Thread: Computer help offered and asked for.

Does anyone know where I can find a computer that has this type of connector...

The simplest thing might be to find someone with an Apple computer (although not all of them have firewire).

There are cables you can buy or even PC cards you can install (if your laptop has the room).

Have a look at this site for some cables:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Computer...d=abcat0515014

Apart from that, look in Rimo (RTC) in Denpasar.

Trying to figure out the 54 kbps - isn't that extremely slow??
And at 85k what is the GB limitation?

Trying to figure out the 54 kbps - isn't that extremely slow??

Yes - that's extremely slow. Do you remember the days of dial-up-modems? Why any Indonesian company still sells crap like that is beyond me.

Don't even start thinking about "GB limitation". At that speed it'll take weeks to even approach the download limit (if there is one). I'd also be surprised if Markit could make (and successfully complete), one Skype call.
Skype video calls would be out of the question.

Markit says:

The modem is placed upstairs in the rafters (outside) and seems to work for all the bedrooms, pool area and out to the Bale.

Even that surprises me, and if true, his overall connection speed will be slower as a result.

You get what you pay for.

An aside: I just spent four hours fixing a computer in a Sanur hotel. The owner thought he was getting a download speed of 1.6Mbs (via "Smart"). I did some tests for him and the speed was 0.4Mbs.
To my horror, the main computer has three anti-virus programs running at the same time (normally a big no-no). And one of them was the infamous Indonesian SmartAdv (a total pain in the arse). I installed a fresh copy of SuperAntiSpyware and the Indonesian program thought it was a "virus". After running it, it picked up a couple of Trojans.

I pointed this out to the owner. Why run "SmartAdv" if all it can do is come up with false positives and is about as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike?

Now, how to get the owner to stop his kids downloading problem files?
Guess I'll be back there again tomorrow to sort out a few more things.

Wow..... are you computer expert? How can I check the internet speed?
In Bali I use Telkomsel Flash and on a good day ie no clouds, no wind my modem (that thing you stick in the USB port and uses a SIM card) shows I have 3G and if extremely lucky the light is a nice dark blue color. But it would interest me how fast it really is...... In one month I used up about 4 GB and I email loads of pictures to customers, work on my online store and check my ebay sales...... Of course for the uploading of photos on my online store and uploading ebay sales I go to my sisters and use her "speedy" internet connection.

Initially I checked the offers from 3 but there is no office in our region and the store in Denpasar could not give me any definite information about my connection reliability in the Amlapura area so I went with Telkomsel since they gave me a SIM to try out at my home before I signed up for a plan. They were extremely helpful.

But back to to what I wanted...... how can I check the actual speed of upload and download. I use the website whatismyip.com to check the speed. Will that work in Bali?

Sorry, My Bad! It says 54Mbps not 54kbps.

Hmm...maybe, but for the price you're paying, I doubt it.

...is Rimo the one accross from the Ramayana Mall?) of in Denpasar and gotten that blank look with smile that says they generally have no clue what I am on about...

Yes - that's the place.

As for the blank looks, that's more or less "normal", unless you can speak Indonesian. (Even then, it can be problematic if they don't know what they're talking about - think used-car salesmen).
They are not all dumb and useless. The trick is to find the knowledgeable ones.

Read on to see one way to test your current internet speeds.

@kayoticlaudia

Wow..... are you computer expert? How can I check the internet speed?

Maybe I'm too old for flattery to work its magic these days.

What follows is one way to check your internet speed.

1) Go to this site: Speedtest.net - The Global Broadband Speed Test
2) Be patient - wait until it loads completely
3) The first "default" test might be to Jakarta (or somewhere else in Indonesia - it varies)
4) Click the button that says "Begin Test"
5) Wait. The test will check the download and upload speeds to that "server" (the one in Jakarta, or wherever)
6) When it finishes, you'll see the results

The results can vary quite a bit, depending on your actual internet connection (and how it's configured), the time of day (or night), etc. Ideally, you should run several tests and take an average.

You can run the tests using different servers. On the speedtest map, left click it with your mouse and scroll around. Pick some other place, eg, Surabaya, Bandung, Jogjakarta, etc. Compare (and average) your results.

There is a green rectangle on the map of the world. You can move it around to find other servers on the planet. Try a server test to somewhere outside of Indonesia, eg, South Korea, France, Japan, USA, etc.
Chances are you'll see a considerable drop in both download and upload speeds because Indonesia's internet "infrastructure" sucks big time.

Raw internet speed tests like this are only part of the picture. The "other" part is the quality of the connection you have.

On the speedtest site, if you look towards the bottom you'll see something called "PingTest - See How". Click that and you can do your quality checks to whatever servers you like (just like in the "speed" test).
The results will give your actual connection a grade (A, B, C, D or Fail).

In Bali, IMHO, anything less than a B+ means you have a lousy connection and/or, a crummy internet service provider (ISP). OR - you're testing at the wrong times and your ISP is overloaded. (Too many people trying to download stuff at the same time, neighbour's pinching your bandwidth, rats chewing through your telephone wires, and so on.)

OK - enough for now. Try the tests for yourself and see how you go.

Good luck (and I hope this has been a little helpful).

Originally Posted by JohnnyCool

@kayoticlaudia

Maybe I'm too old for flattery to work its magic these days.

You're never too old for flattery..... Trust me! Maybe you just don't get all excited like before.....

Thanks for the information..... in one month I'll check that!

I wish we had a phone line to our place, but no luck. Applied for one but since we are the only ones up on that hill it won't happen.