Need advice on which ISP package to switch to

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DaveMax

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I have had an ADSL line with Telkom for many years now and it has done the job alright. I haven't been one to download a lot so speed / uncapped wasn't really necessary. I am not sure what my line speed is, but it's on the slow end, and I think I get about 100GB a month from my current package.
However, over the years I have noticed a decline in line quality and reliability. I have also discovered streaming services and would like to start using those now and perhaps cancel my DSTV.

I am moving house on the 1st December and want to cancel this package and ideally start afresh in the new place.

I need advice please on which ISP would be best for:
reliable, quality connection that doesn't go down frequently.
fast speed for streaming
uncapped prefrabley, or a large cap (again with streaming in mind)
and the last thing, it needs to be relatively affordable ;)

I don't know much about this area, so please all opinions and advice welcome!
 
DaveMax said:
I have had an ADSL line with Telkom for many years now and it has done the job alright. I haven't been one to download a lot so speed / uncapped wasn't really necessary. I am not sure what my line speed is, but it's on the slow end, and I think I get about 100GB a month from my current package.
However, over the years I have noticed a decline in line quality and reliability. I have also discovered streaming services and would like to start using those now and perhaps cancel my DSTV.

I am moving house on the 1st December and want to cancel this package and ideally start afresh in the new place.

I need advice please on which ISP would be best for:
reliable, quality connection that doesn't go down frequently.
fast speed for streaming
uncapped prefrabley, or a large cap (again with streaming in mind)
and the last thing, it needs to be relatively affordable ;)

I don't know much about this area, so please all opinions and advice welcome!
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, the quality of your ADSL line has nothing to do with your ISP, and there's nothing your ISP can do different to you dealing with Telkom (now Openserv). Also, this is all meaningless seeing that you're moving.

You'll have to start again at your new place.

If it's quality you want (not best price) go with Crystal Web.
If it's price you want with up and down quality go with Afrihost.
Another option is 200gig Capped account at Cybersmart, I hear it performs really well and the value is unbeatable.

or, you can stay with Telkom, I don't see any issue with this.

Of course this all depends on your line, so cross fingers your exchange isn't congested and are not too far away from the exchange, or better yet, that you have fiber options in the area.

Don't waste your time moving your line to an ISP so they can "manage" it and you save R20, it's not worth the hassle dealing with a middle man if you do have issues, it will just be an exercise in frustration. Whenever I've had a line fault, I just log it online, never had to phone in.
 
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Drifter said:
Odd, I have not experienced any of that. I have a capped account with them, and it's all smooth.
Click to expand...

Yea, I had 50GB Fat-Pipe with uncapped bolt-on, with a huge roll-over cap, and on months that my usage was higher than average, I would get capped near the end of the month, with no fix after dealing with support every-time and had to use another ISP until the next month, or wait for 6pm for bolt-on to kick in.

This happened about 4 times so I followed the life is too short rule and moved back to ol' faithful IS, I'm normally only home after 5pm anyway, so IS business hours shaping doesn't affect me, and those times I do need speed during the day, I use AH capped R29 account I keep for rainy days.
 
wingnut771 said:
Unfortunately, the quality of your ADSL line has nothing to do with your ISP, and there's nothing your ISP can do different to you dealing with Telkom (now Openserv). Also, this is all meaningless seeing that you're moving.

You'll have to start again at your new place.

If it's quality you want (not best price) go with Crystal Web.
If it's price you want with up and down quality go with Afrihost.
Another option is 200gig Capped account at Cybersmart, I hear it performs really well and the value is unbeatable.

or, you can stay with Telkom, I don't see any issue with this.

Of course this all depends on your line, so cross fingers your exchange isn't congested and are not too far away from the exchange, or better yet, that you have fiber options in the area.

Don't waste your time moving your line to an ISP so they can "manage" it and you save R20, it's not worth the hassle dealing with a middle man if you do have issues, it will just be an exercise in frustration. Whenever I've had a line fault, I just log it online, never had to phone in.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice!

What do you mean about moving your line to an ISP to manage? Who will the line be with if I say subscribe to the Cybersmart 200gb package?
 
DaveMax said:
Thanks for the advice!

What do you mean about moving your line to an ISP to manage? Who will the line be with if I say subscribe to the Cybersmart 200gb package?
Click to expand...

There are 3 components to ADSL:

Analogue land-line (telephone number aka Telkom tax) R190 only through Telkom.
ADSL line through any ISP but normally starts out with Telkom but is possible to order through other ISP's (if you have land line already).
ADSL data (like Cybersmart in your question)

Then there is the option to bundle the line and data together and save a few bucks (normally about R30) but generally people choose this route because they hate dealing with Telkom (also simplifying billing (one invoice for internet)), without realising that the grass is often isn't greener on the other side and is actually more frustrating dealing with a middle man (normally a call centre noob who doesn't give a toss at the end of the day) if one has line problems.

Tin foil hat on: I believe one gets a better service from Telkom during line faults if your line is with them.

Ask yourself this question:

Who can do a better job in staying on top of a fault, you or your ISP, because your ISP has zero more sway than you do with Telkom (Openserv).

So to summarise:

You have to have post paid landline with Telkom.
You can have your ADSL with any ISP, and use any ISP eg: line with Telkom and use Cybersmart, or line with Cybersmart and use Axxess, it doesn't really matter, it's just who bills you at the end of the day.
 
wingnut771 said:
There are 3 components to ADSL:

Analogue land-line (telephone number aka Telkom tax) R190 only through Telkom.
ADSL line through any ISP but normally starts out with Telkom but is possible to order through other ISP's (if you have land line already).
ADSL data (like Cybersmart in your question)

Then there is the option to bundle the line and data together and save a few bucks (normally about R30) but generally people choose this route because they hate dealing with Telkom (also simplifying billing (one invoice for internet)), without realising that the grass is often isn't greener on the other side and is actually more frustrating dealing with a middle man (normally a call centre noob who doesn't give a toss at the end of the day) if one has line problems.

Tin foil hat on: I believe one gets a better service from Telkom during line faults if your line is with them.

Ask yourself this question:

Who can do a better job in staying on top of a fault, you or your ISP, because your ISP has zero more sway than you do with Telkom (Openserv).

So to summarise:

You have to have post paid landline with Telkom.
You can have your ADSL with any ISP, and use any ISP eg: line with Telkom and use Cybersmart, or line with Cybersmart and use Axxess, it doesn't really matter, it's just who bills you at the end of the day.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for the explanation and help! :)
 
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