And speaking of WiFi...

An experience with this: I had been checking every possible broadband provider for our new place in cainta for the past few weeks, and the Smart offer seemed my only option (and was quite timely too). I happened to have emailed not Smart but Meridien Telekoms way ahead and after a week they answered with a yes, I can go ahead to any Smart Wireless Center and sign up.

I took my time doing so since I was told I'd only have a slow 128k until October (when they start offering 256k) and since there was a 1 year contract I waited for word if my PLDT account phone could get transferred instead so I can instead opt for tried and tested PLDT myDSL, but not only is the landline transfer subject to 'tests', DSL isn't a sure thing either and will also be subject to 'surveys', so Smart's wifi seemed to be the only immediate and sure answer.

I then tried signing up at Galeria, only to be told by the girl there that the service won't be available until October (!) as opposed to it being just faster by October. I replied to the email Meridien sent me asking for a clarification and there's been no reply so far.

Then yesterday I happened to be at Sta Lucia East, where there was another Smart Wireless Center. I asked what the score was again just for kicks, and the guy there said no prob, they'll check it out and if it's ok, they'll connect it within 3 days.

Am thoroughly confused.

I'm still thinking about it myself. We'll be moving into our new home in Marikina before my birthday and I'm still wondering if I should go for this so-called Smart WiFi thing or just a DSL.

If DSL, do I get PLDT or Globe?

HAAAY! What do I choose?! What do I choose?!

ive no experience with globedsl, but i was quite happy with my 1 year with pldtdsl. i had 256kb, it was one of the priciest offerings around but it was fast and reliable.

gary: i was quite happy with my 1 year with pldtdsl

I'm glad, Gary. I used to have PLDT DSL and I was really frustrated with the amount of downtimes and restarts that I had with it. Maybe because I got in during their Version 1.0 blues...

I've been on Bayantel DSL since January of 2004 and I am amazed. It has 384kbps and I can only count the downtimes with less than the number of fingers of one hand. Fast and worry-free, plus permanent IP address. Happy! :)

Now if only DSL prices would plunge...

malapit lang kasi kami sa mandaluyong dansalan area (a big pldt compound) kaya daw ok :).

i'm on belltel now. I sometimes get dload speeds of 700kb+ (!!!). Kaso ang prob, it doesn't like getting routed. If you route it it disconnects after (I suspect) 15 mins. when something (their server, router, or something) determines that there's no activity. You'd have to connect it to your PC directly, start surfing, then return it to the router.

disclaimer: the above in no way implicates that I share my connection with more than one PC. I just tried it lang. cough.

nakaka frustrate lang sa smart wifi is their wireless center sa robinsons binan staff. i applied for the service the other week, tapos they told me that i will receive confirmation through text. una ung rep nila na binigyan ako ng cell number, hindi nag rereply when i tried to follow up. i also tried calling smart customer service on how to contact the wireless center ang sabi WALA daw phone number doon. weird, but, isn't Smart a phone company?
anyway, more than a week later, yesterday, frustrated but calm, i went to the mall again, and asked another rep about my application:
ako: "follow up ko lang ung wifi application ko..."
rep: "sir, ano po name nyo at cell number nyo?"
ako: "gerald p, number ko is 0917" (nasa prefix pa lang ako)
rep: "ay sir, globe po kasi ung number nyo kaya inde nyo na rereceive yung confirmation"
ako: "huh? umm... e pano un?"
-- rep went to get my application form --
then,
rep: "ay sir, bukod sa globe ung binigay nyo cell number, 'NO COVERAGE' ung area nyo..."
ako: [repeat] "huh?" [until TRUE=FALSE]

bale.. nagantay ako sa wala.

Well, if smart wifi (according to them) technology relies on their cell site. Bakit kukunti lang yung coverage? Di ba ang daming cell site yung smart all over the nation? And i don't think you need to be a smart subscriber. It only relies on the cell site and i don't think na ico-connect nila to sa account mo especially prepaid...durrrrr!!

I have no problems with a router connection on Belltel, and 200 KB/s torrents. 700 is impossible since that's only a 10 Megabit Ethernet.

Here is a reason why it should be called WiFi.

smart wifi needs a line of site to one of their transmitters. kung me nakaharang ng puno o building sa transceiver o antenna, natural no signal. via microwave ang transmission ng signal nila and incompatible sa ieee 802.11g/b. mg-aaply sana ako kaso hindi ko alam ang protocol na ginagamit nila kung pppoe o bridged. sabi ng iba bridge, kung bridge ba ito, ma-au-authenticate ba via mac address? gusto ko lang malaman para kung pppoe, router bibilhin ko, kung bridged naman, e di switch na lang. kinausap ko na reps dito sa baguio, kapitbahay namin me smart wifi na, me line of sight rin ako sa transmitters. ang ayaw ko lang sa mga sales reps, hindi nila alam tinatanong ko. kahit tech support nila sa 888 hindi alam kung ano isasagot e. hindi rin nila alam kung nagoofer sila ng static ip. me nakakaalam ba kung paano ito?

ano bang mai-co-contribute ko sa discussion na ito?

1.) I hear that deployment of Smart WiFi in NCR is not being prioritized
2.) Tama, line of si[b]ght[/b] ang kailangan. If, from your location, you can see a Smart Cellsite, you can theoretically be connected via Smart WiFi. Kung walang line of sight, you can get a reaaaaalllly tall antenna para magka-ruon ng line of sight.

In general, I don't rely on customer support to be able to answer smartly about questions regarding new services/products. Reality is, we can't expect them to know ALL the answers to our questions.

Si God lang ang nakakaalam nun! ;-) ... Yung hotline niya, matawagan nga ....

mabu-hey!

ka edong

I don't think they will aggressively market Smart WiFi in areas better serviced by PLDT myDSL. I saw a lot of Smart WiFi streamers on the road from Tagaytay the other day. It makes sense to have Smart cover the areas that are under Globe and Bayantel's landline franchise.

The AE who went to our office to market PLDT WeRoam couldn't answer us if it worked with Macs. I emailed the WeRoam people through the customer dialog on their site and still haven't received a reply.

Sigh. And so I remained tethered to my by-now quaint dialup.

The AE who went to our office to market PLDT WeRoam couldn’t answer us if it worked with Macs.

shouldnt be a prob.

Well so many comments about WiFi. I was happy when I can get it. I live in Meycauayan, Bulacan and move in january 2006 to Tagaytay. My first natieve thinking was: fine I can take WiFi with me when I 'm moving.
It was to natieve becouse followong Smart transfer is not possible. I have to fullfill a contract from 12 months in Meycauayan, even when I move.
Have to solicitate again in Tagaytay for WiFi. Is that logical ?.
WiFi is a wireless system. Smart know how to use wireless and is moving during contract-time impossible?.

Anny Idea how it can be solved?. Mey. & Tagy. both having no dsl.

Tja what can I do ?.

ErwinJ

EMail: erwinj@hotpop.com

My application for smart wifi was approved.. d ko lang agad binayaran.. after like 5 days.. someone from smart called up asking if im still interested with the service sabi ko.. OO.. kaya lang I still dont have the time to visit the wireless center... anyways, sabi ng rep.. theres this new system for collection.. may pupunta raw sa bahay to get the payment.. (hmm parang namamalimos na sila) not bad.. kaya lang.. sabi ko I opt to go to the wireless center na lang.. BAD thing.. i came across sites that tells negative issues re: the Smart WIFI particularly the speed. ANO BA TALAGA lagay nito? anyways I tried calling *3888 for the hotline.. kung may testing center sila nito .. for the customer to try it out.. kaya lang to my dissappointment.. wala sila nito. How sad.. the place is called WIRELESS CENTER.. pero pati pala internet wired pa rin sila.. not using their own product. Anyways, wanted to know more.. i went to the WIRED CENTER.. totoo nga wala silang alam tungkol dito they asked me to call their "subsidiary" - meridian to ask about it. HMMMM... just thinking.. how if i signed and paid.. not satisfied.. late for me to realize that Im LOCKED for 2 years.

Mga katoto.. ano po ba talaga lagay nito? hows the speed? yun lang.

Bear with me.. I just had to vent.. Based here in Davao and was quite pleased when smart wifi came out.. Applied.... mabilis naman ang approval of the application... BUT... the delivery people called and we had a problem with their finding my address.. after much confusion, kasi pala DIGOS, Davao Del Sur yung naka sulat as my address ,not Davao City... Red Flag number 1... I mean, I filled up the application myself and I have never been to Digos EVER... Anyways, WiFi installed just last Tuesday.. and I have been having problems every since... as in, sising sisi ako that I got it.. and considering that I live only 1 block away from the base station or whatever its called ha! Either no connection or very very slow .. I only get a good connection 10% of the time (like now... Alleluia!!) I am on chicka chika terms na with Smart WIFIs technical support kasi every day ako tumatawag
for an SOS.. so far, no satisfactory answers...Imagine, turn off adaptor, remove cables, return, turn on, enable LAN connection ad nauseum yung advice sa akin..... !*$@*EW*$@*$ ........ I am giving this a few more days before asking for a rebate... and am seriously considering DSL nalang... arghhhhhhhhh

I am supposed to pay for my smart wifi this monday but now i'm having second thoughts after reading your comments. It seems to me that even the people from smart don't know much about their product (or at least don't spend time to "satisfy" their customers). Anyway, i just wanted to know if anyone here has tried using wifi to play online internet games like warcraft and guild wars. Does it lag too much? Is the connection always interrupted? I really hope someone out there has tried wifi so we all could have a good sense of its performance... Thank you for the kind soul...

T

after sales isn't good .. after reporting that you have no connection (like for the nth time), you'd end up doing the "ping x.x.x.x", "ipconfig /release", "ipconfig /renew", "enable/disable Local Area Connection" yourself .. usually, the L2 calls you up three days after you report the problem. they won't even bother calling you unless kinulit mo sila sa kakatawag ..

ok yung meridian, 200+ kbps @ P988.00/mo. Pag iniinstall na dapat not less than -20 RSL mo para ok signal. test ko ng Khan ok. if smart is not available get meridian. same tech support people sila, very helpful.

Hi there :

My name is ERICK you can chat me in my YM at jafrancisco22@yahoo.com regarding all concern about smart wifi i will answer your question for the best i can. Im using it when this technology begins in a single unit to a multi unit by the use of only computer connection without a router but it can also be use with a router...Im in BULACAN AREA if you are in bulacan and want to apply you can contact me .

Contact me with my YM at jafrancisco22@yahoo.com for info about SMART WIFI. Im still using it....No prob at all...

smart wifi? lang kwenta, lahgi wala connection!!! sobrang nagsisisi ako ....... wahhhhhhhhhh

I tried SMART WiFi, sobrang bagal. Max ko is 30kbps lang. Depende kasi yan sa location mo. Make sure malakas signal ng smart sa location mo para gumana yan.

T, hindi rin namin napagana online gaming sa smart wifi dahil hindi allow ng online game server yung sobrang mabagal na connection.

PLDT DSL wala rin kuwenta, nagsisi ako bakit yun pa kinuha ko. Kaso wala ako choice kasi 1 year ang contract. Definitely, after 1 year lilipat na ako sa bayantel. Mas okay sana globe broadband kaso wala naman dito sa place of residence ko.

Ang tagal pa ng waiting time para maka-connect ka sa phone support nila. Masuwerte ka na kung makausap mo sila in 20mins waiting time. Hindi rin sila nagrereply sa email at hindi gumagana customer support nila sa website.

Bulok ang PLDT DSL. Hindi worth ang bayad ko. Trap ang PLDT DSL.

my smart wifi got installed last oct 4, 3 hours after installation im beginning to experience problems on my connection, up to now im still having connecton problems every evening and when its raining.

im sick and tired of reporting to their customer support, im feed up on all those troubleshooting that doesn't help at all.

yesterday i went to their service center in sta. lucia mall and requested for the termination of my account and insisted on not paying the so called pre termination fee.

for those people who are interested on this service and is residing in cainta, pasig area. better think twice. just my two cents.

haaayy, puro na nga stress sa buhay, nakaka dagdag pa itong eifi problems.

I'm living in Dasmarinas, Cavite. I heard wifi from a friend who had installed in her house. Since i'm dying to have my Internet connection, i rushed to the nearest smart wireless center and filled up an application. The customer rep told me to wait for a text message within 2 to 3 days working time. I had my application last Saturday (Oct. 15, 2005) and until now I keep on guessing if my application is ok or not.

I called up *3888 countless times already to follow up my application, but they keep on telling me to just wait for that text message. My hope freezes down to zero everytime i look at my smart cp, i wonder if i will be able to receive that text or none at all.

Up to now, i'm still waiting and hoping that damn text will reach me anytime this week...

yestarday my sendfar antenna was being replaced by the motorola canopy. so far my connection have improved.
pinging 10.0.0.1 -t returned good results. stable connection, and decent speed.
hope this will continue. cross my fingers.

i'm very much interested to have an internet so when i learned about the Smart wi-fi syempre sobrang excited i checked out their website www.mypad.net pero very limited ang site so di ako nakuntento i called up the customer service to ask if my place is a Wi-fi zone so sabi ng kausap ko ang whole area of Naic, Cavite is a wi-fi zone so mas lalo akong naging excited. but when i checked out sa Smart SM Dasma sabi ng rep eh malayo daw ang place ko sa naic town so di pa wi fi zone and barangay namin kol daw ako after 2 months..sana lang may accurate data base sila ng mga lugar na wi fi zone talaga yung one click lang sa pc eh malaman agad nila at sana din ma try nila using laptop na if ever may magpa install eh m check nila kung wi fi zone nga...i hope ma improve ang service...

may problema sa bandwidth ang Smart Wifi, Smart employee mismo nagsasabi nito. I was subscribing before but nakausap ko etong friend ko na palipasin ko daw muna na maayos nila ang problema nila, pati celfone signals nila naapektuhan. kaya kayong balak kumuha, wag padalos dalos dahil pag napahamak kayo, isang taon kayong magbabayad ng speed na parang dial-up at kadalasan na walang connection. pag kayo naman ay nainis at hindi nagbayad na, kayo naman ay kakasuhan ng Smart. Magkaroon kayo ng Peace of Mind sa hindi pagkuha ng Smart WiFi.

The taiwanese in my hood got a Smart Wifi. His antena is SendFar unit. How do you say SCrew Smart in chinese?

The Lock In is the worst part of the whole thing. Smart\'s/Pldt\'s service agreement make sure that you will pay no matter how bad the service gets. I would think twice if a mariage contract is written like their service agreement.

Everyone read the agreement, right?

when im playing online games like rf its so lag
bat gnun?2wing tanghale lag na

when im playing online games like rf every afternoon
its lag?bat gnun sobra lag

Why is there a fuss for WIFI in the Philippines... I used my cellphone in connecting to the internet. If you have the latest model of cellphone that supports 3G (UMTS) you can use it as a modem to connect to the internet. And the speed is not bad either (384kbps). I for example is using my NOkia 6630 in connecting to the internet. I just set up the enclosed software (Nokia PC Suite) which is included in the package to my laptop computer and presto I'm into it. Luckily for us here in Italy because the mobile providers are offering a wide array of services that caters for each speific needs. I for example subscribed for free internet use between 5PM to 9M the following day during weekdays and free 24 hours surfing during weekends(Saturday and Sunday) and all holidays for 25 euros a month and that's merely 1400 pesos only if I may convert . Philippine mobile providers should take advantage of this, and set out guidelines in offering and giving internet services like this instead of WIFI which is not really wireless since an antennae is installed outside your home. You can use your cellphone for your notebooks and even for your desktop pc's. Connecting to WIFI here in Italy is only available through hotspots like airports, hotels, big restaurants and other places where there is a large traffic of people. Hope this will enlightened all WIFI users in the Phils.

hello,

you just answered your own question actually. 3G in the philippines hasn't been implemented fully yet.

plus, wifi is cheaper.

I asked a sales rep of Globe at the Hub Shop, Greenhills and he said that the cost of using 3G may be the same with GPRS, which is per kilobyte! I'm hoping that he's wrong!!!! hehe.. Good for those who live in Italy like Alfred! :) That is what you call the real internet anytime, anywhere! I've actually used my Sony Ericsson W800i as my modem for my laptop but I used GPRS as my connection so it was about 130+ Kbps only.. Hey! That is waaaaay better than dial-up! However, the cost is very expensive! I just tried it out to see if it works.. That's why I'm hoping that 3G in the Philippines would have a flat monthly rate (unlimited) and not rated per kilobyte! :(

If you're thinking of having SMART WiFi connected, think again. At first the connection is a dream and then zip -nothing. I haven't been able to connect for almost 2 weeks now. Their customer service is a joke! They tell me to go to a SMART Wireless center which is soo out of my way. When I get there, they tell me to email customer_support@meridiantelekoms.com. I did - no reply almost a week na. Kaya asa pa. I'm filing a case na sa DTI because they said that I can't have the service disconnected because of a 1year lockout clause. Pucha LUGI talaga ako. Moral of the story - BOYCOTT SMART WIFI!!!!!!!

@Boris, if you use a cellphone as a modem in connecting to the internet, the internet speed for GPRS/EDGE is only 115 kbps and for 3G its 384 kbps but it depends on the traffic on the internet at the time you connect. Of course, more user, more traffic, less speed and vice-versa. However, you can only enjoy 3G connection if you have a compatible cellphone that supports 3G(UMTS). Again if you have capable cellphone that supports 3G , it will use GPRS if there is no UMTS signal in your area. This is a little bit more expensive compare to adsl connection but this is very convenient because you can surf, send and recived e-mails anywhere,anytime (flat rate) from your laptop because of its wireless capability. You can monitor the speed of your connection by logging on to www.internetfrog.com/mypc/speed test

will definitely not try smart wifi.. thanks for all your comments..

I have just recently got my Smart Bro connection.It took 8 days of telebabad with customer service for the never-ending trouble shooting na halos memoryado ko na. Finally, I decided to go to SMart Wireless Center here at SM Sta Rosa and requested for disconnection. They told me to wait until the next day since their contractor will be the one to decide if the connection is really a failure. Besides, i was informed that i will still have to pay the whole year fee! Imagine, spending a lot of money for nothing!. I was about to get hyper but able to control my temper. Before I left, the lady told me, "sana ho kasi, smart ang SIM nyo para mas ok ang service."@!!!??##??!!grrrrrr........

VOIP on Smart Bro wireless broaband network: if any one of you have tries using voip with the Smart Bro connection, may I please have your experience. I plan to subscribe to smart bro primarily for voip, but b4 i do so, i'd like to know if it will work, and if so, I'd like to know its performance in terms of quality of voice communication and latency (i.e. time delays). Would appreciate some advise or comments. thanks.

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VOIP on Smart Bro wireless broaband network: if any one of you have tries using voip with the Smart Bro connection, may I please have your experience.
Best regards, Alex, CEO of youtube converter

Has anyone known if it is true that Catalina Cruz is very interested in mobile phones? I know that it looks a little bit strange, but my one friend said this information to me. Personally I do not believe him but it would be really nice to find out the true. I hope that someone will help me.

They tell me to go to a SMART Wireless center which is soo out of my way.
Best regards, Katya, CEO of good dvd burning software, netbsd iscsi initiator

I took my time doing so since I was told I'd only have a slow 128k until October (when they start offering 256k) and since there was a 1 year contract I waited for word if my PLDT account phone could get transferred instead so I can instead opt for tried and tested PLDT myDSL, but not only is the landline transfer subject to 'tests', DSL isn't a sure thing either and will also be subject to 'surveys', so Smart's wifi seemed to be the only immediate and sure answer.
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