Which broadband option?

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Hi

I have been looking at various broadband options that are portable. The option that seems to suit my needs is the USB modem option from Maxis, its on an 18 month contract and 138rm per month. They have said that I should? get a good signal speed in my area (the KL part of Ampang), and have offered a seven day money back guarantee if it doesn't work.

The other benefit of the Maxis USB modem is that it should work over most of Malaysia, so when I go to Penang, I just plug in my modem and away I go.

Does anyone have any experience of this particular service? or do you have an alternative suggestion for a portable broadband solution? I would rather have a USB option than a fixed line option as I am planning to rent for only 6 months at a time until I find somewhere that I would like to live longer term.

Thanks

Corporateangel

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Im going to get the Maxis USB modem today from the Maxis centre at KLCC unless anyone has any other opinions - unlikely given the lack of replies on this subject 

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There is quite a bit of info in the Cost of Living topic - "TV - Broadband - Telephone - Handphones"

Megalink posted about 4g in the Klang Valley.

HTH

Bob

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I went over to the Maxis centre in the KLCC, walked from Bukit Bintang, not only was it boiling hot and sunny, but I stupidly wore a dark grape coloured shirt which seemed to show every bead of sweat I produced!

Anyway I saw the same Maxis girl that served me last time and said ' I am here to order my wireless USB broadband' we double checked the location of our condo on the Maxis Map which was right in the high speed internet area, and we then proceded to complete the paperwork.

She then said to me 'What floor is your condo on?" to which I replied 31st. Then much to my horror she told me that it won't work as we are too high and it works best on 5th floor and below, they do have 'A' customer that is on the 25th floor in another block that manages to get access most of the time, but I have no chance!

So landline and a weeks wait here we come!

Corporateangel

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 I did that walk once. Very hard to find any shade. Every time I tried a quiet back street it ended up as a dead end at some construction site or the like. Also managed to get propositioned about three times as I walked through what I thought was a park at the end of Jalan Alor even though it was only early afternoon! At least the footpaths were reasonably free of motor cycles.
Good luck with the broadband.

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There are some good websites with info on the availability of broadband options. 4G is available, but it is NEW and therefore will be full of pitfalls for some time to come.

Too be honest, I know it has it critics, but Streamyx is still the one to beat  Ringgit for Ringgit, and I have not seen anything which challenges this statement so far.

I have had Streamyx since 2002, and whilst i had some issues in the early days, I now find it very reliable, and the HelpDesk service is a zillion times better than it was in those early days.

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After a lull of several months the same trouble has returned to my Streamyx in the last three days.  For example it does not work at 6am, 8 am but OK at 10 am.  Then it stopped at 3pm and recovered at 5pm.  The technical service people always assume the cause is in the consumer.  They advise disconnect everything(phone,wi-fi router) and connect modem directly to your computer.  Occassionally this works which suggests their signals are too weak.  Usually the problem goes away a few days later.  I suspect transmission is affected by the wetness or temperature of cables on the ground.  Any comment from Penangfon(optical fibre) users?

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There are a number of possible causes of this kind of thing some of which can be resolved by yoursef , others need the streamyx techys to have a look.

The most common cause relates to the wifi link from PC to laptop.

If you are using a wireless connection the first thing to do is to physically connect PC directly to your wireless router and do a reboot of everything. Sometimes this is not easy if you are using a desktop and it is located some distance from your router. Once you have tried this let me know the results and I will advise further.

In my experience this would resolve over 50% of problems.

regards

Bob

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My apologies to rmyu as I see that streamyx had already made the same suggestion as I did.

You said that the problem goes away after directly connecting. Does this mean that you remained on direct connect or have you reverted to wifi?

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rymu,
If you are having the same problem at regular intervals, and then it resolves itself, I would insist on a visit from a technician when you are having the problem.

In my experience in KL they are more than happy to pay a 'home visit' at not extra cost, and when they have they have been most corteous, friensdly and helpful.

Give it a try. At the end of the day TM & Streamyx are SERVICE PROVIDERS & you and I a re paying for it.

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Hi rmyu,

I would agree with FCS about a visit from the streamyx techs but it is unlikely to resolve your problem unless it is related to your equipment. This is because network problems tend to be long term and need large capital outlay to resolve. The best you can hope for is that the rolling network upgrades which are always in progress will catch your issue and remove it.

As I said before the problem is likely to be with your equipment or even local interference. For example the angle of your wifi antenna is crucial. I had a client once who always lost his connection on Tuesdays. That was the day his cleaner went through the house and did a big tidy up. That included neatly folding the antenna so that the reception was down around 20% (you need signal strength and signal quality in excess of 70%). You can monitor the signal strength and quality with the software that came with your router. Sometimes this sits in your system tray at the bottom right of your screen. If figures are below 70% (sometimes just reads "poor, good or excellent) then you need to resolve a local problem. These figures relate to the signal between your PC and the router so do not indicate anything external to your property.

If you have an old type monitor (not flat screen) is is best to ensure that the router is more than 18" from it. This is because the large magnetic fields that exist around the tube will degrade your wifi signal. Other things that can cause problems are local switchgear (especially if you are in an apartment block) and RF blockages such as power cables and even mesh grills that are between your router and your PC. Sometimes just moving your PC a couple of feet can improve your signal dramatically.

Hope that helps

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Thank you all for helpful advice. TM would rather instruct me on the phone.  Six months ago  they sent a person to my flat in Penang after I pestered them three times.  He did not do anything to my system but since then I have been ok  for 6 months.  My wifi router  serves a XP laptop, a Vista laptop and an internet radio.  Placed on a  table they have been working fine until 3 days ago when irregularities began.  Disconnecting the phone and wifi sometimes solve the problem.  Other times I have  to wait for a more auspicious moment( 10am is better than 6 am, engineers start at 9?).  I like to solve the problem myself since phoning them is a hastle, though they are helpful and polite.  I shall post the solution if and when I find it eventually.  Recently TM offers a bargain package of unlimited streamyx and fixed phoneline for RM 60 only.

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I think you have already removed several possible causes. If all three devices are affected then problem is located from your wifi router onwards to streamyx (this includes the router itself). If you check your signal quality and strength you can eliminate a further part which is the wifi transmitter. Then if all OK you have some leverage with streamyx. As they are not obliged to check your equipment they are likely to blame it for the problem.

Bob

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  Recently TM offers a bargain package of unlimited streamyx and fixed phoneline for RM 60 only.

Hi rymu,
I just checked out the RM60 package, and it is very basic indeed, and only for non-existing customers. It has lots of extra possibilities at extra cost. Not the great deal it sounds on the surface!

The website is:

 http://www.telekom2u.com

& clearly states- "this site is for new streamyx registration only. If you are already a streamyx user, please do not submit here."
 

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The time has come around again for me to consider ' What Broadband!'

I have been looking at the Streamyx Combo options 4MB Broadband for 160rm per month on a 12 month contract, I can then add a landline with free national calls for another 28rm (not sure about this as I mostly use the H/Ps and Skype) and 10rm for the mobile roaming service.

All in all it comes to 198rm or just 160rm for the broadband..

So, can anyone help me with the following:

1. General experience of using Streamyx
2. Has anyone tried the Streamyx 4MB Broadband option and if so is it really as fast as its claimed to be?
3. Do users of USB modems find them as good as advertised (Maxis etc..)
4. Does anyone have any alternatives to what I am lookin at for a home service for KL City?

Feels quite odd not writing about money or finance etc??! 

Thankyou in advance