Downgrading DSL 512 to 192

R

rockett

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I'm in the process of downgrading from DSL 512 to 192. Has anybody else had experience with this?

I was only getting (at best) about 350Kbps on the 512 package on international connections. I'm hoping to get a better % on the 192.
 
Yes - downgrade fee is about R265 and first month's saving is about R270 so you come out paying the same as the 512 package (but receiving 192) for the first month but then a saving of R270 after that.

In ZA I can't see the reason or need for the extra speed if you have such a small monthly cap on bandwidth. What applications need that speed?
 
Thanks, and yes I agree with you! On the other hand, as soon as you share the connection the extra speed helps, but then again you have someone else carrying half of the price.
 
When you say "share the connection" do you mean through a local router? If that's the case then I assume that you're also sharing the 3Gb bandwidth limit?

There's also something that I've noticed with ZA ADSL and that is the dead-spots. I haven't seen this in any other country so not sure what to call it or what is causing it. Basically, ADSL goes dead for about 10 to 15 seconds and the bandwidth drops to 0. If you have applications that are receiving a trickle of info each second that these applications often time out. No idea what's causing this or what it's called but no amount of speed helps if youre getting these "dead spots."
 
Use to be the 3Gb limit, but I am now running on UUNET uncapped account. Works alright, although it is a bit more expensive....

I have noticed it, but never knew what is was. Can't really recall that I am getting it a lot. Do you? I agree that that extra speed would not help with it :-)
 
I get the "dead spots" a fair amount - on some days more often than others. I have an applcation that sends out "heart beats" every few seconds and gives me an audio alert when it dies and so I notice fairly quickly when it happens. Usually in the afternoons between 3 and 6 pm.
 
Today for the first time I've been able to see the drop in speed from 512 to 192 on my network speed monitor. The speed of using interactive web applications is unaffected because it never pushes above the 192 boundary and the only thing that is slower is downloading files.

Also, for the first time ever, I think that I'm actually getting the speed that I'm being sold. With the 512 package I used to get top speeds of around 350 to 450 and now it appears that I'm getting the full 192 on the 192 package.

I'll post more updates here as they become apparent.
 
wab512 said:
Thanks, and yes I agree with you! On the other hand, as soon as you share the connection the extra speed helps, but then again you have someone else carrying half of the price.
Click to expand...

How do you manage the sharing of the connection with someone else? If the other person uses 95% of the 3Gb/month bandwidth and you use 5% do you share the cost pro-rata? And how do you measure it?

I agree with the idea of sharing the bandwidth and in Europe and North America people with broadband often put open wireless networks onto their broadband and an arial on the roof to share their roof to share their broadband with their neighbours. This isn't a problem when the bandwidth is uncapped. I'd happily do the same here in South Africa and broadcast my broadband connection to my neighbours but I hit my 3Gb limit before the end of the month by myself.
 
wab512 said:
Use to be the 3Gb limit, but I am now running on UUNET uncapped account. Works alright, although it is a bit more expensive....

I have noticed it, but never knew what is was. Can't really recall that I am getting it a lot. Do you? I agree that that extra speed would not help with it :-)
Click to expand...

So are you saying the the UUNET account doesn't have the "dead spots" ?

Also, what is a UUNET account? Do you have a URL?

Is it really uncapped? If so can you re-broadcast it (the bandwidth) and share it with others in your range? If so, you could reduce the cost of running it by sharing it with your neighbours - if you have any in range.
 
If you want to share your adsl connection, set your router to bridge mode and initiate the ppoe connection from your PC, that way bandwidth caps wont be effected, you will just be sharing the local lead.

on the subject of sharing wifi access. whatever you do, "dont" make your ssid "telkomsa" You will wreak havoc with telkom's own hotspots (that they are charging a fortune for!!!) :D
 
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