Forgive me if this has been covered recently--I did a search, but the secondhand smoke in this internet cafe is affecting my thinking and the sun fried my brain all the way through today....
What�s the deal with DSL in Spain? I heard that the standard setup is really slow and uses USB... I really want an ethernet connection and something faster than 256... Am I going to have to pay a fortune for this?
Terra seems to have a plan called "Terra ADSL A Tu Medida" where you can customize the features. For the device they have the following options:
Elecci�n de dispositivo para tu conexi�n ADSL: � Kit Autoinstalable USB. � Kit Autoinstalable Router � Kit Autoinstalable Inal�mbrico (Incluye M�dem-Router, Tarjeta PCMCIA Inal�mbrica y Adaptador USB Inal�mbrico). � Opci�n L�nea (sin dispositivo)
I think what I would want is the router, but I�m unsure about whether this would be ethernet or USB. Or maybe the wireless option is ethernet... Also, does anyone know what the upload speed is?
Has anyone wrangled with this? Any advice or other companies (DSL or cable= that I should check out?
Thanks,
Megan
P.S. Jer, did the bagels survive the trip and low humidity?
Also, do you sell phone cards for calls to the states? I�ve burned through quite a few already and would rather you get a commission, if you can...
Posts: 1069 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 10 December 2002
Hi there- exactly one month ago I was trying to figure all of this out myself and just did, so some of this is quite fresh in my mind. Let me preface this by saying that I'm no techie, so I'm not up-to-date on technical specifications, USB vs ethernet, etc.
A couple of questions first: 1. Do you have access to a fixed line (necessary for ADSL, if you don't you'll have to get one first) 2. Whether or not you do have access to a fixed line, can you get cable TV from Auna in your flat?
(If you can, you have the option of getting cable broadband, and for high speeds, it seems cheaper than ADSL- for 512 kpbs, ADSL will run you around E 79 and above per month, whereas Auna has a package for a similar price which gives you cable tv, a fixed line (albeit at significantly higher per-minute rates than Telefonica) and 1 mpbs (fast!) unlimited internet access. It looked like a very good deal but it wasn't available in my building. If you want to check whether it's available in yours, log onto www.auna.es, I think there's a link for either their cable TV or "paquetes" and there 'll eventually be a link where you type in your address and it'll tell you whether cable TV and internet are available in your building.
Assuming you still want ADSL, or that's your only option, there are several possibilities. All of them have similar monthly costs (around E 40 per month for 256 kbps, double that for 512, significantly higher for anything faster), but where they differ is the discounts they give you on installation fees ("alta"), the first few months' subscription fees, and equipment costs. Check the following websites for their latest offers, which seem to change from time to time.
I found that the best deal (which I signed up for, comments on their service later) was at ya.com. For 256 kbps, I'll end up paying 39 / month, but only 29/month for the first four months. No up-front fees, no installation fees whatsoever, and my WIRELESS router came for free. (My laptop is wireless-enabled, I don't know what that means in tech-speak but in practical terms this means I didn't need any additional equipment, just the wireless router).
All of the deals I looked at require a minimum one-year contract and a Spanis bank account number from which they'll debit your payments.
Hope this helps. I know there are some gaps here but if you have any other questions, just post them and I'll do my best to reply.
Oh, and on ya.com's service: I'm not jumping up and down, but it's ok. If you're used to cable broadband elsewhere, or to the warp-speed of many internet cafes in Madrid, 256 kbps is a bit slow, and you definitely notice the difference when you use media applications (music, videos, etc) but for e-mails and applications which involve mainly text, it's not bad.
Posts: 132 | Location: Manila | Registered: 28 February 2004
Whatever you do, don't go with Wannadoo. I'm still trying to claim back a quota from over a year ago when the system was down, their fault, yet they insisted I maintain payment otherwise I would go on a 'black-list' etc. etc. Anybody who's in the trade have recommended, wait for it, yes, Telefonica as their service is more trustworthy, state monopoly and all that apart.
Posts: 222 | Location: madrid,spain | Registered: 21 July 2002
Along the line of the last two comments, Telefonica offer better (boy, this is hard to say) customer service. It still is horrible, but it is better none the less. The other companies are slightly more competitive in pricing.
All ADSL in Spain is provided by Telefonica, what the rest of the companies do is resell Telefonica's ADSL service under their own branding. Under the local "FCC" laws Telefonica is obliged to resell for 20% less their service to these companies. There can be a very slight difference between each carrier based on who each of them actually connect to when providing the end internet access, but trust me when I say, you can barely notice any difference, considering all the infrastructure is provided by Telefonica.
I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.
Posts: 652 | Location: Mostly from Miami, FL. - Born in San Remo, Italy | Registered: 30 April 2004
Thanks for all of the responses (and links to previous threads, I searched on DSL instead of ADSL and missed all of that...).
One thing that I still can�t figure out is whether it is possible to get an ethernet connection (as opposed to USB). Will ask my SO�s techy primo who works for Telefonica tonight. From what I can figure out from the terra.es site, it looks like the higher speed connection (512) will run at least $75 a month.
Also, has anyone succeeded in getting cable internet access? Sounds very intriguing from Sunny�s description, but I wonder how reliable it is...
And, Jer, is there a difference between terra and Telefonica? I thought they were the same...
Thanks!
Posts: 1069 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 10 December 2002
For what it�s worth we have Telefonica�s ADSL installed as well. I�m not the tekkie (that�s my hubby) but we do have a LAN set up and run both our computers (well, better to say ALL) off one internet connection and we use a wireless router.
Hubby says that Telefonica is the best one out there once you get past the smoke and mirrors.
Laidback... how�s the car? Oh, and the bun should be coming out soon right??!!
hey Laidback, funny that comment on where have i been
cyn should be aching for pulpo wit ice cream right about now so i think you should both come to our multimadrid gathering at la caserola this thursday.
mariposita, as Laidback said, the ethernet is the router option. in fact, i have that option on both of my connections (each of my routers has 4 RJ45 ports for up to 4 computers) and at home i have 3 PCs on a network.
the USB (crapola) modem is the other option as you found out.
no, terra and telef�nica are not the same. i also used to think they were. they offer separate adsl solutions and are actually 2 separate companies from what i have been told.
My SO�s techie Telefonica primo confirmed the bit about the "router" option being ethernet. He also said that the upload rate is 128 Kbps, except on the top plan in which the download rate is 2MBs and the upload is 300Kbps.
Jer, have you noticed much difference in price or service between Terra and Telefonica?
Posts: 1069 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 10 December 2002
hey mariposita, glad you are getting it worked out.
no, i have not noticed any diff. between my 2 adsl connections except for the first one i put in years ago was terra at my apt. and they gave me a dope 3com router for free when i signed up. the basic adsl has been more than sufficient ffor my needs.
i put the telef�nica one in the office about a year ago and had to pay 90� for a (far inferior) router.
you see, they all offer the USB modem for free but charge for the router these days unless they have a special promo going on.
back in the day when adsl was newish, they used to give away the routers (and the better ones to boot) to get people to sign up for adsl.
- rent or buy a cell phone from me for your stay in spain, more info at 
- already have a cell phone, get a spanish SIM card for it at 
