VDSL - worthwhile swap? Router options?

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Scoperzor

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I see that Afrihost are now offering VDSL bundles with smaller data packages than previously. The 20mb line + 50gb data combo comes out cheaper than Telkom's bundled 10mb + 20gb cap offering, so I am considering switching.

Some questions:
1) Anyone on VDSL with Afrihost that can attest to the performance? Is it a worthwhile switch going from ADSL to the new VDSL technology?
2) What are my options in terms of routers? (wireless preferential) I have struggled to find any on the popular retail websites.

Much appreciated!
 
Scoperzor said:
I see that Afrihost are now offering VDSL bundles with smaller data packages than previously. The 20mb line + 50gb data combo comes out cheaper than Telkom's bundled 10mb + 20gb cap offering, so I am considering switching.

Some questions:
1) Anyone on VDSL with Afrihost that can attest to the performance? Is it a worthwhile switch going from ADSL to the new VDSL technology?
2) What are my options in terms of routers? (wireless preferential) I have struggled to find any on the popular retail websites.

Much appreciated!
Click to expand...

Glad to hear you are considering moving over to us. I guess clients who are on VDSL (to my knowledge there are still only a handful) will give you their feedback. From our side, our VDSL products run on the same principle as our existing ADSL products, so we don't place any further limitations or restrictions. The real determining factor is the stability of your VDSL line. We have received intermittent reports, but in general VDSL is also highly dependant on capacity at the MSAN (exchange) where some are reporting heavy congestion affecting their speeds. However that does not seem to be the case everywhere - maybe just something to be aware of.

At the end of the day, experience is the best way. Sign up, give it a shot and we'd love to hear about how your experience goes :)

Drop me a PM if you have any questions :)
 
Vdsl accounts

Hi, does vdsl work on a similar concept as adsl?

Would this work.. A 20mb vdsl line.. With a 2mb uncapped account.. And a X gb capped account.. The uncapped runs daily for family use.. When I need speed.. I pppoe with the capped account and achieve full line speed? Works currently with adsl.. And everyone is happy.

Thanks
 
HOrse said:
Hi, does vdsl work on a similar concept as adsl?

Would this work.. A 20mb vdsl line.. With a 2mb uncapped account.. And a X gb capped account.. The uncapped runs daily for family use.. When I need speed.. I pppoe with the capped account and achieve full line speed? Works currently with adsl.. And everyone is happy.

Thanks
Click to expand...

normal adsl accounts should work , afrihost accounts works 100% for vdsl.
 
HOrse said:
Hi, does vdsl work on a similar concept as adsl?

Would this work.. A 20mb vdsl line.. With a 2mb uncapped account.. And a X gb capped account.. The uncapped runs daily for family use.. When I need speed.. I pppoe with the capped account and achieve full line speed? Works currently with adsl.. And everyone is happy.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Our DSL accounts will work on any line, ADSL or VDSL. It's mainly the router which determines as the modulation of the data signal is very different. Most VDSL routers are backward (ADSL) compatible, but ADSL or ADSL 2+ routers will not necessarily work on VDSL (read probably not!).
 
Jiggy said:
what routers do work with the new VDSL?
Click to expand...

So far only the Pace that Telkom sells. I can't find anything else locally.

The Pace is terrible if you try and set up firewall rules for incoming VPN connections (ie remote control of SickBeard etc). It's ok if you just need a box that will do your connection for you. Supports up to 100Mb VDSL, and also triple play with VOIP and TV via the USB port.
 
Hi There,
Seems the rollout of the technology is slower than one would like. However what is great to hear is that the VDSL is backward compatible from a hardware router perspective.
I would consider looking at a VDSL router as a replacement if I had to replace my current ADSL on that basis.
I am sure in time that the range of devices will increase and give us the sort of choice availabel today.

I would of course also like to hear the experiences of those who have gone VDSL

Regards

Tim
 
Haven't seen anything nice locally, and they don't seem to use vdsl in the USA, their stores don't have anything.
 
I recently bought a Netgear DGND4000, and quite like that, but I may have to dump it because it only supports ADSL2+.

So I am looking for something similar that supports VDSL, I don't know whether Netgear have something like that ?

Or maybe I should just look for a small standalone VDSL modem and feed that into the WAN port.

Maybe Netgear DGND3800B, seems to support VDSL ?
 
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Looks as if I will be going for the Netgear DGND3800B from eBay, don't see much else.

I have been told that the Pace is no good.
 
Jola said:
Looks as if I will be going for the Netgear DGND3800B from eBay, don't see much else.

I have been told that the Pace is no good.
Click to expand...

I have two of the Pace routers and they've been working perfectly since day one. I use them as modems only and don't use them to route and don't use the wireless so I cannot comment on that.
 
I do have access to a Pace, so maybe I should try using that as a pure modem, I have good routers.

Still worried about VDSL, one of the trial users told me that he had major problems during the trial. Mostly relating to a lack of expertise amongst Telkom staff.

But I may give it a go and see what happens.
 
Before you buy a VDSL modem, make sure you can get VDSL. The MSAN might support it, but you might be too far away get any sync.
 
Scoperzor said:
I see that Afrihost are now offering VDSL bundles with smaller data packages than previously. The 20mb line + 50gb data combo comes out cheaper than Telkom's bundled 10mb + 20gb cap offering, so I am considering switching.

Some questions:
1) Anyone on VDSL with Afrihost that can attest to the performance? Is it a worthwhile switch going from ADSL to the new VDSL technology?
2) What are my options in terms of routers? (wireless preferential) I have struggled to find any on the popular retail websites.

Much appreciated!
Click to expand...

Don't do it!!!! I took up the offer and ended up being down for a whole week!!!!

First of all, Afrihost did not tell me I needed a new modem. Even when I bought one (Pace), I still could not connect. As far as Afrihost was concerned, the line was syncing and all should work. But I could not connect to any ISP including the Telkom guest account. It was only when Telkom switched me back to 10mbps ADSL that I was online again.

I was down for the whole week and lost days of lost chargeable hours. It seems like I spent most of my life talking to the guys on the Afrihost call center. Cannot remember the number of times I had to unplug/plug the router, reset to factory specs, reboot my PC, type in command level instructions, etc. Every time I called I got someone else and had to go through the whole rigmarole again.

I would suggest that neither Afrihost or Telkom are ready for VDSL yet. I would wait another year or so. Anyone wants to buy a slightly used Pace VDSL router?
 
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VDSL and Afrihost works fine. You are just too far from exchange to get VDSL sync, it's much more demanding than ADSL.
 
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