3G and Skype from North Cyprus

daveg


Joined: 11/01/2009
Posts: 69

Message Posted:
16/01/2009 15:55

I have been using Turkcell 3G for a couple of months and find that most of the time it works very well.



However, although it worked well with Skype to begin with, it is now not very good. Sometimes it's OK but most of the time the speech at both ends is very distorted.



Can anyone help please?



Dave

Hector


Joined: 26/08/2008
Posts: 2352

Message Posted:
16/01/2009 16:04

I'm looking for a way to get online with a laptop when I next visit NC. I'm over for a month at a time. Is 3G the way to go? Can I simply pay for a month at a time?

AndyP



Joined: 18/04/2008
Posts: 517

Message Posted:
16/01/2009 16:14

Hector



Have a look at these threads

http://www.cyprus44.com/forums/6757.asp

http://www.cyprus44.com/forums/7464.asp



DaveG



Are you sure its the connection? What speeds are you getting? Have you got other programes accessing the internet while on a skype call?

susief


Joined: 06/11/2008
Posts: 529

Message Posted:
16/01/2009 16:28

Andy P is right - have you got other internet programes running at the same time? We find that skype connection is poor if we are downloading things at the same time. We also find that not using the webcam feature on skype greatly improves the quality and clarity of the speech at both ends.

Hector


Joined: 26/08/2008
Posts: 2352

Message Posted:
16/01/2009 16:35

Dave

To get 3G when we get to NC, do we just give you a call, and take it from there?

susief


Joined: 06/11/2008
Posts: 529

Message Posted:
16/01/2009 16:50

Hector - when you get to NC, pop to your nearest Turkcell shop or agent and ask for a 3G modem, it will cost 149TL. Then you can get either a limited 4GB card at 60TL or an unlimited card for 70TL - this will not affect the speed of your internet, only how much you download (eg music, films, emails, etc) It's a pay-as-you-go set up so you just buy a new top-up card every month. Alternatively you can pay for a year up front and receive the modem for free. Hope that helps.

AndyP



Joined: 18/04/2008
Posts: 517

Message Posted:
16/01/2009 17:34

Hector



Before you part with any money. Make sure you can get 3g where you are staying.

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
16/01/2009 17:37

When it comes to resources Skype seems very hungry.

DONTY


Joined: 07/06/2007
Posts: 534

Message Posted:
16/01/2009 19:16

I was told the 3G system has good download bandwidth but poor upload bw which affects programs like skype. Can anyone verify this?

daveg


Joined: 11/01/2009
Posts: 69

Message Posted:
17/01/2009 11:22

Thanks for the suggestions. No, I don't run anything else when I'm on Skype. I kanow about this.



Hector,

daveg


Joined: 11/01/2009
Posts: 69

Message Posted:
17/01/2009 11:30

Thanks for the suggestions. I know about closing everything else down when I use Skype. Sometimes it's good but mostly it isn't.



Hector,

Susief has given good advice. You can also buy your modem from the Turkcell desk in Lemar. If you tell them where you are staying they will advise about reception. It is very simple to set up - just plug in the modem (about the size of a small mobile phone) to a USB socket and away you go. I would strongly recommend it to anyone not staying here permanently.

If you need any more help please contact me.



Dave.

Jetski


Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 584

Message Posted:
17/01/2009 17:52

and it needs to be a USB2 socket - ie a powered socket.

DONTY


Joined: 07/06/2007
Posts: 534

Message Posted:
17/01/2009 18:53

Can someone who has 3g let me know what upload speeds you achieve please as this is important for skype and I dont want to switch to 3g if upload is poor.



Many thanks

gooligan


Joined: 30/01/2007
Posts: 1591

Message Posted:
17/01/2009 19:44

Mine is usually around 300kbps.

Colliedog


Joined: 16/03/2007
Posts: 132

Message Posted:
17/01/2009 21:14

AndyP



If I take my UK 3g Modem out and insert a Turkcell card out there is it going to work if I'm in 3g range?



Colliedog

jardap


Joined: 08/08/2008
Posts: 318

Message Posted:
18/01/2009 12:58

Jetski



Please can you clarify on what you mean by a USB2 socket, a powered one.

Have been using Skype through laptop, sometimes great but can experience

problems.

AndyP



Joined: 18/04/2008
Posts: 517

Message Posted:
18/01/2009 13:28

Ok. Lets try and answer all these questions in one post.



Upload speeds will vary depending on how good a signal you are getting, so it would be unfair to quote figures as it can vary from villa to villa, or even room to room. But I get anything from 0 - 600kbps. For a test in your villa see the 3G section here http://www.systemlogix.co.uk



You take out your existing modem and use a Turkcell one. Yes it will work subject to you being in an area where 3g is present.



All USB sockets are powered but USB2 is faster than the the old version. I have used the modem in a non USB2 socket and it worked fine for me.



Skype is good but can even have problems on dedicated internet connections. But it is either free or really cheap to use, so I guess we can't complain.

DONTY


Joined: 07/06/2007
Posts: 534

Message Posted:
18/01/2009 20:16

Thanks Gooligan and AndyP



300kbps should be enough for Skype but 0 sounds a little low