Thread: GPRS (mobile phone) connection to the internet

Hello all,

Compared to Kuta Cowboys and Javanese girs, this subject is awfully bland. But, here goes. Are any of you using or familiar with GPRS? In Thailand, where I live most of the time, I switched from a land line to a connection via my mobile phone. It’s not all that great, but I couldn’t convince the phone company here to get rid of the noise on my line (sound familiar, Roy?). The advantage is that I can connect to the internet using a laptop from anywhere with a signal (bar, bed, bathroom, etc.). I’ve been able to find out that IM3 has a prepaid SIM card that is GPRS enabled (10rp/1 kilobyte of data). Theoretically, I should be able to go to Bali, load the prepaid SIM in my phone, and continue to work as normal. But does anyone know the reality of this?

On a personal note, if anyone is still reading, I lived in Bali (Lovina) for four months at the beginning of 2003. The idea was to spend six months in Bali during the Thai monsoon season, and six months in Thailand, during your monsoon season. This failed when my Thai girlfriend decided the chilies in Bali weren’t hot enough, the TV programs unfathomable, and just plain missed Thailand. I agreed to go back to Thailand with her and live upcountry, but I did so on the condition that I’d go back to Bali periodically (once a month was my definition of “periodically”). It’s hard to believe that 14 months have passed. My financial situation has improved enough that I can do this now. 10 days a month in Bali. My girlfriend, however, will assume I’m in Japan, where my money comes from, and where I would be for the same 10 days if not in Bali. Not because I have to, but because, and I’m sure some of you can understand this, being an expat in the countryside, as much as I love looking at water buffalos, can drive one mad. I miss the people I met in Bali and need some real conversation in English from time to time. I hope to be in Bali at the end of next week.

Weaving a tangled web,

Richard

Richard,

Despite the tangled web, I would love to hear if the phone thing works out. We have no phone service in the village in Sumbawa. If I could use a mobile phone that would be great. As it is, right now I can use the connection at school, but I won't have this job forever. Let me know how things work out.

Regards,

Bruce

Hello,

Can anyone tell me about high speed internet broadband
available on bali, can I connect via own satelite disc ?
costs ? uptime ?

Many thanks
henk

all i know (can't remember the figures) is that it's expensive and not really THAT fast. i wouldn't call it broadband....

Dear Bert,

Thanks for your info. you mean with the hardware also the disc ?
If I've got my own disc already 4 meter disc with ku band and c band
is it possible to catch the downstream and up. I am mainly interested
in this to open a small internet cafe inside my future hotel /losmen
so guest can use the fast(er) internet connection instead of dial up,
which I guess did not much change ( terrible ! )
the 60 dollars per 2 months is a fair price for a fast(er) connection
once the hardware (sat disc) is installed, to hook up 10 users or something.
Am I right with this assumption ?

thanks
Henk