Official internet discussion thread

[Wesley]

You'd only be gaining about 15Kb/s in download speeds, page renders and other such things shouldn't actually show you much difference. You can use Speedtest.net to test your local and international speeds. Start by testing to any Speedtest servers off the coast of Spain as well as London and then maybe see how well ones that land in New York handle.

[MonGooS]

Well the grand finale to my endless **** with Telkom.

My house isn't ADSL Ready.

After 3-4 weeks of struggling with them, countless hours on the phone, speaking to at least 20-30 different people, a technician physically coming out to my house, even speaking to a supervisor and giving them a phone number for my neighbour. I phone again today and the woman on the phone tells me that according to her system this road/area hasn't got access to Internet.

Honestly, what the ****.

[Wesley]

What's the suburb and street that your new house is in?

What you can do is check how far the exchange is from your house using this site: Broadbandstats. Scope out the area, find the nearest exchange and perhaps see if there's an attached phone number. Otherwise, drive to the exchange yourself and ask the techies where what you should do. Sometimes they'll help you out themselves.

You can also consult the downloadable maps to find the nearest exchange or multiple ones in your area.

[MonGooS]

Marone St, Burgersfort, Limpopo.

Also, what about my R700 deposit that I paid? How the **** can they ask me for a deposit if internet isn't supported.

[Wesley]

Marone St, Burgersfort, Limpopo.

Also, what about my R700 deposit that I paid? How the **** can they ask me for a deposit if internet isn't supported.

The fee is to have the line installed and activated by the techie if an exchange doesn't support self-install options. Usually exchanges do support it, but only if there's already a telephone line. What did you order? Just a plain DSL-enabled line?

[MonGooS]

A line and 4mb ADSL installation.

But the techie didn't install anything, because there is no ADSL capabilities at my house. So why did I have to pay it if they knew there is no ADSL capabilities here? Will be I be able to get it back from them?

[Wesley]

A line and 4mb ADSL installation.

But the techie didn't install anything, because there is no ADSL capabilities at my house. So why did I have to pay it if they knew there is no ADSL capabilities here? Will be I be able to get it back from them?

Okay, here's what you should do. Firstly, make sure you still have all your till slips that you recieved (should have received) for the deposit and the papers you signed for the install. Then, take a drive down the road and look for the Telkom Exchange that should be in your street. This is the location of mine in Jbay, if you go into street view you'll see what the regular exchanges look like. Some of the newer ones are brick-face buildings, but they're normally huge and have antennae on top with a Telkom sign on the gate.

Then, drive down your street and around your block and look for a blue/green box like this:



That's the local distribution box. Sometimes the red and white ones in the background accompany it. To get a DSL line, that box has to be within 5km of your house. Judging by the size of your tiny town, you could live almost anywhere and still be within 3km to your exchange. Now that you know where it is and how far away it is, either try tracking down a techie from the exchange or go to your local Telkom shop and present all the info before them. If they don't profusely apologise and get someone on it within a week, threaten to take them to the small claims court if they refuse your deposit. Post your story on HelloPeter and send it to your regional newspaper as well, you'll at least get a response from someone. Might as well contact the National Consumer Commission (086 026 6786, fax 0861 515 259, E-mail: NCC@thedti.gov.za) while you're at it.

I also see on Google maps that there's either a large shopping mall or hospital being built towards the north end of the town. Telkom has a responsibility to have phones an DSL connection for buildings like that, so there's no reason why you can't get a connection.

Also, keep a record of all the reference numbers you get from calls. Whenever you call the centre, always ask for a reference number and the name of the person you're talking to. Usually the call centre staff have to fill a quota per day doing whatever it is they're assigned to, so sometimes you get the idiots who couldn't care less to help you. Holding them accountable is a very nice way to get things done your way.

[MonGooS]

Well I checked, and I do still have my slip. I will check tomorrow on the way to work for the green box. I just phone the techie and he confirms that there is ADSL here, but there is no Telkom Store within a 200km radium, so telephone is my only option. I will phone AGAIN tomorrow and see if I can sort something out...

[Toxxyc]

Well I checked, and I do still have my slip. I will check tomorrow on the way to work for the green box. I just phone the techie and he confirms that there is ADSL here, but there is no Telkom Store within a 200km radium, so telephone is my only option. I will phone AGAIN tomorrow and see if I can sort something out...

www.hellopeter.com - not that Telkom really cares there.

Beeld's complaint system may be able to help you out though, they're pretty sharp. Also write letters and emails to the big guys at Telkom.

[MonGooS]

I have just given up. Just got off the phone with them again. According to the guy I spoke to, there is internet in the area, but there is a problem with the infrastructure which is going to take a month or more to fix, and on top of that there are no available ports. I am moving again in 2 month to Randburg, there at least I KNOW I have can internet. I am not going to make a fuss over it, I have managed to get them to refund me for the R700 that I paid, that is good enough for me. I will just use 3G for the next 2 month.

Thanks for the help guys.

[D34thByCh01c3]

I have just given up. Just got off the phone with them again. According to the guy I spoke to, there is internet in the area, but there is a problem with the infrastructure which is going to take a month or more to fix, and on top of that there are no available ports. I am moving again in 2 month to Randburg, there at least I KNOW I have can internet. I am not going to make a fuss over it, I have managed to get them to refund me for the R700 that I paid, that is good enough for me. I will just use 3G for the next 2 month.

Thanks for the help guys.

With which service provider are you getting your 3G from?

[Wesley]

I will just use 3G for the next 2 month.

That sucks. For 3G data, I recommend you look at 8ta's 1GB bundles going for R200. Its the cheapest out of the lot and regular sims piggyback off the MTN network.

[MonGooS]

Was gonna just buy 5 or 10gb on a vodacom pay as you go.

[Wesley]

You'd be ****ing crazy, seriously. 8ta is cheaper and will still give you roughly the same speeds, possibly even a better connection than Vodacom's 3G.

[D34thByCh01c3]

You'd be ****ing crazy, seriously. 8ta is cheaper and will still give you roughly the same speeds, possibly even a better connection than Vodacom's 3G.

Unfortunately he doesn't have 8ta coverage....

EDIT: nvm, he doesn't have to use the 8ta network, but its a pity he can't, he could get 2GB+1GB for R149.

Vodacom:
100MB-R49
250MB-R99
500MB-R159
1GB-R279
2GB-R369
5GB-R829

as opposed to
8ta: (roaming on MTN)
100MB-R40
250MB-R80
500MB-R120
1GB-R200
2GB-R266
5GB-R666

[MonGooS]

If I had 8ta coverage I'd just get the 60gb bundle.

What speeds would I get roaming on mtn though?

[D34thByCh01c3]

If I had 8ta coverage I'd just get the 60gb bundle.

What speeds would I get roaming on mtn though?

It shouldn't be too bad, I used to get 400KB/s+ on two bars of signal on my phone.

[MonGooS]

Ill grab a pay as you go sim from them and test it out.

Just checked 8ta's coverage map, as well as MTN. Burgersfort seems to have 3g(from 8ta, but not the promo bundles) and HSDPA(from MTN). I will go grab a sim from Pick 'n Pay and try it out.

Oh also, can I use a 8ta Sim in a Vodacom modem?

[Wesley]

Oh also, can I use a 8ta Sim in a Vodacom modem?

You can. You may have a create a new profile in the VC dashboard/dial-up connection that uses the modem and the 8ta sim, but it should work right off the bat.

[D34thByCh01c3]

You can. You may have a create a new profile in the VC dashboard/dial-up connection that uses the modem and the 8ta sim, but it should work right off the bat.

Vodacom 3g software has some incompatibility with other networks, at least with my VC modem, all I did was download the 8ta connect software and it worked like a charm.

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