Reliable, affordable internet access in Dumaguete

I hear that every time an internet service person comes to my house.
Usually I tell them to check my signal strength before I'll make a decision. One guy told me my signal was weak at -80 db and a signal closer to -95 db would be better; needless to say there was no addition to the mast.
On some modems there is a data page that will show signal strength, signal to noise ratio and the number of error corrections and a bunch of other information. All that is useful information.
When I used to use a BlackBerry it worked fine with a signal strength of -104 db.

Someone from Smart told me my internet was slow because my Modem was only 50 Mbps and I should upgrade to a 150 Mbps model. All I know is the slowest part of the communication network is the limiting factor, like a chain is only as strong as the weakest link.

Before you shell out any pesos for a taller mast you need to know if you really need one.

 

I think, from reading earlier threads, that a mast on the customer's property is essential for accessing 'airLink'.

 

it is post paid 1299 month for 50 GB but I usually spend another 599 for 150 GB additional making the monthly 1899 plus tax for 200 GB

 

Yes, the mast is necessary. They need to have line of sight visibility from the top of the mast to the antenna on top of their office building in downtown. They did not charge me for installing the mast, but I did sign a one year contract. It is really not a permanent structure, they put mine up in a couple of hours, so even if you are renting it may be possible to get your landlord to approve the installation.

 

What about potential problems from someone who lets a tree grow or builds a high building between your mast and their office building? Possible? Or hugely unlikely?

 

My front and back yards are covered so I have no height for a mast (which I assume is over 8ft tall).

 

I understand PLDT Fibr offers speed and unlimited data. Both are equally important to me

That's a good deal if one happens to live close to a DSL box and the box is not oversubscribed with connections. Out in the Liptong boonies, I am fairly certain I am not near a DSL box. 5mps is more than adequate for my needs though. Easy to stream and 500G would be UNLI for me, too.

I understand PLDT Fibr offers speed and unlimited data. Both are equally important to me. I saw a Fil Products truck working a power pole across the road from my mildly remote apartment. I asked if they had Fibr to the pole. Wish I spoke bisaya.

 

The mast will go onto your roof. It is much more than 8 feet, I'm going to guess more like 30 feet.

 

I've said it before many times and I'll say it again. All of you running speed tests off a server in the Philippines are running worthless tests. The only proper way to test is changing the server to a server outside the Philippines. Select a server in Taiwan, Singapore, Aus, or even in SF or LA USA. Testing in the Philippines isn't much different then me running a speed test on my home network between my two computers and claiming that's my internet speed. The Philippines doesn't host 0.1% of the internet therefore to get an accurate test one needs to exit the Philippines.

This is the major scam run by the major ISP's as they train their techs to only test within the Philippines and usually to their own server in Manila or Cebu which can show blazing fast speeds but this is NOT what you truly get. The real problem is the backbone that the Philippine ISP's purchase bandwidth on that take your signal international to whatever server and site. They don't buy nearly enough backbone bandwidth and oversell their service and this becomes extremely evident when you do a proper test during prime-time vs low time. They don't want you knowing and they don't want to take responsibility so they expect to keep the average uneducated and train their techs to deceive you (the techs generally don't know any better though and trust their employer).