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@aklokow hi, yes using Starlink. I'm actually glad to read your comments. I gave up on the Fiber connection a while ago for the same problems you mentioned. I've been using Starlink since they started their promo and after I got an unobstructed view of the sky I get about 150 down and about 20 up. It has reached 250 down and goes as low as 80 down but signal is consistently there. I did purchase an additional mount from them and that took longer to get than the original kit.

I did a video too about what you need to know BEFORE buying Starlink.

But in short:

Starlink is ONLY usable with a valid credit card here, no Paypal Gcash or other payments are possible.

2700 is the location-based rate, if you live in the province and have no real address better use the "mobile" option which is location-independent but costs 600php more.

Starlink is Wi-Fi only, if you need Ethernet you must buy the adapter separately - or wait weeks for it to get delivered. Its 3200php extra.

@sandArmando

Thanks for the feedback, I am making my own mount as you mentaiomed the mount they have give is a bit of a challenge and the 15 meter cable, I will have to see if I can pull it throught the old internet conduit, I do not want to lay another cable as it just gets all messy. I like to hide wires and connections.

Today i just checked my mounting spot. on the rooftop, seems fine got a good signal and I did a speed test but the reults wre poor to be honest, i got up at 52 Mbps and down at 48 MBps, maybe just because I just connected and the installation was not fixed yet.

Will see after tomorrow if it improves, hope so

Regards

Andre

@GoetzPhil

Hi thanks for the input, I paid the purchase with my debit card and not credit card as I do not have a credit card and do not want one. The other option to pay will be Maya.

The mothly subscription is PHP 3300 now which is 300 more than my current internet. Lets hope it was a wise choice to switch.

I got PLDT to put in a NAP box 100 feet away out here in the province finally. Paying 1700p per month and constantly have 420mbps up and down with a ping of 5. I'm happy. If we get a power outage oh well. I'll survive a few hours without internet.

I'm a Elon hater. Yet I've driven a Tesla for a few days and liked it. The B.S. sales pitch from Elon about starlink is just that, B.S. He doesn't give a shit about providing broadband for the poor underserved. Why would he charge more than cable internet if he did? For a lessor service than cable internet to boot! lol

Sorry, I'm pretty opinionated around him and his endeavor(s).

I suppose internet depends on your location. Here we have great signal from both globe and Smart, for years we had globe at home but eventually got sick of their drop outs and went to PLDT/Smart at home, initially it was 999 per month but over a year or so has risen to 1,300 from memory and unlimited. Our speed is generally 40/50 down and only 5/7 up. Point is we stream youtube and netflix and never a buffer and on the laptop/phones the same, the speed is adequate for us as well as the workers logged in, yes they get free internet.

No cables.

Cheers, Steve.

There were some guys working on a pole out front so I asked them what's up and they said they were installing fiber optic internet. I told them to hook me up, which they did, for a P4,500 installation fee. It was not fast and was frequently down. I found out the source was PLDT just like my smart SIM card internet. They were buying internet from Smart, slowing it down, and  reselling at a higher price. I thought it would be nice to have when Smart is down but when Smart was down so was VMA Internet. I told them to refund the P4,500 installation cost and take their modem, which they did. I get 40 to 50 just like Steve on my SIM card internet but the fiber was only 10 max.

The problem with PLDT, Globe, Converge and Smart is NOT the connection when you have it. Usually, they work and deliver the 200Mbit you pay for.

Unfortunately, there are rare occurrences where the connection is just NOT there ...

And then the fun in the Philippines part begins....

It usually goes like this.

Your internet is down ... You should call a hotline which s a bot at first - it needs time to get an agent to register a ticket for you.

Now you have a ticket but still no internet.

The next day you have a ticket but still no internet - and you call the hotline and they tell you "There is an ongoing issue in your area, please be patient".

In case you didn't have enough Fun in the Philippines by now they now just close your ticket - as there is this outage that includes your ticket.

Now the next day - you don't have a ticket and still no internet.

And the hotline only repeats "There's an ongoing issue in your area, please be patient".

But now they refuse to open a ticket for you because "There's an ongoing issue in your area, please be patient".

For how many days do you think that will now go on you ask

I did that with Globe, and after 12 days I wrote an email to them cancelling my contract immediately for break of SLA on their end and got converge installed instead.

2 days later when the Converge guys just installed the line the Globe team showed up to tell my line was now fixed - LOL I sent them back home.

1 year after that same happened with Converge, After 12 days I dumped their hardware in their Banilad branch here in Cebu and cancelled the contract for breach of SLA.

Now I have Globe again and already short outages of some hours and up to 2 days.

PLDT, Globe, Converge and Smart are just too unreliable!

Starlink will be my backup so I can still work and earn money because THAT is important!

@aklokow

Would like to know how well the internet works? Do you have more range, wifi calling?

Regards

Keith

@GoetzPhil

Can you clarify, so a western Credit Card will not give you the same price?  It needs to be a Philippines Credit Card?  Well that sucks as credit cards run on the Visa, MC, etc systems that are international so I did not see a reason to get new card here.

Thanks for anything you can clarify.

What do others use for Security Camera Systems, hardwired, or wireless?  I ask in regards to your comments about Starlink only having wifi and not Ethernet...

Thanks

Donald

@AlbertaDonuts

You can buy an optional ethernet adapter if you prefer to have it wired instead of wifi.

What do others use for Security Camera Systems, hardwired, or wireless? I ask in regards to your comments about Starlink only having wifi and not Ethernet...ThanksDonald - @AlbertaDonuts

On Surveillance Camera Systems, I purchased Swann in the US and shipped it over to the Phillipines. All the Surveillance Camera installers I talked with in the Philippines are selling Dahua brand. At this time, I am not comfortable using Dahua over a well-known US brand. I am beginning to realize the money I paid to the installers could have purchased the entire equipment, installation and more. The people still have a get-rich-quick mentality. I am a fan of hardwired connections for its speed and integrity. WiFi signals can be sniffed or received by people nearby.

@Jackson4

Thanks, your concerns regarding wifi being sniffed, that is one I share.  I think you just made my decision.  My one concern with hard wire is how long wires last in this environment, and or if someone cuts them vs integrity with wifi?

I could put a camera in my bedroom and bathroom... seeing me naked could burn the eyes and melt the brain of anyone spying my wifi.  I don't even look in the mirror anymore, too painful.

Cheers,

I love my PLDT out here in the province. And as a backup I have globe from the local reseller guy. The globe line is throttled to 50-60Mbs. But our PLDT line is 600Mbs up and down. We bought 5 Hi-Def Tapo surveillance cameras that go to the cloud on 30 day hold unless saved and I can monitor from my cell phone. They are also voice activated so we hear everything and if I want I can speak through my phone and hear it come out at the cam I'm talking too. My PLDT/SMART home costs about 2k php per month.

YMMV (PLDT)

Several years back I had PLDT, then one morning everything went down. Repeated phone calls and FB's Messenger either unanswered or promises broken about fixing the problem.This went on for three weeks of no service.

Finally I called Sky and switched. Ironically both PLDT & Sky both showed up at the same time.

Well just recently I had problems with my Sky box and router. They replace the Sky box and gave me some Mumbo Jumbo having to contact the office about replacing the router and there there will be a charge.

But wait

They informed me for P500 each (two service people) they just happen to have a router available.

@Kampkos104

Hi Keith, yes we do wifi calling via WA or Zoom, working great, Netflix is great also even when about 10 devices are connected and using the internet. I am very happy with the performance.

@Larry Fisher

What area in Providence are you ? My location Dumanjug

I've never been to Providence. But I'm on the other side of the island from you.

@Kampkos104 Hi Keith, yes we do wifi calling via WA or Zoom, working great, Netflix is great also even when about 10 devices are connected and using the internet. I am very happy with the performance.e pick - @aklokow

Not to be picky but accuracy is important since tech affects us all:

WIFI calling does not go over ZOOM (not sure what "WA" is).

Instead, WIFI calling uses the internet instead of cell towers to complete your call over the PSTN for the first or last mile to your phone.

ZOOM takes your call and video 100% over the internet. No PSTN cell network involved.

This is important because  I expect many expats in the Phils do not even know they have the capability which is important in the provinces where cell signals may be weak, non-existent or down but you do have access to WIFI. With android 14 phones, you can select WIFI calling under "Settings". In those cases, make sure WIFI calling is enabled on your phone so you can bypass the cell tower and get a perfectly clear signal over WIFI.

In some cases, with some providers, I understand international calls are free over WIFI. I have not experimented that with Globe yet. There are hacks I have heard of to just stay in airplane mode to force WIFI calling for all calls to/from the USA for 2FA etc. but I do not do that myself.

Sorry but I just want to clarify 1. that WIFI is not ZOOM or any other VOIP; it is completely different and 2. now that you mention it, some expats could probably benefit greatly if they read up on it and use  WIFI calling.