Connectivity Advice in Greenstone

[MarcW]

Hi all

I am hoping someone can give me some advice relating to voice calls or web access for my area.

We have just moved into the Greenstone Hill area in Modderfontein - probably only 100 metres from the location of the Telkom shop in the Greenstone Mall.
Sadly Telkom apparently have zero infrastructure for my location and I hence cannot get a home phone or ADSL from them.

I do have a Vodacom cell and 3G modem, both of which have no signal in my unit or effectively in the immediate area in my complex. If I run a 3m USB extension into my garden I can sometimes get a poor 2G signal. Vodacom have not been particularly helpful in solving my issues.

I have called Neotel, they do not support the area yet.

So does anyone have any advice or experience regarding signal in this area?
I am even considering speaking to iBurst...

Thanks
Marc

 

[superjuice]

Marc,

I'm also in Greenstone Hill and suffered the same issues as you.

Currently I don't have a fixed line voice solution for you, but I do have a data solution.

You can apply for Telkom WiMax in your area, I have had mine for around 3 months now and it works really well. Connection was easy to the Isando station.

Hope you come right.

 

[MarcW]

Hi there,

Thanks for the advice. WiMax sounds like a good option, the only thing is my body corporate are somewhat pedantic about fixtures on the outside of the buildings.

How big is the external WiMax antennae - if it is something unobtrusive which I can put on the wall of my (ground floor) unit I may be able to convince them.

Marc

 

[superjuice]

Marc,

Have a look here. http://www.telkom.co.za/athome/products/wimax/product_description.html

The Outdoor Unit looks like this:

It's not too obtrusive, altough it does need to be mounted high, but no more than 6m I believe and I'm sure if you apply to the BC and indicate you need it for work reasons, there's not much they can do to stop you.

 

[malingo]

hi, im in greestone area as well. thx for this advise superjuice. i head wimax may be phased out soon. any news on that?

Also, how do the speeds compare to 3g or adsl?

 

[AllBrain]

I recently moved to Greenstone Hill myself and settled for iBurst. With an external antenna in my bedroom window I get 60% signal. I am tempted to mount the antenna outside for even better signal but the body corp no like that idea. Recently however the iBurst service has gone down the drain and phoned Telkom for WiMax yesterday. They have 4 towers covering the Greenstone Hill area so I will see what they bring to the table and shelf my iBurst. (if the body corp plays along) Here is a quick list of what works in the Greentsone Hill area:

Telkom (ADSL) - No (infrastructure project in the works)
Telkom (WiMax) - Yes (4 towers in the area)
Neotel (CDMA) - No (no towers in area)
Vodacom (3G) - Yes (very slow speeds as mostly 2G only)
MTN (3G) - Yes (very slow speeds as mostly 2G only)
Virgin/Cell C - No (very bad reception only for phone calls)
iBurst (Wireless) - Yes (60% for me)

 

[Toby]

Trustee on Body corp

Become a Trustee on Body corporate like I have done, in preparation for Dishes,Grids,Fibre when I move away from ADSL, to whatever comes next

 

[AllBrain]

Sadly I rent and thus I cannot become a trustee. I am however waiting for Telkom to tell me I need a 10 meter pole and thus me begging the body corp to allow it.

 

[malingo]

Just heard that telkom lines should be in to most complexes shortly as they are pushing quickly to install the lines into stoneridge centre. I will wait a bit for DSL line in my place (have already pre-ordered). Will post as soon as I know the lines are in.

 

[intercore]

Thanks to everyone

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for this incredibly useful thread.. If only Telkom could have provided me with this info.

I have been trying for two weeks to find out if i can get WiMAX in Greenstone and it would appear that i can, which is great news. I will keep you posted on how it all goes.

 

[superjuice]

hi, im in greestone area as well. thx for this advise superjuice. i head wimax may be phased out soon. any news on that?

Also, how do the speeds compare to 3g or adsl?

Speeds are excellent and throughput is constant.

Pings are pretty good to for gaming etc, I use it on XboxLive and play pretty often online with good results.

 

[superjuice]

Just heard that telkom lines should be in to most complexes shortly as they are pushing quickly to install the lines into stoneridge centre. I will wait a bit for DSL line in my place (have already pre-ordered). Will post as soon as I know the lines are in.

Any news on when lines will be available?

 

[malingo]

I just called telkom yesterday to find out about my DSL line order. Estimated date of installation:17 Dec 08.

Might be sooner or later they say. Lets hold thumbs

 

[malingo]

ALso got an sms from Neotel saying greenstone is now covered. But when I went onto website to check coverage, it shows we are not...

Maybe best to just call them directly

 

[malingo]

Called telkom. Fixed lines are only expected around March 09 :-(
Wierd how they got lines into Stoneridge shopping centre within 1 month of it opening though....

 

[Barney]

Hi there Greenstoners,

Let me introduce myself as Netsuco, i provide all pc and hardware services ranging from repairs, upgrades and sales. I also reside at greenstone hill. If it happens that u, family or friends require any IT related help ill be glad to be at your service. Just reply to my forum.

Regards

 

[Cleric]

A Way to get ADSL in the Greenstone

I have been on the phone with Telkom nearly every week, and it seems that the only way we are going to get lines installed in Greenstone is if enough people call in orders for lines.

Please, if you live in the Greenstone area, call Telkom on 10219 (new orders) and order a line (so far I haven't been put on hold yet, and the staff seem quite jacked up, doesn't take more than a minute or two). Tell everyone you know who lives in the area to call in and order a line. Then start calling back to escalate the order.

I have already manged to get a mention into the Acacia complex newsletter and have posted on the the Acacia Complex Facebook group's wall. If enough people order lines Telkom will have to bow to demand and we will be able to get ADSL!

 

[Awesum]

Wow, 2 years later and nothing?

 

[AllBrain]

I know of small towns in the Karoo with more Telkom infrastructure. Really pathetic that the only service Telkom offers in Greenstone Hill is 3G.

 

[jelleman]

Hey is anybody using Cell C's new speed stick at all. I am living in Strelitzia (Greenstone Hill) and I'm finding their promise of 21Mpbs to be FAR from the case.. also very temperamental connection. I was really hoping that somebody could let me know if how their connections have been. Thanks