Finally getting internet at home

[Ecko_1]

I've finally been able to convince my wife to cancel DSTV in favour of getting a decent internet connection at home.

Fibre isn't an option, as our suburb has not been trenched. They are trenching in Durban North at the moment, but I have my doubts that they will ever lay down fibre infrastructure in my suburb.

So ADSL it is.

From my limited googling, the Telkom Home Unlimited option seems to be about the best value for money. Looking at R799pm for a 10mbps uncapped line.

Telkom provides a free router and andoid box if you take out a 24 month contract. I want to avoid this as far as possible. Will I be able to use this service on a month to month basis? What do routers cost and what would be a decent router to buy?

I'd like to use Netflix, would a 10mbps line be sufficient?

 

[Sumen]

I've finally been able to convince my wife to cancel DSTV in favour of getting a decent internet connection at home.

Fibre isn't an option, as our suburb has not been trenched. They are trenching in Durban North at the moment, but I have my doubts that they will ever lay down fibre infrastructure in my suburb.

So ADSL it is.

From my limited googling, the Telkom Home Unlimited option seems to be about the best value for money. Looking at R799pm for a 10mbps uncapped line.

Telkom provides a free router and andoid box if you take out a 24 month contract. I want to avoid this as far as possible. Will I be able to use this service on a month to month basis? What do routers cost and what would be a decent router to buy?

I'd like to use Netflix, would a 10mbps line be sufficient?

Month to Month is available.
You will be able to play Full HD flawlessly, obviously this depends on how far you are from the exchange box/cabinet

Routers you can find R400 or lower if on special

 

[Ecko_1]

How do I find out how far I am from the exchange. There is a small box on the road neaby, just over a meter tall. Not sure if this is the box you are referring to?

 

[Sumen]

How do I find out how far I am from the exchange. There is a small box on the road neaby, just over a meter tall. Not sure if this is the box you are referring to?

The box will be green and blue
The cabinet will either be double or single, white with Telkom logo.

I'm 7 houses away and get full 4mb speed

 

[EasyUp Web Hosting]

The box will be green and blue
The cabinet will either be double or single, white with [-]Telkom[/-] OpenServe logo.

I'm 7 houses away and get full 4mb speed

FIFY.

 

[Sumen]

FIFY.

The one by me has a Telkom logo but I have seen the areas that have fibre have openserve logo

 

[Hemps]

My experience improved a lot when I switched from 10Mb to 20Mb vdsl.
The VDSL router is pricey but I picked mine up on special for R499
Maybe just start on VDSL.
Cant go wrong with Netflix , Showmax.
I'd look into getting a dns service so you can get BBC iPlayer working as well, channel4 and 5

A dns service opens up a world of entertainment shows and apps.

Getflix, smartdnsproxy, dns4me etc all have trials.

If your house has apple products go for apple TV and all apple products sync well together.
For Android research tells me Android TV is the way to go, something like Xiaomi Mibox etc

 

[TheFriendlyGhost]

First thing is to make sure you can actually reach those speeds - do not speak to a Telkom call centre agent - rather stalk a telkom techie if you see one working in your environment and ask him/her - it will save you a lot of time and money

 

[Ecko_1]

My experience improved a lot when I switched from 10Mb to 20Mb vdsl.
The VDSL router is pricey but I picked mine up on special for R499
Maybe just start on VDSL.
Cant go wrong with Netflix , Showmax.
I'd look into getting a dns service so you can get BBC iPlayer working as well, channel4 and 5

A dns service opens up a world of entertainment shows and apps.

Getflix, smartdnsproxy, dns4me etc all have trials.

If your house has apple products go for apple TV and all apple products sync well together.
For Android research tells me Android TV is the way to go, something like Xiaomi Mibox etc

I hate Apple products(except for the old Ipods, my Nano is somewhere in the house). Now what is VDSL (for dummies please)? I'm not a big TV watcher so I think something generic like Netflix will work for my wife and I. She watches a lot of tv, but whatever is on. I don't watch much sport either. If I do watch tv i watch of a HD, a series at a time (currently watching S2 of Breaking Bad). I guess Netflix could serve the same purpose.

I don't mind haivng to fork out for a router upfront. I just don't want to be locked into contracts or debit orders.

 

[Ecko_1]

There are 2 houses on our property. Other house has an ADSL line already. I will check which provider they are using and ask them to run a speedtest as well.

 

[Sumen]

I hate Apple products(except for the old Ipods, my Nano is somewhere in the house). Now what is VDSL (for dummies please)? I'm not a big TV watcher so I think something generic like Netflix will work for my wife and I. She watches a lot of tv, but whatever is on. I don't watch much sport either. If I do watch tv i watch of a HD, a series at a time (currently watching S2 of Breaking Bad). I guess Netflix could serve the same purpose.

I don't mind haivng to fork out for a router upfront. I just don't want to be locked into contracts or debit orders.

http://deucethemes.com/whats-the-difference-between-adsl-vdsl-and-fibre-internet/

 

[beesboertjie]

Hi Ecko_1. Wise choice! The Telkom home unlimited 10Mbps for R799 is the best thing since sliced bread.

Take the 24 month contract, you won’t be sorry. On a month-to-month basis, not only do you lose out on a free router (±R800), you also lose out on free installation (R792) and a free Android TV media box (R1099). Telkom has lately become the best ISP provider, by far, their rates beat any other ISP hands down … by miles.

One of the members says you can always cancel the 24 month contract on a pro-rata basis, should Telkom get on your nerves. But they won’t, if you PM (private message) the very efficient social media team TelkomZA on this forum.

Take the 24 month contract.

https://secure.telkom.co.za/today/shop/home/plan/10mbps-dsl-uncapped-internet/