Flat out speed vs Consistent connection?

[Colin62]

I've just got ADSL connected at home after two years of using Vodacom 3G. It's bound to give me hassles sooner or later, and but right now, I'm amazed at how pleasant it is to browse using a connection that is stable and works, even though it's running at 384 kbps as opposed to my 3600 kbps 3G connection. I click each link once and once only, and the page opens. Yes, it takes a little longer to open a page than using 3G, but it doesn't hang with zero throughput every few minutes, it just works.

And it's R29.00 per GB. My 3G card just got shoved to the back of the drawer and will only be pulled out for emergency or holiday use. I'm glad I've used it for the last two years, because if I hadn't, I'd be tempted to "upgrade" to 3G for the speeds it offers.

Raw speed on Vodacom's 3G network is great when you're downloading a large file at 3am, but give me a consistent steady connection for my everyday browsing any day. I'm getting a paltry 0.3 or 0.4 Mbps on speedtest.net and the uplink battles to get above 0.1, but it works!

Maybe one day Vodacom will manage to be an ISP, but right now, it's still a phone company with a network they hire out on the side.

I'm off to the other forum, to watch the fur fly with Screamer...

 

[ingeon]

So very very true
Also no local vs international data rate split.
But applying for ADSL also involves telkom and that`s a whole different story filled with it`s own traps...

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?p=3370782#post3370782

 

[crashi]

Funny those are my sentiments exactly. I ordered ADSL on Monday because i was also just looking for some consistency. At times 3G gets you all excited with super speeds but that only when it manages to find connection.
I'll also keep my 3g for holidays etc.
BTW how long did it take you to get your ADSL up and running?

 

[vangend]

I did the same about 1 month ago. I used vodacom and mtn, both are crap. The speed, when available in not worth the constant problems you have with 3g.

 

[Colin62]

BTW how long did it take you to get your ADSL up and running?

I ordered ADSL on Tuesday last week, and forgot about it, expecting to hear from them again in January (my 3G contract expires in February), but I got a call on Monday morning, saying it was connected. I then had to find a modem, so I did a bit of research, and discovered a box with 10 Dlink 2640U's in at work - they ordered a pile to give to the reps in far flung areas, and some can't get ADSL. There are 9 in the box now

On Tuesday afternoon, I registered with Afrihost, and tried to set everything up that night, not realising that I still had to verify the installation with Telkom. Did that yesterday morning, and it's up and running. It took about 30 minutes to setup the modem/router, from pulling it out the box to having it setup and working.

So it took me 8 days from order to fully working. It could have been 6, but I was caught by surprise.

 

[Nerfherder]

I have heard of people ordering ADSL on a friday and having it on monday.

Not the case for me... ordered an upgrade on my line and a month later is it still at the lower speed

 

[vangend]

I ordered a new line. Closer option to get free installation, and after the line was installed adsl self install. Total time 10 working days

 

[ingeon]

I ordered a new line. Closer option to get free installation, and after the line was installed adsl self install. Total time 10 working days

http://www.telkom.co.za/general/tariffs/installation_and_line_rental.html

http://www.telkom.co.za/general/tariffs/telkom_closer.html

Looking at this I don`t understand how you managed free installation? Please if you could point me in the right direction.
Are you sure their not gonna bill you for it down the line...

 

[vangend]

Looking at this I don`t understand how you managed free installation? Please if you could point me in the right direction.
Are you sure their not gonna bill you for it down the line...

Phone them on 10219 to order. I received my first bill and no installation charges.

 

[catruter]

Consistent connection

 

[catruter]

so with closer you pay no installation charges for the new line or the adsl line?

 

[reedOsama]

I used to use those 3G modems... pain in the ass.

downloading a 60mb file and it disconnects somewhere around 50mbs... so I do it again and so on and so forth.

the portability is nice though... really really nice

 

[Telegamer]

ADSL is much better for home use, but 3G for on the go...ah well still using BIS and painfully slow on Vodacom

 

[ingeon]

It`s unbelievable. I have had my ADSL line a few days and no 3G connections
drops, it`s like a whole new experience yet slower...

I hope that Telkom gets a few shoves in the right direction.
I have spoken to many many random people wanting or dumping land lines
and many people would love fixed line if telkom only delivered a better service.
I was shocked at how quick I got connected and up and running (that`s a start!)

Telkom are planning to release wireless services at the same speeds as the
mobile networks where they should rather/also offer the same speeds for land line
owners at a better price and pull more people.

I mean my:
1st GB with Vodacom/MTN at 3.6mbps R289 (fast)
1GB int. 10GB local with Telkom at 384kbps R331 (stable)
Crappy comparison but I make a good point (forget the OoB for now)

And then there are my usual comments about the line rental and ADSL line rental split

Oh and the LLU

 

[Colin62]

First 500MB from Vodacom = R189
First 1BG from Afrihost. R152 for the line and R29 for the data = R181

I'm smiling...

 

[ginggs]

First 500MB from Vodacom = R189
First 1BG from Afrihost. R152 for the line and R29 for the data = R181

Don't you have to pay two line rentals, one for the voice line and one for the ADSL line?
What speed is that?

 

[BarnettE]

I've just got ADSL connected at home after two years of using Vodacom 3G. It's bound to give me hassles sooner or later, and but right now, I'm amazed at how pleasant it is to browse using a connection that is stable and works, even though it's running at 384 kbps as opposed to my 3600 kbps 3G connection. I click each link once and once only, and the page opens. Yes, it takes a little longer to open a page than using 3G, but it doesn't hang with zero throughput every few minutes, it just works.

After being on Vodacom 3G for more than 2 years and now on 384kbps ADSL for a couple of months, this is EXACTLY my experience too. It is slower and you notice it mostly when you download big files or pages with lots of graphics, but the overall browsing experience is just so much more pleasant. Reliable, dependable, it just works.

 

[BarnettE]

Don't you have to pay two line rentals, one for the voice line and one for the ADSL line?
What speed is that?

These are the Telkom vs Vodacom prices:

          Telkom     Vodacom
1GB  (384kbs) R199  (3G) R289
3GB  (384kbs) R258  (3G) R589
5GB  (4Mbs)   R554  (3G) R989

With Telkom, if you do not already have an analog voice line, you have to pay an extra R115(I think) for that. You also do not have to get your bandwidth from Telkom. You can get the ADSL line (at the speed you want) from them and the bandwidth from anywhere you want - lots of options.

 

[Colin62]

Don't you have to pay two line rentals, one for the voice line and one for the ADSL line?
What speed is that?

It's a 384k line, and yes, I'm paying for the voice line too, but I've been paying for the voice line all along, so it's not an extra.

I have a (soon to end) 500MB contract at R229 which included the cost of the modem, and probably bought an extra 500MB 3 out of every 5 months. For ADSL I bought the modem / router cash. For the R189 I've been paying for 500MB, I can get 1GB, with the huge advantage that the next GB is only another R29, which means that I don't have to crack the whip all the time when someone wants to go onto youtube. So it's working out cheaper as well as being more stable and so far I'm happy.