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[QUOTE=WestCoast1;1942236]I'm not having any trouble. However, others have PM'd me saying they cannot access the thread. Am now wondering what that lock means on the icon.[/QUOTE]I think the lock is to stop people posting on it. It is purely a link to the collective Cebu threads. The lock appears against the connection to the late DragonSlayers thread as well.
[QUOTE=WestCoast1;1942236]I'm not having any trouble. However, others have PM'd me saying they cannot access the thread. Am now wondering what that lock means on the icon.[/QUOTE]Westy, I can read & post there. The lock used to mean 'read only' or in other words, one can read but not post. This was a form of archiving old posts. I'm guessing it's a software glitch or admin cock-up. Who runs this board now I wonder?
[QUOTE=WestCoast1;1942236]I'm not having any trouble. However, others have PM'd me saying they cannot access the thread. Am now wondering what that lock means on the icon.[/QUOTE]Working good from my end as always!
Hello,
Due to my work situation it is possible for me to conduct business from outside my home country. I was thinking that Philippines would be a good destination for maybe 4+ weeks or so. What I need to work from my laptop is a reliable internet connection (4 Mbps or better) and reliable international phone service as a backup.
Any ideas on whether / how I can find good internet for 4 weeks? For example airbnb is easy to book with but I am skeptical of internet service.
Which city would be best? Boracay sounds amazing but I wonder if the internet will be good there. Manila is OK but I do not like crowded cities much. I guess I could survive in Makati.
Cost is not really a consideration. Reliability of internet is the main consideration here. Any thoughts / suggestions would be appreciated.
[QUOTE=MSClive;1942873]
Cost is not really a consideration. Reliability of internet is the main consideration here. Any thoughts / suggestions would be appreciated.[/QUOTE]I completely understand your situation. I've taken this approach: First, book in a place with good reviews about internet service. Second, bring or buy a phone (preferably with dual sim cards for Globe and Smart) that can generate a wifi hotspot. Third, both Globe and Smart offer wifi modems (via cellular signals) with prepaid load. With that kind of redundancy I've never been completely cut off, although at times the bandwidth suffers. A more clever person than I can combine bandwidth from multiple connections.
FWIW In Makati I've had best internet success at the Berjaya Hotel and the Gramercy condos nearby. Besides there, I've had the most solid connections in Alabang. YMMV.
[QUOTE=MSClive;1942873]
Cost is not really a consideration. Reliability of internet is the main consideration here. Any thoughts / suggestions would be appreciated.[/QUOTE]If you are concerned about reliability I would get an open (able to support either Smart or Globe) pocket wifi LTE capable device that has the capability for 2 external antennas (ie Huawei E5577). Then I would connect it to a high gain wide-band MIMO antenna such as an Winaerial2 from Wireng. This antenna is not cheap, but I have had very good results with it in the Philippines both at a fixed location and from hotels. The antenna has 4 suction cups so that you can mount it on a window. The antenna measures 7 x 8 x 2. 5 inches and weighs 1. 5 lbs.
I always make sure the WiFi repeater is in front of my room or with in 6 feet. First thing I do when I check in the room is to see where the repeater is and then check the connection for strong signal behind the closed door. That is about the best you will get in the room. Some hotels have stronger WiFi in the common area like the lobby or restaurant.
[QUOTE=MSClive;1942873]Hello,
Due to my work situation it is possible for me to conduct business from outside my home country. I was thinking that Philippines would be a good destination for maybe 4+ weeks or so. What I need to work from my laptop is a reliable internet connection (4 Mbps or better) and reliable international phone service as a backup.
Any ideas on whether / how I can find good internet for 4 weeks? For example airbnb is easy to book with but I am skeptical of internet service.
Which city would be best? Boracay sounds amazing but I wonder if the internet will be good there. Manila is OK but I do not like crowded cities much. I guess I could survive in Makati.
Cost is not really a consideration. Reliability of internet is the main consideration here. Any thoughts / suggestions would be appreciated.[/QUOTE]The Wifi at the Fairmont is the fastest I've found in Manila, and is consistently between 25-30 Mbps. I've not seen anything higher in hotels. If you want to pay a slight premium and stay on the Fairmont Gold floor, it's got its own server and offers slightly faster service than the rest of the hotel.
GE.
[QUOTE=Paul2020;1942900]If you are concerned about reliability I would get an open (able to support either Smart or Globe) pocket wifi LTE capable device that has the capability for 2 external antennas (ie Huawei E5577). Then I would connect it to a high gain wide-band MIMO antenna such as an Winaerial2 from Wireng. This antenna is not cheap, but I have had very good results with it in the Philippines both at a fixed location and from hotels. The antenna has 4 suction cups so that you can mount it on a window. The antenna measures 7 x 8 x 2. 5 inches and weighs 1. 5 lbs.[/QUOTE]100% agree Paul. This + VPN = conduct work / business / play SAFELY.
Hotel WiFi is *insecure*.
I've stood out in the hallway and pointed my computer at the wifi. It usually doesn't help. Agree with 787, go to the lobby or the restaurant and your prayers might be answered.
[QUOTE=Dg8787;1942903]I always make sure the WiFi repeater is in front of my room or with in 6 feet. First thing I do when I check in the room is to see where the repeater is and then check the connection for strong signal behind the closed door. That is about the best you will get in the room. Some hotels have stronger WiFi in the common area like the lobby or restaurant.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=MSClive;1942873]Hello,
Due to my work situation it is possible for me to conduct business from outside my home country. I was thinking that Philippines would be a good destination for maybe 4+ weeks or so. What I need to work from my laptop is a reliable internet connection (4 Mbps or better) and reliable international phone service as a backup.
Any ideas on whether / how I can find good internet for 4 weeks? For example airbnb is easy to book with but I am skeptical of internet service.
Which city would be best? Boracay sounds amazing but I wonder if the internet will be good there. Manila is OK but I do not like crowded cities much. I guess I could survive in Makati.
Cost is not really a consideration. Reliability of internet is the main consideration here. Any thoughts / suggestions would be appreciated.[/QUOTE]AirBnb: both apartments I've rented have had 4 meg down, 1 meg up kind of internet speeds included as part of the cable TV package. Not 100% reliable but occasional drop-outs of a couple of minutes at most. Did seem susceptible to peak time throttling (or just overdemand). Apartments were in Pasay (Mall of Asia) and BGC. Probably if you ask an AirBnB host what speeds they have, they won't know, but try asking whether it's bundled with the TV package and what that is so you can look it up.
I recently took advantage of my mobile phone carrier's "free unlimited 2G roaming" package. Apart from the complete clusterfuck of a setup, and subsequent denial they even offered such a service (transcripts soon sorted that one), and fixing of my non-free international roaming data access charges, the phone was about as much use as a chocolate teapot in Manila. I subsequently went to another country roaming and 2G was fine so I'm not sure where the problem lay. In hindsight I should have used a throwaway phone with a local SIM. Others have offered advice on phones anyway. I'm just saying don't rely on your domestic carrier: have a back up plan!
Thanks for all the responses. I shall field test this later this year and report back.
Meanwhile I found that internet is faster in Bangkok (much faster) so I might switch to that destination instead.
I'm curious about whether anyone has seen any reliable information on the impact of the current imbroglios on tourism? I'd imagine, given the recent verbal assaults against the EU, the UN and the US that tourism from these areas would be adversely affected, but I've got no confirmation that this is true. Does anyone know?
GE.
[QUOTE=GoodEnough;1944390]I'm curious about whether anyone has seen any reliable information on the impact of the current imbroglios on tourism? I'd imagine, given the recent verbal assaults against the EU, the UN and the US that tourism from these areas would be adversely affected, but I've got no confirmation that this is true. Does anyone know?
GE.[/QUOTE]These 2 links while Philippine government tend to suggest more people are coming. No surprises there IMHO The biggest worry should be not what is happening in the poor parts of town or the drug shoot out as can't see many tourists wandering around there and / or being involved in drugs but the Zika virus as this is now in the country and the USA has now issued warning about the country for the Zika virus.
[URL]http://www.tradingeconomics.com/philippines/tourist-arrivals[/URL]
[URL]http://www.tourism.gov.ph/pages/industryperformance.aspx[/URL]
[QUOTE=GoodEnough;1944390]I'm curious about whether anyone has seen any reliable information on the impact of the current imbroglios on tourism? I'd imagine, given the recent verbal assaults against the EU, the UN and the US that tourism from these areas would be adversely affected, but I've got no confirmation that this is true. Does anyone know?
GE.[/QUOTE]5 year highs earlier in the year. Official figures are current only until July. (Check out the Korean numbers, phew).
Anecdotally cancellations are occurring. Awaiting next batch of numbers.