WISP in Durban

[IPT]

Durbanites can compare the offerings of a WISP that has been around for a while. see www.itelsa.co.za ( a bit of scratching around on this site will reveal the costing tables, maps and downloadable contracts etc. Referrals on request. Enjoy and oh yes comments?

 

[Piesang]

What is so good about that?

128k burstable to 512k for R999 ex Vat.

I pay R699 for a 192k.

 

[IPT]

The burst occurs on sustained downloads of >5minutes and once traffic stopos for 5 seconds the 5 minute "bucket" is replenished. Does this make any sense? - the contention ratio is 10:1 but there are some 4:1's that do not burst (more suitable for business but quite a bit more) The comparrison to Diginet is quite interesting, did you see that?

 

[Setsquare]

The only WISP I would use in dbn is saol.com

 

[Setsquare]

looks like they related to http://www.webstorm.co.za/ somehow

 

[IPT]

Did you try them and whats the verdict? The relation to Webstorm is there but is this a bad thing? (Under the impression that the Wbstorm crowd is quite jacked up)

Does anybody else use this service, pls lets hear from you
Oh yes, your links give "502 Bad Gateway" error

 

[Setsquare]

I know ppls who use webstorm, and from what I have seen and heard their network is a mess.

Try to use a WISP that gives you a public IP address and does not NAT you god knows how many times. Oh, and yeah a WISP that doesent just rely on adsl.

Our website is down because the server hosting it @ the varsity has been having power problems.

 

[IPT]

Thanks for the comments but wow, for a person that "heard" you seem to have some strong oppinions. I called in and got a list of referrals (about 20) but I could only get hold of a few so far and I was pleaseantly surprised. The concerns and oppinnion does not quite match with the few users I spoke to so far but I will report my findings anyhow next week. The feeling I get is that the uncapped solution is most enjoyable and that the business users (2 so far) are very happy ( one uses a 1Meg link with something similar to a 1:1 ratio? - sounds impressive). I also had a look at the Diginet comparrison as my associates in CT uses one and it seems to offer a static IP (64K) on a 128K link at a price similar to a 64K Diginet. http://www.itelsa.co.za/PricelistWirelessCorporates.htm (Hope I can confirm that it is also reliable) Oh, apparantly the Backbone also uses some Diginet and not only ADSL. (wonder if this is correct but got it from the horses mouth - may be a little more reliable than PPLS?)
It however is true that the static IP is not offered as a automatic part of the package but hey, I don't need one (thinking that only very few users even know what it is and that ADSL doesn't offer it anyhow). I believe that their network is also undergoing some upgrading and it sounds like it is extensive.
The NAT issue is unclear (mostly because I don't know what the heck it is ) but I suspect it has something to do with P2P? Apparently P2P is fine in the evenings and weekends. One chap I spoke to in Pinetwon says he downloads on average 2 movies on a weekend and uses P2P quite a bit. Another chap said that he tested VoIP and they will be offering it in a few month's time. (Not sure I will use that but hey, would like to try it out - cell calls at R1.25 opposed to Telkom at R1.64 sound Ok to me and apparantly business subscribers can opt to have conversations recorded for download later)

Anyhow - this is my findings to date and I will also try to do the same with SAOL to see what they offer.

 

[Setsquare]

Thanks for the comments but wow, for a person that "heard" you seem to have some strong oppinions.

My source where I "heard" this uses it at his work and has to get iburst(cos he cant get adsl) just to have proper internet access. He has shown me that it sucks and I know hes right.

Oh, apparantly the Backbone also uses some Diginet and not only ADSL. (wonder if this is correct but got it from the horses mouth)

You can get out on their diginet but this depends on where your traffic is going and what it is. If it doesent go out on that it will go out on a SAIX or IS adsl account.

It however is true that the static IP is not offered as a automatic part of the package but hey, I don't need one (thinking that only very few users even know what it is and that ADSL doesn't offer it anyhow)

Are you talking about a static IP or public IP ? You do want a public IP so you can host services behind your router or even use some apps properly.

I will also try to do the same with SAOL to see what they offer.

Saol.com's offer seems to be more for business if you look at their packages that there is no contention on. It looks like they trying to provide an alternative to diginet (their 64K dedicated package is R2800 pm) so dont be alarmed at prices.

Howcome you are not getting adsl ?

 

[IPT]

Sorry to hear about the friend. Not good. Hope he does better with iBurst. Wondering if most networks do not have the occational "bad ass connection". I have quite a few business mates that runs ADSL with3Gig cap and they are happy as could come (including myself). This in the light of the comments on the forum makes me hesitant to do any type of connection - they all seem to generate more complaints than a nagging wife/husband. I am however keen to try wireless as I thought it may offer some advantages. As for public IP, ... pls explain to this "dof" BW. My router allocates IP's to my PC's but thats as much as I know. I do however understand that a static IP is required if you want to have a VPN - I must say that I have no need to host any services but your comment on running some apps successfully is interesting, can you elaborate pls?
Oh, heard some comments on SAOL and seems they are not angelic either.

 

[skydog]

ok.... A lot of assumptions are being made here. Can anyone confirm that http://www.itelsa.co.za is part of http://www.webstorm.co.za or connected in anyway.
IPT are you connected in anyway to either of the above?

for a person that "heard" you seem to have some strong oppinions.

My source where I "heard" this uses it at his work and has to get iburst(cos he cant get adsl) just to have proper internet access. He has shown me that it sucks and I know hes right.

I think Setsquare is referring to me.

I am not referring to Itelsa in any of this but only webstorm. I am talking from my own experiences.

For what webstorm offer I can't really complain. but like was mentioned I'm getting I-Burst because there is no ADSL in the area. When ADSL becomes available will dump both connection and just have the ADSL.

It is quite simple. I need to have the company's internet up all the time. 85-90% uptime of a connection does not count as being a good internet connection.
Pinging www.myadsl.co.za [196.7.147.165] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 196.7.147.165: bytes=32 time=3192ms TTL=228
Reply from 196.7.147.165: bytes=32 time=3807ms TTL=228
Reply from 196.7.147.165: bytes=32 time=2581ms TTL=228
Reply from 196.7.147.165: bytes=32 time=2197ms TTL=228

Ping statistics for 196.7.147.165:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 2197ms, Maximum = 3807ms, Average = 2944ms

does not count as a good internet connection. Not sure if you understand that latency is bad.

I think Webstorm is a great company generally and their Support staff are great. but they only work certain hours so that is also a drawback if you want support after hours.

Bandwidth wise. they use a concoction of ADSL and diginet the bandwidth is not stable throughput this is often blamed on Telkom or IS which I believe. but putting all these troubles together generally does not make my life easier.

 

[IPT]

Webstorm is a siter company or rather an associate of iTel www.itelsa.co.za ( you will find the iTel link under my name on posts, {oops sorry, thought I was in Business Warriors for a while} so yes, iTel is part of my busines interests) but the backbone is owned by another company that uses Webstorm and iTel as resellers. They do not deal directly with end users. (it gets interesting but may explain more if you wish - pop me a mail). Its clear that your ping stats are quite unacceptable. Was this always the case or a recent deterioration? Nevertheless. the options you are contamplating are well worth it. No one SP (WISP) can be everything to everybody and I am sorry to hear that the solution was proposed should the signal not have proven to be both stable and sustainable at the onset. I agree with your comments and as always, we learn from stuff like this once we are made aware of them, so thanks. Brits

 

[Choco]

IPT, I have a home connection from Webstorm and think their link is wonderful. I pay next to nothing for the service R 299. I get a full 128k uncapped after hours 5pm-8am. I really hammer the connection with P2P and get a reliable 128k (no Bursting) every night. I transfer on average 20-60GB a month and would recommend the home package to anyone that doesn’t want to pay for bandwidth/service while at work.

For interest my ping times:
64 bytes from (196.7.147.165): icmp_seq=4 ttl=248 time=65.3 ms
64 bytes from (196.7.147.165): icmp_seq=5 ttl=248 time=65.5 ms
64 bytes from (196.7.147.165): icmp_seq=6 ttl=248 time=64.8 ms

I connect to one of their Pinetown towers.

 

[skydog]

IPT, I have a home connection from Webstorm and think their link is wonderful. I pay next to nothing for the service R 299. I get a full 128k uncapped after hours 5pm-8am. I really hammer the connection with P2P and get a reliable 128k (no Bursting) every night. I transfer on average 20-60GB a month and would recommend the home package to anyone that doesn’t want to pay for bandwidth/service while at work.

For interest my ping times:
64 bytes from (196.7.147.165): icmp_seq=4 ttl=248 time=65.3 ms
64 bytes from (196.7.147.165): icmp_seq=5 ttl=248 time=65.5 ms
64 bytes from (196.7.147.165): icmp_seq=6 ttl=248 time=64.8 ms

I connect to one of their Pinetown towers.

Clearly there is a problem with my connection.
you pay R299 and get half the speed that I supposedly do.
oh well win some lose some.
But i do know that there is nothing wrong with my wireless connection. pings to other devices on the network are better then anything passing through their main router.

 

[Dale]

I use Webstorm on the 128/128 business package. It works fairly well during the day on weekdays and very well at night on week days. On weekends and public holidays it tends to die mid-day Saturday until Monday morning. I receive signal from the Westway tower which apparently receives from the Malverne tower. I have ordered ADSL and will discontinue my service as soon as it is installed. I need a reliable connection all the time not just during office hours. I called Netrapeneurs about their wireless service. It seems that they are affiliated with Webstorm and I was actually on their system!! I was promised a phone call regarding my intermittent service and was never called.
I didn't want to go with Telkom but sadly I must.