Internet wireless in Alona Beach - update

[Gilligan]

Globe versus Smart wireless internet connection in Tawala (Alona Beach area) of Bohol.

I initially purchased (June 08) a Smart "Bro" prepaid internet modem kit for 4500 Pesos for use with my laptop. I live 0.8 km from the cell towers. The modem shows a 3G connection type between 2 to 4 bars of strength. There is no other way to describe Smart's service here in Panglao other than it "sucks". The connection gets dropped frequently combined with periods of 0 "transmit" and "receive" rates. You get charged in 30 minute increments and I'm lucky if I get a workable connection for 15 out of a 30 minute period. Smart's answer to this is having a rep phone you and offer useless suggestions.

Globe currently (Nov 08) has a promotion for their Globe "Visibility" modem kit for 2500 Pesos which is also available on a pre-paid basis in 15 minute increments equaling the same cost as Smart Bro. The connection type shows GPRS or UMTS with 4 to 5 bars of signal strength. There are no "0" periods of "transmit" and "receive" and the speeds are satisfactory.

 

[Babydamulag]

Check with the local cable TV company. Many are offering Internet service now <you might have done it already>.....

 

[jigo]

i got the smart bro too. and so far, i have experienced the same problem at the dumaguete airport and in pasig. i know globe has a better hold than smart in the visayas. but in Metro Manila?!

 

[Gilligan]

Check with the local cable TV company. Many are offering Internet service now <you might have done it already>.....

The local cable company for Alona Beach is Zafra Cable and they get (pirate?) their signal from Dream Satellite. I'm lucky to get a picture from them. They don't have internet service.

Only hard line internet service here is DSL and I'm not paying for a phone line to get it from Globe.

The Globe Visibility is working great.