Home-Connect Fibre Packages. Do you have issues with them?

carl.heymann

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Hi All

Currently SADV is installing fibre in our complex. I'm looking at capped vs uncapped packages.

The uncapped packages usually have either a low fair use policy or the contention ratio is very high, sometimes up to 80:1.

The capped packages start getting expensive when looking at 300 - 400 GB packages, some ISPs only have 200 GB package and then the next package is 500 GB. So it is difficult to get the correct package. I don't have DSTV so only do streaming and download about 2 console games a month at 60 GB+ a game.

This brings me to Home-Connect Activate packages. The pricing is very good. FUP is very good, 1088 GB/m which is more than double than what I need.

When something sounds to good to be true, I really start wondering what is the catch.

Questions:

1. Does anyone have any experience with Home-Connect, what is your experience, happy or not?
2. Do you keep on getting network speeds close to your paid for package?
3. What is international latency and speed like?
4. Can I use my own router?

Info on the packages from their site:

https://www.home-connect.co.za/fibre-to-the-home/sa-digital-villages/#packages

20/20 MB Uncapped - R698/m
50/50 MB Uncapped - R898/m


https://www.home-connect.co.za/support/general-service-terms/

5. Service Terms
1. Unless specified, Home Connect will provide you with uncontended, uncapped, unshaped access to the Network via a fibre circuit (“Access Circuit”) and the Service Equipment at a Home Connect Point of Presence (“PoP“).



https://www.home-connect.co.za/support/fair-use-policy-fup/

Vumatel, Octotel, MFN, WAN, SADV, Link Africa, DFA, Mitsol & Frogfoot

Customers can use the bandwidth without the concern of being throttled, shaped, contended or capped in anyway. Home Connect reserves the right to limit customer’s usage or speed based on our Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) which can be found on the Home Connect website.

To help ensure that all customers have fair and equal use of the service and to protect the integrity of the network, Home Connect reserves the right, and will take necessary steps, to prevent excessive usage. “Excessive usage” means usage in excess of 1088GB per month.

In the event that a user does exceed the set excessive usage, the internet breakout portion of the link will be throttled to 30% of the overall line speed for the remainder of the calendar month. No further restrictions or limitations will be placed on the line while it is rate limited and the connection will remain uncapped and unshaped for this period. At the beginning of a new month of service, the line speed will revert to its base profile.

The action that Home Connect may take includes, but is not limited to:

Shaping throughput
Prioritising services utilising specific ports or communication protocols;
Rate limiting throughput
 
I used them on Frogfoot. Service was OK. They provide their router which you can make NO changes to and thus had to use their preset WiFi password etc. Trying to cancel when I moved was a serious pain in the ass.
 
Friend is with them on a different fibre provider on their 100Mb package. Hes been happy so far. The only issue is their router that is locked down.

IIRC there are ways around this. You can apparently sign an indemnity form and have them open all the ports, then place your own router after that which you can setup any way you want.
 
Been on them for over a year on Metrofibre. I have had zero issues and always get the speed I pay for. Stream a lot and game with no issues.

They provided the router and my router is not locked down, think they had the locked down policy when they started but don’t think anymore.

They are good value for money.
 
Friend is with them on a different fibre provider on their 100Mb package. Hes been happy so far. The only issue is their router that is locked down.

IIRC there are ways around this. You can apparently sign an indemnity form and have them open all the ports, then place your own router after that which you can setup any way you want.

Thanks
 
Been on them for over a year on Metrofibre. I have had zero issues and always get the speed I pay for. Stream a lot and game with no issues.

They provided the router and my router is not locked down, think they had the locked down policy when they started but don’t think anymore.

They are good value for money.

Thank you for the feedback. If I can use my own router then I think I will use them.
 
Been on them for over a year on Metrofibre. I have had zero issues and always get the speed I pay for. Stream a lot and game with no issues.

They provided the router and my router is not locked down, think they had the locked down policy when they started but don’t think anymore.

They are good value for money.

Hey dude, thinking of signing up with them. How are your downloads, etc. Do they shape certain protocols like P2P?
 
Hey dude, thinking of signing up with them. How are your downloads, etc. Do they shape certain protocols like P2P?

Downloads are good. I do not notice any shaping. Torrents do not always run super fast and at full speed but that is the nature of torrents and depend on the seeds.

Streaming on netflix, showmax and dstv now work with no issues. Downloads and gaming on ps4 also work very well.

Like i said before, i have had no issues and i have no reason to want to change my ISP
 
Yup ! Have only heard good things about Home-Connect.
 
Downloads are good. I do not notice any shaping. Torrents do not always run super fast and at full speed but that is the nature of torrents and depend on the seeds.

Streaming on netflix, showmax and dstv now work with no issues. Downloads and gaming on ps4 also work very well.

Like i said before, i have had no issues and i have no reason to want to change my ISP

Cool, thanks for the feedback.
 
Downloads are good. I do not notice any shaping. Torrents do not always run super fast and at full speed but that is the nature of torrents and depend on the seeds.

Streaming on netflix, showmax and dstv now work with no issues. Downloads and gaming on ps4 also work very well.

Like i said before, i have had no issues and i have no reason to want to change my ISP

Thank you for the feedback.

What is your line speed?
 
I started with them this month, they seem legit, so far so good. 20mb up down
 
Thank you Micham03

What was the time between ordering and the service being active? Who is your fibre provider?
 
I started with Home Connect on Vumatel this month. 100/100
So far speeds are good.
The router they provided is not locked down.

So far the support has been good when I thought I had some issues.
 
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