Advice Needed ... Start-up costs!!!!

[Noble_Nanobot]

First and foremost I would like to say Hello to everyone, this is my first time posting after a couple of months' visits, because I was using Dial-up and felt it was inapropriate to join....

After a long while of high telephone bills.... I've decided to have my service scrapped off. I am definitely going to get ADSL up and running but that's in January.... I've read tons and tons of articles about ADSL in terms of costs and bandwidth , modems and all and I must admit at time I end up being confused some say this and some say that.... I know there's a lot of threads or articles about start-up cost and all .. I just need people to confirm this if possible. Like I said I've just had my service cancelled so I'll need to have a new line installed ....

Correct me if I am wrong:

Line Installation = R 271.00
ADSL Installation = R 404.00
Monthly Rental = R 680.00
Line Rental = R 80.00
==================================
Total Startup Cost = R 1435.00
==================================
Total Cost + ISP = R 1435 + R 250 = R1685 { first month}

A 4 Port Switch/Router would probably cost me +/- R900? right?

My Questions:

1. I live around Cape Town, do I need a filter? I'll solely use the connection for internet and not Phone/Fax.
2. In Cape Town thunderstoms are not Very Big ... will I need a Lightning protector thingy?
3. After the Cap will the connection be completely unuseable? General speeds after cap?
4. I was planning to have the 512 Kbps ....is it worth it... What's the difference compared to 384 Kbps? They both use the same type 'o route/modem right?
5. If they both have the same bandwidth cap (3GB) what's the use of the 512 Kbps ....... I mean it only means you just get to your 3GB faster that's all, right? After that it's all the same for everyone right?

6. Anyone knows a good place I can buy the Modem/router around Cape Town? Recommend please!!! Eurobtye and Scoop are the only 2 but both sell for retailers
7. I'm only guessing that if it's sold in South Africa, it's ICASA, approved therefore works perfectly with Telkom? Or does it have to be ICASA approved?
8. Anyone knows a very RELIABLE ISP out there? I know of a lot I just need RELIABLE ones please!!!
9. Any known problemetic ADSL router brands I should avoid? I need a 4 port router .... I liked the Linksys router I saw for R 960 ...is it fair?
If anyone could shed some light on the above issues , would be immensely appreaciated ... I am sorry if maybe I don't reply soon enough ... I am typing this at work ... and will probably respond @ an internet cafe or on monday

Thanks!!!! PEACE!!!

 

[doekvoet]

If you sign a 24 month contract with Telkom - you get the modem and filters (2) for free. I've never tried the modem without a filter - suppose it will work.

Lightning protection is also provided by Telkom on installation.

After the cap international is un-usable - it does not exist for practical purposes - local is still working - although sites like news24.com tends to take much longer to open

Only difference between the 512 and 384 is the speed and the costs - make sure however you take the 3Gig ISP package - at least after the cap local still works - with the 2Gig account your service is disconnected for the rest of the month after reaching the cap.

Whether we like it or not - Telkom as ISP is probably the better one for now - based on the way in which they meassure the bandwidth - if planned correctly you can get in excess of 10Gig international per month.

 

[Darth Garth]

>I live around Cape Town, do I need a filter? I'll solely use the connection for >internet and not Phone/Fax.

No filter needed if you only are going to do ADSL on the line.

>2. In Cape Town thunderstoms are not Very Big ... will I need a Lightning >protector thingy?

Good idea to get one ... cheaper than replacing a fried ADSL router/modem

>After the Cap will the connection be completely unuseable? General speeds >after cap?

International useless ... local acceptable.

>I was planning to have the 512 Kbps ....is it worth it... What's the difference >compared to 384 Kbps?

Not that much ... lots of folks downgraded to 384.

>They both use the same type 'o route/modem right?

Yep.

>Anyone knows a good place I can buy the Modem/router around Cape >Town?

I got my Netgear router (DG834) from Computer Mania and there is a PC shop in Tygervalley opposite Edgars that also stocks them.

>it's ICASA, approved therefore works perfectly with Telkom?
>Or does it have to be ICASA approved?

Suppose you get a modem from overseas and it does not connect ???.
Telkom will tell you to get stuffed at least with an ICASA approved one (Dlink, Belkin, Linksys and Netgear) you have a leg to stand on.

>Anyone knows a very RELIABLE ISP out there?

Telkom Internet ... no kidding ... rather get it straight from the source.

>Any known problemetic ADSL router brands I should avoid?

Dlink had some hassles in the past with our ADSL implementation but they bought out newer models or released firmware fixes.

Stick to routers that are well supported and known brands.

>I liked the Linksys router I saw for R 960 ...is it fair?

Linksys WAG54G is pretty good.

 

[mikkelz_za]

International useless ... local acceptable.

Local is 100%.

If you sign a 24 month contract with Telkom - you get the modem and filters (2) for free.

I'd avoid the contract. You can get much better modems/routers for cheaper.

 

[bb_matt]

Yeah - got my planet 1 port router for R598 incl.
Didn't see the point in spending another R150 for a 4 port when I've got a perfectly good 8 port switch

Anyhow, I'm working out my first Telkom cost at about R1200
I was told that the line installation for ADSL (this was a brand new install - no line previously at property) would be R404 - damn well hope so anyway - still waiting for first bill.

The 384 with line rental did work out at R698 when I applied, think it will be closer to R800 next year with the line rental increase, plus I think there's the seperate rental for the phone line too ? -

Guess I'll find out when I get the first bill - yikes !

 

[doekvoet]

Yeah - the phone line rental is added to the adsl line rental

 

[hArTh]

Monthly Rental = R 680.00
Do you really need 512k speeds? Else I stongly suggest Home 384k instead: 40K up and down simultaneously.

A 4 Port Switch/Router would probably cost me +/- R900? right?
If you already have a switch just get a DLINK 300G ADSL bridge modem. www.dlink.co.za

My Questions:

1. I live around Cape Town, do I need a filter? I'll solely use the connection for internet and not Phone/Fax.
You only need a filter if you are going to use an analogue phone.

2. In Cape Town thunderstoms are not Very Big ... will I need a Lightning protector thingy?
YES. YES. YES. You can by an ADSL surge protector for ~R200 at most PC retailers.

3. After the Cap will the connection be completely unuseable? General speeds after cap?
Local is full speed and unshaped after cap. Int is sorta useable for light browsing, but this is time dependant.


4. I was planning to have the 512 Kbps ....is it worth it... What's the difference compared to 384 Kbps? They both use the same type 'o route/modem right?
5. If they both have the same bandwidth cap (3GB) what's the use of the 512 Kbps ....... I mean it only means you just get to your 3GB faster that's all, right? After that it's all the same for everyone right?

6. Anyone knows a good place I can buy the Modem/router around Cape Town? Recommend please!!! Eurobtye and Scoop are the only 2 but both sell for retailers
Phone Dlink and ask them to recommened one of their dealers near you.

7. I'm only guessing that if it's sold in South Africa, it's ICASA, approved therefore works perfectly with Telkom? Or does it have to be ICASA approved?
If its sold here it's approved.

8. Anyone knows a very RELIABLE ISP out there? I know of a lot I just need RELIABLE ones please!!!
ADSL ISPs dont matter at all (until IS launch their ADSL service) ... everyone is reselling SAIX accounts.

 

[Noble_Nanobot]

Thanx a lot guys!!! I think it's fair to say all my questions were answered thoroughly and have removed any sense of uncertainty on the issues, so I think I now know already what to go for.

ISP = Telkom ... by popular demand ... .. and 384Kbps connection it is !!!
I think I'll go for the one port modem ... I mean I can get a switch later on!!!

@ hArTh : That 300G looks intersting, will definitely check it out!!!

Much Appreciated!!!! PEACE!!!!

 

[doekvoet]

Under the circumstances a good decision in my opinion