Adsl FAQ

Having trouble viewing YouTube videos over ADSL? Set your browser settings to use: Proxy: dsl-cache.saix.net PORT: 8080 Yep, it’s a pain, hopefully a temporary one.

Frequently Asked Questions - ADSL

Q: What is ADSL?

ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) is a fast and permanent connection to the Internet and is known as an ‘always on’ technology. This means that you do not have to ‘dial-up’ to connect to the Internet and you pay no phone call charges for Internet usage. You just pay a monthly line rental.

ADSL is a form of Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) that provides significantly more downstream bandwidth (from the ISP to your business/home) compared to upstream bandwidth. This makes it possible to browse the web easily and it also supports voice and broadcast video applications.

Q: What hardware do I need to connect via ADSL?

You will need an adsl modem / adsl router, either with an Ethernet or USB connection. Most modern PCs have USB ports allowing you to connect a USB adsl modem / adsl router. If you would prefer an Ethernet adsl modem / adsl router, you will need to ensure that your PC has an Ethernet card and that you have the correct cable to connect your PC to the adsl modem / adsl router.

Q: How do I get an ADSL line?

In order to obtain ADSL connectivity to the Internet, you will require:

• An ADSL phone line from Kingsley or Telkom *

• An ADSL Internet access package from Kingsley

• An ADSL modem from Kingsley, your local retailer or Telkom

* ADSL lines are not available in all areas. You will need to find out from Telkom whether ADSL is available at your telephone exchange.

You can order an ADSL line by phoning our Sales Department.

Q: What is the difference between ADSL, ISDN and Diginet services?

ADSL

Telkom’s ADSL access service will offer you a permanent connection to the Internet with no dial-up necessary. It operates over the same copper wires used for your telephone service. You can make and receive calls or send a fax and surf the Internet at the same time. You pay a monthly line rental and no dial-up costs. Telkom doesn’t guarantee any throughput speeds on an ADSL access line. A cap or limit is enforced, and traffic is ’shaped’ to cater for normal business usage.

ISDN

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) allows a single wire or optical fibre to carry voice, digital and video data. There are different types of ISDN connection of varying bandwidth, such as 64 or 128 kbps (kilobits per second). ISDN uses a digital connection which is superior to normal dialup.

Telkom does not guarantee any throughput speeds and you will be charged for your connection time when you make use of Telkom’s ISDN service to surf the Internet or connect to your email. Dialups are quicker but you pay for 1 or 2 phone calls.

Diginet or leased line

Diginet or leased line provides you with an always on service. You can host websites or email servers on a Diginet link, but cannot do so using Capped ADSL. It provides guaranteed bandwidths between any predefined destinations. You will experience no traffic congestion, as the connection is not shared with other customers.

Q: How much can I download?

The capped ADSL is subject to a certain gigabyte (GB) limit or Cap. A running total of used bandwidth for the month is kept. If you exceed your ’subscribed limit’, you will no longer be able to connect and surf the net or receive any email.

Should you exceed the cap, you can Top Up by going to the following link TOP UP

Q: How do I check how much I have downloaded so far?

Go to http://userstats.adsl.saix.net/ and enter your ADSL username and password. You will get a running total of bandwidth used for the month to date. An email will be sent to you when you have reached 80% of your bandwidth usage.

Q: Can I still use my ordinary analogue phone with my ADSL line?

Yes. As part of the ADSL installation, Telkom install what is known as a POTS splitter. This connects to your ADSL line where it emerges from the wall socket. You then have two separate ports, one for your analogue telephone, modem or fax machine and one for your adsl modem / adsl router.

Q: What throughput do I get with my ADSL service?

The speed or throughput of the ADSL line between your home or office and the local telephone exchange could be an absolute maximum of 4096 kbps downstream and 384 kbps upstream, although it is not guaranteed by Telkom. Do not confuse speed in kbps with the amount of data or cap in GB that you purchase.

Factors that could influence throughput include:

• Speed of the line you purchase;

• Interference on the copper cable;

• Congestion between your local telephone exchange and Telkom’s central BRAS (Broadband Remote Access Server); and

• Congestion on the path across the Internet to the server from which you are downloading data.

Q: What service guarantees does ADSL give?

ADSL services are provided with no guarantees.

Q: Who do I contact for ADSL problems?

Q: When setting up my ADSL account do I need to change any details, e.g. phone number?

No. When using ADSL you do not dial a telephone number to connect to your ISP. You will need to create a new network connection, which will have a different username and password to your existing dial-up connection. We will supply this ADSL username and password to you when you subscribe, and you need to update this on your adsl modem / adsl router.

If you purchase a ‘top-up’ ADSL you will receive another user-id and password.

Q: How do I configure the adsl Modem / adsl router?

adsl modem / adsl router Setup

• Switch your computer off.

• The adsl modem / adsl router has two data cables: one thin cable for your phone line (RJ11) and either a USB or an Ethernet cable (RJ45).

• If using USB modem, you may need to install drivers first - BEFORE switching modem on.

• Connect the thin cable to your phone jack and the other end into the phone line port at the back of the modem.

• Connect the USB (or Ethernet) cable to correct port on your computer, and end of the cable into the port at the back of the modem.

• Switch modem and PC on.

adsl Modem configuration

• Open your browser and specify http://10.0.0.2/ or http://192.168.1.254/ or http://192.168.10.200/ (or refer to manual for your particular modem)

• Change the following values:

NB: Any other settings should be left as per default, unless you have unique requirements.

• Save settings to Flash Memory on modem, and reboot modem.

Q: What mail and news server settings should I use?

• Change the outgoing mail (SMTP) server to – smtp.kingsley.co.za

• The incoming POP3 mail server – pop.kingsley.co.za - should remain the same as when using your dial-up account.

• Change the news server to - news.saix.net.

• Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) settings become important when using ADSL. If these are incorrect you will have problems browsing and possibly also with emails. Go to http://www.dslreports.com/faq/5793 for details on how to check or change these.

Q: What about network security?

As ADSL is permanently connected to the Internet it is vital that you activate a personal Firewall and an Anti-virus product on all PCs that are connected to the network. You should ensure that Anti-virus updates are carried out frequently and should also go to www.windowsupdate.microsoft.com (or relevant Operating System manufacturer) for the latest patches and updates.

It is also vital that you change the adsl modem / adsl router login password, and keep it safe.

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