Internet/ISDN

[alison]

I want to connect to the internet with ISDN.
Any suggestions about the best way to do that.
I have checked out prices at the big Electronic stores...I am looking at about 15,000 for a terminal adapter...plus 6,500 first month for ISDN (3,500/month thereafter) plus the money for an internet provider and telephone charges.

There seem to be a lot of different companies around offering deals on this....can anyone advise me of any good deals (or bad experiences). Which Providers seem to be reliable?

Thanks for any help.

[Anonymous]

I'm by no means the last word on this, but what I was told is that if you are bringing a PC from the US, you are going to have a lot of trouble finding a driver to allow your non-Japanese OS system to work with Japan's ISDN adaptors.

Good luck!

[Joey]

Hi, I bought a lap top in Japan so I don`t know if you have a US or Japanese computer but about 4 months ago I signed up with e-net and I have had absolutely no trouble with them at all! The first set up fee and hire of the modem was 5000\ and then every month after that it costs me about 3500\ for as long as I want! Believe me sometimes I am on this P.C. 12 a day but anyway.....there is another charge for the modem but I can`t remember how much it is and if it is every 3 months or 4 months........sorry I can`t remember. It not that expensive for me so if your interested go check them out!.........Take it easy mate...Joey.....

[trip_hop]

You can probably get ADSL for the prices you are quoting. ISDN is not so good here, as infra is weak, 64k or 128k multiplex is quoted, but actual speed maybe around 7-12k. Connection is USB - so-so, or 10/100baseT RJ45 PPPoE - best.

GOL and a few others offer English language support, and advice to set up.
http://www.gol.com. Just do a "Google" search.

Trip Hop

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know if the Yahoo BB Phone website (http://bbpromo.yahoo.co.jp) has an English version or an English support phone number? I'm interested in their current campaign, but my Japanese isn't that great.

I've been using GOL for the past 2 years - a standard phone line connection with NTTs Telehodai. The connection is slow and the limited hours are killing me, so I'd like to explore my options, specifically ADSL and ISDN. Sorry if my questions sound really basic, but...

1. I have English Windows 95 installed on my computer. Will that be a problem? If so...

2. If I install Japanese Windows instead, can I set it so that it is in English? (As in, the menus, messages, etc. are all displayed in English?)

3. Which is cheaper in terms of set-up costs, ASDL or ISDN?

4. Is ADSL much faster than ISDN?

Thanks for any help you can give me!

[Hiyodori]

Hi. One possibility for getting as much English support as possible with ADSL is to apply via Asahi-net. You can use NTT's ADSL, e-access ADSL, and ADSL provided by ACCA Networks. I have no problems with Japanese, but one of my friends is rather computer illiterate, as well as Japanese illiterate (although he speaks well), and he has found their English language support very good. You can get all the information you need to compare with Yahoo and the rest at: http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/en/

As to your specific questions:
1) As long as you can use TCP/IP via Ethernet, your operating system is fine. Ethernet ports look like large telephone jacks (sometimes people will say that you have to have a "LAN card", because older computers didn't have Ethernet built in, and a local area network card had to be purchased separately)

2) Sorry, I'm only using Japanese Mac (easy to switch to English) and Japanese Windows

3) ADSL is cheaper in *every* respect.

4) Yes, anywhere from 10 to 100 times faster in real life situations. Cheaper, faster, and with no added telephone charges. You'll save a lot over your current setup.
Hiyodori

[Anonymous]

Hiyodori - Thank you for all the information! I checked out the link to Asahi-net you provided, and it looks like a good choice. To be honest, though, I didn't really understand what you wrote in #1. (That's why I'm "Computer Illiterate.")

>>1. As long as you can use TCP/IP via Ethernet, your operating system is fine.

The reason I asked about the operating system is because of messages like this...

(taken from the Asahi-net's FLET's ADSL FAQ)

"Note: NTT's connection software will only run on Japanese-language capable operating systems....the FLET'S Connection software provided by NTT is Japanese-language. It is basically a PPPoE client that NTT have modified so that users of Japanese-language OS computers can access their service. "

Does this mean that I need to have this PPPoE software (whatever that is) installed before I can use ADSL?

Thanks again for all your help!

[Anonymous]

What type of computer are you using? Also what OS?
The reason I ask is that, for example, Mac OSX has it built in and it doesn't require that you need to install any third party software to access NTT's FLET'S.

[Hiyodori]

Sorry about the confusing answer. I should have said that as long as you can connect to the Internet via an Ethernet connection, Windows 95 *should* be alright. If you want to connect via USB, it may not be possible with your operating system. I personally prefer using Macintosh computers, and even though I've suffered through Windows network setups, I'm nowhere near an expert, especially with the older os versions.

The PPPoE software that you mention appears to be peculiar to NTT's setup, and you don't have to use NTT's version of ADSL. I use e-Access. I think that your best bet is to call Asahi-Net's English language support, and get help from them. You'll have to call them in Tokyo, from 10am to 5pm Monday thru Friday. They will know all of the specific answers to your questions. Their number is 03-3569-3522.

You also might want to consider a newer os (or computer), as Windows has changed a lot, and become easier to use. Mac has always been easy to use!

Good Luck! It might take a couple more weeks before you can use ADSL, but it's worth the effort in my opinion!
Hiyodori

[matt]

I just signed up with FLET's using Plala in Western Japan.

Yes, the setup documentation and install disc is in Japanese, but that had no effect on the set up of my LAN connection and ADSL modem setup.

The setup documentation had REALLY clear pictures so you could follow along with your english computer by matching up the pics.

The only problem I had was that I forgot to enable my LAN connection under 'Connections' in my control panel which led to about 30 minutes of swearing.

I am hiring the ADSL modem as I will only be here for a year so it makes no sense to pay a lot at once and buy it.

My laptop is a new Toshiba that is completely Western, although I have installed Japanese language support on it.

Overall, very painless process