Some questions...

[BuffyBanger]

I'm looking into getting an always on connection (I'm currently on 56k). Using the dialup I can download about 5GB per month (combined up and down is usually around 7GB) of which about 90% is p2p (BitTorrent, Fasttrack and DC++). I can't really afford to spend more than R600 pm on Internet access.

1. If I get the iBurst 1GB account will I be able to download more per month considering that I will be capped to approx. 8kB/s for most of the month and that p2p traffic is (heavily?) shaped?

2. If the iBurst "modem" disconnects (I suppose this happens regularly, but I don't really know), does it automatically reconnect or do you have to manually reconnect?

Thanks for any help

PS. I haven't tested iBurst at my flat yet, but lets assume that I can get the full 1 Mbps while it's uncapped, ie. connection optimal

 

[craigsa]

Hi there. Look i got to tell you that looking around at all the options i really think IBURST is the way to go. It costs me R699 and i think considering all the options that it is worth it and i am generally quite happy with it.
I must tell you i dont get disconnected at all anymore and when i did previously, it immidiately reconnected.
I would recommend an external aerial as it has done wonders for me.
I must stress that there are problems as with any service but i hope they will be worked out.

This is all MY opinion and MY thoughts.
Hope this helps.

Craig

 

[craigsa]

I would also do a test on signal first and maybe the ping speeds that you get there first.

 

[Kei]

If a reseller can conduct a test successfully from your location I would say iBurst is about the best you can get in SA at the moment. Telkom is showing it's true colours more and more these days.

iBurst does have it's technical problems but there's enough of us here with experience to help you

 

[MaD]

http://www.hellkom.co.za/research/graphs/LocalServices.gif

 

[craigsa]

Buddy what Kei said is 1000000000% right. Get someone out there to do a test

 

[BuffyBanger]

Thanks for all the advice. Don't worry, I don't spend unless I'm convinced that I will get some kind of minimum service. Regarding that, is it possible for a reseller to test a capped connection?

PS. Amazing, 5 responses within 30 min!!

 

[slimothy]

1. If I get the iBurst 1GB account will I be able to download more per month considering that I will be capped to approx. 8kB/s for most of the month and that p2p traffic is (heavily?) shaped?

2. If the iBurst "modem" disconnects (I suppose this happens regularly, but I don't really know), does it automatically reconnect or do you have to manually reconnect?l

1. you will be able to download much more every month after you're capped but when you are capped the throttling doesn't spread evenly across multiple connections, so basically don't expect to get a consistent 8KB on p2p, it works best when you download from a few connections, like say 4 or so or if you can set up your p2p client to only get stuff from a few peers you could probably get it working at around 4 - 6KB/s or you could make a plan and download to a server and leech it later.

2. It doesn't happen regularly with me, I leave my pc on 24/7 and stay connected for days at a time but you just set up the connection to not show the username/password prompt and delay 1 second between connection attempts and then if it drops it waits one second and connects.

 

[rebel]

Regarding that, is it possible for a reseller to test a capped connection?!!

Simple answer is no. My P2P works fine even when capped. Which tower will u be connecting to?

PS. Amazing, 5 responses within 30 min!!

Some guys are very helpful.

 

[Bishop]

1. Since I've been capped I have been getting 25MB per hour, every hour. This is a steady 7kB/s. This is pure HTTP though. Personally I have been unable to get P2P to work the way it should. DC++ stays under 1kB/s and torrents are around 2kB if you are lucky. Downloading to another server and leeching it off works for the torrents though.

2. The past couple of weeks I have not been having any disconnects at all. if it does drop, it redials on it's own though.

For my own needs iBurst is the best out there atm. If you are looking for mostly P2P stuff, based on my own experience, I would not recommend it though.

 

[slimothy]

For my own needs iBurst is the best out there atm. If you are looking for mostly P2P stuff, based on my own experience, I would not recommend it though.

It is indeed a great product and is coming into maturity, I'm glad I'm no longer the only one on this forum thats happy with the connection. Couple extra things I wanna mention though, remember all the stuff on p2p is available somewhere else if you know how to get it, and of course there are loads of ways to still get p2p, the only thing is p2p wont be so awesome right out the box (tweaks, edits, workarounds are needed but its still very possible to do full speed on p2p). However its 1mbit!! I mean, in our country it doesn't get better than that, some people would prefer always on 192k and download slowly but surley over a long period of time, I totally understand that, but as someone who's used this baby for 6 months, I have to say nothing compares to 1mbit (well except 2mbit ).