Which service should we use ?

O

oomtom

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Hi,

I am new on here so apologies in advance.

My wife works from home and we need reliable access to the Internet. Previously we used a USB modem stick with Cell C data bundles. Worked OK but was slow and only one user at a time.

We moved to Telkom Simple WiFi. Multiple accesses and a bit faster as much data as we need ( 10Gb ).

However now we are reliant on Eskom keeping up the electricity as the Router needs power else no Internet Access. Given that rolling blackouts are on the way this is a " No No ".

Telkom say that they cannot offer me a " fall-back " solution economically.

A UPS to support the Router and 1 Laptop I have been quoted R 11,000.00.

Given that we are not Power users, medium amount of Data required, multiple access required but mostly need to have a backup strategy !

What do you guys suggest ?
 
Get a different UPS? 11k seems a bit much. A laptop should not use more than ~60W/hour and the router around ~1MW or so. Take 80W/hour as an extreme.

http://www.kalahari.com/Technology/Proline-1200VA-Line-Interactive-UPS-USB_p_48389349 = 480W ~ 6 hours @ R751

http://www.kalahari.com/Technology/Proline-1200VA-Line-Interactive-UPS-USB_p_48389349 = 600W ~7.5 hours @ R1005

The problem is also that the base stations batteries might run out.

EDIT: Note, I am not saying these products are great, never used them, I am just saying that R11k seems a but much and must be a server grade UPS/huge storage/ripoff. You can try them out.
 
Last edited:
Why not keep the Telkom Simple and then have a MiFi device as your backup during blackouts?

If you cannot use your Telkom SIM then go for something like this, which has a 3 month rollover: https://www.axxess.co.za/mobile-data

You can get 2+2GB prepaid data for R139 and top it up at Engen, Picj n Pay, etc.

A MiFi device can connect around 8 users and a charge will see you through a blackout slot. https://www.axxess.co.za/mobile-modems
 
oomtom said:
A UPS to support the Router and 1 Laptop I have been quoted R 11,000.00.
Click to expand...

Utter BS. We have a marine battery connected to an inverter and an 8AMP charger which cost ~R4 000. It powers our router, TV, raspberry pi, charges a few phones and runs two laptops for about 8~11 hours.
 
oomtom said:
Hi,

I am new on here so apologies in advance.

My wife works from home and we need reliable access to the Internet. Previously we used a USB modem stick with Cell C data bundles. Worked OK but was slow and only one user at a time.

We moved to Telkom Simple WiFi. Multiple accesses and a bit faster as much data as we need ( 10Gb ).

However now we are reliant on Eskom keeping up the electricity as the Router needs power else no Internet Access. Given that rolling blackouts are on the way this is a " No No ".

Telkom say that they cannot offer me a " fall-back " solution economically.

A UPS to support the Router and 1 Laptop I have been quoted R 11,000.00.

Given that we are not Power users, medium amount of Data required, multiple access required but mostly need to have a backup strategy !

What do you guys suggest ?
Click to expand...

So when there's no power just take the sim out the Wifi router and put it in your cell c stick.

What's the problem?
 
Chevron said:
So when there's no power just take the sim out the Wifi router and put it in your cell c stick.

What's the problem?
Click to expand...

Hi Chevron,

Remembering that I am a 69 year old novice, are you saying that there is a sim card in Telkoms WiFi router which is connected to an ADSL Line ? Maybe I was not clear about that.

If so where the heck is it.
 
oomtom said:
Hi Chevron,

Remembering that I am a 69 year old novice, are you saying that there is a sim card in Telkoms WiFi router which is connected to an ADSL Line ? Maybe I was not clear about that.

If so where the heck is it.
Click to expand...

There is no SIM card in a Telkom DSL router, unless you have a 3G dongle set up with it as a fallback (i.e. if you have, say, a cell c dongle in the USB port on the router). I think he thought that you had moved the SIM card to the router now for internet access.

Like I said in my previous post, you should consider a marine battery setup. It is far cheaper than any UPS that lasts anywhere near as long.
 
oomtom said:
A UPS to support the Router and 1 Laptop I have been quoted R 11,000.00.
Click to expand...

Someone is trying to take you for a ride. Those UPS links posted above are more than adequite.
I know people that power their routers off those 12V/7.2Ah batteries commonly used for gate motors & security systems for hours on end an then charge them when the power is back up again.
 
oomtom said:
Hi Chevron,

Remembering that I am a 69 year old novice, are you saying that there is a sim card in Telkoms WiFi router which is connected to an ADSL Line ? Maybe I was not clear about that.

If so where the heck is it.
Click to expand...

In your first post you didn't mention adsl at all. It seemed like you had a 3G wifi router.
 
Hi ponder,
The output of the power brick reads: Output 12v 1A

I can get a 650va UPS from Incredible Connection but I don't know how long that will support the WiFi Router which is a D-Link DSL-2750U

Any suggestions - Thank you
 
giggity said:
Utter BS. We have a marine battery connected to an inverter and an 8AMP charger which cost ~R4 000. It powers our router, TV, raspberry pi, charges a few phones and runs two laptops for about 8~11 hours.
Click to expand...

Could you share details and specs of these products? I had an inverter but it was very inefficient and noisy.
 
ponder said:
Someone is trying to take you for a ride. Those UPS links posted above are more than adequite.
I know people that power their routers off those 12V/7.2Ah batteries commonly used for gate motors & security systems for hours on end an then charge them when the power is back up again.
Click to expand...

I would love to know how this is done. Please share more on this.
 
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