Anyone in Kensington have WiMax? (Screamer and Telkom)

Interested to know what speeds/latencies are like, someone I know is stuck without phone lines and can't get ADSL there, so I'm trying to help find them an alternative.

More interested in Telkom as we can use any ISP in that case, but I'm aware of the problem with getting it installed so it may have to be Screamer.

Telkom's coverage says he would have "average" signal, does that mean it would be much worse speed/latency wise? Screamer's map does not list Kensington at all.

If someone wouldn't mind doing a few ping tests?

41.185.60.28

196.2.97.212

Those are two game servers in SA.

Does either company do on site testing before an installation? Will they actually test latencies if they do?

Otherwise if there's anything else you think we should know about either service?

Hi TechRat,

I am not in your area but I have had a lot to do with screamer and telkom. The good and the bad. As strange as it sounds I must admit I would rather go with screamer than telkom. Screamer latencies are decent and with the new network upgrades have gotten a lot better! Plus uncapped, unshaped........

I too live on a farm on the dogs arzzz and... well the guys around me are so jealous. I always have the latest online content etc. And apart from a lightning strike a few days ago that left me without net for about 3 days, I have had an average of about 3 hours downtime a month. Not bad considering.

Edit: Screamer does a site test free of charge, not sure about Telkom.

Thanks for the info, tell me does Screamer still have problems with torrent downloads? I believe there was a NAT issue which made it so that you'd be unconnectable and speeds would suffer greatly.

Techrat said:

Thanks for the info, tell me does Screamer still have problems with torrent downloads? I believe there was a NAT issue which made it so that you'd be unconnectable and speeds would suffer greatly.

Click to expand...

Hey

The results of your ping test are below.
Screamer stopped the NATting on their network about a year ago and all clients now get free public/static IP's with their accounts.


Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\???>ping -t 41.185.60.28

Pinging 41.185.60.28 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 41.185.60.28: bytes=32 time=76ms TTL=112
Reply from 41.185.60.28: bytes=32 time=85ms TTL=112
Reply from 41.185.60.28: bytes=32 time=77ms TTL=112
Reply from 41.185.60.28: bytes=32 time=97ms TTL=112
Reply from 41.185.60.28: bytes=32 time=73ms TTL=112
Reply from 41.185.60.28: bytes=32 time=80ms TTL=112
Reply from 41.185.60.28: bytes=32 time=86ms TTL=112
Reply from 41.185.60.28: bytes=32 time=94ms TTL=112
Reply from 41.185.60.28: bytes=32 time=74ms TTL=112
Reply from 41.185.60.28: bytes=32 time=70ms TTL=112
Reply from 41.185.60.28: bytes=32 time=98ms TTL=112
Reply from 41.185.60.28: bytes=32 time=79ms TTL=112
Reply from 41.185.60.28: bytes=32 time=82ms TTL=112
Reply from 41.185.60.28: bytes=32 time=101ms TTL=112
Reply from 41.185.60.28: bytes=32 time=93ms TTL=112
Reply from 41.185.60.28: bytes=32 time=84ms TTL=112
Reply from 41.185.60.28: bytes=32 time=80ms TTL=112
Reply from 41.185.60.28: bytes=32 time=72ms TTL=112
Reply from 41.185.60.28: bytes=32 time=78ms TTL=112
Reply from 41.185.60.28: bytes=32 time=74ms TTL=112
Reply from 41.185.60.28: bytes=32 time=81ms TTL=112
Reply from 41.185.60.28: bytes=32 time=83ms TTL=112
Reply from 41.185.60.28: bytes=32 time=79ms TTL=112
Reply from 41.185.60.28: bytes=32 time=70ms TTL=112
Reply from 41.185.60.28: bytes=32 time=72ms TTL=112
Reply from 41.185.60.28: bytes=32 time=88ms TTL=112
Reply from 41.185.60.28: bytes=32 time=74ms TTL=112
Reply from 41.185.60.28: bytes=32 time=77ms TTL=112

Ping statistics for 41.185.60.28:
Packets: Sent = 28, Received = 28, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 70ms, Maximum = 101ms, Average = 81ms
Control-C
^C

Thanks for that, what are are you in btw?

Does Screamer charge an installation fee? I couldn't see mention of any on the site. Will find out when contacting them at least.

Hi TechRat,

No probs with torrents. Everyone gets a static public IP nowadays (You could host your own servers be it web, game or whatever).
There is a installation charge but it includes all the hardware etc. well worth it

Think I'll go with them as well them seem pretty decent, would you know if the 'uncapped' they're advertising is really uncapped or if they enforce some sort of priority downloads, reason for askin is im lookin at getting a wimax as well since they're no line in my complex and will be downloading torrents maybe 2 -3 days every week

There is always a Fair Use Policy/some sort of terms to stop you from just going totally crazy, I have no idea how strict Screamer is.

Frankly given the news about the alleged dodgy dealings between them (Screamer) and Sentech, I would be cautious in using their product, don't want to pay an installation if it goes down the drain a while later.

http://mybroadband.co.za/news/wireless/16229-Icasa-aware-dodgy-SentechGWI-deal.html

They surely have a Fair Use Policy in place, every ISP does, and it must be shaped during business hours at least.

I'm weary of signing up with Screamer though due too the news about them, http://mybroadband.co.za/news/wireless/16229-Icasa-aware-dodgy-SentechGWI-deal.html, doubt I would go with them untill that is cleared up.

Hi guys,

Been with screamer a while and I can confirm that they do not shape, throttle or cap you in anyway. I average about a 70 gigs a month.