It seems Onvol is not so bad for value for money. I pay LM20.47/month for 4Mbps. I couldn't find a residential ADSL service offering 4Mbps at all, and Vanilla for example offers 4Mbps business service at Lm30/month. But checking the user agreements, I found that both Onvol and Vanilla expressly prohibit more than one user being on-line at the same time, and Onvol also expressly prohibits connecting a router to the cable modem. Doh. I should pay twice over for the relatively infrequent occasions when 2 people are on-line together? I just set up my WLAN and have a router connected to my cable modem in contravention of the Onvol user agreement. So what I would like is 4Mbps, no download restrictions and no router/simultaneous user restrictions.
I checked the Keyworld site. Speed is limited to 2Mbps but there are no download restrictions and quote "You can have more than one computer using the Internet at the same time". They also offer broadband telephony. The problem with Skype is being able to pay them for the privilege of dialling a POTS number. I've had 4 credit cards from 3 countries refused, and I don't have any more to try!! - Graham Petley > Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 22:13:07 +0100 > From: Keith Vassallo <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: RE: [LINUX.ORG.MT] Re: Internet latency times > To: Malta Linux User Group - general list <[email protected]> > Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Content-Type: text/plain > > On Wed, 2006-01-25 at 21:12 +0100, Shawn Cassar wrote: > > > try phoning Melitanet, you will be connected to a guy who doesn't > > understand maltese, speaks half in Russian and always tells you > > "yes, I am looking into it") > > Ah, I see he's still there. > > > My requirements are - > > No download limits - > > Again, I'm not a Keyworld employee or any sort of affiliate, but if you > want no limits then Keyworld is one of the few choices. It's about > LM17.95 a month. > > Alternatively, you could try a service such as VanillaSky > (vanilla.net.mt). If you subscribe for a year it works out to LM20 a > month, and it's 2Mbit (a real 2Mbit apparently). There are also 4Mbit > and 6Mbit options. They offer higher QOS packets and lower latency > (great for getting rid of lag in games). It's not available everywhere > though, you'll have to check availability for your area. > > Keith > > > Reason: I do loads of online gaming, and my fave game > > is StarWars Galaxies. Problem with this game is that the gaming files > reside > > on the servers so the game is constantly downloading. Sometimes we even > > have to get patches that are 200Mb, for example today I played the came for > > > about 3hrs and downloaded a demo, in the end I had downloaded a total of > > 800Mb. > > > > Plus, I download many ISOs, patches and programs cause I like to experiment > > > with PCs alot. > > > > Reasonable price - as long as it doesn't exceed Lm21 per month I am fine. > > > > >True that, > > > > > >Basically, no matter which ISP you use.. in the end we're all using > > >Maltanet - only with worse support. > > > > > >Keith > > > > > > > > >On Wed, 2006-01-25 at 18:59 +0100, Noel Pulis wrote: > > > > Hi all, > > > > > > > > I agree with all that you say. The problem in Malta, as I see it, is > > >the > > > > problem of monopoly and shit. I used to work with an ISP too, using > > >Lavander > > > > system which was very good at first. > > > > > > > > After a while Datastream had the idea of starting up the new system of > > > > Stream! Oh well, still people went with other ISPs. Then Datastream > > >decided > > > > to merge with Maltanet, thus killing all ISP with the LM9.99. > > > > > > > > Although it killed them before with the 2Mbit upgrade. Also Datastream > > > > instructed all the ISP's that modem replacements are to be done no more > > > >from > > > > the ISPs but if a client of ex. LinuxNET had a modem fault, LinuxNET > has > > >to > > > > send the client to replace the modem at MaltaNET! A competitor who > > >literally > > > > used to ask the client if he was happy with the service and offer > > >MaltaNET > > > > services! > > > > > > > > Also at the ISP I used to work offered the client the Activation of > > >line in > > > > 3 Weeks max. One time a client was held 5 Weeks to do a line activation > > > >and > > > > then when they confirmed that the line is ready and he can connect..... > > > >he > > > > couldnt (there was a fault in the line). Instead of fixing the line > > >there > > > > and then, they simply told me to open a fault report for him. The > client > > > > waited 2 more days to begin using his internet. Now, If you go to > > >MaltaNET > > > > and do a new connection, they either give it to you that day or the day > > > > after. BTW, They used to give me hell when there was a problem at a > > >client. > > > > > > > > The thing to literally change to Vodafone (all ISPs), is not a bad > > >thing. > > > > The problem is that the ISP would still use Datastream infrastructure > to > > >get > > > > internet. Another solution is to change to Cable, or the most expensive > > > > solution for an ISP is to rewire all Malta. > > > > > > > > Personally I Disagree with bandwidth limit. I think it should be > > >Unlimited > > > > but the ISP should limit P2P. There is a way to distinguish between > > >Normal > > > > web download(Example ISO's Of Linux, And stuff like that) And the P2P > > > > transfer. > > > > > > > > So, iether MCA, and EU regulators are blind or I, am going crazy. > > > > > > > > > > > > Noel > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > On Behalf Of Keith Vassallo > > > > Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 6:04 PM > > > > To: Malta Linux User Group - general list > > > > Subject: Re: [LINUX.ORG.MT] Re: Internet latency times > > > > > > > > Hi Conrad, > > > > > > > > I agree that for people who use the Internet lightly, any local ISP > will > > > > provide a good enough Internet service. However, when I mentioned "good > > > > ISP" I was referring to the needs of Graham, which I assumed > (correctly) > > > > needed to make heavy use of the service. This is the reason why I doubt > > > > a local ISP will provide him, or myself, with a good enough service for > > > > our needs - unless you're ready to pay of course. I have in fact > > > > contacted several ISPs trying to get on a business connection - which > > > > supposedly has better service at a higher price. However, even though > > > > I'm registered as self employed and have a VAT number, nobody will give > > > > me a business connection. Also, regular home users are not able to get > a > > > > business connection. > > > > > > > > I personally don't download any illegal software what-so-ever. If many > > > > people did the same, then not a fourth of the people who complain about > > > > the Internet would complain. However, I do download a lot of Linux > ISOs, > > > > Gentoo updates, program demos etc..., even as part of my work. It is > for > > > > this reason that I simply can't work with bandwidth limits. > > > > > > > > In the UK, the trend is now to remove limits. Both AOL and Telewest > > > > provide an ADSL service with no limits for 14.99 a month. Of course, > > > > I'm not expecting local ISPs to be able to compete (that's insane!) > > > > however, this trend of offering an unlimited service is now spreading > > > > throught several European countries, including France, Sweden etc... > > > > etc... > > > > > > > > You also mention that we should not subscribe to ISPs of local > > > > monopolies. Can you tell me how? Since Datastream is now Maltanet, > which > > > > is an ISP, and which is the company selling bandwidth to other ISPs, no > > > > matter what ISP I choose I always end up paying Maltanet/Datastream. > > > > Basically, if everyone switched away from Maltanet, Maltanet would > still > > > > be in business. One would have to switch to an ISP which only buys > > > > bandwidth from Vodafone... I don't know of any ISP which does this > > > > myself. I'd be glad to find out. > > > > > > > > What might be interesting is that now several local ISPs are > > > > researching, or testing, wireless broadband connection services, with > > > > some ISPs offering up to 6Mbit. We'll have to wait and see. > > > > > > > > Keith > > > > > > > > On Wed, 2006-01-25 at 09:38 +0100, Conrad Laus wrote: > > > > > Hi Keith, > > > > > > > > > > I`ve been working with an ISP for the past six years and I have the > > > > > inside version of the facts. Your comment about "good ISP" and > > >"Malta" > > > > > being a paradox is not correct. From my experience different people > > > > > have different expectations and no isp is able to cater for all the > > > > > different tastes and desires. If you think that this only applies > for > > > > > Malta then you are wrong. > > > > > > > > > > Broadband limits by Volume started in other countries a number of > > >years > > > > > before they started in Malta. Telephone support provided by most > large > > > > > ISPs in other countries is on expensive pay by the minute phone > > >numbers. > > > > > In Malta this has not been the case. > > > > > > > > > > Then again, keep in mind that in other countries, Liberalisation and > > > > > real competition in the Telecoms sector has started around 10 years > > >ago. > > > > > In Malta we have not yet started for all is still controlled > > >directly > > > > > or indirectly by the old monopolies. > > > > > > > > > > At the end of the day, it is known that levels of service in any > > >sector > > > > > only improve when real competition is promoted. Government has > little > > > > > interest at the moment in promoting this for he would be damaging his > > > > > own company and those of political friends. As users, I think we > > > > > should promote this by not subscribing with the ISPs of the old > > > > monopolies. > > > > > > > > > > This way, the non monopoly funded ISPS will grow stronger and be able > > > >to > > > > > provide better services. > > > > > > > > > > Cheers > > > > > > > > > > Conrad > > > > > > > > > > Keith Vassallo wrote: > > > > > > Hi Shawn, > > > > > > > > > > > > IMHO, "good ISP" and "Malta" are quite a paradox. Anyway, I've > tried > > > > > > several ISPs: > > > > > > > > > > > > Maltanet: Great speeds, but with a 12GB download limit (depends on > > >which > > > > > > plan you choose) > > > > > > Waldonet: I was with Waldonet for two months. Phoned for support > > >four > > > > > > times. Nevery got a reply. Switched to another ISP. (This is just > my > > > > > > experience though, not saying Waldonet have bad support). > > > > > > Bellnet: They say the speeds are quite good. A friend of mine > > >complains > > > > > > that he has no idea what limits his bandwidth has, since Bellnet > use > > >the > > > > > > Datastream (ehem, I should say maltanet) lavender service, the last > > > >time > > > > > > I checked. Also, if you want to setup a home server, forget about > > > > > > bellnet. > > > > > > Keyworld: No download limits, but you only get decent speeds at > > >night. > > > > > > I'm supposed to have a 2Mbit connection but download with > > >half-megabit > > > > > > speeds. > > > > > > Melitanet, your current ISP: Don't even think about them. > > > > > > > > > > > > Again, this is only my experience and opinion, your experience may > > >vary. > > > > > > > > > > > > Keith > > > > > > > > > > > > On Wed, 2006-01-25 at 06:37 +0100, Shawn Cassar wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > >>Sorry people to jutt in like this. I am new to the list but have > > >been > > > > > >>following linux and it's developments since I was a kid, have 3 > > >comps at > > > > > > > > > >>home (including my lappy) running Mandrake only (no dual boot). > > > > > >> > > > > > >>I am seeing you talk about isp ping rate, I too am with Melitanet > > >and I > > > > want > > > > > >>to change ASAP cause the service and performance is terrible, plus > > >they > > > > are > > > > > >>charging me Lm21 per month for nothing. > > > > > >> > > > > > >>So, in your opinions which are the best 2 isps right now? (One with > > > > download > > > > > >>limits and the Other without). > > > > > >> > > > > > >>I have been told to either switch to Bellnet or to Waldonet. > > >Anybody > > > > has > > > > > >>experience about any of these 2 during peak hours? > > > > > >> > > > > > >>Thanks alot > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > > >>>Waldonet offers unlimited downloads too. A bit on the expensive > > >side > > > > > >>>though.. > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>>>Keyworld offers unlimited downloads, actually (I dont work at > > >Keyworld > > > > > >>>>hehe). > > > > > >>>> > > > > > >>>>On Tue, 2006-01-24 at 04:08 -0800, Graham Petley wrote: > > > > > >>>> > > > > > >>>> > > > > > >>>> > > > > > >>>>> The response time is quite variable. Recent pings give: > > > > > >>>>>$ ping -c 10 kh.google.com (about 1245) > > > > > >>>>>--- kh.l.google.com ping statistics --- > > > > > >>>>>10 packets transmitted, 10 received, > > > > > >>>>>0% packet loss, time 9034ms > > > > > >>>>>rtt min/avg/max/mdev = 143.385/188.061/399.220/87.340 ms > > > > > >>>>> > > > > > >>>>>$ ping -c 10 kh.google.com (about 12.55) > > > > > >>>>>--- kh.l.google.com ping statistics --- > > > > > >>>>>10 packets transmitted, 10 received, > > > > > >>>>>0% packet loss, time 9039ms > > > > > >>>>>rtt min/avg/max/mdev = 80.242/85.977/89.495/2.958 ms > > > > > >>>>> > > > > > >>>>>In fact, this morning Google Earth, whch was simply not > > >responding > > > > > >>>>>yesterday > > > > > >>>>>evening, was working fine. I suppose 20:45 in the evening is a > > >peak > > > > time > > > > > >>>>>to > > > > > >>>>>California. I use Melita Cable as my ISP. I would shift if > anyone > > > > offered > > > > > >>>>>unlimited downloads, but I don't think anyone does. > > > > > >>>>>My web site is still slow :-( > > > > > >>>>>$ ping -c 10 vlsitechnology.org (about 12.56) > > > > > >>>>>--- vlsitechnology.org ping statistics --- > > > > > >>>>>10 packets transmitted, 10 received, > > > > > >>>>>0% packet loss, time 9019ms > > > > > >>>>>rtt min/avg/max/mdev = 211.454/215.173/222.490/3.495 ms > > > > > >>>>> > > > > > >>>>>- Graham Petley > > > > > >>>>>_______________________________________________ > > > > > >>>>>MLUG-list mailing list > > > > > >>>>>[email protected] > > > > > >>>>>http://mailserv.megabyte.net/mailman/listinfo/mlug-list > > > > > >>>>> > > > > > >>>>> > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>>-- > > > > > >>>Captain Alan Muscat > > > > > >>>403. 'Zephyr', > > > > > >>>Mikiel Ang. Grima Street, > > > > > >>>Pembroke STJ 07 > > > > > >>>MALTA. > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>>[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > >>>Tel: +356 21 372773 > > > > > >>>Mob: +356 99 423001 > > > > > >>>Fax: +356 21 374764 > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>>_______________________________________________ > > > > > >>>MLUG-list mailing list > > > > > >>>[email protected] > > > > > >>>http://mailserv.megabyte.net/mailman/listinfo/mlug-list > > > > > >> > > > > > >>_________________________________________________________________ > > > > > >>Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's > > >FREE! > > > > > > > > > >>http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/ > > > > > >> > > > > > >>_______________________________________________ > > > > > >>MLUG-list mailing list > > > > > >>[email protected] > > > > > >>http://mailserv.megabyte.net/mailman/listinfo/mlug-list > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > > >>------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > > >> > > > > > >>_______________________________________________ > > > > > >>MLUG-list mailing list > > > > > >>[email protected] > > > > > >>http://mailserv.megabyte.net/mailman/listinfo/mlug-list > > > > > > > >-- > > >Keith Vassallo > > >Registered Linux User #290991 > > >http://www.keithvassallo.net > > > > > >_______________________________________________ > > >MLUG-list mailing list > > >[email protected] > > >http://mailserv.megabyte.net/mailman/listinfo/mlug-list > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > FREE pop-up blocking with the new MSN Toolbar - get it now! > > http://toolbar.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200415ave/direct/01/ > > > > _______________________________________________ > > MLUG-list mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://mailserv.megabyte.net/mailman/listinfo/mlug-list > -- > Keith Vassallo > Registered Linux User #290991 > http://www.keithvassallo.net > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > MLUG-list mailing list > [email protected] > http://mailserv.megabyte.net/mailman/listinfo/mlug-list > > > End of MLUG-list Digest, Vol 28, Issue 13 > ***************************************** >
