Official internet discussion thread

[KilR8]

Also, it's worth noting that general opinion that I've read is that 512 does not add enough speed per rand spend versus 384.

Ah yes good point, look at the price difference from 384k to 512k , and then from 512k to 4mb its ridiculous. Thats why they should have 384k, 1mb (or something) and then 4mb. BTW, im going way off topic, but i read a helkom article a few weeks ago that 384k is gna be bumped up to 512k (at the same cost as a 384k line), 512k to 1MB and 4mb to 12mb (8mb if the exchange in you area does not support 12mb) and this will be done in August. It may well be a rumour, I sure hope not. :D

[Cleric]

As in online gaming though a 512k is still much better than 384k

Really? I've heard that there's pretty much no difference, but maybe that's just us poor sods trying to make ourselves feel better.

[dislekcia]

Really? I've heard that there's pretty much no difference, but maybe that's just us poor sods trying to make ourselves feel better.

Depends what you're doing. Remember that for gaming your major concerns are ping (as low as possible) and upload bandwidth. If your upload bandwidth starts getting used up completely, your router will delay packets and, in the worst cases, drop hordes of packets. That means that the server you're playing on doesn't get your control inputs, so your game diverges and you either rubber-band all over the place or drop. Not fun.

A 512kbps connection has twice the upload bandwidth that a 384kbps circuit has, 256kbps compared to 128kbps. That can make a huge difference when multiple people are using the same connection at the same time and/or you're hosting a game.

[CrashHelmut]

It's weird, but I saw a huge improvement in my ping times when upgrading from a 384Kbs to 4Mbs line. In fact, my latency was more than halved. Don't know why, technically there should be no difference, perhaps Telkom prioritises 4Mbit packets when switching them at the exchange?

[dislekcia]

It's weird, but I saw a huge improvement in my ping times when upgrading from a 384Kbs to 4Mbs line. In fact, my latency was more than halved. Don't know why, technically there should be no difference, perhaps Telkom prioritises 4Mbit packets when switching them at the exchange?

No. The answer should be relatively obvious...

How do Telkom make an otherwise identical line perform at different speeds?

[maxdamage]

I'm just guessing, but I'm assuming the 1Gb is for WiFi data use to combat MWeb and Openweb's 300 hours?

Well it doesn't say in the email.Will post a pic of it in this post.

[McDangerous]

**** me guy, I'm Afrikaans and even I just nearly had a heart attack. Please, try and write properly, especially when asking for help, as it helps the people that are trying to help you, and makes you seem like less of a twat.

SA is a 3rd world country, so you can't expect us to have infrastructure on the level of your American cousin. There are many ISPs that offer great service and tariffs, and almost all ISPs are country wide, not region specific.

How about using your "slow" internet and googling a language course.

BTW, do you play CSS online by any chance? Please, complete the stereotype and say you do, I beg of you...

[-StormcroW-]

Seems like Afrihost have countered Mweb's offer.

384kb/s -> R197 "Coming Soon"
512kb/s -> R297 "Coming Soon"
4mb/s -> R497 "Available Now"
8mb/s -> R997 "Coming Soon"

[Cleric]

Changing to mweb this morning. Can't wait to feel the join of not having to ration my internet again. And now I can really start utilising steam.

[KilR8]

Changing to mweb this morning. Can't wait to feel the join of not having to ration my internet again. And now I can really start utilising steam.

What linespeed do you have, im guessing it has to be a 4mb kick ass line to really use STEAM?? :D

[Cleric]

Um... no. It's a 384 line. I'm refering more to the games that I've bought on Steam (HL1 remake, Psychonauts, Dues Ex, etc) that I haven't had the bandwidth to download.

[Interfan]

What linespeed do you have, im guessing it has to be a 4mb kick ass line to really use STEAM?? :D

No to download the games you bough or are planning to buy. With uncapped it makes the steam weekend deals very attractive. Those prices are also fantastic but the bandwith costs have put lots of us of. Now we can pay just the steam price and not worry about bandwith and download the games at our own time.

[ioiiooio]

I'm trying to get an idea of what these speeds really mean. Like how long would it take to download 100mb on a 384k; 512k; and 4mb line respectively? I realise it varies somewhat, and that may be a difficult question to answer. Anyways, as long as a 384 line is as fast as the slowest 3G, I'd be happy. The only thing we need now is for Telkom to bring down their line rentals/installation fees further - that would truly make it affordable all round.

[Die Jason]

he only thing we need now is for Telkom to bring down their line rentals/installation fees further - that would truly make it affordable all round.

Amen, quite expensive to get it all installed, don't mind the line rental that much though

[Wesley]

I'm trying to get an idea of what these speeds really mean. Like how long would it take to download 100mb on a 384k; 512k; and 4mb line respectively? I realise it varies somewhat, and that may be a difficult question to answer. Anyways, as long as a 384 line is as fast as the slowest 3G, I'd be happy. The only thing we need now is for Telkom to bring down their line rentals/installation fees further - that would truly make it affordable all round.

Usually, the calculation I'm giving you now only works for unshaped accounts, or days when the lines aren't congested. However, on most days you will see close to full speeds, especially if you use a download manager.

For example:

384Kb/s is your line speed. Take that and divide it by 8

384/8 = 48Kb/s

Your download speed (max) on an unshaped account or a good day will be 48Kb/s. If you want to, I can explain the math further, but I'd rather just send you here.

http://www.numion.com/calculators/Time.html

Numion is very accurate for the most part. Just remember that because our networks are contention-based, with everyone fighting for a place in the queue, your speeds won't always be that fast.

But the download should take you about 40 minutes, with a 15% network utilization overhead.

[FoX]

Well all these uncapped deals are really nice and all but it does not mean **** if its shaped.

What exactly is shaped adsl. I've read up on it, but it makes little sense to me. From what I understand it prioritizes functions like browsing the net, and then you spend more cap using other applications like games? Is this right or am I a retard?

shaped accounts restrict the speed at wicth you download form international sites, well if Telkom is your ISP, for example if i download a 1.4 gig demo from gamspot.com my DL speed will most likely be 40-80kbps(On 4Mbps line) and if I DL it from do gaming(witch is hosted localy) my DL speed will jump to (and stay there) around 380-415kbps, its the same with playing online, shaped - higher ping

PS. this laptop does not have a equal button?!?!?!WTF

edit: found it :P

====

[KilR8]

Usually, the calculation I'm giving you now only works for unshaped accounts, or days when the lines aren't congested. However, on most days you will see close to full speeds, especially if you use a download manager.

For example:

384Kb/s is your line speed. Take that and divide it by 8

384/8 = 48Kb/s

Your download speed (max) on an unshaped account or a good day will be 48Kb/s. If you want to, I can explain the math further, but I'd rather just send you here.

I could have sworn I said all of this earlier :D

Anyway,

No to download the games you bough or are planning to buy. With uncapped it makes the steam weekend deals very attractive. Those prices are also fantastic but the bandwith costs have put lots of us of. Now we can pay just the steam price and not worry about bandwith and download the games at our own time.

Ya I get what you are saying, since I have had a STEAM account (3 months) i have been offered 2 full games to download. Now obviously I would not have the cap to download it which was what put me off initially, but since these free offers were in the region of like 5 - 10 GB's I still wont download them with my unlimited cap, as it will just take too long on my 384k line. (Unless there is a game I really want and is cheaper, then i will go through the loooooong wait)

I'm trying to get an idea of what these speeds really mean. Like how long would it take to download 100mb on a 384k; 512k; and 4mb line respectively? I realise it varies somewhat, and that may be a difficult question to answer. Anyways, as long as a 384 line is as fast as the slowest 3G, I'd be happy. The only thing we need now is for Telkom to bring down their line rentals/installation fees further - that would truly make it affordable all round.

I have read an article on HELKOM (yes with an 'H' for those who dont know) that in August round about, TELKOM will have 512k replacing 384k (so the 512k line will be the price of the 384k) and the same with 512k changed to 1mb and 4mb changed to 12mb (or 8mb if the exchange in your area does not support 12mb)



edit: damn this post is longer than i thought :D

[Cleric]

Why are people so against leaving their PCs on while they're at work/school to download their steam games? Surely it can't take that long? A few days and it'll be down. I really don't see that as a problem when it comes to taking advantage of the Steam specials.

[KilR8]

Why are people so against leaving their PCs on while they're at work/school to download their steam games? Surely it can't take that long? A few days and it'll be down. I really don't see that as a problem when it comes to taking advantage of the Steam specials.

All for it, like I said, If the game is really worth it then I will get it (on the lines of Mass Effect 2, Bad Company 2, you know. That type of awesomeness :D) BTW it is LOOOOOONG on a 384k. Eg BC2 is about 10GB (this is on a shaped service which has an average of 40kb/s on a 384k, well for me anyway) So a 10GB file will take 2.89 days (calculator is my friend :D) which is quite long

[Interfan]

Well all these uncapped deals are really nice and all but it does not mean **** if its shaped.



shaped accounts restrict the speed at wicth you download form international sites, well if Telkom is your ISP, for example if i download a 1.4 gig demo from gamspot.com my DL speed will most likely be 40-80kbps(On 4Mbps line) and if I DL it from do gaming(witch is hosted localy) my DL speed will jump to (and stay there) around 380-415kbps, its the same with playing online, shaped - higher ping

PS. this laptop does not have a equal button?!?!?!WTF

edit: found it :P

====

The accounts are semi shaped. They are shaped during peak times but not shaped during of peak.

Also they do not shape international as opposed to local. They shape depending on the service you are looking to use. Downloading from sites like gamespot is fast no matter the time of day because it falls under http traffic, while torrents newservers tend to crawl during business hours.

Why are people so against leaving their PCs on while they're at work/school to download their steam games? Surely it can't take that long? A few days and it'll be down. I really don't see that as a problem when it comes to taking advantage of the Steam specials.

In SA there is always a big risk of thunder storms. That would be my worry.