Some random ADSL questions

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seymour7

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I am eventually upgrading from dialup to ADSL :) but there are just a few questions I need answered before I move on. I’ve tried sucking as much info as I could from this forum, and from the Telkom website but wasn’t too sure about some things. (BTW, I plan to get a 384 kbps line from Telkom, and use the Telkom Internet All Access 3 GB – Advanced package)

1. Somebody mentioned earlier that this 3 GB cap is hard capped at 6 GB. Is this true, and if it is, do I get reduced speed or something?

2. As far as I know, after I’ve used up my 3 GB international cap, I will then start using my 30 GB local cap. If I still haven’t used up my 3 GB international cap and I visit, for example, a locally hosted South African website, will that bandwidth be added to my 3 GB international or my 30 GB local cap? (I’m hoping it gets added to the 30 GB local cap :P)

3. Somebody also mentioned elsewhere in this forum that if you choose the self-install option, you get a free 4-port wireless DSL router. I understand that you don’t have to pay for the installation fees but on the Telkom website I saw nothing mentioning the free modem? You can only get a free modem when signing up for a 24 month contract. Can somebody clarify this?

4. And finally, I was also wondering if there isn’t some type of advantage when using Telkom as your ISP, instead of, for example WebAfrica. WebAfrica are quite a bit cheaper but surely they aren’t better than Telkom? The thing is that I don’t think WebAfrica offer the extra 30 GB local cap, but if local websites are added to my 3 GB cap, when it’s not finished yet then the 30 GB cap isn’t so cool anymore. I could then go WebAfrica and get an extra 1 GB international cap, or something like that.

Thanks in advance! All help is appreciated. :)
 
1. There is no hard cap anymore, point 2 explains what happens after 3gb

2. The first 3gb is called blended bandwidth, its treated as both int and local. Only once 3gb (no matter what sites u surf) are used you are then limited to local sites only for another 30gb.

3. Not sure if the special is still running.

4. Telscum sucks :( I would rather go for webafrica or openweb, but off course you dont get the extra 30gb local. And the bundled DO packages are slightly cheaper. You can get a prepaid account from webafrica just in case u need to surf int after u used your 3gb on the telkom account
 
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seymour7 said:
...

WebAfrica are quite a bit cheaper but surely they aren’t better than Telkom?

...
Click to expand...

Of COURSE WA is better!!! :D Besides, there is no rule against 'cherry-picking' the best prices/services across multiple ISPs. Take for example, the following products from WA:

Local only bandwidth: SAIX - http://www.webafrica.co.za/adsl/local/ or IS - http://www.webafrica.co.za/adsl/is_local/

International + local: IS - http://www.webafrica.co.za/adsl/is/

and my personal favourite (the only one I use, besides prepaid): SAIX shaped (no additional local bandwidth) - http://www.webafrica.co.za/adsl/standard/ @ R49/GB.

You should also shop around, www.OpenWeb.co.za has IS fibre accounts that
are semi-shaped and have like-for-like local bandwidth. www.axxess.co.za also offers similar products.
 
axxess local saix R12 gig prepaid, Monthly billed R10 a gig
webafrica local saix R19 gig...
 
Yep, you guys have just proved why it's good to shop around and cherry-pick.

I really like WA's customer service (prompt, always helpful) and their control panel to manage accounts is fantastic (looks good too).
 
Thanks for the info everyone. Ok, I’m definitely not using Telkom Internet All Access any more XD! I don’t actually need any local-only bandwidth, and therefore need as much international bandwidth as I can for about R239. I had a look around the other ISPs:

WebAfrica: R290 for 5GB shaped (SAIX) or R199 for 3GB Shaped (SAIX) [http://www.webafrica.co.za/adsl/standard/]

OpenWeb: R239 for 5GB Shaped (SAIX) [http://www.openweb.co.za/saix_adsl.php]

Axxess: R239 for 4GB Shaped (SAIX) [http://www.axxess.co.za/adsl.php]

I’ve heard a lot of good comments about WebAfrica, but not many about OpenWeb. Ok, so it looks like I’m going to go with OpenWeb, 5GB Shaped (SAIX) only unless anybody has something bad to tell me about OpenWeb? The only thing that’s on my mind right now is that if OpenWeb is cheaper than WebAfrica, why do so many people prefer WebAfrica? I’m kinda hoping that OpenWeb is ok because 5GB cap would be really juicy for me. :P Thanks for the help once again.
 
seymour7 said:
Thanks for the info everyone. Ok, I’m definitely not using Telkom Internet All Access any more XD! I don’t actually need any local-only bandwidth, and therefore need as much international bandwidth as I can for about R239. I had a look around the other ISPs:

WebAfrica: R290 for 5GB shaped (SAIX) or R199 for 3GB Shaped (SAIX) [http://www.webafrica.co.za/adsl/standard/]

OpenWeb: R239 for 5GB Shaped (SAIX) [http://www.openweb.co.za/saix_adsl.php]

Axxess: R239 for 4GB Shaped (SAIX) [http://www.axxess.co.za/adsl.php]

I’ve heard a lot of good comments about WebAfrica, but not many about OpenWeb. Ok, so it looks like I’m going to go with OpenWeb, 5GB Shaped (SAIX) only unless anybody has something bad to tell me about OpenWeb? The only thing that’s on my mind right now is that if OpenWeb is cheaper than WebAfrica, why do so many people prefer WebAfrica? I’m kinda hoping that OpenWeb is ok because 5GB cap would be really juicy for me. :P Thanks for the help once again.
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with Openweb, a lot of people just use WA for prepaid accounts which can be quite useful.
 
seymour7 said:
Thanks for the info everyone. Ok, I’m definitely not using Telkom Internet All Access any more XD! I don’t actually need any local-only bandwidth, and therefore need as much international bandwidth as I can for about R239. I had a look around the other ISPs:

WebAfrica: R290 for 5GB shaped (SAIX) or R199 for 3GB Shaped (SAIX) [http://www.webafrica.co.za/adsl/standard/]

OpenWeb: R239 for 5GB Shaped (SAIX) [http://www.openweb.co.za/saix_adsl.php]

Axxess: R239 for 4GB Shaped (SAIX) [http://www.axxess.co.za/adsl.php]

I’ve heard a lot of good comments about WebAfrica, but not many about OpenWeb. Ok, so it looks like I’m going to go with OpenWeb, 5GB Shaped (SAIX) only unless anybody has something bad to tell me about OpenWeb? The only thing that’s on my mind right now is that if OpenWeb is cheaper than WebAfrica, why do so many people prefer WebAfrica? I’m kinda hoping that OpenWeb is ok because 5GB cap would be really juicy for me. :P Thanks for the help once again.
Click to expand...

I do not think you can go wrong with any one of these ISPs. I'd consider these the top 3 anyway - where each ranks relative to others is a matter of preference.

I like WA for their service (24/7 support). I have always had my support tickets resolved within 30 minutes to an hour. Their control panel is also intuitive, and I believe MOST of the products they offer can be purchased and activated immediately (via Credit Card) without having to wait for someone during business hours to do something. I believe this is in contrast to OpenWeb (I could be wrong though) although I believe Axxess also has immediate activation products. In general, I find WA (their web site, control panel, etc.) more usable and they seem to be more customer-focused/service oriented than the other two.

As I say, though, there's very little between these three and remember, they are selling essentially the same product (SAIX or IS access)!
 
one thing about having telkom as 1 of ure isp's is you get to squeeze that little bit more int out of it
 
Be sure to check which offers you the best router thrown into the deal. WA allows you to upgrade the router to a wireless one for extra R200....I'm sure the others have something similar.

WA has a good reputation because they respond to if you email/phone/whatever...plus they also monitor these forums and respond if appropriate. (Openweb does too I think)
 
It looks like I’m going to stick with the 5GB Shaped SAIX from OpenWeb (just because they’re a bit cheaper than WebAfrica). I’ve seriously got to stop asking questions but I kinda have just one more. If I find a cheaper ISP than OpenWeb, how long notice do I have to give them for my account to be terminated? I’m hoping it will be terminated by at most the end of the month I request termination.

EDIT: Found it in the terms of service :P

8. TERMINATION OF SERVICE

Save for the immediate termination of a defaulting User the following notice periods will apply:

8.1 1 calendar months notice (the 1st or 2nd of every month only) written notice for SAIX Shaped, SAIX Unshaped, SAOL Uncapped and SAOL Capped clients;

8.2 10 (ten) days written notice for Internet Solutions accounts.
Click to expand...
 
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