Neotel Question

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Abe

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Up the creek without a GB
The reps at Neotel are useless so hopefully someone here as been through this before.

My sister has moved offices. Telskum managed to move the 2 ADSL lines but there are no more lines in the area (she only needs about 8 lines) so she has no lines for her office voice stuff. There are a number of VOIP options that can use the ADSL lines but I was hoping to do one of the following:

1) Use Neotel Voice. A person at her office spoke to Neotel and was given a price of R2500 per line for installation. That seems crazy to me. I am still waiting for someone to call back because the person who I called was not able to help.

2) Put in one or two NeoFlex data option and run a VOIP option over that.

3) Put in one or two NeoFlex data option and run the internet over those and then put the VOIP option over the ADSL line.

Any thoughts?
 
The only comment I can give is that if you want to get Flex or Prime, or any wireless from Neotel... please please please get a test unit first! And test it for more than a day.

A quick read through the forum will give you an idea of all the disconnect and speed problems we've been having with Neotel for over a year.
 
Abe said:
The reps at Neotel are useless so hopefully someone here as been through this before.

My sister has moved offices. Telskum managed to move the 2 ADSL lines but there are no more lines in the area (she only needs about 8 lines) so she has no lines for her office voice stuff. There are a number of VOIP options that can use the ADSL lines but I was hoping to do one of the following:

1) Use Neotel Voice. A person at her office spoke to Neotel and was given a price of R2500 per line for installation. That seems crazy to me. I am still waiting for someone to call back because the person who I called was not able to help.

2) Put in one or two NeoFlex data option and run a VOIP option over that.

3) Put in one or two NeoFlex data option and run the internet over those and then put the VOIP option over the ADSL line.

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Why can't you run data and VOIP over ADSL? Neotel provides zero reliability which is critical to a business. If the internet drops during an important call (which it will) then she risks losing clients and any potential benefit is negated.
 
Abe,

Stay away from ANYBODY that wants to charge you R2k5 per line.

Stay further away from running VOIP over any Internet connection (incl Telkom, Neotel, I Burst etc) . You still need to terminate the call to mostly (Telkom) numbers

Not knowing everything, but i would think the following would be sufficient:

1) Get Neoflex VOICE if you need 1 - 3 lines, or have a small (old) PABX. Cheap to run and install, see http://mybroadband.co.za/news/Telecoms/6774.html.
Cons: Ugly small patch antenna(s) + pole(s) outside

2) Get Neoflex Data 5,10 or 15G option. Be sure to upgrade the firmware. I only use this option, as i don't need (more)phones at home.!
 
tr1ple6 said:
Why can't you run data and VOIP over ADSL? Neotel provides zero reliability which is critical to a business. If the internet drops during an important call (which it will) then she risks losing clients and any potential benefit is negated.
Click to expand...

The problem is that the Telkom lines are less then reliable. Also, I am worried about how much traffic will be generated by the VOIP. People can always call back on a cell phone when the voice goes down but it's much more difficult with emails etc.
 
shogun said:
The only comment I can give is that if you want to get Flex or Prime, or any wireless from Neotel... please please please get a test unit first! And test it for more than a day.

A quick read through the forum will give you an idea of all the disconnect and speed problems we've been having with Neotel for over a year.
Click to expand...

Does this apply to their voice side as well as the data?
 
SideWinder said:
Stay away from ANYBODY that wants to charge you R2k5 per line.
Click to expand...

That was my initial thought :D

Stay further away from running VOIP over any Internet connection (incl Telkom, Neotel, I Burst etc) . You still need to terminate the call to mostly (Telkom) numbers
Click to expand...

Ok, thanks for that advice.

Not knowing everything, but i would think the following would be sufficient:

1) Get Neoflex VOICE if you need 1 - 3 lines, or have a small (old) PABX. Cheap to run and install, see http://mybroadband.co.za/news/Telecoms/6774.html.
Cons: Ugly small patch antenna(s) + pole(s) outside
Click to expand...

She has a fairly decent Switchboard which I think is capable of handling about 20-30 lines and will probably want around 8 lines. Would she still be able to use the NeoFlex voice as that sounds more reasonably priced then the previous amount.
 
I have a Neotel phone at home. voice works perfectly 100% of the time. Data ...well...next question.

Oh and didnt Neotel have a radio ad, im sure i heard it this morning, about R450 for multiple business lines package or something?

Chances are the R2500 is their "we dont trust your credit-line and want a deposit upfront" story. they did that to me so I told them to shove it, and amazingly the need for a deposit suddently vanished.
 
Abe said:
The problem is that the Telkom lines are less then reliable. Also, I am worried about how much traffic will be generated by the VOIP. People can always call back on a cell phone when the voice goes down but it's much more difficult with emails etc.
Click to expand...
The fact is that a telkom line is so much more reliable than neotel so that is a non issue. You can also get uncapped ADSL or the afrihost option at R29/gig so it may even be cheaper. There is not one compelling reason to go the neotel route. I may sound alarmist but read this forum and you will see that only a handful of people are happy with the reliability of their neotel connections. I say get ADSL and a prepaid 3G card as backup for emails
 
tr1ple6 said:
The fact is that a telkom line is so much more reliable than neotel so that is a non issue. You can also get uncapped ADSL or the afrihost option at R29/gig so it may even be cheaper. There is not one compelling reason to go the neotel route. I may sound alarmist but read this forum and you will see that only a handful of people are happy with the reliability of their neotel connections. I say get ADSL and a prepaid 3G card as backup for emails
Click to expand...

I would love to add 2 more ADSL lines to the place but Telkom don't have any more so that leaves using what is there. It's nice to rule out the NeoData options as that brings me closer to a solution which is looking more and more like either run everything over the two ADSL lines or use Neotel voice in some form or another. I would really have liked to go the VOIP route over a NeoData link as it would be very quick to get up and running.
 
it depends where in the country. i know some places where telkom cables are stolen at least monthly. in that case Neotel or other wireless provider will obviously be the logical choice.
 
Abe said:
Does this apply to their voice side as well as the data?
Click to expand...

I can't comment on their voice. We have voice with the prime uncapped... but haven't made a call from the phone in the almost year since we've had it because it's impractical for the office (not being wireless)... and also disconnects the internet every time you use the voice.

We cancelled our Neotel Prime a week ago. I won't be going back near them unless they seriously drop their prices on their WiMax.
 
I agree, stay away from Prime, Lite. Devices are not reliable, and service can be flaky at times.

Does the PABX need 8 lines or 8 extensions(phones)? Then the Flex Voice is also not optimal, as eight antennas & pole will look ugly.
 
SideWinder said:
I agree, stay away from Prime, Lite. Devices are not reliable, and service can be flaky at times.

Does the PABX need 8 lines or 8 extensions(phones)? Then the Flex Voice is also not optimal, as eight antennas & pole will look ugly.
Click to expand...

Thanks, didn't realise it was 1 antennas per line with the Flex option. It is about 8 lines so that would be unsightly.
 
just my 2 cents is it possible too get one of those lines converted too ISDN? I seem to remember that those lines can be split up to 30 lines but I have very little knowledge in this area :(

/off to google ISDN lines :rolleyes:

*edit
check this site Is ISDN for Me?

And There’s More!

Your ISDN line will support up to eight different digital devices, and each one can have a different telephone number. With two B-channels, any two at a time can be active on calls. That's a lot of flexibility, a lot of teenagers, or a lot of computer equipment.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
It will all depend on the definition of "line"
If plain analogue (Read FXO/FXS), need a line/junction for each. Problem, old and is copper based - (read only Telkom supply)
If ISDN/digital - a little better - can get two channels going simultaneous - but still copper based
If line is PRI/E1/2 Mb/s (30 channels) Excellent, but 30 Ch is overkill. Telkom is Copper based - freely available, but problematic, Neotel is Fiber based and limited to CBD's.
If line is Ethernet - Yippee - you now starting to understand SIPTrunks, from 10 ch to 60 Ch - I think this is where Neotel play + a few CDMA based options.

Basically, when buying/getting/taking over a existing PABX, make sure it's IP :-)
 
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