Decent ADSL for cheaps

M

mixolm

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Pretoria
I have read so many threads that deal with un/capped ADSL and I decided to make a new thread based on my thoughts and my rather below standard needs. We have a 2meg line and dont have much money to pay for internet.

I am currently on Afrihost's prepaid - using their 1GB free with Afrihost+ subscription and buying on average 30GB every month. I haven't used more than 25GB since December. My parents use Cybersmart, but their internet is always uselessly slow and with 7GB cap I have been using that up without thinking since I've been back staying with them.

My parents would like to switch to a better ISP and I suggested Afrihost, BUT I'm changing my mind since I have had awful internet in the past few months. I am yet to go over my monthly spend and will update this with what I have spent on CAP.

I'm stuck between WebAfrica, ISignite/Connection and VOX for a capped package. MWEB looks nice on the outside, but I had found that playing minecraft (on servers hosted by IS and MWEB) last year on their uncapped 2Mb deal, after midnight even, made me want to go watch paint dry. To play I used the MiFi thing from Afrihost and it worked great even though I only had edge (2G). I'm not sure about MWEB also cause I went to a workshop for resellers and their attitude towards customers not wanting to pay extra for an upgrade so that they wouldn't be throttled, was extremely off-putting.

My mom uses the internet ALL day and into the evenings till 9pm with her pc and android phone.
My dad uses the internet mostly at night to update several databases.
I use the internet at any time for SSH, one or two torrents at night, videos and research, and a bit of Skyrim and minecraft when I find the time. Right now I cant even use the excuse that the internet is slow for my mom because of her slow pc - everyone's internet is slow (3 user household)
So far I have this information...
  • I will not go near Open Web - thanks for the brave souls who had to walk through hell
  • Telkom speaks for itself (I haven't even looked at their offers)
  • MWEB are cheapskates who seem to con their customers into paying more and more and...the bait is pretty awesome too
  • WebAfrica seem to have sorted their network out, but there is still an issue
  • Smallest Crystal Web deal is data overkill
  • AboutIT Online have cheaper hosting solutions and their ADSL is over priced
  • VOX Gig4Gig is over priced, whereas their FatPipe looks fair
  • Test accounts are not the real deal, they are over exadurations
  • BitCo is a bit too expensive for us, but they look great since not relying on a telkom line
  • Challenging to pick out ISP's issues with the recent Telkom mess
  • Do I even worry when I don't even get to 50GB in a month???

I'll wait it out, but make comment on this thread when I know what I will be doing.
In a nutshell, I need a cheap and reliable connection in Pretoria...
Maybe I should find out what my parents and I are prepared to spend on internet - I'm trying to avoid the cheap and nasty scenario :whistle:
 
You've excluded so many options there that I'm not sure there's anything left to choose from.

Also kinda looks like you've made up your mind.
 
mixolm said:
I have read so many threads that deal with un/capped ADSL and I decided to make a new thread based on my thoughts and my rather below standard needs. We have a 2meg line and dont have much money to pay for internet.

I am currently on Afrihost's prepaid - using their 1GB free with Afrihost+ subscription and buying on average 30GB every month. I haven't used more than 25GB since December. My parents use Cybersmart, but their internet is always uselessly slow and with 7GB cap I have been using that up without thinking since I've been back staying with them.

My parents would like to switch to a better ISP and I suggested Afrihost, BUT I'm changing my mind since I have had awful internet in the past few months. I am yet to go over my monthly spend and will update this with what I have spent on CAP.

I'm stuck between WebAfrica, ISignite/Connection and VOX for a capped package. MWEB looks nice on the outside, but I had found that playing minecraft (on servers hosted by IS and MWEB) last year on their uncapped 2Mb deal, after midnight even, made me want to go watch paint dry. To play I used the MiFi thing from Afrihost and it worked great even though I only had edge (2G). I'm not sure about MWEB also cause I went to a workshop for resellers and their attitude towards customers not wanting to pay extra for an upgrade so that they wouldn't be throttled, was extremely off-putting.

My mom uses the internet ALL day and into the evenings till 9pm with her pc and android phone.
My dad uses the internet mostly at night to update several databases.
I use the internet at any time for SSH, one or two torrents at night, videos and research, and a bit of Skyrim and minecraft when I find the time. Right now I cant even use the excuse that the internet is slow for my mom because of her slow pc - everyone's internet is slow (3 user household)
So far I have this information...
  • I will not go near Open Web - thanks for the brave souls who had to walk through hell
  • Telkom speaks for itself (I haven't even looked at their offers)
  • MWEB are cheapskates who seem to con their customers into paying more and more and...the bait is pretty awesome too
  • WebAfrica seem to have sorted their network out, but there is still an issue
  • Smallest Crystal Web deal is data overkill
  • AboutIT Online have cheaper hosting solutions and their ADSL is over priced
  • VOX Gig4Gig is over priced, whereas their FatPipe looks fair
  • Test accounts are not the real deal, they are over exadurations
  • BitCo is a bit too expensive for us, but they look great since not relying on a telkom line
  • Challenging to pick out ISP's issues with the recent Telkom mess
  • Do I even worry when I don't even get to 50GB in a month???

I'll wait it out, but make comment on this thread when I know what I will be doing.
In a nutshell, I need a cheap and reliable connection in Pretoria...
Maybe I should find out what my parents and I are prepared to spend on internet - I'm trying to avoid the cheap and nasty scenario :whistle:
Click to expand...

Your decision will be based on finding an isp with a reliable gaming experience. I suggest that you start a thread regarding gaming and user experience with their isp.
 
I haven't excluded options intentionally - money is a problem for us;
I have not made my mind up;
If it makes any difference in the way you perceive my reasoning and way of thinking: I'm autistic with a detailed outlook on everything - I'm told I over-think too much.

What other options are there that you are thinking of Ho3n3r?
 
arr0w said:
Your decision will be based on finding an isp with a reliable gaming experience. I suggest that you start a thread regarding gaming and user experience with their isp.
Click to expand...

So that's how people have such a high count in posts :p
I don't understand why I'd need to start a new thread regarding gaming, if I don't play online games too much - why can't the discussion carry on in here? (but I'll start another thread anyway)
 
Look at Vox fatpipe 50gb. Or web Africa although ppl complain about their billing quite often. There's Buzybuy. Most ISP's now offer 20gb options and up.
 
Test accounts are not the real deal, they are over exadurations
Click to expand...
They're real. They do start with a clean slate though - i.e. will perform better than an account that has already been pushed hard. I doubt any of the major ISPs will hand out fake test accounts. We've had a couple of ISPs hand out top of the range ones though - was a while back. On the whole its a non-issue.

I'd suggest looking at the incredible connection - I was generally surprised how well they coped....as long as you don't push them very hard. That was on a special though, so cost/benefit might not be the same anymore.
 
Hi mixolm, I would like to confirm whether the usage you refer to is only yours and it excludes your parents. According to your thread you don't even use 50GB, if this is the case you should not have any issues with throttling. Our usage is calculated over a 30 day roll over period and can be monitored via MyAccount. We have a range of products that is suited depending on your needs. Please let me know if you would like me to arrange for someone to contact you.
 
mixolm said:
VOX Gig4Gig is over priced, whereas their FatPipe looks fair
Click to expand...

I'd still consider VOX Gig4Gig, but combine it with their Bolt-on (in fact, in order to get Bolt-on, you have to sign up for Gig4Gig, even if you don't use it, or only use the free 1GB per month).

Newer links :
https://www.voxtelecom.co.za/gig-4-gig

https://www.voxtelecom.co.za/uncapped-bolton

You can use a lot more than 30GB per month after peak hours on the Bolt-on, if you want
ie. between 6pm - 6am weekdays, and weekends from Fri 6pm to Mon 6am costs R59/month.

Then, you just need to sort out an ISP for peak during the daytime hours ; also, best to have a router/modem that has bridge / half-bridge, so you have VOX auto activated when switched on, but can dial-up to another ISP.

The D-Link modem/routers have this facility.

Here's an old thread I contributed to in the past on VOX :
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthr...-what-is-the-most-affordable-option-currently
 
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