Moving from Iburst?

[Gatecrasher]

While I'm reasonably happy with Iburst performance, particularly on the G9 package, I definitely believe that Iburst is not the value-for-money proposition it once was. For some time, I've been seriously considering moving to ADSL.

This is re-enforced by reading this forum, particularly the ISP sticky thread (thanks Mr G, excellent work) and doing some calculations...

Iburst G9 cost me R1099pm but I also have Telkom landline which averages R600pm.

Total cost = R1699.

I figured if I get Telkom "Closer Plan 5" for R699pm, which includes ADSL1024, I'd still be left with R1000pm for bandwidth costs.

Extending MrG's logic: I could spend R747pm on 3 x 3gb TelkomInternet accounts, which could yield up to 30Gb before being capped.

I could also get a local Openbrowse account for R169pm, which would give me 30Gb local access and 192kbps international post-cap access. This can be used simulataneously with TelkomInternet using route sentry software.

I could also get a WebAfrica prepaid account for R70pm for back up, which can be topped up (as needed) at R70/gb, with unused bandwidth carried over.

Total cost = R1 685

So for basically the same cost that I'm currently incurring I get (potentially) 31gb international and 30Gb local access at 4Mbps with 192kbps throttled after capping, and I can top up additional data at R70/Gb

Compared to my current situation where I get 9Gb at 1Mbps with 64kbps throttled after capping and a top-up cost of R139/Gb.

To summarise: 4 times the speed, an additional (potentially) 22Gb of international and 30gb of local, 3 times the throttled speed, and half the additional data cost.... Okay, in the very worst case, I would only get 10Gb international if TelkomInternet hard caps at 3Gb, but that is not very likley.

Are my calculations correct?

What about p2p shaping? In the Iburst G9 there is no p2p shaping. What would I experience on TelkomInternet?

Anything else I should consider?

 

[Maestr0]

Openweb and Telkom internet is what I'm using. The openweb local only account gives me on average about 36gig per month. On my 4mbit line I get way over 10gig per Telkom 3gig account. So your calculations seem correct. I can't believe people are still using Iburst these days.

I've never felt an itch to even give them a try because I think they are just too damn expensive.

On torrents, I get between 100kb/s and 400kb/s...depending on the amount of available downloaders of course. With openweb for local and Telkom for int, you won't be sorry.

 

[Gatecrasher]

I've never felt an itch to even give them a try because I think they are just too damn expensive.

I've been with IBurst for two years. Their prices and packages haven't changed once in that time - and that by far is my biggest gripe. ADSL costs, meanwhile, have come down several times. And competition between ISPs has resulted in some very interesting packages. We just need some decent competition at the wholesale level and ADSL will start moving into line with overseas prices.

 

[Freaksta]

for about 1k u can get uncapped

 

[Gatecrasher]

for about 1k u can get uncapped

Uncapped would be nice. But that is surely at 512kbps, not at 4Mbps.

I like my downloads to be fast!

 

[masticore]

I figured if I get Telkom "Closer Plan 5" for R699pm, which includes ADSL1024, I'd still be left with R1000pm for bandwidth costs.

Do the "Closer" plans come with a contract? If so, I'd stay far away from them.

I could also get a local Openbrowse account for R169pm, which would give me 30Gb local access and 192kbps international post-cap access.

Firstly, and I mean absolutely no disrespect to MrBEEP by this (OpenWeb seems to have done wonders for ADSL in ZA), but the general consensus on OpenBrowse is that it is slow - sometimes to the point of unusability. This is understandable and (honestly) expected since we live in a bandwidth starved country so anything that will give us that "little bit extra" is going to be used to the max.

Secondly, I don't see an OpenBrowse account on OpenWeb's site like you're describing. The cheapest I see is R186 for 2GB int, balance of 30GB local and 96K OpenBrowse access.

Thirdly, and I may be wrong here, OpenBrowse only allows browsing - no downloading. So comparing it to the throttled 64K you experienced on IRBust isn't accurate since you could still (for example) run torrents on your capped IRBust - not so on OpenBrowse.

As already mentioned, have a look at uncapped accounts. Here are OpenWeb's uncapped offerings. It's more than you're planning to spend, and it's through IS (so you'll be subjected to weather excuses when you have no connectivity) but it's at least a simpler and otherwise unrestricted solution.

To summarise: 4 times the speed

Not guaranteed - remember Telkom sell "up to 4mb".

an additional (potentially) 22Gb of international

potentially more. On a 4mb line you can theoretically do over 30GB in a day. We all know how to get 2 at least days worth of connectivity/bandwidth, so you can theoretically get over 60GB from 1 account.

and 30gb of local

potentially more - see above.

3 times the throttled speed

Make sure OpenBrowse will fulfill your expectations.


DISCLAIMER: I am not associated, in any way, with Telkom, IRBust or OpenWeb. The views expressed here are mine and mine alone.

 

[Gatecrasher]

Do the "Closer" plans come with a contract? If so, I'd stay far away from them.

Thanks for the reply, masticore. No contract obligations on Closer according to Telkom's website.

Secondly, I don't see an OpenBrowse account on OpenWeb's site like you're describing. The cheapest I see is R186 for 2GB int, balance of 30GB local and 96K OpenBrowse access.

Thirdly, and I may be wrong here, OpenBrowse only allows browsing - no downloading. So comparing it to the throttled 64K you experienced on IRBust isn't accurate since you could still (for example) run torrents on your capped IRBust - not so on OpenBrowse.

As already mentioned, have a look at uncapped accounts. Here are OpenWeb's uncapped offerings. It's more than you're planning to spend, and it's through IS (so you'll be subjected to weather excuses when you have no connectivity) but it's at least a simpler and otherwise unrestricted solution.

The R169 option I mentioned is the second item on the same link to the uncapped accounts.

p2p on Iburst's throttled service is pretty much a non event. Shaped to death. Might get 1kbps if lucky.

Once capped (hopefully only for a few days), I would only be expecting to browse international sites. Just so I can play chess, read news, forums etc. If it is good enough fot that I would be happy.

Not guaranteed - remember Telkom sell "up to 4mb".

Likewise, Iburst is up to 1mb.

 

[Equinox]

Just to clarify, we do in fact offer 30GB local accounts with OpenBrowse 192k for R169. Its under the "specials" section I believe.

 

[killadoob]

gate crasher your theory is wrong china

so you get 20-40 gig int for 1000 bucks at 4 meg

or 100-150gig at 512?

 

[Gatecrasher]

gate crasher your theory is wrong china

so you get 20-40 gig int for 1000 bucks at 4 meg

or 100-150gig at 512?

No, the theory is fine. I just don't think I'm going to be pulling 100GB-150GB off the internet per month, even if I was uncapped at 4Mb. 20GB-40GB I can probably manage.

And when I want something, I'd would be much happier if I can get it 8 times faster.

Who knows, maybe by this time next year, a 4mb uncapped account will become affordable.

 

[Hogrod]

I can't believe people are still using Iburst these days.

I'm also thinking of moving from Iburst to ADSL. My scenario is more modest than Gatecrasher

My question is, is it really that much more expensive considering the following?

Iburst 1Mbit plus 1GB and uncapped 64k account is R469

I've moved into a new home where DSL is available and for a similar price I could get a 384kbps line with a 3GB package capped.

R245(DSL Rental)
+ R125(Cybersmart 3GB)
+ R99(phone line rental)
= R469

Basically the trade off is DSL = lower speed, more data, Or IBURST = higher speed less data for the same money. So whats the difference? And when is one better than the other?

 

[Fly7]

The way I look at it...

Well, The way I look at it. Iburst you Have the speed and ADSL you have the gigs, SO which is better, I say the gigs, if you can Download all your cap in a month with Iburst or ADSL then the Difference between the two is which one got you more stuff to download, who cares if you have a bit more speed. It is worst to not have anything to download...! thats just me.

 

[Fudzy]

Bar online gaming, you will notice a substantial speed drop going from iBurst to 384kbps. How much would a 1MB ADSL line with a 3gb subscription cost?

 

[Equinox]

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