lewstherin
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2004
- Messages
- 968
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Ok, so I'm one of those grouchy ppl that can only field the same "Who's a good ISP?" question 25 times before get irritated.
So here's my bash at providing a starter FAQ for new ADSL users. I have borrowed some answers from other posts - so sue me.
Feel free to add Qs and As to this, but lets try keep this strictly a Q & A type thread.
*** GETTING ADSL ***
Q1: So I want to get ADSL. What do I do?
A: Before you do anything, check that your exchange is ADSL enabled by visiting the Telkom website. If your exchange isn't enabled, you can quit now.
It's usually a good idea to call 10219 to check with a consultant too, since the web list can go out of date, or be plain wrong.
Q2: What's the best/easiest way to order an ADSL line?
A: There isn't really a "best way", but some ways are better than others though:
- Telkom shops. This gives you a face and name to bug repetitively until the line gets installed. Some forumites have reported good service and decent install times when using a Telkom shop.
- 10219 or 0800 456 786 is good for installation queries. This is the "watch a movie while on hold" approach, but it does get results. I personally did this and it worked out ok.
NB: Get names and references for every step of the process, and document your calls to save hassles later.
- Use the Telkom website to sign up online. This approach will usually net you a follow-up call from Telkom, but up to 3 weeks later...not really advised.
- ISPs. Some ISPs offer to put the line order in for you.
Q3: How can I speed up my installation?
A: Generally speaking, Telkom internally is supposed to get an ADSL line installed within 3 weeks from order date.
Phoning a lot to request progress helps a bit.
Tell the consultant that you have some kind of urgent need for ADSL...
Some ppl have suggested that by putting a deposit down, it gets you some kind of priority.
If your line takes longer than 3 weeks and they are stuffing you around more than normal, make use of the Telkom customer complaints escalation.
Call 0800 600 126 and lodge a complaint. This usually starts a bit of a witch-hunt within Telkom to find who is holding your install up...ultimately it can produce results - but only do this in cases where you have proof that they have messed you around.
In some cases, you just can't. This is usually when you get told the dreaded "no ports on exchange" excuse.
In those cases, you have to wait until Telkom deign to make ADSL available for your line/exchange.
Q4: Should I sign up for one of those bundled Telkom offers that give me a free modem/installation/pc?
A: Hell no. All Telkom's special ADSL offers are contractual. They may be giving away some free stuff, but in exchange you bind your soul to Satan's little brother for 24-36 months
Seriously though, currently the ADSL market is shifting rapidly in price and service. Ensure you are free of contractual obligations in order to get the best value for money as ADSL offerings WILL improve.
Q5: What hardware do I need?
A: The minimum hardware you need to get is an ADSL modem and a micro-filter for every normal telephone connection on your line. I'm assuming you have a PC
The modem is what you'll use to actually connect into the ADSL network.
The micro-filters are critical to ensure that your telephone service does not interfere with your ADSL service.
Off the top of my head, I can recommend buying ADSL gear from jump.co.za and digitalplanet.co.za.
Q6: What is, and where can I get, a good modem/router?
A: Search the ADSL Technical forums to decide what kind of ADSL modem you want/need.
Openly recommended makes include Billion, Dlink, Netgear.
Pricing starts at around R430 for a no-frills ADSL modem.
I recommend PPPoe capable router modems since they offer better networking and firewall options for around R100 more.
Generally speaking you want to stay away from Telkom's modems and router/modems, since they have developed a bad name quality wise. Besides, rather support a company other than Telkom whereever possible.
Q7: Who is a good ISP?
A: There a many good ISPs out there. Don't buy Telkom's story that TelkomInternet is better than rest because, by most accounts found on the forums, TelkomInternet's service and support suck.
Recommended ISPs include axxess.co.za, webafrica.co.za, imaginet.co.za, saol.com, isoft.co.za
There are other ISPs that are also good, but the above are the more well-known ones that have representives that openly engage with users on MyADSL.
If you want to get a better idea of who is better or has better pricing, visit their sites and search this forum!
Q8: What is the cap?
A: The cap is a variable usage limit enforced by Telkom on all ADSL accounts.
Once you reach your cap, you generally lose all international access whilst local websites are still accessable. Read up on the ISP products pages for more details.
Q9: Which line package should I get?
A: You need to evaluate what you want to use the line for.
Telkom charges you if you request to downgrade line speed (eg. from 512 down to 384). There is no charge for upgrading line speed though. My logic is start at 192, and upgrade free if you need/want the extra speed.
If you are mainly a web browser and email person, 512 will be overkill - 192 should suit you fine.
For heavy downloaders or people that want to watch streaming videos, then go for 384 or 512.
Generally speaking all 3 HomeDSL products perform equally well in terms of online gaming - both locally and internationally.
Q10: What speeds can I expect on 192/384/512?
A: Pretty much consistently 80% of the package speed. Some people report getting 384 speeds on 192,and 512 speed on 384, but this is fairly rare.
International can be slow for P2P apps because standard port-shaping is applied, meaning your p2p gets less priority allocated to it.
International gaming also suffers poorer latency and throughput because of the shaping.
Q11: What is the difference between shaped and unshaped ISP accounts?
A: Unshaped is free of the standard port-shaping that hampers most applications besides web browsing and email.
Its a lot more expensive though, and generally is only for people that simply have to have the fastest and best speeds and latencies to international sites.
Unless you are a really serious online international trader or gamer, the normal shaped account should be fine for most uses.
Of course, shaping is a Telkom imposition on the service, internationally speaking port-shaping is not nearly as harsh as Telkom's.
Q12: What are the installation costs involved for ADSL?
A: Assuming you have an existing line, the charge is R404 once off.
Q13: What are the monthly costs for ADSL?
A: Monthly costs are broken into two seperate fees: ADSL line rental and ISP acount.
- The ADSL line rental is paid to Telkom and is dependant on which speed package you choose. Pricing is on Telkom's website.
- The ISP account is paid to your ISP and is dependant on which size cap package you choose.
Bear in mind, that Telkom continues to charge telephone line rental over and above the 2 costs above. Telephone line rental is around R95 for residential.
So here's my bash at providing a starter FAQ for new ADSL users. I have borrowed some answers from other posts - so sue me.
Feel free to add Qs and As to this, but lets try keep this strictly a Q & A type thread.
*** GETTING ADSL ***
Q1: So I want to get ADSL. What do I do?
A: Before you do anything, check that your exchange is ADSL enabled by visiting the Telkom website. If your exchange isn't enabled, you can quit now.
It's usually a good idea to call 10219 to check with a consultant too, since the web list can go out of date, or be plain wrong.
Q2: What's the best/easiest way to order an ADSL line?
A: There isn't really a "best way", but some ways are better than others though:
- Telkom shops. This gives you a face and name to bug repetitively until the line gets installed. Some forumites have reported good service and decent install times when using a Telkom shop.
- 10219 or 0800 456 786 is good for installation queries. This is the "watch a movie while on hold" approach, but it does get results. I personally did this and it worked out ok.
NB: Get names and references for every step of the process, and document your calls to save hassles later.
- Use the Telkom website to sign up online. This approach will usually net you a follow-up call from Telkom, but up to 3 weeks later...not really advised.
- ISPs. Some ISPs offer to put the line order in for you.
Q3: How can I speed up my installation?
A: Generally speaking, Telkom internally is supposed to get an ADSL line installed within 3 weeks from order date.
Phoning a lot to request progress helps a bit.
Tell the consultant that you have some kind of urgent need for ADSL...
Some ppl have suggested that by putting a deposit down, it gets you some kind of priority.
If your line takes longer than 3 weeks and they are stuffing you around more than normal, make use of the Telkom customer complaints escalation.
Call 0800 600 126 and lodge a complaint. This usually starts a bit of a witch-hunt within Telkom to find who is holding your install up...ultimately it can produce results - but only do this in cases where you have proof that they have messed you around.
In some cases, you just can't. This is usually when you get told the dreaded "no ports on exchange" excuse.
In those cases, you have to wait until Telkom deign to make ADSL available for your line/exchange.
Q4: Should I sign up for one of those bundled Telkom offers that give me a free modem/installation/pc?
A: Hell no. All Telkom's special ADSL offers are contractual. They may be giving away some free stuff, but in exchange you bind your soul to Satan's little brother for 24-36 months
Seriously though, currently the ADSL market is shifting rapidly in price and service. Ensure you are free of contractual obligations in order to get the best value for money as ADSL offerings WILL improve.
Q5: What hardware do I need?
A: The minimum hardware you need to get is an ADSL modem and a micro-filter for every normal telephone connection on your line. I'm assuming you have a PC
The modem is what you'll use to actually connect into the ADSL network.
The micro-filters are critical to ensure that your telephone service does not interfere with your ADSL service.
Off the top of my head, I can recommend buying ADSL gear from jump.co.za and digitalplanet.co.za.
Q6: What is, and where can I get, a good modem/router?
A: Search the ADSL Technical forums to decide what kind of ADSL modem you want/need.
Openly recommended makes include Billion, Dlink, Netgear.
Pricing starts at around R430 for a no-frills ADSL modem.
I recommend PPPoe capable router modems since they offer better networking and firewall options for around R100 more.
Generally speaking you want to stay away from Telkom's modems and router/modems, since they have developed a bad name quality wise. Besides, rather support a company other than Telkom whereever possible.
Q7: Who is a good ISP?
A: There a many good ISPs out there. Don't buy Telkom's story that TelkomInternet is better than rest because, by most accounts found on the forums, TelkomInternet's service and support suck.
Recommended ISPs include axxess.co.za, webafrica.co.za, imaginet.co.za, saol.com, isoft.co.za
There are other ISPs that are also good, but the above are the more well-known ones that have representives that openly engage with users on MyADSL.
If you want to get a better idea of who is better or has better pricing, visit their sites and search this forum!
Q8: What is the cap?
A: The cap is a variable usage limit enforced by Telkom on all ADSL accounts.
Once you reach your cap, you generally lose all international access whilst local websites are still accessable. Read up on the ISP products pages for more details.
Q9: Which line package should I get?
A: You need to evaluate what you want to use the line for.
Telkom charges you if you request to downgrade line speed (eg. from 512 down to 384). There is no charge for upgrading line speed though. My logic is start at 192, and upgrade free if you need/want the extra speed.
If you are mainly a web browser and email person, 512 will be overkill - 192 should suit you fine.
For heavy downloaders or people that want to watch streaming videos, then go for 384 or 512.
Generally speaking all 3 HomeDSL products perform equally well in terms of online gaming - both locally and internationally.
Q10: What speeds can I expect on 192/384/512?
A: Pretty much consistently 80% of the package speed. Some people report getting 384 speeds on 192,and 512 speed on 384, but this is fairly rare.
International can be slow for P2P apps because standard port-shaping is applied, meaning your p2p gets less priority allocated to it.
International gaming also suffers poorer latency and throughput because of the shaping.
Q11: What is the difference between shaped and unshaped ISP accounts?
A: Unshaped is free of the standard port-shaping that hampers most applications besides web browsing and email.
Its a lot more expensive though, and generally is only for people that simply have to have the fastest and best speeds and latencies to international sites.
Unless you are a really serious online international trader or gamer, the normal shaped account should be fine for most uses.
Of course, shaping is a Telkom imposition on the service, internationally speaking port-shaping is not nearly as harsh as Telkom's.
Q12: What are the installation costs involved for ADSL?
A: Assuming you have an existing line, the charge is R404 once off.
Q13: What are the monthly costs for ADSL?
A: Monthly costs are broken into two seperate fees: ADSL line rental and ISP acount.
- The ADSL line rental is paid to Telkom and is dependant on which speed package you choose. Pricing is on Telkom's website.
- The ISP account is paid to your ISP and is dependant on which size cap package you choose.
Bear in mind, that Telkom continues to charge telephone line rental over and above the 2 costs above. Telephone line rental is around R95 for residential.
