Phoenix Network Forums

Hey guys,

Im fairly new to this idea of a shell, but my main motivation is one to which i can test perl scripts that I write.

Programming, amongst other things, is one of my interests, but, due to the terrible state of our communications industry in South Africa, I am unable to secure a stable, cheap (free) server with which i can tinker and learn more about my passion. This is mainly due to a monopoly held by our ONLY telecommunications operator (Telkom - fondly called Hellkom by its users). A 512K connection will cost you +-$120 and that is with a 3GB hard cap, port shaping (most ports are shaped except http, ftp, pop etc), and a dynamic IP. Suffice to say that this is very expensive and beyond the reach... (i'm rambling...as i often do when i discuss topics that i feel strongly about - PM me to learn more about the pitiful state of our communications industry)

Getting to me...the main subject of this post Im 17, in my final year of school. I've been using the net since i was 5 years old and computers and computing in general have been an interest of mine since then. I am mainly self-taught, and consider myself only to be knowledgeable when compared with a veritable 'layman' (noob? lol ) I have many interests, which you can read in my bio...

I dont want this shell account to do much...and i probably wont use up more than 50MB or so. I just want to learn more about what I love, thats it.

Regards,
Nikhil Somaru (aka. Bandit)

PS. Im sorry but i won't be able to use IRC, due to the immense amount of time i am dedicating to my final year, could an admin or mod pm me if this is a problem...

BanditZA wrote:This is mainly due to a monopoly held by our ONLY telecommunications operator (Telkom - fondly called Hellkom by its users). A 512K connection will cost you +-$120 and that is with a 3GB hard cap, port shaping (most ports are shaped except http, ftp, pop etc), and a dynamic IP. Suffice to say that this is very expensive and beyond the reach...

Yikes!
How come there is such a monopoly? Shady government 'funding' by Tellkom or something?..
btw, welcome

PS. Im sorry but i won't be able to use IRC, due to the immense amount of time i am dedicating to my final year, could an admin or mod pm me if this is a problem...

This is taken from http://forums.phoenix-hosting.org/viewtopic.php?t=1387 :

I understand that some of you are behind firewall which block outgoing access to many ports including IRC ones, if this is the case for you, PM me and we'll work something out, depending on the situation I may organise an alternative requirement for you.

Looks like you'll be doing the PM'ing

This is a great example on how some lazy users SHOULD make their introduction.

Good job BanditZA and welcome to Phoenix!

About the IRC requirement, you will have to pm an admin about it, and the admin will think of something else.

hey,

Thanks for the warm welcome guys...I will be pm'ing an admin a.s.a.p. Also, if anyone know a really (not just run-of-the-mill online tut stuff - see enough of those) good online perl learning resource, don't hesitate to email/pm me

Another problem (regarding my IRC predicament) is that im going to be connecting via a 64K isdn line most of the time, and as local phone calls are not free (more horrors of the monopoly), i simply cannot afford to idle in the irc channel :/

Regarding Telkom, they used to be government owned, but were recently privatised. We only got broadband about 6 years ago and it remains ridiculously priced but...gotta make do

Regards,
Bandit

Its not a requirement, however it does help: with the new signup system, you will get 'points' for being active on IRC and the forums.
Anyways,
I just opened the old signup system, until tim finishes the new one.

krod wrote:Its not a requirement, however it does help: with the new signup system, you will get 'points' for being active on IRC and the forums.

Thanks for the speedy reply, though I have been directed to this post:

Tim wrote:So guess what, you can spam to get your 15 posts, you can spam to get 300 posts for all I care but from now on, to actually get your account you have to be on IRC, we have to see you in the channel, you have to have been around for a long enough time for us to notice you participating. When we think it has been sufficient time, we will offer to check your request and make the decision as to whether it is worthy or not.

Which seems to indicate that it IS a requirement, but thanks anyways

Bandit

That was before we re-opened the old signup system.

Indeed, thanks