May 06, 2004 11:14 PM
2361 Views
(Updated May 06, 2004 11:14 PM)
Well ... I love to surf the net, listen to Internet Radio (my fav activity), download songs and check out new software ''whenever I get the time'' to come online. Yes thats the key.. ''whenever I get time''. I was desperately in need for a BroadBand connection and so when I got to see my cable TV operator (Jeewan) showing ads on the video channel about Internet connection at 64kbps 24hrs.. it really lit up my senses. I contacted them and came to know about the details. Rs. 1000 per month and 64kbps connection.
The bad days were just ahead for me. The network connection was setup in a good long 10 days. I wonder why... Then when the internet connection started ... I find that very soon I will get married to the message ''Request timed out...'' because thats the message I get every time I switch on my PC and think about surfing the internet. You call them up ... some stupid technician comes and repairs it and then after few minutes ...... ''Request timed out''.. Repeatedly calling them up ... they come up with the greatest excuse .. ''Maintainig LAN is difficult coz its digital service.'' And they added that squirrels are biting off cables. This is simply ridiculous...
The proclaimed 64kbps connection never surpassed 32kbps (download speed is 4kb/sec) .. That too if I am very lucky. Complaining them about the bandwidth .. they stealthly .. modify the settings from their server so that you can enjoy 70-80kbps for a couple of minutes... and then its back to square one. The truth is this .. They use a bandwidth management software from EliteCore where they cap your bandwidth to 30-40 kbps. Even the normal Dial-Up from VSNL gives greater than 40 kbps speeds.
I have heard and read about the false hopes these cable TV operators gave. But I thought something was better than nothing. I also know that the connection provided by them, can ''NO WAY'' be called broadband.... This is simply Internet Connection Sharing on LAN.
So I did what ... I feel most Indians do when we feel cheated... DIDNT PAY THEM A SINGLE PAISA...
I can tell you about speeds / bandwidth because I use a website to check my bandwitdth. Its requires JAVA Runtime installed... In simple words .. your browser should be able to show JAVA applets. Be sure to check the ''Detailed output'' checkbox.
https://adslguide.org.uk/tools/speedtest.asp
I asked them to switch to Sify.. But the fact is .. weather its Sify or Spectranet.. Everything depends on the Cable operators Local Area Network. If the LAN setup sucks .. then you only end up sucking your thumb...
Sify is least bothered about what its end users get.. coz they are interesed in making money....
Last week there was this article on Times of India ... https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/649271.cms . It claims that India is having broadband connection of 100kbps for 700 bucks a month.. If anybody who reads this review ... just tell me .. which corner of India gets this rate and who is the provider ??? I live in the capital of INDIA.. and never came across such rates....
TRAI has placed recommendations for 256 kbps at Rs. 400 a month. I feel it will be my grandchildren who will get Internet at those speeds. Mind it .. its a TRAI recommentation .. not a DIRECTIVE.... Recommendations need to be passed by our elected ''Mantri Babus''.
MTNL (backbone of Delhi) provides .. ADSL service but only in 12 exchanges in the whole of Delhi. Thats called Great Coverage. If you ask an MTNL person in the Sanchar Haat.. they are confused to hear about DSL or ADSL... never heard the word.
Touchtel recently laid out cables in our locality.. Touchtel is giving 128kbps and rates are Rs. 30 / hr in daytime.. and Rs 15 / hr in the night.. This is True Broadband.. but its only good if you surf 1 hr daily... otherwise I feel if I spend 100 hrs in a month then Rs. 3000 is not something any middle class household would fell glad to shed out for Internet service.
