Far off in sunlit places, Sad are the Scottish faces, Yearning to feel the Kiss Of sweet Scottish rain"
Posted
Can anyone recommend an internet provider for when we get across. Bear in mind any technical speak will go straight over my head :lo: , and all I want is to surf and send emails . . .
:ks:
Glory, glory to the hibees . . .
Posts: 217 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 19 April 2002
Do you have internet now? If so, what sort of internet service do you have? Is it just regular dial up (as in a phone line) or do you have internet that goes through your cable tv system?
Maybe this will help: Is your service now very slow? If you work now do you have access to the internet at work? Usually, the service at companies is very fast. Would you like fast service like you have at work?
Answering the above questions can help us determine what kind of service you are used to and what you might expect when you get to Spain.
The next step, recommending and ISP, I will leave to those already in Spain. I am not familiar with who provides what and what everyone thinks of each provider.
Oh God, Modigy - I've already got a headache from this!
We don't have internet at home at the moment, so I'm used to a fast service at work or in cafes. I'm going to need the net for work (and mm ), so will need a fast service in Spain. Oh, and it'll probably just be a dial-up as we won't have cable (another headache for later). Price - I have no idea!
Thanks!
:ks:
Glory, glory to the hibees . . .
Posts: 217 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 19 April 2002
As soon as you get to Madrid, order �dial-up� (this is when you hear the computer dialling - I often find myself humming along at the same time :lo: ) from one of the many ISPs available. Provided you have a modem (you will) this can be activated in a matter of hours allowing you a bit of respite from lugging sofas etc. around the place.
You have the pay-as-you-go option (which is usually the cost of a local call) or �evening and weekend package� (for a set fee - usually around 16-20 euros). The real benefit in your situation (newbie) is that it can be cancelled at any time. Dial-up is much slower than what you are used to but it will suffice in order to send emails home and post on mm
Once you are settled in order ADSL. In less geeky terms it is broadband. 24 hour a day fast connection that allows you to use the phone at the same time as the internet. This is the service you use at work and in internet caf�s at the moment. It�s fast and efficient and available at any time of the day. Prices range from 20 - 40 euros depending on the ISP. As always word of mouth is best when deciding which company to give your hard-earned euros to. Be aware that most companies (if not all) tie you into a 12-month contract which is very difficult to break even if the service is below par. Hmm.....better stop as I�m sounding like a geek myself
By the way Elizabeth, is your husband leaving you to do ALL the dirty work??
soooooze
Posts: 124 | Location: Sussex | Registered: 07 October 2004
I would recommend ADSL/Broadband over Dial-up. Dial-Up is very slow and can be expensive depending on your usage, whereas with ADSL you get a fast connection and pay just one monthly fee for unlimited connection.
Probably the best deal going in Madrid at the moment is with Wanadoo Internet, www.wanadoo.es they are doing ADSL with free National and local telephone calls for only 39 Euros a month plus IVA (VAT at 16%) that includes the ADSL Modem that you need to connect to their network.
You will need a Telephone line first though from Telefonica (Spain's BT, [URL=http://www.telefonica.net)]www.telefonica.net)[/URL] it will cost you around 80 Euros for installation without a telephone handset and normally takes around 2 days for installation (presuming your apartment has had a Telefonica line installed before)
Other ISP options for ADSL are of course Telefonica who do a package with 25 TV Channels for around 55 Euros a month, (no free calls though) and also Ya Internet www.ya.com and Tiscali www.tiscali.es. Although as I said earlier your best bet for value is probably Wanadoo.
One last things, from your computer specs I see your computer is an Apple Macintosh, you will need to tell them this when ordering your Internet connection as you will need to make sure you get a modem compatible with Apple delivered, if you don't tell them, they will presume you have one of those dreadful Windows machines!!!
Hope this helps and good luck with the move. :cheers:
P.S. ADSL line will probably take about 3 weeks to be activated (welcome to Spain!!)
I spend most of my money on beer and women, the rest I just waste.
We have used both Wanadoo and gonutsforfeee ( http://www.gonuts4free.com/ ) dial up service gonuts was good and all you have to do is pay for the phone call so it will get you started ASAP! As posted elsewhere we tried to use Wanadoo ASDL service and found out that their service sticks. You will find out that everyone will speak English until you have a problem! Our recommendation is Telephonica as there is always someone who will speak English.
Elizabeth, i think since you are interested in cable (or digital) tv as well, the new telef�nica package (called "imagenio") HERE would be good for you to look into.
But I had Wanadoo Internet ADSL in my last apartment here and had no problems with the service, I guess some people have just had some bad experiences.
I spend most of my money on beer and women, the rest I just waste.
Elizabeth You can view ITV via Astra 2 satellite. You may need a set top box from the U.K. and you may need an address in the U.K. for the yearly subscription. I know it is late but maybe you should call round to a GOOD (and I do not mean Dixons!!!) Satellite TV shop. Once over here you can get a local installer to sell you a dish and set it up for your receiver. We did just that to receive Dutch TV here in North Spain. We pay a small amount each year for a card the shop where we went to for installation was very knowledgeable (well to be honest the first one was c### so this shop was our second choice). Next year if we have some money to spend then we will get another dish set up for Astra 2 as well. Here is a link with all the information about British TV via satellite. The page is quite long so I would suggest you print it off and take it to the shop in Edinburgh. http://www.kingofsat.net/en/findlist2.php?&pos=*&standard=All&ordre=nom_ch&filtre=no&code_pays=eng&num_pays=3&num_genre=*&num_crypt=*&num_standard=*
), so will need a fast service in Spain. Oh, and it'll probably just be a dial-up as we won't have cable (another headache for later). Price - I have no idea! 
- 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 
