I'm not sure if the spectrum conversation is headed where I suspect it might be, but let me just say, that I am extremely opposed to the idea of 2.4 GHz being used for anything other than wifi...
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Vodacom Wimax Launch Date?
- Thread starter Syndyre
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vodacom3g
Vodacom Representative
No, I don't have anything against WISPs - except for those WISPs that have been known to over-amp their signal transmissions which causes major interference for everyone else in the vicinity.
What I mean is that 2.4GHz should not be reallocated to be used for anything other than Wifi, IOW when Alec Irwin or NeOTel et al decide that they want to use 2.4GHz for something like WiMax etc, then they should be directed towards the nearest active volcanic lava flow.
Yes, true, but just in case there are ideas of adding to the clutter & interference within this already overloaded piece of spectrum...
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Roman4604
Executive Member
Thats a bit of an understatement. WiMAX (802.16e) is built on far more modern radio technologies/specifications such as OFDMA & 64QAM that 3GPP is only aspiring to in LTE (after 14.4 HSDPA).
Even 1st gen 802.16e implementations can achieve 5-7Mbps download speed, can provide 35ms IP roundtrip latency, can operate in dense urban NLOS environments where much of your signal strenght comes from relections & can service users on the same sector effectively even thought their distances vary from 100m to 15kms.
This is all without any evolution or optimisation (such as MIMO). WiMAX has the potential to way exceed HSDPA in capability and more specifically price and those in the know are fully aware of this.
As I've said before, the 1st "mutha" WiMAX network will be the $3B Sprint/Nextel country-wide rollout in the states. Besides Intel (the WiMAX Don) the vendor consortium consists of Motorola, Samsung & Nokia.
Cunningly coincidental that they are the world's no. 1,2 & 3 in GSM/UTMS handset manufacture.
vodacom3g
Vodacom Representative
Agree with your post, but it's not the case yet. Practically today HSDPA is still a better bet and will probably stay so for mobile applications.
But as the technology mature, it will become viable. As you indicated it's suitable to ADSL type of applications in built-up areas.
Csnoopy
Expert Member
Who & what is iburst? What makes there wireless product different to Sentech or any other product. Are they local only or are these world renowned products. Now where does wimax fit into the overall picture. Why would you choose the one over the other?
Well Wimax, Sentech, iBurst etc use different technology/standards, iBurst is used internationally but they're the only company that offer it in SA. WiMax is a newer technology and likely to be better for a variety of reasons.
The answer is within MyBroadband.co.za's iBurst forum...
Csnoopy
Expert Member
Seeing that we have all the knowledge & expertise available.
How and what do you use to decide which broadband service to use. Taking the future into consideration.
3G/HSDPA/HSUPA
WIMAX
IBURST
MyWireless
ADSL/ADSLxx
I hope I have them all
When do you recommend which one.
I currently have a friend that has recently purchased 3G for online share trading. So far it has been beter than Iburst. Certain programs did not work on Iburst at all. Is online trading seen as a p2p connection?
How and what do you use to decide which broadband service to use. Taking the future into consideration.
3G/HSDPA/HSUPA
WIMAX
IBURST
MyWireless
ADSL/ADSLxx
I hope I have them all
When do you recommend which one.
I currently have a friend that has recently purchased 3G for online share trading. So far it has been beter than Iburst. Certain programs did not work on Iburst at all. Is online trading seen as a p2p connection?
Well IMO the only decent options at the moment are 3G/HSDPA and ADSL, wouldn't really bother with the rest. WiMax might be an option once a better offer comes out but Telkom's isn't anything special. 3G/HSDPA obviously has the major advantage of mobility, no installation and not dealing with Telkom.
Dependent on coverage though. ADSL is fixed but maybe overall more stable than 3G/HSDPA, depends on your line etc. though so impossible to generalise. HSDPA is faster than all but the fastest ADSL offerings and should be getting a speed boost soon. ADSL's much cheaper for higher caps though. Overall I'd probably say for anything up to 2, maybe 3GB go with HSDPA, beyond that ADSL's probably a better option. This assumes you have coverage and ADSL line availability obviously. Share trading isn't P2P but iBurst seems to shape quite heavily so maybe they shape that port/protocol?
If by 'future', you mean long-term investment of your money & time into a particular broadband technology, as a consumer, then I think you might be barking up the wrong tree, I rather advise that you view your investment into a particular broadband technology, as being a short to medium-term investment.
My reasoning is as follows: SA has seen several new wireless broadband technologies being introduced into SA over the last 4 years, with the promise of more to come, which effectively means that one is likely to perceive one or more newly-introduced broadband technologies, as being better or more beneficial, compared to broadband technologies that one is currently using, and one might then be tempted to adopt one [or more] newly-introduced broadband technologies, and perhaps paperweight the broadband technologies that one is currently using.
My usual advice, when trying to decide which broadband service is 'best for you', is to ignore the marketing & advertising, and start by eliminating the broadband services which are not available to you in the area(s) where you want to use a broadband service, usually this will create a short-list of available options and allow you to then apply your personal usage & preference criteria to arrive at a final decision...
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Csnoopy
Expert Member
Investment; yes.
Very diplomatic I say. Where I am all is available well at least 99%.
So then stick your neck out and say IMO. .............
Well I would say 3G/HSDPA as v3g has said somewhere in this thread currently it is the better option in the current environment for wireless.
Is there an IF/WHEN/THEN thread somewhere that can give a guideline on how to make such a decision?
Investment; yes.
Very diplomatic I say. Where I am all is available well at least 99%.
So then stick your neck out and say IMO. .............
Well I would say 3G/HSDPA as v3g has said somewhere in this thread currently it is the better option in the current environment for wireless.
Is there an IF/WHEN/THEN thread somewhere that can give a guideline on how to make such a decision?
What do you need exactly? In terms of speed, cost, mobility etc? It really comes down to what you need personally, there's no overall best option.
If you click here, you will see that my neck already is stuck out, and has been for some time already.
Besides, my recent posts indicate that I have a preference for HSDPA, especially considering how pathetic Telkodemonopolies' ADSL currently happens to be for some of its customers, including myself.
Is there an IF/WHEN/THEN thread somewhere that can give a guideline on how to make such a decision?
MyBroadband.co.za [i.e. rpm] periodically releases the Broadband Report, which is intended to assist consumers, when deciding which service might be the most appropriate at that point in time.
Note that Vodacom's pricing has both consolidated and reduced since the last Broadband Report.
Csnoopy
Expert Member
OK, OK. I get it. I am just being the devil's advocate for those out there like me that get caught by the sales & marketing info that goes out on the AIR etc. The majority get lured by the Rand value not the risks etc. It would be nice to have a if/when/then thingy to help to choose WIMAX or ......
example
R49 for 40MB. R49 that's nothing so is 40MB.
I suppose that is life.
Any ideas on how WIMAX will be marketed?
Well Telkom is basically marketing it as an ADSL replacement, I think they're only offering it in areas where ADSL isn't available, its priced roughly the same as 512k ADSL as far as access charges are concerned and you can use any ADSL account on it IIRC. Might be very different when the other players launch though, no guarantees. Can't see any benefit to Telkom WiMax over HSDPA at the moment, but that's one offering rather than the technology itself.
The problem with providing an "if/when/then thingy" is that it would be putting ideas into their heads, when the ideas should be coming out of their own brain matter.
Ultimately the consumers that make good decisions, do so as a result of thinking for themselves, which in the case of choosing a broadband service, requires some effort on their part, namely doing some research, which can easily be done by registering on MyBroadband.co.za and asking for the opinions of fellow consumers that already have broadband.
I think you can tell that I don't have much sympathy for consumers that allow themselves to be brainwashed by marketing & adverts, however we all make mistakes, the thing is to learn from those mistakes and avoid making the same mistakes again.
Csnoopy
Expert Member
The above is all well said but what about the poor people out there that have no clue about broadband etc. They get nailed because they don't know the con's. Making mistakes and learning by them is fine but at what cost? And who and what is MyBroadband.co.za ? The general user out in the market has no idea. I stumbled onto it because I was desperate to solve some issues with the E220. I got smacked on the hand several times but I have learnt a lot in the mean time and it could cost a lot. That is why I am asking all the questions. How are you getting MyBroadband.co.za out in the market place. You are only as good as your experience.
MyADSL/MyBroadband is basically a consumer broadband advocacy/advice site, originally for ADSL but now encompassing all forms of broadband. Its one of the top SA websites IIRC and is becoming increasingly popular so rpm and everybody else seem to be doing pretty well at publicising it.