Just a short note ..

I have recently switched over to BROADBAND internet, my ISP here in NZ has a great deal going whereby the ADSL modem and other necessary widgits were provided free ... the only add on extra charges over and above my OLD dial up charges are NZ$10 / month ..

It is so nice to be able to surf the net and not wait for pages to come up, the speed compared to dial up is just out of this world, no comparison ...

Whom else has (taken the plunge) and gone into the real world of BROADBAND technology and your thoughts ... those thinking about it dont, just do it, believe me

As the teenagers say [ Dial Up SUCKS ]

Regards, Peter

Peter,

We got DSL several months ago, it is so much faster than dial-up. (We live out in the country and were just at the end of the line. A few more feet and we wouldn't have access to DSL). I set up a WLAN (I think that is what you call it, Wireless Local Area Network) with a wireless router and a wireless card for my wife's laptop. She can now be anywhere in the house and have access to the internet. It was very easy to do, even for someone like me.

Peter, remember when you saw your first hand held calculator? Amazing how fast technology is advancing (or perhaps how old we are).

Regards,

Terry

Me too,about a week or so ago.
1 gig download a month,so I won't lose any speed even after a lot of internet use.

We had broadband the cable TV company after using dialup. Nice to be on instantly, but I can surf AR just as fast on the dial up. Cut the cable off and went back to dialup. We have DSL at office through telephone company. AR runs at a snails pace on it. It used to be somewhat faster than dialup, but no more.
Being online imstantly wasn't worth an extra $46.00/month to us

Got internet over the TV cable about a month ago. Love it. I can download a 92 MB in a matter of minutes. Thinking of getting VoIP phone service. Sounds like a good deal.

My NZ ISP( IHUG ) Internet home users group are very good here in NZ, this is my total package scenario ..

1) Broadband / 1-GiG of downloads which is a hell of a lot, I wont reach my traffic limit each month, even if I do, there is NO SURCHAGE, the speed just drops back a bit once I reach 1-GiG, but then it is still fater than dial up was

2) Broadband / allows me to use the phone while on the net, so it is like a second phone line as well

3) I have (good cheap international) phone dialling included, this is a bonus inclusive in the package price

The whole package cost me NZ dollar $39.95 / per month .....

I am more than happy with my IHUG set up which for a one man band working from home is just perfect ...

Peter ( Downunder in NZ )

We've been waiting for ADSL for over a year now & heard last week they will be connecting it in November......but as this is Africa I'm not getting too excited until I know if it's this November.

I use Skype for voice over ip calls. Its pretty easy to setup, very similar to MSN Messenger, just with the added advantage that you can ring people on there normal phones from your computer.

Living in UK and having family both in Zim and New Zealand it saves a fortune on phone calls. Its cheaper to call someone in Zim on there cell phone than it is for me to ring my friends who live just down the road from me.

You should all check it out

WE have been on ADSL for quite sometime now. Currently using a 2MB line in the house, and a 1MB line in the workshop.

I had a visit from the local Thuraya dealer last week, and he brought along a catalogue of the new ThurayaDSL modem, that one can use in remote areas.

This one has a speed of 144Kbps.

He promised to bring one to show us as soon as he has them.

quote:

I had a visit from the local Thuraya dealer last week, and he brought along a catalogue of the new ThurayaDSL modem, that one can use in remote areas.

This one has a speed of 144Kbps.

Saeed,

I'm guessing your talking about Thurayas satellite phone. If so, 144kbps is amazing. The old Nera Worldphone I used thru africa only had 2.4 kbps! And thus was pointless to use for data.

Did the Thuraya guy you talked with say anything about prices?

EricD & Saeed

Keep us informed on the Thuraya satt etc as we presently DO HAVE a Nera Worldphone on the bush ranch in Zambia, it has proved to be good for emergencies and priority calls when so deep in the bush ...

Anything that superseeds and allows additinal data capabilities is worth knowing about for remote situation people

Peter

Peter,

I know that Nera (www.Nera.no) has another satt phone simulat to the Worldphone, that does have good data capabilities. Don't know the price though.

However, for just a phone, the Worldphone is hard to beat pricewise. Quality of transmition was amazing sometimes, and you'd think we were calling home from nextdoor, rather than Niger or where ever!

I've got ISDN, it is much better than a normal dial up. I applied for ADSL but our exchange is not upgraded yet, They are 2 months behind schedule. When I eventually get it I don't know, but it will surely makes life a lot easier, but as Steve said, this is Africa.

Been on broadband through the cable TV network for four years I think, but since last year we are on ADSL. While on cable we had four computers sharing 500 Kb/s through a rounter. Now we have four lines of each 10 Mb/s downstream.

Regards,
Martin

My house is out in the country, far from any broadband cable service. I have a satellite dish for data. It does good work. If there is a similar satellite parcked over the equator to service Europe and Africa you might be able to put a dish up. That would work well for ranch houses out away from "civilization".

lawndart

quote:

Originally posted by WyoJoe:
Got internet over the TV cable about a month ago. Love it. I can download a 92 MB in a matter of minutes. Thinking of getting VoIP phone service. Sounds like a good deal.

WYOJOE,
The VOIP telephone service is a good deal for the home providing you also have a cell phone for backup.

quote:

Originally posted by lawndart:
My house is out in the country, far from any broadband cable service. I have a satellite dish for data. It does good work. If there is a similar satellite parcked over the equator to service Europe and Africa you might be able to put a dish up. That would work well for ranch houses out away from "civilization".

lawndart

This is becoming quite popular. We met people in both Uganda and Tanzania with satellite dishes for data (the setup in Uganda was from a German company I think?), and borrowed them to update our website. Don't remember the speed, but it was at least as fast as ISDN. And I seem to recall that they payed a flat monthly fee that was relativly reasonable.

To all those with a [ BROADBAND HOOK UP ] check this overworked [ German Booking Agent ]

Hunting Agents beware, that is what happens when the bookings get on top of us [ One Man Bands ]

BOOKING AGENTS Time Out

This is the Sane Version of above

Make sure you have your SPEAKERS turned on and working to appreciate the two VIDEO'S

Take care out there

Regards, Peter

I live about 9 kilometres from one town and a bit more from another. Putting me a km or two over the limit for ADSL.

So it looks like oneday I will need to bite the bullet and get a satelite dish, which really sucks as it costs 2 to 4 times as much as the good deals going.

BTW I have the main cable line for Telstra (Aust's main carrier) running from Sydney to Adelaide right through the middle of my property. Only a 120 metres away from the house. But no local connections in this area WHATSOEVER.

Almost dug it up once with the loader but that might cost more than a satelite link is my guess, even after insurance claims.

quote:

Originally posted by Balla Balla:
Hunting Agents beware, that is what happens when the bookings get on top of us [ One Man Bands ]

BOOKING AGENTS Time Out

Peter, that guy was just nasty! Especially from halfway on, and in the end of the clip.

Reminded me of the wacko in the movie; Silence of the lambs. The nutcase who said: "She puts the lotion on the skin"! What a: