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Question of the Day: What is your non-negotiable item, device, or app for international travel?
Screamer WiMax
- Thread starter wow4life
- Start date
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2007
- Messages
- 439
- Reaction score
- 2
OK Guys I now finally have the low down on what the fuss was about.
ICASA arrived here last Friday morning with 2 constables and a search warrant for certain documents including our agreement with Sentech for the use of “THE SPECTRUM”. We knew it was serious because they refused any offer of tea and cookies.
What was strange was that our attorneys had given them every document that they asked for on the search warrant and we surmise that the one dept had not been talking to the other dept in ICASA……
While they were at our head office 2 of their support teams went to the 2 high sites at which our attorneys had told them we were still using the spectrum and confiscated some of the transmission equipment we were using there. They said it was to get evidence that we were using the spectrum even though this had been confirmed to them multiple times over the last 3 years??? I think that the Friday “raid” was an attempt to create as much disruption to our clients that were on the 2 sites for as long a period as possible and finally prove that they were doing what the larger Telecoms companies had been shouting for since they heard we had access to 10Mgs of spectrum.
Fortunately we had scheduled some routine upgrades for last weekend and a lot of our teams were on standby and so they were able to also upgrade these 2 towers to equipment which does not use “THE SPECTRUM”.
Having access to “THE SPECTRUM” was great a few years ago because the equipment that was available then was not able to deal with interference very well. The equipment that we are using now is state of the art and we no longer need THE SPECTRUM although this newer equipment does not have as great a reach. We will be installing long range CPE’S for those of our clients that still have an icky signal and if that doesn’t help, and they bought their CPE’s, we will be refunding them and will unfortunately not be able to assist them with a connection until we have deployed more of these base stations.
We can now confidently report that ALL of the 56 Mgs of spectrum that was allocated to Sentech is not being used at all, and being a natural resource, every second that goes by that it is not used can never be recovered.
ICASA arrived here last Friday morning with 2 constables and a search warrant for certain documents including our agreement with Sentech for the use of “THE SPECTRUM”. We knew it was serious because they refused any offer of tea and cookies.
What was strange was that our attorneys had given them every document that they asked for on the search warrant and we surmise that the one dept had not been talking to the other dept in ICASA……
While they were at our head office 2 of their support teams went to the 2 high sites at which our attorneys had told them we were still using the spectrum and confiscated some of the transmission equipment we were using there. They said it was to get evidence that we were using the spectrum even though this had been confirmed to them multiple times over the last 3 years??? I think that the Friday “raid” was an attempt to create as much disruption to our clients that were on the 2 sites for as long a period as possible and finally prove that they were doing what the larger Telecoms companies had been shouting for since they heard we had access to 10Mgs of spectrum.
Fortunately we had scheduled some routine upgrades for last weekend and a lot of our teams were on standby and so they were able to also upgrade these 2 towers to equipment which does not use “THE SPECTRUM”.
Having access to “THE SPECTRUM” was great a few years ago because the equipment that was available then was not able to deal with interference very well. The equipment that we are using now is state of the art and we no longer need THE SPECTRUM although this newer equipment does not have as great a reach. We will be installing long range CPE’S for those of our clients that still have an icky signal and if that doesn’t help, and they bought their CPE’s, we will be refunding them and will unfortunately not be able to assist them with a connection until we have deployed more of these base stations.
We can now confidently report that ALL of the 56 Mgs of spectrum that was allocated to Sentech is not being used at all, and being a natural resource, every second that goes by that it is not used can never be recovered.
tracee
Well-Known Member
The problem is they are now not answering the phones at all. That does not look good at all. I am trying to call to get them to come out and change the polarity of CPE, but not even sales is answering. It really is sad, they really have given exceptional service to us over the last year and a bit. This really does not look good when no one is answering the phones. To customers it looks like the worst case scenario.
If Howzit could please let us know anything, it would be appreciated, because if we need to go to another service provider we need to move on it, as we can not sit without Internet. I really hope that we do not have to change, as I really liked Screamer, but if we do, we need to know, please.
If Howzit could please let us know anything, it would be appreciated, because if we need to go to another service provider we need to move on it, as we can not sit without Internet. I really hope that we do not have to change, as I really liked Screamer, but if we do, we need to know, please.
tracee
Well-Known Member
Ok, I did get hold of them, finally. They have just had a lot of calls, obviously. I have a reference #, so someone should come out when they are able. Good job Screamer for trying to get on top of something so difficult.
But, how do I know if I need anything done to my CPE? Surely tis should be coordinated by Screamer?
The most recent sms I received earlier indicates that they are fixing it on their side, and I must expect intermittent service for the next few days. This doesn't give me any insight though, does that mean it'll work sometimes? Or must I expect no connection for the next few days? I think its the latter.
Screamer couldve really handled this better.
Sent from my GT-P1000 using MyBroadband Android App
The most recent sms I received earlier indicates that they are fixing it on their side, and I must expect intermittent service for the next few days. This doesn't give me any insight though, does that mean it'll work sometimes? Or must I expect no connection for the next few days? I think its the latter.
Screamer couldve really handled this better.
Sent from my GT-P1000 using MyBroadband Android App
Slayeruser
Expert Member
yip, did not have a connection since Friday, but this afternoon it is connecting again. But up and down....... more down
yip, did not have a connection since Friday, but this afternoon it is connecting again. But up and down....... more down
I've been down since Fri as well, Dalview Tower Brakpan ! Screamer Technical not interested in replying to take calls or reply to service logs - truly frustrating, how can one run a business with this type of service.
Can the Consumer Protection Bill help us in our quest for service from Screamer ............
We paying for a service, not getting any !!!!
Howzit, HELP HELP HELP !!!!
+1 ..... Our Business is running at 20% because we using our backup VC and only connect one PC at a time.. Our customers are getting fustrated with us due to slow service.. Guys please.. Help.... Urgently...
Slayeruser
Expert Member
No connection this morning again
Really frustrating:twisted:
Really frustrating:twisted:
No connection this morning again
Really frustrating:twisted:
same my end - so frustrating, been calling them since last night, they just dont pick up the phone
as i type this, i got through, they tell me they sent the report of my email to our friend Mr Friedrich - at mercy now
guys at screamer - we need to work, we need connectivity !!!!
forum members, can we not take this service to the consumer protection body !!!!
tracee
Well-Known Member
Hi Everyone
I too am a client of screamer. Yes, all of this that has happened is not good and it is incredibly frustrating. What has happened is not something quick that can be sorted out. From what I can gather they are working really hard trying to get this all sorted. I am sure if they could have it fixed quicker they would. This can not be easy for them to deal with. I have had good service from them, especially when I got hold of them yesterday. Things go wrong in every industry, that is life and we just have to cope as best as we can.
It is a good idea, especially if you are in business to get back up Internet. I have two browsers open at the moment, I am using screamer when it's is up and another service provider when it is down).
If you are in business, a back up Internet is always a good idea. My place of work (which does not use screamer) goes down from time to time (more so than screamer), we have a 3G router as back up and we connect it to the server, it works perfectly fine as a back up and all of us have access, when it goes down. Back up's are important in business.
Give them a chance, what has happened is a mountain to fix and at least we know they will get it fixed and are working on it.
I too am a client of screamer. Yes, all of this that has happened is not good and it is incredibly frustrating. What has happened is not something quick that can be sorted out. From what I can gather they are working really hard trying to get this all sorted. I am sure if they could have it fixed quicker they would. This can not be easy for them to deal with. I have had good service from them, especially when I got hold of them yesterday. Things go wrong in every industry, that is life and we just have to cope as best as we can.
It is a good idea, especially if you are in business to get back up Internet. I have two browsers open at the moment, I am using screamer when it's is up and another service provider when it is down).
If you are in business, a back up Internet is always a good idea. My place of work (which does not use screamer) goes down from time to time (more so than screamer), we have a 3G router as back up and we connect it to the server, it works perfectly fine as a back up and all of us have access, when it goes down. Back up's are important in business.
Give them a chance, what has happened is a mountain to fix and at least we know they will get it fixed and are working on it.
agree with u - backups are important and are in place , not only server but broadband , as a costly alternative when Screamer is down, fthat adds cost to your bottom line. What frustrates is the non communication, lack of urgency and all negatives that come from Screamer.
We understand the issue, as a provider of internet technology u need to be quick on response time as u are not only dealing with individuals but also business that require your services - uptime is important for your customers
i finally have a reference number now after logging my non connectivity last week already .... i gave them a chance , my humble opinion is, this time they failed me
when everything is running well, we have no issues, happy as happy can be - satisfied customer getting value for money , alas when the wheels fall off .......... we at mercy
Well, at the same time you've got to ask yourself: How did they not know that this was going to happen?
When someone stands up in Parliment and tells ICASA to deal with the misuse of Sentech's spectrum, what did Screamer think was going to happen?
Its been coming for a long time now, and they were still caught with their pants down, resulting in downtime for all their users.
Its pretty simple really, you get what you pay for. Maybe there's a reason why Screamer appear cheaper than all the competition?