Cable Internet/Wireless Routing on the "Island"

[jignat]

Im starting my 1st sem at Ross in a month and was wondering if anyone could shed some illumination on broadband situation.
I know there is Cable/DSL, but I heard it takes 3-4 weeks before they come to your apt install And I hear that the monthly fees is almost $100 US
Can anyone confirm these?
Also, for anyone who had broadband on the island, which ISP would you reccomend or avoid? Were outages common?

Re: wireless , I know that the campus has wireless, but if I wanted to set up a network at home for 2 laptops on a cable connection. Would it work without any additional modifications?
What wireless routers do y'all use?
Im also a tech noob , in case you were wondering. :-)

and last question, does anyone know if they sell 110 to 220 voltage adapters on campus or sould I buy some in the US b4 I head down?

Thanks bunches!!

[MitchDC]

You've heard incorrectly. The ADSL broadband internet may be $100EC but not $100US. You will need a ADSL modem which departing students usually sell and are likely more affordable new than when I was there.

It can take a bit to get everything set up. That is why you should get to the island 3 weeks early so everything is working at or around the start of classes.

Cable Internet is available through the Cable TV company (or was) but that was always pretty unreliable and VERY slow. I don't know if it is improved now though.

Just like anywhere else, if you use a wireless router at your apartment you then connect as many computers as you have wi-fi cards and computers.

As you likely know, most laptops come with a transformer that is adaptable for 110 or 220 with an adapter that changes the plug. Most play it safe though and also use a plug strip with surge protection.

Can you buy transformers ON CAMPUS? Maybe from other students. But you can also buy things off campus at one of the many local stores (Best Buy - not the one you think of, Gates, Muslim Store - Roseau, or one of several other places).

Best of luck!

M
Im starting my 1st sem at Ross in a month and was wondering if anyone could shed some illumination on broadband situation.
I know there is Cable/DSL, but I heard it takes 3-4 weeks before they come to your apt install And I hear that the monthly fees is almost $100 US
Can anyone confirm these?
Also, for anyone who had broadband on the island, which ISP would you reccomend or avoid? Were outages common?

Re: wireless , I know that the campus has wireless, but if I wanted to set up a network at home for 2 laptops on a cable connection. Would it work without any additional modifications?
What wireless routers do y'all use?
Im also a tech noob , in case you were wondering. :-)

and last question, does anyone know if they sell 110 to 220 voltage adapters on campus or sould I buy some in the US b4 I head down?

Thanks bunches!!

[link626]

There's really just one isp here. C&W.

rates are listed here IN EC DOLLARS http://www.cwxnet.com/dom/adsl.php
Notice, you get a free modem.

wireless home networking is easy. just plug and play. Just be sure to set a WPA password on your router so that other neighbors don't steal your internet access. There is no other user-configuration necessary.

you will need a transformer to plug in your wireless router and modem, because these only take 120volts. you can get new 300watt transformers here for $20 USD. You don't want to buy high wattage transformers because they consume electricity as long as you leave them plugged in. So if you were to have a 1000w transformer, you're burning extra electricity all day long, and your electric bill will skyrocket.
I'm not making this up. The electric company told us this.

[link626]

one more thing.

if you're gonna use a hairdryer, bring one that is dual voltage 110/220.

you don't wanna plug a hairdryer into your transformer, or else you'll fry it.



and you want a transformer, not a voltage converter adapter.

transformer is the heavier one.

[LSU1000]

DSL through Cable and Wirelesss is fantastic. Just as fast as US DSL and cheaper. C&W offers a complimentary modem if you get DSL, so you shouldn't have to purchase one.

[MitchDC]

Wow, that's great! The modem cost a TON of money - like $750EC from C&W. Right before I left it got somewhat cheaper. Now a free modem is great!!

-M

DSL through Cable and Wirelesss is fantastic. Just as fast as US DSL and cheaper. C&W offers a complimentary modem if you get DSL, so you shouldn't have to purchase one.

[Maricar82]

If you get a cell phone in Dominica, do you get charged if people from the U.S. call you?

[MitchDC]

Incoming call are free to you with Cable and Wireless pre-paid plans. Reception will be less that desireable.

M

If you get a cell phone in Dominica, do you get charged if people from the U.S. call you?

[nobody]

DSL through Cable and Wirelesss is fantastic. Just as fast as US DSL and cheaper. C&W offers a complimentary modem if you get DSL, so you shouldn't have to purchase one.

I would say that isn't the case. Broadband on the island is a lot slower and definitely more expensive than what you'll find in most US cities. I pay $275EC for the 512K plan, that IS $100 US, because you not only pay for DSL, you pay for the phone line. Back home, I was paying $39.99 for broadband that was twice as fast and I didn't have to pay for a voice line. The free modem is horrible, it's a USB modem, so it won't work with a wireless router, you will need to fork over another $100EC for the ethernet modem.

I also have problems with their DNS servers, they tend to get bogged up. So, sometimes I have to use the US Opennic DNS servers in order to get decent lookups.

[LSU1000]

I only paid about $120 EC a month, and the DSL always tested ABOVE average on those online testing services.
I don't know what kind of plan others speak of, but the cheapest DSL plan C&W had worked great.
Maybe I was lucky

[Gizmo]

Is there a wireless connection on campus that allows you to use your Vonage wireless telephone? Thanks

:DGiz

[MitchDC]

No, the campus network does not allow you to use voice communication as part of the contract between the internet provider and Ross. Additionally, doing VOIP over wireless would produce very poor quality. Finally, the wireless VOIP box needs to plug directly into the internet connection or directly to a router (BEFORE YOUR COMPUTER) and I've never seen a wiress VOIP box. IS there one?


Is there a wireless connection on campus that allows you to use your Vonage wireless telephone? Thanks

:DGiz

[vaneleus]

I've never seen a wiress VOIP box. IS there one?

They do exist, but the ones I have seen will not work on WANs requiring authorization. I've never actually used one so I cannot attest to its functionality...but as with most electronics I am sure they will get better with time.

[smashweasel]

Try skype or Yahoo messenger.

[drnick]

It's coming in a week or so from Netgear for $250 USD.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F76W78/sr=8-2/qid=1150925291

btw I hear Cingular is now offering cellular and internet in Dominica. Any experience with them?

They do exist, but the ones I have seen will not work on WANs requiring authorization. I've never actually used one so I cannot attest to its functionality...but as with most electronics I am sure they will get better with time.

[Destiny2010]

Does our school have WiFi access so that we can make calls on campus using that NETGEAR wireless phone?

[MitchDC]

Again, University policy precludes students from using ANY of these services to communicate with VOICE. You may use intant messenger but not skype. It is part of the contract with the Cable and Wireless who supplies the internet to the University and phone service to Dominica.

The University network is a secured network so it wouldn't have access to the network anyways.

Besides, for $250US you could make quite a few regular calls back and forth to the States.

-M
Does our school have WiFi access so that we can make calls on campus using that NETGEAR wireless phone?

[zedpol]

you will need a transformer to plug in your wireless router and modem, because these only take 120volts. you can get new 300watt transformers here for $20 USD. You don't want to buy high wattage transformers because they consume electricity as long as you leave them plugged in. So if you were to have a 1000w transformer, you're burning extra electricity all day long, and your electric bill will skyrocket.
I'm not making this up. The electric company told us this.

I don't meant to hijack the thread but i just wanted to clear a few things up. The electric company is wrong. A 1000w transformer doesn't constantly pull a thousand watts, they don't pull any power unless something is using that power. So if you hook up your router to a 1000w transformer it will be fine. Of course the transformer will have some lose due to resistance and a bunch of other things that are way over my head but they won't be much, depending on the transformer the efficiency should be in the 97%+ range.

Generally voltage converters are ok for heating elements, some motors, and other stuff along those lines

transformers will be needed for electric equipment. Make sure you look on your electrical equipment because most things (laptops, routers etc) will run on 220. Never run your transformers at 100% of their wattage rating, they will eventually overheat and become a puddle on your floor. try to not exceed about 80% of their rated wattage.

Oh, and save yourself a lot of hassle, as link said get a hair dryer that is 110/220.

[Gizmo]

So how much does one pay for a cell phone/per month for regular calls back to the U.S.?

Giz:D