Some ADSL noob questions

hArTh · Aug 10, 2004

Im scheduled for ADSL installation this wednesday. I want to do some last minute checking.

(1)As I understand it:

-All traffic local and int, counts towards the int cap.
-Once capped, int is essentially useless but local is unlimited.

Characteristics of service:
Uncapped:
-Good int bandwidth: browsing etc.
-Good int p2p, IF client configed to use "correct" ports e.g. 80
-Sucky int pings
-Sucky int gaming.
-Local is all good, low pings, no shaping etc.
Capped:
-Int unuseable
-Local is all good, low pings, no shaping etc. + unlimited.

Please comment on whether this is a fair summary in your experiance.

(2) If I get two accounts can I do the following:
-Use 1 account to do the usuals e.g. mail, browsing, ... from say 17h00 to 23h00.
-Change over the other other account from 23h00 to 17h00 and rape the *local* p2p scene. Obviously this account will be capped pronto but thats ok.

Is the above feasible ... assuming the "hassle" of flipping accounts all the time?

Are there more elegant ways to do this 2 account thing? Connect via two different PC's on a local network simultaneously through a single ADSL line using different accounts?

(3) Hardware: I've decided to skip PCI ADSL modems because I need good linux support for my home server etc. I will be getting a Dlink-300G which will be ppoe'd into a smoothwall box and then on into the rest of my network. Are ADSL surge protectors special in anyway or can I just use a normal POTS surge protector?

Any other comments suggestions etc?

TIA

-Information anarchist-
www.sentechhatesfreespeech.org.za
I support:
www.poopband.co.za
www.hellkom.co.za

sybawoods · Aug 10, 2004

zit hArTh

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">-All traffic local and int, counts towards the int cap.
-Once capped, int is essentially useless but local is unlimited.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> Correct

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Characteristics of service:
Uncapped:
-Good int bandwidth: browsing etc.
-Good int p2p, IF client configed to use "correct" ports e.g. 80
-Sucky int pings
-Sucky int gaming.
-Local is all good, low pings, no shaping etc.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> True for the most part. International pings is relative to your needs. During most nights and week-ends you will get pings (from Cape Town at least) in the 350+ms range to Europe, which is cool for non-twitch based games, and some on-line racing sims like NASCAR 2003 etc. To the USA, it's closer to the 400ms range. For the last few months it appears that ADSL international traffic is going via SAT-3, and not satellite, which is good for pings. Expect much slower pings during peak hours.

Also note, that with unshaped ADSL, pings are in the 250ms range pretty much everywhere at all times of the day, but I'm assuming you're referring to the basic shaped ADSL.

Local pings is the best you can get with any of the available services atm including ISDN. My pings to local SAIX game servers with ISDN was about 55ms, with ADSL it's about 25-35ms. If you're in gauteng, expect pings under 15ms.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Capped:
-Int unuseable
-Local is all good, low pings, no shaping etc. + unlimited.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> Correct. Despite rumours about a local cap to be enforced, nothing has emerged yet. There's also been reports of them auditing local and international seperately, but nothing yet, so for now your summary is accurate.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">(3) Hardware: I've decided to skip PCI ADSL modems because I need good linux support for my home server etc. I will be getting a Dlink-300G which will be ppoe'd into a smoothwall box and then on into the rest of my network. Are ADSL surge protectors special in anyway or can I just use a normal POTS surge protector?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> No expert in this area, but I have the basic "ADSL Ethernet router Pots" supplied by Telkom. Have been using it for 2 years with absolutely no hassles, and it comes with free surge protection. I have used it to get both Xbox Live and online PS2 (have posted a basic "how-to" somewhere else in the forum). Note than not all routers are compatible with Xbox Live if this is something you want to get into at some point. Telkom also offers free support on their modems for up to 1 year - they will do free swap outs (happened to my brother) even over week-ends. Despite their normal crappy service, in this dept they do pretty well and it may be a small consideration. You *don't* want to be stuck with a broken router over a long-week-end for e.g

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">(2) If I get two accounts can I do the following:
-Use 1 account to do the usuals e.g. mail, browsing, ... from say 17h00 to 23h00.
-Change over the other other account from 23h00 to 17h00 and rape the *local* p2p scene. Obviously this account will be capped pronto but thats ok.

Is the above feasible ... assuming the "hassle" of flipping accounts all the time?

Are there more elegant ways to do this 2 account thing? Connect via two different PC's on a local network simultaneously through a single ADSL line using different accounts?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> Someone else can comment on this. But between my brother and I we share the cost of 2 accounts (1 unshaped for iinternational gaming, and 1 shaped). Switching between accounts via PPPOE is so painless - basically double-click on the icon and you're connected virtually "instantly". Remember, unlike with dial-up, there's no costs incurred by switching accounts, so that's a useful way to manage local and international traffic.

Hopefully some others can shed more light, but that's pretty much been my experience.

loosecannon · Aug 10, 2004

there is one thing that has started to concern me i run a cpl linux boxes on ADSL most of them do load balanceing between accounts one for www one for smtp one for other ... based on TOS routing in linux-2.6 ...

now there is one company that does not mind been capped and toward the end of the month i cannot access there system at all SSH/SMTP.... so telkom seem to be blocking all inbound connections to capped boxes ... so im not to sure if capped is truely local unlimited ... this is only recently ...

hArTh · Aug 10, 2004

Thanks for the reponse.

(2) hasn't been answered expiclity ... would appreaciate a specific answer. I.e. do they cap based on account details or on the DSLAM port's "adress" ?

[}

]

-Information anarchist-
www.sentechhatesfreespeech.org.za
I support:
www.poopband.co.za
www.hellkom.co.za

loosecannon · Aug 10, 2004

only your username gets capped the data is read from radius ...

so multiple usernames work on a dslm capped or not ...

the 4Gb service is turned off not capped

sybawoods · Aug 10, 2004

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by loosecannon
 only your username gets capped the data is read from radius ...

so multiple usernames work on a dslm capped or not ...

the 4Gb service is turned off not capped
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Correct. i.o.w. it is not the line that is capped, but the account. Once capped, log in with a different username and p/w on the same line and you're good to go.

hArTh · Aug 10, 2004

Sweet. Just picked up my Dlink 300G for R675 incl. Just need to oraganise my surge protector.

Telkom phoned me to tell me I have an "all day appointment" with them tommorow... LOL

-Information anarchist-
www.sentechhatesfreespeech.org.za
I support:
www.poopband.co.za
www.hellkom.co.za

georgestrydom · Aug 10, 2004

Just be careful about them saying that they have an "all day appointment" with you. If they haven't pitched by about 11 o'clock, then start phoning. It's a favourite thing of theres to say they are coming and if you are lucky, they might get there at knock-off time. If not so lucky, they just don't arrive. Meanwhile you have sat and waited the whole day for them.
What is such a big deal about installing adsl, I just can't understand it. The U.K. delivers the modem by post with written instructions on how to connect and that's it. Here they have to send a highly trained techie out to plug it in. Waste of manpower if you ask me.
At lastly, especially after a long weekend, they won't pitch. All of a sudden they are just to busy to see to new customers.

hArTh · Aug 10, 2004

I've told them to call me before they come. I aint sitting twiddling thumbs for them all day.

So sad to hold something in your hands that you know does 8 mbps down 1 mbs up while you are only going to see 512kps at best and pay R1k pm for [B)]

-Information anarchist-
www.sentechhatesfreespeech.org.za
I support:
www.poopband.co.za
www.hellkom.co.za

TheVoice · Aug 10, 2004

George: It's not even neccessary for them to come to your house - I got a call from a very nice guy (not a techie, obviously a manager or something, name was Ben) to say that he'd got the techies to activate the connection and that if I plug in my modem it should work. Bang, it did. No idea why they have to send people out here because there's actually nothing they need to install, as you said they never do in the UK, hence why it can be done in just a few days instead of the weeks or months it takes here.

hArTh · Aug 10, 2004

OMG

There's one bit of info I just cant get out of Telkom.

Does the frikin ADSL line rental cover the "rental" for voice calls?

Obviously I have to pay for the actual call costs themselves but do I have to pay an additional voice rental? i.e. Another R80 pm?

Can you believe the ADSL okes dont even now this!

While I'm on the subject. Can you get callmore on the voice part of ASDL????

-Information anarchist-
www.sentechhatesfreespeech.org.za
I support:
www.poopband.co.za
www.hellkom.co.za

The_Right_Honourable_Brit · Aug 10, 2004

Are you reffering to VOip (Voice over IP)
If you are, then it's illegal but I do it anyway[

]

And No you CAN"T get Callmore on ADSL, I think

hArTh · Aug 10, 2004

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dominic Rooney
 Are you reffering to VOip (Voice over IP)
If you are, then it's illegal but I do it anyway[

]

And No you CAN"T get Callmore on ADSL, I think
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

LOL

I'm talking about plain old analogue phone calls to my mother in JHB. If I dont report in regularly she gets antsy ...

-Information anarchist-
www.sentechhatesfreespeech.org.za
I support:
www.poopband.co.za
www.hellkom.co.za

loosecannon · Aug 10, 2004

yes the bastards even made me install a analogue line so they could put ADSL on it ...

and been who they are you pay the extra 80 like a good customer ....

hArTh · Aug 10, 2004

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by loosecannon
 yes the bastards even made me install a analogue line so they could put ADSL on it ...

and been who they are you pay the extra 80 like a good customer ....
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Good god ... another R80 pm? [V]

/me bends over and lubes up

-Information anarchist-
www.sentechhatesfreespeech.org.za
I support:
www.telkom.fokkensuig.co.za
www.poopband.co.za
www.hellkom.co.za

sybawoods · Aug 10, 2004

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by hArTh
Good god ... another R80 pm? [V]
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yep [

]. On the + side, keep an old analogue 56K modem handy in your PC. On the odd occasion when ADSL does go down (or you're capped or something), you can use your ADSL username and p/w to connect via SAIX, through your analogue line, on 56K dialup [

]. That's for gratis, other than the cost of the call. Your voice line is a seperate entity from your ADSL, so there's no reason why you can't order callmore for it i.m.o.

hArTh · Aug 11, 2004

*sigh*

/me looks wistfully at egyptian ADSL line for R150 pm ...

Maybe I can run a moerse long Cat5 cable [}

][}

]

-Information anarchist-
www.sentechhatesfreespeech.org.za
I support:
www.telkom.fokkensuig.co.za
www.poopband.co.za
www.hellkom.co.za

joema · Aug 11, 2004

with repeaters every 100 metres, might be cheaper to run your own SAT-3 cable

hArTh · Aug 11, 2004

I'm typing this live from my ADSL link okes!

[}

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Yusus ADSL is fast ... and oh the bliss of being connected 24/7 and not having to worry about per use connection charges!

-Information anarchist-
www.sentechhatesfreespeech.org.za
I support:
www.telkom.fokkensuig.co.za
www.poopband.co.za
www.hellkom.co.za

sybawoods · Aug 11, 2004

Yeah, much as we bitch and groan, once you make the step up from dial up to ADSL, always-on etc, you wonder how you got by in the past.

Now to make sure you're fully protected with your firewall. One of the biggest eye openers for me was the extent of malicious port scans and other crap that goes on when you have an always on-connection. Your bandwidth can get raped in a day or two if you're not careful - even the odd piece of spyware can bleed you dry. Get protected asap brutha!

Some ADSL noob questions

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