My internet problems never seems to die down. After switching n number of service provider, I recently tried with BSNL. Every thing worked great for first two months. Things started to go hey-wire from May.

First the phone connection is dead for 18 odd days and then the internet is dead for another 7 days. So in the entire month of May I could use hardly 4 to 5 days of my internet but still had to pay the full amount.

Come June, I used my internet for the first 5 days and after that the phone line again goes dead. In spite of repeated complaints and even visiting BSNL office there had been no proper response from them, my phone line is still dead. Its already 21st today and will have to pay one more month full bill with out using it.

Ok, enough of it. I don't need this any more. Out goes BSNL, Hell with it. In comes Tata Indicom Photon +.

It cost me 3500/- Rs for the USB modem. I have opted for 750 /- Rs per month plan where I can use 120 HR in a month. The speed claimed according to Tata is UPTO 3.1 Mbps but what I have seen is it usually varies between 1.1 to 2.4 Mbps and that's good enough for me.

I don't know for how long this one will work now!!!!!!

If you are reading all my post than you should be knowing that I had applied for a BSNL phone and data connection some time last year. After running around piller to post I finally got my Phone connection in Dec. Again after running a few more piller to post I got my Data connection for internet in January.

So far the service and speed has been great. I reach up to 340 kbps download speed during morning hours (That's a speed of 2.7 MBPS). Its almost 2 months since I got my connection but still I have not received my bill. So I decided to run again (piller to post). Yesterday I went to BSNL office in Jeevan Bhima Nagar. I directly went to the section were we get Duplicate Bills. One old guy was sitting in front of the system...

Old Guy: Your Phone Number
Me: xxxxxxxx

Old Guy: You are Sandeep Ramareddy ?
Me: Yes sir, that's me (He then give me a starring look)

Old Guy: Your Bill is still not generated. It will be done on 14th. Seems like you have been using the phone a lot. Its a huge amount already !!!!!

Me: (Stunned) How much is it, I have hardly made 5 -6 calls since I got my connection (I use it only for my Internet purpose. Internet usage is unlimited during night 2-8 am)

Old Guy: Its 42,000 (Forty Two Thousand INR only) (~840$)
Me: (Shocked!!!!!) What!!! that's not possible. Its a new connection and I have hardly used it.

He then realizes that they must be some mistake. He asked to visit some people at the 3rd floor in the same building and get it clarified.

Me still shocked ran to third floor. There again I went to reception, repeated the whole story once again. This person again checked for the details and took a print out. The bill showed that I have used a excess of 40 GB of Data transfer and hence the huge bill.

I was still trying to explain him that its not possible since I use the internet only at night time and online usage shows that I have exceeded only 200 MB. He then referred to some other section in the same floor called the customer service people.

"Now do you get what i mean running piller to post in Govt Offices in India" Anyways....

I enter the customer service section. I see one lady busy looking at some files.

Me: Mam
She: Yes (still looking at those huge bundle of files on her table)

Me: Mam, I got a new connection in Dec, Bill says its 42,0000/-, how is it possible.
She: Which plan ?

Me: Home Combo 500 C+.
She: (Gets up from her chair) O one more complaint against the combo plan. These billing people will make one or the other mistakes (Me now relieved a bit, Smile is back on my face). We have already received 200 or more complaints about billing in combo plans. They have not taken in to consideration on free usage at night and hence the huge bill. Don't worry it will be corrected in a day or two. Please leave your contact number and go.

Me back to office.

Finally got my BSNL Internet connection up and running at home today. The installation guy was supposed to come home on Saturday. I waited at home for the whole day but he never turned up (Uff, Government Employees, Had been a private service provider I would have shouted at them left and right)

Any ways today I went to their office to get an update. The guy asked my BSNL phone number then took out the ADSL modem and handed it over to me. He asked me to connect and configure it myself looking at some diagram that's given inside. (I was surprised at first, but then thought Big Deal)

Came home with the modem. Took out all the contents of the box. It was nothing more than connecting few wires (Who needs a diagram to do that). Then connected my Wi-Fi to the BSNL modem and vala there it is.

The speed was good, though I still need to measure it. It's been almost a month since I am with out internet connection at home.

Did I tell you guys my previous Tata Indicom Wi-MAX antenna was stolen. If not then just an update.

All my pending downloads will now start again...

After lots of Discussion with friends and Colleagues, I finally went and applied for a BSNL Internet Connection.

I was initially confused with the type of Modem that I should buy. After an chat with sudhi_11in in the morning regarding the same I finally decided to buy the modem rather than rent it from BSNL.

I went to their office around 10:00 AM. I asked for the application form for new broadband connection. The lady at the counter asked me if I already had a BSNL Phone line. I do not have BSNL phone at home; We use Tata Indicom.

She informed me that I need to apply for the Phone connection first and only then the Broadband will be given. She gave me two forms to fill up. One was for the phone connection and the other for Broadband connection.

I paid a registration fee of 500/- Rs. Please note you need to carry the original documents that you are producing as Identity proof and Address Proof for verification.

I opted for Home 500 C Plus plan. My Monthly rental would be 600 Rs and I am allowed to download up to 2.5 GB a month and also in this plan I need not pay any monthly rental for Phone Line. It also come with Night (2 AM to 8 AM) unlimited download. All I have to do is set the timings in my Internet Download manager and go to sleep. Rest the software will take care as to when to start and when to stop the download.

I had left the type of Modem that I wanted to purchase blank since I did not understand what each type meant. The same lady at the counter told:
Type I - Single user Modem Cost: 1200/-
Type II - Single user Modem with Wi-Fi, (No idea what that means) Cost: 1800/-
Type III - Multi User Modem Cost: 1200/-
Type IV - Multi User Modem with Wi-Fi Cost: 1800/-

Since I already have a Wi-Fi router at home i opted to buy the Type III modem. I will now have to wait for 15 to 20 days before everything is up and running at my place.

This is a question for all BSNL Broadband users.

I want to apply for the Broadband connection offered by BSNL. But I am not able to decide which modem to choose.

1) Should I buy my own modem or take the one provided by BSNL?

2) If I decide to buy my own modem then which modem is a better one (Company and model number would be helpful), how do I configure the modem that I own. Will the installation guys come and configure it?

3) If I take the modem from BSNL, should I opt for rental or out right purchase?

4) Which type of modem should I take, if I am opting to take the modem from BSNL:
Type - I
Type - II
Type - III
Type - IV
Whats the difference between them all ?

Suggestions like don't go for BSNL connection is not valid, since BSNL is the last option I have got. I have tried every other connection and every thing sucks, especially Wi-MAX.

My internet connection at home is down again, I am cut off from the net from almost 15 days. I use Tata Indicom broadband connection. Its not working from 6th of this month.

I have already raised a complaint and have been calling their call center every single day, but I get to hear the same old story every single day. Worst is that Tata Indicom Broadband does not have any Toll Free Number. Every single call to their call center costs me. They are also not ready to re-fund my money or extend the validity of my connection.

Feed up with this phone calls i decided to move on to another service provider - 'AIRTEL'.

But unfortunately even here luck is not on my side. The Airtel guys say that they do not have any more free ports. So no airtel connection also.

I do not want to go for Wi-Max connection. I feel its the worst think to go for. Never heard a single person saying that Wi-Max works the way it is supposed to work.

I do not understand even after digging and laying cable on every single road possible in Bangalore still they are not able to provide a decent internet connection.

Airtel Broadband launches 8Mbps Internet Broadband Connection But its *&(*%^&$ Expensive

I tested my Broadband speed both at office and at home using an application that i found on FaceBook:

http://apps.facebook.com/speedchallenge/

Here are the results:

While the speed at office was a mediocre 289kbps i recorded a good speed at home, 2129kbps.

By the way i am using Tata Indicom Broadband connection at home.

Attempt	Location	Time	Speed
#2	Home	13 November 2007 06:26	2,129kbps
#1	Work	12 November 2007 17:01	289kbps

I have disconnected my post paid connection of Tata Indicom broadband and got a new prepaid connection from Tata Indicom only.

For switching from prepaid to postpaid or visa-vera, you need to cancel the old connection and then re-apply again. Any ways this time i got a better looking modem than the old one...

My new plan is called "Quick Surf 360". Its a 2 Mbps speed (actually up to 2 Mbps). Validity 6 months or 360 Hours, which ever is earlier.

As a Top up you can add the Night Unlimited Plan, where you are charged 99 per month and you can surf all night (9 PM to 9 AM) unlimited. This feature was the whole reason that i switch from post paid to prepaid.

Speed is beautiful... Today morning i was able to download at 250 kbps speed (That's the download speed i got)

Finally i got my 1 Mbps Internet connection from today.

Ironically, when i joined the company almost 3 years ago, my whole company ran under a 1 Mbps line on a shared mode.

Tata Indicom Broadband is the only player i guess who is offering a 1 Mbps Unlimited Download option, and i am happy about it.