HIGH SPEED internet hookup

Mr. Hollywood says on Sep 22, 2005, 17:20:

Not in Medellin but... These numbers are from Bogota, not Medellin, but I pay something like $40 US per month for the fastest broadband they offer in residences. My VOIP phone works great, though it breaks up if you're using the bandwidth in other ways (like file sharing).

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caslug says on Sep 22, 2005, 17:41:

Can it be on all the time? Or you only get certain number of hours a month before you have to pay more. I want to be able to leave my vonnage phone 'on' all the time, just like here in the states.

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alcpa says on Sep 22, 2005, 17:42:

Barranquilla DSL Dianet is the ISP - it costs about $45.00 US for unlimited access - works pretty good, too!!

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BAQ says on Sep 22, 2005, 19:53:

ALCPA Do you have a phone number for DIANET in barranquilla? I'm STUCK with this FUC**D up DIAL UP. Cable internet isn;t available in my Bario and BATELSA only offers dial up.

What SPEED are you getting with this DIANET? Is it dialup, high speed, what type connection?

THANKS in Advance !

Semper Fidelis !

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Principe says on Sep 22, 2005, 21:16:

alcpa/pastygringo alcpa- yes please post phone number to Dialet, if you have it.
Also, you don't state whehter you use Vonage or not. Do you use Vonage? Is that what you are referring to works pretty good or the Dialnet ISP works good? Regardless, if you can find out the upload and download speeds or some contact info for Dialnet I'd be a happy camper.

Pastygringo.. are you in Medellin or Bogota?

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Mr. Hollywood says on Sep 22, 2005, 21:27:

unlimited Caslug, my broadband is unlimited for that price. Sounds like there's a big difference between service in Bogota and what you can get anywhere else.

I never realized that VOIP uses so much bandwidth just sitting there.

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alcpa says on Sep 23, 2005, 02:59:

Dianet I'll get the Dianet phone number from my wife later today.They are in the front of the phone book, but when I speak to her later, I'll get the number off of the work order and post it as well. They have offices all over Barranquilla. We went into one to sign up for the service when I was in town a few weeks ago. There are two services, one is 256 kps and the other 512 kps. The 512kps runs 95,000 pesos permonth. We have not had any problems with it since it was installed. Took about a week for the serive to be installed.

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alcpa says on Sep 23, 2005, 03:00:

Dianet By the way, it was 50,000 pesos as the instllatin charge when you initially signed up for the service at their offices

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viewpoint says on Sep 23, 2005, 04:23:

CASLUG EPM is your best option in Medellin for "high speed internet". They offer a package called Triple Play Plus which includes 256kbps "unlimited" internet service, cable TV and an local service IP phone. This will cost you about CP$240.0000 or US$105 per month. This method of delivery is Broadband and comes through the cable for the EPM cable TV service. It's reasonable dependable but can be a little slower than advertised speeds during periods of high usage.

VOIP uses zero bandwidth unless you are making or receiving a call.

They offer a plan with slower service called Triple Play (128KBPS) but that will not handle your vonage and computer use at the same time because it's simply not enough bandwidth. EPM also offers an ADSL plan that prices high speed internet service and two local phone lines. I have both of these services in my house but the only one that works well is triple play plus (not triple play).

If you live in an apartment I assume that you would want cable TV and then the most economical way is bundling everything together.

Don't bother attempting to use 128kbps service (my opinion) as first of all you won't receive the advertised speeds (been there done that). Even with 256kbps I still have problems supporting two VOIP devices functioning at the same time without using a computer.

http://www.tripleplay.com.co/

I have learned that it's cheaper to err on the side of oversizing and redundancy for your requirement and not trying to buy the cheapest service available depending solely on one service provider.

I always have multiple service providers so that if one crashes (goes down) I have another available immediately even if it's an ISP. If dependable internet and telephone communications are immportant to you then you need to plan accordingly.

Even in the caribbean I have two wireless high speed providers and a dialup ISP so that I have backup available at all times (except when we lose power due to hurricanes and other storms). This morning we have no cell phone service, but I have IP and PSTN phone service. This afternoon we might lose power leaving me with only PSTN (local provider) phone service. You never know what hand your playing each day is different than the last so you learn to have an umbrella in your car, your home, or office as it's going to rain every day and the only question is "do you want to be prepared" or get soaked. As I have got older I have learned the value of carrying the umbrella, oversizing and redundancy. When I was younger these problems were just challenges to solve but now I try to solve them well in advance of them happening.

I have not checked recently regarding the availablity in Medellin of high speed internet via wireless delivery. I will check that out today as I would like to know myself.

Finally, my last advice is don't depend on Vonage as your sole line of the world of VOIP telecommunications. You can install another ATA or USB port IP phone using http://www.iphonecenter.net as a service provider for emergencies when your vonage isn't working. There is no monthly charge for this service other than offnet calls and to the USA it's 2.5 cents per minute.

More importantly if you have any telecommunications knowledge (common sense) all of your incoming calls from major USA cities are completely free to you and the person calling you. Free as in "NO COST" to anyone using the system. It has worked for me for years but it seems like other people simply don't take the time to (or can't) understand how it works. It costs as little as US$34 to buy the USB port IP phone off of EBay or $94 to buy an ATA device.

For instance if you have business and personal friends in California they can all call you for free through this type of IP phone that costs you $34 and incurrs no monthly charge like vonage does. Each phone as a seven digit number and they only need to dial a local access number then after receiving a tone dial your seven digit IP phone number. It costs you nothing to have this as a backup for your vonage unit when and if you are having problems with it. There is a woman in Medellin that supplies the phones and installs them for CP$250.000 each but you can do it yourself.

You can adjust the bandwidth operating requirement for your vonage phone from the internet control panel. They have three settings and I use the lowest setting which I think is 30mbps. I am working from memory but I think the three setting are 30, 60 & 90 mbps. Use the lowest because it will function better on the poorly performing internet connections that you have in Colombia. You might start out with a Vonage account for 500 minutes which is only $14.95 per month as you can monitor the usage and upgrade to an unlimted plan if necessary. You can add a second line with a 500 minute plan for $12.95 per month with a different phone number rather than adding another virtual phone number to the first line.

The USB port IP phone I mention above only uses 20kbps and will function on a "decent" dialup ISP connection.

I beleive that you have to signup at the business office of EPM for their service and I think that they waive the installation charge if you sign a contract for 12 months (or something like that).

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caslug says on Sep 23, 2005, 10:21:

Thanks everyone for the input.. esp you VP for that detailed explanation. You mention "local service IP phone" is that exactly like vonnage, but allows free local calls to casas and celullar? Or just Casa? I guess $105/mo isnt' too bad if it incls, internet, cable and locals calls.

Great advice regarding backup calling option, i'll have to look into that. Didnt think one needs it, but you brought up excellent points.

I'll also checkout dailnet if that's available in MED.

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BAQ says on Sep 23, 2005, 10:31:

OK, I am stupid. How does the 512kps compair to the "High speed" DSL I had when I lived in the States.

THANKS !

Semper Fidelis !

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JFS says on Sep 23, 2005, 10:54:

BAQ,It depends on who you BAQ,

It depends on who your provider was, what type of plan you had, and the UPLOAD bandwidth associated with the plans.

For example, a year or so ago, Verizon DSL offered a ~768kbps/256kbps as their PREMIUM service for ~$40

Today, they're offering two plans:
2) 768kbps/128kbps for ~$14.95/Month
2) 3000kbps/768kbps for ~$30/Month

Assuming you had a ~ 512kbps/256kbps in the states, the 512kbps/256kbps in Colombia should provide similar network performane.

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BAQ says on Sep 23, 2005, 11:40:

THANKS Thanks JFS, I get lost in all those numbers. I had High speed through SBC in Dallas. It was great, this 28.8 dial up here sucks.

I was just trying to gauge the 256 and 512 service here in Barranquilla that was referanced above.

THANKS AGAIN

Semper Fidelis !

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BAQ says on Sep 24, 2005, 13:44:

ALCPA Did ya find the phone number for DIANET? I looked in the barranquilla phone book and didn;t see it.

THANKS

Semper Fidelis !

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LDW says on Sep 24, 2005, 14:11:

Broadband Have you considered a satellite internet connection? A friend of mine is in the business here in Canada, and he tells me that Vonage can be used over a satellite connection. I told him that if I ever retire there (and find myself with either no or very poor internet service), I would even pay his way to Colombia to set me up on satellite. My information is that such connections are becoming more and more cost efficient with each passing month.

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Lumpy says on Sep 24, 2005, 15:09:

Satellite Prices!!!! Price is all relative for satellite service I guess. I paid $14 a Meg for mine here in Iraq (Nmarsat). I used it 1 month and had to put a secnd mortgage on my home back in the US to pay the bill. Now, I try to use the Internet at work as much as possible and only use my satellite modem in EXTREME emergencies in my 10 man tent!

I heard prices have gone down a bunch... but, they are still pretty high in some places. Maybe it is MUCH cheaper in Canada! = )

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Mr. Hollywood says on Sep 24, 2005, 15:19:

Satellite? I haven't looked into it in a couple years, but back then so-called "broadband" satellite internet was like slow DSL coming down and as slow as dial-up for uploading. No way would VOIP work well on that kind of connection. I'd be interested if they've improved it but I'd be surprised. Satellite phones still mostly suck and are only used in the most extreme of circumstances.

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BAQ says on Sep 24, 2005, 17:54:

Direct tv In barranquilla I have direct TV here in Barranquilla and they are not offering internet via their satellite tv service here. I think they are offering it in Bogota but not on the coast, go figure.

Semper Fidelis !

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ColombiaBoard says on Sep 26, 2005, 07:27:

Dial Up Internet in Medellin Caslug, there´s also the option of dial up internet connections in Medellin, there are several companies that offer that service.
DSL: not only EPM is offering that service, I think ETB also offers that service in Medellin.
You can also buy prepaid internet cards for let´s say 10, 20, 40 hours.
Telecom might start offering it pretty soon.

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Peterd7001 says on Sep 26, 2005, 16:38:

howdy caslug, this is a suprise indeed. last time i saw you on the sick bus from medellin to armenia you were only in the country for a few days and now you have an apartment and looking for some banda ancha! i take it the ladies changed your mind....happens a lot i think

on a bittorrent note, i dont suppose anyone knows if isp's block ports for bittorrent or monitor for heavy usage? my download speeds are low....no problem in the uk.
im with cablenet on the 350k package in bogota
groovy

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gregree says on Dec 6, 2005, 08:18:

Hey Viewpoint I have a new apartment in Evigado, I have read your posting and wonder if you are available to speak via phone.

I will be in Medellin / Envigado for a week in January to furnish my apartment and get high speed internet set-up, would like to talk to you about this so I can get it accomplished in a week.

Seems like triple play plus is the way to go, I would like a little faster , wonder if there are more options but I am most concerned with getting something installed during the 1 week I am there.

Can you email me directly (gjo39 at aol.com) I would like to speak with you.

g

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Habanero says on Apr 7, 2006, 09:54:

iChat I have a Mac and with Broad Band over 100kb/ps and Apple iChat A/V & Apple iSight camera on both ends you can talk and see anyone in the World crystal clear video & audio truly!!! This is no PC web cam I am talking straight out of the Jetson's.
I know that this is not a telephone service like Vonnage in the fact that you have to have the set up on both ends so if one party does not have the set up it won't work. But let's say you really only talk to your Mother & Father, Brother, Sister, Wife, Girl friend Etc. Or everyone hangs out at the lets say Grandma's house then your set.
I also know you are saying but it's only for Mac and that is true but the new Mac's with Intel chips as of yesterday you can now run Windows on a Mac natively it's your choice when you start the computer. Boot to Mac OS X or Windows XP it's up to you. So why have one or the other when you can have both?
Anyway once you try Mac OSX and see how easy and rock solid the operating system is you will say what was I thinking.
OK let's see iChat is built in to Mac OSX and the iSight camera is built into some new Macs ie: iMac & Power Book Pro if not you can buy the camera for $149.00 US. Once you are hooked up you can talk and see or just talk or just type as long as you want no per minuet charge as long as your Broad Band connection is for unlimited use.
I don't work for Apple nor is this a commercial for them. I Just know you will be blown away when you see it with your own eyes!!!
You can go to www.apple.com/iChat or even better if there is an Apple store near you go check it out for yourself.

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GregYohn says on Apr 9, 2006, 08:34:

WHY PAY VONAGE WHEN FREE IS AVAILABLE? Thanks for the information about Barranquilla DSL rates.

Can someone explain why to use Vonage when you can call for FREE with VoipStunt.com? Here's info about the company. http://doulos.wordpress.com/technical-information/betamax-voip/

Greg

Free Calls to Colombia & most of the rest of the world!
http://www.voipstunt.com/en/index.html

12VOIP.com gives free calls to Colombia.Greg

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