Wifi 4 home. Please help!!!

[Mikie]

I would go bigger than 4MB if you intend sharing with your neighbour,
Both of you streaming or downloading at the same time, is going to cause issues

[dalkill]

Depends on how much you plan to stream Oom Chris.

I have uncapped 2mb ADSL with telkom (ADSL + phone rental incl), free off peak landline calls, got 3g dongle, router and 200mb 3g x 12 months.
Unfortunately as is norm with Telkom, the 3g was completely useless as it did not work with the router which they bundle it with. Both Telkom branded products.

But it came in at good price of R579 total (special no longer i see). I still have to find better priced from any ISP. Have not looked in a while i must add.

And as mentioned before, the free router is pretty crappy. Just in the house (with my thick mud walls) it struggles from lounge to room, even with door open.

But it does work OK. We can have two people on the line streaming , with bearable mother buffering.
My kids live on youtube. Still trying to figure how to block on the router, but not block my access.

I have learnt alot on youtube. And could not see myself going back to the 10gb 3G contract i had before.

Telkom does throw out good specials every now and then. I would say hold on for those. That 10gb 3G contract i was on, was only R199 / month. And that was 10gb anytime data. Not the 5/5 split crap. And that was signed like almost 4 yrs ago.

Fiber is also making big strides becoming more affordable. I'm hoping when my current contract ends next year, then fiber good replacment... AND there is no landline rental costs.

[dalkill]

BTW @Etienne .. love the avatar... BATTLEFIELD !!!!

[etiennel22]

BTW @Etienne .. love the avatar... BATTLEFIELD !!!!

Hahahaha...shot thanks man

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[ChrisF]

So the 3G is about to reach the end of its 24 month contract ... time to ink an ADSL contract .... Reluctantly go to my nearest hellcom torture shop


Gotta "love" hellcom ....

Seems THIS plan, Do-Basic, is actually not as per their web :
https://secure.telkom.co.za/today/shop/ ... detail-341" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Web says:
- 20GB ... but says 10GB when you go the detailed page ... they are currently running a "double up" special. So sign up for "20GB" as per the first page and get 10GB when/if this special ends ...
- and actually the price they quote at their outlets for this package is R426 ... but if you remind them multiple times to check their web then they will give it to you at R399 ...

The uncapped 2Mbps package from MWeb is looking better and better ... R350/m (excluding the landline rental, thus R150/m more expensive than Telkom, but a lot more data ..)


For these smaller packages Axxes and Afrihost are similar to MWeb - or at least this is what I deduct from reading their webpages. PLEASE help me out if I have mis-read something, or am missing some special, or new entrant to the market.

USE :
- primary use is still for lots of emails (thus not a decider for any of these packages)
- Youtube videos ...
- downloading F1/MotoGP - unless I can actually stream it directly.
- might consider Netflix or similar at a later stage .... (in which case an upgrade to a 4Mbps line will be much easier with MWeb than hellcom)

can also add that the Telkom contract is 24 months, while the MWeb contract is 12 months. MWeb has month-to-month options, but more expensive.

[ChrisF]

The Afrihost packages may well be good option - https://www.afrihost.com/site/product/adsl_capped" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

VERY similarly priced to MWeb - but one can adjust the package on a month to month basis as needed .... with me not knowing where this may go in the long run this may be a good option. BUT if I do decide to go for a 4Mbps uncapped package they are more expensive than MWeb ....



TRICKY to make a choice when one dont know all the parameters ....

[Family_Dog]

There is only one.... AFRIHOST.

From now until end November, at which time it will be reviewed - double the cap at the same price.

Yesterday they offered any package you want for only R1.00 until 23 Sept.

You always get 1GB free.

No affiliation - just a happy chappy!


-F_D

[etiennel22]

Can't go wrong with Axxess or Afrihost. Best pricing and service, and the month to month billing makes it easy to upgrade or downgrade your adsl account.

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[ChrisF]

Eric the one thing that confuses me with Afrihost - and with these electronic stuff it does not take too much - all the others have different prices for the capped products depending on the speed you want. Afrihost seems to offer "as fast as available" for all their capped products, and the price is only a function of the amount of data you want.

Thus I could actually have a my 20 or 40 or 50 GB as needed and still have 4Mbps, or even faster - for less than the rest charge for the faster speeds ? Though the faster the download the more one can use, so it may just be good marketing ....

[ChrisF]

Who actually owns Afrihost/Axxes ?

I do believe that DSTV and MWeb have the same puppet masters ....

[ChrisF]

Can't go wrong with Axxess or Afrihost. Best pricing and service, and the month to month billing makes it easy to upgrade or downgrade your adsl account.

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Thanks Ettienne

[etiennel22]

Capped packages works on you line speed. If you have a 4mbps adsl line them you would get that speed. The uncapped is linked to the package, if you have a 4mbps adsl line but a 2mbps uncapped package you will only get 2mbps speed

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[Family_Dog]

Afrihost own Axxess, and also itself. MTN had a majority shareholding in Afrihost for a couple of years but Gian has bought the shareholding back. You can't go wrong with them and as Etienne mentioned it is a monthly service, no contracts to sign. No bull. Just "Pure Internet Joy!" :)


-F_D

[ChrisF]

Step 1 taken - created an Afrihost account and applied for an ADSL line.

As soon as the line is in, it is apparently a short step to adding data to the contract.



Phoned them to check some details .... caller ID, and they checked my details even without having to ask a million questions ....



Strange how one can do business this easily over the web, but need jump through hoops when doing business over the counter .... WHY do I need a DNA monster and 3 months salary slips when doing business with Telkom - where I have had a land line for the last 30 years ????????????



o-well, now just waiting for Afrihost to deal with Telkom and to setup and install my ADSL line.

[etiennel22]

I hope they don't take too long. Shout if you have any other questions

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[ChrisF]

Thanks Ettiene.

[kfxnando]

1st, did not read all the replies

We cancelled DSTV, two years ago
It's been a learning curve

1st we got telkom 4meg adsl uncapped
Had problems from even before the line was connected, and so it went for the 1st year
2 to 3 weeks of being disconnected was not uncomen , the last straw, was 6 weeks
My whole notice month in was disconnected, so yep, refused to pay the notice month
Went with Neotel 4meg uncapped
It is more expensive R199 PM
their fair usage policy says the 1st 400 gig in all good
After that it's down to 2meg
We stream everything, no downloading, and the most we ever used was 104 gig, and that was the month, when we came back from the boat cruise and I uploaded plenty videos
Avarage 80gig pm
Is it perfect - nope
However compared to telkom it's heaven
In 14 months, have not once been off for 24 hrs, have had issues However it gets resolved quickly

On the neotel 4meg
Wife will watch something on tv
Self will watch something on tablet
And laptop will be busy uploading videos to youtube, and no buffering
Next door has a neotel 2meg, and he can stream with no buffering either


We do not miss DSTV

Hope this helps

[ChrisF]

My FIRST post from my Afrihost link :)

[ChrisF]

Been a pleasure dealing with Afrihost.

[kfxnando]

Hear, that Afrihost has good service
My concern is that it will still via the Telkom network
And that is the reason, why I am prepared to pay more to avoid anything to do with Telkom

[Family_Dog]

No, they have a RF link though MTN as well, not only telkom lines. Actually, we have had no telkom line problems that I can remember over the past 5 or 6 years

-F_D

[kfxnando]

No, they have a RF link though MTN as well, not only telkom lines. Actually, we have had no telkom line problems that I can remember over the past 5 or 6 years

-F_D

That is great if one has nothing to do with telkom
Will look into that RF Link, pressure it could be their 3G connection

[ChrisF]

Taking it one step at a time ....

Had everything cable-connected for the initial setup and test run.

Few steps down the line my house is now a WiFi spot.

Laptop link working nice.

Cell connected and busy updating (with the data switched off to tripple check that it is actually working through the WiFi)

Next step is to "re-wire" my study .... One massive long multiplug is maxed out. And as it is under the desk one cant switch off anything .... This can turn into a little side-project all on its own ! Want to end with a neat practical solution, that allows me to have the modem and printer powered - thus I can (should be able to) print via WiFi from the laptop. And no more disco as the various LED's stay on day and night ....

THEN ... to figure out how to link to the tv's ..... 2017 Dakar to be be streamed and enjoyed while I sit in the braai room - and enjoyed on the tv with friends, not just me in front of the laptop.


Still need to figure out how I want to do this ....
I have a computer in the study that is not being used, as the laptop is now used 99% of the time.
I also have a "Notebook" (10'' laptop) that could be used for downloading and streaming .....
The physical connections, and what to avoid is still a mystery to me .....
Would love to hear from those that have already paid these school fees

[ChrisF]

No, they have a RF link though MTN as well, not only telkom lines. Actually, we have had no telkom line problems that I can remember over the past 5 or 6 years

-F_D

That is great if one has nothing to do with telkom
Will look into that RF Link, pressure it could be their 3G connection

Our work is now looking at a deal with Seacom. They are now offering some interesting packages. Big stuff for businesses.

We could save 20% of our telecoms (telkom and internet) bill, and have MUCH faster connections, totally unshaped uncapped etc etc ....

If you want I can get their details.

[kfxnando]

ChrisF
As for watching the Dakar
We no longer have DSTV
The little that is shown on DSTV, is just a tease and is also available online
However,of the online content, it a small part of it
Everyday, had over an hour of footage to watch from the Dakar
On YouTube, on can follow some of the teams
Many of the teams have their own YouTube pages
And then there is the Argentinian TV channel, that shows a lot of footage, juat that it's in Spanish
Being Portuguese, under lot of it
Beyond that, they have a lot of footage, not seen else where
On some days the Argentinian footage, was more then 1hr alone

Enjoy

[ChrisF]

We are now into month 3 without DStv ... and the sun still rise in the morning.

Biggest change is that I now watch F1 and MotoGP a few days later. Get it from a friend that downloads it. Will play around and see if I can stream it, or download it on the same day ....

Saw in the papers this week that DStv is closing another 4 channels. But they will be increasing their BoxOffice content ....

[kfxnando]

We watch all sports events live streaming
F1
Bike GP
Olympics
Rugby
Soccer
Darts

One if the chanlanges is sometimes finding a link
However with time, one learns where to find everything