alkit
Senior Member
Hi,
I have been using the @lantic uncapped bolt-on for close to 2 weeks, and would like to post some feedback about the service, so that anyone considering using it be a bit more clued up about how it all works. Also to note - I have a 10mbit ADSL line.
The way the system works, is that it gives you uncapped internet usage between 6pm and 6am and over the whole weekend. You need to however have an @lantic capped account. They have 2 types of 'capped' accounts:
1) A capped account with set gigs (eg 5 gigs per month)
2) A Gig4gig account (whereby you get 1gb free every month and pay R15 per additional gig (R45 for unshaped gigs))
Both of the above 'capped' accounts actually don't have a cap. Meaning, it will let you continue downloading and pay for the additional gigs used. The 'Gig4gig' product does have a usage CAP, but I believe that the minimum you can set this to (as per their terms and conditions) is 10gb. So if you leave a download running or something, and you don't realise it, you can easily use up to 10gb in one day, pushing your bill up to R150 for those 10 gigs.
Also note, one you hit those 10gb, you HAVE TO increase the limit manually or else the 'bolt-on' wont work either (I can't confirm 100% that this is still the case, as it could have been a once off thing for me, but as last checked, you will need to increase the cap to get the bolt-on working again)
Once you have one of the above packages, you then get the bolt-on package for R59 per month.
So for EG - If you have the Gig4gig package (R0 per month, only charges per gig after the 1st gig) + bolt-on (R59 per month), you could honestly have unlimited off-peak internet for a total of R59.
Additionally, based on my usage (mainly torrents), it has been superb. With lots of torrents running, I can easily hit speeds of 700-900KB/s which is incredible for an uncapped product. This really is a good quality connection that they give you.
However, I must point out the following downsides to the product:
1) Sign up process is completely manual and took them 2 days to complete. (ie- you need to print the forms, sign each page, and email it back to them). But not a trainsmash, as you only sign-up once
2) As mentioned above, you need to keep you gigs during the day in check. You can't just opt for the 'bolt-on' without the capped product.
3) The way the usage graph works is that it gives you "package usage" and "bolt on usage". Package usage is the peak 'gig4gig' package and 'bolt-on' obviously just counts the gigs, but doesn't charge for them. While tracking my usage, I have noticed the following problems with their tracking system:
a) The 'bolt-on' only kicks in after 8pm. Any downloads from 6pm-8pm gets counted as 'package usage'
b) If you connect before 8pm, any downloads after that get counted as 'package usage'. Meaning, you need to ensure that you physically ESTABLISH the internet connection after 8pm to ensure that it only counts your downloads as 'bolt on usage'.
I have contacted @lantic about the issue above. It took around 5 emails and 2 netlimiter graphs to convince them that I wasn't just clueless, and they responded as follows:
In regards to our telephonic conversation, the matter has been resolved and as discussed that as long as you use the bolt on package between the hours of 6pm to 6am and you can confirm the connection has stopped, you will not be billed.
So, what it seems like from this email, is that you are still required to physically ESTABLISH the internet connection after 6pm, however, even though gigs are being counted as 'package usage', you will not be charged for them at the end of the month.
I personally found this response unacceptable as:
a) If I hit 10gb of 'package usage', my internet will be cut until I increase my usage allowance, and I'm not taking the risk of shooting the usage allowance up to 50gb, in case I mistakenly leave a download on during the day.
b) How do I actually monitor that they are 100% correct with this, and wont smack me with a bill at the end of the month for 'peak' gigs that I never used.
So, at the moment, I am making sure to connect only after 8pm, so in that way, my usage will only go towards the 'bolt on usage'. If you are able to control your connection like this (by reconnecting after 8pm everyday, then this product is perfect for you.
Also, just to confirm, my usage was counted as 'bolt on usage' from Friday night 8pm until Monday morning 6am. So this confirms that the weekend is definitely unlimited (as advertised).
If I left anything out, please feel free to ask or PM.
I have been using the @lantic uncapped bolt-on for close to 2 weeks, and would like to post some feedback about the service, so that anyone considering using it be a bit more clued up about how it all works. Also to note - I have a 10mbit ADSL line.
The way the system works, is that it gives you uncapped internet usage between 6pm and 6am and over the whole weekend. You need to however have an @lantic capped account. They have 2 types of 'capped' accounts:
1) A capped account with set gigs (eg 5 gigs per month)
2) A Gig4gig account (whereby you get 1gb free every month and pay R15 per additional gig (R45 for unshaped gigs))
Both of the above 'capped' accounts actually don't have a cap. Meaning, it will let you continue downloading and pay for the additional gigs used. The 'Gig4gig' product does have a usage CAP, but I believe that the minimum you can set this to (as per their terms and conditions) is 10gb. So if you leave a download running or something, and you don't realise it, you can easily use up to 10gb in one day, pushing your bill up to R150 for those 10 gigs.
Also note, one you hit those 10gb, you HAVE TO increase the limit manually or else the 'bolt-on' wont work either (I can't confirm 100% that this is still the case, as it could have been a once off thing for me, but as last checked, you will need to increase the cap to get the bolt-on working again)
Once you have one of the above packages, you then get the bolt-on package for R59 per month.
So for EG - If you have the Gig4gig package (R0 per month, only charges per gig after the 1st gig) + bolt-on (R59 per month), you could honestly have unlimited off-peak internet for a total of R59.
Additionally, based on my usage (mainly torrents), it has been superb. With lots of torrents running, I can easily hit speeds of 700-900KB/s which is incredible for an uncapped product. This really is a good quality connection that they give you.
However, I must point out the following downsides to the product:
1) Sign up process is completely manual and took them 2 days to complete. (ie- you need to print the forms, sign each page, and email it back to them). But not a trainsmash, as you only sign-up once
2) As mentioned above, you need to keep you gigs during the day in check. You can't just opt for the 'bolt-on' without the capped product.
3) The way the usage graph works is that it gives you "package usage" and "bolt on usage". Package usage is the peak 'gig4gig' package and 'bolt-on' obviously just counts the gigs, but doesn't charge for them. While tracking my usage, I have noticed the following problems with their tracking system:
a) The 'bolt-on' only kicks in after 8pm. Any downloads from 6pm-8pm gets counted as 'package usage'
b) If you connect before 8pm, any downloads after that get counted as 'package usage'. Meaning, you need to ensure that you physically ESTABLISH the internet connection after 8pm to ensure that it only counts your downloads as 'bolt on usage'.
I have contacted @lantic about the issue above. It took around 5 emails and 2 netlimiter graphs to convince them that I wasn't just clueless, and they responded as follows:
In regards to our telephonic conversation, the matter has been resolved and as discussed that as long as you use the bolt on package between the hours of 6pm to 6am and you can confirm the connection has stopped, you will not be billed.
So, what it seems like from this email, is that you are still required to physically ESTABLISH the internet connection after 6pm, however, even though gigs are being counted as 'package usage', you will not be charged for them at the end of the month.
I personally found this response unacceptable as:
a) If I hit 10gb of 'package usage', my internet will be cut until I increase my usage allowance, and I'm not taking the risk of shooting the usage allowance up to 50gb, in case I mistakenly leave a download on during the day.
b) How do I actually monitor that they are 100% correct with this, and wont smack me with a bill at the end of the month for 'peak' gigs that I never used.
So, at the moment, I am making sure to connect only after 8pm, so in that way, my usage will only go towards the 'bolt on usage'. If you are able to control your connection like this (by reconnecting after 8pm everyday, then this product is perfect for you.
Also, just to confirm, my usage was counted as 'bolt on usage' from Friday night 8pm until Monday morning 6am. So this confirms that the weekend is definitely unlimited (as advertised).
If I left anything out, please feel free to ask or PM.
Last edited:
