Dion's random ramblings

Friday, April 04, 2008

Suffering from 'internetlessness' what's the best solution? A little help please!

For the past four years I have had ADSL broadband at both my home and my office.  For those in the UK and the US, ADSL is the fastest 'wired' internet access we have in South Africa.  Because of our telecommunications company, TELKOM's monopoly on the 'pipes' in and out of the country through SAIX all other providers have to rent bandwidth from them.


ADSL has been quite fine for my needs.  I seldom stream more than a few seconds of youtube, I don't download large updates, videos, or huge files.  At most I download a 40MB MP3 every other day as a podcast on iTunes.  

Now, however, my broadband needs have changed with our move.  First, I will be traveling quite a bit, so I do need a solution that will make internet access available at a fairly fast and reliable rate throughout South Africa, and even the world when necessary.  Second, we are renting our current home for just a few months while we look to sell our old house in Somerset West and buy something that is a bit larger.  So, we don't want the hassle of waiting for TELKOM to install a phone line, process our application for ADSL, charge us huge installation fees, and then have to go through all the hassle and expense in a few months time when we move.  Third, at work I am locked into a fairly restricted corporate network.  They use a Microsoft exchange server, which means that my MAC gives them headaches so they have asked if I would please use a Windows laptop (they are buying me a little Windows subnotebook for work purposes - either a Sony TZ, or the Acer 6292).  This means that my Macbook Pro (which is the machine from which I blog, record my podcasts, record my Radio Pulpit weekly shows, upload and download podcasts etc.) will not have steady broadband access through a regular network.

SO, here's the question:  What is the BEST and CHEAPEST broadband solution to meet our internet needs?

1)  Bite the bullet and get ADSL put in at home!

2)  Sign your life away and get a VODACOM 3G card.

3)  Didn't you know that you can use xxxx solution in the Helderberg Basin!?

If you have any advice, insight, or help you can offer to cure our 'internetlessness' in the Somerset West area I would be eternally grateful!

Please, also just drop a comment to let me know what broadband solution you use!  I would be interested to know (corporate network, University network, leaching your neighbour's wifi, dialup, etc.)

Thanks!

PS.  We had our first 'flood' in our new house last night.  We started a load of washing at 10pm, only to discover at 11.30pm that the washing machine wasn't working so we had a few inches of water throughout the house (and many boxes still unpacked on the floor....)  MANY, MANY, MANY towels and buckets later we had moped up most of the mess and hit the hay.  The good news is that I have fixed the washing machine!

8 Comments:

  • Hey man
    Both wife and i have nokias, on mtn contracts.
    We are both able to access inet at any time and place, the connection speed ain't GREAT, but it works adequately enough. Getting a 3g card is the same thing.
    Hope you come right!!!

    By Blogger abraxas, at 9:14 AM  

  • My sister uses snowball - www.snowball.co.za 'cos they don't have very reliable telkom service on their smallholding. It's apparently quite reliable and quick.

    On Vodacom you can now get 3G packages prepaid (same rate as contract) - you buy a top up and then convert it to a data package on vodacom4me - the package only lasts a month, but you can choose from a bunch of options.

    In Paarl I use my manse's ADSL (woo hoo!) and my prepaid 3G when I'm away.

    By Blogger Gus, at 9:35 AM  

  • I also use an MTN datacard. On MyChoice Topup, but you can get it on prepaid. It cost about R200 start up, then R75 per month plus data bundles. I think I'm paying about R200 per month for 500 megabytes. The rate is coming down all the time. Connection speed here in jhb is 1.8Mbps which is pretty quick - compares well to the ADSL at work. And you can connect pretty much anywhere.

    By Blogger Jenny Hillebrand, at 10:50 AM  

  • I just sit down at the computer - big one on top of the desk (but with a flat screen) - click the mouse, a little green light flashes on a netgear thingy and voila............ I have your blog before me ;)
    Sorry Dion, clearly I am technoligically challenged, but it looks like you will have plenty of options from those in the know.

    By Anonymous Janet, at 2:19 PM  

  • I'm living in a wi-fi enabled 7th century (rebuilt!) monastery right now... The three-foot thick walls somewhat restrict the range, but I am blessed with high-speed internet none-the-less!

    By Blogger Paddy, at 6:42 PM  

  • Hey D, MTN USB datacards quite useful and not too badly priced. Connection speeds vary depending on network where ever you find yourself. Edge, HSDPA or 3G (or if these are not available, GPRS)kicks in depending on availability. If you are travelling for work, see if the co will sponsor the device and contract as it will be a tool of trade (dial in to the office network etc), because it is a USB device, can be used on any notebook etc with a usb port.Hope this helps!

    By Anonymous Douglas, at 1:25 PM  

  • Um... I use my BT Home Broadband wireless 6meg internet connection... but then I'm not sure that will help you too much...
    *insert evil laugh here*

    Fixed a washing machine on crutches! now I am impressed... I'm sure Liam found that one entertaining

    By Blogger Murray & Gina UK, at 2:02 AM  

  • Dion

    I use a MTN 3G usb data card. R300 gives you the modem and 500megs of data/month. If I run over my limit for the month I swop sims for Vodacmom prepaid card and load prepaid data. R190 = 500MBs.

    Hanno

    By Blogger Mev Dominee, at 5:03 PM  

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