Is Do 3G from Telkom worth it?

gmathews

gmathews

New member
Hey all :) I have given up trying to get a fixed line installed in my area (new block of flats in Rustenburg) since no one seems to know when they will be able to sort this out on Telkoms side. Moreover I have noticed the move from fixed lines to mobile devices from Telkom.

Since I need an internet connection to keep up with the gaming world (i.e. PSN :D) I am thinking of going mobile - and the Do 3g package from Telkom seems the cheapest per mb service for 3g from what I have read up on.

The coverage on my area seems good from the coverage map on their site. Is it worth it for gaming?

I am thinking of getting the 3 GB package - R489 pm. Please let me know if you are currently using this service and if you have run into any problems when gaming.

Thanks!
 
Seriously, best to get a SIM from as many places as possible to test what works best in you area. Just get a bit of data for each and test it out, then decide from there. Honestly I would stay the hell away from ANY contract if you can afford to do so. Long term it may screw you over.

Not sure about Telkom deals, I recall reading they are the cheapest. But like you I also had ADSL problems with line issues from Telkom and was forced to go 3G. Now I REFUSE to support Telkom as far as possible. If you had anywhere near the same frustration as me with my ADSL, you should do the same. So I tried Vodacom and MTN SIMs and Vodacom won.
 
Look, you may get an internet connection, but all it's good for is browsing and downloads. Latencies suck on 3G cards. I had one, and my pings were 100+ more than they should have been. And, you have to monitor yourself extremely carefully, as it's capped, but you can go over it, and then they charge you all hell for going out of bundle.
 
Depends what you want to play... mmo`s are fine, if you can get the updates from someone else.
Forget about TF2, steam`s updates are huge.

Don`t you have iBurps there?

I`m pretty disappointed with 3G... all these new things happening with broadband in SA, and vodacom just giving us ways to hit the cap quicker.
 
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tehNihilist said:
Seriously, best to get a SIM from as many places as possible to test what works best in you area. Just get a bit of data for each and test it out, then decide from there. Honestly I would stay the hell away from ANY contract if you can afford to do so. Long term it may screw you over.

Not sure about Telkom deals, I recall reading they are the cheapest. But like you I also had ADSL problems with line issues from Telkom and was forced to go 3G. Now I REFUSE to support Telkom as far as possible. If you had anywhere near the same frustration as me with my ADSL, you should do the same. So I tried Vodacom and MTN SIMs and Vodacom won.
Click to expand...

Thanks, yes i did find out that they are the cheapest. I am getting it o nthe first of July to prevent a double charge if i got it sooner. Have you been gaming with Voda/MTN 3G services?

Hmm so you guys had bad pings with 3G it seems? :( Sucks as that is the only way forward for those without fixed lines ;p

TehNilist - Are you paying R589 for 2GIG on Vodacom? That seems a bit more expensive than what Do 3G has to offer at this point..
 
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Jabberwocky said:
Depends what you want to play... mmo`s are fine, if you can get the updates from someone else.
Forget about TF2, steam`s updates are huge.

Don`t you have iBurps there?

I`m pretty disappointed with 3G... all these new things happening with broadband in SA, and vodacom just giving us ways to hit the cap quicker.
Click to expand...

How is iburst - what speeds do they run at? For updates - gonna use ps3prox to get the download links for both game and firmware patches to use at mates from varsity :D So its just for gaming, not even patch updating..more specifically..PSN :)
 
Strategist01 said:
Look, you may get an internet connection, but all it's good for is browsing and downloads. Latencies suck on 3G cards. I had one, and my pings were 100+ more than they should have been. And, you have to monitor yourself extremely carefully, as it's capped, but you can go over it, and then they charge you all hell for going out of bundle.
Click to expand...

I have been reading that for the Do 3g package there isn't an internet based bandwidth monitoring system which is pretty gay..Something about dialling a number to get the amount of leftover data ;/
 
Sorry for the late reply, I usually stay out of this section.

3G is dependent on signal from what I can see. Initially I had crud-tastic signals until I got a nice antenna that cost like R800. Since then it has been pretty much rock solid speed wise. Have not been doing much online tried EVE and had zero issues, and now I am playing HoN on EU servers and so far so good. Seems there are some on this site (and others) that use 3G for a myriad of games, but like I mentioned, it will depend on signal and such.

Well good luck I hope you get sorted.
 
gmathews said:
I have been reading that for the Do 3g package there isn't an internet based bandwidth monitoring system which is pretty gay..Something about dialling a number to get the amount of leftover data ;/
Click to expand...

That sucks ass. I think that telkom's online monitoring system might work for you, dunno. If it doesn't, try this little program: Netmeter. It's a tiny download, keeps tack of all uploaded and Downloaded data, you can set limits for yourself etc. Very handy. I've come to use this when playing online to see exactly what my usage was when I went on a server.
 
From the looks of it, gaming through 3G seems positive. Thanks for the Netmeter app, need to bridge my PS3 to my PC to use it tho..;/ The modem I am looking to get has 4 ethernet ports. Tomorrow it is, 3G here I come. Thanks all!
 
UPDATE: Got the 3G line yesterday and it works pretty decently!

Speedtest Results: 5.6 MB/s Download
Upload: Can't Remember ;/
Ping: 120 ms :D

Jammed BFBC2 with no real problem at all on PSN!
 
gmathews said:
UPDATE: Got the 3G line yesterday and it works pretty decently!

Speedtest Results: 5.6 MB/s Download
Upload: Can't Remember ;/
Ping: 120 ms :D

Jammed BFBC2 with no real problem at all on PSN!
Click to expand...

Wait 3g is a line? okay with who did you go in the end?
Good to hear about the ping
 
Hehehe so used to saying 'internet line' :P Went with Telkom 3G hey, R489 for 3GB of data. Bought the E960 modem for R800 from Telkom direct. (The one with wireless + 4 Ethernet ports). So it worked out in the end. Played on PSN last night too. Used 60 MB of data for 2 hours on BFBC2 (including voice chat! - for both sent and received combined!) which is pretty sweet. So 3Gigs should def last me the month considering I am only going to use it for PSN purposes :P
 
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