To Join or Not to Join?

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DewaldB

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Hi

I just want some advice on Neotel's Packages I just want to know if the NeoConnect Prime Unlimited is worth it I live in Pretoria Gardens.

I know have Mweb Asl 384 and get download speeds up to 39kbs. And then will I be able to connect Neotel to 2 computers via a Hub. I bought a Netgear hub that can connect 4 Pc's to the Internet and I would like to know if I would be able to do the same with Neotel.

One more thing if the phone rings does the internet disconnect?

Thanks in advance!!
 
Nothing with my connection so far except that instance a few weeks ago where no one could access internet for like a week. On the other hand, their services are horrendous. Just do a search on this forum and you will find out all the info you need.
 
So here's the thing. The way I see it, there are only 2 ways to share your Neotel internet connection. The first way is to get a Neotel Prime or Neotel Lite package, connect it via usb and share the connection like a dial-up one. But for this the computer connected to the device will have to be on for others to connect. The other way is to get a Neoflex Data package that basically gives you a router that can connect to multiple pc's.

About the phone question... From what I can gather the service doesn't disconnect, but rather pauses while your on the phone. It then continues afterwards.
 
Run while you still can...

Want my 2c? Run while you still can. I'm back with Telkom, its twice the price and worth every, single, last penny.

1. Their SMTP server is shot, and RBL'd (blacklisted)
2. I was in a full coverage area, and if I got 60kbps download if it was a very, very lucky day.
3. Their call center staff hang up the phone when you done, and did not write down, capture nor log anything you said - poof! its gone.
4. They claim the speed drops to 1kbps when on a call, maybe it does - fact is when I hang up it would "reset" something and drop the connection.
5. They have NO technical knowledge whatsoever. In fact its so scary I dont know how they actually run an ISP. (unless they dont, could be 101% outsourced...)
6. STILL no banwidth analyzer for their users. they have been "demo/testing" it for over 8 months now. 8 months to do bandwidth analysis? I mean come on you could re-build all of Verizon's global network in less time.
7. They tell you you can migrate freely between packages. True. They forgot to mention if you do every want to downgrade you have to "buy" the modem first.
8. Their technical staff seems to be locked away in some secret basement. Because no matter how hard you try to ask for a technical person in charge from the helpdesk - you get nothing.

Pros:
1. Its cheap.
2. See point 1.
 
I stay on Pretoria Sunnyside... dont EVER try Neotel Lite.. EVER. stay away... it is like a plague.
Not sure about Neo prime... some people get good results.
I do commend their phone call quality... it is good.
 
I had quite a few issues with them a month or so ago (and on this forum, i gather everyone else did too).

It's been quite stable for me (at the office) since then and speeds are reasonable on the uncapped Prime (get 65 - 80 KB/s). I have the external antennae from poynting of course.

Actually, come to think of it, I haven't had any problems at all in the last month. I have that unfortunate problem that after bitching about Telkom for so many years, I have vowed never to go back... even if they finally clean up their act. They screwed us with pricing and a crappy network for so many years. I can't forgive so easily. I just wish Neotel had fibre up and running... I would love that.

I wanted to know if anyone here had Flex and what the speeds were like vs Prime? I'm considering it for home where I don't need uncapped, but would like more speed than the prime.
 
When I was trying to decide whether to join, I read through all these forums and, yes, the majority of comments were negative. But the positive comments were very positive. So I decided to join anyway, after checking with Neotel that I could get out of the 24 month Neoconnect Prime Unlimited contract by buying the phone-modem. I live in Kenilworth in Cape Town and I am very happy, but I can see why some people wouldn't be.

My first priority is downloading, and I'm getting a serious lot more traffic than with any of my previous service providers. Speedwise, I used to have a telkom 384k line, and my Neotel connection almost never drops below that, and at least a third of the time is double that. I have to time my Skype calls to coincide with Neotel's faster times, which doesn't bother me but might bother others. It's almost always fast enough to stream internet radio. Ah, and did I mention downloading! I do have an MTN data bundle backup to send email when their SMTP doesn't work, and to browse when neotel does have problems.

So, basically, if downloading is your first priority internet activity, you cannot do better for R999 (given that you live in an area where reception is good, of course). If you are a perfectionist for whom everything has to run smoothly all of the time, steer clear, it will drive you into the nearest mental asylum in record time. At this stage they still do expect us to be very understanding and to work with them to identify problems. So I wouldn't recommend it without a backup internet connection and an ability to bear some annoyance easily. But everything I've downloaded and having decent internet radio to listen to makes it worth it, for me anyway.
 
DewaldB said:
Hi

I just want some advice on Neotel's Packages I just want to know if the NeoConnect Prime Unlimited is worth it I live in Pretoria Gardens.

I know have Mweb Asl 384 and get download speeds up to 39kbs. And then will I be able to connect Neotel to 2 computers via a Hub. I bought a Netgear hub that can connect 4 Pc's to the Internet and I would like to know if I would be able to do the same with Neotel.

One more thing if the phone rings does the internet disconnect?

Thanks in advance!!
Click to expand...

I'd rather stay with Telkom and maybe change your ISP.

Wait a while till Neotel works their kicks out.
 
From what I heard from Neotel I would rather stay with Telkom for now. Wait until Neotel has natoinwide coverage and sorted out their network problems. If you are looking for a uncapped account, look at Axxess Express Account. Still the best uncapped account that is in the market.
 
This is my quick story;

Joined Neotel, loved it!
Then... I started to hate it, problems, slow ass speeds etc etc - Neotel rep heard our complaints and we struggled for a bit, then things came right.
Now, I'm very happy with my Neotel service.
 
gdiza said:
This is my quick story;

Joined Neotel, loved it!
Then... I started to hate it, problems, slow ass speeds etc etc - Neotel rep heard our complaints and we struggled for a bit, then things came right.
Now, I'm very happy with my Neotel service.
Click to expand...

Glad to hear. Would like to join, but I am just outside excellent coverage
 
Get the external antennae

If you do sign up... I highly recommend the external antennae. If you aren't in an excellent coverage area then you are going to waste your time (and money) without one.

I had one... maybe two bars of signal on the phone when we bought it, and the speeds weren't great (I'm not in an excellent coverage area). We bought the antennae from Poynting and the RSSI dropped from 90 to 60 with the antennae (a good thing). Speeds jumped way up to where they should be under excellent signal conditions.

You can find it here: http://www.poyntingdirect.co.za/

There might be other retailers... I just don't know of them. If anyone else here knows of any, i'm sure they'll post.

Edit: In fact... I just looked at the coverage map now and apparently i'm not covered at all! lol. I think the map has changed, because i'm sure it said we did have coverage not so long ago:P I still have full signal.
 
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LOL, fu**ing uptight german @$$hole is a know-it-all today :)

antennae = plural
antenna = singular

You're very welcome 8)

But right, without my Poyinting antenna I would've thrown the stupid device outta the window by now.

Regarding Neotel's service:
* Speed is okay
* Latency is VERY bad
* Reliabilty is bad
* Hotline is crap
* Price is very good (compared to the other SA telecommunication facilitator, worldwide still the most expensive)

All in all I'd be a rather happy bunny with Neotel ... if I wouldn't use it for gaming. Latencies of up to 1500 ms is just ... grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr :(
 
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That's what I get for posting way past my bed time. I am aware of the difference... thanks for correcting:P
 
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