First Experiences With 8ta

[Sir Ednep]

Of one thing we can be sure of with Telkom, and the above is living-proof of that. Every time one asks an agent of their's a question, concerning the same issue, you're bound to get a different answer. No uniformity.

LOL...this happened to me this morning. I called to tell them that I cannot send sms's to them (it just hangs). She replied and said that I need to sms the first 8 digits of my IMEI # to them?!!...."I cannot sms!!!!"...what don't you understand...

BTW...anyone know if we pay extra costs for national roaming 8ta via MTN?

 

[MickeyD]

BTW...anyone know if we pay extra costs for national roaming 8ta via MTN?

No extra cost to the consumer.

 

[Jedermann]

LOL...this happened to me this morning. I called to tell them that I cannot send sms's to them (it just hangs). She replied and said that I need to sms the first 8 digits of my IMEI # to them?!!...."I cannot sms!!!!"...what don't you understand...

BTW...anyone know if we pay extra costs for national roaming 8ta via MTN?

Try changing your SMSC to +2781191

 

[cpu.]

My first experience wasn't too bad. The first sim was a no-go, but I stayed in the shop till all sms received and sorted (few seconds with the next sim).

Only problem I have with 8ta is the per minute billing - make a 10 sec call and R1.50 gone. I'm now forced to have longer conversations. So, it's Vodacom for mobile calls and 8ta for Telkom calls for me.
I didn't test the internet yet since VC is still my main service provider. The few times I visited internet sites all was fine.

If they "fix" the per-minute billing I might consider porting.

I don't think I will ever give up on VC, since back-up on the road is a necessity.

 

[ObeyTheDiode]

I bought an 8.ta and an MTN SIM earlier in the week. I actually was up and running quicker with the 8.ta SIM...

Next step was to buy airtime. My internet banking portal (Standard Bank) does not offer 8.ta yet but I am sure that will come soon. I went to Engen - they don't sell it yet but the Checkers (where I bought the SIM) had. I think at least all the shops selling the starter packs should have airtime.

I loaded R250 airtime - no problem - and bought a 1 GB data bundle using the USSD commands. I will agree that the whole USSD menus, balance checks and not as 'well-rounded' as those of MTN (say). One can for instance check only your airtime balance through USSD but should you have a bundle of sorts loaded, its balance is not displayed but gets sent to you via SMS. So I have to send the USSD in MDMA and then go to read the SMS in my dashboard software.

I have only used the SIM in a modem and it works fine. It turns out I don't have a 8.ta tower near my home so I am roaming on MTN (which is what I used before). Technically I have exactly the same connection but now I am paying R250 instead of R289 for 1 GB.

The pricing of 8.ta seems very attractive to me, especially the call rates to landlines and the fact that one receives free minutes for received calls (I for sure receive more calls than I make). I have not ported my cellphone number yet but I might do that soon.

I think we should be happy that we as consumers have yet another provider to choose from. 8.ta is obviously not perfect (what other provider in SA can lay claim to that??) and they just started out. I, at least, am giving them a try!

 

[cavedog]

I bought an 8.ta and an MTN SIM earlier in the week. I actually was up and running quicker with the 8.ta SIM...

Next step was to buy airtime. My internet banking portal (Standard Bank) does not offer 8.ta yet but I am sure that will come soon. I went to Engen - they don't sell it yet but the Checkers (where I bought the SIM) had. I think at least all the shops selling the starter packs should have airtime.

I loaded R250 airtime - no problem - and bought a 1 GB data bundle using the USSD commands. I will agree that the whole USSD menus, balance checks and not as 'well-rounded' as those of MTN (say). One can for instance check only your airtime balance through USSD but should you have a bundle of sorts loaded, its balance is not displayed but gets sent to you via SMS. So I have to send the USSD in MDMA and then go to read the SMS in my dashboard software.

I have only used the SIM in a modem and it works fine. It turns out I don't have a 8.ta tower near my home so I am roaming on MTN (which is what I used before). Technically I have exactly the same connection but now I am paying R250 instead of R289 for 1 GB.

The pricing of 8.ta seems very attractive to me, especially the call rates to landlines and the fact that one receives free minutes for received calls (I for sure receive more calls than I make). I have not ported my cellphone number yet but I might do that soon.

I think we should be happy that we as consumers have yet another provider to choose from. 8.ta is obviously not perfect (what other provider in SA can lay claim to that??) and they just started out. I, at least, am giving them a try!

I fully agree with you.

I read people flaming 8.ta for encouraging you to receive calls so you can earn free minutes [interconnection rate]. Yes it is partially true but what does the other networks give you if people call you? At least 8.ta gives you a piece of that pie where others likes to keep it for themself.

So far 8.ta is treating me good. Can't wait for porting to be easy so I can port my number...

 

[MrG]

I joined today and am more than pleased.

Received my sim card around 6PM this evening. RICA took about 2 minutes. Within 30 seconds of having my phone switched on I received a welcome text with my number followed by MMS and Data settings detailing that I have a Nokia N97-1. I saved the settings and continued to load R100 airtime, worked one shot.

I sent 50 sms messages on the dot (5 paid + 45 free with 5 remaining for the day). Notified people of my number being changed and a few personal texts. My balance was accurately deducted at R2.50 for the first 5 only.

The balance USSD works wonderfully immediately displaying your remaining balance with the expiry date of your airtime window. Within second you receive two text messages, one detailing your remaining sms message if you have sent 5 that day and you received a bonus 50, while the second displays the amount of free minutes you have left and how many you have accrued for the following month.

I received a phone call from a friend tonight which lasted 1 hour and 2 minutes. All in all since getting the sim card 6 and a bit hours ago ive received 24 minutes and 24 seconds of airtime credit back for next month thanks to receiving phone calls. What a pleasure. I made one phone call lasting 34 seconds which now brings my remaining balance down to R95.95. (plus a login to mxit)

So far 8ta is a pleasure... lets hope it stays this way.

 

[ajax]

So far 8ta is a pleasure... lets hope it stays this way.

Can you access the 8ta network or are they still roaming on MTN?

 

[MrG]

No access to a 8ta network here in Durbanville. Just MTN roaming.

 

[DJNgoma]

8ta is great, no access to the towers in the Fourways area though but roam on MTN is ok for now. The data is cheap(R100 for 250mb) but I still can't see why iPad users get to benefit from the lower data bundle rates?

www.8ta.com/pages/plans/ipad/

 

[Nokkie]

8ta my bra.

 

[New_Grandmaster]

Internet connection operates at 234kb/sec and says MTN EDGE. I enquired why I don't get 3.6mb/sec like it says on the website and was told I didn't buy enough data. What a lot of crap!

3 days later I asked again, this time it was "connection issues". I asked whether it is on my side or their side and was told my 3G modem was out of date.

Today I asked again, and was then told that 3G is 234kb/sec, there is no service available at 3.6 or 7.2mb/sec. When I advised that this is what is stated on their website, I was told he didn't have anything to do with the website so was not his fault

Full marks on how not to run a business!

hahaha You just got to love South Africa and It's companies.

 

[SUPERMAN89]

Funny enough 8.ta gave me better speed test results than MTN itself!

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthr...eedtest-Results?highlight=TELKOM+SPEEDTEST+3G

My small captain's log of Telkom Mobile and 8.ta

 

[TOKYO3991]

Joined 8ta Prepaid a week ago, on a number port from Vodacom. I was advised migration may take up to 72hrs, it took just 3.

The roaming arrangment with MTN causes the automatic signal to fluctuate, whereas a forced manual signal is perfectly stable. My pinless recharge with EIGHT TIME was instant, via online banking. Setting up BlackBerry BIS on *180# was just as easy, and activated within 30 minutes.

The few days I was on before the end of June earned me a considerable rebate on incoming mobile calls, which I was heartened to see is calculated on a per second basis (despite being a per minute user).

It's not the second coming, but it's a helluva improvement on the crap we accept from the established players at exploitational rates and service levels.
All in all, after 7 days on 8.ta, I'm very impressed.

8/10 experience. Give credit where it's due. Telkom Naysayers, of which there are justifiably many, shouldn't be so quick to dismiss a new player despite it's unfortunate association with the "enemy".

Low call rates, 500mb free data, 1500 free texts per month, incoming call rebates. Times are changing FuddyDuddies, get with the program. As far as I'm concerned, 8.ta absolutely ROCKS unconditionally!!

 

[kyton]

got my selfthe 21mbps modem (e1820). installed the software. running win7 x64. 8ta dashboard runs and connects. the only way i can browse is if i use MDMA for a manual dial up. 8ta dash does not allow me to access the net. any ideas? also getting 1.3mb down 300k up 170ms plus ping rates. freakin slow for 21mbps and according to telkom i am in the coverage area. maybe i should have bught the cheaper dongle. Also tried BFBC2. i had better results on my 384k line.

 

[graytg]

anyone else having problems going onto www.nedbank.co.za ? it just times out after a while. works from my cell (vodacom) but not through 8ta

 

[Telkom]

got my selfthe 21mbps modem (e1820). installed the software. running win7 x64. 8ta dashboard runs and connects. the only way i can browse is if i use MDMA for a manual dial up. 8ta dash does not allow me to access the net. any ideas? also getting 1.3mb down 300k up 170ms plus ping rates. freakin slow for 21mbps and according to telkom i am in the coverage area. maybe i should have bught the cheaper dongle. Also tried BFBC2. i had better results on my 384k line.

Please forward your 8ta number and contact details to [email protected], and we will get one of our support agents to give you a call.

 

[skyhawk]

i m impressed with 8ta big time though i have to admit the first week was hell when i recharged, i had to call the call center 4 times for help. Now its smooth and i m enjoying every minute

 

[ajax]

I'm not covered according to 8ta's coverage map, but I do get 3G and 2G signal in my window using a so-called "non-roaming" prepaid sim.

On 3G I get -89 dBm and on 2G I get -79 dBm. Using my old Nokia 6110 with netmonitor enabled I can see the tower is 12 km away! Using mdma with my E1820 I can see that I connect to the same tower with ID 61283 whether on 3G or on 2G.

On speedtest.net it detected me as if I'm in Joburg (same as Cell C). I did a speedtest and got the following:


Not bad considering it's "peak" (well, I suppose not many subscribers yet) and the distance to the tower is 12 km.

O/T: One annoying thing when calling a number and it's busy is that you don't get the usual busy tone but you get that annoying Telkom female voice saying "the line is currently busy" or something, over and over. What's wrong with the good old "toot-toot"?