Internet for gaming

SaiyanZ

SaiyanZ

Executive Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2008
Messages
8,136
Reaction score
767
Location
Johannesburg
Hi All,

I'm thinking of signing up for ADSL just for pure online gaming. Mostly playing Path of Exile at the moment connected to EU servers. What ISP's/bundles are suggested?

I have been using 8ta's 10GB+10GB (R199) for the last few years which works fine 90% of the time. The latency is about 200ms to 250ms, but the problem is random lag spikes (which lasts anything from 0.5 seconds to 10 seconds) and lack of throughput which disconnects me from the server at times, especially during peak hours in the weekday evenings and midday/evening weekends.

So I'm going to keep the 8ta bundle for normal use. I just need ADSL for gaming.
 
Yes I also use afrihost, I have had the uncapped which works fine in general but I just switched over to the capped option and latency etc is allot better and have had no issues.

Tried a few other ISP's but best so far is afrihost
 
SaiyanZ said:
Hi All,

I'm thinking of signing up for ADSL just for pure online gaming. Mostly playing Path of Exile at the moment connected to EU servers. What ISP's/bundles are suggested?

I have been using 8ta's 10GB+10GB (R199) for the last few years which works fine 90% of the time. The latency is about 200ms to 250ms, but the problem is random lag spikes (which lasts anything from 0.5 seconds to 10 seconds) and lack of throughput which disconnects me from the server at times, especially during peak hours in the weekday evenings and midday/evening weekends.

So I'm going to keep the 8ta bundle for normal use. I just need ADSL for gaming.
Click to expand...

Just a heads up that the prices are a lot higher for DSL stability at lower packages.
You have to take into account that you are paying for Voice Line rental no matter what (R166.50) http://mybroadband.co.za/news/telecoms/105943-telkom-line-rental-price-increase.html
Then you can start adding the line speed you wish and data costs. Usually bundling it will be cheaper, depending, but that choice is up to you.
 
Get trial accounts from ISP's. Use them all and choose whatever gives you the best connection.
 
I really need to get ADSL asap. I've been trying to game online for the last hour. Lag spikes every few seconds. Disconnects. 8ta 3G is useless tonight. My neighbours probably can hear the swearing.
 
Get the Telkom simple package if it is still available. R400 for 2 Mbps line and 5 GB data (and uncapped between 12 and 7). You can then try other trial accounts as mentioned.
 
Johnatan56 said:
Just a heads up that the prices are a lot higher for DSL stability at lower packages.
You have to take into account that you are paying for Voice Line rental no matter what (R166.50) http://mybroadband.co.za/news/telecoms/105943-telkom-line-rental-price-increase.html
Then you can start adding the line speed you wish and data costs. Usually bundling it will be cheaper, depending, but that choice is up to you.
Click to expand...

I don't mind the extra cost if it means that my connection will be stable in the evenings. With 8ta 3G it's hit and run. It actually worked fine for gaming from 21:30 to 02:00 last night. 18:00 to 21:00 was terrible though.

Roughly how long does it take for Telkom to sort out the line?
 
If there is an existing copper line at your house you can be online in less than a week. That's how long mine took, from phoning them till I had working ADSL. That was with an existing copper line, if they need to install one it will probably take longer. It also depends on how busy they are in your area, but the tech here told me they prioritize new installs above repairs so you might get lucky.
 
OrbitalDawn said:
Why do you want to keep the 8ta if you're gonna get ADSL?
Click to expand...

Only nice thing about 3G is the high speed (compared to a 2 MB package). But that R200 is enough to bump the ADSL to a 4 MB line then its not so much worth it anymore. Unless he needs mobility.
 
furpile said:
If there is an existing copper line at your house you can be online in less than a week. That's how long mine took, from phoning them till I had working ADSL. That was with an existing copper line, if they need to install one it will probably take longer. It also depends on how busy they are in your area, but the tech here told me they prioritize new installs above repairs so you might get lucky.
Click to expand...

I stay in a flat so I emailed the Body Corporate just to make sure that I don't have to go through them for internet. Doubt it but I will wait for them to respond before doing anything. This is why I never signed up for ADSL. Was going to hold it of until I own my own place but can't wait any longer.

OrbitalDawn said:
Why do you want to keep the 8ta if you're gonna get ADSL?
Click to expand...

I just renewed my contract for 24 months. :o R199 is cheap anyway for 20GB a month. I figure that the capped ADSL products are better for gaming so I will just get a low cap ADSL bundle for gaming and use the 8ta data for other stuff.
 
Last edited:
SaiyanZ said:
I stay in a flat so I emailed the Body Corporate just to make sure that I don't have to go through them for internet. Doubt it but I will wait for them to respond before doing anything. This is why I never signed up for ADSL. Was going to hold it of until I own my own place but can't wait any longer.
Click to expand...

If you can't get ADSL try a Wisp. I was with two before I got my own place and could get ADSL. They are not quite as cheap but for gaming I never had problems. You are basically just on a big WiFi network to an ADSL line. If there is one in your area you can ask them to come out and do a test so you can check the latency etc.
 
Ok, so I'm going to the Telkom store today to sign up. The landline at my flat doesn't go through the Body Corporate so I can do whatever I want.

I just want to take the simplest/cheapest month to month option for ADSL line rental and phone line rental and will then sign up and buy data as needed from ISP's.

What is the best way to do this? The phone line rental has to go through Telkom but does the ADSL line rental have to be activated by Telkom?


Edit: After going through the options on the Telkom site it seems like I may as well take the Telkom do Basic option which contains the 2MB ADSL line and 10GB data per month. So total cost will be R219 + R166 = R385 per month.

Something that has me concerned is that the description of the service on the Telkom site says that the 10GB package is intended for emails, general browsing and social media. So if the quality is poor for gaming I may as well skip the bundle and just take the ADSL + Phone line from Telkom and just use an ISP for the data.

Comments on Telkom data quality for gaming on do Basic?


2nd Edit: Just saw the installation costs on the Telkom site:

What will it cost?
Installation fees:
Line rental installation: R620.00
ADSL installation fee: R792.00 (self installation option available)
Monthly rental fees:
Line rental: R166.50
ADSL rental: R165.00


How do I skip those ridiculous fees?
 
Last edited:
Find out if you can still get the Simple package. Its R399 pm, they do free installation, you get a free modem and it includes all the line rentals. The Do packages don't include the analogue line rental. After 3 months you can then cancel the Telkom Simple ISP part if you want (although their network performance is quite good recently and 5 GB should be enough for gaming). Then you cost with Telkom will go down to about R330 pm and you add another ISP on to that.
 
furpile said:
Find out if you can still get the Simple package. Its R399 pm, they do free installation, you get a free modem and it includes all the line rentals. The Do packages don't include the analogue line rental. After 3 months you can then cancel the Telkom Simple ISP part if you want (although their network performance is quite good recently and 5 GB should be enough for gaming). Then you cost with Telkom will go down to about R330 pm and you add another ISP on to that.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Found it online. That looks like the best option by far.

http://www.telkom.co.za/campaigns/simple-3/

Edit:

Looks like it might only be available on a 24 month contract as per the terms and conditions:

Customer must sign a compulsory debit order and 24 month sales agreement to pay off the device
Click to expand...

If so I'll just skip the whole ADSL escapade altogether since I'm renting and thus a 24 month contract is out of the question. Will just get a backup CellC 3GB 3G sim for R299 once off (12 months). So when my 8ta connection is poor I'll just switch to the CellC sim. If both are poor I'll just do some neglected chores :o.
 
Last edited:
SaiyanZ said:
Thanks. Found it online. That looks like the best option by far.

http://www.telkom.co.za/campaigns/simple-3/

Edit:

Looks like it might only be available on a 24 month contract as per the terms and conditions:



If so I'll just skip the whole ADSL escapade altogether since I'm renting and thus a 24 month contract is out of the question. Will just get a backup CellC 3GB 3G sim for R299 once off (12 months). So when my 8ta connection is poor I'll just switch to the CellC sim. If both are poor I'll just do some neglected chores :o.
Click to expand...

24 Month contract is optional, just buy your own ADSL router, they vary in price depending on what you want, but I think you can get a half decent router for R500 odd.
 
I see. Last question. Do I need to get a phone? I don't care about making/receiving calls.
 
You don't need a phone. Earlier this year they gave the modem as well without a contract. Might have been a promo.
 
Thanks for your help. Will go to a Telkom store later today and see what they say.

Edit:

Ok went to Telkom. Apparently all ports in my area are full and they have a waiting list of about 300 people. Upgrades are only expected next year February. :o

So I bought a Vodacom prepaid sim and a 3GB CellC data bundle as a backup for my 8ta connection. Tested all three connections tonight during peak hours. CellC seemed the most stable but with a 300ms latency. 8ta was 2nd best with 200ms to 250ms latency but random lag spikes. Vodacom was the worst. The latency graph looked like a city skyline. Huge troughs and peaks with latency ranging from 250ms to +1000ms almost all the time.

Either way I'll just have to make do with these networks for a while.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X