Fibre internet in Gauteng on Openserve (Telkom) network

[jcheek]

Just got my reply back from WebAfrica. So no follow up, no details, no timeframe, no indication what's wrong, not even an apology for the delays.

Gotta love the style!

I'd say kill it and move on with another ISP

^ this!

 

[ebendl]

Hopefully that means installation will be quick and easy for us.

Should take a couple of days for OpenServe to come. Then 2 - 3 hours if there's no heavy trenching or issues. If the connection outside your property is fine you should be able to light it up in a day or two. It is that "connection outside" bit that is my biggest problem at the moment, as the OpenServe techie can't debug it much more on his own without dedicated fibre testing equipment.

Garth from ISPAfrika has really impressed me with his quick, detailed and friendly service so far. Unfortunately we are in the hands of OpenServe now until installation is complete.

Agreed - the guy is a legend. Personal replies mere hours later, even late at night, willingness to go further, brutal honesty.

 

[jcheek]

Telkom confirmed that:
-The data on all their packages have now doubled - so it is 100GB. (seems the midnight 50GB fell away)
-The R17 fee for the Evening/weekend plan is waived, and there are no other costs for the landline except call charges.
-There are no installation costs.

Cool, thanks for the info.
If you're able, how about posting a scan of the current (ie updated) rate table for The Wilds ? It'll help us all stay in touch with market pricing, even though the estate stuff is a bit unique.

Do you think I can do better than the Zyxel router from them for R500?

Depends entirely on what feature(s) and capabilities you want in a router.
If it's the same ZyXEL SBG3300-N(000) VDSL modem/router that Telkom has previously supplied in The Wilds ... I didn't get to spend much time with it, but it seemed OK. Basic, but OK. It has Gigabit LAN ports at least, but no 802.11ac WLAN, so there's nothing really special about it. The built-in VDSL modem is obviously a total waste in a fibre installation.
Personally, I'd say rather put the R500 towards a decent wireless router, but for that price it's almost a throwaway purchase anyway.

 

[APoc184]

So here is a great way to spot the noob.

Waiting for OpenServe to come and do installation for Fibre Line and then activation of data by ISPAfrika.

I have a TP-Link TD-W8970 Wi-Fi router currently in use with my ADSL line.

Can I use this router on my fibre installation or is a new/different router required?

This is the router I have.

 

[jcheek]

So here is a great way to spot the noob.

Waiting for OpenServe to come and do installation for Fibre Line and then activation of data by ISPAfrika.
I have a TP-Link TD-W8970 Wi-Fi router currently in use with my ADSL line.
Can I use this router on my fibre installation or is a new/different router required?
This is the router I have.

Looks like it, yes.
Read up from round about here for background.
The TD-W8970 seems to have a combo LAN/WAN port on LAN port 4, so it should work fine, yeah.

 

[APoc184]

Looks like it, yes.
Read up from round about here for background.
The TD-W8970 seems to have a combo LAN/WAN port on LAN port 4, so it should work fine, yeah.

Thank you so much. Starting to make more sense to me now.

 

[jacosmit]

Must the router have an "SFP" port for fiber or just an RJ45 Router port?

 

[jcheek]

Must the router have an "SFP" port for fiber or just an RJ45 Router port?

Just a conventional wired Ethernet (RJ-45) WAN port, like this combo LAN/WAN port on the TD-W8970 :



Fibre is handled only on the ONT itself. The ONT device effectively "converts" from fibre to wired ethernet, leaving you with an RJ-45 cable that you plug into the upstream WAN port on your router.
The only other requirement is that the downstream router (the TD-W8970, in this case) must be able to open a PPPoE connection over it's WAN port, to the LAN port on the ONT. If the ADSL router already has support for an upstream WAN, that's pretty certain.

Edit : Check out the pic in this post, which gives a good overview of the installation from the black fibre "drop cable", all the way through to the ethernet cable that goes off to the downstream router.

 

[ebendl]

I wonder if the Google wifi system supports PPPoE?

https://www.amazon.com/Google-Wifi-...ie=UTF8&qid=1480346301&sr=1-1&keywords=google

It actually ships to SA.

Would love to have a router that has software developed by an ACTUAL SOFTWARE firm.

 

[jcheek]

I wonder if the Google wifi system supports PPPoE?

My initial reaction was "No", since I figured this is probably more of a Wireless Access Point than a router.
But this pic makes me think otherwise:

Would love to have a router that has software developed by an ACTUAL SOFTWARE firm.

What about the all-important hardware ?! lol

 

[ebendl]

I have a good Mikrotik router, so I'm actually more leaning towards a good wifi ap. The bits that get me excited is the intelligent hand over of devices between access points.

 

[ebendl]

So SMSed my technician this morning to follow up on my fibre order. Let me know he's on holiday and I should phone Telkom 10210 (blegh).

Phoned them. Spoke to technical support, who asked if I have a B number (I do). Checked that -- apparently Telkom's system says it is "active" and against a different person. They then tried my ID number - no match found.

It was then suggested I phone sales since the installation is not technically finished. Phoned them - no record of me exists.

Threw a tantrum, got through to a supervisor and managed to clear some things out:
1) She could see that my B number is linked against WebAfrica (no idea where they got the other person from)
2) She confirmed that Telkom's system said that the line is active and changed the status for me since that's obviously incorrect
3) She took down details (ID number, B number, installation dates, installation / CBS number, installation technician and his number) and escalated it through to the Networks and Fibre installation and promised a call back in two hours.

We'll see.

Lesson learned: do everything yourself, otherwise nothing happens.

 

[jacosmit]

I have a good Mikrotik router, so I'm actually more leaning towards a good wifi ap. The bits that get me excited is the intelligent hand over of devices between access points.

Look at Ubiquitis' UniFi products, I have installed quite a couple at various clients. AP Controller is software loaded onto a PC/laptop/server.

EDIT: From my own experience. If the handover is not handled by the AP - Android, BB and Nokia/Microsoft phones stay on an AP until signal dies completely. Apple devices search and connects to the best signal every minute or so.

 

[Koosie]

Whats the experience after telkom calls you to arrange the installation,

I received a call yesterday 29/11/2016 11:46 AM, The guy said they are
coming to do the installation today 30/11/2016.

Still no call from the techie.

What should I do if I dont hear anything?

BTW I ordered through webafrica.

 

[Koosie]

Whats the experience after telkom calls you to arrange the installation,

I received a call yesterday 29/11/2016 11:46 AM, The guy said they are
coming to do the installation today 30/11/2016.

Still no call from the techie.

What should I do if I dont hear anything?

BTW I ordered through webafrica.

 

[jacosmit]

Whats the experience after telkom calls you to arrange the installation,

I received a call yesterday 29/11/2016 11:46 AM, The guy said they are
coming to do the installation today 30/11/2016.

Still no call from the techie.

What should I do if I dont hear anything?

BTW I ordered through webafrica.

Obvious what you should do.

Double post it

 

[ebendl]

Look at Ubiquitis' UniFi products, I have installed quite a couple at various clients. AP Controller is software loaded onto a PC/laptop/server.

EDIT: From my own experience. If the handover is not handled by the AP - Android, BB and Nokia/Microsoft phones stay on an AP until signal dies completely. Apple devices search and connects to the best signal every minute or so.

That's part of the Google wifi system - it actually forces handover even with older devices.

www.theverge.com/platform/amp/2016/10/4/13157680/google-wifi-router-photos-hands-on

 

[APoc184]

So that was a lot quicker than expected.

Openserve to do final installation tomorrow at my property. Hopefully it is a quick and easy install with no faults after the techie leaves,

 

[ebendl]

So that was a lot quicker than expected.

Openserve to do final installation tomorrow at my property. Hopefully it is a quick and easy install with no faults after the techie leaves,

Can you get the guy's number for me?

 

[APoc184]

Can you get the guy's number for me?

The techie who pitches tomorrow I assume? Because Telkom phoned from a call centre today.

Will do.