Margriet
I would like to ask how much everybody has to pay to have internet in their house....and do you use modem? or cable?
Margriet
wow, that's really expensive, compared to The Netherlands.....:(
Bert Vierstra
[quote]For Bert and I both, it's dial up modems only right now. If we are lucky, we can "catch a wave" and enjoy an actual modem speed of 12 to 15 k, bps. Otherwise, one learns to work off line, then sign on, and send your work while you watch TV or do something else. [/quote]
If you are lucky you mean, and when I am not lucky. I usually have connection speeds around 45-49 kbps and most of the time the transfer speeds are just below connection speeds.
So I am twice as fast as you Roy, may be you have a bad line. When I lived in Pemaron and it was windy, my connection dropped all the time...
Bot now in Renon and Singaraja I am quite happy....
Bert Vierstra
Well, I live in the North and I use dial-up from Telkom. Its a reasonable connection, and after three years I am used to the speed :)
There are other dial-up providers as well. Sometimes I use Nangura here in the North, but quality is not as good as Telkom.
Its something anyone can use, costs are just deducted from your telephone bill.
Other possiblities here in the north are dedicated lines upto 128kb, but I didn't try those. Some people here use satelite connections.
In the south there are more possiblities, you can have a microwave connection from various companies at various prices.
I use the internet a lot, and I pay around 2 million a month, but I am a heavy user. Bali is cheap, but internet is more cheap in f.i. the Netherlands....
Use the search page and look for keywords like telkom, this gives you some more info....
http://www.bali-information.com/expat_f ... rds=telkom
Roy
Arrrgggg! I can't stand Telkom! My primary carrier is Centrin, and as with Bert, I am a heavy user...at least three hours a day on-line. Our average monthly bill runs about Rp 400,000. As Bert says, modem speeds are not great, but in the wee hours of the morning, one can get their work done. I use Telkom, but only as a back up if Centrin is down, and that happens with too much regularity.
For Bert and I both, it's dial up modems only right now. If we are lucky, we can "catch a wave" and enjoy an actual modem speed of 12 to 15 k, bps. Otherwise, one learns to work off line, then sign on, and send your work while you watch TV or do something else.
Essential for all computers in Bali are two other items. One is a Stavolt, or voltage regulator. Power spikes are very common here, and without this "gizmo" one can cry, as hours of work are "nuked." The other "gizmo" that is required is a voltage back up. Power outages are also common here, and this wonderfull little invention keeps your system going, while everyone else is in the dark, for at least ten or so minutes so you can save your work, sign off, and shut down properly.
I make my living on my computer. Without it, I am dead. If your computer usage in Bali is just as vital, then get a second hard drive as back up. If you rely on a Mac lap top, good luck. They go ballistic here with utter regularity. I'm not a computer expert by any means. But my computer is my "tool box" and without it, I'm not making money.
Irislahay
Hi all..
Regarding all of the answers about internet price, now I am very worry. I use internet around 7 hours a day. Last year in Bali, most of the time I stayed in the cheap internet cafe (Rp. 3500 per hour) in Denpasar area. But in the nearly time we'll back to Bali and my hubby decide to stay in Tabanan. Yes, I can use telkomnet instant or other service like that, but of course will be very expensive for me... I would like to know about the system of the internet cafe in Denpasar, how they can get cheap connections like that? Please help me, 'cause the time to comeback to Bali getting closer....
mimpimanis
You can all consider yourselves lucky!
Where we are in Lombok we have been waiting 5 years for a telephone line even!
I am dependant on the local losmens. Prices for internet with them are between Rp400-500 per minute. Though I get a special price with on of them of Rp300per minutebut then he is often out of order or just away & you cant use the computer. I usually spend more per week in the internet than we make in the kiosk!
Its definitely cheaper in the UK
Android
Quote "Other possiblities here in the north are dedicated lines upto 128kb". What's involved here? Any idea as to costs, etc.? I'm also in the north and would like a faster connection IF it's not too expensive.
Also, I recently saw an advert for
http://www.onspeed.com. They claim to offer faster internet speeds using compression technology on standard lines, modem, etc. No idea if ut works, but maybe worth checking out,
Sanurian
Hi Magriet
I think you have a pretty good idea by now about how much we have to pay for the internet on Bali. It ain't cheap! (One of the main reasons is that we have timed-calls in Indonesia - you pay for every minute you're using the phone line in the first place...it adds up). I'm a little like Roy - I use [i]Telkom Instan[/i] when my [i]Centrin[/i] connection falls over.
I've used other providers in the past like [i]Indosat[/i], [i]Wasantara[/i], etc. "Cable connections" are only for the very well healed, I'm afraid. And satellite connections seem to be still too pricey for me. There are several in South Bali - I'm not convinced that any of them are what they claim. And there's WiFi...etc.
Most of us learn to put up with what we've got. I might add here that connection speeds are not always what they seem, either. For example, [i]Centrin[/i] in Bali have 56K modems but they can't use them because of some crap with the phone-line company. So - they use 33.6K modems. Nevertheless, I did an on-line check the other day and some American company reckoned my speed was 66K...I'm still struggling trying to figure that one out.
And this is particulary for Roy. I recommend that you check your actual telephone cable, wherever it is in your house, in case the rats are chewing on them. A relatively quick and cheap replacement could make a huge difference.
Best of luck to all.
8)
Bert Vierstra
[b]Re: RE: the price of internet?[/b]
[quote=Android]Quote "Other possiblities here in the north are dedicated lines upto 128kb". What's involved here? Any idea as to costs, etc.? I'm also in the north and would like a faster connection IF it's not too expensive.
[/quote]
About 500 US a month if I remember well :(
Ask Nangura... And in Spice Dive Internet cafe they seem to have 128kbs, didn't look at it yet...
Bert Vierstra
I don't use it, know some who do. Its slow, much slower then advertised, and not really reliable. Don't blame the local resellers, they are depending on Telkom services.
FreoGirl
Was wondering if anyone has tried internet connection via Telkom Flexi? We can't get a land-line but have Flexi. We were supposed to be able to get a 'fast' (115kbps) connection via Flexi, or alternatively use Instan.
Flexi is Rp5 per KB downloaded, and no call charge (so Rp 5,000 per Mb downloaded)
Instan is Rp165 per minute plus call charge, but speed is 14.4kbps in Mataram, Lombok.
However, we are having all sorts of trouble with the Flexi connection - it drops out or if connected it is often so slow it times out so you get a DSN error on the web page. We have installed an antenae but it made no difference. I don't think it is the signal, I suspect it is the modem board in the phone. You have to buy a special phone for Flexi which is actually a local area radio phone.
Would love to hear from anyone else accessing the internet via Flexi on another island as the local guy here in Lombok is not the expert he thinks he is.
Karen
