How is Vox Fiber in 2019?

[pouroverguy]

With Vox, you can definitely use your own router.

Just spoke to a really nice guy at the Vox Cape Town branch. He confirmed that I would have to sign an indemnity form, but that I can definitely use my own router

 

[cavedog]

Most ISP's allow you to use your own.

Supersonic supplies a Zyxel gigabit router with pretty decent features once it's unlocked then it's a decent router. It retails for just over R1k so not a bad router but you can use your own router on most ISP's

 

[Henry_S]

Just spoke to a really nice guy at the Vox Cape Town branch. He confirmed that I would have to sign an indemnity form, but that I can definitely use my own router

I didn't sign anything. I just unplugged their one and plugged mine in, and it worked.

 

[Johnatan56]

I have trouble taking a company seriously that randomly adds an umlaut onto the u so it sounds "cooler". Actually trying to pronounce it sounds retarded.

And why .aspx, lol. https://www.supersonic.co.za/Pages/ViewProducts.aspx
Am trying to look at the products, but can't seem to select? Firefox.

They also don't really seem to be priced competitively either?


I probably should have taken the CISP business packages out of the above package listing, since Vox and supersonic don't have them month-to-month.

Cool Ideas:

Free Activation
This is included:
High speed internet
Uncapped data
Customer services through phone, chat or email

Terms:
Commitment of minimum: 1 Month
Cancellation period: 1 Month (Calendar Month Notice)
Starting Cost: No Connection fee, however there is an Install fee of R1725 charged by Vumatel to the ISP for your install

Supersonic:

FREE ACTIVATION
Get 1 months' FREE unlimited internet through supersonic Fibre

This is included:
HASSLE free sign up process (Should be anyways, same as everyone else...)
FREE Fibre Installation (Cool Ideas does not cover this, but contract. So price difference: ~R72pm should justify.)
FREE ISP Activation (Cool Ideas as well)
FREE WiFi enabled router (So does everyone else, you'll need to actually check the quality of these, think CI was an Archer C5.)
FREE onsite install by our highly trained super techy’s (This is part of installation and is sent by Vumatel...)
FREE setup of all devices connecting to our supersonic network (Erm, they all do this? Or do they come and connect your phones to your WiFi? )
FREE WiFI coverage assessment to make sure you can get our superfast network throughout your home (This is weird? You could probably ask the install people who come as well, they all probably do this then.)
SIMPLE managed WiFi solution, that can be managed anywhere via our supersonic WiFi App (Not sure why you need this? And why do they have their software on your router?)
FREE customer app to manage your account, track your install and log support related queries (Erm, this should be a standard? Cisp one: https://i.postimg.cc/wTjc91WZ/image.png still annoyed by that .php, but way better than the Afrihost one where they wanted looks instead of function, the "cool zone" from Afrihost makes it really annoying to actually get anywhere quickly, e.g. checking ticket and then going to go check if invoice got updated)
Unshaped Premium Internet

Vox:

FREE ACTIVATION

BASIC Bundle Includes:

• 100/100 Mbps Symmetric Fibre link,
• Uncapped, Unshaped Bandwidth - No Fair Use Policy (This seems false?)
• Free to use Wifi router
• Free Line installation (R1725) and activation (R1008)*

Month-to-Month Contract

And then Vox has a bad portal imho, since you can't cancel on their page (I moved from Vox 300GB + 20GB 100/50Mbps Afrihost, OpenServe to Frogfoot 100/100Mbps Cool Ideas).

"süpersonîc" (since they don't want their name capitalized? I made sure to add the umlaut and circumflex) adds "features" that aren't really any.

So CI charges the installation fee, for that it's a bit cheaper at higher packages,
for 100 and under I'd go
Vox > CI > supersonic, but since shaping, CI > supersonic > Vox
and for 200Mbps and over
supersonic > Vox > CI though at this price point you're probably fine to interchange.

You do need to take into account that Vox also charges "inflation" price increases every year, I got a 6% increase even though if I signed up afterwards, it would be the same price as before the inflation adjustment... That would probably make their offerings the most expensive after 2 years 1 year (200/200 is R1440, *1.06 = R1526.40 and the "inflation" adjustment can be pretty much anything they pull out of a hat).

If going over 2 years, CI will probably turn out the cheapest in the long run. So the question is whether you believe the ISP will mess up within 2 years, but then you need to factor in pro-rata costs.

Also, if you dislike MTN, then supersonic might not be for you:

Supersonic launched its first products in September 2018, following the unveiling of the brand by MTN.


Supersonic is a rebrand of Smart Village and is 100% owned by MTN, but the company is independently managed. It is both a fibre-only ISP and a fibre network infrastructure provider.

https://mybroadband.co.za/news/fibr...unknown-to-top-rated-isp-in-south-africa.html

So if looking for older reviews, check for Smart Village.

 

[cavedog]

I have trouble taking a company seriously that randomly adds an umlaut onto the u so it sounds "cooler". Actually trying to pronounce it sounds retarded.
View attachment 637456
And why .aspx, lol. https://www.supersonic.co.za/Pages/ViewProducts.aspx
Am trying to look at the products, but can't seem to select? Firefox.

They also don't really seem to be priced competitively either?
View attachment 637458
View attachment 637460 View attachment 637462
I probably should have taken the CISP business packages out of the above package listing, since Vox and supersonic don't have them month-to-month.

Cool Ideas:

Supersonic:

Vox:

And then Vox has a bad portal imho, since you can't cancel on their page (I moved from Vox 300GB + 20GB 100/50Mbps Afrihost, OpenServe to Frogfoot 100/100Mbps Cool Ideas).

"süpersonîc" (since they don't want their name capitalized? I made sure to add the umlaut and circumflex) adds "features" that aren't really any.

So CI charges the installation fee, for that it's a bit cheaper at higher packages,
for 100 and under I'd go
Vox > CI > supersonic, but since shaping, CI > supersonic > Vox
and for 200Mbps and over
supersonic > Vox > CI though at this price point you're probably fine to interchange.

You do need to take into account that Vox also charges "inflation" price increases every year, I got a 6% increase even though if I signed up afterwards, it would be the same price as before the inflation adjustment... That would probably make their offerings the most expensive after 2 years 1 year (200/200 is R1440, *1.06 = R1526.40 and the "inflation" adjustment can be pretty much anything they pull out of a hat).

If going over 2 years, CI will probably turn out the cheapest in the long run. So the question is whether you believe the ISP will mess up within 2 years, but then you need to factor in pro-rata costs.

Also, if you dislike MTN, then supersonic might not be for you:

So if looking for older reviews, check for Smart Village.

You seem to have an issue with Supersonic especially with your criticism about their description on the Vumatel shop website yet you don't criticize Coo Ideas for listing "high speed internet" and "phone support" Are you serious?

Also just to correct you Supersonic has their own techies that go out and install the router if you don't know so they hand deliver it to your house and answer any questions regarding your wifi setup and run tests to make sure you are up and running when they left. It's not Vumatel. Vumatel does the actual CPE or ONT installation and thats it.

Supersonic is also not a contract it's month to month but the free installation has a 24 month clawback and is depreciated monthly.

So let's talk FACTS based on a 200/200 Vumatel line. R1519 Cool Ideas vs R1499 Supersonic. Let's take 1 year(12 months service) as comparison

Cool Ideas R1519 x 12 + R1725 installation = R19 953
Super Sonic R1499 x 12 (because 200Mbps does not have free month) (no installation fee but R1725 / 24 x 12 because prorata installation fee) = R18 851
Supersonic>>>R1725/24 * 12 = R863 payable for the installation if you cancel after 12 months.


Let's take a 100/100 Vumatel line: Cool Ideas R1219 + R1725 installation VS Supersonic R1279 + R863 installation (R1725 / 24 * 12 = R863 payable if canceling after 12 months which is what we are comparing)

Cool Ideas for 12 months + Installation R16 353
Supersonic for 12 months + Installation R14 932 (first month free so it's x11 and not x12 AND R863 pro rata installation payable due to 12 month cancellation)


These are the FACTS it's not some fanboi spins you are welcome to calculate yourself. Supersonic is very competitive price wise if you calculate it correctly but if you only see what you want to see then good for you but please posts facts.

 

[karnuffel]

Ive been with Vuma and Vox since October and the only issues I had was with the installation Vox was quick to start the sale but getting everything installed took ages.

I got a username and password after sign up. I used that to setup a PPoE connection on my own router. The Vox router was rubbish.

 

[Johnatan56]

You seem to have an issue with Supersonic especially with your criticism about their description on the Vumatel shop website yet you don't criticize Coo Ideas for listing "high speed internet" and "phone support" Are you serious?

Also just to correct you Supersonic has their own techies that go out and install the router if you don't know so they hand deliver it to your house and answer any questions regarding your wifi setup and run tests to make sure you are up and running when they left. It's not Vumatel. Vumatel does the actual CPE or ONT installation and thats it.

Supersonic is also not a contract it's month to month but the free installation has a 24 month clawback and is depreciated monthly.

So let's talk FACTS based on a 200/200 Vumatel line. R1519 Cool Ideas vs R1499 Supersonic. Let's take 1 year(12 months service) as comparison

Cool Ideas R1519 x 12 + R1725 installation = R19 953
Super Sonic R1499 x 12 (because 200Mbps does not have free month) (no installation fee but R1725 / 24 x 12 because prorata installation fee) = R18 851
Supersonic>>>R1725/24 * 12 = R863 payable for the installation if you cancel after 12 months.


Let's take a 100/100 Vumatel line: Cool Ideas R1219 + R1725 installation VS Supersonic R1279 + R863 installation (R1725 / 24 * 12 = R863 payable if canceling after 12 months which is what we are comparing)

Cool Ideas for 12 months + Installation R16 353
Supersonic for 12 months + Installation R14 932 (first month free so it's x11 and not x12 AND R863 pro rata installation payable due to 12 month cancellation)


These are the FACTS it's not some fanboi spins you are welcome to calculate yourself. Supersonic is very competitive price wise if you calculate it correctly but if you only see what you want to see then good for you but please posts facts.

Yep, should have done a strike through by Cool Ideas for support, wasn't doing it until I got to supersonic having that wall of stuff though, since it was easier to do so than write underneath.
The 200/200 is the only case with supersonic being cheaper as a monthly package, and most of us would pick the 1Gbps/100Mbps package, so that's probably why the package is more expensive.
So you'd rather compare the 100/100 package, and you should be doing this over 24 months as that's the claw-back period.
CI 100/100 @R1219x24 + 1725 = 30981
SS 100/100 @R1279x23 = 29417
Vox 100/100 @1239x24 = 29736 but then factor in annual increase, so they'll probably end up most expensive, plus not unshaped, so lets take them out the running.

Based on the 100/100, break-even due to the month free is at the 50/51 month, so just over the 4 year marker.

Spoiler

Basically the saving is that one month free that needs to be caught up, if they weren't running that promotion they would be more expensive overall after just over 2 years.

Spoiler

The 100/10 package breaks even at month 16.

Spoiler

The 50/50 at ~28 months, the 50/5 at 15 months.

Also interesting to note that before the re-brand, Smart village was the worst rated fiber ISP: https://mybroadband.co.za/news/broadband/216830-best-and-worst-fibre-providers-in-south-africa.html though they are now somehow the best, even with any reviews I find being negative? CI has mixed recently, negative the last two days since DDoS issue that seems to now be sorted. Random bad, random good.

Another problem I have with SS, is that they state "no fair use policy" but then go right ahead and contradict that: https://mybroadband.co.za/news/fibre/273805-mtns-supersonic-fibre-uncapped-and-unshaped.html saying 10TB/month is breaking it. Yes, 10TB is a lot, but there must be less than a handful of users that actually do that, but what happens when they start reducing that limit? Mweb also started with a "reasonable" limit, then once they got enough people they started reducing it to suit their needs.

For the 10/10 package, Cool Ideas is definitely better, 10/2 break-even at about 35 months.

As I said, if you are in for the long-haul, CISP will work out cheaper, worst-case is 100/100 at just over 4 years, and the 200/200 package shouldn't really exist for CI, since the 1Gbps/100Mbps package is definitely better for consumers, and there the CISP package is over R1100 cheaper a month, so break even halfway through month 2.

Also we're not taking the given router into account, not sure what the value is there. E.g. Afrihost made a shitty move by supplying routers with 100Mbps ports, so you couldn't even max out your 100Mbps connection.

 

[cavedog]

Yep, should have done a strike through by Cool Ideas for support, wasn't doing it until I got to supersonic having that wall of stuff though, since it was easier to do so than write underneath.
The 200/200 is the only case with supersonic being cheaper as a monthly package, and most of us would pick the 1Gbps/100Mbps package, so that's probably why the package is more expensive.
So you'd rather compare the 100/100 package, and you should be doing this over 24 months as that's the claw-back period.
CI 100/100 @R1219x24 + 1725 = 30981
SS 100/100 @R1279x23 = 29417
Vox 100/100 @1239x24 = 29736 but then factor in annual increase, so they'll probably end up most expensive, plus not unshaped, so lets take them out the running.

Based on the 100/100, break-even due to the month free is at the 50/51 month, so just over the 4 year marker.

Spoiler

View attachment 637638

Basically the saving is that one month free that needs to be caught up, if they weren't running that promotion they would be more expensive overall after just over 2 years.

Spoiler

View attachment 637648

The 100/10 package breaks even at month 16.

Spoiler

View attachment 637650

The 50/50 at ~28 months, the 50/5 at 15 months.

Also interesting to note that before the re-brand, Smart village was the worst rated fiber ISP: https://mybroadband.co.za/news/broadband/216830-best-and-worst-fibre-providers-in-south-africa.html though they are now somehow the best, even with any reviews I find being negative? CI has mixed recently, negative the last two days since DDoS issue that seems to now be sorted. Random bad, random good.

Another problem I have with SS, is that they state "no fair use policy" but then go right ahead and contradict that: https://mybroadband.co.za/news/fibre/273805-mtns-supersonic-fibre-uncapped-and-unshaped.html saying 10TB/month is breaking it. Yes, 10TB is a lot, but there must be less than a handful of users that actually do that, but what happens when they start reducing that limit? Mweb also started with a "reasonable" limit, then once they got enough people they started reducing it to suit their needs.

For the 10/10 package, Cool Ideas is definitely better, 10/2 break-even at about 35 months.

As I said, if you are in for the long-haul, CISP will work out cheaper, worst-case is 100/100 at just over 4 years, and the 200/200 package shouldn't really exist for CI, since the 1Gbps/100Mbps package is definitely better for consumers, and there the CISP package is over R1100 cheaper a month, so break even halfway through month 2.

Also we're not taking the given router into account, not sure what the value is there. E.g. Afrihost made a shitty move by supplying routers with 100Mbps ports, so you couldn't even max out your 100Mbps connection.

There were some changes to the network when they switched over to Supersonic. They now use MTN business as their network provider.

I'm fibre neutral if I can say it like that. I look at the whole picture and make my decision based on that. If you look at my feedback about Supersonic I was the first to complain about poor speeds. Gave credit where credit is due and even though an ISPA complaint and 3 weeks slow internet I'm back where performance should be and grateful for an extra free month and only paying for 40Mbps next month even though I have a 200Mbps and was given to me as an apology for poor service and poor speeds. Something which I can appreciate.

Now back to value for money. Websquad is also decent offering double the international bandwidth on the 1Gbps than cool ideas for the same price and when value for money is key Cellc C-Fibre knocks everyone out of the park. 3 months free. Free installation. 1Gbps @ R1499 and as far as I could see NO limit on international bandwidth unless I failed to find it hidden in their terms somewhere in which case I would appreciate being corrected. Offers very good value for money with NO FUP of any kind it's well the best 1Gbps deal out there by far.

 

[Johnatan56]

There were some changes to the network when they switched over to Supersonic. They now use MTN business as their network provider.

I'm fibre neutral if I can say it like that. I look at the whole picture and make my decision based on that. If you look at my feedback about Supersonic I was the first to complain about poor speeds. Gave credit where credit is due and even though an ISPA complaint and 3 weeks slow internet I'm back where performance should be and grateful for an extra free month and only paying for 40Mbps next month even though I have a 200Mbps and was given to me as an apology for poor service and poor speeds. Something which I can appreciate.

Now back to value for money. Websquad is also decent offering double the international bandwidth on the 1Gbps than cool ideas for the same price and when value for money is key Cellc C-Fibre knocks everyone out of the park. 3 months free. Free installation. 1Gbps @ R1499 and as far as I could see NO limit on international bandwidth unless I failed to find it hidden in their terms somewhere in which case I would appreciate being corrected. Offers very good value for money with NO FUP of any kind it's well the best 1Gbps deal out there by far.

I do keep hearing complaints about CellC in the local fiber groups due to slow speeds in the evening.

I wish customers had access to ISP stats.

 

[Azimuth]

From next month I’ll also be with Vox. I was quite impressed with the professional approach whilst ordering and have been allocated an account manager by the name of Warren (single point of contact is always good).

I was particularly looking for someone to cover the R1725 Vuma installation fee which, as @cavedog pointed out, not a lot of ISPs do anymore. I’m fine with a 12 month term because I also did this with RocketNet to get a free install (although their term was only 6 months).

More important than the the R1,725 fee though, is no shaping and no capping. This seems to come from Vumatel because I was told that “there is no shaping or capping on Vumatel”.

On the topic of Vumatel...they were very elusive in Johannesburg with no direct line to them. In Cape Town, they are out in the open and very easy to communicate with. Melissa gives Vumatel a good name...keep it up!

After 1.5 years of 100Mbps symmetric, I’m now going with 20Mps symmetric. 100Mbps was great peace of mind but is massively wasted on my household. While I’ve seen occasional spikes up to 25Mbps, for the most part, the network hums along at a fraction of that. This while we have multiple Netflix, Showmax and YouTube streams on the go.

So far as the “free to use” router goes, I asked them to keep it so that I could use my trusty EdgerRouter X. Apparently my username and password will be sent to me via SMS.

I’ve posted a lot of conflicting info compared to the other posts but will be sure to update after I’ve gone live.

 

[pouroverguy]

From next month I’ll also be with Vox. I was quite impressed with the professional approach whilst ordering and have been allocated an account manager by the name of Warren (single point of contact is always good).

I was particularly looking for someone to cover the R1725 Vuma installation fee which, as @cavedog pointed out, not a lot of ISPs do anymore. I’m fine with a 12 month term because I also did this with RocketNet to get a free install (although their term was only 6 months).

More important than the the R1,725 fee though, is no shaping and no capping. This seems to come from Vumatel because I was told that “there is no shaping or capping on Vumatel”.

On the topic of Vumatel...they were very elusive in Johannesburg with no direct line to them. In Cape Town, they are out in the open and very easy to communicate with. Melissa gives Vumatel a good name...keep it up!

After 1.5 years of 100Mbps symmetric, I’m now going with 20Mps symmetric. 100Mbps was great peace of mind but is massively wasted on my household. While I’ve seen occasional spikes up to 25Mbps, for the most part, the network hums along at a fraction of that. This while we have multiple Netflix, Showmax and YouTube streams on the go.

So far as the “free to use” router goes, I asked them to keep it so that I could use my trusty EdgerRouter X. Apparently my username and password will be sent to me via SMS.

I’ve posted a lot of conflicting info compared to the other posts but will be sure to update after I’ve gone live.

Hi

How do I get in touch with Vumatel Cape Town directly?

Thanks

 

[1geoff99]

From next month I’ll also be with Vox. I was quite impressed with the professional approach whilst ordering and have been allocated an account manager by the name of Warren (single point of contact is always good).

I was particularly looking for someone to cover the R1725 Vuma installation fee which, as @cavedog pointed out, not a lot of ISPs do anymore. I’m fine with a 12 month term because I also did this with RocketNet to get a free install (although their term was only 6 months).

More important than the the R1,725 fee though, is no shaping and no capping. This seems to come from Vumatel because I was told that “there is no shaping or capping on Vumatel”.

On the topic of Vumatel...they were very elusive in Johannesburg with no direct line to them. In Cape Town, they are out in the open and very easy to communicate with. Melissa gives Vumatel a good name...keep it up!

After 1.5 years of 100Mbps symmetric, I’m now going with 20Mps symmetric. 100Mbps was great peace of mind but is massively wasted on my household. While I’ve seen occasional spikes up to 25Mbps, for the most part, the network hums along at a fraction of that. This while we have multiple Netflix, Showmax and YouTube streams on the go.

So far as the “free to use” router goes, I asked them to keep it so that I could use my trusty EdgerRouter X. Apparently my username and password will be sent to me via SMS.

I’ve posted a lot of conflicting info compared to the other posts but will be sure to update after I’ve gone live.

I moved to Vox Vumatel 20/20 a few weeks ago from Axxess capped VDSL 20 Mbps. I was finding Axxess was slowing down in the evenings but Vox/Vuma performs much better in this regard, so I'm extremely happy so far. I'm using my own router which was easy to arrange. I'm also in the process of cancelling my Telkom landline, saving R200 a month. Using VoIP instead with freshphone.co.za and porting my landline number to them.

 

[Azimuth]

Hi

How do I get in touch with Vumatel Cape Town directly?

Thanks

support.capetown@vumatel.co.za

 

[Azimuth]

Three months in and I’m happy to report that nothing has changed from Day 1. I’ve logged a couple issues due to midnight drops and got speedy updates (the issue has never returned).

Doing < 400GB per month on a 20/20 service.

 

[cobusv]

i use vox on openserve 100/50, super happy, never have any issues