Neotel - should I?

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rudirautenbach

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OK so I have been looking at the Neotel Neoflex account as a replacement for my existing iBurst package.

I have been with iBurst since its inception in SA, and apart from the abysmal accounts department c#cking up the bills every now and then, and the odd occassion where the tower in Benoni falls over (not physically...lol) the service has been fairly reliable.

On the Neoflex package I can get 5Gb unshaped at an advertised speed of 3 Mbps for R499 incl. My iBurst Pro package gives me 3.5Gb shaped at an advertised speed of 1Mbps for R469 incl. Clearly the Neoflex offers more for my approximately R500 per month. Or does it not?

I mainly use the net for online gaming (COD4 on both local and international servers) over weekends and my wife runs a little business for which she needs a reliable (not fast but stable) connection during weekdays.

The Telkom ADSL 4Mbps is not available in my neighborhood, so that is not an option at this stage. I am unsure as to when it will be available.

Correct me if I am wrong, but it seems to me that the majority of posts in the Neotel forums have some element of dissatisfaction with the Neotel service, especially when it comes to connection stability and constant disconnections affecting downloads etc.

As a side question, I read that there is a 7 day cooling period when signing a contract. Is this true? So if the service is not up to expectation can I cancel within 7 days?

So I would like to hear from you guys, should I give up iBurst for Neotel?:confused:

I appreciate your time in reading this and replying.

Thanks Rudi
 
I switched over from iBurst to Neotel. The main difference is that with iBurst you experience way more down time. While Neotel is currently problematic, is it still a better solution than iBurst. I find that I experience 'down' time between 18h30 - 20h30 in my area. Neotel is currently working on their connectivity issues and this evening has thus far been ok.

I'm not sure about the 7 day policy but I'd say go for it.
 
Nafisa said:
I switched over from iBurst to Neotel. The main difference is that with iBurst you experience way more down time. While Neotel is currently problematic, is it still a better solution than iBurst. I find that I experience 'down' time between 18h30 - 20h30 in my area. Neotel is currently working on their connectivity issues and this evening has thus far been ok.

I'm not sure about the 7 day policy but I'd say go for it.
Click to expand...

Thanks Nafisa. Which area are you in, in Sandton?
 
I would say : stay away.
I'm on neotel and I've had connection issues, but that's not why I say that.
The reason I say it is because: Neotel = high latency.
Its good for mail and downloads but its not for online gaming.
It might all change with the Seacom line, but it might not.

Just tested my line with the neotel bandwidth speed test:
Download = 568 kbps
Upload ....... 58 kbps :p

Speedtest.net:

 
If you cancel in 7 days you are still liable for the cost of the device R1500-R2000 - this is the only thing I have against them.

Would not try and play COD4 either as the pings suck.

Personally for me its good enough. I work alot on remote servers (ssh sessions) and don't have any issues. Download speeds are great but alas the upload (and ping) are poor.

I use to have Telkom and must say that my Neotel is far more reliable and just the per second billing alone is worth it for me.
 
wireless internet is not good for gaming and is not always stable.
What till Neotel brings out their land land then get them.
 
Recommend you stay away from Neotel until they have fixed their issues;
I have had no or very poor speeds on neoflex in the last 2 weeks.

Neither the Neotel rep (on this forum -- yes the rep has now reverted to ignoring my PMs, not because I've been a pest [5 in 3 wks], but rather to me an admittance of failure) or helpdesk have been any help in this regard.

I recommend you rather consider alternatives until a majority of the reports are positive -- Also be careful the signal strength changes frequently on their coverage maps, this being a clear indication that instead of Neotel fixing issues by installing additional base stations or upgrading, they simply move the antennae from one direction to the other i.e. to try and rectify problems in one area, by creating new ones in others.

My road down Neotel's rocky path started 2 weeks ago, signal went from excellent to fair, when you contact the helpdesk they simply quote what they see on the adjusted signal strength maps. At first they appear very courteous, but trust me after 3 or 4 calls this only ends up frustrating you to the point of wanting to strangle someone. :mad:

Note: If my problems are not resolved (have finally been able to get the technical teams to agree to come to my home with a Yagi antennae tomorrow) then I only have either ICASA or contract cancellation as remaining options.

Somehow I am tired of flogging this dead horse, and will most probably opt to leave them + challenging not to be liable for any costs re they failed to remedy the situation in a legally reasonable timeframe.

This time round if no success with Neotel I prefer to go back to the company we all love to hate (but which at this stage appears far superior to Neotel) TELKOM... :sick:
 
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Just browse through the other threads and see how many times I have requested updates on the network issues, and then try and find and answer to my question. It's easy to hire morons to do the job, but it's tough to admit you made a mistake and set things right. You have been warned!
 
[)roi(];2800833 said:
Also be careful the signal strength changes frequently on their coverage maps, this being a clear indication that instead of Neotel fixing issues by installing additional base stations or upgrading, they simply move the antennae from one direction to the other i.e. to try and rectify problems in one area, by creating new ones in others.
Click to expand...

Very true. My signal went from good (4 bars, 67 RSSI) to fair (2 bars, 90 RSSI). Not even an an antenna improves the signal. Stay away for now.
 
Stay away... Yeah. You have it. I also found it amusing to find that my area is not under coverage anymore o_O ? How the FK do they manage that?

Assuming my neighbour wanted to sign up now they'd tell him "Sorry sir but there is no coverage in your area". To which he will respond, "but my neighbour has a connection from you o_O "

Wonder what they will say then...?
 
Well I waited the whole day to see all the responses, out of 7, 6 people do not recommend it. I am inclined to go with the responses, maybe I will ask the question again in a few months time, lets give Neotel a chance to sort out their network before leaping into a contract hastily.

Loin22, from where I am I use iBurst quite effectively for COD4 online, the pings are excellent (<50 for local, l<250 for international), maybe I am just lucky, Even using HSUPA works OKish.
 
You are lucky if you get anything below 450 in latencies with Neotel

International
Code: 
ulrich@localhost:~$ ping google.com
PING google.com (74.125.45.100) 56(84) bytes of data.
64 bytes from yx-in-f100.google.com (74.125.45.100): icmp_seq=1 ttl=236 time=514 ms
64 bytes from yx-in-f100.google.com (74.125.45.100): icmp_seq=2 ttl=236 time=476 ms
64 bytes from yx-in-f100.google.com (74.125.45.100): icmp_seq=3 ttl=236 time=474 ms
64 bytes from yx-in-f100.google.com (74.125.45.100): icmp_seq=4 ttl=236 time=522 ms
64 bytes from yx-in-f100.google.com (74.125.45.100): icmp_seq=5 ttl=236 time=505 ms
^C64 bytes from yx-in-f100.google.com (74.125.45.100): icmp_seq=6 ttl=236 time=491 ms

Local
Code: 
ulrich@localhost:~$ ping bidorbuy.co.za
PING bidorbuy.co.za (196.33.235.171) 56(84) bytes of data.
64 bytes from www.bidorbuy.co.za (196.33.235.171): icmp_seq=1 ttl=56 time=161 ms
64 bytes from www.bidorbuy.co.za (196.33.235.171): icmp_seq=2 ttl=56 time=204 ms
64 bytes from www.bidorbuy.co.za (196.33.235.171): icmp_seq=3 ttl=56 time=153 ms
64 bytes from www.bidorbuy.co.za (196.33.235.171): icmp_seq=4 ttl=56 time=160 ms
64 bytes from www.bidorbuy.co.za (196.33.235.171): icmp_seq=5 ttl=56 time=171 ms
64 bytes from www.bidorbuy.co.za (196.33.235.171): icmp_seq=6 ttl=56 time=155 ms
 
rudirautenbach said:
Well I waited the whole day to see all the responses, out of 7, 6 people do not recommend it. I am inclined to go with the responses, maybe I will ask the question again in a few months time, lets give Neotel a chance to sort out their network before leaping into a contract hastily.

Loin22, from where I am I use iBurst quite effectively for COD4 online, the pings are excellent (<50 for local, l<250 for international), maybe I am just lucky, Even using HSUPA works OKish.
Click to expand...

Perhaps this will convince you not to sign up with neotel...http://www.hellopeter.com/comp_comment.php?company=Neotel
 
STAY FAR FAR AWAY. Even with the seven days it is such a pain to cancel your order, I am on hold as we speak and they are just so inefficient and nobody from Neotel seems to give a crap about their customers.

Again I say STAY AWAY, in the last 6 days Neotel have actually proved that you can be worse than Telkom and I would never have thought that was possible.
 
Jaysm said:
STAY FAR FAR AWAY. Even with the seven days it is such a pain to cancel your order, I am on hold as we speak and they are just so inefficient and nobody from Neotel seems to give a crap about their customers.

Again I say STAY AWAY, in the last 6 days Neotel have actually proved that you can be worse than Telkom and I would never have thought that was possible.
Click to expand...

+1 +1 +1 !!!!
 
I applied to cancel in March nothing has happened they said 30 days i have just left it turned on my device recently speed seems better but still not where i want it to be but an improvement.

Probably the worst performing network i have used ever. I think its partly to blame due to the fact they mainly outsource and tried to grow to fast too quickly and the network went into melt down by not having enough infrastructure in place poor planning on there part. Either way looks like they done damage to themselves by having a lot of unhappy customers judging by the hellopeter complaints i doubt these customers will return once they finally have a stable network running.
 
Don't do it!

Neotel = dial up quality.

So imagine going from your iburst to a R7 call (remember back in the day). It is exactly like that, but it disconnects more than twice a day.

So similar in fact, that you also wont be able to use your phone while on the net - they kinda dont mention that.
 
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Neoflex data ---bad choice

Neotel services.....BIG Poblems

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For the last 4 weeks and longer.......although I am in a Execellent reception area...the service is a BIG FRUSTRATING PAIN. I have made the following observations.....Only about 20% of the time is a connection made.....within 10-15 minutes the connection fails..........speeds are very slow. Switching the router on/off in efforts to make a new connection drives you CRAZY!.
All the NEOTEL hopes and promises are duds. Complaints never get a follow-up. Despite all of this which I assume the management are ****ting themselves......they are strongly promoting the brand. Dont join you will be sorry!

Although Telkom and Iburst are bad ..........they now seem good in comparison.

Am I the only one suffering? 0825520802
 
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