Woohoo, goodbye Sentech!

Claymore

Claymore

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Yay! My ADSL is installed and working (23 days, not too terrible), and Sentech have confirmed that my connection will end on Sept 30, and that I won't be billed (wonder if they'll manage that part...).

So we now have 2 days to download as much as possible - we've only managed 11GB so far this month.
 
Claymore said:
Yay! My ADSL is installed and working (23 days, not too terrible), and Sentech have confirmed that my connection will end on Sept 30, and that I won't be billed (wonder if they'll manage that part...).

So we now have 2 days to download as much as possible - we've only managed 11GB so far this month.
Click to expand...
You were on the month to month contract?
 
Yes this refrain is being heard all over SA right now as more and more users move to IBurst/ADSL/3G. Sentech the Death march has started to play. Are you going to wake up and start competing or slowly fade, making all the loyal customers and resellers suffer?! Time will tell but I tell you what, I am making plans for it to be the latter...
 
I've just disconnected the Sentech modem and replaced it with the iBurst one.

Ironically, the Sentech modem was disconnected when I got home.
 
Okay so thought I should pop in one last time and let you guys know just how excellent iBurst is.

Maybe it's just because I'm used to how bad MyWi was, but this connection seems so well managed and run.

On MyWi, I couldn't browse the net if I was downloading a torrent because it would half load pages and time out. I couldn't listen to streaming music and browse the net at the same time because the streaming music would keep breaking up - in fact, for the past few months I hadn't been able to listen to even 702's online stream which is a 24kbps stream or something. Using services like YouTube was impossible - what I used to do was try download the file over a few days using a service like KeepVid.

Last night I went onto YouTube and was surprised to see even fairly high definition videos downloading slightly faster than they were playing. Yes, there was no delay, it just played the file.

Right now I'm listening to di.fm, downloading a torrent file (which is shaped traffic, but to an acceptable level), browsing the net, I have all my IM and email programs on and connected. The music doesn't skip, the browsing doesn't timeout, it all just works.

Their sales team is helpful and informed. I had a very good sign up process which wasn't a pain. They delivered the modem on time. My account was set up and ready even on the 28/09, when it was supposed to be available only from 1/10. I got a gigabyte to use in the space of two days which was nice... I didn't realise it until the last minute though.

Their helpdesk could be a little better, to be honest. But even so, it is miles and miles and miles ahead of Sentech's helpdesk.

The point of all this is to just let you all know that if you're looking for someone to move to, I'd recommend iBurst. I am not too sure of ADSL at the moment in terms of waiting times, but iBurst is really good. I'd recommend them for people switching from Sentech.

I will report back once I reach my cap (I'm on the G1 package, I get throttled to 64kbps). I did use a capped connection when the guys came for a signal test, and it was still a lot more responsive than MyWireless on a good day.

If you have anything you'd like me to test on the connection please let me know and I'll try help out.
 
Donovan said:
Okay so thought I should pop in one last time and let you guys know just how excellent iBurst is.

Maybe it's just because I'm used to how bad MyWi was, but this connection seems so well managed and run.

On MyWi, I couldn't browse the net if I was downloading a torrent because it would half load pages and time out. I couldn't listen to streaming music and browse the net at the same time because the streaming music would keep breaking up - in fact, for the past few months I hadn't been able to listen to even 702's online stream which is a 24kbps stream or something. Using services like YouTube was impossible - what I used to do was try download the file over a few days using a service like KeepVid.

Last night I went onto YouTube and was surprised to see even fairly high definition videos downloading slightly faster than they were playing. Yes, there was no delay, it just played the file.

Right now I'm listening to di.fm, downloading a torrent file (which is shaped traffic, but to an acceptable level), browsing the net, I have all my IM and email programs on and connected. The music doesn't skip, the browsing doesn't timeout, it all just works.

Their sales team is helpful and informed. I had a very good sign up process which wasn't a pain. They delivered the modem on time. My account was set up and ready even on the 28/09, when it was supposed to be available only from 1/10. I got a gigabyte to use in the space of two days which was nice... I didn't realise it until the last minute though.

Their helpdesk could be a little better, to be honest. But even so, it is miles and miles and miles ahead of Sentech's helpdesk.

The point of all this is to just let you all know that if you're looking for someone to move to, I'd recommend iBurst. I am not too sure of ADSL at the moment in terms of waiting times, but iBurst is really good. I'd recommend them for people switching from Sentech.

I will report back once I reach my cap (I'm on the G1 package, I get throttled to 64kbps). I did use a capped connection when the guys came for a signal test, and it was still a lot more responsive than MyWireless on a good day.

If you have anything you'd like me to test on the connection please let me know and I'll try help out.
Click to expand...

You lucky phuck :) !
 
I can echo what Donovan has said, for ADSL. I no longer have to download videos to view them, I can connect to the work VPN and actually work on terminal servers as if I were on the network at work, and my mail downloads probably about 5 times faster.

Web browsing isn't much faster - only 2-3 times faster, but everything is so much more responsive.
 
I really agree with Donovan. Iburst is way more reliable than any other service I've ever had. Telkom ADSL sucks, with more than 8 months waiting time for a DSL line.

Iburst delivered my modem the day after I sent them my application form. They're sales team rocks, but they're Tech team could use some work.

As for the service, my connection is always between 70% and 90% signal. There was a day though that my speed was extremely slow, but that's passed now.

Yes, I'd recommend Iburst instead of Sentech as they will go out of business in the next few years.
 
8 months waiting? Mine was 3 weeks.

I like the idea of iBurst, but there were a couple of strikes against it: a) Damn expensive modem; b) no cheap 10GB option available.
 
GreatBigMouth said:
Yes, I'd recommend Iburst instead of Sentech as they will go out of business in the next few years.
Click to expand...

To be quite honest, I hope that this happens. I think Sentech on the whole will be around forever with their TV signal distribution etc etc, but MyWireless is going to see it's ass pretty soon. Good riddance to bad rubbish.
 
As previously promised, my results while capped. Yea, I know, it's the 2nd of the month. I went a little wild LOL.

Local - still very quick. Internet banking sites load instantly.

International browsing - about as quick as a very good dialup connection (from what I remember from when I was on M-Web). It's not as quick as 1Mbps, but when you're browsing it's not really noticeable. Compare this to Sentech which, even on a clear connection (nothing else running), was frustratingly slow.

Speed test - capped - average of 66kbps, slightly higher than the promised 64kbps, but not materially so (comparison - Sentech MyWireless averaged 44kbps over the course of a few days, on an alleged 128kbps connection). When I reached the cap, I could no longer listen to streaming music while browsing and downloading, it's pretty much one or the other. I am trying to listen to music while browsing, it works fine for a while then starts skipping. Streaming music works fine when it's only the music using the connection though.

Downloading files - around 6KB/s.

Torrents - SLOW. I only briefly tested them, but they run around 3 KB/s capped.

Well there it is folks. Even at the slowest speed it's still roughly a third better than MyWi when just looking at the raw numbers. And cheaper, too!
 
As expected, those retards at Sentech debited my account for October. I spoke to tech support, who said I was still active (that's not *my* problem - they told me end Sept). I went to the bank and reversed the debit.
 
Donovan said:
As previously promised, my results while capped. International browsing - about as quick as a very good dialup connection (from what I remember from when I was on M-Web). It's not as quick as 1Mbps, but when you're browsing it's not really noticeable. Compare this to Sentech which, even on a clear connection (nothing else running), was frustratingly slow.
Click to expand...

You mean you still have international browsing, only throttled after you exceed your cap?

That's a great deal.
 
Yep, I still have full browsing at 64kbps after my cap. I even am able to torrent at around 4KB/s (which is slow but at least it exists).
 
Sentech going down?

Guys why does it seem that everyone is waiting with baited breath for NoWire/Sentech to fold? :confused:
Perhaps that is the only way a lot of us will be able to get out of the contracts. (I still have 9 months to go!.... unless....hmm).
Must admit one thing though. I connect to La Montagne and is on the edge of the range. I connect with (normally) an indicated Signal Strength and Signal Quality of two. Yet I get download speeds of between 9 and 12Kbs, torrents through Azureus, between 6 and 10Kbs for E-mule and normal downloads with DAP of up to 14Kbs. (Not to bad being on a 128 connection, I think). This is however only untill roundabout the 20th. Then everything goes to crap. Then I'm lucky to get 3kBs with anything. :mad: However, my current cripe is, apart from the SH*t poor client service of NoWire, the fact that the service goes down constantly. In the past month almost everyday.
Well, here I am, waiting for either NoWire to go down, or 9 months to pass. Must admit, looking at what other people are saying about leaving NoWire, I expect option 1 sooner.
 
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