G-Connect, is there a catch?

[blue-eye-boy]

I was checking out G-Connect now, and their pricing seems good. ~R49/gig?
I'm using Axxess prepaid shaped account for international. So I also saw this 626 axxess unshaped account, but I mean Gconnect's price is even better.

They say the data also roll over, for how long?
Does their account work the same as a Axxess account? I get a username and password which I use to create dialup connection on my pc?
They say the normal rate for adsl data is 4.9 c per meg. Do I buy a data bundle from them just as with Axxess, and how big is the bundle?

I dont see a lot of G-Connect threads here on mybb, so that's why I thought there may be a catch.

Thanks

 

[ColinR]

Only 'catch' I can see is that your setup a global gconnect account in your router or dialup on your pc. Then on browsing - you'll hit a landing page. Fill in your username/password there, and you'll be connected for the session.

Benefits are using the same pool of money for WiFi, ADSL and 3G.

Disadvantages: needing to login 'twice'

 

[blue-eye-boy]

Only 'catch' I can see is that your setup a global gconnect account in your router or dialup on your pc. Then on browsing - you'll hit a landing page. Fill in your username/password there, and you'll be connected for the session.

Benefits are using the same pool of money for WiFi, ADSL and 3G.

Disadvantages: needing to login 'twice'

Well the setting up of a new account isn't an issue, the only thing is the double username and password input. Thats all?

 

[MikeCTZA]

Re: Data roll over - your money will never expire from everything I have found out.
Sounds correct from what I understand on how you are connecting. You'll create a new PPoE dialup connection on your PC using the generic login info. Then you'll need to go to a browser and login with your GC info to get up and running.
There is a 300sec (I think) timeout but you could then setup your mail client or whatever to poll mail, or if you have things running then you should never need to relogin with the browser.

 

[G-Connect]

I was checking out G-Connect now, and their pricing seems good. ~R49/gig?
I'm using Axxess prepaid shaped account for international. So I also saw this 626 axxess unshaped account, but I mean Gconnect's price is even better.

They say the data also roll over, for how long?
Does their account work the same as a Axxess account? I get a username and password which I use to create dialup connection on my pc?
They say the normal rate for adsl data is 4.9 c per meg. Do I buy a data bundle from them just as with Axxess, and how big is the bundle?

I dont see a lot of G-Connect threads here on mybb, so that's why I thought there may be a catch.

Thanks

Hallo jacqvt

G-Connect indeed offers data rollover - as long as you keep your account active you will never lose a cent.

Our accounts bring about a complete new way of connecting to the Internet, unlike any current providers. You don't buy a bundle, you simply add money to your account (by topping up) and use that to access the Internet via 3G, Wi-Fi or ADSL, however you choose, until it is depleted and then you can top-up again. There is no catch, in fact we believe in transparency and giving our customers what they want.

To overcome the double login you can simply download our Connection Manager that will bypass the mentioned landing page.

Hope this helps...

 

[ColinR]

To overcome the double login you can simply download our Connection Manager that will bypass the mentioned landing page.

The problem here, is that all the devices on my network cannot run the connection manager, so when the connection does drop, all devices are offline, until I need to browse the web again.

Thats why - although it is a minor one - it is a catch. (to me)
And unfortunately, one that will most likely force me to move to another provider.

 

[Zyzzyva]

Hallo jacqvt

G-Connect indeed offers data rollover - as long as you keep your account active you will never lose a cent.

Our accounts bring about a complete new way of connecting to the Internet, unlike any current providers. You don't buy a bundle, you simply add money to your account (by topping up) and use that to access the Internet via 3G, Wi-Fi or ADSL, however you choose, until it is depleted and then you can top-up again. There is no catch, in fact we believe in transparency and giving our customers what they want.

To overcome the double login you can simply download our Connection Manager that will bypass the mentioned landing page.

Hope this helps...

Yeah it is a small catch, but fundamental to me too. I would be a customer right now if it wasn't for that catch.

I'm guessing this login is there to manage the adsl/wifi/3g stuff. Perhaps you could create a way for adsl users to bypass this login need. I would then sign up in an instant.

 

[MikeCTZA]

If there was the concept of a connection manager for my phone (in my case the iPhone) this would be brilliant !! Is there no way to think of maybe implementing it by putting your login/password in the APN settings vs doing it on a captive portal web page type method?
Have you guys thought of something like user_3g, user_wifi, user_adsl type options for being able to allow people to connect using different access methods at the same time but using the same a/c?

 

[Tinuva]

If there was the concept of a connection manager for my phone (in my case the iPhone) this would be brilliant !! Is there no way to think of maybe implementing it by putting your login/password in the APN settings vs doing it on a captive portal web page type method?
Have you guys thought of something like user_3g, user_wifi, user_adsl type options for being able to allow people to connect using different access methods at the same time but using the same a/c?

Exactly what I would want as well. I can't see why the same radius server can't be used for all types of connections. Only difference is then they can't charge different for the type of connection without adding more overhead to the system, eg. radius proxies to the main radius servers to make up for the difference in usage.

Does the current system show you on what type of connection you used your money that you top up with?

 

[MikeCTZA]

Does the current system show you on what type of connection you used your money that you top up with?

You can see your usage on a graph and it will show you amount of data transferred using each option (wifi, adsl, 3g) but doesn't show how much you spent on each of those, per session etc. I think that is what you were asking. It would be possible to work it out if you did the sums yourself, but maybe it is something they could add to the web site, but could over complicate it.
A link that did something like "show me where my money went" summary per day/month could be quite nice to see. With the result being something like:

01 Aug 2009:
ADSL: 123.45MB = R xx
3G: 6.78MB = R yy
WIFI: 9MB = R zz
Total: R xx + yy + zz

02 Aug 2009:
etc. etc.

 

[G-Connect]

You can see your usage on a graph and it will show you amount of data transferred using each option (wifi, adsl, 3g) but doesn't show how much you spent on each of those, per session etc. I think that is what you were asking. It would be possible to work it out if you did the sums yourself, but maybe it is something they could add to the web site, but could over complicate it.
A link that did something like "show me where my money went" summary per day/month could be quite nice to see. With the result being something like:

01 Aug 2009:
ADSL: 123.45MB = R xx
3G: 6.78MB = R yy
WIFI: 9MB = R zz
Total: R xx + yy + zz

02 Aug 2009:
etc. etc.

Great suggestion, thanks! Will definitely look into it...

 

[MyWorld]

Hallo jacqvt

G-Connect indeed offers data rollover - as long as you keep your account active you will never lose a cent.

Our accounts bring about a complete new way of connecting to the Internet, unlike any current providers. You don't buy a bundle, you simply add money to your account (by topping up) and use that to access the Internet via 3G, Wi-Fi or ADSL, however you choose, until it is depleted and then you can top-up again. There is no catch, in fact we believe in transparency and giving our customers what they want.

To overcome the double login you can simply download our Connection Manager that will bypass the mentioned landing page.

Hope this helps...

And is there a similar solution for Linux?

 

[deweyzeph]

Hallo jacqvt

G-Connect indeed offers data rollover - as long as you keep your account active you will never lose a cent.

Our accounts bring about a complete new way of connecting to the Internet, unlike any current providers. You don't buy a bundle, you simply add money to your account (by topping up) and use that to access the Internet via 3G, Wi-Fi or ADSL, however you choose, until it is depleted and then you can top-up again. There is no catch, in fact we believe in transparency and giving our customers what they want.

To overcome the double login you can simply download our Connection Manager that will bypass the mentioned landing page.

Hope this helps...

I don't think you quite realise how fundamentally flawed your double login process is. ADSL users only want to authenticate once, and they want to authenticate using PPPOE.

There are many devices on a home network that need to access the internet and cannot use your "connection manager". People want seamless access to the internet, not this amateur system that you guys have come up with.

By implementing this double login system you guys have shot yourselves in the foot big time. There are many of us who would love to use your service, but as it currently stands your ADSL service is unusable for all but the most basic of users.

 

[blue-eye-boy]

Re: Data roll over - your money will never expire from everything I have found out.
Sounds correct from what I understand on how you are connecting. You'll create a new PPoE dialup connection on your PC using the generic login info. Then you'll need to go to a browser and login with your GC info to get up and running.
There is a 300sec (I think) timeout but you could then setup your mail client or whatever to poll mail, or if you have things running then you should never need to relogin with the browser.

That 300 sec timeout you mention, is that if I am not active on the web for 300 sec (or whatever) then I must re-log in? It would be nice to have that longer.

Hallo jacqvt

G-Connect indeed offers data rollover - as long as you keep your account active you will never lose a cent.

Our accounts bring about a complete new way of connecting to the Internet, unlike any current providers. You don't buy a bundle, you simply add money to your account (by topping up) and use that to access the Internet via 3G, Wi-Fi or ADSL, however you choose, until it is depleted and then you can top-up again. There is no catch, in fact we believe in transparency and giving our customers what they want.

To overcome the double login you can simply download our Connection Manager that will bypass the mentioned landing page.
Hope this helps...

Thanks, the double log in thing isn't a problem for me, but maybe in the long run in may become a hurdle. But for now it seems like an option for me, then I would really say good buy to this routesentry setup. I mean if I weigh the two against each other ( R70/gig int & R12/gig local ) and ( ~R45/gig ) I think in the long run it would work out the same for me, I dont download much local.

Just tell me, sorry if its a noob question, but is your data shaped or unshaped? Is it the same as a Axxess prepaid account (international)?

 

[Vegeta]

Are you guys silly? You dont have to use the connection manager. Just use the web landing page.

Use iphone connect to your home wifi... open browser enter details on landing page, surf. Same with linux. Whats wrong with that?

 

[MikeCTZA]

jacqvt: I think you are right re: timeout, I haven't had it be a problem for me in the time I've used it, I always have something loaded that uses a bit of traffic on the line, like my mail client polling the server or twitter.
vegeta: The problem is that if you want to use some non browser app (eg twitter, want to check email, weather, IM etc.) you have to then always go to the browser to login 1st which is a real pain. And then how would this all work with the iPhone push apps ... not too well due to you not being online I expect (I haven't tested that aspect though)
Still .... even with these small things .... I will use them due to the cost & data roll over benefits.

 

[G-Connect]

Just tell me, sorry if its a noob question, but is your data shaped or unshaped? Is it the same as a Axxess prepaid account (international)?

Our DSL is unshaped.

 

[ColinR]

That 300 sec timeout you mention, is that if I am not active on the web for 300 sec (or whatever) then I must re-log in? It would be nice to have that longer.

Yup, you'll rehit the landing page on next browse. I rarely hit the timeout as my SPA-3102 is constantly active.

Just tell me, sorry if its a noob question, but is your data shaped or unshaped? Is it the same as a Axxess prepaid account (international)?

Unshaped.

Are you guys silly? You dont have to use the connection manager. Just use the web landing page.

Devices like my SPA-3102, Playstation, XBox, etc cannot use the landing page, so once you're disconnected, and until you browse - you are offline.

Use iphone connect to your home wifi... open browser enter details on landing page, surf. Same with linux. Whats wrong with that?

See reason above.


As stated previously - I'm currently using GConnect, and am completely happy with all services, but this issue is causing the most grief. My router cannot update my dyndns account either..

 

[blue-eye-boy]

Our DSL is unshaped.

Which is nice...

Yup, you'll rehit the landing page on next browse. I rarely hit the timeout as my SPA-3102 is constantly active.

Okay but what is that 300 sec timeout thing then? So what you are saying, If I do not close my browser, for the whole day, I wont hit the landing page?


I think I'm just finishing my current accounts with axxess, then I'll move. last night I checked my update history on the axxess accounts. From last year September, I bought 4 gig international, and 2 gig local. Now thats what I use in a year, and according to that, my data cost me R50 /gig average. So even if I dont save that much on g connect, I dont have to use the routesentry setup. One account, better speeds and the same cost for me. Later on I might consider using the 3G too if I need it.

 

[ColinR]

Okay but what is that 300 sec timeout thing then? So what you are saying, If I do not close my browser, for the whole day, I wont hit the landing page?

If you have no activity on your account at all for 300 seconds, you'll get the landing said on next browse.