First of all I am not starting this thread to entice an argument/flamefest or any of that. If it's going to end up being one of those I am going to refer this matter to rpm directly. I am posting this to try and help resolve the issues people have with the iBurst product, because, I don't have problems and I can't figure out why everyone has issues and I don't.
My Setup consists of:
UTD connected into my 100 ethernet switch. Connection is shared via WinGate 6.0.3. MTU is set at default of 1400. WinGate sorts out the MTU problem and other machines have not had their MTU's set. I do p2p downloads before the firewall, on the server itself. All other downloads are on my desktop.
I do not currently know which tower I am connected to. I presume it is Roodepoort because the tower, which is around 600 metres away, is still listed as "PLANNED" on the WBS website so I presume I am picking up Roodepoort. I am not using an external antenna but I cannot move the modem, if I do I lose signal or get 2 bars at best, so I have a "sweet-spot"
The speed issue
Everytime I try I get around 900kbit/sec to over 1000kbit/sec on local speed tests. It's been like this since installation. International speed test is much less, lowest 33kbyte/sec to highest, over 100kbyte/sec. This speed varies the most, and is what I expect for the times of day I access the net. Nonetheless e-mail, and downloads from commercial sites are nice and fast.
My download speed on a p2p app such as BitTornado agrees with my download speed internationally. It was averaging 33kbytes/sec yesterday.
IRC, MSN and AOL Instant Messenger
Of all these programs, AOL Instant Messenger is the only one that gives problems. What happens is the program reconnects so you go offline and then back online rapidly. I presume this is a common problem even overseas because my friend used to have a DSL line from a certain service provider in Indiana and it used to do the same thing on their end, but I was on dialup so my AOL IM client wasn't resetting like that but theirs was. Everyone has now migrated to MSN messenger now so there's no problems anymore. MSN messenger has never gotten disconnected yet, since I've had iBurst.
SSL Sites
My current website's CPanel runs on SSL. When I got the hosting of that site it gave me lots of **** on dialup and eventually I had to change my ISP to get around that problem. Works like a charm on iBurst and it's fast.
My girlfriend has also successfully conducted her internet banking via iBurst and her comment was "it's f**king fast. It hangs at work on the Telkom line"
Other stuff
As for other stuff, I don't know what else there is to mention. I haven't tried SkyPe yet but I plan to do so soon.
General
I am going to test some other towers soon and check my connection speeds on those towers. The best I can suggest is, if you want to prove your modem is working OK I guess at some stage I can test mine on it and see if the tower sucks or what the problem is.
Things to Remember
TELKOM provides the infrastructure to iBurst via leased lines. If the one at work is anything to go by I am not surprised strange problems are coming and going. ADSL does NOT follow this route or method of connection to your ISP and is thus naturally far more stable. The iBurst stations are likely connected via Diginet or Martis DXX, which, like I said, suffers from "speed related faults" as we've suffered here at work. I wish they'd phase out all that semi-analog ****. Diginet sucks! It always sucked. Internet Service providers (UUNET and IS) are connected via optic fiber links onto Telkom's network. That stuff doesn't give any trouble and is immune to interference, and, especially, lightning.
TELKOM is to blame for the high prices and 3rd world connectivity. If you fight Telkom and win, everyone will see benefits no matter how they're connected to the 'net.
TELKOM is to blame for us being behind technologically.
My Setup consists of:
UTD connected into my 100 ethernet switch. Connection is shared via WinGate 6.0.3. MTU is set at default of 1400. WinGate sorts out the MTU problem and other machines have not had their MTU's set. I do p2p downloads before the firewall, on the server itself. All other downloads are on my desktop.
I do not currently know which tower I am connected to. I presume it is Roodepoort because the tower, which is around 600 metres away, is still listed as "PLANNED" on the WBS website so I presume I am picking up Roodepoort. I am not using an external antenna but I cannot move the modem, if I do I lose signal or get 2 bars at best, so I have a "sweet-spot"
The speed issue
Everytime I try I get around 900kbit/sec to over 1000kbit/sec on local speed tests. It's been like this since installation. International speed test is much less, lowest 33kbyte/sec to highest, over 100kbyte/sec. This speed varies the most, and is what I expect for the times of day I access the net. Nonetheless e-mail, and downloads from commercial sites are nice and fast.
My download speed on a p2p app such as BitTornado agrees with my download speed internationally. It was averaging 33kbytes/sec yesterday.
IRC, MSN and AOL Instant Messenger
Of all these programs, AOL Instant Messenger is the only one that gives problems. What happens is the program reconnects so you go offline and then back online rapidly. I presume this is a common problem even overseas because my friend used to have a DSL line from a certain service provider in Indiana and it used to do the same thing on their end, but I was on dialup so my AOL IM client wasn't resetting like that but theirs was. Everyone has now migrated to MSN messenger now so there's no problems anymore. MSN messenger has never gotten disconnected yet, since I've had iBurst.
SSL Sites
My current website's CPanel runs on SSL. When I got the hosting of that site it gave me lots of **** on dialup and eventually I had to change my ISP to get around that problem. Works like a charm on iBurst and it's fast.
My girlfriend has also successfully conducted her internet banking via iBurst and her comment was "it's f**king fast. It hangs at work on the Telkom line"
Other stuff
As for other stuff, I don't know what else there is to mention. I haven't tried SkyPe yet but I plan to do so soon.
General
I am going to test some other towers soon and check my connection speeds on those towers. The best I can suggest is, if you want to prove your modem is working OK I guess at some stage I can test mine on it and see if the tower sucks or what the problem is.
Things to Remember
TELKOM provides the infrastructure to iBurst via leased lines. If the one at work is anything to go by I am not surprised strange problems are coming and going. ADSL does NOT follow this route or method of connection to your ISP and is thus naturally far more stable. The iBurst stations are likely connected via Diginet or Martis DXX, which, like I said, suffers from "speed related faults" as we've suffered here at work. I wish they'd phase out all that semi-analog ****. Diginet sucks! It always sucked. Internet Service providers (UUNET and IS) are connected via optic fiber links onto Telkom's network. That stuff doesn't give any trouble and is immune to interference, and, especially, lightning.
TELKOM is to blame for the high prices and 3rd world connectivity. If you fight Telkom and win, everyone will see benefits no matter how they're connected to the 'net.
TELKOM is to blame for us being behind technologically.