Wateen Wimax signals in sector T storng or none?

[Sabiqoon]

Yes, I have been strongly advised by existing Wateen Wimax users to check this particular thing before going for Wateen Wimax...so I ask: Is Wateen Wimax signal strong and consistent in and around sector T , DHA, Lahore?

On 14th January, after waiting (seemingly) nearly half my life for Wateen to actually start its services, I finally had people from Wateen at my door, offering me trial run of what they call Triple Play: against a refundable security deposit of Rs.500, they would connect me to 256k internet, 90 channels of TV and a phone line …all free to use till 31st January, 2008.

I accepted the offer. On 16th, they hooked me up using an R11 cable to connect my premises to the optic fiber they had laid underground in the street. R11 reached the splitter on the roof wherefrom the TV and the modem were linked through an R6 cable.

TV reception is sharper except for channels at the tail end of UHF. Even in Worldcall, channels at the upper half of UHF band had weaker signals. Strangely, Wateen does not allow concealed cabling for TV and the guys sought to be allowed to drill a hole in the living room wall for the cable to enter, which I disallowed asking them to use the existing Worldcall concealed cable instead. Present 90 channels of trial run shall be increased to 200+ channels in the regular service.

Phone line is not impressive in that it is dependent on AC/DC power available at my premises. So in case of a power shut down, after the modem battery has been used, the phone is no more available. Also, to keep the phone line on, the modem must stay on. Whereas PTC landline phone is free of such hassle. However, this Wateen phone line is impressive till 31st January…because all local, nationwide and international calls are free till that date. Also, during this trial period, no one can call my Wateen phone number except those using Warid mobiles. And be it known, calling rates quoted by Wateen on their website and elsewhere are not per minute rates.

This 256k Internet is ok…giving the expected download speed of 32k. The modem is Scientific Atlanta 2203C. Torrents seem to be not running unless encryption is turned on. Other applications run ok. But I am unsure if all the ports needed by different programs shall be open on Wateen connection. A username along with a password is required to be punched in each time one needs to connect to Internet.

I am currently using Worldcall 512k no-cap Internet that costs Rs.42,000/- per year. I was looking forward to Wateen internet hoping I would be able to lay my hands on 1 or 2Mb connection but I am now dismayed to know Wateen does not allow home users more than 512k. Now the only charm left is absence of wires and movability of Wimax.

They are not even letting me know the tariff for 1Mb and 2Mb connections. For that, they say I need to send an email to sales@wateen.com. Exact and relevant information is hard to come by when it comes to Wateen. Their website is mere general talk without any concrete information based on facts and figures. On phone help line, you get incomplete and mostly obscured information. Even when you are talking to a Wateen guy in person, he sounds so unsure about what he is saying and before long another chap appears on the scene and tells you something that is in complete contrast to what the previous guy has just told you. But this is kind of normal…this is how real life goes. But this sure makes getting to know things difficult. So despite my various efforts, I still have queries unanswered about Wateen Wimax.

One weird thing is that there is no place in or near DHA to get Wateen Wimax. No sales person would come to our place either. To subscribe to Wimax, the nearest sales offices are on Jail road (across Services Hospital, in ServAid building) and on Mall Road (E. Plomer building). Wateen window inside DHA office, Y Block handles Triple Play only and does not deal with Wimax. Wateen office in DD sector does not attend costumers.

When they come to me at the end of this month to terminate the trial period of Triple Play, I would tell them inshallah that I wish to keep the TV connection only. For internet, I would be going for Wimax,

So far, I have come to know about Wateen Wimax internet that the top end, most economical deal is a 512k internet connection with 10 GB monthly data transfer limit, bundled with the phone line with monthly rent of Rs 270/-. This package is going to cost about Rs.18000/- requiring Rs. 3000/- cash to be paid up-front along with 11 cheques of Rs. 1350/- each. This amount of Rs. 17,850/-would cover one year charges for CPE rent 6000/- (500 per month) , Rs. 3240/- for phone line rent (270 per month) and Rs. 8,610/- for internet usage.

After first year, during the second year no rent would be charged for the CPE, which would become the subscriber’s property after the second year.

If a subscriber wishes to give up the service before the end of one year, he would be refunded his original payment (of 18000/-) after deducting Rs.2000/- contract termination charges and Rs.1500/- for each month that the connection has been used.

And hence…before I sign this deal, I wish I could know is Wateen Wimax signal strong and consistent in and around sector T, DHA, Lahore?

Do I need both WiFi and WLAN in a laptop to be able to use Wateen Wimax internet in my house or just WiFi feature is required in the laptop?


If I take the laptop outside and away from my house (far from CPE), will it pick up the signal from Wateen Access Points (or towers) spread across Lahore, allowing me to use internet wherever I am. Or the internet shall be available to me only in the vicinity of my CPE?

Currently I am mulling Sony Vaio VGN-CR220 E/R…is that notebook equipped appropriately to communicate with WiFi and Wimax stuff?

Does it seem Worldcall will drop its internet tariff now that Wateen is actually going to step into the arena?

These are the things I have to let others know about Wateen Wimax and things that I need to know from others about it. Your contributions will be greatly appreciated inshallah.

[Fraz]

First of all due to Wateen's Fiber Optic Network in DHA they do
not have Wimax coverage there in DHA Lahore but they may cover
DHA as well later ... but god knows how long will this take

Secondly WiFi is a Wireless Communication Technology for small scale
like in office or a house and this technology is used to setup Wireless
LAN (i.e. WLAN) within an office or a house ....

It is the Wimax CPE that recieves signals and it does not have built in
WIFI Connectivity so u have to purchase a WIFI Router and attach it to
ur Wateen Wimax CPE through a ETHERNET (RJ45) cable ... after that
u can use internet at ur Laptop by enabling WIFI if it does have built in
WIFI ... secondly WIFI range is very limited and u can not use it at
more than roughly 100 meters range ...

[crippler]

Originally Posted by Fraz

First of all due to Wateen's Fiber Optic Network in DHA they do
not have Wimax coverage there in DHA Lahore but they may cover
DHA as well later ... but god knows how long will this take

It does have coverage.... go to any wateen franchise and get your connection... I know that because a friend of mine who is in T Block has wimax and its working perfectly there...!!

[Fraz]

Originally Posted by crippler

It does have coverage.... go to any wateen franchise and get your connection... I know that because a friend of mine who is in T Block has wimax and its working perfectly there...!!

Well i was informed about it by a Manager of Wateen but he
may be wrong ...

but i my self tried it in Y Block Market in a Office but it did'nt
worked there any way one can always check the coverge by
testing a CPE at the required Location