UniFi - Is It Worth Subscribing?

The answer lies to the individuals. For me it is nor worth. At RM 149 for 5Mbps it is unaffordable considering todays cost of living.

UniFi comes with:

• Hi Speed Broadband
• IPTV
• Free Voice call

When I want to subscribe to Broadband, Yes, I need the high speed but is it confirmed that as a consumer I can get the speed that I wanted? Wimax was promised to change the surfing lifestyle of internet user with higher speed and one company has the gut to tell us that they provide the highest speed on the cyberhighway. However when I subscribed, I only get shitty speed and not much better than an ordinary dial up and wired internet connection. Service provider will always hide behind the 'at best effort' tagline to cover their weaknesses and unability to provide that is promised. 

What is IPTV service actually? Will it be providing the same channel as what is provided by ASTRO? If so then why waste more money when ASTRO is already too high a cost for the consumer to pay. I think IPTV is not a necessity to be bundled with the UniFi and consumers are forced to subscribe to services that they don't need. Why must subscribers subsidise TM for the IPTV subscription that they linked to. Malaysians have more than enough time being glued to the 'idiot box' and then again to the desktops then again with Blackberrys on the streets, we are losing our social life to technologies. So, I don't need the IPTV service.

UniFi also comes with Free voice calls. It is really basic needs today. Everybody need to make voice calls either for social relationship and business etc. Above all it is free. Now do I have to carry my desktop or laptop around so that I can make free voice calls?. It is much better to carry my mobile phone for voice calls.  I am not going to talk all day after all.  Of course this statement make me look stupid. Hahahaha........

With UniFi and NBI what has the consumer to gain after all.  

Read The star   

 

Not The Good News After The Excitement

Consumers let down by cap on UniFi packages

It was excitement after the Minister of Information announced that PM will present good news during the launching of the National Broadband Initiative (NBI).

For me I am expecting a better coverage and a cheaper internet experience.

With TM services we have still to be wired when today people are getting more mobile. So the NBI is not good news after all.

Read the link above and read also THIS. 

I Divorced AMAX - Talak 1

Today last week I subscribed to AMAX Broadband service to test whether I can get a better signal for my internet connection. It was a RM 88 per month at 1 Mbps download speed. My house is just not more than 1/2 a km away from the base station at Technology Park and is on the fringe of the coverage area based on the map.

On the first day I laid out the modem and connect it to my router. The first signal I got was NETENTRY-RANGING. That shows I could not get log on to the internet because I must have the AWAKE status and my CINR must be at least 15,15 (please don't ask me about technicalities).

I called the customer service and I can give the customer a thumb up because the guy at the other end really did his best to guide me through my problem until I manage to get the AWAKE status and my CINR increased to 15,15 (minimum required). It was a landline and not the 1-800 line (eventhough there is for AMAX). He asked me to reposition the moden and what an awkward place to have to place it. It was in my daughter's bedroom that face the Technology Park across the Sungai Besi-Puchong expressway. That's the only spot where I can at times get CINR to register more than 15,15. Move a few inches away and the signal can get to negative. Luckily I can receive the signal from the router that I connect to the modem. Or else I have to buy lengthy cable and wire the house (which does not live up to wireless connection).

A few days after that, suddenly I couldn't get any connection and called the customer service again. Once more thumb up for him because he did really gave the service I needed. After some guide from him through the "technical maze", I found out that the amber light does not light up. And that's when he said, "Take your modem to AMAX for replacement." One day of trial goes bust, err...I mean cyberspace? So, I took the modem to AMAX at TTDI where the technician said he reboot it.

At home I juggle with the location and signal again. The whole evening until the wee hour of the next morning, I was meddling with moving the modem all over the house and even into the toilet. Remember Mr Bean having problem with his TV reception until he has to strip and cover himself with the carton box. It's lucky for him the box is big enough the cover most part of him. Just wonder I have to do that and cover my body with just that small modem box.

When I place the modem in its previous location, I just get an OUT OF ZONE status. Worse still, I can't use the router anymore to get connected to the internet. Then again I can't connect to the Wimax Gateway using my account on my netty. Whenever I key in 192.168.1.1 it answered with the Oops! This link appears to be broken and registered this URL 202.186.14.166 (what is this?) I have to use the Guest account.

After all those trouble, I guess why I keep my "marriage" with AMAX and stress my mind. Moreover, I might be moving back to Jitra in December which is just half of the contract term and still have to pay RM88.00 a month for another 12 months for nothing because there is no coverage there.

I made my final test on Friday noon and the most I can get the CINR is 12 and when it refresh, the CINR can decrease until it goes negative.

Finally i made up my mind, I have to divorce AMAX and get back my dowry...err..I mean refund instead of keeping it and face a stressful condition whenever I want to get connected to the internet.

Now I have to be just satisfied with what I have.

When will our broadband service live up to the Multimedia Super Corridor objective.

UPDATED

While surfing and reading blogs, I came across this interesting post and downloaded the attached photo.

Oops! This Link Appear To Be Broken

Since about a week ago, I have been receiving this message on my netty (netbook). I am not sure whether its connection problem or my netty's problem. Read also my posting Broadband In Malaysia Sucks. I thought it was because of my new broadband service but it was just three days ago I started using it. I am experiencing it frequently when running on Maxis Broadband too. I use to have a better signal strength at the office but now at home too this Oops! This link appear to be broken message appears more frequently.

Besides receiving the message, seems that I am having problem opening blogger which includes uploading of pictures. Is our broadband service getting from bad to worse? Can we be proud of our Multimedia Super Corridor after all?

Broadband In Malaysia Sucks

Internet and Broadband in Malaysia sucks. Thats what I experience after trying to about most services. I have had Streamyx, Celcom Broadband, Maxis Broadband, P1Wimax and now I just subscribed to Amax. I am not sure about Digi since I am not a subscriber yet.

I started using the internet service with dial up with Jaring then only change to Streamyx. Then I move to Celcom 3G. I subscribe to Celcom 3G because I bought a 3G enable mobile phone and for the reason I travel a lot. My cousin introduced me to Maxis Broadband where I paid upfront RM100 to register.

When Green Packet announced about Wimax service, I was all anxious and excited to be a subscriber because I had read in a computer magazine about its powerful and wide signal. More over it is wireless. P1 launced it service and I sign my name and join the P1 Wimax user. Shit! Its only within the 7 days trial period the signal is excellent and after I made my first monthly subscription, the signal goes bust. I can't even load the frontpage of any browser and I stop paying the monthly subscription. P1 Wimax did not live up to what they had advertised. Not even to best effort. So, I let them potong my service. After they are fond of the word potong!. Yes I have been potonged and yet P1 Wimax is going to ask me to pay the monthly subscription eventhough they did not provide me any service. Not even 1 byte of data.

I move on to AMAX now. Subscribed it on Saturday 22nd January. I was hoping for a better signal since my house is just about a hundred metre away from their transmission tower. However, I am not hoping for a better signal from AMAX too because it is not stable.

I found out that I still have to take ages to get blogger appear on my monitor screen. It seems that the speed is  no better then Maxis Broadband that I am using but much better than P1, of course. At least I can get some pages loaded. I still have 5 days more to test.  

Tested P1 On Maxis

This is my P1 Wimax speed test done at 11.06 p.m tonight. Done on Maxis Broadband.

Broadband : I am Not Alone When P1 Wimax Sucks

Seems that I am not all alone facing the stress of using P1Wimax broadband service and Maxis Broadband. I have posted a few entries in this blog before and even on my Twitter and Facebook to vent my anger to send a message to Green Packet that their broadband service sucks. In this entry, I copy and paste two complain letters sent to the Editor of  NST .complaining about poor broadband service too.

I just wonder why PM is so anxious to proceed with Mega Speed Internet when the service provider can't even solve basic broadband service.

My P1Wimax experience is just all nightmare. Even though if the signal shows green, I still couldn't get the first page loaded , what more to carry out the speed test. I sent a twitter message #P1Wimax but there is no response. However they are very efficient about reminding me of my subscription due date by sending an email and SMS to my phone but service is taik kuching.

BROADBAND: Have quality checks on their services

2009/11/09

L.K.K. , Petaling Jaya

I HAVE been a Maxis mobile broadband subscriber since February last year.

As a heavy user, I find the quality and availability of this service are getting from bad to worse, even in populated areas and commercial centres in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur where I live and work.

I am experiencing very slow upload and download speeds (it takes up to 10 minutes to send a 1MB file and up to a minute to open a single webpage).

Disconnection occurs every five to 10 minutes.

Many Maxis customers have experienced the same problem. There were two other occasions this year when I had to complain to Maxis that I could not even log in into the network.

The reason is obvious. Maxis is not investing enough to increase the speed and bandwidth of its 3G and 3.5G networks.

Therefore, when there are many users in the same area, broadband speed slows.

If Malaysia wants to be a leading country in information and communication technology, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission must enforce key performanceindicators by conducting regular field tests on service providers, be it mobile, wireless or cable.

Service must be up to mark in terms of quality, measured on the basis of average upload and download speeds, and overall availability of service over a specific period in a populated area.

Those who fail the tests should be given a heavy penalty for non-compliance.

The commission should also encourage service providers to invest in new technologies with higher connection speeds and wider bandwidth to replace networks that will soon become obsolete.

Japan and Korea have done well in this aspect as otherwise they would not be recognised as the few countries in the world with leading information technology and wide broadband adoption.

BROADBAND SERVICE: It's our right to demand our money's worth

YUVARAJ, Kuala Lumpur

I REFER to L.K.K.'s complaint about broadband services ("Broadband: Have quality checks on their services" -- , NST, Nov 9) and would like to relate my experience with another broadband service provider.

I live in Sri Segambut and have been a P1 Wimax subscriber since February.

I am not a heavy user but my two sons, who are college students, use this service regularly.

Initially, we were impressed and satisfied with the P1 Wimax service. But for the past few months, we have been experiencing very slow speeds (both upload and download).

The service is also not stable. On some days, we have experienced interruptions for many hours.

My sons have checked with their friends living in Subang Jaya and Petaling Jaya and found that they, too, have experienced the same problems with the P1 Wimax service.

I am very disappointed with the failure of P1 Wimax to provide reliable service to its subscribers.

As L.K.K. says, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) must ensure that broadband service providers do not fail their subscribers.

It is the responsibility of the MCMC to conduct regular and thorough checks on all the Internet service providers and impose penalties for non-compliance.

After all, when these service providers are prompt in demanding their payments on the due date, why should their subscribers not demand that the services provided are also prompt and reliable?

With the poor service by Green Packet I wonder why they are given the licence to operate G4 service.

Mega Speed Huh?

The front page news is so nice to hear. This is the front page news today. The same was being told to us when we are going into wimax internet. After the service rolls out, subscribers get shit speed from P1.

POTONG!! What Potong? This is P1 Wimax la

I wanted to write and post one entry for week 6 of Project Alpha blogging contest. As soon as my laptop gets connected my head is fuming. What makes me fume is recorded here in the comparison picture. On the left is my wireless signal and on the right is my maxis broadband dial up.

The wireless Network connection status is for my P1 Wimax. The speed shown is from the router to my laptop. Just compare both speed, duration and activity status below. I gives a clear picture how shitty is P1 Wimax who claim to be providing the fastest broadband speed in Malaysia. WTF.

You get what I mean?

POTONG!!  

What potong when Green Packet will fine me more than half K for the FREE modem.

High Cost Of IT Services In Malaysia

The Star online reported this- Govt directs SKMM to investigate high cost of IT services . I am sure all internet consumers in the country agree that internet service is indeed expensive in Malaysia. Starting with dial-up services in the early 90s right up to the so called high speed broadband services of today, consumers has to pay more than what they get. I don't consumer will air their grouses if the service provided is on par with claims to lure subscribers. However they always keep themselves on the safe side by putting up the clause 'at best effort'. When I subscribed to P1 Wimax the performance was as expected but thing changed after I paid my first bill. It means I can't terminate my service anymore because Green Packet will charge for my modem. So now I have to waste my monthly subscription (for 2 years) for getting shit speed. I felt short changed by P1.

Even though I subscribed to what was claimed as the fastest broadband  speed in Malaysia but still I have to depend on my Maxis broadband and squat on my neighbours WiFi access. So P1 is making easy money from me without the expected service.

I am really angry and mad with P1 service that everybody who ask me I will tell them not to subscribe to P1.

P1 Still Sucks In Bukit Jalil

When I came back from Kuching on the evening of 19August, I saw the P1 Wimax light is blinking red. So that means that I can't log on to the internet. Everytime before due date P1 will send me a reminder email about my due date. They are so quick when it comes to collecting money from customers but customer service is going down the drain. Now until April 2011, I'll be paying P1 without getting the services form them.

When I started to face the signal problem with P1 , I sent am email to careline on 3rd of July after they sent me a reminder about my bill due date. Untill today there is NO RESPONSE from careline.

Their billboard is boasting of there is no jam on the broadband highway but here I am experiencing a tortoise pace using P1 Wimax. And at times can't even get the connection at all. It has been more than one month since I am experiencing this tortoise speed with P1 Wimax and now can't even get a signal at all from their base station even though my area, as was explained during the promotion at April's 09 PC Fair, has an overlapping coverage from two base station. What more my house just sits next to the Technology Park Fence where I can see the Jaring building and their two antaneas clearly.

So beginning from today I put up a banner on my blog to let Green Packet know that their P1 Wimax service is in deep shit. The banner will be there until I get back the speed during the first month I subscribe and before I pay my first bill. You Tube will be my benchmark since the promoters claimed such. NO BUFFERING WHEN WATCHING U TUBE. I am aq consumer and I have the right to vioce out my dissatisfaction for services NOT UP TO THE MARK.

I hope someone from Green Packet read my blog.

P1 Really Changed My Surfing Experience

Yes it changed from bad to worse. Even dial up is faster then Wimax. Thanks to P1. See after 1 hr 37 minutes how much packets did I get?

Now compare with this 45 minutes of connection on Maxis

This post is uploaded using Maxis Broadband and I am wasting RM 99 a month to Green Packet.

I am one unsatisfied subscriber of P1 wimax.

P1 Wimax Is Giving Me Shit

It is in my second month of using P1 Broadband service. The first month was all smooth surfing but things turn ugly after I paid my first bill. Ever since I couldn't get the service I expected anymore as claimed by P1, even though my house is covered by two base station. Which ever direction I face the front of my modem (as directed by the coverage map), the signal is just shit. The red light blinks all the time and if it jumps to amber it will just be for a few seconds only and will revert back to red instead of going green. This is really shit.

I found that other subscriber too experience the unstability in the first month. Read the comments HERE too.

Now I see that P1 Wimax is not going to be better that Maxis Broadband or the lousy Streamyx. And Wimax have the gut to remind me the due date of the second bill.

I am using (read it as forced to steal) my neighbour's signal to post this piece.

UPDATED : I found this article from The Star online. From hare speed to tortoise pace. It is worth reading if you want to have an overview of what is happening to our supposedly ambituous Multimedia Super Corridor. I like what I read from the article verbatim;

The best I could come out with was to ask them to be patient as the Government had initiated the National Broadband Project and that in a few years the whole of the Klang Valley would be wired up.

Pierre and Johann both gave me that “you got to be kidding” look. The Swiss pointed out that all towns in his home country had put in fibre optics years ago.

“They just dug and dug and wired everyone up. What are you all waiting for?” he asked.

He was “very impressed” when he first came to Malaysia 10 years ago.

“You all then had ADSL lines when we in France were still using dial-ups,” he recalled.

“But what happened? We are now surfing at real broadband speed and not the ‘best service possible’ practice as you have here in Malaysia.

“Johann, if you get 50% of the promised speed in Malaysia, consider yourself lucky.”

Of course this is Malaysia Boleh.

Hey P1!!!!!!

What happens to P1 coverage? When I first subscribed the signal was satisfactory and I could surf quite comfortably. At least better than Streamyx or Maxis Broadband. I thought my surfing misery is all over. What more, my house (Bukit Jalil) is covered by two base stations according to the coverage map. 

However since I paid my first month bill the service is giving me shit now. For three days now (since 28 May 2009) the modem signal light is not showing green anymore. It fluctuate between this 

and this. However most of the time it will be this red light showing. 

I am wondering what ever happen to the signal strength. Are they upgrading the system or service? If so,why are customers not informed? Or they are just giving a good service until the customer's 7 day trial option expires after which surrendering the modem and terminating the service will cost the customer a penalty which they did not mention as one. 

At times now I have to "steal" the signal from my neighbour to surf the net. P1 Wimax! Please wake up. 

My First WimaxTest

Since evening I had done some speed test on Wimax because I found out that there is no difference between maxis broadband or my neighbouer's wireless network that I squat on. 

Wireless signal strength is excellent with speed of 54.0 Mbps.

 

The first test was done at 7.39 in the evening with the Wimax modem connected to a Netgear router. Both equipment was placed in the centre of the house about 5 metre away from the window and my laptop is also about the same distance from the router. I waited long enough but the Wimax can't test the upload. I waited long enough until I decided to cancel the test and change the location. The picture below was captured before I decided to give up waiting. 

Top picture: This screen capture was done at 7:39:54PM

Top picture: This screen capture was done at 7:56:40PM

Then I decided to relocate the modem nearer to the place where I am and also nearer to the window as adviced in the brochure. The results of the test is as in the screen captures below. 

Top picture : This screen capture was done at 9:30:45 PM

Top picture: This screen capture was done at 9:33:21PM

Top picture : This screen capture was done at 9:50:05 pm

Base on the coverage map that I saw at the PC Fair and the reseller at Carrefour Seri Petaling, my house has an overlapping coverage meaning served by two base station. 

According to the package plan downlink is up to 1.5 Mbps and uplink up to 500 kbps for the Home Plus Plan that I subscribe. Well, this is what I get tonight: 

Download 1560 kbps (Wimax claim up to 1.5 Mbps)

Upload 253 kbps (Wimax claim up to 500 kbps)

Another Wimax Service Provider

There is another broadband service provider running on wimax already offering their service in Klang Valley. This provider seems to keep itself a low profile comparing P1 Green packet that has been providing service and has gone beyond the Klang valley. 

I came to know about it at a computer shop in Sri Petaling. The provider amax.  

The brochure listed the coverage areas including Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Technology Park Malaysia, Bandar Sri Petaling, Bukit Anggerik, Taman Manuri, Bandar Kinrara, Subang Jaya and Kelana Jaya. However after checking with their website I found that the coverage is wider. See HERE. 

Another a factor befoe subscribing to any provider is pricing. According to the brochure, there are two packages at RM99.00 and RM 138 inclusive of the modem. On their website is listed a third package for Enterprise and SOHO Multi-user at RM388. See the package HERE. 

Life Without Internet

Myself like thousandsof others have been hogging on to the internet daily and for people like me it has become anotherbasic needs. Just like having a handphone. However I have experience life without internet access.  I was in Sipitang Sabah staying at a hotel beside the sea. Nice 5 rooms ex government rest house now run by a private company. The rate is cheap @ RM65.00 per night. The TV set only has Star Movie/HBO controlled from the reception maybe. So guest have no choice but to swallow what the man who control the ASTRO remote device wants to see. 

For me internet is part of my daily necessities. As soon as I checked in, I switched on my laptop and plug in my Maxis Broadband modem. I foresee, there will be no access since it is 144 km away from Kota Kinabalu. I just wanted try my lady luck. Then I tried my Celcom Broadband. I know I can't get it connected using my phone since I can't install my phone software on my new laptop. I tried using the 3G modem built in on my netbook but the modem seems not reading the sim card. Maybe due to conflict because I am using the external Huwei modem. I know the technician at my netbook service centre advised me not to install any external modem because it will create conflict. But I have no choice since I am using the Maxis Broadband for all my internet connection on my other laptop and when I am at the office. So the move the sim card and insert into the netbook and vice versa is quite a hassle. On my netbook I have to take the battery out since the sim card slot is concealed inside the battery slot. 

So, for the duration of 5 days in Sipitang, I was disconnected from the cyberworld and I felt how bored life is without the internet since we are used to living in that world at present. 

Streamyx Zone

I stayed at Tanjung Bidara Beach Resort in Malacca when I realize abut Streamyx Zone. There is a sign informing that the resort is a Streamyx Zone besides the TMnet Hotspots. L knew the resort had Hotspots since a few years back. I switched on my laptop and found a weak signal (2 bars) from my room which then was lost and reappear again a few minutes later. Does that mean the signal is weak?

I was able to log in to the welcome page but couldn't proceed further since I did not subscribed to the service. However I was trying to find more details of the service but was returned with a no page displayed.

So what is Streamyx Zone? Only today I could get more information about it. The TM webpage give the following: Streamyx ZONE™ is a service that provides a whole new mobile lifestyle with wireless broadband internet access at selected shopping malls, eating outlets, convention centres, hotels and many more. Simply log on at any Streamyx ZONE™ sites and you can conveniently browse the Internet and check your email using laptop, tablet PC and PDA that equipped with a Wi-Fi certified device.

Will Streamyx zone replace Hotspots?

I am subscribed to Streamyx and had been paying RM 88 per month without a single bit of data being downloaded. The service became kaput and whenever I called the hotline is it always tha usual from the manual instructions. Lastly I have to retart my computer and its all the same old story. So now I am with Maxis and Celcom.

Back to Streamyx Zone, I am not sure whether I will be jumping onto the bandwagon because the most important thing before subscribing is whether I can get coverage. I travel a lot and go all over Malaysia. So if I can't get the needed coverage then there is no use of me subscribing. At the moment I still am satisfied with Maxis Broadband.

P1 WiMAX Going to Tanjung

I received this in my email and wish to share.

P1 W1MAX, KEY COMPONENT IN WIRELESS@PENANG INITIATIVE

PULAU PINANG - Wireless Internet surfing via WiMAX will be a reality in Penang as early as December 2008, as part of the state government’s move to ensure that the island state becomes an "i-Land" by 2010. Today’s announcement is also part of Packet One (P1)’s expansion of its WiMAX broadband service nationwide.

The Penang State Government and P1 today entered into a partnership for P1 to supply the infrastructure for WiMAX@Penang under the Wireless@Penang initiative to bring the state’s infrastructure offerings to a higher level.

Chief Minister of Penang, YAB Lim Guan Eng said, "We are all responsible for continuously driving the state of Penang forward. We need to take the next natural course of action in order to further improve the standard of living of the people here. The wide availability of WiMAX in Penang will certainly provide a welcome boost to the existing and future industries."

"With this project, Penang will be the one of the first few WiMAX states in the world. And for Malaysia, we are taking another step closer towards making Malaysia a WiMAX hub in the region," CEO of P1, Michael Lai informed.

The first phase of WiMAX@Penang project will commence in October 2008, with the deployment of P1 base stations to cover areas around George Town, Penang Island, and Seberang Prai. The targeted areas are based on the highest population density and commercial viability.

The partnership with the Penang State Government is slated to expedite the Phase 1 rollout of WiMAX@Penang to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2009.

"With this partnership announcement, P1 is keeping to its promise of delivering wireless broadband via WiMAX to Malaysians. As the first WiMAX telco in Malaysia and one of the first in the world, we hope to contribute positively to the economic development of Penang as the Silicon Valley of Malaysia," Lai informed.

"P1’s deployments of the iconic Wireless@KL (May 2008) and Wireless@Sunway (July 2008) initiatives to bridge the digital divide of Malaysians are our notable WiMAX milestones. Adding a feather to the cap, we are very proud and excited that our partnership with the Penang State Government on the Wireless@Penang project is another milestone that will go into history," Lai said.

P1 is the first Malaysian WiMAX converged telco to commercially offer WiMAX services, branded as P1 W1MAX on a large scale. The service is currently available in the Klang Valley. - P1 Press Release.

The word FREE really attracts prospective consumer. The question is (at least in my mind) can I just get connected directly using my WiFi ready laptop? Do I have to subscribe/buy the WiMax modem from Green Packet?

Kota Marudu Going Wireless

I seldom read the physical paper but today after reading the NST I founf this article that caught my attention. "Kota Marudu to go wireless". To me Kota Marudu keeps nostalgic memories since that was the first place that I started working as a teacher way back in the 70s. I was a teacher at SMK Kota Marudu in Pekan Lama until 1980. When the school moves to the new building in 1981, I was transfered back to Alor Setar after fulfilling my 5 years contract with the Sabah Education department. My wife is from that town and my first two kids was born in Kota Marudu. The coordinates for Kota Marudu is : 6° 31' 0" North, 116° 45' 0" East

It was reported that the service will be FREE for the town residents.

Click map for source.

Read historical background of Kota Marudu HERE.