No DSL is driving me crazy!

T

TamerSA

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Feb 4, 2015
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So I bought a sectional title at a complex about a year ago. There was a Telkom access point at the unit so I figured it should be fine. After a some Telkom technicians came out a few times, they basically told me the line was cut off somewhere in the complex, and my only option is to put down a new conduit from my unit to the gate for them to pull through new wires.

Brought this up at 'n body corporate meeting only to be shot down because some people already had working DSL and didn't want to pay to repair mine, and others were too old to care why a mobile solution doesn't solve my problem.

In the mean time I have been using Amobia, which has been a rollercoaster ride of mostly low points rather than high points... Their support and customer service were impressive and I found myself phoning them at 23:00 on Saturdays and still getting the support I expected.

However these phone calls have turned from pleasant to sour since I am now frequently experiencing performance dips and latency issues (load shedding isn't helping). I basically have to reset my mikrotik each time the power went out, which I'm sure is not normal. I also had a big surprise in that my equipment is not mine, so I paid around R1500 for labour I guess? (my fault to be fair, missed the fine print)

I am now considering level-7, but either the equipment fee of R3000 or the 24 month contract are both a big investment for a service that might be as bad or worse than Amobia's...

To add to this story, today I received feedback from Telkom after forgetting about them for a year, that there are no DSLAM ports available in Pierre van Ryneveld anymore so they are not even going to bother helping me.

I am really at a loss now... aside from moving I don't see what else I can do?

Notes:
- Moving not an option, just started paying off the bond plus EVERYTHING is great here except for my internet;
- I am a high volume user and would need 250 - 300 GB a month, so likely uncapped is my best solution;
 
Rickster

Rickster

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TamerSA said:
So I bought a sectional title at a complex about a year ago. There was a Telkom access point at the unit so I figured it should be fine. After a some Telkom technicians came out a few times, they basically told me the line was cut off somewhere in the complex, and my only option is to put down a new conduit from my unit to the gate for them to pull through new wires.

Brought this up at 'n body corporate meeting only to be shot down because some people already had working DSL and didn't want to pay to repair mine, and others were too old to care why a mobile solution doesn't solve my problem.

In the mean time I have been using Amobia, which has been a rollercoaster ride of mostly low points rather than high points... Their support and customer service were impressive and I found myself phoning them at 23:00 on Saturdays and still getting the support I expected.

However these phone calls have turned from pleasant to sour since I am now frequently experiencing performance dips and latency issues (load shedding isn't helping). I basically have to reset my mikrotik each time the power went out, which I'm sure is not normal. I also had a big surprise in that my equipment is not mine, so I paid around R1500 for labour I guess? (my fault to be fair, missed the fine print)

I am now considering level-7, but either the equipment fee of R3000 or the 24 month contract are both a big investment for a service that might be as bad or worse than Amobia's...

To add to this story, today I received feedback from Telkom after forgetting about them for a year, that there are no DSLAM ports available in Pierre van Ryneveld anymore so they are not even going to bother helping me.

I am really at a loss now... aside from moving I don't see what else I can do?

Notes:
- Moving not an option, just started paying off the bond plus EVERYTHING is great here except for my internet;
- I am a high volume user and would need 250 - 300 GB a month, so likely uncapped is my best solution;
Click to expand...


And what would this cost?
 
V

Vaughan

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598
Not sure if I am missing the point but if you need the latency and uncapped service provided by a cable there are wireless technologies that are near identical in performance and price.
Neotel is an option but they are a pain to work with.
Bitco is a good service with uncapped options and latency as good as ADSL (in my old area was actually better than ADSL latency). You would need to check Bitco coverage (I quick checked and you should get coverage)

Good luck
 
Necropolis

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Sounds familiar.

The place I am staying in now has telkom infrastructure to the entrance of the complex but the conduit inside the complex if FUBAR so there is no way of getting a cable from the gate to my unit.

Body Corporate won't do anything - I got a quote to fix the conduit and it was rather expensive.

Stuck using Afrihost 3g data at the moment - the performance is flaky at best but better than nothing.
 
T

TamerSA

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Vaughan said:
Not sure if I am missing the point but if you need the latency and uncapped service provided by a cable there are wireless technologies that are near identical in performance and price.
Neotel is an option but they are a pain to work with.
Bitco is a good service with uncapped options and latency as good as ADSL (in my old area was actually better than ADSL latency). You would need to check Bitco coverage (I quick checked and you should get coverage)

Good luck
Click to expand...

Hey Vaughan, the point is I am basically hoping that somehow I missed something that could solve my problem.
Both BitCo and Neotel were at my place and weren't prepared to install due to SNR.

I am using a wireless option that is supposed to provide "near identical" performance, but it's not. As mentioned in my wall of text, it is inconsistent at best of times.

Was simply venting and hoping someone on here reached a reasonable solution to a similar problem, that's all.
 
T

TamerSA

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Rickster said:
And what would this cost?
Click to expand...

Doing everything would cost around R30k - R40k. It is not that much when divided among the owners, but as I mentioned some people do not have the same problem I do. Their DSL is working and thus they don't care. The ones who don't have DSL are not heavy users and are thus satisfied with low data LTE packages.

I've seen it mentioned on here before... trust me, fighting a body corporate as a sectional title holder is frustrating and you get nowhere.
 
V

Vaughan

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598
TamerSA said:
Hey Vaughan, the point is I am basically hoping that somehow I missed something that could solve my problem.
Both BitCo and Neotel were at my place and weren't prepared to install due to SNR.

I am using a wireless option that is supposed to provide "near identical" performance, but it's not. As mentioned in my wall of text, it is inconsistent at best of times.

Was simply venting and hoping someone on here reached a reasonable solution to a similar problem, that's all.
Click to expand...

To be honest I lived in a central Joburg suburb and actually just couldn't get internet. My parents live in a very rich suburb and couldn't get internet until Neotel finally installed something for some huge price. I personally just emigrated :p
I also tried all the options and most didn't perform at all. Only stable connection I got was Vodacom LTE but the price is just absurd if you do anything besides checking emails...
 
E

einad5

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Jan 19, 2012
Messages
222
The way it looks is: you need more people with the same problem. People will be more likely to pay for repairs if their DSL also suddenly suffered an outage.
 
J

Jim West

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Mar 26, 2014
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325
TamerSA said:
[...] To add to this story, today I received feedback from Telkom after forgetting about them for a year, that there are no DSLAM ports available in Pierre van Ryneveld anymore so they are not even going to bother helping me. [...]
Click to expand...

No chance of FTTH? Maybe Telkom LTE?
 
J

Joker

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No chance of getting fibre in your complex? That's something even the working ADSL users might be interested in.. maybe bring it up at the next meeting and get some quotes.
 
Napalm2880

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I'm in the same damn boat in Kengies, near Fourways. Moved in on Saturday.

Had Neotel out today. No Wimax and no LTE signal.
Telkom also came out and tested LTE, bandwidth is good (speedtest was up to 27 Mbps) but the latency isn't great and they want you to sign a 2yr contract - along with a draconian FUP.

I've seen people laying Fibre down my road but I'm not sure who owns it. What can I do?

EDIT: To add, some damn fool stole all the Telkom cables down the entire road and it hasn't worked in months.
 
L

lived666

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Napalm2880 said:
I'm in the same damn boat in Kengies, near Fourways. Moved in on Saturday.

Had Neotel out today. No Wimax and no LTE signal.
Telkom also came out and tested LTE, bandwidth is good (speedtest was up to 27 Mbps) but the latency isn't great and they want you to sign a 2yr contract - along with a draconian FUP.

I've seen people laying Fibre down my road but I'm not sure who owns it. What can I do?

EDIT: To add, some damn fool stole all the Telkom cables down the entire road and it hasn't worked in months.
Click to expand...


but you fully covered by bitco, who offer wireless and possibly fibre in your area
 
Napalm2880

Napalm2880

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lived666 said:
but you fully covered by bitco, who offer wireless and possibly fibre in your area
Click to expand...

Didn't know about the Bitco service until this thread. I've mailed them - and escalated but they have a notice on their site that there's a 2 month delay for installations because of the current backlog. Not sure I can live without the interwebs for that long - and they still have to come out and do a site survey which could take a week or two.
 
L

lived666

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Napalm2880 said:
Didn't know about the Bitco service until this thread. I've mailed them - and escalated but they have a notice on their site that there's a 2 month delay for installations because of the current backlog. Not sure I can live without the interwebs for that long - and they still have to come out and do a site survey which could take a week or two.
Click to expand...
they are not the only ones, I use and prefer comtel, great service or just go here:
http://www.wapa.org.za/
Fill in the request coverage, in your area you will probably get 5 - 10 hits

comtel, speak to naresh 0837898070 he could probably have you connected next week if you covered - unlike bitco you dont have to sign a contact - i just selected to pay the equipment over 12 months but you can do it all upfront and then on a monthly basis. I get 300gb before FUP policy kicks in, been close but havent reached the 300gb yet
 
Last edited:
L

lived666

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TamerSA said:
Hey Vaughan, the point is I am basically hoping that somehow I missed something that could solve my problem.
Both BitCo and Neotel were at my place and weren't prepared to install due to SNR.

I am using a wireless option that is supposed to provide "near identical" performance, but it's not. As mentioned in my wall of text, it is inconsistent at best of times.

Was simply venting and hoping someone on here reached a reasonable solution to a similar problem, that's all.
Click to expand...

have you tried going on
http://www.wapa.org.za/coverage/request/

to see if anyone covers your location. Bitco also had no LOS to me but at least 4 others did, including comtel which I went with and have had very good service.
 
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