Internet Reliability and speed

Florida Cracker

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Sep 6, 2008
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We are considering moving our family to the Dr however my Husband trades online for a living. A reliable broadband connection is important. I understand that the electricity is unreliable and we can deal with that- not contemplating a move cause we think living in the Dr will be convenient! But how often do you all loose your broadband? Is it cable or DSL or are both available? And, are the down speeds at least say 1.5 or 2 MBPS? Also, we prefer areas a little off the beaten path. I availability fairly widespread or very limited to densely populated areas? Thanks for any info you can pass on.
 

BradM

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Sep 6, 2007
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It all depends. If you are in the major centers of Santo Domingo or Santiago, you can get higher speeds. If you live in more remote areas, the fastest you can get is from Codetel and is 1.5Mb down/768Kb up for approximately US$120/month. They do have a cheaper plan 1.5Mbdown/128Kb up. I'm on the North Coast, so the Codetel link I use is to Miami. Sometimes the speed is good, other times it lags. For the last 2 weeks it's been lagging pretty good, and it's the link to Miami that's the problem, so it's affecting numerous customers. In some places you can get cable modems, but the speeds are lower and it's less reliable.

So in a nutshell, the farther you get away from a major center, the more issues you are likely to have in being able to get the speed you're after, and because there are only so many shared pipes off the island, depending on which one you get will depend on the speed you get to whereever your destination is.

Your best bet is to come down for a visit, look at your options, and test things out to see if they're adaquate for your needs.
 
S

sokitoumi

Guest
Id say it was pretty relliable on the north coast - im with codatel - apart from when your modem breaks which seems to be quite a regular happening
 

CFA123

Silver
May 29, 2004
3,512
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I inherited cable internet in an apartment here in Cabarete. I can not recommend the internet service in via Cable del Norte. It has proven to be very unreliable. Totally unacceptable and annoying. I will change to DSL asap. For years have never had a problem with the DSL service in this area.
 

cobraboy

Pro-Bono Demolition Hobbyist
Jul 24, 2004
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I get a consistant 1.45m down, 650k up to NY from Jarabacoa with Codetel. I have the 1.5/758 plan.
 

track

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Sep 6, 2008
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Speedtest.net - The Global Broadband Speed Test

is that the fastest you can get in dr..
my speeds ast home in holland tru some servers



You can get speed of 20Mbps using Codetel Metro ( Fiber to the business ), This is 20Mbps Up, 20Mbps Down. Cost is $USD$ 3,000.00 US month. Limited availability. But If you can pay for the installation they will provide it.
I think Codetel can also provide ATM type connection (154Mbps). Something Crazy like $USD$21,000.00
The example you provide is very good but you are not using DSL.
Codetel has a residential plan of 5Mbps down/ 1Mbps up. Works ok if you are close to the one of the DSL switches ( DSLAM ). It's about $7,000.00 DR Pesos.

Tricom is OK, they try hard to give a good service, speed is not as fast as Codetel, but this is not always the case. They don't have near the capacity or clients that Codetel has.

OneMax, in Santo Domingo only, will give high speed using WiMax. Stable service. They use 3.5Ghz, license band and almost no interference.

Wind Telecom, is providing business with Wireless Conections in Santo Domingo and Santiago. I don't recommend them, they are not using a license system and is very pron to adjacent interference and probably anyone with wireless phone (5.4 - 5.8 GHz ), could shut you down at anytime. The service is more expensive than Codetel and the installation fee is a joke. Don't know why they are doing this, they have a private band ( 2.5 - 2.7GHz).

Some other companies will provide service, but I don't think they will provide what Codetel can provide for the monthly rent. All of them, use Codetel service.
 

socuban

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Nov 24, 2002
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Codetel has a residential plan of 5Mbps down/ 1Mbps up. Works ok if you are close to the one of the DSL switches ( DSLAM )

It would be nice to see a map of DSLAM points around SD. I wonder how Codetel plans to pipe high speed DSL service to the newer high rises popping up in and around Los Cacigazgos, et. al., although I believe you can go 7-10K feet from DSLAM before losing the ""speed in high speed.
 

Expat133

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Aug 13, 2008
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I am surprised at how many internet subscribers on the island at such exorbinate prices,,,120-200plus usd/month. The most yet in any country i have visited or worked.
 
Feb 7, 2007
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625
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is that the fastest you can get in dr..
my speeds ast home in holland tru some servers

It is absolutely irrelevant what speed you get form Holland to a testing server in the DR. there is no correlation between that test speed and the speed you can get from the DR. What your test shows is what is the maximum speed on the route from your home in Holland to some server in the DR, using a route selected by your ISP. Absolutely irrelevant and with no correlation to what the speed from the DR to outside world is or may be.
 
Feb 7, 2007
8,005
625
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I am surprised at how many internet subscribers on the island at such exorbinate prices,,,120-200plus usd/month. The most yet in any country i have visited or worked.

There are cheaper prices: My DSL plan 768/128 kbps (now the modem synchronizes at 928/160 kbps) costs about US$ 37 + taxes which results in US$ 48 per month. Nowhere near US$ 120 or $200 you write.

I mean there are business plans of 5 mbps down / 1.5 mbps up which may cost about US$120 but very few people here have it. Most people I know about have this same plan, 768/128.

There are also other services, like Internet over cable (comparable prices to DSL), Wi-Max offers, and EVDO (mobile wireless) broadband (Viva and Codetel/Claro) with comparable prices (US$50 per month, w/taxes).

After the Codetel "access point" monopoly to submarine cables ends at the end of this year, the bandwidth will become much cheaper, more offers'll on the table, and prices will go down.

Just see what happened with Codetel's (Claro broadband 4G) service facing Viva Interjet: They changed their plan RD$1395 + taxes from 20 GB monthly transfer limit to unlimited data transfer.
 

BradM

New member
Sep 6, 2007
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The codetel connection works most of the time, and when it breaks it's usually an island wide problem. It was a pain to get it installed and working properly, the employees at codetel would rather not sell you stuff, too burocratic an organization, but once you make them do their jobs, it does work.

This is a link to their internet plans: Codetel

I just ran a speed test from here to Miami and I have the Advanced Plan 2. Here's the results:
324067818.png
 

NotLurking

Bronze
Jul 21, 2003
2,447
1,235
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Sto Dgo Este
I'm quite happy with Codetel DSL. I have VIP Plus Flash at a cost of RD$2155* per month. This includes telephone service with unlimited local calling and calls to USA for RD$ 1.45* (~US$ 0.042) per minute.

*does not include tax

Plan VIPlus Flash


Plan empaquetado que ofrece todos los beneficios del plan VIP m?s Internet Flash de 1 Mega e incluye precios especiales de Larga Distancia.

Beneficios

  • Todos los minutos locales incluidos
  • Renta Internet Flash (1MB / 128kbps)
  • Modem In?lambrico gratis
  • and much more..

Codetel

Here is a speedtest I just did:
<a href="http://www.speedtest.net"><img src="http://www.speedtest.net/result/324071832.png"></a>

NotLurking
 

solisdad2000

New member
Aug 31, 2005
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Here I am in Constanza.

Claro Codetel sucks! There's not much point in my doing a speed test since Codetel can't maintain a connection for long enough to help me download anything in a reasonable time. For example, since I pay for the fastest connection they offer (VIP Flash - but I'm not treated as a VIP and their service doesn't work at a speed that approaches a "flash"), I would stay logged into Yahoo Messenger except that I can't - the connection fails constantly (many times EVERY day), forcing me to log on again, and again, and again, ....

I also have a secure feed (VPN - Virtual Private Network) to my work (I live in Dominicana but my employer is in a different country). It allows me to work remotely and securely on my employers network. Or it would if I could stay connected. But Codetel's "service" (I use the term loosely) is so terrible that I can't stay connected so the VPN disconnects, multiple times a day, EVERY day.

Internet telephony (e.g. Skype) is also awful. I can receive some voice telephony but usually those I'm calling can't receive enough from me to hear what I'm saying clearly.

Of course Codetel charges the full rate, same as in Santo Domingo, for a service that's abysmal and way worse than in Santo Domingo. They've admitted to me that the services they offer are based on service levels delivered to the main towns (Santo Domingo, Santiago) but that elsewhere the service may be worse. they only tell you this after they've taken your money. (Well they are a Dominicana company.)

For an example, I just tried to go to an web page where speed tests are reviewed. It took 90 seconds to load the page. 90 seconds? That's slower than dial-up in most other countries.

By the way, don't expect to get any connection if there's a cyclone passing by (and it needn't be near enough for there to be any wind!!!). Did I mention that ordinary thunder storms interfere with connection? Did I mention that when you call Codetel for help, they'll insist that they have no knowledge of any problems with their network (it's amazing, Codetel is the only company in the world that has no problems with it's network - yeah) and will insist they have to get your help to diagnose your problem. On ALL of the last half dozen calls for help that I made, they always diagnosed that my PC was broken and needed new parts. this was despite the fact that I own 3 laptops, 2 are less than 6 months old (the other is older but perfect) and all went on to work perfectly without any repairs. So presumably the problem was NOT a simultaneous permanent failure of all 3 laptops!!!. (I've also been told my settings are wrong but, again, how can 3 laptops that are NOT connected to each other all simultaneously lose their previously working connections and self-programme themselves with new (wrong) connections? (Clue - they can't!)

As soon as a proper service becomes available here, I'll switch to it. My preference would be for Codetel to go bankrupt, for the employees not to be so any more (anywhere) and for the owner to lose a fortune.

As to price - I could have a high speed DSL service in the UK (that never fails) for a whole year and it would still be cheaper than what I have to pay Codetel monthly! That's what happens when you allow a company a near monopoly! Thank goodness it seems that will change some time next year!
 
Feb 7, 2007
8,005
625
113
You really need to get a Codetel tech check out your line.

Keep opening up trouble tickets and keep asking for a discount based on trouble tickets.

Sooner or later your problems will be resolved.
 

jinty05

Bronze
Feb 11, 2005
925
38
48
Reliability and speed

I am located in Santiago and have used the Codetel Plan Advanced 2 for 2 years without problems. I have an Irish VOIP system installed throughout the property and we never have problems.

Here's this morning's Speedtest results

Last Result:
Download Speed: 1638 kbps (204.8 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 675 kbps (84.4 KB/sec transfer rate)

Maybe Santiago enjoys better service but I really cannot complain except for the pricing which is markedly higher than Europe.

John
 

PICHARDO

One Dominican at a time, please!
May 15, 2003
13,280
893
113
Santiago de Los 30 Caballeros
Here I am in Constanza.

Claro Codetel sucks! There's not much point in my doing a speed test since Codetel can't maintain a connection for long enough to help me download anything in a reasonable time. For example, since I pay for the fastest connection they offer (VIP Flash - but I'm not treated as a VIP and their service doesn't work at a speed that approaches a "flash"), I would stay logged into Yahoo Messenger except that I can't - the connection fails constantly (many times EVERY day), forcing me to log on again, and again, and again, ....

I also have a secure feed (VPN - Virtual Private Network) to my work (I live in Dominicana but my employer is in a different country). It allows me to work remotely and securely on my employers network. Or it would if I could stay connected. But Codetel's "service" (I use the term loosely) is so terrible that I can't stay connected so the VPN disconnects, multiple times a day, EVERY day.

Internet telephony (e.g. Skype) is also awful. I can receive some voice telephony but usually those I'm calling can't receive enough from me to hear what I'm saying clearly.

Of course Codetel charges the full rate, same as in Santo Domingo, for a service that's abysmal and way worse than in Santo Domingo. They've admitted to me that the services they offer are based on service levels delivered to the main towns (Santo Domingo, Santiago) but that elsewhere the service may be worse. they only tell you this after they've taken your money. (Well they are a Dominicana company.)

For an example, I just tried to go to an web page where speed tests are reviewed. It took 90 seconds to load the page. 90 seconds? That's slower than dial-up in most other countries.

By the way, don't expect to get any connection if there's a cyclone passing by (and it needn't be near enough for there to be any wind!!!). Did I mention that ordinary thunder storms interfere with connection? Did I mention that when you call Codetel for help, they'll insist that they have no knowledge of any problems with their network (it's amazing, Codetel is the only company in the world that has no problems with it's network - yeah) and will insist they have to get your help to diagnose your problem. On ALL of the last half dozen calls for help that I made, they always diagnosed that my PC was broken and needed new parts. this was despite the fact that I own 3 laptops, 2 are less than 6 months old (the other is older but perfect) and all went on to work perfectly without any repairs. So presumably the problem was NOT a simultaneous permanent failure of all 3 laptops!!!. (I've also been told my settings are wrong but, again, how can 3 laptops that are NOT connected to each other all simultaneously lose their previously working connections and self-programme themselves with new (wrong) connections? (Clue - they can't!)

As soon as a proper service becomes available here, I'll switch to it. My preference would be for Codetel to go bankrupt, for the employees not to be so any more (anywhere) and for the owner to lose a fortune.

As to price - I could have a high speed DSL service in the UK (that never fails) for a whole year and it would still be cheaper than what I have to pay Codetel monthly! That's what happens when you allow a company a near monopoly! Thank goodness it seems that will change some time next year!

To those who don't know jack about the DR: Constanza is a "campito" in the central area of the country. Just like the many posters here, most foreigners move to remote areas of the country and expect to get the same services offered to people living in major cities...

Puerto Plata, Juan Dolio, La Romana, Samana, etc... Are "Campitos" of the country where investment has come up with many new residential developments far before basic services have reached the complete areas in question. As of today, many big cities of the DR have yet to reach full basic services in all areas, let alone service priority to these "Campitos".

In Santiago and Santo Domingo (the two main cities) telecommunication services are very reliable and speeds offered in the same speed if not better to international residential services in other cities around the world.

The area you opt to settle in the DR will dictate what kind of services you'll be able to enjoy. The further from the two aforementioned cities, the less likely good reliable services you'll enjoy. However, with this being said, the DR is fast becoming wired unlike the majority of countries in our hemisphere. The services to "campitos" may not meet the speed you are looking for, but services will be available in remote areas to your surprise!

The same holds truth for the cell phone services...
 
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BradM

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Sep 6, 2007
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Puerto Plata, Juan Dolio, La Romana, Samana, etc... Are "Campitos" of the country where investment has come up with many new residential developments far before basic services have reached the complete areas in question. As of today, many big cities of the DR have yet to reach full basic services in all areas, let alone service priority to these "Campitos".

I can't comment about all the areas you quote here, but on the North Coast, Puerto Plata, Sosua, Cabarete, the service seems comparable to what people are reporting in Santo Domingo and Santiago. I have Advanced Plan 2 and with the phone line, taxes, etc, costs about RD$4200/month, US$130/month for 1.5Mb down/768Kb up, which by North American standards is an extremely high price, and most of the time I do get the advertised speed. When the weather is bad, and most people are inside using their computers, expecially during the day, there is a noticable lag on the link between the DR and Miami, which is Codetel's link off the island. The weather is nice today, and it's 10:15am, and here's what I'm getting at the moment:

324837105.png
 
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Florida Cracker

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Sep 6, 2008
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Thanks for the info

thanks for all of your input. So it seems I will need to stick pretty close to more developed areas in order to have the reliability I need. We are excited to visit in the spring for the first time and are looking forward to exploring the dr.