Bitco Consumer Q&A

[BitCo]

Is Bitco wireless a "contested" network? Meaning, the more people in your areal streaming the slower your speed will become? Much like 3G and LTE?

HI Mimen,

Thanks for the post

The answer is NO, our network is guaranteed and bandwidth supplied on a 1:1 basis without any contention

If you pay for 5Mbps you will get 5Mbps

Subject to our acceptable usage policy

But in summary we do not share bandwidth or contend services

Mike

 

[disiza]

@ Bitco

Any news on the revised packages and the revision of the FUP?

....an update will be most welcome.

Thank you

 

[LCBXX]

How is Bitco's 5Meg Home offering for Streaming: Netflix, Hulu, Twitch, Youtube, Flash Streams? Is there any trickery required to get it working properly, apart from Unotelly/Hola?

 

[disiza]

@ Bitco

Any news on the revised packages and the revision of the FUP?

....an update will be most welcome.

Thank you

Mike?

 

[disiza]

How is Bitco's 5Meg Home offering for Streaming: Netflix, Hulu, Twitch, Youtube, Flash Streams? Is there any trickery required to get it working properly, apart from Unotelly/Hola?

As long as your LOS and Fresnel Zone is solid, you shouldn't have any issues.

 

[LCBXX]

Excellent!
What make/type Router is included with the installation and what level of access does the Client have to it? I am asking since I configure all kinds of DHCP IP reservations, different DNS's for UnoTelly and rate limiting per IP/IP-Range, etc on my current TP-Link ADSL Router. The configs are on the LAN side, not WAN.

 

[Pitbull]

How is Bitco's 5Meg Home offering for Streaming: Netflix, Hulu, Twitch, Youtube, Flash Streams? Is there any trickery required to get it working properly, apart from Unotelly/Hola?

The bold parts are flawless. The underlined ones are ok but with a little buffering. I don't think it's the connection though. I think it's a back en issue at the suppliers.

I watch most of my sport on Flash Streams and also, hardly any problem. I'm getting them from a sports site and it could be the reason I sometime have quality issues. But most of the time it's perfect. (Currently on 5Mbps)

 

[Pitbull]

Excellent!
What make/type Router is included with the installation and what level of access does the Client have to it? I am asking since I configure all kinds of DHCP IP reservations, different DNS's for UnoTelly and rate limiting per IP/IP-Range, etc on my current TP-Link ADSL Router. The configs are on the LAN side, not WAN.

I got a Cisco router. E900 I think.

 

[disiza]

Linksys E900 with Tomato Firmware....... very stable, full access, advanced setup ability

 

[Senshi]

HI Mimen,

Thanks for the post

The answer is NO, our network is guaranteed and bandwidth supplied on a 1:1 basis without any contention

If you pay for 5Mbps you will get 5Mbps

Subject to our acceptable usage policy

But in summary we do not share bandwidth or contend services

Mike

Except for P2P data which you add into a pool and is bandwidth contented even when done "after hours". On my 10mb Link I have not seen over 700kb/sec for downloads between 12AM and 6AM once since you've added my Seedbox to the P2P group. During the day (read, 6AM - 10PM) I don't see more than 1kb/sec if I'm lucky.

I do less downloads on my 10mb BitCo link than I did on my 4mb ADSL because of the above.

I must also mention to others here who are looking at the product, with the leaky bucket system BitCo employ, you have a "burstable" link, not a sustained speed link.

Ie, if you watch Youtube 1080p you will get throttled after an hour to 50% of your line speed, this throttling will continue to happen until you effectively stop using your link after an hour, at which in point the link returns to "burstable" speeds until you hit the limit again.

I will be cancelling after my 12 months are up, for gaming/streaming etc BitCo is great within the Burstable area, not so cool in the throttled bit (if you don't have interference issues). For any sort of downloading, be it HTTP/P2P or any heavy content (I do less than 200gb at the moment per month) rather stay on ADSL.


I had moved to BitCo as I was limited to 4mb in my area and lightning was killing my connection every 2-3 months, however with the above situation I will be moving away from BitCo sadly.

The promised new FUP has not been introduced yet.

Linksys E900 with Tomato Firmware....... very stable, full access, advanced setup ability

Yep, you get a Managed 8 port Cisco 10/100 switch (which is managed and owned by BitCo) which you cannot use the ports on, and a LinkSys E900 with Tomato running BitCo's own custom firmware on it.

Mike, Garth, will I be getting a credit for the 10 day service interruption I had recently on my invoice?

 

[disiza]

Except for P2P data which you add into a pool and is bandwidth contented even when done "after hours". On my 10mb Link I have not seen over 700kb/sec for downloads between 12AM and 6AM once since you've added my Seedbox to the P2P group. During the day (read, 6AM - 10PM) I don't see more than 1kb/sec if I'm lucky.

I do less downloads on my 10mb BitCo link than I did on my 4mb ADSL because of the above.

I must also mention to others here who are looking at the product, with the leaky bucket system BitCo employ, you have a "burstable" link, not a sustained speed link.

Ie, if you watch Youtube 1080p you will get throttled after an hour to 50% of your line speed, this throttling will continue to happen until you effectively stop using your link after an hour, at which in point the link returns to "burstable" speeds until you hit the limit again.

I will be cancelling after my 12 months are up, for gaming/streaming etc BitCo is great within the Burstable area, not so cool in the throttled bit (if you don't have interference issues). For any sort of downloading, be it HTTP/P2P or any heavy content (I do less than 200gb at the moment per month) rather stay on ADSL.


I had moved to BitCo as I was limited to 4mb in my area and lightning was killing my connection every 2-3 months, however with the above situation I will be moving away from BitCo sadly.

The promised new FUP has not been introduced yet.



Yep, you get a Managed 8 port Cisco 10/100 switch (which is managed and owned by BitCo) which you cannot use the ports on, and a LinkSys E900 with Tomato running BitCo's own custom firmware on it.

Mike, Garth, will I be getting a credit for the 10 day service interruption I had recently on my invoice?

Senshi

With the utmost respect,dude, you need to check your network setup!

I have had my Bitco connection for nearly 2 months,10meg down, 2meg up service... my p2p downloads are setup to start at 10pm and finish at 5am and from the start im getting a transfer rate of 1mb/s, naturally dependant on the seed/leech ratio, but i would estimate that i get that download rate 90% of the time and as an added bonus im playing battlefield 4 on Xbox One with no lag, rubber banding and the wife streaming from VIDI and that is all concurrent, with regards to the FUP I dont even know its there!

Maybe look at your QOS setup, maybe the percentages and commissions have to be reallocated. Whether the service is burstable link or a sustained speed link it makes no difference to me, simply put ......Bitco works for me..consistent and stable.

 

[Senshi]

Senshi

With the utmost respect,dude, you need to check your network setup!

I have had my Bitco connection for nearly 2 months,10meg down, 2meg up service... my p2p downloads are setup to start at 10pm and finish at 5am and from the start im getting a transfer rate of 1mb/s, naturally dependant on the seed/leech ratio, but i would estimate that i get that download rate 90% of the time and as an added bonus im playing battlefield 4 on Xbox One with no lag, rubber banding and the wife streaming from VIDI and that is all concurrent, with regards to the FUP I dont even know its there!

Maybe look at your QOS setup, maybe the percentages and commissions have to be reallocated. Whether the service is burstable link or a sustained speed link it makes no difference to me, simply put ......Bitco works for me..consistent and stable.

Not my side related, BitCo moved the IP of my seedbox to the P2P pool. Since then my speeds have gone from full speed to the ones I mentioned, nothing has changed on my side.

 

[disiza]

Not my side related, BitCo moved the IP of my seedbox to the P2P pool. Since then my speeds have gone from full speed to the ones I mentioned, nothing has changed on my side.

Contact Mike, he might be able to assist, if BitCo have moved the IP of your seedbox to the P2P pool, I am assuming they would be able to adjust and revert. Question:- Why would they do that?

I did read a article today about p2p in general being inconsistent and causing issues (downloads erratic), a lot of the ADSL guys are also bitching and moaning.

 

[disiza]

Bitco losing value?

Bitco.....its time to show value!!

FTTH
Vumatel
50Mbps
uncapped/unshaped/unlimited
R1,499

My 12 month agreement comes to an end in Feb 2016. The fibre is outside my front gate already.

Exciting times ahead!!

 

[Senshi]

Contact Mike, he might be able to assist, if BitCo have moved the IP of your seedbox to the P2P pool, I am assuming they would be able to adjust and revert. Question:- Why would they do that?

I did read a article today about p2p in general being inconsistent and causing issues (downloads erratic), a lot of the ADSL guys are also bitching and moaning.

I'm hoping for a response in the thread but I doubt it, my last email to support which included their MD etc they were pretty heavy handed with regards to the pool/shaping on it.

 

[LCBXX]

Bitco.....its time to show value!!

FTTH
Vumatel
50Mbps
uncapped/unshaped/unlimited
R1,499

My 12 month agreement comes to an end in Feb 2016. The fibre is outside my front gate already.

Exciting times ahead!!

Question - will FTTH infrastructure remain online when there is a power cut? I know our whole Telkom service goes down. BitCo's wireless, as far as I can tell, is not affected by power cuts.

 

[disiza]

Question - will FTTH infrastructure remain online when there is a power cut? I know our whole Telkom service goes down. BitCo's wireless, as far as I can tell, is not affected by power cuts.

Bitco will go down if the user doesn't have a generator or alternative power supply.However as i understand it, the towers (relays) do have backup batteries.

As for FTTH ......eish i don't know!

 

[Clive_]

Hi
I have the Bitco wireless option at home however find that the jitter is so high that I am continually disconnected from games, specifically Battlefield. Anything you can suggest?

 

[disiza]

Hi
I have the Bitco wireless option at home however find that the jitter is so high that I am continually disconnected from games, specifically Battlefield. Anything you can suggest?

What speed connection do you have?

What area are you in?

While having this problem did you do a speed test and ping test and if so what were the results?

 

[disiza]

BitCo Customer Notification

BitCo Network Maintenance
Dear Valued Client,

You may experience periodic service interruptions between 05h00 and 05h30 on Monday morning, the 27th of April due to planned maintenance.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused and will endeavour to have services restored in the shortest possible time. Should you experience prolonged service interruption after 5h30 on the 27th of April, we urge you to please log a service query to [email protected].

Kind Regards,

BitCo Network Operations Centre