Have a look at this article on my blog.
http://bit.ly/clGPxo
Although Vodafone UK and Vodafone PT are the same company.... the dongles sold each country cannot be used in another country..even if you put a Portuguese SIM card in.
If you have a good 3g mobile signal (as against a "UMTS) signal at your property here in Portugal, you should be able to buy a Vodafone PAYG (as against PAYE:))))) dongle here in Portugal as indicated above. Note you really MUSY check that you can receive a good 3G signal inside the house her in Portugal, otherwise you will be wasting money
The Vodafone PAYG dongle rates can be found here: (in portuguese)
http://bit.ly/dBAOXH
Dongles from Vodafone, TMN and Kanguru are available from the respective shops in any good Algarve Shopping Centre or Town Centre.
segunda-feira, 17 de maio de 2010
Fixed internet access over 3G networks in Portugal
On a technical level PT are usually pretty quick these days in addressing line issues in the Algarve. However, you may well have problems with the bureaucratic process.
There may be another solution depending on your property's geographic location. Forget PT!
Depending on the volume of bandwidth you need each month, Vodafone have now launched a product called BestNet and TMN have a similiar one.
Kanguru Optimus probably have a similiar product but their site is a mess at the moment and it its difficult to ascertain package options..
This gives you broadband access over the mobile phone system. No phone line is required.
You could perhaps them make do with a mobile phone for voice calls and have broadband using the above system. I would suggest that you take the account out in your personal name.
Vodafone Broadband Tariff Details (in Portuguese) here:
http://bit.ly/cyxzR5
TMN Broadband Tariff Details (in Portuguese) here:
http://bit.ly/cyxzR5
However, I really do strongly recommend that you get a site test done at the property before going down this road to ensure that you can receive a stable 3G signal within the property and therefore receive the maximum speed available.
There may be another solution depending on your property's geographic location. Forget PT!
Depending on the volume of bandwidth you need each month, Vodafone have now launched a product called BestNet and TMN have a similiar one.
Kanguru Optimus probably have a similiar product but their site is a mess at the moment and it its difficult to ascertain package options..
This gives you broadband access over the mobile phone system. No phone line is required.
You could perhaps them make do with a mobile phone for voice calls and have broadband using the above system. I would suggest that you take the account out in your personal name.
Vodafone Broadband Tariff Details (in Portuguese) here:
http://bit.ly/cyxzR5
TMN Broadband Tariff Details (in Portuguese) here:
http://bit.ly/cyxzR5
However, I really do strongly recommend that you get a site test done at the property before going down this road to ensure that you can receive a stable 3G signal within the property and therefore receive the maximum speed available.
sábado, 20 de março de 2010
Video Flash Conversion
Not always!
With many web host providers one can purchase a video server option that allows mp4 and avi format files to run "as is" on the web providing viewers have the correct viewers installed.
Nonetheless, flash format is currently the most popular.
On the following page, ( http://bit.ly/dmmxnE ) I uploaded the mpg video file to Youtube, which converted it automatically. I then took the Youtube link and embedded it into the webpage.
Still took a while to upload the video though.
ffmpeg ( http://ffmpeg.org/ ) is an opensource (free) video format converter. It can convert from various formats to flv flash formats as well as 3gp mobile phone formats. Runs on Linux, Mac OSX and Windows. (Nerd Experience recomended)
With many web host providers one can purchase a video server option that allows mp4 and avi format files to run "as is" on the web providing viewers have the correct viewers installed.
Nonetheless, flash format is currently the most popular.
On the following page, ( http://bit.ly/dmmxnE ) I uploaded the mpg video file to Youtube, which converted it automatically. I then took the Youtube link and embedded it into the webpage.
Still took a while to upload the video though.
ffmpeg ( http://ffmpeg.org/ ) is an opensource (free) video format converter. It can convert from various formats to flv flash formats as well as 3gp mobile phone formats. Runs on Linux, Mac OSX and Windows. (Nerd Experience recomended)
quinta-feira, 18 de março de 2010
Zip Files and Large Uploads
This is very strange.
A fully legal Win XP should normally only be installed in one language Portuguese or English ...not a mixture of both UNLESS one has downloaded other programs and not selected English as the default language.
With many programmes downloaded over the net, the website concerned will detect you are located in Portugal and then proceed to install the programme in Portuguese UNLESS one selects UK as you location or English as your default language when prompted. Mixed languages on Windoze or any machines is not good.
XP should automatically zip files to compressed folders.
However, what has happened here is that WINRAR has been installed on your system and has been selected as the "default" program for zipping files.
To confirm this I have just run a similar process on my other half's XP machine. This does not have Winzip nor WinRar installed. The file I selected zipped automatically using XP's onboard zip facility.
To resolve this zip problem, you would have to either deinstall WinRar or change the default program setting for zip files....not a Newbie 101 job!
Finally, I reckon that even if you zipped the file it still would take 25 minutes to load.
I've just zipped a movie of size 112MB and the resulting zip file size was 93Mb. Based on this, your file would still take 25 minutes to email once zipped. You may well find your email provider may not like this.
Use Youtube as recommended by the others. Howeverm it may well take 25 minutes or longer to upload the movie depending on your line speed and server traffic at the other end.
A fully legal Win XP should normally only be installed in one language Portuguese or English ...not a mixture of both UNLESS one has downloaded other programs and not selected English as the default language.
With many programmes downloaded over the net, the website concerned will detect you are located in Portugal and then proceed to install the programme in Portuguese UNLESS one selects UK as you location or English as your default language when prompted. Mixed languages on Windoze or any machines is not good.
XP should automatically zip files to compressed folders.
However, what has happened here is that WINRAR has been installed on your system and has been selected as the "default" program for zipping files.
To confirm this I have just run a similar process on my other half's XP machine. This does not have Winzip nor WinRar installed. The file I selected zipped automatically using XP's onboard zip facility.
To resolve this zip problem, you would have to either deinstall WinRar or change the default program setting for zip files....not a Newbie 101 job!
Finally, I reckon that even if you zipped the file it still would take 25 minutes to load.
I've just zipped a movie of size 112MB and the resulting zip file size was 93Mb. Based on this, your file would still take 25 minutes to email once zipped. You may well find your email provider may not like this.
Use Youtube as recommended by the others. Howeverm it may well take 25 minutes or longer to upload the movie depending on your line speed and server traffic at the other end.
quarta-feira, 17 de março de 2010
Website
As someone who has developed a few websites over the years, I take exception to the comment "but do not want to pay the sort of prices for website development that I was being charged when in the corporate world"!
The real reason website development prices can be high is because 90% of the time the client thinks its "just a website" and its "easy"!!!
Websites come in different types and sizes.......
Flat HTML
dynamic
flash animated etc.
All clients see is the final product and not the person hours that go into the graphic design aspect, the background coding and the domain/host server management. Also often, the web-designer has write/re-write the website content because the business owner has not!!!
A further oft-quoted complaint from clients is that once the website is "done", they don't get any traffic. That is not the web-designer's fault. Website marketing after the site is done is a totally different game.
Then, there is the client, who once the site is on-line, keeps coming back for changes ..."oh..its just a photo..it will not take long, will it?"
Even for a business start-up, a website properly developed and marketed can bring substantial returns. However, a website can only bring good returns in terms of a properly developed marketing strategy implemented by a business owner who is fully knowledgeable about how both the target market and www/internet work.
A final thought.....
If one is based in Portugal and looking at a website to promote products/services that will target more than one language, don't expect
the poor b___dy web-designer to do/arrange the translation as well within the initial budget price.
The real reason website development prices can be high is because 90% of the time the client thinks its "just a website" and its "easy"!!!
Websites come in different types and sizes.......
Flat HTML
dynamic
flash animated etc.
All clients see is the final product and not the person hours that go into the graphic design aspect, the background coding and the domain/host server management. Also often, the web-designer has write/re-write the website content because the business owner has not!!!
A further oft-quoted complaint from clients is that once the website is "done", they don't get any traffic. That is not the web-designer's fault. Website marketing after the site is done is a totally different game.
Then, there is the client, who once the site is on-line, keeps coming back for changes ..."oh..its just a photo..it will not take long, will it?"
Even for a business start-up, a website properly developed and marketed can bring substantial returns. However, a website can only bring good returns in terms of a properly developed marketing strategy implemented by a business owner who is fully knowledgeable about how both the target market and www/internet work.
A final thought.....
If one is based in Portugal and looking at a website to promote products/services that will target more than one language, don't expect
the poor b___dy web-designer to do/arrange the translation as well within the initial budget price.
sábado, 13 de março de 2010
Kanguru Optimus Problems
The bottom line is NOT TO BELIEVE any sales rep via phone or in the flesh anywhere in the world when they assure you there will be coverage. Get some one who knows and with the right gear to test things out first. Its not just Kanguru, I've had clients who have had similar experiences with Sapo etc etc.
Sales reps just sell...They do not have the details nor access to the technical data to know if a specific location has a good signal. There may even be a good signal outside one's property, but inside owing to thick walls there may be none.
I don't know how many times I talked and written and warned about this and PEOPLE STILL DON'T LISTEN. Whether its Internet Broadband over landlines or via 3G over the mobile network, GET SOMEONE WITH TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE WHO KNOWS (NOT THE SALES REP OR SHOP) TO CHECK WHETHER YOU CAN RECEIVE A SIGNAL BEFORE PARTING WITH MONEY.
Sales reps just sell...They do not have the details nor access to the technical data to know if a specific location has a good signal. There may even be a good signal outside one's property, but inside owing to thick walls there may be none.
I don't know how many times I talked and written and warned about this and PEOPLE STILL DON'T LISTEN. Whether its Internet Broadband over landlines or via 3G over the mobile network, GET SOMEONE WITH TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE WHO KNOWS (NOT THE SALES REP OR SHOP) TO CHECK WHETHER YOU CAN RECEIVE A SIGNAL BEFORE PARTING WITH MONEY.
terça-feira, 9 de fevereiro de 2010
Adsl - Vila Nova de Poiares - Portugal
I've had a look at Vila Nova de Poiares on google maps. It is only a couple of kms from Vila Cha.
Both look big enough to have a PT/SAPO adsl-equipped sub-exchange.
Provided you property is within 4,5 km to 5 km (by phone line - not as the fly crows) of one of these sub-exchanges SAPO ADSL should be possible. However, a big caveat. It may depended on the quality of the infrastructure and cables.
The likely applicable tariff will be this:
http://adsl.sapo.pt/prodtarif_outras_zonas.html
This property for sale here:
http://bit.ly/d77KAI
has adsl according to the post.
It is about 5km from Vila Nova de Poiares past Vila Cha.
I suspect the area is fairly well equipped with adsl equipped exchanges..it will just depend how far you property is from one.
I also suspect that you will be tied to using SAPO as most other ISP's do not find it commercially viable to offer adsl over landlines outside urban areas.
Both look big enough to have a PT/SAPO adsl-equipped sub-exchange.
Provided you property is within 4,5 km to 5 km (by phone line - not as the fly crows) of one of these sub-exchanges SAPO ADSL should be possible. However, a big caveat. It may depended on the quality of the infrastructure and cables.
The likely applicable tariff will be this:
http://adsl.sapo.pt/prodtarif_outras_zonas.html
This property for sale here:
http://bit.ly/d77KAI
has adsl according to the post.
It is about 5km from Vila Nova de Poiares past Vila Cha.
I suspect the area is fairly well equipped with adsl equipped exchanges..it will just depend how far you property is from one.
I also suspect that you will be tied to using SAPO as most other ISP's do not find it commercially viable to offer adsl over landlines outside urban areas.
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