Etisalat, Skype, UAE telecom issues
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
From: In the Tower
Internet calls
Yahoo also has a mesenger which I find better than msn. There is also another service for phones...which I`m sure is the same one Air No Services is referring to.....but to keep it secret...pm if you want the name...it does work here.
Sims Fly Virtually
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 704
Likes: 0
From: Used to be 3rd Sand Dune from the Left - But now I'm somewhere else somewhere else.
Some of the "symptoms" posted above are not too clear.
First of all, is the problem one-way, or does one party (at which end?) hear clearly and one does not?
What connections to the internet are being used?
A dial-up line needs to be of good quality (say 36kb/s or better).
If it's DSL/ ADSL, there should be no problem.
If there's a problem with DSL/ADSL or a good dial-up, then suspect your ISP or the "National service". Of course, if you are sharing an internet with neighbours and they are downloading (or uploading) heavily, your quality is going to be all over the place!
As per my post on page one, I suspect there is something very wrong with Orbit Satnet (satellite connection) as it appears to be nowhere near its claimed 128kb/s "uplink", which means I can hear the party at the other end clearly, but they can't hear me! Anyone else using Orbit satellite connection?
First of all, is the problem one-way, or does one party (at which end?) hear clearly and one does not?
What connections to the internet are being used?
A dial-up line needs to be of good quality (say 36kb/s or better).
If it's DSL/ ADSL, there should be no problem.
If there's a problem with DSL/ADSL or a good dial-up, then suspect your ISP or the "National service". Of course, if you are sharing an internet with neighbours and they are downloading (or uploading) heavily, your quality is going to be all over the place!
As per my post on page one, I suspect there is something very wrong with Orbit Satnet (satellite connection) as it appears to be nowhere near its claimed 128kb/s "uplink", which means I can hear the party at the other end clearly, but they can't hear me! Anyone else using Orbit satellite connection?
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: USA
Voip
If you are from the US I would recomend Packet8 for your VOIP needs. I have been using it for about 3 years on a DSL link in the UAE with very good results. If you have a better connection so much the better. $19.95 a month for unlimited calls to N. America and reasonable calls to the rest of the world. Plus you can register the phone to most area codes in the US. So your friends and family can just make a local phone call and it rings in the UAE. I personally like it better then Skype and less expensive then Vonage with (I think) better quality of service.
WWW.packet8.net
WWW.packet8.net
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 987
Likes: 0
From: 24 27 45.66N 54 22 42.28E
Well I replied to one person with PM about who i use, and abracadabra www.callserve.com is blocked, and I don't know how, but the program won't even connect anymore. Ah well, it was good while it lasted. I just wish Etisilat would quit the whole BS about blocking a site due to moral or cultural reasons. Pigs bum, it should say, "This site is blocked because it is eating into our massive profits"
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
From: Dubai
You can download the latest Skype without fear of being blocked at:
http://www.filehippo.com/
Callserve now blocked.
http://www.filehippo.com/
Callserve now blocked.
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Samsonite
Skype but FREE
not sure if it works in the ME, but try www.voipstunt.com
Put a credit on it and you can call for free to quite a few countries....as long as it stays free.....
Put a credit on it and you can call for free to quite a few countries....as long as it stays free.....
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 467
Likes: 0
From: Europe
Folks, try to use FireFox browser instead of internet explorer. You will be amazed how much securer it is and which sites you can visit. Skype should be working fine with FireFox as the site and the program. Anyway the whole windows stuff is just crap. Linux is the best. Switch over to Mandriva.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Hi above SZR
Sat internet
Do you guys use any Satelite(sp?) internet server like Direcway. I think upload speeds are much slower than download speeds, and like all things sat it will be subject to wx issues/sand storms and cloud cover.The skyscrapper between you and it won't help either.
But, it completely bypasses any copper or DSL and goes straight out to the mother ship somewhere. That seems to me to be unblockable unless the local gov starts emitting some serious ECM. I think in Singapore its illegal, but do not know the rules in Dubai or the mid east.
But, it completely bypasses any copper or DSL and goes straight out to the mother ship somewhere. That seems to me to be unblockable unless the local gov starts emitting some serious ECM. I think in Singapore its illegal, but do not know the rules in Dubai or the mid east.
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 987
Likes: 0
From: 24 27 45.66N 54 22 42.28E
TMA guide use megaproxy to access the callserve website and send them a message that you are in UAE and that callserve is now blocked and that program no longer works, and they will send you an email with a tiny little attachment that when ran will make callserve work again. Still won't be able to access website unless through proxy but the calling will work again. 
Sims Fly Virtually
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 704
Likes: 0
From: Used to be 3rd Sand Dune from the Left - But now I'm somewhere else somewhere else.
Originally Posted by Kpt40
Do you guys use any Satelite(sp?) internet server like Direcway.
"Direc" used to be out here but they were "phone up, sat down". Don't know if they are still around as I did a search a while ago and couldn't find them, or anything competitive with Orbit's pricing. The Orbit Satnet system is the one that seems to be most easily available and reasonably (for here) priced. Don't know about the other countries but it's available in Saudi, and at the moment there's no more modems available from the local distributor and I know peeps are going over to Bahrain where it's sold as well.
Their published speed is 256 down, 128 up - BUT - although testing here shows the 256 is rock solid, but the uplink is around 20 to 30k, which is useless for VoIP
(and a pain for maintaining the company internet site too!)Cost works out around US$600 for 6 months. There is also a package with higher "claimed" uplink (512/512), but that's about twice the price.
If I want to use Skype, I have to do it from the office, where we have a decent speed "conventional" phone - and no, it's not blocked here.
Has anyone tried an "internet accellerator"?? These are the guys who claim to "boost your speed up to 10 times" on a phone line. One of the side-effects of this is that the web site address is "tunnelled" so the blocking software doesn't see it. The ones I have seen cost around US$50 a year, and would certainly allow you to getonto the callserve web site if that's the problem. And they DO make a big improvement in download times for web pages and text (email), not so good for executable file download or zip files.
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: sandbox
VOIP in Dubai
Has anyone had problems with Skype or Vonage in the last 3 days? Vonage has been off since Monday and I am afraid that our wonderful Etisilat has finally blocked it. ( I am sure that it still works for those in internet city so it can't be illegal right?) Perfect timing, when all of the families are leaving for the summer. If Skype still works I will try to set up an account.
Regards,
330 Man
Regards,
330 Man
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Dubai
skype
I am glad that i am not going insane.I have not been able to log into skype for 2 days.I have uninstalled and re-installed skype AND my new Linksys phone which was working fine but still no joy.I even got someone to set up a new acc for me from SA but that did not work either.
For info the cd that i was provided with by Linksys has the Skype program on it .So #%@ to Etisalat......TAKE THAT
For info the cd that i was provided with by Linksys has the Skype program on it .So #%@ to Etisalat......TAKE THAT
Thanks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Dubai
skpe
Hey Rat
You are quite correct but it made me feel better.I really do not look forward to paying 600-700 pm again for the pleasure of phoning my kids in SA.I do not quite understand how skype etc etc is working in some ares in DXB as i called some of my friends who have it and they have no problems.
Maybe buy a villa and inherit a server.NOT
You are quite correct but it made me feel better.I really do not look forward to paying 600-700 pm again for the pleasure of phoning my kids in SA.I do not quite understand how skype etc etc is working in some ares in DXB as i called some of my friends who have it and they have no problems.
Maybe buy a villa and inherit a server.NOT