Which broadband option?

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Hi CA,

I have a Celcom HSDPA USB modem and the experience is not that great. Initially I thought it was due to the location being screened by high rise but my speed varies without moving location so I think there is some other factor. I am not an expert on High-Speed Downlink Packet Access but speeds in excess 0f 7Mb are claimed, mine seems to average around 900k on a good day. At least one day a week I am down to 400k.

Has anyone else used HSDPA in Penang? What is your experience?

Bob

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Hi Bob

Thanks for letting me know your experiences, I'm sure that there must be many more out there that are using Broadband services here in Malaysia, it would be nice to get some of their opinions on what they are using and whether they would recommend them or not..

Paul

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 What's the situation with the free broadband in Penang that I saw trumpeted in the Star in the last few months.
It will be interesting to see if it works. According to our local State Government that looked at the idea the free broadband initiatives around the world such as San Francisco (I think) were a bit of a white elephant. If I remember correctly the problem was there were no funds for upgrades and therefore the equipment/connection became oboslete and slow in a few years.
 

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....it would be nice to get some of their opinions on what they are using and whether they would recommend them or not.....Paul

Hi Paul,
I signed up for the 512k package in 2002 for RM66/ month including free modem!, and to be honest....after a few initial teething problems, it was OK! (note OK as previously I had 'dial up'!)

About a year ago I splashed out another RM11/mth and upgraded to the 1Mbps package, and to be honest I can hardly tell the difference.

I recommend www.speedtest.net as opposed to the TMNet version to test your actual speed. I just did one just now and it showed an amazing download speed of 915kbps (normally it is about 750) and an upload speed of 390. (often it also is lower than that).
However my 'surfing is about the same as always whic could never be described as fast!!

The 4M package looks too exorbitant for my liking, especially as they will never guarantee you that speed, but 'a best effort' (which is dependent on many factors).

Let's know what you eventually do.

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http://www.liewcf.com/blog/archives/2007/05/tmnet-launched-4m-streamyx-broadband-package/

The above link basically confirms what I said in the earlier post......not good news.
Here is an extract:

Do we feel excited? Not really. Based on the past TMNet experiences, we doubt the service quality. We are afraid to get 1.0M speed by paying 4.0M. As my brother said, “I don’t care. Just give me the stable connectivity.

Before you rush to Telekom to upgrade your Streamyx package, please note that 4M package is currently only available to a very small area. The total available ports are around 12,000+, meaning only 12K of 4M Streamyx accounts available now.

Another question is how will they price a 12M package if it ever gets this far ........  RM800/month....I don't think that will be a seller

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The trouble is that the infrastructure is just not there to support a good connection. It is not just a matter of the number of ports available it is also the bandwidth being used by the geeky kid next door. In the UK usage of the internet has a large take up so there is a large infrastructure to be shared. In Malaysia predominantly the users of the internet are trying to download all the back issues of NERD magazine plus max strength videos and pods made by their spotty mates.  Quite normal for them to start a 500 Mb download and leave it running overnight on a 512. Of course this happens in the UK but the ratio of geeks to normal chaps is much better.

Hence the bandwidth being sucked through streamyx's servers is more than the servers can cope with. That means that respectable users (like us) cant read the latest sport from the BBC. If you notice a sudden drop in speed check if spotty kid next door is not using your laptop as an open relay, little sods.

Just a note on speed tests.
Ping tests (usually a big part of speed tests) cannot be trusted because they have a low priority. In other words you will only get reliable results when the servers are not busy. People only ever do speed tests when the servers are busy.

Bob

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Hi FCS

I found another option that I am currently investigating, it seems to offer the right combo for me of broadband and phone and the major plus point seems to be the price: http://www.jaring.com.my/service/broadband/index.cfm?cont=flite_wired

The standard plan offers 1MB, a free modem, what seems to be a VOIP phone, for 99rm per month.

I also just did the Speedtest.net thing and came up with a download of 1097 kbps and an upload of 938 kbps! Results:
http://www.speedtest.net/result/363443541.png
Seems quite good, as I currently pay 99rm per month for broadband and a VOIP phone system via another company, however this option is only available in the condo I'm renting!

The reason for looking for a higher speed is I have something called a Slingbox (www.slingbox.com) set up at my parents house in the UK, this allows me to watch all the freeview channels in the UK over the net (quality depending on broadband connection), I can control TV on my PC as if I had a working freeview box here in front of me. I was hoping to get into the festive spirit by watching all the Christmas comedy specials!

Cheers

Paul

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Hi All

I have just picked up the keys to our new house and could do with some general advice please:

1. The house has a telephone line but it is not connected, who should I ring to get a telephone number and have the line connected?

2. The house is in KL City, can anyone recommend a fixed line broadband provider that they feel is adequate?

3. The previous owner will be contacting the electricity and water company to come out and take a meter reading, I know that he will give them my new details, should I be calling them also?

If I think of anything else I'll post later!

Many thanks

Paul

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Hi Paul,

As all these services require a deposit, I think you would have to go to the nearest offices to sign up. If you bought through an agent I am sure they or the previous owner would assist you. I did all this in Penang myself with no problems, less Telekom as I chose not to have a landline.

Alistair

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Thanks Alistair

I have the address for the local TM centre and will pop along today to see what I can sort out

Cheers

Paul

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Went down to the TM centre today and organised my telephone line, really annoyed that as a foreigner I have to pay a refundable deposit of 1075RM while nationals only have to pay 75rm?!? 

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Paying the deposit is bad enough - try getting it back!!  I cancelled my phone over 3 months ago and have still not had the "refundable" deposit back. I was told 4-6 weeks and gave them all my bank details for transfer. Every time I ring I am told "can't help you"

Cheers

Brian

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Hi Brian

Are you replacing the landline with anything else? How does your broadband work without a landline?
We spend most of our time calling people via Skype (its easy and cheap) and would have kept on doing this, however aside from broadband the Alarm and the security call centre need a landline which is a pain!

Cheers

Paul

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Paul,

I gave up my rental flat in KL as I was going down to OZ for 6 months or so. I therefore, cancelled all my "utilities".

Cheers

Brian

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I have a few Malaysians in the family so I was lucky enough not to have to pay the deposit.

Maybe this is one of the issues that should be looked at by the new MM2H operation ( if it happens). Lets face it you have already paid a large deposit with your FD, what is this supposed to be for if not to prevent folks running out on debts. I suggest that some of the rights of PR should be given to MM2Hrs.

Bob