Neotel Neobroadband LTE 4meg Home User

[ernstcomplete]

I have the 4Mbps service and have the Huawei B593 with external antenna, and when it works it works really well.

However it drops connection a lot, and then I need to restart the router a couple of times for it to connect again. Has anyone else had this issue?

I've called support and the guy I spoke to was no help whatsoever. He couldn't understand that my connection was either 100% or 0% and wanted me to send all kind of pings and screenshots to determine packet loss and whatever. Predictably I had 100% packet loss when the connection dropped and 0% when it was working. It's now been weeks since I sent the results and I still haven't heard a word from anyone, apart from an apology for the delayed response and a promise that a technical consultant would be in touch soon. That was two weeks ago...

Could the direction of the external antenna cause this? It looks like the thing isn't pointing the way that it was while the installer was testing. Either that or the router is faulty? Please be nice if this was a bit ignorant, I'm not an LTE expert, just a frustrated customer.

 

[jun_tao]

I have the 4Mbps service and have the Huawei B593 with external antenna, and when it works it works really well.

However it drops connection a lot, and then I need to restart the router a couple of times for it to connect again. Has anyone else had this issue?

I've called support and the guy I spoke to was no help whatsoever. He couldn't understand that my connection was either 100% or 0% and wanted me to send all kind of pings and screenshots to determine packet loss and whatever. Predictably I had 100% packet loss when the connection dropped and 0% when it was working. It's now been weeks since I sent the results and I still haven't heard a word from anyone, apart from an apology for the delayed response and a promise that a technical consultant would be in touch soon. That was two weeks ago...

Could the direction of the external antenna cause this? It looks like the thing isn't pointing the way that it was while the installer was testing. Either that or the router is faulty? Please be nice if this was a bit ignorant, I'm not an LTE expert, just a frustrated customer.

A guy on 10Mbps posted something similar in another thread. App they replaced his router with an ATEL and all seems fine now.

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/692590-Neobroadband-Wireless-LTE-10Mbps

 

[ernstcomplete]

A guy on 10Mbps posted something similar in another thread. App they replaced his router with an ATEL and all seems fine now.

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/692590-Neobroadband-Wireless-LTE-10Mbps

Thanks, I'm going to get back on their case. Hopefully I can get mine replaced too.

 

[S1lv3r H4wK]

Thanks man, pm'd quik.

 

[jun_tao]

No probs. He's checked signal for me as well. So I'll probably sign up next month.

 

[S1lv3r H4wK]

How accurate is the coverage map in your opinion?

 

[jun_tao]

Not very. Lol. My suburb there's a circle of no signal on the Neotel map, but surrounding areas there is. Unless my area kills Neotel. But quik def says there is Neobraodband coverage.

 

[Bobbin]

I've applied for the 4mbps service on Wednesday, now just waiting for them to give me a call to come do the testing and install. Really looking forward to it provided I get the kind of results reported here.

I stay in Lonehill/Fourways where amazingly there is no fibre or copper infrastructure in any complex around me including where I stay. Another challenge I have is one cannot install big wireless dishes/antennas on their units as it is considered public facing and not allowed.

I'm hoping either I will have no need for a Neotel antenna (As I live on a 3rd floor unit and can pretty much see Pineslopes, Leaping Frog, MonteCasino and the Dome from my window or balcony), or that the antenna is easily concealed on the balcony.

 

[kfxnando]

After considering neotel for a while and having to deal with helkom and having different issues every month with telkom, have the forms from neotel, will be doing the paper work today
Will be getting the 4meg uncapped

Thanx for the thread

 

[SideWinder]

@Bobbin,

If your test is successful, ask the installer to use the single port outdoor device (aka "the New Unit"). The "Old Unit" had 4 ports - pretty useless sitting up there a few meters above your roof. It comes with a nice "L" shaped steel bracket. This can easily mount against a wall with two fisher plugs. Or still be used to mount the device on a regular pole, if you have to move. The black UV treated Eth cable may look ugly/visable against the wall, hopefully you can hide it with a dash of paint. Ega tubing can also be useful.

I have also heard of cases where Neotel actually still install the "Really Old" white Hauwei device, which may suit your scenario better, but you need to get very good signal, like -56 dB, meaning your are very close to the tower (within 500m?)

@jun_tao,

I hope quik actually tested the signal strength at your place. I won't take anybody's word. Get the RSSI, RSSQ & RSSP (or equivalent) values. Those will determine whether Neotel will sell you a service.

In my view, this could be how Neotel's ordering system works:
1) Call the Call Centre or goto WIC or WWW
2) The check coverage against your supplied address
3) If within, do rica etc, and arrange the installer to contact you within a day or two to setup site visit. He checks coverage and if good enough, he installs. Else no install. This does not incur any costs or penalties from the customer side.
4) If without, call/visit is ended.

If you fall in 4), then the only help/way forward is to get a test unit to your site, and test the signal strength. This is tricky, easiest is to borrow someone's unit for a few hours. Take screenshots of the signal strength as evidence and try again. It's really not difficult to re-install. Take a pencil and mark the orientation on the pole.

I think we all know by now that Neotel's coverage maps are not 100% accurate. Hence, you may even be in coverage, yet when the installer arrives, no or not sufficient signal is what creates a no-go.

On the other hand, Neotel's coverage do find it way into a lot more areas than what their coverage maps may suggest. This is where you need a buddy's unit to test.

Hope this helps.

 

[Grasmuis]

I've applied for the 4mbps service on Wednesday, now just waiting for them to give me a call to come do the testing and install. Really looking forward to it provided I get the kind of results reported here.

I stay in Lonehill/Fourways where amazingly there is no fibre or copper infrastructure in any complex around me including where I stay. Another challenge I have is one cannot install big wireless dishes/antennas on their units as it is considered public facing and not allowed.

I'm hoping either I will have no need for a Neotel antenna (As I live on a 3rd floor unit and can pretty much see Pineslopes, Leaping Frog, MonteCasino and the Dome from my window or balcony), or that the antenna is easily concealed on the balcony.

Have they installed your link? How long do you need to wait for them to install after your application was approved?

 

[Bobbin]

Have they installed your link? How long do you need to wait for them to install after your application was approved?

Yep. Installed and working fine ever since. They took about a week and a half from application to the installer arriving at my house. Installation and testing was quick. And not 30 minutes after he left my place the service was active for me to use.

I was very fortunate in that the signal I'm getting with only the Huawei router is almost full, without antenna. So no need to install the antenna in my case I suspect this is quite rare. I have never used a service as consistent as this fixed LTE, it has been great so far. Just unfortunate about the price and contract (A little steep IMO).

I asked what the chances are of the service degrading over contract term. The installer said if anything it should improve with the Vodacom deal and extra LTE towers etc... in future.

 

[quik]

Yep. Installed and working fine ever since. They took about a week and a half from application to the installer arriving at my house. Installation and testing was quick. And not 30 minutes after he left my place the service was active for me to use.

I was very fortunate in that the signal I'm getting with only the Huawei router is almost full, without antenna. So no need to install the antenna in my case I suspect this is quite rare. I have never used a service as consistent as this fixed LTE, it has been great so far. Just unfortunate about the price and contract (A little steep IMO).

I asked what the chances are of the service degrading over contract term. The installer said if anything it should improve with the Vodacom deal and extra LTE towers etc... in future.

Great to hear you are happy with the service

There are actually many clients where only the router is sufficient for good signal. The rule of thumb is that if Neotel cannot get at least 2 bars signal with or without the external antennae they won't install, even though we've seen up to 6Mbps on 1 bar signal. For them it's about providing a consistent service.

When referring to costing, the question is would you rather pay a little more for something decent or less for a service that's going to give you headaches?

 

[Subversion]

Sent you a PM quik, keen to get on board

Let me know if you don't get it

 

[kfxnando]

After considering neotel for a while and having to deal with helkom and having different issues every month with telkom, have the forms from neotel, will be doing the paper work today
Will be getting the 4meg uncapped

Thanx for the thread

Just to reply to my own comment if anyone is interested

In a fit of rage, gave telkom notice, my ADSL line was off till after the month notice

Sent forms to Neotell
think it was two days later installation crew showed up 45min earlier
install got done
it's now over a month

I SHOULD OF MOVED TO NEOTELL LONG AGO

Got a 4meg line
Sunday got 4meg on the dot, often get 3.9meg
upload 1.3meg

Can view cameras online, a lot easier
a lot better streaming

Where I am, the 4meg from neotell is way better then the telkom ADSL(was 1.3km from exchange)

With telkom, had regular problems, of one sort or another, and that is how it was from the day I applied with telkom
Neotell, been 6 weeks, and have not had one issue from their side
their bill is spot on, and even shows how much I used on witch day

Yes Neotel is more expensive, however it does not help telkom is cheaper, but dosent work

Hope this helps others decide

 

[Grasmuis]

Just to reply to my own comment if anyone is interested

In a fit of rage, gave telkom notice, my ADSL line was off till after the month notice

Sent forms to Neotell
think it was two days later installation crew showed up 45min earlier
install got done
it's now over a month

I SHOULD OF MOVED TO NEOTELL LONG AGO

Got a 4meg line
Sunday got 4meg on the dot, often get 3.9meg
upload 1.3meg

Can view cameras online, a lot easier
a lot better streaming

Where I am, the 4meg from neotell is way better then the telkom ADSL(was 1.3km from exchange)

With telkom, had regular problems, of one sort or another, and that is how it was from the day I applied with telkom
Neotell, been 6 weeks, and have not had one issue from their side
their bill is spot on, and even shows how much I used on witch day

Yes Neotel is more expensive, however it does not help telkom is cheaper, but dosent work

Hope this helps others decide

I'm on the 2Mbps uncapped and its 10 times better than 2Mbps adsl, been running rock solid at 2Mbps and can stream 720p youtube with no buffering.

 

[TheAssistMan]

I'm on the 2Mbps uncapped and its 10 times better than 2Mbps adsl, been running rock solid at 2Mbps and can stream 720p youtube with no buffering.

Hi guys.

I've been trying to see which would be better to get - the Neotel LTE Uncapped or the Bitco 5Mbps satellite internet solution. I had applied for Bitco about a week ago, but the 6 to 8 weeks waiting period with the possibility of them saying I have no LOS is too much. I also have been combing the threads on myBB to see what other user's experiences are like. Would it be possible to use my Roku2 and watch stuff in HD on a Neotel 2MB LTE connection? Also, if I apply, how long do they take to come and install everything. I live in Halfway Gardens in Midrand. Thanks a lot

 

[Segg]

Hi guys.

I've been trying to see which would be better to get - the Neotel LTE Uncapped or the Bitco 5Mbps satellite internet solution. I had applied for Bitco about a week ago, but the 6 to 8 weeks waiting period with the possibility of them saying I have no LOS is too much. I also have been combing the threads on myBB to see what other user's experiences are like. Would it be possible to use my Roku2 and watch stuff in HD on a Neotel 2MB LTE connection? Also, if I apply, how long do they take to come and install everything. I live in Halfway Gardens in Midrand. Thanks a lot

You just need to see the sky in a certain direction for satellite, are you not taking about their wireless?

The issue with satellite is latency, the signal has to go from your location, into space, then back down to earth again before proceeding through into the internet

LTE and most modern wireless solutions offer latency similar to fixed line, however through personal experience I've found Neotel's LTE service to be the best, it's very closely priced to uncapped DSL, and the actual connection is an absolute pleasure

Regarding Bitco, so far I've only heard good things about them, but haven't personally tried them out yet

 

[TheAssistMan]

You just need to see the sky in a certain direction for satellite, are you not taking about their wireless?

The issue with satellite is latency, the signal has to go from your location, into space, then back down to earth again before proceeding through into the internet

LTE and most modern wireless solutions offer latency similar to fixed line, however through personal experience I've found Neotel's LTE service to be the best, it's very closely priced to uncapped DSL, and the actual connection is an absolute pleasure

Regarding Bitco, so far I've only heard good things about them, but haven't personally tried them out yet

Thanks Segg,

I have also heard mostly good reviews on BitCo, just that their FUP makes it difficult to stream in HD for more than 2 hours say because they reduce your connection speed to 2MBps. So I'm guessing 4 4MBps LTE from Neotel for the same price as a 5MBps Bitco deal would make more sense since the Neotel FUP is at 400GB (I doubt I'd download 400Gb in a month). Especially if the reliability of the LTE connection is good.

I'm a bit of a newbie here and would like to just have all my bases covered before committing to a 2 year contract.
Thanks once again

 

[quik]

Thanks Segg,

I have also heard mostly good reviews on BitCo, just that their FUP makes it difficult to stream in HD for more than 2 hours say because they reduce your connection speed to 2MBps. So I'm guessing 4 4MBps LTE from Neotel for the same price as a 5MBps Bitco deal would make more sense since the Neotel FUP is at 400GB (I doubt I'd download 400Gb in a month). Especially if the reliability of the LTE connection is good.

I'm a bit of a newbie here and would like to just have all my bases covered before committing to a 2 year contract.
Thanks once again

PM me your GPS coords and I will check what the LTE signal is like where you are.