BAYANTEL ...

After ranting about PLDT's insanely lousy service (BTW, that's not the end of that since they called me up on Thursday and informed me that somehow, like a miracle, there are 2 ports available for us!!! more on that next time), I am now half ranting/half raving about BAYANTEL (now called Bayan Telecommunications -- they're emphasizing BAYAN for some reason). It's like this, for the past few days my DSL connection at home which is connected to a well secured wifi router keeps on disconnecting every so often. I spent most of my Saturday troubleshooting my connection figuring it might be on my end since nobody else is complaining of the same situation (not in PinoyDSL and not in BNCXE). I started by checking my router settings. I reset it to the factory default settings and then reconfigured it and also ensured that it's secure. Still the same problem. I even made sure that it's not due to overheating since we never turn it off. Connected my laptop directly to the modem and set my PPoE log-in. I observed again... and still the same thing! I then thought it might be the physical wiring, there might be a grounded wire somewhere that's affecting my connection. Checked everything from the outdoor box to the box where my modem is hooked to and everything was fine. Made up a DIY phoneline tester and made sure the line were clean. I also made sure that the filters were working. All was good but still i get disconnected every hour or so... (I can't bot my chars and the experience was x3 for the week!!!) Frustrated, I called up 4112000 and sought "professional" help... I first talked to a TS named Mitch and she asked me all the basic questions for DSL trobolshootin. Are the lights steady? Are you on a network? Is the sky blue? :( I then proceeded to explain to her my problem and my theories and all she could say was "did you check your router?" (seems like when i explained to her my problem she picked up on the fact that i said i connect using a wireless router and she blocked everything else out...) I then asked her if she understood my problem and she said yes. Aside from the disconnections, since I'm already talking with someone for BayanTel DSL, I also informed her that before the upgrade, during non SOD hours (thats Speed On Demand for non subs wherein your DSL speed doubles during off peak when you sign in with @sod after your username), I get 200-250kbps and 500++ kbps during SOD hours. After the upgrade, my non SOD speed increased to 350++ but my SOD speed remained the same. So I asked her if she can check if the limits set on my account were correct. She put me on hold and never came back... I tried checking my connection again and this time I can't log-in totally! Called them up again and talked with a different TS. After giving out my account number and informing her that i was calling back from a disconnected call she then asked me the SAME questions the prev agent asked (are the lights steady?!) Talk about efficiency... She then checked the records on her screen (which she should have done in the first place) and told me that the previous agent reset my account and changed my password... wth?!?! why did nobody call me up and tell me this? she even noted on the log that we got diconnected on the call. After several resets and call backs later i now have a steady connection (keeping my fingers crossed). Somehow the non SOD speed became faster (i was hitting up to 400++ kbps on non-SOD) and the download rate which normally was 15-20KB/s now reaches at least 34KB/s. CHECK MY SCREENIE. I was loading an episode of Bleach from youtube while botting 3 accounts where one is in XKORE mode and also signed in to 2 different messenger programs... wow. they can actually provide me with this speed! hopefully this will last for awhile before i have to call back again... calling up cust service people for local telecoms can really be draining... i have much respect for people who work as agents specially those who really try to put effort in getting customer satisfaction but alas, it seems that we only provide that to foreign accts (i used to work as a TS for MSN Dial-up). Hayz... hopefully my RAVE outlasts my RANT!!!

PLDT Lousy Service

Isn't there any competent ISPs in the Philippines? We used to have 2 DSL services with Bayantel but when one goes down, so does the other so we decided to disconnect one, upgrade the other and then apply a new one with a different ISP...

Since we heard great reviews about PLDTs "stable" connection, we opted to apply for a DSL connection with them.

I went to their SM Branch on Thursday, April 23, 2007. Got a ticket with a queu about 10 persons deep. Waited for 30-45 minutes before being assisted and then got to talk with a rep who was at least accomodating. I informed them that we want to subscribe with their DSL service for businesses and that I have all the necessary documents needed to apply for one. She then checked the papers and proceeded to inform me that for us to get a DSL service from PLDT, we need to get a business line first but I don't have to worry since I have all the necessary docs. I asked if they offer any stand alone DSL service and she answered no. Took her some 30minutes more to process my application. She then informed me that I was lucky since there is currently an availble phone line in our area to be assigned to us and all I needed to do was to pay at their counter the installation fee of P 500.00 to get the ball rolling. I went in line again and there were just 2 persons ahead of me and I thought that this would be quick... but the cashier decided that it was her time to take a break and had to turn over her cash funds to the other cashier. I took this all in stride since I've been to worse having studied in UP prior to computer registration! With receipt in hand I went back to the rep and she informed me to wait a week and if a week passes with no installation done, I should call 171 (with what phone?!) and follow it up.

Come Monday April 23, to my surprise, around 1pm, PLDT Technicians came by and installed the unit in less than 30mins. Signed the necessary papers and everything was set. All I need to do was apply for the DSL. I prepared another set of documents that same day and went to PLDT SM Branch the next (Tuesday). Again I waited for 30-45 minutes until my number flashed on their queu board and was pleasantly greeted by another rep. I informed her about what i wanted and when she checked my area she said that she believes DSL is currently unavailable there. i was like WTF?!?!?! I was then asked to speak with the person in charge for their DSL application only to be informed the same thing. In disgust I told them to terminate the subscription for the phone line since the only reason we got it was for DSL... To even further aggravate the predicament, I was also threatened that if I do have the line disconnected, I should pay them the pre-termination fee worth 3mos subscription. I began berating the agent and demanded that the pre term to be waived and for them to re-imburse the P500 installation fee I paid them. I told them that I won't let this pass. I even asked to speak with the very first rep i talked to when i went there to apply on Thurs. And the other rep kept insisting she was on her break eventhough I can clearly see she was just behind one of their smoked glass doors. They began conferring with each other in the room and when they came out, informed me that they were able to have the pre term waived but not the installation fee with the reasoning that "na-installan naman kayo di ba?" Fed up with all their reasons I asked them to write their names and left....

PLDT SUCKS!!!

The DSL will supposedly be used for VOIP calls, we were planning to get th 3mbps subscription. Can anybody suggest a different ISP at par with this speed and is available for Bgy. Paligsahan. We are along Quezon Avenue. Tnx for taking time to read my RANT! >_< And I thought Bayantel was worse...