Exactly how does ISDN work?

It seems they charge R930 for the installation, equipment included, and then R279 per month. That is just a ripoff. I think ADSL is cheaper than that.

I think that mobile internet, even if it's on EDGE, is going to work out cheaper than that.
 
ISDN works just like dial up in terms of costs.. the costs are pretty much the same, although bear in mind if you connect both channels then it's TWO calls you pay for, not just one.

If you're keeping your existing analogue telephone line and installing the ISDN separately, then you want a basic rate ISDN2. If you're REPLACING your analogue line with the ISDN, then you want basic rate ISDN2a, so you can plug your standard phones/fax into the NT (unless you specifically buy an ISDN phone or fax, but I reckon that's doubtful). In some cases, your terminal adapter MAY provide you with an analogue port, so then you can just get ISDN2, but since you're in Upington, I wouldn't bet on that. ;)
 
henniedebeer said:
It seems they charge R930 for the installation, equipment included, and then R279 per month. That is just a ripoff. I think ADSL is cheaper than that.

I think that mobile internet, even if it's on EDGE, is going to work out cheaper than that.
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Can you access both MTN and VC towers with EDGE? For that much money, you might as well get a prepaid SIM from each, then switch them out as needed. At that speed, ~R300/month should be OK?

See here too for better MTN deals: http://sainet.co.za/item.asp?id=1f17da16223a29d8cc4e&n=Y29uc3VtZXI=

You'd get ~1GB/m. What do you need? Speed or moar Megs? If you don't use your Telkom landline, can that too for ~R150 savings, which can be added into cellphone airtime

EDIT: Just noticed those prices are actually WORSE than MTNs! WTF.

When I signed up, they were quite a lot better. Now they just don't make sense. My rates have not changed though... R89 for 300megs.
 
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@Hennie - have you tried cellc edge yet?

Just get a prepaid cellc sim, top it up with a few rands of data bundle and do a test.

Do the same test with VC and MTN, and compare the three.
 
Have you tried any of the local WISP guys?
I am sure Upington should already have a couple of those guys around.

ISDN sounds good initially, untill you get your first bill!!! Then you in for some big trouble.

BTW, if you still wanne go that way, I have a ISDN "modem" with a built-in 4 port switch. Works really well. You can have it for free, just pay for the shipping, ok.
 
The whole idea here was to get speedier Internet at a reasonable price. Obviously, I am not gonna get that from Telkom. So...mobile...

MTN and 8ta uses the same network. 8ta mobile prepaid and that SAINET (MTN) option...

And Vodacom and CellC. Don't know if I'm gonna use 2Gigs every month, but OK.

What is the best option? There is not much speed difference between the MTN and VC towers, but they are both faster than dialup. A lot.

(Sorry, no WISP where I live. Otherwise I wouldve had that years ago)
 
henniedebeer said:
The whole idea here was to get speedier Internet at a reasonable price. Obviously, I am not gonna get that from Telkom. So...mobile...

MTN and 8ta uses the same network. 8ta mobile prepaid and that SAINET (MTN) option...

And Vodacom and CellC. Don't know if I'm gonna use 2Gigs every month, but OK.

What is the best option? There is not much speed difference between the MTN and VC towers, but they are both faster than dialup. A lot.

(Sorry, no WISP where I live. Otherwise I wouldve had that years ago)
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Buy a 2GB bundle (R389, Vodacom) at the beginning of the month, it only expires at the end of the following month. My VC tower never goes down so I haven't investigated MTN rates
 
Any other offering surely beats ISDN speed. The price you would have to pay Telkom in the Long Run definitely justifies getting a decent WIFI type of connection.
 
Didn't Telkom announced last year that all exchanges were ADSL enabled?

Anyway, I'm also in a small town withouth 3g, but here is ADSL and 2 Wifi providers that can give you 5gbs 1mbps at R300.
 
Hennie is the situation any better in Hotazel (500km's from you), il be up there with the same plan, cheap, fast internet. Its a long shot but its worth a try :o
 
Hennie,

I reckon because you are located somewhere between Put Sonder Water & Piel Sonder Kop cellular access is going to be your only option. Telkom has no plans for ADSL in that area and also don't have WiMax or W-CDMA(FLLA) services there.

You could try contacting www.compufinupt.co.za or www.trusc.co.za and asking them if they have any wireless services in that are or know of anyone else that does.
 
Thanks for that. The VC tower was (finally) just upgraded to 3G, slow 3G but 3G. So I'm going over to that.

There are enough options for fast connectivity in Hotazel, they are fine. Though I can't think why you would want to go there. I prefer Brandvlei to Hotazel. You would have to be suicidal to go there. But if you're passing through my town, let me buy you a beer.
 
lol will take you up on that my friend, will bring thru a hard drive full of goodies too :) Work has me up there for a bit (i must have done something wrong), good to know theres some comms up there.
 
ISDN isn't a good option. Only businesses use it. Even back in the day it wasn't really suited to households. Far too expensive back then, and today it is just plain unreasonable, price wise, for internet.

These days the only people that use it are small businesses (some) and many large corporations that still use PRI (internally at least). And these days basically no-one uses it for internet. Small businesses use wireless internet or ADSL (maybe ISDN if they only need internet now and then) and large companies use Diginet.
 
Gnome said:
ISDN isn't a good option. Only businesses use it. Even back in the day it wasn't really suited to households. Far too expensive back then, and today it is just plain unreasonable, price wise, for internet.

These days the only people that use it are small businesses (some) and many large corporations that still use PRI (internally at least). And these days basically no-one uses it for internet. Small businesses use wireless internet or ADSL (maybe ISDN if they only need internet now and then) and large companies use Diginet.
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I wouldn't recommend anyone getting their internet over ISDN, but there are a few niche markets where it makes sense.

Radio - plenty of use by these okes, for outside broadcasts - with one line you're guaranteed 128k, anywhere in the world.

Tele medicine - Again, the guaranteed speed is key. You don't want your surgeon 'losing the feed' while he's inside your gut.

Small businesses - The lines have a higher priority when it comes to repairs, than POTS lines, so you get more uptime.

More numbers - for just R 20/month extra each, you can get up to five numbers on your line. You'll need a (relatively) cheap TA.

Video conferencing - often uses 4 x BRI lines, giving 512k down and up. Unless you've got a good quality 4M ADSL line, you're not going to get 512k up. Again, this speed is guaranteed anywhere on earth - no shaping & no contention.

So while ISDN isn't commonly known to most residential users, it's still widely used in a lot of places, where it's the best choice for the job.

Hennie, I'm glad you came right. Otherwise I'd have suggested setting up your own pigeon-frying 200km WiFi link (probably multi hop) to your nearest town, and plugging into an ADSL line there.
 
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