Value in 3.6?

[Dolby]

Just wonder, with one more left of free trialing before paying our R50 ... how do you guys feel about 3.6 ? Willl you pay after the end of this month?

I'd actually like to see a poll if possible, because from what I've seen and read, there isn't *much* value to 3.6. Before I get a flurry of posts telling me it's my area, or my tower, or how people are on etc I do know this.

I'm trying to see whether it's beneficial for YOU.

Thanks,

PS For me, it's not. I'm not paying extra after this month.

 

[Keeper]

Id use my money on more Gigs, as I recently used up 1000MB's in one weekend.
still, if 1.8 is too slow, id hand over my 50 bucks....

 

[Dolby]

But you've been using 3.6 on the free trial for over a month? Based on the speeds you got on that trial, is it worth it to you?

 

[Keeper]

no, just got HSDPA.... but what i'm saying is that If I Need to Drive to Cape Town id Rather pick the Mini with Lots of Gas money than a Diablo with almost no Gas Money.

Bassically, If U can download half your CAP in 2 days, that means that you Have too Much Speed, and Too Little CAP.

So my point is, id rather use the money for More GB's...unless its TOO slow, for the internet to be worthwhile anyway.

but i'd probably fork it out anyway....it's only 50 bucks...

For someone to decide, it would probably depend on how much their CAP is every month:
Users with Low CAP probably won't do it, Users with Huge CAP would.

 

[Iam3G]

IMO, you'll only start to see results when the subscription kicks in.

What i mean is, those who feel 3.6 isnt worth it will revert back to 1.8(relieving some backhaul capacity for 3.6 users), and those who feel 3.6 IS worth it stays on it(relieving some backhaul capacity for 1.8 users).

 

[Keeper]

oh yeah, wait - youve got a point! when the cheapskates don't want to pay R50, then 3.6 will be even faster as it is now, as you say, it will be relieving some backhaul capacity for 3.6 users.

Then I'd pay the R50

 

[Dolby]

I'm not a cheapskate

The trial was to see whether it's worth it for me. Going from an average of 1.3 (on 1.8) to 1.8 (on 3.6) and real world speeds increased to roughly 90kb/sec on a good day.

For me personally, it isn't worth it.

 

[paulrr]

I have both the PCMCIA and USB modems and in the Fourways area I never get anywhere near 1.8mb/s, so why pay for something I wont get. If the backhaul statement is true will those guys that pay for the upgrade let us know if they are getting improved speeds once the subscription starts.

 

[Dolby]

That's why I was saying too, paulrr.

I'd like to get a quick idea as to many people see the value in it because they've seen a difference.

 

[Iam3G]

oh yeah, wait - youve got a point! when the cheapskates don't want to pay R50, then 3.6 will be even faster as it is now, as you say, it will be relieving some backhaul capacity for 3.6 users.

Then I'd pay the R50

Remember, thats only hypothetically speaking.

Say it now it does happen. Then we as 3.6 users will be experience super high speeds. People will hear how fast 3.6 is then(again hypothetically speaking) a motherload of people go over to 3.6. Back to square one!

So its a 50/50 situation, IMO.

 

[Iam3G]

I'm not a cheapskate

The trial was to see whether it's worth it for me. Going from an average of 1.3 (on 1.8) to 1.8 (on 3.6) and real world speeds increased to roughly 90kb/sec on a good day.

For me personally, it isn't worth it.

That's why I was saying too, paulrr.

I'd like to get a quick idea as to many people see the value in it because they've seen a difference.

I get the same as Dolby on a regular day, peaking at 2.5 at times. For the past 3weeks its gotten better.

So ja, i've definitely seen(and felt) a difference in speeds, but there are those off days too.

 

[Keeper]

I Think V3G is the person who needs to post a reply here, as he would probably know more.... so V3G, if youre listening: How would it work? would the 1.8 subscribers be on "a different system" than the 3.6 subscribers?

bassically, here is a scenario:
would 1.8 be faster than 3.6 if 99% choose to use the 3.6 Service? or does the subscriber amount in whichever group not matter

 

[vodacom3g]

I Think V3G is the person who needs to post a reply here, as he would probably know more.... so V3G, if youre listening: How would it work? would the 1.8 subscribers be on "a different system" than the 3.6 subscribers?

bassically, here is a scenario:
would 1.8 be faster than 3.6 if 99% choose to use the 3.6 Service? or does the subscriber amount in whichever group not matter

The 1.8 / 3.6 (and soon 7.2) speed limitation is the max you will get depending on the service you've subscribed to. If there is enough capacity all the way from your tower to the site you're trying to hit you'll get your max speed.

But say there is 1Mb/s capacity available (for whatever reason). Does not matter what speed profile you're on, you'll obviously only get 1 Mb/s.

But say there is 3Mb/s capacity available. The 3.6 users will get it, but the 1.8 users will only get 1.8.

The backhaul upgrades are going as fast as Telkom can deliver, so the capacity is constantly improving. But there are still thousands of links to go in.

I'd like to see a point where every users gets an average of around 2.5Mb/s.

 

[dex_10]

I Think V3G is the person who needs to post a reply here, as he would probably know more.... so V3G, if youre listening: How would it work? would the 1.8 subscribers be on "a different system" than the 3.6 subscribers?

bassically, here is a scenario:
would 1.8 be faster than 3.6 if 99% choose to use the 3.6 Service? or does the subscriber amount in whichever group not matter

Mmm... I must agree, this is a valid point. What should I do: Should I opt for 1.8 seeing that a lot of people will go with the 3.6 option and cause it to be digested, meaning that 1.8 will end up to be faster or is the 3.6 option still the better(faster) option. We don't know and Vodacom doesn't give us guidance on this.

Maybe V3G can give us some clarity. It will also be good to know when 7.2 is coming, because that will now become an additional factor. One needs to know these things if you want to plan ahead, because to change one's package at a later stage will be an administrative nightmare in terms of billing seeing that the 155 "specialists" will become involved then.

 

[ic]

Mmm... I must agree, this is a valid point. What should I do: Should I opt for 1.8 seeing that a lot of people will go with the 3.6 option and cause it to be digested, meaning that 1.8 will end up to be faster or is the 3.6 option still the better(faster) option. We don't know and Vodacom doesn't give us guidance on this.

I'm confused as to why you're looking to Vodacom to tell you as a customer what to do or not to do, but if you need advice, my advice is that as of 2008-05-01, you should stay on HSDPA 1.8 unless you feel you really need the additional speed that HSDPA 3.6 can offer and if the backhaul capacity in your area(s) is sufficient - which you would know by now as a result of the free trial.

 

[vodacom3g]

We don't know and Vodacom doesn't give us guidance on this.

 

[DotaGamer]

I think it is worth it because I get the following results from the speed test:

Download: 2442 Kbps / 305.3 KB/sec

Upload:117 Kbps / 14.6 KB/sec


This is 67% the max speed of 3.6. Which is pretty good I think for R50 a month.

Besides, you pay R200 for a Hellkom 386Kbps and 1GB cap. Wheres for R280 u get a 1GB cap with a 2Kbps connection.

Thats R80 more for about 5x the speed.

Worth it....yes. Besides, you dnt have to wait 2months to get a line from Hellkom

 

[Dolby]

Yea but, as I posted in another thread, what is your real life speed?

Isn't 3.6 about 450kb/sec max ? 67% of that should still get me 300kb/sec. I'm the month I've had it, I've yet to see a constant 100kb/sec. I know it's a personal thing, but for me it doesn't work ...

 

[ic]

Yea but, as I posted in another thread, what is your real life speed?

Isn't 3.6 about 450kb/sec max ? 67% of that should still get me 300kb/sec. I'm the month I've had it, I've yet to see a constant 100kb/sec. I know it's a personal thing, but for me it doesn't work ...

I think you have your kBytes/s and kbits/s mixed up, 3.6 means 3.6Mbits/s, 1.8 means 1.8Mbits/s, both of which are considerably faster than 100kbits/s.

I suggest you use the 3GOnly profile setting with whatever modem and dashboard s/w you are using.

 

[Dolby]

Possibly - something tells me you know what I mean though