ADSL for students

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Revo

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Hey Guys

What package would you guys choose for a student?

I want a 1mb line for gaming and downloads.
Who would be the best ISP to choose as well as the cheapest.
Would getting a concurrent connection account from Axxess be worth it as my parents in the cape already have a 1mb line?

What are your suggestions?

Thanks
 
Im not sure if it is possible to get ADSL as a student.

You will have to take out a voice line and an ADSL Line (i think you have to sign a contract for that).

If so, then you wont be able to (unless if you have your parents take out the contract for you or if you have a part time job with a stable salary).

ADSL, I used Openweb uncapped Lite internet for a month on my 384kbps adsl line. Downloads were good (57kbps).
 
Yeah that was what I tought.

Because I wanna play online will a 385k line be enough or will I have to go to a 1mb account?
 
384kbps is more than enough for gaming. Streaming is near impossible. Downloading is painful.

Ultimately, it all depends on your budget. 1mbps is a good middle ground between pathetically slow and decently fast, and decent uncapped packages at this speed aren't prohibitively expensive (you're looking at around R700pm all inclusive for uncapped 1mbps, I think).
 
Axxess has just reduced their 1Gb vouchers to R35. That's not a bad place to start, presuming quality is the same.
 
Revo said:
Yeah that was what I tought.

Because I wanna play online will a 385k line be enough or will I have to go to a 1mb account?
Click to expand...
A lot of people play with 384kbs. Obviously 4meg would be better if you play competitively or seriously.
On 4meg, your ping could be 5ms, compared to 55-65 on 384k.

Depending on your ISP, you could comfortably download around 30Gig a month if you download only overnight.
 
So what would be the best option? Do you guys rate?

What about an axxess acount with two concurrent connections?
Then me and my parents can share an account.
 
Revo said:
So what would be the best option? Do you guys rate?

What about an axxess acount with two concurrent connections?
Then me and my parents can share an account.
Click to expand...
No, not if you're talking about the uncapped accounts.
 
Well, that depends entirely on your living arrangement. I consult with many students here in Grahamstown, and being a student myself I know there are many considerations. I currently live in digs with 5 other people so the 4 Mbps account from mweb is shared using WiFi and a download machine distributes stuff to keep out the riff raff and reduce consumption on common downloads.
 
The Internet rates at the Universities are usually the best that you can find for gaming, if you're going to game after hours.

If you're playing like DotA, and not FPS, then you can have a look at like the 8ta/Cell C wireless (3G/HSDPA) options.
 
Pada said:
The Internet rates at the Universities are usually the best that you can find for gaming, if you're going to game after hours.

If you're playing like DotA, and not FPS, then you can have a look at like the 8ta/Cell C wireless (3G/HSDPA) options.
Click to expand...

Depends on the university, UCT for example blocks a lot of ports that are needed for gaming.
 
Lounger said:
A lot of people play with 384kbs. Obviously 4meg would be better if you play competitively or seriously.
On 4meg, your ping could be 5ms, compared to 55-65 on 384k.

Depending on your ISP, you could comfortably download around 30Gig a month if you download only overnight.
Click to expand...

The upload on 4Mbps and 1Mbps is the same. So no gaming advantage by going for 4Mbps.
 
Yeah i'm at NWU pikke and they block every port for gaming so no chance there.

I was looking at 384 as I stay in a single flat on my own maybe get an Mweb uncapped account doesn't work out to much as as the wireless internet I puchase each month is crazy slow and R250 for 2 gig.

I want to play games such as BF3 will a 384k line be sufficient enough for it after the connection issues have be sorted out of course?
 
Revo said:
Yeah i'm at NWU pikke and they block every port for gaming so no chance there.

I was looking at 384 as I stay in a single flat on my own maybe get an Mweb uncapped account doesn't work out to much as as the wireless internet I puchase each month is crazy slow and R250 for 2 gig.

I want to play games such as BF3 will a 384k line be sufficient enough for it after the connection issues have be sorted out of course?
Click to expand...
Mweb is reknowned for their high pings, caused by oversubscription and lack of bandwidth as well as shaping.
 
Revo said:
Yeah i'm at NWU pikke and they block every port for gaming so no chance there.

I was looking at 384 as I stay in a single flat on my own maybe get an Mweb uncapped account doesn't work out to much as as the wireless internet I puchase each month is crazy slow and R250 for 2 gig.

I want to play games such as BF3 will a 384k line be sufficient enough for it after the connection issues have be sorted out of course?
Click to expand...

I have a 384 line and an IS uncapped account. I'm not a heavy downloader so its perfect for my needs. I play BF3 and TF2 with low pings 30-40 on local servers. :) So it's 384 is fine for gaming/browsing just don't expect to download mountains of series/music/movies.
 
hawker said:
I have a 384 line and an IS uncapped account. I'm not a heavy downloader so its perfect for my needs. I play BF3 and TF2 with low pings 30-40 on local servers. :) So it's 384 is fine for gaming/browsing just don't expect to download mountains of series/music/movies.
Click to expand...

Who is your ISP?
And is your line with telkom or your ISP?
 
If I may - ...

You probably need a 1mb line. My honest advice is to get your R290 line from Telkom and an uncapped 1mb special account from openweb.co.za . Currently it costs R239. That makes a total of R529.

You could also get your line from rsaweb.co.za - this includes a 1 GB backup account (in case openweb goes down). The price for a 1mb line with 1GB is R240 (50 rand Telkom saving). The only disadvantage is that you have to go through rsaweb if anything goes wrong with your line and this can add a little delay to problem fixing.

This is honestly the best deal you will get unless you go capped. I use this account for a lot of You Tube and downloads and so far have not been shaped... (hopefully not soon either!).
 
Revo said:
Who is your ISP?
And is your line with telkom or your ISP?
Click to expand...

Line is from Telkom and ISP is adept. If you can afford faster line speed get it! 384 is not ideal for anything. Hopefully can get a faster line next year.
 
I can confirm that a 384 line is fine for gaming. I have used it to play BFBC2 and now BF3. Im from CPT, ping to JHB is 50ms, ping to CPT is 30ms.

My line was screwed up for about 8months though where my local pings would be anything up to 1200ms, but that has nothing to do with line speed, it must have been a telkom exchange problem.

Bottom line: 384 is perfect for FPS gaming, i'm not sure how it would perform with a game like WoW though, I would assume that needs a slightly faster line.
 
abdul89 said:
with a game like WoW though, I would assume that needs a slightly faster line.
Click to expand...
384 would be fine for pure MMORPGs on their own, but you'll probably use something like ventilo or 'walkie talkie' intercom features too. then a faster line is essential.
 
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