Final Verdict Please - MyWireless Yes or No

[FairShare]

I'd appreciate comment from current users on the following (a simple yes/no answer will suffice):

I'll be moving to a house that, according to the Tower Distance Calculator (http://rational.co.za/MyWireless/calculate.html), is within 300m of the Salt River tower in CT. Expected signal according to the calculator will be 41%.

With the 128 package, if my expectations are the following...

1. 24/7 connectivity except for the occasional disconnect (once every 2 days?)
2. Browsing/downloading/P2P/FTP speeds averaging at around 8KB/sec (slightly more than my dial-up)
3. No need for any other equipment other than the standard modem (i.e. no Pringles tins or external antennae)

...do you think that my expectations will be met or am I wasting my time with Sentech? Y/N

It is upon your answers that I'll base my decision as to whether or not to sign up.

Thanks!

 

[noswal]

yo pays da money, yo takes da chances []

_________________________________________________________________________
No more catenna, now its a custenna

 

[Turtle]

As it is now, you will not average more than dial-up, you can probably expect to average less than dial-up, e.g. around 4 or 5KB/s. Supposedly they are working on the known speed issues, and they say it will be fixed by end August, but they did lie about the fact that there even was a problem for over two months before even trying to fix it, and then still rather than admit a problem they started blaming users for 'abusing' the service and saying users "weren't using it as intended" (whatever that means). And rather than buying more bandwidth and delivering the advertised BW, the management are trying to 'manage' the BW to determine a point where users will be "happy" with the service, whatever that means.

So as it is now, I would definitely say, NO. I suggest to give it another two months, then come back to the forum, if you find a lot of happy users then, then maybe go for it. Then again, given the attitude of MW management, even if they fix it they will probably overload the service and let BW degrade again once they start signing up more users - they've proved several times over already that this is how they intend to operate.

 

[TheRoDent]

Give it some time. That's my advice.


<center><h6> MyWireless <s>Hacks</s> Tweaks & Tech Info || Have you checked the fawking FAQ? <br /> <font color="red">Tired of Sentech's bad service? Want to compare speeds? We at least listen...</font id="red"></h6></center>

 

[donn]

Don't sign up directly with Sentech. Go to www.nowire.co.za and sign up with them. When all the trouble started with slow bandwidth they allowed some of their 512k asnd 256k to "downgrade" their contracts to 128k, something with Sentech absolutely wouldn't even dream of doing.

Also, their option of buying the modem up front will reduce the monthly costs thereafter.

But for goodness sake <b>take Rodent's advice</b> and once the "fixes" have been made take another look. If necessary get the nowire people to come out, set it up and demonstrate it to you.

Try it for a week before you sign anything. Bear in mind they are ounting this "service" to businesses, so bandwidth is going to be an issue, particularly during working hours.

Donn Edwards
http://privacy.4mg.com

http://privacy.4mg.com/SlowWireless.gif

 

[GougedEye]

Nay,

Wait to see if things improve. I personally would not sign a 2 year contract with these people ever again, even if they get it right eventually, but thats just me.

 

[arf9999]

Wait and see.

The service isn't working as advertised. Ain't nobody going to guarantee you 8kB/s on a 128 package at the moment. But when it works, it works well. I would wait until at least September before buying in. Also, I would suggest that you do not sign a long contract. Rather buy the modem up front, and take a short contract (or if possible, no contract). If the service degrades, you can then always just sell the modem to another sucker, sorry, user.



MW128, Tower <b>60</b>(Northpark Plaza), Signal:16%,S-N-L: 7, BER: 45%

 

[Donovan]

DO NOT sign up.

 

[loosecannon]

i had little choice and do not recomend it unless there is no other alternative [ADSL not available here ATM]

TTFN

 

[Saul]

I would personally recommend the service....

I seem like the only one on this forum who bitches about their tower going down but not speed. I'm 95% happy with the product. Things can only get better.

Strange, I was pumping 14-16k on a bit torrent download last night whereas when a friend of mine at varsity is getting 4k he is ecstatic.
I'm almost tempted to upgrade to a 256K package.

Get someone to come test it out at your house first. When it works its great, but if this forum is anything to go by then it sucks most of the time.

 

[Wireless2]

Its all 50 / 50

I have not had any large speed issues.

I get 28 - 30 KB/s with Flashget all the time on 256 Package
24 KB/s on P2P

 

[embittered]

No

With the 128kbs package rarely get more than 32kbs when browsing (even local sites). Downloading sometimes gets up to 70kbs - yippee (mostly around 50kbs). Its definitely related to the number of users 'cause straight after a disconnect you can hit 110kbs with multiple downloads for a very short while. Doesn't bode well for Sentech's ability to cope with more subscribers.

Given Sentech's state of denial and total failure to communicate with users, you should hang on to the end of the year and see what alternatives show themselves. Go for ISDN dialup for the moment (look at some of the other threads here for a cost comparison)

Was in Europe last month and cellphone operators are starting to advertise 384kbs wireless data services. Both Vodacom and MTN are testing the technology. I suspect this will arrive here sooner than you think.

 

[passif]

Just have to add my voice to the cautionary vote. Like the others suggest, take a look at it again in a couple of months time, in the meantime go for ISDN / Callmore combo.

---
Sentech and Telkom: The pupil surpassing the master

 

[regardtv]

If at all possible stick to POTS (plain old telephone system) for a while at least. Sentech have proven fallable and as such would not be a wise investment.

 

[GougedEye]

Also bear in mind that over the next few months there will be other services available. WBS iBurst leaps to mind, but there are others on the Horizon. I'm not saying these will be the answer to SA's broadband nightmare, (nothing can help while Telkom's legalised rape of the economy continues). But if you are locked into a 2 year Sentech contract, or a 2 year Telkom ADSL special deal contract, you are likely to be still sitting here bitching while others are getting semi-decent service elsewhere.

Just look at the replies on this thread. Be patient. Go with ISDN for now. You can drop it at any time when something better is available. MyWireless works brilliantly when it works. But it is currently simply not the service it is advertised as.

 

[Comrade Borris]

I think a proper 'final verdict' will be delivered at the start of September, Sentech has promised the issues will be resolved by the end of august. I would consider waiting till october before joining these b@st@rds. I'm 5 months into my contract, and waiting till the day it expires, i couldnt imagine starting a new contract with them now...

<div align="left"><font size="2"><font face="Trebuchet MS"> |<font color="blue">256k</font id="blue">| |<font color="blue">26%</font id="blue">| |<font color="blue">66<font color="black">/</font id="black">HYDEPARK</font id="blue">| [:X][8D][:X]
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[CBL]

If you had asked me in March 2004 when i signed up, i would
have said "go for it"

Now with the speed problems and Sentech's response,
i must urge caution and say "wait and see for another month or 2"

The technology seems able to perform very well,
but Sentech's network seems to be over-stressed at the moment
due to unclear reasons (hacked/over-subscribed/under-managed?)

(Personally, i dont have any regrets yet? as ADSL is not available to me)

 

[FairShare]

Thanks all for the useful input. I'll hold my horses and monitor this forum for any improvements.

Such a pity that Sentech dropped the ball. Things really looked promising at the beginning.

And congratulations to Rodent and crew for a very slick campaign. I think consumer activism has reached new heights in South Africa and service providers ought to be little more cautious in the future.

It's through initiatives like Rodent's and this discussion forum that the true power of the web is realised.

Aluta continua

 

[GougedEye]

Dropped the ball is one way of putting it. I myself however, feel that "Screwed the Pooch" is more accurate!