IBurst Or Sentech?

D

desturbed

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Cape Town
Hello. I have slowly started becoming more and more dissapointed with Sentech's poor service. Sentech is slow, and extremely unstable. I am just recovering from some downtime as I type. I have known about IBurts for quite a while now. I pushed it aside thinking it was a Sentech "rip-off". From what I hear, IBurst is better than Sentech in almost everyway.

It seems like IBurst is alot faster than Sentech. I am just a little bit worried about this whole cap thing. My average download speed's with Sentech are as follows:

Local: 7kbps - 13kbps
International: 4kbps - 9kbps

What are the speed packages with IBurst? Is there only one speed choice?

Any more poistive or negative feedback about IBurst will be greatly appreciated :)

-Thx
 
desturbed,

I am also currently on Sentech. Go browse the MyWireless forum and you will see that this is how sentech runs its business and that it's been like this to varying degrees for the past few years.

I had an iBurst reseller out to do a speed test. It is roughly 500kbps, and we have slightly low signal in our area. The service seemed to work as desired.

Have a look at the MyWireless forum: http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=90 and see that you are not alone.

Then call 0860 SENTECH and cancel your service. They are supposed to fax/email you a form to cancel, but they're lazy and stupid and will probably not send it to you so make sure you keep them on the line until it arrives in your email/fax. Alternatively email me and I'll email you a DOC of the cancellation form.

Sentech has sucked, it is sucking now and from the looks of things it will always suck. On top of that, they will probably call you and ask (TELL) you to move to a flexi package, which works out much more expensive when you hit your cap - R 1/mb, actually.

Seriously, just cancel now and save yourself the trouble.
 
No question about it. Iburst is faster and a better choice for your money's worth.

Specially now that Sentech is dropping the "Classic" packages. So not only is sentech slower than Iburst, but a hell lot more expensive too.

With Iburst u can do 64K after your cap (wich still gives 5-8kb per second rate)

Plus the first 3gigs or 6gigs (depending on your package) is very fast ranging from 550kbps to 1024kbps *better signal strenght , faster downloads*.

if you do 4-5kb per second constantly = 18mb per hour or just over 400mb per day. (still very good for browsing, or small'ish downloads) *amounts are ruff estimates, just to get a idea*

my 2cents
 
Sentech's MyWireless international access went down for the millionth time this month and just came up again a few minutes ago. I'd estimate it's been off for more than 42 hours in total since about 28 August 2006.
 
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Having been with mywireloss for over 2 years and iburst for over 2 days, - why oh why didnt I get here sooner
 
Wow! Thanks alot for all your replies. Clearly IBurst is the better choice.

Thanks!


Edit: I check my coverage area, and, I am in the "Extreme Outdoor" area. But, I have an external antennae that is sitting on the roof. I currently use that with my Sentech modem. Would I be able to use this with the IBurst modem, and, would it increase the speed?

-desturbed
 
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The secret with iBurst is to get a good signal.

Make absolutely sure that you have it before signing.

You should be getting more base stations in the next year or two. All the Capetonians I know are a patient, laid-back bunch so hang in there.
 
desturbed, i'm also zoned as "extreme outdoors". In real life, with just the modem on my desk, wrong side of the house, I get from 550 to 850kbps (mostly above 700) download and around 250 upload. From Iburst's speedtest. If that's extreme outdoor, high probability indoor will surely kill me :D So....get it tested
 
The important thing to remember is the physical test. Don't let iBurst's geographical coverage maps fool you. I tested at a friend's house before - he was supposedly not covered. We got LOS to a tower 8-10kms away - and 800KB/s downloads. Conversely, I have been in an extreme outdoor area, and been unable to pick up my email.

Oh, and in advance - Welcome to iBurst's world. ;)
 
It's nice to know this same conversation is happening many times every day in respect of Sentech's poor service; and that many more are being spared from it.
 
Hi guys,

This has prob been answered a thousand times before, but I just want to make sure what with ploicies changing so often all around.

1.) Once you are capped on iBurst and going along at 64kbps, that's 64kbps for local AND international traffic, right?

2.) Are p2p protocols throttled on all packages except the G9 still? Throttled to what speed? 1kB/s or 8kB/s etc?
 
UtterNutter said:
1.) Once you are capped on iBurst and going along at 64kbps, that's 64kbps for local AND international traffic, right?
Click to expand...
Right. However, iBurst2iBurst appears to be fully functional beyong capping.
UtterNutter said:
2.) Are p2p protocols throttled on all packages except the G9 still? Throttled to what speed? 1kB/s or 8kB/s etc?
Click to expand...
Depends from connection to connection in my experience, but I seldom get anything worth shouting about - around 1-2KB/s if I'm lucky. Again, iBurst2iBurst I can get around 12-20KB/s p2p.
 
Some p2p software escapes packet sniffing. There are also proxy methods that can improve p2p.

If you can afford it, I really can recommend the G9 for p2p. Seeing all the goodies come down the line at full speed is a rush.

But I still don't understand the point of shaping Iburst when we effectively pay per Gig.

On Month-to-month,
Comparing the G3 to the G1, you get 2 extra Gigs for R130 extra (R65/Gig).
Comparing the G6 to the G3, you get 3 extra Gigs for R300 extra (R100/Gig).
Comparing the G9 to the G6. you get 3 extra Gigs and unshaped for R200 extra (R66/Gig).

Point being that the G3 and G9 are the best value-for-money Iburst packages.

If you don't mind being locked in for 2 years, the G1 contract isn't bad, provided you buy the modem outright.
 
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Hey man where are you in Cape Town, in also in a extreme outdoor area (just, very close to the next best level) but my connection is fine with an antenna, it depends on your LOS and how high you can get the antenna, with your on your roof you should be fine.
As for the sentech antenna, well it might work, but Iburst or high gain one might be better, they are cheap, R350 for Iburst antenna.

There are some (OKay I only know 1) P2P's that escape shaping while caped or uncaped. Luckily for me its the best p2p for music :D
 
I put custenna back into action with my iburst modem and got an 80KB/s multi thread int download this morning, which on sentech only peaked at 25KB/s
 
80KB isnt bad at all for the morning imes, excellent actually, just wait till the daytime rush dies down.

Wow, I see youve already changed your sig to a Iburst one... pretty quick to catch up, makes it look like youve been in the struggle for years.
 
I have sorted out my personnel downtime (well, it was more that the connection disconnected) problem. Must say i'm happy with Iburst's relative stable connection.

Get the signal tested, it will tell ur speed and whether it will be worth it.

Welcome.
 
Tjorriemorrie said:
I have sorted out my personnel downtime (well, it was more that the connection disconnected) problem. Must say i'm happy with Iburst's relative stable connection.

Get the signal tested, it will tell ur speed and whether it will be worth it.

Welcome.
Click to expand...


Should I call IBurst and request someone come along and test my signal?

Would they charge me?

Thanks alot for the replies guys :)
 
I have the external grid antenna from Poynting. Will I be able to use it with the iBurst modem?
 
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