1Mbps baby!!!!

[thewisecrab]

This is my current speed:
*www.speedtest.net/result/525202970.png

If I get anywhere close to it, I'll be really happy. Mind you, this 1.25 GB cap during the day has really hurt in the NU849 plan

 

[a_k_s_h_a_y]

Free Download Manager
9gig in just under 24hrs.
btw, 1Mbps is 128KBps and am getting that speed couple of times.

few times the speeds go to 128 or even high, because the packets get delayed, and all of a sudden all of them arrive at once! lol ! that's why. since the speed shown is instantaneous ! and you know how IP works, all packets take different routes.

if its constant 128 for more then a minute then great.

so you are paying 1700 ?

 

[SunnyChahal]

Airtel is usually great with living upto the expectations. On my 1Mbps connection I used to get 1.2Mbps and now with 2Mbps I'm getting almost 2.5Mbps. Ain't it so cool on the part of the ISP?

 

[Ethan_Hunt]

I need an opinion here. I'm ditching my MTNL triband connection as the bill turned out to be very very high this month (actually this post is the outcome of no internet for 2 days and constant lectures from parents/relatives/dog etc.)

Airtel is available in my area. I'm interested in Explore1099 and Freedom1699. Which would better serve my purpose? (i'm having a pretty healthy dose of torrenting at the moment)

I wouldn't like to sacrifice on speed, as with MTNL I would easily get 210-190 KBps (on NU849). Going for 256 or 512 kbps would be illogical, as it's like going from a Ferrari to a bullock cart.

Both options are providing unlimited connections. Though I'm leaning more towards the dedicated 1mbps line than the night unlimited one (i dont feel like going down that road again ).

So, what should I go for? or even prefer?

I just shifted from my MTNL line to an Airtel unlimited Explore 1099 scheme today. Got my line connected within 2 days flat. I just got this scheme for testing purpose, as I didn't want to directly jump onto the 1699 plan without having to test the stability of the connection & atleast one month's hands on experience. So far it seems very stable & impressive. The download speed via HTTP touches 67KBps for the 384Kbps line (this is actually a speed for 512Kbps line). Would have to wait till 10PM to check the 1Mbps download speed. Trust me, I have spent sleepless nights with the 849NU for so long, it has almost become a joke now.

It's time to gain the unlimited freedom. I don't want to stay up till 12:00AM to actually reboot the dam router & download stuff anymore. This seems like the best alternative for now. If this works out properly, I'll opt for the 1699 1 Megs unlimited line from next month.

The only qualm here is the FUP thingy. If that were somehow taken care of, then Airtel will really kick ass. I'm really enjoying it for now. Let's wait till night though.

BTW here's my speedtest result:
*www.speedtest.net/result/525597120.png

 

[thewisecrab]

^^
Do let me know on their Night speeds if possible. Anyway, I'm seriously thinking of chucking that MTNL crap

 

[TheHumanBot]

*www.speedtest.net/result/525626100.png

Gujarat Umbergaon ...

 

[Ethan_Hunt]

Yep. Will let you know by today night. My advice is to ditch MTNL ASAP. Airtel's really proving to be worthy competitor.

 

[desiibond]

I just shifted from my MTNL line to an Airtel unlimited Explore 1099 scheme today. Got my line connected within 2 days flat. I just got this scheme for testing purpose, as I didn't want to directly jump onto the 1699 plan without having to test the stability of the connection & atleast one month's hands on experience. So far it seems very stable & impressive. The download speed via HTTP touches 67KBps for the 384Kbps line (this is actually a speed for 512Kbps line). Would have to wait till 10PM to check the 1Mbps download speed. Trust me, I have spent sleepless nights with the 849NU for so long, it has almost become a joke now.

It's time to gain the unlimited freedom. I don't want to stay up till 12:00AM to actually reboot the dam router & download stuff anymore. This seems like the best alternative for now. If this works out properly, I'll opt for the 1699 1 Megs unlimited line from next month.

The only qualm here is the FUP thingy. If that were somehow taken care of, then Airtel will really kick ass. I'm really enjoying it for now. Let's wait till night though.

BTW here's my speedtest result:
*www.speedtest.net/result/525597120.png

The least thing you need to worry about Airtel is line's stability. I have been using Airtel for more than 6 months and only two (one hour each time) downtimes in 6 months. That used to be the average number of downtimes every day when I used TATA Indicom.

 

[Liverpool_fan]

What would be total bill of this 1Mbps UL incl. taxes? (I mean Minimum TOTAL in avg)

 

[desiibond]

something around 1900 I think. But on the brighter side, you get around 100 free calls (STD/ISD)

 

[Ethan_Hunt]

The least thing you need to worry about Airtel is line's stability. I have been using Airtel for more than 6 months and only two (one hour each time) downtimes in 6 months. That used to be the average number of downtimes every day when I used TATA Indicom.

Agreed. But user experience may vary & hence we need to get that checked on our side before jumping onto the bandwagon.

Guess what, the speed is great. I can download & surf at the same time. MTNL used to time out surfing when it was downloading (256Kbps line). So looks like Airtel has enough bandwidth support for both tasks to operate simultaneously. My 200MB file is about to complete in 54 minutes flat. This is awesome.

 

[rhitwick]

Well, the first time I applied for 999 Home unlimited (384kbps unlimited) I opted for data only, no voice.
This time when I asked for upgrade to Explore (1099unlimited) they are telling me, as mine is data only plan, it can't be upgraded, I've to opt for voice too!!!

I guess I've to take that. Anyone knows if any additional charge if voice is also taken.

I'm too despo for d plan, I'm going to d/l 900GB of data

 

[thewisecrab]

Thanks Ethan I'll need to make a calculated decision here, as no one in my area has opted for Airtel yet

I called up Airtel's Mumbai helpline (44444121)

That guy was pretty helpful. He refered me to local Airtel office for any further query/booking/FUP etc. How long did it take for you to get the connection once booked?
The funny thing is that Airtel says that they will take a "maximum" of 1 week to set up the internet. On MTNL (I got my connection waaaay back in 2006, so I got in like 3 days of booking), my friends had to wait for 3-4 weeks for that n00b to arrive.

 

[Ethan_Hunt]

That guy was pretty helpful. He refered me to local Airtel office for any further query/booking/FUP etc. How long did it take for you to get the connection once booked?
The funny thing is that Airtel says that they will take a "maximum" of 1 week to set up the internet. On MTNL (I got my connection waaaay back in 2006, so I got in like 3 days of booking), my friends had to wait for 3-4 weeks for that n00b to arrive.

It took me hardly 3 days for the connection to be activated. I applied on Thursday & got it connected today evening. Although I'm not sure how fast they are in other areas. It should be more or less the same turnaround time. Don't rely on the CC guys who say FUP isn't applicable. They have no clue about it being implemented. Speak to a sales officer in your area & get the connection booked. You'll only require an ID proof, address proof & a passport size photograph. I didn't even fill the form, the sales guy did it for me.

One time installation was charged @1k. Modem supplied was a Beetel 110X1. The configuration took hardly 10 mins to set up. Also their contact centers atleast respond in a proper way to queries. If you have been on MTNL for long enough (or even a short time), you'll know how great their "customer service" is. For me, it's a huge relief. Plus no high bills if you forgot to switch off your router at 8:00AM. It doesn't get any better than this. I'd suggest moving to a smaller plan & then taking up the 1699 one.

EDIT: Got my NU 1Mbps result:
*www.speedtest.net/result/525735983.png

Freakin' amazing. I'll let you know how much I download by tomorrow morning. So two thumbs up from my side for Airtel.

 

[thewisecrab]

^^
$h!t! upload is almost equal to download

MTNL service is crap, I know that since 2006

Will wait for more opinions (and of course your NU result )

Do you have to restart the router?

 

[cluby]

I have bsnl 500 combo connection
download speed on torrents or general using IDM = 240KBps (240x8 kbps)
upload = 30KBps (30x8 kbps)

amount downloaded everyday (2-6 AM) = 4.xx GB

amount downloaded per month = around 90GB (sometimes dont wake at time bcoz am too lazy to search/select content to download at night)

I see no point choosing any unlimited plans to pay extra on net n electricity charges n keep my laptop on/hot all the time.

 

[damngoodman999]

I have been using AIRTEL since 2007 gr8 stability - 101% gr8 customer service

Now im moving to 1099 from 799

thanks Ethan_Hunt ur review helped me

 

[Ethan_Hunt]

Will wait for more opinions (and of course your NU result )

Do you have to restart the router?

That was my NU speed test which I posted above. I'm getting around 170KBps download speed via RS Premium, as I type. I don't really bother much about the upload. You don't have to reboot your router, the speed automatically increases & decreases at it's designated period.

I see no point choosing any unlimited plans to pay extra on net n electricity charges n keep my laptop on/hot all the time.

Neither do I. I never keep my PC on 24/7; never ever. But this plan is fabulous. I ended up downloading around 4.22GB in 8 hours. Pretty much the same amount which I used to download on MTNL 2Mbps NU line. You know what the best part about it was?

a.) I wasn't awake till 12:00AM
b.) I didn't have to reboot the router
c.) I didn't have to wake up at 8:00AM to manually shutdown the router
d.) It's an unlimited line (Hurrah!)

I have been using AIRTEL since 2007 gr8 stability - 101% gr8 customer service

Now im moving to 1099 from 799

thanks Ethan_Hunt ur review helped me

Glad I could help. It's an awesome plan provided you can afford it.

 

[desiibond]

@Ethan_hunt, glad that you are happy with Airtel. Have a happy browsing time with 99.99% uptime

 

[Ethan_Hunt]

@Ethan_hunt, glad that you are happy with Airtel. Have a happy browsing time with 99.99% uptime

Thanks buddy. So far so good. A few minor downtimes have been there, but they got fixed in a few minutes. Hope it's not a major concern in the future. Everything else is perfect.