WispSA - internet provider

[Keepa34]

so it seems im close to having an internet connection again- YEY! - and the people i live with were looking at wispSA as a provider but i've NEVER heard of them...

so i was wondering if u guys could help me out if u've maybe had them before... (speed, service, etc.) coz i cant really find out anything about them online.. :/

[Keepa34]

Okay so it seems no1 knows or no1 wants to tell.. But that's okay.. So does anyone know how much it costs to activate a line.. Iv already got it installed.. So not the price for putting the line in.. Just the price for activating it...

[axon1988]

R 1 000 000! I have no clue.

[Graal]

No idea, but WispSA is Wireless according to their site.

[Keepa34]

Yeah I know that wispSA is wireless but now I'm askin about normal ADSL.. Like what would telkom charge to activate a line..?

[Nimatek]

Telkom charges between R400 and R800 for the activation of the line since they send a technician to test the line. No matter the fact that the line had been there before.

[Graal]

Ah, okay. No idea, but Nimatek's price should be more or less spot-on. Telkom would never charge reasonable rates.

[James]

Use Telkom's ADSL exchange checker to see if your local exchange supports ADSL, and at what speeds.

https://secureapp.telkom.co.za/checkerdslead/

Once you know that, you phone Telkom and order an ADSL line for your account.

You can find their basic tariffs here: http://www.telkom.co.za/general/pricelist/adsl.html

You will be looking at spending at least R375 once-off for them to activate DSL on your line (then there is the monthly rental depending on the speed you choose).

This is the "self-install" option, which basically means that they will send the technician to flip a switch at your local exchange, but you are responsible for setting up the router/modem at your premises.

You can pay more to have the technician come and do it for you, but really, it's so easy, I wouldn't bother.

From memory it requires logging into a page and confirming your activation and following some prompts, so you may need another form of internet access just to get that done. You'll need a POTS filter for around R30 from a Telkom shop or any decent IT shop. The filter basically stops your ADSL connection from dropping when the phone rings. You will also need a router/modem of course.

The testing of the line that Nimatek speaks of is usually to ascertain if there is some sort of problem between your premises and the local exchange; perhaps poor line quality etc. However, this isn't something that is part of the installation call-out, and is often something the technician goes out to do at the same time when they realise there is a problem in the area.

If you've done the modem setup correctly at home, have followed the activation procedure correctly, and can see there is some sort of line quality problem, then you phone telkom and report the fault, and they better not try charge you for it, or blame you for doing a home installation. Don't take shit from these charlatans.


On the side of the WISP, they are often tarred with the "fly-by-night" brush. I don't know much about that company, but these WISPs usually simply resell ADSL connections and install some sort of wireless last mile link. Regardless of their level of professionalism, I'd stay away from wireless if I could have proper ADSL instead.

[axon1988]

And there you have it...

[Graal]

Yeah, don't bother with Telkom's install. They insisted on us letting them install the router back when I got my ADSL line at my flat, and it consisted of the technician looking at the TP-Link router and saying 'eh, I don't know this router how it works' and then leaving. Ended up installing it myself, which was ridiculously easy anyway, and they charged us the R350 installation fee anyway as well.

We could probably have disputed it, but I decided to just mark it as a loss. It would have been too much effort.