What do I go for 3G, EDGE, HSDPA, ADSL, ISDN etc. etc. etc.

[PicMan]

Hi.
I am wanting to get connected at home but with all the choices available lately I cannot decide what to go for, 3G, EDGE, HSDPA, ADSL, ISDN etc. etc. etc.
I basically want to use it weekends and when the kids need info for school. During the week I am connected at work.
This must be price dependent, speed, mobility, etc. etc.
Please advise

Thanks

 

[ajax]

If you don't need low latency (i.e. gamers), yes any of the above will do. It only depends on the total volume of data you want to download in a month. Anything less than 1 GB and you would save money by going wireless. Anything above 1 GB it's better to get fixed line.

Remember ISDN is a fixed line dial-up service, which works well during off peak periods if you use Infinitcall and don't suffer from random disconnections.

If you go with wireless make sure you have coverage first, I suppose in Gauteng you have a good chance of that.

Take care about the kids "needing info for school". Their buddies with ADSL will soon teach them how to get movies online...

Don't sign any contracts until you are absolutely sure how much data you will need and that you will continue to need it for the next 24 months. Don't sign any contracts with Telkom EVER, go month-to-month if you decide to use them.

 

[internaut]

Hey picman,

Because you included the word "mobility" then it would have to be wireless. A true wireless solution would be from one of the cell operators(while driving (in theory)), the more expensive of all at the moment. HSDPA will be slightly more expensive than vanilla-3G but atleast twice and if you're lucky, three times faster. Go for this if money isn't an issue and if you want it yesterday.

The second, more restrictive choice, in terms of mobility (in and around the house), but less expensive, would be the likes of Iburst and Sentech.

And thirdly there would be the ADSL, ISDN solutions. With a wireless hub and cards you'll obtain mobility around the house. Go for this if you are prepared to wait for things to happen.

 

[PicMan]

Thanks for the info guys. I went to Vodaworld yesterday and got myself HSDPA.
30 hours later my SIM is still not activated :confused
I will give them till Monday morning and then enquire.

 

[Speedster]

PicMan, just jump on v3g when he shows his face today. He'll sort you out chop-chop.

 

[PicMan]

Thanx Speedster

 

[vodacom3g]

PicMan, just jump on v3g when he shows his face today. He'll sort you out chop-chop.

All this jumping and chop-choping sounds pretty physical.

You could just ask.....

 

[Speedster]

Did he ever ask?

 

[vodacom3g]

Did he ever ask?

No, the sim probably came alive today.

 

[PicMan]

Hi All

My SIM is active.

I am only replying now because I was busy making a new identity in Outlook Express for my Vodamail on Monday night when we experienced our one of many POWER FAILURES in Weltevreden Park. My PC crashed and last night I started recovering when we had yet another POWER FAILURE it has taken me 2 days to recover and still busy re-installing software .

Thanks anyway