Focus of the Post : Express Yourself
Reduce Broadband Tariffs rather than spending millions on Rehman,Tendulkar,Zaheer,Gambhir,Shahrukh,Kareena,Saif,Madhavan,Vidya...
Circle: UPE
City: Lucknow
Packages Used:
DSL 999 - 256kbps Unlimited + Rs.50 modem rental + Service Tax@12.5 - Used for three months from October07-December 07
DSL 499 - 64kbps Unlimited + Zero rental on modem + 100 Free Pulses + Service Tax@12.5 - Jan08-Aug08
DSL 799 - 256kbps Unlimited + Zero Rental on modem + Serive Tax@12.5 - Aug08-Sep08
Current Plan - BSNL 500 Decided to stay with Airtel coz i dont have enough time to run when the BB is down.
DSL 599+100 - 128kbps Unlimited + 100 topup for 256kbps UL
Home 799 - Few months
Explorer 1099(Airtel/UE/FL/002) - 384kbps UL + 1Mbps Night(10-5) UL - Great plan but still costly for me . The plan was extinct within days after launched .
DSL 599 - 128Kbps UL Exam Time couldnt migrate back to Explorer 1099
DSL 599 - 256kbps UL - New plan launched in UPE - 30th Dec 09 .Earlier the plan was available in Punjab. The difference between this and 799UL is the removal of free 100pulses.
Total Installation cost for Airtel Broadband
Madatory:-Rs 500 installtion charges for wiring and Beetel ADSL modem or Rs 1500 for ADSL Wifi-Router(Beetel 450BX).If airtel is new in your colony and they are expanding their customer base,the installation might be completely free.
Optional Landline:-Rs 350 for Airtel Trend Landline Phone with SIM reader.Its optional to buy a LL unit from Airtel but the sales agent will insist that you buy them.This is an excellent phone the only problem is its display.After few months of usage the first few digits on the callerID will vanish.Another option is to go for a cordless phone CB53000 for Rs500.This is also a good phone for indian conditions with 2 AAA rechargable Ni-MH batteries on the cordless handset and a backup battery for the receiver unit !!! that is built in the charger.The units will be repaired free of cost as long as you keep the connection.BSNL offers a free CLID instrument with their connection.
-Extremely fast broadband installtion.Normally 1-3 days.They have separate departments for landline and braodband.Landline is installed first and broadband is installed the next day.Extermel
Positive Points :
-DL speeds were good,zero downntime.
-Speed of 27-30KBps during day for 256kbps connection.After 10.30pm the speed increases upto 60kBps(45-60).The night double speed is an unofficial Airtel offering and has been stopped from Aug 2008 in my city.
-Good quality landline phone given for under Rs.500.
-Zero rental for modem on most plans.
-Extremely responsive helpline.
-100 pulses free for DSL499 plan.
-Extremely professional and top-notch broadband installation and you dont have to feed the pockets of lineman.
-After using Airtel for a more than a year its only two times when i got less than advertised speeds.(underground sea cable problem).
-Plan change within 1-2 days.During holidays you can upgrade to higher speed plans and downgrade to the cheapest plan when you are not using the internet at all.Fair calcution of tariff when changing plans
Negative Points:
-Self imposed hello tune charges of Rs30.Hello Tune another first from Airtel is an old weaponry used to overcharge and harass its customers.
-Billing problems initially but all resolved under few hours.
-Very few payment centres in Lucknow.
-There is high probability that you wont recieve your first bill coz if you quit the connection in the first month then commission is deducted from sales agent salary.
-Cheque Bounce charge of Rs 200.
-LIES - When downgrading to a cheaper plan you may be told that the plan is "not available in your area"(by area they mean colony).Simply tell them to disconnect the broadband or downgrade the plan.
-LIES - Ownership of the modem is not made clear.BSNL charges monthly rent for modem or you can purchase the modem by paying an amount of Rs.1200 depending on the type of modem.In case of airtel you have to pay an installation charge of Rs500(or Rs1500 for Wi-Fi) but all plans are rent free.According to the call centre guys you have to submit the modem when disconnecting the connection.Smart tactics.
-Secret plans
Features:-
Speed on Demand -
Landline Features:- Caller Tunes,Call Forwarding
General View
Airtel has extremely HIGH standards on in-house wiring,overhead wiring and everything related to your broadband.Few of my friends have switched from Reliance Broadnet to Airtel just because of wiring issues.. If you are going for Airtel then opt for an unlimited plan because i dont think airtel has a proper usage checking system set up.Go for the least speed BB plan available and then upgrade.
Security Issues:-
-Airtel uses your complete landline number with STD code as username and account number as PPPoE password.If you forgot to change your default modem password then anyone can log into your modem and know your phone number.The username and password can then be used by the hacker to overbill the victim.Most people opt for unlimited plans but speed on demand works as advertised.
-To change your speed you just need some other persons username and password.
-In most circles the PPPoE password can be changed by logging into the local airtel portal.Its twelve months Jan-Dec08 but i have not been able to change my password in UPE.The local airtel portal is down and if anyone knows your account number(printed on the bill) then he can use your account.Port binding was implemented in Lucknow on August 18,2008.There are many cities where port binding has not yet been implemented.
I would rate Airtel as the best ISP.I suggest you to keep Airtel if 50-100 bucks doesnt matter to you..If you are a web addict then another great option would be to take two connections, one from BSNL(Rs 500 upto 2mbps) and one from Airtel(UL plan)
Airtel Broadband Settings
Username: stdcode7digitlandlinenumber_dsl@airtelbroadband.in (eg:- 05224080814_dsl@airtelbroadband.in)
Password : Eight Digit Account Number printed on the bill
Deafult password modem : password
ATM PVC Configuration
VPI: [0-255] - 1
VCI: [1-65535] - 32
Xbox 360: How to connect to Bharti Airtel (India)
Beetel Bx1 ADSL modem USB(Un Suitable for Broadband) drivers
Why i am thinking of switching to BSNL:-
-I stopped receiving Bonus Speeds at Night in 256kbps UL
-256kbps UL is cheaper by Rs.50
-IPTV available on BSNL
-20% discount for central-state government employees.
Contd. with Airtel
Update -
28/7/09
