iBurst 1mbps (10Gb) vs ADSL 384kbps (Uncapped)

Norri

Norri

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I've been a loyal iBurst client since their early days. About 4 years or so, methinks. I was part of the initial group that tested the system out before they launched it.

Well, surprise surprise, I'm sick of their crap and I wanna move. I'm considering going for 384kbps uncapped ADSL but I'm worried that the speed difference will kill me.

I'm in Centurion and get decent download speeds from iBurst (between 40kB/s and 80kB/s). I don't mind getting slower download speeds if it means having a more reliable, stable internet connection and having no cap! This month I reached my 10Gb cap really quickly just from updating my Desktop (Ubuntu) box and installing some games (OpenArena, AlienArena, etc)!

So, download speed isn't necessarily a problem.

The problem is...

I'm a web developer and I spend most of my time editing files over FTP and browsing sites, refreshing, etc. My wife is a photographer and she spends most of her time downloading and uploading large images (2Mb is not unusual). And we both use GMail for email along with other online services.

With all that in mind, will 384kbps be fast enough for us? I'm hoping it will because it will be stabler but I wanna hear from people who had iBurst and who have also experienced 384kbps ADSL (maybe at a friend's or something).

Help? :o
 
a 384kbs uncapped connection will give you a maximum speed of approximately 48KB/S
Pricing will be as follows:
a 384kbps line from telkom: R139
a 384kbps uncapped ADSL from axxess: R899
Total monthly fee: R1038

10GB package from iBurst with modem: R1039

Remember that the axxess offering is not true uncapped. It has a 10 day threshold of 5GB, after which your speed will be throttled.

I am currently in a similar situation as you are, however line speed is important, so I'm considering taking a 10GB cap form discovery for R440 and my ADSL line rental will be R350 PM. also I am then able to negotiate my cap, purchase more, and be in control of my usage, I won't be downloading for the sake of using up my cap. Thus I will only have a fixed monthly cost of R350, and at an average of 10GB a month my total cost will be only R790.
 
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Thanks zakdoc, 48kB/s is pretty reasonable. In your experience, how does the reliability compare between ADSL and iBurst? I'm in Centurion and the iBurst connectivity here is very good compared to Joburg and Cape Town.

One last question, if you don't mind. I'm an ADSL n00b. Does installation simply consist of connecting a cable to my phone-jack, the other end to my router and connecting the router to power?
 
Yes Norri, Once Telkom has enabled ADSL at your exchange, you simply plug in your telephone line into the jack and you have ADSL.
ADSL is pretty reliable compared to iBurst, here in JHB iBurst has some pretty bad days. My ADSL connection has recently been installed and so far nothing has affected it. The 4mbps speeds are really phenomenal compared to iBurst, latency is also minimal.
 
ADSL is way more reliable than Iburst. Also the latency is way less.
 
Thanks again :) I'm a lot more confident in my choice to go for 384kbps ADSL next year. Much appreciated!
 
I left I Burps about a year ago because of their intermittent service and was forced to go to Telkom ADSL 1Mg but burnt my arse because they have raped us over the last 20 years.
Screamer deployed WiMAX in Jhb and Pta and I tried one of their packages and have not had a days regret since. Their broadband prices are cheaper than Telkom's and there is no ADSL line fee. Their voice services are half the price of Telkom's.
I suggest you get them to do a signal test at your place before you order so you can be sure of your connection speed and voice quality.
 
Norri, ask a 384kbps ADSL user to post results from speedtest.net and compare them to your speeds. I went from iBurst to 4mbps ADSL and then downsized to 384kbps (because of cost) and just recently come up to 512kbps. I must admit the 4mbps ADSL was substantially faster than the iBurst but 384kbps feels like softcapped iBurst.
 
Norri said:
Thanks Fudzy. What's soft-capped mean?
Click to expand...

When I was on iBurst, I was on the Pro 1GB package. After I reached my capped the line wasn't cut just significantly throttled. It was torture when watching videos/etc but you could queue up a bunch of downloads and you weren't charged for the bandwidth you used after you hit your cap.
 
Thanks guys :)

Fudzy, being soft-capped is horrrible. I've experienced it a LOT and it's bad for business so maybe I should rather look at the 512kbps option
 
Well ive been on 384 line for a year and just moved to Iburst. My normal dl on the 384 was 39KB/s max and on Iburst its 50-90KB/s.

Iburst suits me well (softcap option) although its slow, I still do my 8-10GB /month.

What I liked about dsl is its stable and the local access for news groups. The problem I had that the blended (2GB) international was gone I couldnt do what I normally do on the net. Openweb was a good option for me as I was mostly just surfing, but the amount of money I spend on internet access was just to much for me.

So now iam paying R230 for an "uncapped" solution.

IMO Iburst is still the best value for money in SA. (If I can just get graphic intensive sites- loads of thumbnails- to load the first time I will be happy!)
 
Do you have Neotel reception? R999 for 2.4mbps unlimited isn't bad . . .
 
Ghost, sadly no Neotel in Centurion but we're moving back to Joburg early next year so it might yet be an option! :)
 
Iburst vs ADSL

I am also one of the early adopters of Iburst. I had a 10Gb (9Gb ? ) account, and 12 months ago got ADSL 4Mb. I spend slightly more than I spent with Iburst and have an IS uncapped account (approx 30Gb).

The ADSL is miles better, but have kept the Iburst (500Mb) for moments like this when ADSL is down.
 
Ghost02 said:
Do you have Neotel reception? R999 for 2.4mbps unlimited isn't bad . . .
Click to expand...

now this is a question.... i know u wane use it for working purpose but lets say now and then u wane play somethin online??? what then? this 2.4mbps is a total waste when trying to play online ...gives latency's of 130 - 260 ....and this on local servers...

384kbps.... on the same server brings min. a latency of 23 and max 36... still at a very playable rate...

downside is .....ADSL..... the "A" screws us all over....
basically what the "A" means is that your download is faster than your upload...

so upload on ur 384kbps is at a low of 128kbps...
and u dud say ur wife uploads alot... and u do 2... sending back the edited files to the FTP's

so consider that 2
 
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