Which ISP should I choose?

Where oh were has mr g gone? thanks for all the help guys but unfortunately im still a lil confused. Ok we do hav a phone line at home but it was converted to prepaid line coz of phone bill... can i still use this line for ADSL or is it not recommended? if i can then will people still be able to make and receive calls on that line?

So will my monthly charges be as follows?

Phone line Rental = R99.95 (HOPEFULLY NOT)
512Kb Line (Telkom) = R362.00
10Gig Int (Web Africa) = R490.00
30gig Local (OpenWeb) = R121.00

TOTAL RENTAL = R1072.95

But im still not clear as to which provider i must get extra gig from when i go over my 10gig?
 
You cannot have ADSL on a prepaid phone, you need to have a proper phone line.

Phone line Rental = R99.95 (HOPEFULLY NOT)
512Kb Line (Telkom) = R362.00
10Gig Int (Web Africa) = R490.00
30gig Local (OpenWeb) = R121.00
Click to expand...

Those charges are correct. You can get ANOTHER (3rd account) from WebAfrica which is only a prepaid account. That then gets billed at R70 per gigabyte.

30GB account is if you have the need for that much local traffic, you can download movies/series etc from the IS News Servers.

My Setup is as follows as an example:

Telkom Closer Option 5 - R699 (includes)
- ADSL 4Mbit
- Telkom Phone Line Rental
- 1000 Peak Minutes
- Unlimted Off-Peak Calls
- Reduced Cellular Rates

3GB Relaxed Capping TelkomInternet x 2 = R249x2 = R498 (Accounts I use for International Traffic ONLY)
WebAfrica 30GB Local Only x2 = R130.01 x 2 = R160.02 (Local Only Accounts for my LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY)

TOTAL ACCESS: R1357.02
 
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Thank you man damnits gonna cost alot of money for internet :( ok so now where must i buy a modem from and which one to get and how much it cost. i read about billion and netgear but where must i buy those. Also whats the differnce between a modem and a router? so tmrw i go to telkom shop and ask them for the self install adsl kit right? but they must still come put in a normal phone line?

THanks so much for all the help man really appreciate it
 
I do believe Telkom now give free modems, someone needs to say however which ones, I am not certain, if you getting a free modem I cant see why not go for that, as long as you dont sign a contract with Telkom :)

Else www.digitalplanet.co.za is the source for the modem. I got my Billion modem from there, very good service. Search Billion and see what your needs are, if you need wireless, 5 computers connected (5 ports), 1 computer connected (1 port) etc?

A modem is usually either just a modem with one ethernet/USB port for one computer, a modem/router which is what most of the modems out there today are, is a modem with around 5 ethernet ports at the back to connect more than one computer.

A router on the otherhand is the same as the last one, just doesnt have the ability to connect to the internet, it just connects computers together via ethernet for your local network.

Router: Joins computers in your home via LAN
Modem: Connects your computer to the internet
Modem/Router: Connects computers in your home via LAN and connects them all to internet aswell
 
Reaper21 said:
Thank you man damnits gonna cost alot of money for internet :( ok so now where must i buy a modem from and which one to get and how much it cost. i read about billion and netgear but where must i buy those. Also whats the differnce between a modem and a router? so tmrw i go to telkom shop and ask them for the self install adsl kit right? but they must still come put in a normal phone line?

THanks so much for all the help man really appreciate it
Click to expand...

They will convert the prepaid line to a billed one, no need for them to come out and install it.

I'm not sure about the self-install kit, ask about that when you place the order. And don't buy a modem yet. See if the one you get from Telkom fills your needs (remember, it's free if you get a self-install).
 
Kick ass u guys rock! ok checked telkoms site if u do self install u get free modem. So tmrw im gonna go to blue route to the telkom shop and order my dsl. But first i need to find out how to convert theprepaid line to normal line.

Thanks Everyone for ur help:cool:

*Edited Ooops one last question. um Webafrica doesnt block any sites right? im not sure if im allowed to say the sites
 
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No, the ISPs do not block access to any sites.
 
eremos said:
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...

What I had to do :Got my ADSL last week : You CAN'T get the self-install special if they're installing your "normal line" as well.
You'll firstly have to apply for your normal line, and AFTER that for your ADSL line, only then can you get self-install...

As for the free modem, the offer is valid for any APPLICATION for a self-install before 31 March, so just make sure you get your application in before that.

Also, make sure you get your REFERENCE NR from Telkom when you apply!!!
And speak to somebody that's competent at the Telkom office - if you know what I mean!!!
 
ADSL Newbie said:
You CAN'T get the self-install special if they're installing your "normal line" as well.
Click to expand...

They didn't know what they were talking about.

An "ADSL installation" consists of the following:
Techie plugs in your modem
Techie configures it for access

You're NOT paying for said techie to come to your house, not directly. Just because, for whatever reason, a techie has to come out, does NOT mean that he's there to do the R437.50 ADSL installation.

We had a line on special equipment - Telkom set it up that way because there weren't enough lines when we ordered a second line.

When we upgraded to ADSL they had to come out to get the line off special equipment, and I was also told that I couldn't get self-install because someone had to come out to do that.

Someone I spoke to at 10219 however confirmed for me that that is not the case - whatever has to be done to get ADSL activated on the line is Telkom's dilemma, you only pay install if the techie comes to plug in modem and set it up.

After they installed our ADSL I asked the techie if this would count as self-install. He said no, and sure enough it showed up on my next month's Telkom account. But I phoned Telkom and disputed it and they reversed the charge.

Of course getting a hold of someone competent at Telkom that will agree with you and set your order up that way is nigh impossible, so doing things one at a time is the easier solution. This close to the end of the "free modem" special though, there's a chance you won't get line installed/converted to post paid in time to place ADSL order.
 
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Ok went to telkom shop in blue route today. First had to wait an hour for this stupid old woman to setup her adsl DAMN she asked stupid questions. anyway first they converted my existing prepaid phone line into normal phone line for free. then applied for 1mb line and self install kit. She did all the paper work and once that was done she told me the kit will take 2 - 3 weeks to get there. Then she gave me my order no. and Telkom helpline no.s just in case and that was that.

Now phoned my I.T friend at telkom and he is gonna see if he can speed up process. Now its a waiting game :(

Thanks for everyone that helped:D
 
YEAH just got a call about 20 minutes ago from telkom. Said i can go fetch my kit now. Ah its good to have connections with satan lol

One more thing. they say i hav to wait 7 days for activation. is there anyway i can activate instantly?

*Edited. It appears my celebration was premature. They dont have any modems in stock in tokai. and i cant gert to claremont today DAMN
 
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Reaper21 said:
One more thing. they say i hav to wait 7 days for activation. is there anyway i can activate instantly?
Click to expand...

No activation is needed , you're supposed to verify your line on Telkom's website, but the site is mostly down.
I've had my line just over a week now and Telkom has called me about 3 times to ask me to verify my line, but it's not necessary, so if the technician's connected the jumpers at your exchange, you're ready to go!
 
ADSL Newbie said:
No activation is needed , you're supposed to verify your line on Telkom's website, but the site is mostly down.
I've had my line just over a week now and Telkom has called me about 3 times to ask me to verify my line, but it's not necessary, so if the technician's connected the jumpers at your exchange, you're ready to go!
Click to expand...

You should. I think they have something about cancelling the line if you don't verify.
 
um so why dont u activate it? why u ignoring dem? im installing it myself so u say once i install it i can surf straight away?
 
I had to apply for a "normal" line before getting ADSL, but don't have a telephone, so I can't call them from the number my ADSL is connected to.
When I tried phoning them from my cellphone, I noticed that I HAVE TO PAY NORMAL CELLULAR RATES, in order to "wait another 23 minutes" before someone could speak to me.
I then chose the "call -me-back" option, but it's been a week and NO-ONE from Telkom has contacted me since...
Should I buy a normal handset just to activate my line? I-don't-think-so!!!!:mad:

And oh yeah, it's not MY fault that their ADSL verification site doesn't work.
And all three times that people from Telkom phoned me to hear when I'm going to verify I told them I can do so AT THAT MOMENT, but they just gave me the : "Dial 0800 dsl dsl".

I'll search for a payphone tomorrow to try and resolve the issue.:mad: :mad: :mad:
 
Why oh why must telkom continue to Obstruct me. Ok so tokai branch did not hav modem but they said claremont did. So this morning i called claremopn branch and asked if they had kit. The lady(African) Assured me yes we hav wifi modems instock. Right as soon as i ended the call i went to claremont all excited. when i get there i ask the guy if i can get the kit he says sorry we dont have any in stock. Now im really confused i tell hiom that i just phoned ur branch 30 minutes ago and a lady reassured me that u did have. Then he said that cant be maybe customer service phoned u and said u could now collect a modem then i told him NO I PHONED THIS SPECIFIC BRANCH and the lady said u had. Then he apologized and said that one of the other members were manning the calls and they in fact DO NOT HAVE ANY KITS. Then he said that no one in ct has the kits right now they waiting for supplier!

GRRRRR i am so pissed off now stupid incompetent telkom workers! Oh and how come everytime i try calling a telkom direct shop THEY NEVER ANSWER.

TELKOM HAS THE WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE IN MY OPINION:mad:

*Updated HOOOORAY I FINALLY HAV INTERNET lol 4mb line feels so good ;)
 
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Reaper21 said:
Where oh were has mr g gone? thanks for all the help guys but unfortunately im still a lil confused. Ok we do hav a phone line at home but it was converted to prepaid line coz of phone bill... can i still use this line for ADSL or is it not recommended? if i can then will people still be able to make and receive calls on that line?

So will my monthly charges be as follows?

Phone line Rental = R99.95 (HOPEFULLY NOT)
512Kb Line (Telkom) = R362.00
10Gig Int (Web Africa) = R490.00
30gig Local (OpenWeb) = R121.00

TOTAL RENTAL = R1072.95

But im still not clear as to which provider i must get extra gig from when i go over my 10gig?
Click to expand...

Why don't you try :

Phone line Rental = R99.95 (You HAVE to)
512Kb Line (Telkom) = R362.00
3GB Int (Telkom) = R250
30GB Local (OpenWeb) = R121
Total = R832.95
Once-Off :
1GB Int Prepaid (WebAfrica) = R70

The Telkom account is a soft cap. ppl usually get between 5-8 GB on that per month. Once you hit the cap, switch over to your PrePaid WebAfrica account, which has unlimited rollover, so you can use it for ten years if you like.

Consider a 384Kb line, you'll download @ about 40KB/s.
On a 512Kb line, you'll download @ about 53.33KB/s

Using a 384Kb line will change your total to R715.95
 
MrG said:
WebAfrica 30GB Local Only x2 = R130.01 x 2 = R160.02 (Local Only Accounts for my LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY)
Click to expand...

You know that some people don't get capped on their 30GB accounts from OpenWeb, some download > 100GB on their 30GB account.

Who fall into that category?

E-mail them and try and see whether you can pay a few months in advance in exchange for the nearly-no-cap account???:D :D :D :D
 
Why don't you try :

Phone line Rental = R99.95 (You HAVE to)
384Kb Line (Telkom) = R270
3GB Int (Cybersmart) = R125
30GB Local (OpenWeb) = R121
Total = R615.95
Webafrica optional R70 extra (once off)

If you just going to use the intl account for browsing/email and a few downloads , this setup will be just fine. You'll still have your local account for downloads. Since this is your first time using ADSL, I suggest the above, if you still feel the need for a higher speed you can always upgrade.

-
ps. I havent read all the posts in this thread...
 
Lol thanks guys i already hav the account now for almost a week. i think i need 10gig international for one more month to catch up on all episodes and movies
 
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