Royal Ascot Fibre (Milnerton, Cape Town)

[DrKiller]

What make and model router did you get from ISP Afrika?

Thats probably the wrong question to ask.. The direct answer is "none", I'm using my Mikrotik as the PPPoE dialer.

From telkom I got a Alcatel-Lucent fibre router that I don't have direct access to.

 

[FHTheron]

Thats probably the wrong question to ask.. The direct answer is "none", I'm using my Mikrotik as the PPPoE dialer.

From telkom I got a Alcatel-Lucent fibre router that I don't have direct access to.

"None" is right, I don't have the magic dark purple yet, but I do know what I'm going to do as soon as I can.
Also already have a Mikrotik, don't care what they give me as long as it works.

 

[DrKiller]

"None" is right, I don't have the magic dark purple yet, but I do know what I'm going to do as soon as I can.
Also already have a Mikrotik, don't care what they give me as long as it works.

With a Mikrotik you don't need another router in the middle. Sadly my Mikrotik doesn't have WiFi, but I fixed that by buying another UniFi Access Point.

Still have this question about the phone tho.

 

[QuiXilver ZA]

I have a microtik that I'll be selling. I bought a wireless AC router. As soon as my line is installed, I'll let the microtik go if anyone is interested.

 

[Karel Kat]

Anyone saw we have normal telephone jacks at the back of the fibre router?

Anyone know what they are used for and if we can just plug a normal telephone in there somehow?

This Chad guy that is supposed to assist us in Royal Ascot said he is not allowed to give me this information -_-

That is an FXS port, you wont find a lot of information on them but the TL;DR is that routers with those ports (I have a Zyxel with a couple) can be configured with a SIP account and will terminate that VOIP connection onto a FXS POTS port. Basically turning your POTS phone into a VOIP phone.

Now as to WHY they are there, I would wager it is pure coincidence. Telkom procured a Fibre router from Alcatel-Lucent and the model they chose came with those ports. It would be safe to bet that at some point in future they would use it for a VOIP offering but it will take while to get their heads out of their..... So no, unless Telkom/Openserve launches this as a product, you won't be able to use it.

In any case, I spoke to some people and apparently those A-L routers are quite spiffy but someone (Telkom) decided to cripple them and lock people out. Would be interesting to connect a RS232 interface to it and see what is going on inside BUT I AM IN RA6 SCREW YOU WHERE IS MY FIBRE!?

 

[QuiXilver ZA]

Anyone saw we have normal telephone jacks at the back of the fibre router?

Anyone know what they are used for and if we can just plug a normal telephone in there somehow?

This Chad guy that is supposed to assist us in Royal Ascot said he is not allowed to give me this information -_-

I missed your post. I've been digging for the same info. The Alcatel-Lucent modems come with these ports for Voice over Fibre (i think it's slightly different from VOIP - I'm not 100% sure). With Telkom if you add R17 a month and your existing telephone plugs into it and you'll have it working. This is the option I'm going with.

Weird he didnt tell you this because that's what he told me. He's been silent since last Thursday though. I'll eventually move to a full on VOIP service but for now this will work for me.

edit: Once you add the R17 you can also choose one of their voice packages. I'm currently on the Weekender so it will carry over to the fibre line.

 

[QuiXilver ZA]

For those in RA6, it's currently sitting with Openserve integration so hopefully you'll be live in the next week.

Do you have any further info from Openserve?

 

[DrKiller]

I missed your post. I've been digging for the same info. The Alcatel-Lucent modems come with these ports for Voice over Fibre (i think it's slightly different from VOIP - I'm not 100% sure). With Telkom if you add R17 a month and your existing telephone plugs into it and you'll have it working. This is the option I'm going with.

Weird he didnt tell you this because that's what he told me. He's been silent since last Thursday though. I'll eventually move to a full on VOIP service but for now this will work for me.

edit: Once you add the R17 you can also choose one of their voice packages. I'm currently on the Weekender so it will carry over to the fibre line.

I eventually found out that you can only have this if you are with Telkom. So because I went with ISPAfrika they don't allow you to do this.

I'll just get a VOIP phone then

 

[QuiXilver ZA]

I eventually found out that you can only have this if you are with Telkom. So because I went with ISPAfrika they don't allow you to do this.

I'll just get a VOIP phone then

I'm also investigating using your mobile phone as a VOIP handset.

 

[Karel Kat]

Do you have any further info from Openserve?

BUMP. This has been the last status for the past almost 3 weeks.

 

[QuiXilver ZA]

BUMP. This has been the last status for the past almost 3 weeks.

Should've quoted @hjlinde?

I did try calling Openserve but no one knows seems to know what's going on. All I wanted was info. Any info regarding an ETA would be nice.

 

[FHTheron]

It's Liiiiiiiiiive!

 

[QuiXilver ZA]

It's Liiiiiiiiiive!

Thanks for the update. Killer news!

 

[QuiXilver ZA]

I'm such a dumb@$$. I didn't realise I could just keep my existing telkom phone line and run fibre alongside. In my mind for whatever reason I thought it needed to run over the fibre modem.

I completely forgot our complex needs a telkom line for visitors to call us from the gate so I can't go the VOIP route just yet.

I signed up with ISPAfrika now. Let's see how it goes. So amped right now. And coincidentally the same day Amazon Prime launches in SA.

 

[DrKiller]

I'm such a dumb@$$. I didn't realise I could just keep my existing telkom phone line and run fibre alongside. In my mind for whatever reason I thought it needed to run over the fibre modem.

I completely forgot our complex needs a telkom line for visitors to call us from the gate so I can't go the VOIP route just yet.

I signed up with ISPAfrika now. Let's see how it goes. So amped right now. And coincidentally the same day Amazon Prime launches in SA.

If you keep your telkom phone line, you still pay line rental of R180. (or whatever it costs)

You can have your Telkom enabled on your Fibre router, but apparently you HAVE to be with Telkom then. ISPAfrica can't do this.

Why can't we have VOIP for the visitors intercom? Our complex also have an intercom where visitors phone our land lines. They can link it to a cell phone, so surely VOIP works fine?

 

[QuiXilver ZA]

If you keep your telkom phone line, you still pay line rental of R180. (or whatever it costs)

You can have your Telkom enabled on your Fibre router, but apparently you HAVE to be with Telkom then. ISPAfrica can't do this.

Why can't we have VOIP for the visitors intercom? Our complex also have an intercom where visitors phone our land lines. They can link it to a cell phone, so surely VOIP works fine?

Yeah it's R180 odd. But that plus IspAfrika's 100mb/10gb account plus a 200gb *2 cap from Axxess still comes to R300 cheaper than Telkom's 100mb / 400gb account.

We received a few emails recently from Trafalgar "reminding" us about the intercom. They said we can use Neotel as well but I'm not going down another service provider route.

Ours can't link to a cell phone.

 

[DrKiller]

I should ask body corporate then.

They'll just have to call my VOIP

 

[hjlinde]

Sorry for being so quiet. Entire Royal Ascot is now live

 

[Foxhound5366]

Sorry for being so quiet. Entire Royal Ascot is now live

Can't believe the fibre started being laid the very month I moved out of Royal Ascot ... impeccable timing as always on my part :/

 

[hjlinde]

Quixilver PM me which complex you are in. Cause that 'cant do cellphone' is bs