Shaping policies for SA ISPs

[DarthRiven]

Hi all
It's that time of year again, and I'm looking to go DSL. Previously I was bumming off a lot of other internet options, (mostly my university) but as I'm looking to get ADSL in my flat this year, I was hoping you guys could help.

I've been looking at all the DSL packages I could find, and currently am deciding between Telkom, CrystalWeb, Axxess and Vox Telecom. Most of them are pretty evenly priced; I would, however, like to know what the turnaround time for installing and activating from scratch is, and what the throttling and shaping policies of the respective ISPs are, if you guys know.

I'm looking to install either a 2Mbps or 4Mbps line (obviously preferably 4), but am a power user so my usage will probably vary between 60 and 120GB a month. A friend of mine is on CrystalWeb 4Mbps, and though it's R80 a month more expensive than the Axxess/Telkom offering, he uses 100GB a month on average and has never been shaped. Do you guys know how the others shape up?

 

[Heisenborg]

Hi all
It's that time of year again, and I'm looking to go DSL. Previously I was bumming off a lot of other internet options, (mostly my university) but as I'm looking to get ADSL in my flat this year, I was hoping you guys could help.

I've been looking at all the DSL packages I could find, and currently am deciding between Telkom, CrystalWeb, Axxess and Vox Telecom. Most of them are pretty evenly priced; I would, however, like to know what the turnaround time for installing and activating from scratch is, and what the throttling and shaping policies of the respective ISPs are, if you guys know.

I'm looking to install either a 2Mbps or 4Mbps line (obviously preferably 4), but am a power user so my usage will probably vary between 60 and 120GB a month. A friend of mine is on CrystalWeb 4Mbps, and though it's R80 a month more expensive than the Axxess/Telkom offering, he uses 100GB a month on average and has never been shaped. Do you guys know how the others shape up?

See what you did there? :erm:

 

[irBosOtter]

Are you looking at a uncapped account on capped account?

Think it's only the home uncapped accounts that gets shaped/throttled at a certain point. The capped accounts will never be shaped/throttled as far as I am aware.

 

[furpile]

I know its a bit of a mindset change going to ADSL, but you are not really a power user for using between 60 to 120 GB a month (only ISP's think so). Telkom's 2 Mbps uncapped account starts to throttle you after a 100 GB, and I think the 4 Mbps account is after 200 GB. So you should be fine even on the 2 Mbps account. Otherwise a 100 GB capped account will probably work out cheaper than an uncapped account.

As for setup time, you should have the line installed within a week, maybe two. Depends on the Telkom guys in your area. ISP's are mostly instant activation, so once your line is set up you are connected. If you want to go the Telkom route look at the Simple packages if they are still available. They give free router and free installation. Their capped packages also have nightsurfer or something, so you can download as much as you want between midnight and 7 am.

 

[furpile]

Oh, as for the ISP's, I have an account with VOX and Afrihost. Both work fine, but people in different areas have different experiences. The Cape Town guys have struggled a lot with both these ISP's, but I think that is resolved now. It also depends what you want to use your ADSL for and what times. Just downloads, or streaming or gaming? During the day or only after hours?

 

[Chevron]

Hi all
It's that time of year again, and I'm looking to go DSL. Previously I was bumming off a lot of other internet options, (mostly my university) but as I'm looking to get ADSL in my flat this year, I was hoping you guys could help.

I've been looking at all the DSL packages I could find, and currently am deciding between Telkom, CrystalWeb, Axxess and Vox Telecom. Most of them are pretty evenly priced; I would, however, like to know what the turnaround time for installing and activating from scratch is, and what the throttling and shaping policies of the respective ISPs are, if you guys know.

I'm looking to install either a 2Mbps or 4Mbps line (obviously preferably 4), but am a power user so my usage will probably vary between 60 and 120GB a month. A friend of mine is on CrystalWeb 4Mbps, and though it's R80 a month more expensive than the Axxess/Telkom offering, he uses 100GB a month on average and has never been shaped. Do you guys know how the others shape up?

Why not take the R299 package here:
http://www.webafrica.co.za/home/adsl/

 

[stephannel77]

I know its a bit of a mindset change going to ADSL, but you are not really a power user for using between 60 to 120 GB a month (only ISP's think so). Telkom's 2 Mbps uncapped account starts to throttle you after a 100 GB, and I think the 4 Mbps account is after 200 GB. .

Do you know at what threshold do you get throttled with Telkom 10meg account?

 

[MickZA]

Do you know at what threshold do you get throttled with Telkom 10meg account?

I'm not a power user by 10MB standards and average 370GB/mth (with a max of 454GB last August), never been in the orange on TItracker since moving to 10MB last January.

 

[stephannel77]

I'm not a power user by 10MB standards and average 370GB/mth (with a max of 454GB last August), never been in the orange on TItracker since moving to 10MB last January.

Thanks MickZA, Was just wondering as my services was not the same last night. I stream a lot and only after about 8:30pm i could get HD quality. Only sit at 93gb for the month.

 

[furpile]

Do you know at what threshold do you get throttled with Telkom 10meg account?

No. The figures I remember for 2 and 4 Mbps accounts come from an article here on mybb some time ago. It seems that none of the ISP's really want to state what their threshold limits are (except Cybersmart I think and CW). People have asked many times for clearly defined values but it has not been forthcoming.