Choices! Please help

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Jon Bownes

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Hi all

I am not very technical, and have been reading this forum for a while now. I must be honest - I do get lost quite a bit.

I know one thing for sure - I need broadband @ home.

My main use would be Mail, Skype, Internet browsing and some downloading of applications.

I think it would be important to get good international bandwidth, esp. for using skype. (So - if ADSL is the answer, would 192 be OK (Only 64K upload) and how about the ISP - Telkom OK?)

I was especially interested in the I-Busrt product, but I am slightly disappointed in their released product & price point.

I think in total my family would probably use slightly more than 1GB per month.
Please help me - what would be your suggestions given my scenario.

Thank you
Jon
 
Describe exactly what you want to do with the connection and how important each of these aspects is to you. Do you need realiability etc. Give us a better picture of your intended uses ...
 
Thanks harth

Well - speed is not that important - though a nice to have - We'll be easy to please coming from the 56K modem!

So - I would say that given my international telkom bill, skype is the main reason for changing to Broadband. Skype is not great over 56K - works well at times, but mostly unuasable intenationally (MWEB service provider)

Downloads I can do overnight and mail should be fine.

Hope that helps
 
I still stand by it the best value for money cheepish home option you can get is DSL 384 with a 3 gig account.

If your usage is not gonna benefit at all from having 384 over 192 i guess you could go for 192.

Well i dont personaly have DSL (yet :( ) but i've been looking at the options for a long time now. :)
 
Where did they get that 3GB account? It would be great if you can give me the internet link.

Thanks
 
Only thing that worries me about the 192 is the 64k upload... But the guys seem to think skype will be OK. So that sounds good (& cheap!)

I am astounded by the response in 10 mins!
 
Well what noone tells you, is that telkom have not yet implemented upload speed limits, so even on 192dsl option you will get 384-512kbit upload speeds. Thus for now everything still works unexpectedly good. But what happens when telkom Do implement it?

Now 192 vs 384...
with 384 you should get 40k/s download speeds and with 192 roughly 20k/s download speeds. Thats a 100% speed increase from 192 to 384.
192 costs R325 and 384 costs R450, thats a 40% price increase.
Thus for 40% more money you get 100% more speed...

I agree with Vio 384 is the best vs price vs end product, and IF telkom implement the upload speed limit, this is probably the better option to have.

But if you want to go for lowest price broadband, nothing beats 192adsl. In the end it is you who have to make the final decision.
 
Tinuva said:
Well what noone tells you, is that telkom have not yet implemented upload speed limits, so even on 192dsl option you will get 384-512kbit upload speeds. Thus for now everything still works unexpectedly good. But what happens when telkom Do implement it?

Now 192 vs 384...
with 384 you should get 40k/s download speeds and with 192 roughly 20k/s download speeds. Thats a 100% speed increase from 192 to 384.
192 costs R325 and 384 costs R450, thats a 40% price increase.
Thus for 40% more money you get 100% more speed...

I agree with Vio 384 is the best vs price vs end product, and IF telkom implement the upload speed limit, this is probably the better option to have.

But if you want to go for lowest price broadband, nothing beats 192adsl. In the end it is you who have to make the final decision.
Click to expand...


Thanks for your post - I think I'm on the right track then in ignoring Iburst.

Would I be able to upgrade from 192 - 384 if we ever see the limiting moves you mention??
 
Vio said:
I still stand by it the best value for money cheepish home option you can get is DSL 384 with a 3 gig account.

If your usage is not gonna benefit at all from having 384 over 192 i guess you could go for 192.

Well i dont personaly have DSL (yet :( ) but i've been looking at the options for a long time now. :)
Click to expand...
Hi Vio

I second that. I am currently on 384 and the speed and reliability is great. The recent rating report also confirms this opinion. For an extra R 120-00 per month it is certainly worth it!

Regards,

RPM
 
DSL192 + 3GB ISP account is your best bet to minimise cost. ADSL has loads more upload capacity than advertised.

You can upgrade to 384,512,1024k and even to uncapped accounts in due course.

Dont assume you will be able to get ADSL and even if you do it could take a long time to have it installed.

For completeness your other options are:
MyWireless - a glorified wireless 56k modem. Avoid like the plaque.
iBurst - good option BUT not sufficiently reliable for (business class) VOIP as yet.
Vodacom 3G and MTN EDGE: If you really need mobility this is an option.
 
Unless you get uncapped (not needed by you right now), it doesnt matter. They all resell Telkom accounts. If you need support get one of the more expensive offerings e.g. MWEB otherwise go for the cheaper options.

ADSL is extremely reliable. Once its configured you wont have to fiddle again.
 
hArTh said:
ADSL is extremely reliable. Once its configured you wont have to fiddle again.
Click to expand...

I'll second that.
It's as reliable as your phone line however - so bear that in mind.
If your connection does go off, due to the same reasons as a landline, expect the same waiting time for it to be fixed.
 
Jon Bownes said:
Would I be able to upgrade from 192 - 384 if we ever see the limiting moves you mention??
Click to expand...

Yep, free of charge.

What they DO charge you for is if you want to downgrade.. ie 384 down to 192
So you could always get the 192k one, save a bit untill they implement their upload speeds then upgrade for free.

Hope this helps
 
Heavens above! Forgot the most important thing: DO NOT SIGN A CONTRACT. Get it month to month. Decent ADSL modems and routers start from R500.
 
I'd appreciate some advice from all the gurus on this forum. I too am new to the broadband world and do not have a clue on exactly what I will need. I will be moving from the US to Pretoria, South Africa on an extended work assignment within the next 6 weeks. This will be the first time I will be tele-commuting to work and will have to log into my company's network here in Dallas (I presently work from our office so I've never tele-commuted before).

What is this 2G and 3G capacity being discussed earlier? Is that the data download capacity? Is there some way for me to calculate what my current data usage is at work? Based on that I could probably better determine what my required download/upload usage would be. Are there any connection/ installation charges for the above 192/384 packages? Would anyone know if there are any charges if I decide to move physical address in let's say 3 months time to another part of the city? Is there something I can buy and bring with me from the US that will help me save money, perhaps an ADSL modem etc?

Sorry for all the questions (and some of them might be very basic) but I really did need some helpful advice. Glad I came across this forum.

Thanks in advance,

Jawad
 
Hey Jawad - suggestion: visit this forum's sister site (in spirit and partial intent) at http://www.hellkom.co.za and do some reading - methinx you'll get a better feel of things as they currently are, then come and post your questions again. Not trying to be unhelpful and an obstructionist, just practical...
 
Im sorry but would never consider 192K a broadband package not in a million years! its only just faster than a isdn link. here in the UK you cannot even connect to the xbox live gaming service without a minimum of 256k, which is considered just broadband. Telkom need to get their act together and lower the prices!!
 
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