Best capped ISP on OpenServe?

[squirrel]

Hello everyone! FTTH is finally available in my area on the OpenServe network. I am currently looking at several options including Afrihost (my current ISP), Axxess & VOX to start.

I am looking for a 20mbps or 40mbps line with 200-300gb cap (rollover or at night free would be a bonus). My Asus dsl-ac68u modem just got struck by lightning so need a new modem. Month to month, no contracts. Budget is around R800 - R1000/pm + installation costs.

The line will primarily be used for large HTTP/FTP uploads and downloads, streaming, a bit of torrenting, nothing crazy.

My family is quite adamant about keeping the fixed line, so an option with VOIP would be great too.

TIA

 

[Mariuspay]

I am with Webafrica since Dec.

Really happy. 100 Mb full speed all the time.

R1048 Pm 200 Gb with 1 Tb night time.

First 2 months free

 

[Slootvreter]

I dont suppose one can still use an old Telkom phone with that same number somehow ported via fiber?

 

[squirrel]

I am with Webafrica since Dec.

Really happy. 100 Mb full speed all the time.

R1048 Pm 200 Gb with 1 Tb night time.

First 2 months free

I am looking at their options now and looks decent. 40mbps + 300gb for R1038 or bump up to 100mbps for under 100 bucks more. It doesn't mention night time on their website, is that still available?

 

[squirrel]

I dont suppose one can still use an old Telkom phone with that same number somehow ported via fiber?

I believe VOX offer a service included (but you have to use their VOIP phone) and there are other options available.

 

[Slootvreter]

I believe VOX offer a service included (but you have to use their VOIP phone) and there are other options available.

I'm looking for a service where I can specifically use the 'normal' telephone, but I guess it's not going to happen

 

[KinsZA]

I'm looking for a service where I can specifically use the 'normal' telephone, but I guess it's not going to happen

What do you mean by normal ?

You get routers like the VMG8924-B10A (R1600 from takealot) which have normal phone ports on it but they need to be connected to a VOIP provider such as switchtel / vox / any number of providers. Alternatively you can get a Analogue Telephone Adapter "ATA" device to use normal phones with a VOIP provider.

When my fiber installs I'm porting my home phone number to switchtel (I dont want to be stuck with anything bundled in a ISP promotion) and using the router I linked for my current landline phones.

The only more normal you can get is using copper line in which case telkom is your only choice.

 

[Slootvreter]

What do you mean by normal ?

You get routers like the VMG8924-B10A (R1600 from takealot) which have normal phone ports on it but they need to be connected to a VOIP provider such as switchtel / vox / any number of providers. Alternatively you can get a Analogue Telephone Adapter "ATA" device to use normal phones with a VOIP provider.

When my fiber installs I'm porting my home phone number to switchtel (I dont want to be stuck with anything bundled in a ISP promotion) and using the router I linked for my current landline phones.

The only more normal you can get is using copper line in which case telkom is your only choice.

Well I'd have thought that a normal phone (NOT a VoIP phone) would be the one plugged into my Telkom outlet :erm:

....and keep my current landline number.

 

[KinsZA]

Well I'd have thought that a normal phone (NOT a VoIP phone) would be the one plugged into my Telkom outlet :erm:

....and keep my current landline number.

You can keep your landline number, you can use normal phones but those outlets would have to end up connecting to converters and to the internet.

Mind if I ask what you have against using a VOIP provider for ? The calls are cheaper, the monthly fee is cheaper and you could have your home phone ring on your cellphone if you wanted with the right apps, the only downside at all is if you run out of bandwidth.

 

[Slootvreter]

You can keep your landline number, you can use normal phones but those outlets would have to end up connecting to converters and to the internet.

Mind if I ask what you have against using a VOIP provider for ? The calls are cheaper, the monthly fee is cheaper and you could have your home phone ring on your cellphone if you wanted with the right apps, the only downside at all is if you run out of bandwidth.

Purely keeping the number

 

[KinsZA]

Purely keeping the number

Landline numbers, just like cellphone numbers are portable so you would keep the number.

 

[Trompie67]

I am with Webafrica since Dec.

Really happy. 100 Mb full speed all the time.

R1048 Pm 200 Gb with 1 Tb night time.

First 2 months free

I am looking at their options now and looks decent. 40mbps + 300gb for R1038 or bump up to 100mbps for under 100 bucks more. It doesn't mention night time on their website, is that still available?

Webafrica: 40 down/20 up. 300Gb 06h00 to 23h59 & 1000Gb 0h00 to 05h59. Very happy, speeds remain good even in peak hours at night!

 

[squirrel]

Webafrica: 40 down/20 up. 300Gb 06h00 to 23h59 & 1000Gb 0h00 to 05h59. Very happy, speeds remain good even in peak hours at night!

I've signed up and giving them a go!

 

[coop]

I'm looking for a service where I can specifically use the 'normal' telephone, but I guess it's not going to happen

What you need is one of these https://shop.dbg.co.za/eat110.html You plug your telephone into it instead of the Telkom socket and program in your VOIP account details. Then connect it to your router with an ethernet cable. Then you can use your normal telephone handset over VOIP.

Note that this unit is for outgoing calls only, but that is fine if you port your number to the VOIP provider.

 

[Slootvreter]

What you need is one of these https://shop.dbg.co.za/eat110.html You plug your telephone into it instead of the Telkom socket and program in your VOIP account details. Then connect it to your router with an ethernet cable. Then you can use your normal telephone handset over VOIP.

Note that this unit is for outgoing calls only, but that is fine if you port your number to the VOIP provider.

Thanks!

Need incoming as well.

 

[Moe5508]

I am with Webafrica since Dec.

Really happy. 100 Mb full speed all the time.
...

Thanks for that endorsement of Webafrica (WA). My neighbourhood recently turned fibre-ready and WA proactively contacted me with an offer for a fibre installation which is already in process at the moment and just waiting to be completed (last-mile into the house: box, router install etc). So, good to see positive affirmation of their service here.

 

[coop]

Thanks!

Need incoming as well.

For incoming, you would receive incoming over the VOIP after porting your number.

 

[KinsZA]

Thanks for that endorsement of Webafrica (WA). My neighbourhood recently turned fibre-ready and WA proactively contacted me with an offer for a fibre installation which is already in process at the moment and just waiting to be completed (last-mile into the house: box, router install etc). So, good to see positive affirmation of their service here.

It also looks like Webafrica is one of the few ISP's that don't screw you over with fine print over if you want to leave them besides you paying/sending back their router as well as not charging you install. Most of the ISP's had a "Pay if you leave within 1-2 years" or were free but had a poor reputation for data quality etc...

I couldn't tell a difference between CrystalWeb XTreme Capped and Webafrica Home Capped (At least on VDSL) in any case situation at all and Cool Ideas is too expensive.

So Webafrica 40mb 300GB it is

 

[squirrel]

It also looks like Webafrica is one of the few ISP's that don't screw you over with fine print over if you want to leave them besides you paying/sending back their router as well as not charging you install. Most of the ISP's had a "Pay if you leave within 1-2 years" or were free but had a poor reputation for data quality etc...

I couldn't tell a difference between CrystalWeb XTreme Capped and Webafrica Home Capped (At least on VDSL) in any case situation at all and Cool Ideas is too expensive.

So Webafrica 40mb 300GB it is

Great part of the deal was free installation, free modem, free night time data. My order is currently being processed, lets see how long it takes

 

[squirrel]

Well everything was going swimmingly for the first 2 weeks. I received a call from OpenServe to come install the following day, but for some reason they had the wrong house number. Somehow this was miscommunicated between WA and OpenServe. I am now sitting 2 - 3 weeks later, with no reschedule date or any update whatsoever.