite a lot, then look at the Telkom Closer 4 or 5 packages as it includes "free" call time and free local/national calls after hours (for the first hour per call) to other Telkom numbers. I think 4 gives you 3Gb and 5 gives you 5Gb (check up on this!).

 

[Rands]

everyone starts by saying that 'I dont download much'...but believe me, your cap gets eaten VERY quickly......then u stuck!,
rather go for Mwebs uncapped. Its cheaper, you can download as much as you want......as its a home line, Mweb eases on shaping after hours.

We had a 3 gig cap at some stage (office) & it was fine...for about 3 months. Then u discover sites like Amaderforum.....then 3 gigs can get used up in 3 days!

We switched to the 384 Mweb uncapped & never looked back. Im averaging 12 gigs per month, mostly on series, and movies.


Only thing is that Rapidshare is SERIASLY throttled, so i download mainly from other servers.

do u realise how quickly a 4MB line will deplete a 5 gig cap?

Uncapped.....FTW

 

[Chevron]

everyone starts by saying that 'I dont download much'...but believe me, your cap gets eaten VERY quickly......then u stuck!,
rather go for Mwebs uncapped. Its cheaper, you can download as much as you want......as its a home line, Mweb eases on shaping after hours.

We had a 3 gig cap at some stage (office) & it was fine...for about 3 months. Then u discover sites like Amaderforum.....then 3 gigs can get used up in 3 days!

We switched to the 384 Mweb uncapped & never looked back. Im averaging 12 gigs per month, mostly on series, and movies.


Only thing is that Rapidshare is SERIASLY throttled, so i download mainly from other servers.

do u realise how quickly a 4MB line will deplete a 5 gig cap?

Uncapped.....FTW

I agree with this man.

Uncapped is the way to go.

 

[Aharon]

I know not one of your choices, but perhaps better value - Cybersmart offerings?

Regards

 

[drukkie]

For you telkom is the better one...and cheaper...
so you get that...R550 and 1 Gb Axxess for R19...
use your international GB's during the month untill lets say the 20th...you can then use your local 30GB's on local torrents etc...SAIX news...etc...
just swap to your 1Gb account for browsing...
there are lots of threads on how to swap accounts etc (bridged,firmware upgrade,router, routesentry)

 

[ichigo]

I say the telkom one is the better option i use it here and never got capped i use it for a lots of browsing (forums etc.) youtube and gaming.

Also since you gaming on local even if your 5gig gets used your can still play dota easily and download stuff from local sites.

 

[shaunvw]

First take a per month contract, then if you don't like it you can switch. You may not plan to use alot of cap, but that can change. I took a two year contract with telkom (didn't know any better) now I'm stuck because I can't afford the contract penalties. So I say again take per month contract till you know what you want.

 

[Gatecrasher]

4MB is a waste of money unless you have uncapped or a very large cap. So I would say the Mweb 384k uncapped is a good place to start.

 

[ponder]

I agree with this man.

Uncapped is the way to go.

+1

It won't be long before you find yourself capped no matter what you think now. Go for uncapped.

 

[Diego Tristan]

goodness, quite a few helpful thoughts, much appreciated mates! Okay so we don't really use the home fone all that much but most calls are free, i checked this month's bill... so not sure how the closer plans will work out...
I checked out the Broadband Put A Cap On It pamphlet from Telkom, and it quotes DoBB3 at R554 including 5GB+30gB so would i even need the separate axxess account?
I hear you blokes, the 4mb will run out in no time...
Oooh nice! the month to month contract thing sounds good, so i can test the water of both yeah without penalty.
I reckon i'll start with mweb uncapped, hopefully 384k will leave some hair on my head...
2More questions, do the telkom blokes ever reach max speed and the 384kb okes i see you guys suffer during the day but at night is it stable at max speed...
One last thing, i need a cheap router or "a working one" with two ports preferably R100-R200... Thanks! Oh and i've been told that telkom takes 2 weeks to setup, and mweb 2 days, does telkom really want our money?

 

[who.is.michael]

Telkom, you get what is advertised...

As for the time to get the DSL installed, go directly to the Telkom Direct store in your area and explain that it is urgent. (In Cape Town it takes two day via Telkom and MWEB much longer)

You might add add a pre-paid option from Afrihost at the end of the month at R 29.00 for 2 GB's if you have extra cash....