Broadband internet, which one?

H

hippy2981

Adept
Updated:

Guys. I hope you all would be able to help me out here. I'm looking for an internet connection for my parents in Bombay. I'm thinking of MTNL. Here's what I think they would need.

- Surfing (average 4 hours daily) and not massive downloading.

- No limit on hourly usage.

- 256Kbps (64KBps) sounds an OK speed.

What DSL plan should I go for? I'm thinking for the following:

DSL 399: 700 MB, 399/-

DSL NU: 1 GB & Night Unlimited ** (0h - 8h), Rs. 590/-

DSL 749: 1.25 GB, 749/-

MTNL Broadband Internet Services Tariff Plans

As for the monthly limit, I don't know what would be sufficient. With 4 hours daily usage, do you think 700 MB is okay?

Also, could you please let me know the additional charges? Like the DSL modem, installation charges, router etc.? We already have an MTNL phone line.

Please let me know. Thanks!
 
thexfactor said:
You will have to pay 300 bucks as first time installation charges, if you rent the modem u have to shell out 500 bucks as one time charge + 80 bucks per month rental.
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DSL modem: 500/- one time charge OR 80/- monthly rent. Is that what you mean? Also any DSL modem should work, right? I've a spare Motorolla one with me.

Installation: They would do all the installation, right?

Your link has the correct rates. It has a WEF date from 01NOV2005. ;)
 
thts weird i was told tht DSL NU was 1gb monthly limit (11-8am) @600 /-
but the site doesnt show nething like tht

the 400MB thing depends on wat sites u browse if u browse a lot of graphical related sites 400 mb will be roughly equal to 1mb/minute so thts will be 400 minutes apporx 6.5 hours to consume ur monthly limit

PS: thts y i hate DT limited schemes :lol:
 
Systemic Anamoly said:
thts weird i was told tht DSL NU was 1gb monthly limit (11-8am) @600 /-
but the site doesnt show nething like tht

the 400MB thing depends on wat sites u browse if u browse a lot of graphical related sites 400 mb will be roughly equal to 1mb/minute so thts will be 400 minutes apporx 6.5 hours to consume ur monthly limit

PS: thts y i hate DT limited schemes :lol:
Click to expand...

Xfactor's link has the correct rates. It has a WEF date from 01NOV2005.
 
Systemic Anamoly said:
the 400MB thing depends on wat sites u browse if u browse a lot of graphical related sites 400 mb will be roughly equal to 1mb/minute so thts will be 400 minutes apporx 6.5 hours to consume ur monthly limit

PS: thts y i hate DT limited schemes :lol:
Click to expand...

Mostly, mail sites like gmail (text based). messengers. And sometimes VPN access at night time.

Also, the line speed is 64KBps, correct?
 
hippy2981 said:
DSL modem: 500/- one time charge OR 80/- monthly rent. Is that what you mean? Also any DSL modem should work, right? I've a spare Motorolla one with me.

Installation: They would do all the installation, right?

Your link has the correct rates. It has a WEF date from 01NOV2005. ;)
Click to expand...

500 bucks is non-refundable security deposit according to mtnl guys, you still have to pay 80 bucks per month as rent or get your own dsl modem, the dlink one costs about 1500, as for the motorola modem that you have got it's always better to confirm with mtnl, although it should work. btw wt model is the motorola?

Edit : line speed is 256kbps, so 400mb might get consumed real fast.
 
thexfactor said:
500 bucks is non-refundable security deposit according to mtnl guys, you still have to pay 80 bucks per month as rent or get your own dsl modem, the dlink one costs about 1500, as for the motorola modem that you have got it's always better to confirm with mtnl, although it should work. btw wt model is the motorola?

Edit : line speed is 256kbps, so 400mb might get consumed real fast.
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Sorry, I just recalled that it's a cable modem (Motorola SURFboard SB5120 Modem). Anyways, doesn't matter, it can be rented too.

Can you let me know the DLink DSL modem model?
 
thexfactor said:
Edit : line speed is 256kbps, so 400mb might get consumed real fast.
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I'll mostly go for the DSL NU (1GB & Night Unlimited, 590/-). If that's not enought then DSL 749 (1.25GB).

I hope there are no connectivity issues like frequent connection drop-outs. Speed of 64KBps is good.
 
lool dude its not 64KBps.. its 32KBps..

its 256kbps - so 256/8 = 32KBps... though usually you would get around 27KBps here in mumbai..

mtnl actually has very good connectivity.. you wouldnt have problems with connectivity.. though yes the limits are absurd..

btw why you want a 1.25gb limit ..when you can have a 1gb limit and download your heart out at night on the night unlimited plan?
 
chic_magnet said:
lool dude its not 64KBps.. its 32KBps..

its 256kbps - so 256/8 = 32KBps... though usually you would get around 27KBps here in mumbai..

mtnl actually has very good connectivity.. you wouldnt have problems with connectivity.. though yes the limits are absurd..

btw why you want a 1.25gb limit ..when you can have a 1gb limit and download your heart out at night on the night unlimited plan?
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CRAP! I did the Math wrong! Yeah it's 32KBps. ~25KBps is still sufficient. Connectivity issues would be problem so as long connectivity is fine, that's GOOD! Also, DSL NU (1GB + Nights, 590/-) is mostly what I would go for. ;)
 
chic_magnet said:
btw why you want a 1.25gb limit ..when you can have a 1gb limit and download your heart out at night on the night unlimited plan?
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How's the connection speed at night? Is it very slow (less than 10KBps) since a lot of people would be downloading ravenously at night?

Is a router necessary if I have only one machine on the LAN? I hope not.
 
umm the connection speed is the same 256kbps but the thing is u ll have to reset the modem at 0000 hrs for the unlimited data transfer before 0000 all the data u download (via surfiing or downloading files) will be counted in the data transfer limit. :)
 
Systemic Anamoly said:
umm the connection speed is the same 256kbps but the thing is u ll have to reset the modem at 0000 hrs for the unlimited data transfer before 0000 all the data u download (via surfiing or downloading files) will be counted in the data transfer limit. :)
Click to expand...

Weird! But that'll do! Thanks!
 
Systemic Anamoly said:
umm the connection speed is the same 256kbps but the thing is u ll have to reset the modem at 0000 hrs for the unlimited data transfer before 0000 all the data u download (via surfiing or downloading files) will be counted in the data transfer limit. :)
Click to expand...

Nopes :p Never had that problem.
 
MTNL broadband customer service was bad when I took it. They told us that they would give a 512Kbps plan which even didn't exit back then!

Their speeds were mostly horrible. Their customer service was really bad and things didn't work out that well. So we changed to Airtel, and things are much better overall, much much better.

Your best options in my opinion are to go for unlimited connections with downloads like Vista etc getting quite common now. These connections don't cost a bomb either.

airtel 128Kbps - around 700 per month

airtel 256kbps - around 1000 per month

With 256kbps I get around 24Kbps single download speeds normally and maybe 50kbps+ during hours like early morning or maybe really late night.
 
General question: Is a router necessary if I have only one machine on the LAN? I hope not.

@kcab, I was going to ask about airtel and sifi. My parents won't need that much high speeds for normal surfing. The only problem with MTNL is that their support is bad. Airtel ranks the best, I guess (mouthshut). Can you paste a link or let me know the charges like the Monthly rent, Modem deposit and rent, Registration, Installation, etc? Parents don't have an airtel mobile or lan line. I couldn't find a link to it. I'd really appreciate that.

I found this one:

.:: Airtel Broadband Services ::.

DSL 1200

DSL rent: Rs. 1200/month

speed: 256kpbs

free usage: 4GB free (additional Rs. 2/MB)

modem/router rent: Rs. 99/199

security: Rs. 1800
 
You will be able to find it once you reach their broadband site, click on tarrifs and you will find your way through.

If you really ask me the ideal minimum for web surfing nowadays is atleast 512Kbps, else it does take sometime for a web page to open if you just go in for a 256Kbps connection which gives about 3/4th the rated speed on average.
 
Is Airtel available in Thane East (Bombay suburb)? I heard that it is not reachable anywhere like MTNL.

Is anyone using sifi in that locality?
 
From what I know Airtel should be better than Sifi provided you can get it in your area. Go to the site and check. Or get the number and phone them directly.
 
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