Temp. internet solution

LuigiV · #1 31-10-2008, 10:07 AM

I have a german party coming to Cape Town, arriving on the 18th Nov. and leaving again 8th of Dec. I booked them a house without any internet service in Hout Bay. can anyone on this site maybe help me or direct me to someone who can setup a temporary wireless hotspot or ADSL connection for this period?

Thank you
Louis

HiltonP · #2 31-10-2008, 10:41 AM

Can't they buy / rent a 3G-type card when they get here?

Jola · #3 31-10-2008, 11:17 AM

Last year, when our Telkom lines at work were down, I hooked up a 3G cellphone to a wireless router (via a notebook), and had the business running on prepaid 3G for a few weeks. Not cheap, but it worked OK - and certainly much cheaper than data roaming. Any prepaid cellphone SIM card will work - but load it with a 500Mb data bundle (or whatever you think you need), and when that is finished, throw it away and get another.

But you may need someone to help you set it up.

Note : I know that you get 3G WiFi routers, which would make the setup easier, but I don't know where you could get something like that for a short-term rental.

LuigiV · #4 31-10-2008, 11:45 AM

We are preferably looking for a wi-fi hotspot. At any one time there may be 5 or six people in the house, all with their own agendas. I'm not sure if i want to go and rent a 3g modem for each of them. Also not sure if we're going to have 3g reception in that part of Hout Bay. Smooth operation is now a bit more important to us than cost. thanks!

L

LuigiV · #5 31-10-2008, 11:50 AM

maybe 3g is the solution. i dunno. we just want uncapped broadband for 3 weeks.

Jola · #6 31-10-2008, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuigiV

We are preferably looking for a wi-fi hotspot. L

That's what I was talking about - you can hook up a 3G cellphone to a WiFi router to give you a WiFi hotspot - and you only need one cellphone and SIM card.

3G is fast enough, but if there is no 3G in HoutBay and you have to work through GPRS it will be too slow. Most 3G cellphones indicate when 3G is available (for example Nokia N73, Nokia 6120 Classic, etc) - take a 3G cellphone to the location and check availability.

But hooking a cellphone up through a notebook to a WiFi router may be difficult. This or this would be better, and easier. NB with those products you still need a 3G PC Card to make it all work - maybe you can borrow that ? I think that the 3G PC Cards are not sold anymore ?

Or an integrated CradlePoint 3G Travel Router (CTR500).

Or call Vodacom about this.

If this is going to happen from time to time it may be worth buying one of these solutions. But make sure about the 3G in HoutBay.

LuigiV · #7 31-10-2008, 12:16 PM

OK Jola, thanks. first thing i have to drive out to hout bay with my own laptop and 3g card and check out reception. then i have to find someone who can set this up for me. i dont mind paying for the router, i can use it again in the future.

L

HiltonP · #8 31-10-2008, 12:43 PM

Don't you just love these Europeans . . . coming to "Africa", and expecting broadband on tap . . . next minute they'll be asking you to drive them around, or quickly lay on a metro rail system to Hout Bay!

Nicholas · #9 31-10-2008, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuigiV

maybe 3g is the solution. i dunno. we just want uncapped broadband for 3 weeks.

Haha we all want "uncapped" broadband - if you find it let us know where!

Sean van Tonder · #10 01-11-2008, 07:38 AM

Try openweb.co.za

Leo Theron · #11 01-11-2008, 06:15 PM

Or you can use an S60 c-phone with Wi-Fi and 3g, and it becomes an Hotspot in your pocket... eg Nokia E71

Nicholas · #12 01-11-2008, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean van Tonder

Try openweb.co.za

They also have a 10Gb threshold, usually when they say uncapped in SA they really mean 10-30Gb. SA does not have "true" uncapped. Unless you wanna spend thousand of rands to get a dedicated backbone.

jaykay · #13 02-11-2008, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean van Tonder

Try openweb.co.za

Are you referring to their VPN service? Are you using it? What is it like in practice compared to a normal ADSL line? I am using the Telkom 4mbps line, but only have a 3gb cap.

elsahoffmann · #14 02-11-2008, 10:38 AM

ye me also wants to know about open dinges. I am so gatvol of Helkom's ADSL and my 3gig definitely doesn't cut it anymore.

LuigiV · #15 02-11-2008, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicholas

Haha we all want "uncapped" broadband - if you find it let us know where!

yeah, I guess what I meant was: a temporary internet connection that will look and feel LIKE uncapped internet to a german photog in South Africa

trevori · #16 02-11-2008, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elsahoffmann

ye me also wants to know about open dinges. I am so gatvol of Helkom's ADSL and my 3gig definitely doesn't cut it anymore.

Hi Elsa, what are you miffed with? Speed, cap, Telkom? Probably all three. Throwing more $$$ will take care of two of those issues, but you'll still be left with Telkom. Sadly, for me they are the only provider that can give me what I need (Neotel have no ETA for service in Hout Bay)

But speaking of Neotel, why not see if they have service in your area? May as well take advantage of the carnage they've put our pavements and roads through - you may even have fibre-to-the-curb, whatever that may mean... Seriously, they may be the option for you.

Trevor

marlon · #17 03-11-2008, 03:25 PM

There are quite a few uncapped dsl solutions around.
And whats the big deal with you guys requiring so much bandwidth/traffic anyway, i hardly ever reach 4 GB, and I do constant updates for my linux machines, play games online etc.

LuigiV · #18 03-11-2008, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jola

That's what I was talking about - you can hook up a 3G cellphone to a WiFi router to give you a WiFi hotspot (CTR500).

Thanks, I got my own portable WiFi hotspot that I can use again in future. Bought a usb WiFi router from vodacom for 1.5k, you don't need the PC card with this product(still available at 1.9k), accept instead usb device like 3g usb modem or 3g enabled cellphone with data cable.

Louis

Jola · #19 03-11-2008, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuigiV

Thanks, I got my own portable WiFi hotspot that I can use again in future. Bought a usb WiFi router from vodacom for 1.5k, you don't need the PC card with this product(still available at 1.9k), accept instead usb device like 3g usb modem or 3g enabled cellphone with data cable.

Louis

Glad that you came right - just hope that HoutBay has 3G/HSDPA ! But I'm sure that you checked that. I did the same when Hellkom didn't transfer our data lines after our office move (after three months notice), and we ran our whole office off a Nokia 6120 Classic. Worked like a charm

Francois Marais · #20 04-11-2008, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marlon

There are quite a few uncapped dsl solutions around.
And whats the big deal with you guys requiring so much bandwidth/traffic anyway, i hardly ever reach 4 GB, and I do constant updates for my linux machines, play games online etc.

Ahh that is the key word "Linux"
Windows will try and download a lot of crap if you let it. And 2 movies and 3GB is gone...