Please help me understand Fibre

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HSchultz83

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Hi all

I hope you can please assist me as I'm a bit confused with fiber and connectivity.

So Vumatel is in our area, and I need to get a SP to drive it.

I will use internet for:
* PS4 Gaming OR Streaming (not at the same time as it's the same TV)
* Downloads
* General browsing like Youtube, Facebook, websites
* Phone & tablet connectivity

I definitely want uncapped because I buy all my PS4 games online, and they easy go over 50GB each. As per my understanding I think that 20/20 is a good package, but maybe even 20/5 - This is the first question please? Will this be sufficient?

Next, I am currently with Axxess. So I called them and asked about their 20/20 packages. The person insisted that I can only take the PREMIUM package at R1046, as the HOME package is only for browsing.
Now I look at other providers like VOX for instance and their 20/20 package is R799 and branded as "HELLO UNLIMITED!! UNCAPPED, UNSHAPED BANDWIDTH BASIC Bundle Includes: 20/20 Mbps Fibre Line Uncapped, Unshaped Bandwidth - No Fair Use Policy Wi-fi router Month-to-Month Contract" - Does this mean it will or will not work for me?

A friend also recommended "Cool Ideas" as a provider which comes in at R899.

What throws me a bit is how the guy from Axxess told me how difficult it is to swap Fiber providers and that each SP must physically come in to connect you. Furthermore he insisted that there is NO WAY any SP can offer un throttled/shaped/capped (or whatever it is) for such a low price...

I really don't know which SP to go for, please assist so I can understand the jargon.

Thanks in advance.
 
I'm not using Vumatel but I saw the favorites being Cellc, Crystalweb, Cool Ideas and Vox.

Cool Ideas the most popular of the bunch I think.
 
Cool ideas is great I'm in the 50/50.
Some of the others listed above are absolutely shocking go and read their threads. Shocking products and their companies seem to be rudderless ships
 
I'm very happy using RSAWEB's 20/20 package - uncapped.
I have done some crazy amounts in past months, but it's all because of XBOX ONE & PS4 games and then downloading games on STEAM.
20/20 package is enough for me, couple hundred more and I could get the 100 package - but why, what for.
RSAWEB's support has also gotten better since I started with them.


What throws me a bit is how the guy from Axxess told me how difficult it is to swap Fiber providers and that each SP must physically come in to connect you. Furthermore he insisted that there is NO WAY any SP can offer unthrottled/shaped/capped (or whatever it is) for such a low price...
Click to expand...

That's hog wash, they don't PHYSICALLY come and do it but it is true that you can't just chop and change providers.
 
The only advice I can give you is Fibre is not ADSL, stay away from an ISP that treats them the same, if an isp mentions home or premium stay away.
 
OK, firstly, on vumatel, your options for a 20Mb download are 20/2 and 20/20. There is no 20/5 option. So if your unsure, start with the 20/2 package. Upgrading to the 20/5 package can be done from the vumatel portal (https://shop.vumatel.co.za/packages/all) and takes effect pretty much immediately.

I'm with Cool Ideas, I have a 100/100 connection and there are 5 of us in the family. I have been with Cool Ideas since the end of February and have never experienced throttling or had any issues with slow downloads etc. This is the norm for all fiber other than OpenServe, but you don't need to worry about them.

Firstly, the fees you will have to pay are an installation fee (R1710.00), a connection fee (R999) and your monthly fee plus the cost of a router. Some of these fees are covered by the ISP, but exactly what is covered varies from one ISP to another. However, if you change ISP's, then you do so on the Vumatel portal and it is quick. But then, there is a new connection charge each time you change ISP's.

So if you went with Cool Ideas for example, you would pay the R1710 installation fee yourself. Other than that, you would then just pay your monthly rental and a free router is included. Some other ISP's also cover the installation charge, but if you go that route and you leave within about 12 months, you will be presented with a bill for the full cost of the install.

So changing ISP's is quick, but depending on the details, can be costly.

You should not take a package from any ISP on vumatel that has a monthly bandwidth cap.

So on vumatel, look for an uncapped package on a month to month contract. But watch for the usage policy of the ISP concerned.
 
Coop had some advice above.

To answer the questions directly:
20/2 is perfect for most cases. It's more download speed than you really need, and the upload is fine for online gaming. If you are doing a lot of upload, you will need to upgrade later.
With that download, yiur games download with take around 6 hours to finish.

Home vs premium- home is fine. This is more of a "priority of line" thing, and home priority is fine for a home.

Vox would work fine.
The Axxess thing, that salesman is very bullish, and is trying to upsell you. He's using business grade definitions to argue that price.

You can't easily swap fibre providers, like openserve and Vumatel, that's a callout for each company, but the ISP you choose for service is easily changed (Potential activation charge applies)
 
1 thing I would say is never take a contract deal.... Unless it is something like 3 months or something like that...... You don't want to be stuck with a isp you don't like.
 
I'm on a 20/20 connection, but on TT Connect and Cool Ideas. I play on Xbox, PS4 and PC. I'm also the same as you; I buy all my games digital as a game share with a friend.

I'm terms of speeds, I don't really have any problems (unless the line goes down). I mostly game on EU servers since I play with my buddies in the U.K. And haven't experienced any lag since I got Fibre. I also stream Netflix and DSTV online and it rarely ever buffers. In terms of torrents, I don't know. Haven't downloaded from a torrent in a very long time.

For isp's, I would recommend Cool Ideas. I never had any issues with Cool Ideas and when I have line problems, they do their absolute best to help out as much as they can. Also I've never being throttled by them. Ever.

Some people may have had different experiences, but I can't say anything negative about them.
 
Thanks for the feedback everyone.

I think I might try Vox, as they are actively promoting in our area, but will definitely think about Cool Ideas as well, as many of you have recommended them.

I will also try the 20/2 (sorry I said 20/5 before, I remembered incorrectly) first, then see if I need the more. I almost never upload, so should be fine.

1 last question - lets say everyone in my area is on Vox, will it make a difference if I am also on Vox, or with another SP?
 
I'm on ISPAfrika 10Mbps(OpenServe)

Streaming Netflix no problem. So far they have been grea
 
chunk10 said:
The only advice I can give you is Fibre is not ADSL, stay away from an ISP that treats them the same, if an isp mentions home or premium stay away.
Click to expand...

Go with this advice - I chose cool ideas 20/2 on vuma and it is a totally different mindset to adsl. No more planning on what to download when, and who is streaming what. Everything just works simultaneously. One less thing to manage in my life..
 
Some more questions from me,
What I've seen on CW site is just a month to month amount, they don't list any connection/installation fees etc, can someone thats with them confirm this also.

... As my local connection is OpenServ based, does this impact the SP, or do all the ISP's work everywhere like ADSL?

G
 
So CW (Openserv) works on a 2 to 1 ratio, for the 40Mbps down you get 20Mbps up, and 100/50 for the 100Mbps down package and so on...

G
 
Last edited:
georgelza said:
Some more questions from me,
What I've seen on CW site is just a month to month amount, they don't list any connection/installation fees etc, can someone thats with them confirm this also.

... As my local connection is OpenServ based, does this impact the SP, or do all the ISP's work everywhere like ADSL?

G
Click to expand...

Any normal ADSL account will work on Openserve fibre.
 
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