Hello all

we are renting a finca 5km from the coast in L'Ampolla and don't have a landline. Does anybody know about WIFI or 3G access from Vodafone or Movistar? is it working?

What about satellite internet access? Anybody have any experience with that and can you recommend someone to install this at what cost?

Kind regards
Sabine

Hello
I too live 5km from Ampolla in the campo!  and had comms problems before settling on a British satellite system.  Fast ....466 kbps but expensive hardware to buy and monthly subscription.  Have you had the chance to check the speed of your 3G card?   Is it the advertised speed? I'd be interested to know.   If you go to   www.adslguide.org.uk/tools/speedtest.asp      you can do a free test; very useful.
Bi.

I'm always very wary of these advertised speeds - who is out there to check on them and enforce bad practices?   I researched 5 or 6 satellite providers all of which said they covered Spain and advertised in English.  The worst case was a German chap in Malaga saying he could move the world for an absurdly low price. On the other end of the scale was a provider supplying global corporates and t.v. correspondents.   In between were those that interested me.   Every one had a different tarrif structure, a different max allowable monthly upload and download, a different bandwidth and speed.   The amount I pay is probably not too relevant as I'm sure they've changed tarrifs to suit competion but you may want to check out    www.avonline.co.uk     amongst others.     Quoted rates may be about £1000 plus installation  fees ( my English engineer is based in Valencia and wanted to charged £400) but expect also to negotiate the installation fee to be absorbed into the purchase price!!!   The monthly rate may be £100 + vat.    On the other hand we have never had a moment's downtime except when the 240v has failed.  Never.   We are delighted with the regular, constant and reliable speed; Skype works fine - some latency for sure - sometimes better than others but we don't use it for serious business stuff; just family n friends.   We can download updates etc in seconds, which of course ensures we do so.  I'd recommend it if you can justify the expense.

Colin.    (colin@valcol.com)

There is every chance of a Telefonica "land-line".  The issue is this phrase.   You will never get copper wire to your finca if you're in the campo but you should expect Telefonica to supply you with an alternative - viz, what I call a radio phone ( because it isn't a cell phone but it has a SIM card) and works where there isn't a cell signal.   Dial 1004 from a mobile.  I haven't got all the options here to hand but you should be able to get to an English speaking desk and ask for a phone.  They'll say you are rediculous expecting them to install a radio phone when you do not have a street number or an address  but you say that as they can't supply a copper wire you demand an alternative.  It took us three years but we now have a 977 number in the campo.......we still buy Mundo cards from the Tobac ( 250 minutes of international calls for 6 euros!!) and we still use satellite for cruising the Internet.   Keep at it and you will win; they will try to tell you it is impossible but it isn't.  If you know a Spanish speaker then use them, bribe them, kidnap them.....you can get a phone.  good luck.

This was covered some time ago in the thread Connected at last!

As long as you can see mont caro, you can have a satellite dish put on your house for free and get both broadband internet and a telephone line. It is free installation, with different pricing options for different speeds. They usually install within a week.

Hi Sabine,

Have sent you a private message.

Jools

Just click on the  PM icon under your thread and go from there.

If you can see Mt. Caro aerials then you should be able to get an Avinet connection via microwave. You have the option of internet only or internet plus phone.  The internet connection comes in various speeds from 256K (not guaranteed speed) upwards - the more you pay the more (in theory) you get.

The cost for the most basic is 29€ per month. Not sure of all the other costs - it was 10€ a month for the phone + calls but that may have gone up.

If you go to the Telefonica shop at the end of Tortosa (near the Millenium bridge) then they will sort you out with a contract etc. but they don't speak English!

Nigel