Iburst Modem Prices

[AK65]

I am keen to get iburst, but the price of R2800 for a modem scares me (I don't have a laptop).

Looking for prices to see what other people pay, I see that you can buy the desktop modem in Aus for about R975

http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/42fb1ad403d3b716273fc0a87f9c070e/Product/View/E3012

http://iburst.ht.com.au/scripts/xworks.exe?M:/search/iburst/index.cfm

The sites don't say whether you have to sign up a contract to get the modem, but why are we paying R2800 - ie 3 x as much?

No enterprising entrepreneur willing to import modems and sell them at a reasonable price? My feeling is that WBS is engaging in anti-competitive behaviour by being a sole supplier of modems.....

My 2c..

 

[Gatecrasher]

The sites don't say whether you have to sign up a contract to get the modem, but why are we paying R2800 - ie 3 x as much?

Welcome to South Africa.

Unfortunately, if you bought a modem from Aus it would be as much use as as a doorstop since Aussie Iburst operates on a different frequency.

 

[alchamy]

This is the unfortunate reality in South Africa, most things are grossly overpriced.

 

[shadley]

Is it really that hard to change the frequency, How do you justify paying 300% more for a device here which does the exact same job.

 

[AK65]

That's my point. I can't go to another supplier to get a better price for the modem. Isn't that like Telkom saying you can only buy an ADSL modem from us? I know that iburst is branded technology, but R2800 is a huge price to pay for what is essentially just a radio (albeit a clever radio). I do wonder whether the freq can be changed easily....surely just a crystal change?

But, here in South Africa, we pay double what the rest of the world does....Check any piece of technology on an international website...

 

[Kei]

surely just a crystal change?

Nope, sadly with the advent of the PLL synthesizer there is no longer any crystal, except a reference XTAL which clocks the entire system usually.

Theoretically a firmware change could render an AUS iBurst UTD operable in SA but I am not sure... I have not compared their radios and I am sure component values would have to change for the differing frequencies

 

[Xcal1buR]

More importantly, an iBurst device is locked or enabled for a specific username. If WBS hasn't sold it through their channel, they will not enable it onto their network… So unless you know how to change the devices UTID (similar to MAC address) to a valid one, you’re not going anywhere (fast or slow . BTW this is how they stop stolen devices from being used on their network or the “Blacklist Process”.

 

[AK65]

Eish

That is soooo depressing. That's uncompetitive behaviour no? Is WBS in the business of selling modems or providing internet?

Apart from the freq issues, I bet they are on the wrong side of the law. It's like network locking a phone (also picked up by ICASA). It is anti-competitive behaviour.

I also think WBS need to go before ICASA - if Telkom isn't allowed to port shape, why should they, and why should they have a monopoly on terminal equipment? Why should Sentech have a monopoly on terminal equipment?

 

[Angelis]

More importantly, an iBurst device is locked or enabled for a specific username. If WBS hasn't sold it through their channel, they will not enable it onto their network… So unless you know how to change the devices UTID (similar to MAC address) to a valid one, you’re not going anywhere (fast or slow . BTW this is how they stop stolen devices from being used on their network or the “Blacklist Process”.

So how the hell do they expect people to get rid of this device once they cancel there subscription, which by the way is inevitable once you see how brilliant their service is (my opinion)

Maybe AK65 can contact Ibust and find out if they are indeed "network locking" the devices and if the device can be unlocked to be used with a new username.

 

[Xcal1buR]

So how the hell do they expect people to get rid of this device once they cancel there subscription ...

Simple: buy the modem from ex-user/owner, call iBurst tell them you bought it (probably prove it) and they will enable it for your new username IF
a) It has not been reported as stolen
b) Was supplied by them originally not GREY import from Aussie, etc --> which brings us back to the original point of the thread...

 

[alchamy]

Eish

That is soooo depressing. That's uncompetitive behaviour no? Is WBS in the business of selling modems or providing internet?

Apart from the freq issues, I bet they are on the wrong side of the law. It's like network locking a phone (also picked up by ICASA). It is anti-competitive behaviour.

I also think WBS need to go before ICASA - if Telkom isn't allowed to port shape, why should they, and why should they have a monopoly on terminal equipment? Why should Sentech have a monopoly on terminal equipment?

Agreed, but once Telkom is forced into providing real internet WBS & Sentech will have no choice otherwise they will have no customers left.