Ordered Fibre. So it begins.

[ebendl]

Good luck. Hope it is a quick fix.

 

[ebendl]

So this morning, out of the blue, an OpenServe bakkie arrives at my gate. Here to test my fibre.

Did some tests from the pole, now out to the manhole to test some more.

He has one of these: http://www.exfo.com/products/field-network-testing/bu3-optical/power-meters/ppm-350c




So apparently, to get OpenServe's attention, you only need to phone:
1) Telkom Joburg call centre
2) Telkom PE call centre
3) Telkom Durban call centre
4) Three wholesale OpenServe managers
5) Your ISP -- multiple times
6) Another ISP
7) Two OpenServe installers
8) An OpenServe installation manager
9) An OpenServe backhaul installer

Then again, I might just have been lucky.

 

[jcheek]

So this morning, out of the blue, an OpenServe bakkie arrives at my gate. Here to test my fibre.
Did some tests from the pole, now out to the manhole to test some more.
He has one of these: http://www.exfo.com/products/field-network-testing/bu3-optical/power-meters/ppm-350c
View attachment 404846

Yup, seems to be a standard piece of test equipment for FTTH installation debugging.

In my case, the testing revealed that the "street team" had joined all the right fibres, but ... in the wrong tube.

So apparently, to get OpenServe's attention, you only need to phone:
1) Telkom Joburg call centre
2) Telkom PE call centre
3) Telkom Durban call centre
4) Three wholesale OpenServe managers
5) Your ISP -- multiple times
6) Another ISP
7) Two OpenServe installers
8) An OpenServe installation manager
9) An OpenServe backhaul installer

I'm impressed by your persistence!
Very happy to hear you've got people looking at the problem now. Fingers crossed for a quick fix.

Then again, I might just have been lucky.

:crylaugh:

 

[ebendl]

In my case, the testing revealed that the "street team" had joined all the right fibres, but ... in the wrong tube.

Ironically it seems as if it might have been the same (or very similar) problem. They just found a fibre which was live and used that one (even though the technician tested a fibre from each tube!!)

So either he could
1) Tried splicing every fibre in every tube until they get a live one
2) Wait 20 days for the "jointers" team to come and test with a power meter

It does seem that every guy had one when they did your installation, jcheek. Or did you have two guys?

So for the first time I have green lights on the ONT! Yay! He's doing the activation now.

 

[Koosie]

Ironically it seems as if it might have been the same (or very similar) problem. They just found a fibre which was live and used that one (even though the technician tested a fibre from each tube!!)

So either he could
1) Tried splicing every fibre in every tube until they get a live one
2) Wait 20 days for the "jointers" team to come and test with a power meter

It does seem that every guy had one when they did your installation, jcheek. Or did you have two guys?

So for the first time I have green lights on the ONT! Yay! He's doing the activation now.

Wow finally, I hope its the end of your troubles.

 

[ebendl]

Damn, problems with activation. Apparently they have problems with the whole Constantiapark exchange.

Still on the phone, still trying.

I just realised I'm probably going to need a backup... Jcheeck, you're using LTE with the CellC GIGA prepaid right?

 

[Noseworthy]

Douglasdale

50mb line ordered through webafrica

 

[jcheek]

Damn, problems with activation. Apparently they have problems with the whole Constantiapark exchange.
Still on the phone, still trying.

Ah, suck!
Edit : In the meantime, it seems you got sorted ?


Warning : O/T!

I just realised I'm probably going to need a backup... jcheek, you're using LTE with the CellC GIGA prepaid right?

I am, yes.
It's not nearly as fast as Telkom 2300MHz LTE, and doesn't seem to get better no matter how good my signal is, but it's OK. To illustrate:

With built-in patch antennas and RSRP = -86dBm :


With outdoor external antennas and RSRP = -67dBm :


So about 10Mbps at best.

There've been suggestions that the Cell C Giga packages may be throttled in some way, and based on what I've seen, I tend to agree. But I haven't thrown any effort at investigating it.

 

[ajan]

Ah, suck!
Edit : In the meantime, it seems you got sorted ?



Warning : O/T!
I am, yes.
It's nearly not as fast as Telkom 2300MHz LTE, and doesn't seem to get better no matter how good my signal is, but it's OK. To illustrate:

With built-in patch antennas and RSRP = -86dBm :
View attachment 404872

With outdoor external antennas and RSRP = -67dBm :
View attachment 404876

So about 10Mbps at best.

There've been suggestions that the Cell C Giga packages may be throttled in some way, and based on what I've seen, I tend to agree. But I haven't thrown any effort at improving it.

What happened to your fibre?

 

[ebendl]

What happened to your fibre?

He's still using it,the CellC lte is just for a backup.

 

[jcheek]

Warning : (Still) O/T!

What happened to your fibre?

I just realised I'm probably going to need a backup... Jcheeck, you're using LTE with the CellC GIGA prepaid right?

Relax, my fibre is still dandy
I have a 4G/LTE modem/router configured as a warm failover device. We're only talking about the performance of that part of things

He's still using it,the CellC lte is just for a backup.

^this ;-)

 

[voldoverse]

Ok fault logged with telkom. Let the leg jiggling and finger tapping begin.

I have to say moving back to DSL 10mbps is really frustrating. How easily we humans get spoiled haha

 

[ebendl]

Ok fault logged with telkom. Let the leg jiggling and finger tapping begin.

I have to say moving back to DSL 10mbps is really frustrating. How easily we humans get spoiled haha

Did you phone WA or log it yourself?

 

[voldoverse]

Phone WA first this morning. Held for 20 minutes R100 airtime gone.

I dont have my customer code while driving but im going to stop in 15min. Can you call me back then? No. You can just call 10210 and log it there.

So when i got home. I fired up the landline and phone telkom only held for 5 minutes..

 

[ajan]

Phone WA first this morning. Held for 20 minutes R100 airtime gone.

I dont have my customer code while driving but im going to stop in 15min. Can you call me back then? No. You can just call 10210 and log it there.

So when i got home. I fired up the landline and phone telkom only held for 5 minutes..

Webafrica has now become worse than Telkom for fibre. Slow turn around. Bad client communication.

Why is webafrica bossing you around with something you pay them to do? They need to handle communication to openserve's fibre team, as the line is leased through webafrica.

 

[SuperMario]

Seems like it is a pain to get the Fibre working through Openserve. Hopefully Vumatel will do a good job, because they will be laying fibre in our neighbourhood early next year.

 

[ebendl]

I'm guessing Vumatel and the other companies are either doing a better job or they just get less bad press because their rollouts are smaller.

 

[Koosie]

I'm guessing Vumatel and the other companies are either doing a better job or they just get less bad press because their rollouts are smaller.

^ this.

 

[voldoverse]

So telkom was supposed to send me a sms with my ticket number for the fault i logged. But got nothing yet. Is this normal or did the person i talk to figure it was too late in the day and ignored my request?

 

[ebendl]

Mmm, I've never received an email or SMS from Telkom.

Any luck with WebAfrica?