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Question of the Day: How frequently are you watching FIFA World Cup 2026 matches?
NeoConnect pricing details
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burntproduce
Active Member
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Well, having just read some 200 odd messages in this thread, i can safely conclude some people shouldn't be allowed to voice themselves on the internet.
Yes, we have all waited far too long for Neotel to arrive; and we all expected them to be the miracle panacea that delivers us from the evil we know as telkom. Alas, even some of neotels own statements have coerced us into this belief that they will deliver us from our internet oppression...
However they are bound by real world considerations, and the reality is that this is a brand new operator at the arse end of Africa trying to finance is own infrastructure, and their initial product offers better value than the incumbent. I'm sorry, but i fail to understand how this is a bad thing?
To all the people bitching about coverage, its called a rollout for a reason, and this really the only viable way to finance implementation of a new technology, by getting income from their current customers so they can finance expansion into new areas. When Be unlimited introduced their 24Mbps service in the uk, they literally rolled out one exchange at a time, until Orange bought them out and allowed the extra cash flow needed to unbundle the majority of exchanges.
Secondly, I can't believe people are still falling for this extremely simple marketing trap. Neotel prices only seem like a lot because they are an all inclusive package. You can't get an adsl line without standard telephone line rental from telkom, so any comparison without that factored in doesn't hold. If i look at an all inclusive package from telkom, on do broadband you get 2GB@384kbps for R258 plus line rental (i need to double check but i'm sure this is around R90) = R350ish. So for an extra R50 rand i get an extra 0.5GB and a 2.5 Mbps connection. Yeah, i'll take that! just ask anyone who's ever tried to watch a you tube video on 384kps. Up from there on telkom you get 3Gbs@4mbps for R554 plus line rental = R650ish. so for a connection speed hit and for R50 rand less i get an extra 7Gbs of data. (yes, i know some hardcore users go for the local bandwidth news group option, but i'm talking about casual downloaders here) that equates to a good few extra movies i can download on torrents, and considering you can get those unshaped, suddenly the speed knock doesn't look so bad.
Something that has to be mentioned here is that people are comparing the average troughputs of neotels package (300-700kbps) to the avertised speeds of other packages! Seriously WTF people! For an operator to advertise like this is transparency the likes of which we've never seen before, and i'd be quite happy with a 2.4mbps connection that got me 700kbps (or even 300kbps as more users join). I know that I for one have NEVER, and I mean NEVER seen my 384kbps connection clock anything more the 40kbps odd. Even in the uk, the highest recorded speed (that means throughout all the country) on Be Unlimited network was 21mbps on a 24mbps connection, which was way above the average. Simply put avertised speeds do not equal actual through puts.
Now that i've defended Neotel, there are some core issues (in my particular circumstances) which prevent me from defecting just yet. While the CDMA hardware is an attractive option for Neotel in terms of not requiring the same massive infrastructure investments as other technologies, the handset has limiting factors i find really poor. The first is no ether net. I imagine this being an issue for any typical family or small business. For instance i share my internet with my father and we have completely different internet usage habits. He uses in the early morning long before theres even a hint of me being awake, whereas i (like now for instance) use it long after he has gone bed. This makes it totally impractical for us to share the connection from one computer to the other. A router is a much hardier solution. The second problem i take big exception to is that it can't handle simultaneous voice and data (according to the initial reports we heard - i'd be keen to get the official word from neotel). For a family or a small business thats just horribly impracticable. Yes, i'm sure in time these situations will improve - until then i will continue to do what i've already become rather accomplished at - waiting
So what was the point of my rant? Be objective people. Don't just slander Neotel because they haven't finally delivered your wet dream of unlimited pron...but for some people, perhaps not as many as would be hoped, they offer a better solution. In our beleaguered internet environment that can only be a good thing!
Yes, we have all waited far too long for Neotel to arrive; and we all expected them to be the miracle panacea that delivers us from the evil we know as telkom. Alas, even some of neotels own statements have coerced us into this belief that they will deliver us from our internet oppression...
However they are bound by real world considerations, and the reality is that this is a brand new operator at the arse end of Africa trying to finance is own infrastructure, and their initial product offers better value than the incumbent. I'm sorry, but i fail to understand how this is a bad thing?
To all the people bitching about coverage, its called a rollout for a reason, and this really the only viable way to finance implementation of a new technology, by getting income from their current customers so they can finance expansion into new areas. When Be unlimited introduced their 24Mbps service in the uk, they literally rolled out one exchange at a time, until Orange bought them out and allowed the extra cash flow needed to unbundle the majority of exchanges.
Secondly, I can't believe people are still falling for this extremely simple marketing trap. Neotel prices only seem like a lot because they are an all inclusive package. You can't get an adsl line without standard telephone line rental from telkom, so any comparison without that factored in doesn't hold. If i look at an all inclusive package from telkom, on do broadband you get 2GB@384kbps for R258 plus line rental (i need to double check but i'm sure this is around R90) = R350ish. So for an extra R50 rand i get an extra 0.5GB and a 2.5 Mbps connection. Yeah, i'll take that! just ask anyone who's ever tried to watch a you tube video on 384kps. Up from there on telkom you get 3Gbs@4mbps for R554 plus line rental = R650ish. so for a connection speed hit and for R50 rand less i get an extra 7Gbs of data. (yes, i know some hardcore users go for the local bandwidth news group option, but i'm talking about casual downloaders here) that equates to a good few extra movies i can download on torrents, and considering you can get those unshaped, suddenly the speed knock doesn't look so bad.
Something that has to be mentioned here is that people are comparing the average troughputs of neotels package (300-700kbps) to the avertised speeds of other packages! Seriously WTF people! For an operator to advertise like this is transparency the likes of which we've never seen before, and i'd be quite happy with a 2.4mbps connection that got me 700kbps (or even 300kbps as more users join). I know that I for one have NEVER, and I mean NEVER seen my 384kbps connection clock anything more the 40kbps odd. Even in the uk, the highest recorded speed (that means throughout all the country) on Be Unlimited network was 21mbps on a 24mbps connection, which was way above the average. Simply put avertised speeds do not equal actual through puts.
Now that i've defended Neotel, there are some core issues (in my particular circumstances) which prevent me from defecting just yet. While the CDMA hardware is an attractive option for Neotel in terms of not requiring the same massive infrastructure investments as other technologies, the handset has limiting factors i find really poor. The first is no ether net. I imagine this being an issue for any typical family or small business. For instance i share my internet with my father and we have completely different internet usage habits. He uses in the early morning long before theres even a hint of me being awake, whereas i (like now for instance) use it long after he has gone bed. This makes it totally impractical for us to share the connection from one computer to the other. A router is a much hardier solution. The second problem i take big exception to is that it can't handle simultaneous voice and data (according to the initial reports we heard - i'd be keen to get the official word from neotel). For a family or a small business thats just horribly impracticable. Yes, i'm sure in time these situations will improve - until then i will continue to do what i've already become rather accomplished at - waiting
So what was the point of my rant? Be objective people. Don't just slander Neotel because they haven't finally delivered your wet dream of unlimited pron...but for some people, perhaps not as many as would be hoped, they offer a better solution. In our beleaguered internet environment that can only be a good thing!
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mancombseepgood
Executive Member
Excuse me while I point out that I will need to get an additional telephone since I use internet 12 hours of the day at least for work.... and since Neotel hasn't indicated what an additional line will cost me it leaves me to caculate their prices with an additional R100+ for a telkom landline. Oh, and evidently you can't get a neotel internet "line" without standard "neotel" phone rental either... despite the fact that it's either or with using the phone and internet....
You see, Neotel has learned alot from the master.
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The_Unbeliever
Honorary Master
I can't see any issues with your internet being off-line whilst doing a phone call unless you're trying to phone in to report your telkom/iburst/axxess/IS/whatever connection issues to the helldesk and trying to postwhore on myadsl at the same time 
Businesses should be able to afford two Neotel lines - one for a dedicated internet line, and the other for incoming/outgoing calls.
Also, Neotel should offer their customers the option of disabling incoming calls completely or not.
Businesses should be able to afford two Neotel lines - one for a dedicated internet line, and the other for incoming/outgoing calls.
Also, Neotel should offer their customers the option of disabling incoming calls completely or not.
mancombseepgood
Executive Member
I can't see any issues with your internet being off-line whilst doing a phone call unless you're trying to phone in to report your telkom/iburst/axxess/IS/whatever connection issues to the helldesk and trying to postwhore on myadsl at the same time
Businesses should be able to afford two Neotel lines - one for a dedicated internet line, and the other for incoming/outgoing calls.
Also, Neotel should offer their customers the option of disabling incoming calls completely or not.
And what do you suppose happens halfway through your 200Mb download from a server that doesn't support resume and the phone rings? or doesn't it ring when you're on the net lol?
As for disabling the phone... how do you feel about being forced to pay for a phone that you don't use? Naah, doesn't work for me... add R100+ for that telkom line I'm afraid... once again, neotel hasn't let us in on the month to month cost of a phone only afaik...
mancombseepgood
Executive Member
The point is you can't use internet and make phone calls simultaneously with Neotel's archaic technology, so you'd need a separate line for phone calls. Idiot.
Shoe... where did qwikslver disappear?
I can't see any issues with your internet being off-line whilst doing a phone call unless you're trying to phone in to report your telkom/iburst/axxess/IS/whatever connection issues to the helldesk and trying to postwhore on myadsl at the same time
Seriously? What if you're on the net but someone wants to get hold of you? Or your alarm tries to dial out because someone's broken into your garage? Or your leave the PC/router on while you do other things, and then want to phone someone, but you have to go and disconnect from the net first?
hj2k_x
Honorary Master
Some good questions there. USB is just not going to work. It needs ethernet for a whole bunch of reasons.
Chevron
Serial breaker of phones
Shoe... where did qwikslver disappear?
I'm still here. I'll admit that not being able to use the net while making calls is a big drawback as is not having an ethernet device.
I'm just trying to highlight the positives so that you guys don't throw out the baby with the bath water.
mancombseepgood
Executive Member
I don't recall thowing anything out - I just need internet and phone - not either/or.
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Chevron
Serial breaker of phones
That throwing the baby out with the bath water comment wasn't really aimed at you, but the moaners.
Anyway I get what you're saying and agree with you.
Seems like useless technology to me TBH, I certainly wouldn't consider using them until I can use my own phone, connect my router to an ethernet port and use the net and phone simultaneously. Its really not that much to ask for!
True.
Another thing I was wondering... what if you want an extra handset? Or want the handset downstairs, but your PC upstairs - if it's a USB device, you'll need a really long cable
It seems like they really will have to break the connection between the contract and the hardware (especially when considering 2nd hand sales, etc).
True.
Another thing I was wondering... what if you want an extra handset? Or want the handset downstairs, but your PC upstairs - if it's a USB device, you'll need a really long cable
It seems like they really will have to break the connection between the contract and the hardware (especially when considering 2nd hand sales, etc).
It does seem that Neotel will have to turn to plan B: Get friggin clever and listen to Mr + Mrs Joe Public
mancombseepgood
Executive Member
No USB devices on the PC side afaik... unless it's independent to your regular neotel handset.True.
Another thing I was wondering... what if you want an extra handset? Or want the handset downstairs, but your PC upstairs - if it's a USB device, you'll need a really long cable
It seems like they really will have to break the connection between the contract and the hardware (especially when considering 2nd hand sales, etc).
Besides, how do Telkom do it if not with cables... I imagine a regular network jack on the handset or something such that allows you to connect it to any regular lan equipment for internet sharing.
Remember, the neotel system is effectively CDMA which is akin to GSM (our local cell phones). In the US there are both GSM and CDMA cellphone service providers - the main difference to you and I is the CDMA model doesn't use a sim.
What this means is your neotel handset will prolly have a power connector and or run on rechargeable batteries... i.e. a cellphone thats more a home handset than a mobile. Of course I imagine we will see all the nokia cdma handsets for sale by Neotel as well... but I could be wrong there.
RichardG
Honorary Master
I hate to be tide to a contract, If they can guarantee me, the prices wont change then yes.. I hate being signed up to a contract..
mancombseepgood
Executive Member
Granted it's only 2 grand or part thereof (depending on how far down the line you are with your contract) but i agree with the contract sentiment. Buying the hardware to get out of the contract is stupid since you will never use that equipment ever again - you have to start a new contract to get reconnected again...