Which ISP should I choose?

two accounts??

Hey MrG

Thanks for your views, made it a hell of a lot easier...

I've read the whole thread, but still need clarity on one aspect :

Me and my flatmate bought ourselves ADSL and are going to use different accounts (Cybersmart and WebAfrica/OpenWeb).

My first question is : Say I've reached my cap, can I access a second (backup) account (say WebAfrica Prepaid) from my PC, and if it's possible, how do I do it?
My 2nd question : Me and my flatmate don't want to use each other's cap, can we have two different accounts from the same ISP?
 
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Cybersmart only allows one account per line, they claim that they they can detect if you use two Cybersmart accounts on the same line, if you are caught with 2 cybersmart accounts they'll charge the topup price for the second account.

You can use more than one account on the same line using RouteSentry, eg. 1 Cybersmart & 1 account from another ISP eg. openweb/webafrica.

If you reach you cap you can access a backup account by just entering the details for the backup account i.e Username & Password
 
Thanks...

So if I've got it right I can get myself Cybersmart and WebAfrica on my PC, switching between the two accounts using RouteSentry, and he can access his WebAfrica account from his PC without hassels?

And the single-port ADSL-modem will work for this?

Thanks mh!!!:confused:
 
That is correct ADSL_Newbie... what you said can certainly be done. Just make sure your router is in bridged mode.

I imagine you will be having a Cybersmart (3GB International) and WebAfrica for local? - Cause that is the only reason you would want to include RouteSentry in the setup.

Routesentry splits two accounts traffic, routes one account for international, and the second one for local.

If you want Cybersmart 3GB and WebAfrica SAIX Prepaid, then there is no need for Routesentry. Just create two PPPoE connections in Windows and logon as per usual, however if you gonna be using over 3GB on a regular basis I wouldnt recommend getting a cybersmart account.

Summary:

Set the modem in bridged mode, create PPPoE accounts on both your computers (whichever number of PCs you want online, make a account on the computer with the relevant username/password) and just double click the connection once made and you "dialup" as if it were an old analogue dialup line. PC creates the PPPoE session. :)
 
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ISP's

OK , your last post kinda changed my mind again : For my specific needs (+-4GB intenational and hopefully 30GB Local download), what would you then recommend?

The only reason I chose Cybersmart is because I thought I needed two different ISP's in order to route my International and Local download seperately..

Your help is appreciated
 
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Have a look here on how to install Route Sentry and how to install the Required protocol, you can download it from the same place.

This thread alos has info on Routing you traffic with Route Sentry,

Hope that helps, if you get stuch just ask.
 
Chosen my ISP...

OK, after spending two days reading all your threads and visiting nearly every ISP's website, I decided on the following :
(Take note me and my flatmate will be using two seperate PC's on one line..)

1. Cybersmart 3GB account for me.
2. WebAfrica PrePaid account for my flatmate.
3. Openweb 30GB Local only account (That will be shared by us both)

Give me your views, thanks
 
That sounds good, if you going OpenWeb I recommend you choose the 40GB Local account, not much more in price :) - I actually dont think I included it in the thread...

So basically the setup will be

Router - Bridged Mode

- 1st Computer (yours)
Cybersmart 3GB and OpenWeb Local Only connected via Route Sentry

- 2nd Computer (his)
- WebAfrica Prepaid and OpenWeb Local Only connected with Route Sentry

- 3rd Computer (his)
- WebAfrica Prepaid (he wont be able to make a 3rd connection on the OpenWeb Local only)
 
Does the WebAfrica R490 for 10GB come shaped?

EDIT: Gah it is shaped
 
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Yeah, the 10GB - R490 package from WebAfrica SAIX is shaped, obviously that only applies to international traffic.
 
Ahh do the ISPs that offer local bandwidth shape that as well?
 
As far as I know, all local traffic on the DSL network is unshaped, so yeah, the local accounts are not shaped.
 
Cathryn said:
This is a very useful post - but for newbies it might be helpful to clarify that these are on top of the Telkom line rental fees, etc. I know it's not really the point of the post, but even though I know a bit about ADSL, I get confused about how much it will all cost at the end of the month!
Click to expand...

I added those figures to the top of the post and made a few other modifications.
 
nicovdw said:
Hey MrG,

I did not see this in your guide, but Axxess has an adsl now package. You can buy between 1 and 5 gb at a time, and you have 6 months to use it, and an even bigger bonus is you can top it up at any time during the 6 months. When the 6 months is up, you can just sign up for another.

I love it, no choosing whether to waste the last bit of your bundle or download like a maniac the last few days, and it's just R10 a GB more than the regular adsl package.
Click to expand...

Hi, nicovdw.

I have not actually had a chance to view my opinions regarding some comments on the thread.

The axxess product is far from being bad, it is a decent service, but I must say I personally still prefer WebAfricas Prepaid system, where the costs is the same.

E.g 5GB Axxess - Now = R349 - WebAfrica R70 per gig = R350
WebAfrica has a very decent customer frontend system, and customer support is through the roof. Not to mention no limit of time to use the purchased data.

I bought 2GB of Unshaped in July 2006, I still have 1337MB left today :)

Overall there is nothing wrong with someone that chooses Axxes, but my recommendations still go out to WebAfrica for people in the market for this particular type of solution. The offerings from Axxess and WebAfrica both compete very favourably. They both stay near the R70 per gig mark and what I like from Axxess is the prepaid system where you can browse @ R0.07c per MB further instead of buying per gig.

Mr.G
 
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Faster downloads!? Wont they be about the same depending on IS or SAIX backbone?
Dunno about Axxess' customer service, but webafrica's customer service has always been one of the best for a long long time ;)
 
Hey there need some wise counceling. After a failed attempt at wireless internet i must now resort to Telkom:sick: anyway i am interested in a 512k line with 10gig cap (soft preferably) and cheapest pre paid in case i wanna go over. i hav been looking at webafrica for the 10 gig but is it a hard cap? Then there is Gateway that offers 10gig cap but its soft cap and u get 20gigs after u reach it, is that 20gig local or int? This is the summary of my future payment

WEB AFRICA

ADSL MODEM = R500.00
Phone Line Installation (Telkom) = R342.30
ADSL Line Installation (Telkom) = R437.50
TOTAL INSTALLATION = R1279.80

Phone line Rental = R99.95
512Kb Line (Telkom) = R362.00
10Gig (Web Africa) = R490.00
TOTAL RENTAL = R951.95

:cool:

Your input would be much appreciated
 
Reaper21 said:
Hey there need some wise counceling. After a failed attempt at wireless internet i must now resort to Telkom:sick: anyway i am interested in a 512k line with 10gig cap (soft preferably) and cheapest pre paid in case i wanna go over. i hav been looking at webafrica for the 10 gig but is it a hard cap? Then there is Gateway that offers 10gig cap but its soft cap and u get 20gigs after u reach it, is that 20gig local or int?
Click to expand...

Local, and Webafrica's account is hard-capped.

The Gateway account uses IS as backbone, the WA account Telkom/SAIX.

Reaper21 said:
This is the summary of my future payment

WEB AFRICA

ADSL MODEM = R500.00
Phone Line Installation (Telkom) = R342.30
ADSL Line Installation (Telkom) = R437.50
TOTAL INSTALLATION = R1279.80

Phone line Rental = R99.95
512Kb Line (Telkom) = R362.00
10Gig (Web Africa) = R490.00
TOTAL RENTAL = R951.95

:cool:

Your input would be much appreciated
Click to expand...

Ask for self-install and you don't have to pay the R437.50 (plus you get a free modem (until March 31st - not sure if that's order date or install date)). If they try to tell you that you can't get self-install because they have to come and install your line, they're lying to you.
 
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eremos said:
Local, and Webafrica's account is hard-capped.

The Gateway account uses IS as backbone, the WA account Telkom/SAIX.



Ask for self-install and you don't have to pay the R437.50 (plus you get a free modem (until March 31st - not sure if that's order date or install date)). If they try to tell you that you can't get self-install because they have to come and install your line, they're lying to you.
Click to expand...

Thanks man but im still confused. what is this backbone? so would u choose gateway or webafrica? Sorry if im asking stupid questions but what other way is there to learn ;)
 
Reaper21 said:
Hey there need some wise counceling. After a failed attempt at wireless internet i must now resort to Telkom:sick: anyway i am interested in a 512k line with 10gig cap (soft preferably) and cheapest pre paid in case i wanna go over. i hav been looking at webafrica for the 10 gig but is it a hard cap? Then there is Gateway that offers 10gig cap but its soft cap and u get 20gigs after u reach it, is that 20gig local or int? This is the summary of my future payment

WEB AFRICA

ADSL MODEM = R500.00
Phone Line Installation (Telkom) = R342.30
ADSL Line Installation (Telkom) = R437.50
TOTAL INSTALLATION = R1279.80

Phone line Rental = R99.95
512Kb Line (Telkom) = R362.00
10Gig (Web Africa) = R490.00
TOTAL RENTAL = R951.95

:cool:

Your input would be much appreciated
Click to expand...

Hey Reaper21,

Your choice remains with WebAfrica for the full service, in my opinion.
IS ADSL 10GB Int+Local/20GB Local (same as Gateway) -R663http://www.webafrica.co.za/solutions/internet_access_adsl_is.html
SAIX ADSL 10GB Int+Local HARDCAPPED : R490

More value choice?
10GB WebAfrica Hard Capped - R490
30GB Local Only - R130
= R620
WebAfrica Prepaid SAIX is R70 per gigabyte.

With regards to backbone, it is exaplained in the first post of this thread.

SAIX is basically fibre for international access and has better latency (time it takes for computer A to send data to Computer B (overseas) and receive a reply from Computer B back to Computer A).

IS is the same for local bandwidth, just international has slightly higher latency.. 700ms - 1200ms usually versus SAIX 250ms - 450ms on unshaped ports. If you gaming you will probably get around 600ms - 800ms (US) and 400 - 600 (EU)

I would personally recommend running two seperate accounts for local and international. SAIX for International ONLY and IS 10GB or 30GB account for local traffic, depending on your needs. The only reason I say this is becuase SAIX international is the best quality you are going to get, and its at a similar price to IS international which is of a lower quality, but any traffic you do on the local South African network, should rather be taken via a local only account on the IS network which will drastically reduce your costs.

SAIX International per gig on 10GB account = R49 per gig
IS Local per gig on 30GB account = R4.33 @ WebAfrica
 
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