This might already be apparent to most in this thread, but for those who might benefit...
If you plan to use your broadband connection for things like webcam videoconferencing, you'll need to pay attention to the UPSTREAM bandwidth provided by the ISP. The figure they commonly tout is the DOWNSTREAM bandwidth.
Several years ago, I helped my father obtain broadband in his newly settled ShamShuiPo flat.
I began with a visit to the Golden Computer Centre in the same district. Late in the afternoons, the ISP vendors roll out of bed and setup their displays outside that building.
The main broadband players around that time were iCable(HKCable), HKBN, and PCCW/Netvigator.
My first choice back then was HKBN as they were advertising 100Mbps broadband at $188hk - an amazing deal compared to what I pay in the States. Provide a physical address for the installation, and the vendor looks up availability in their binder. Failing that, expect them to phone their office for verification. My father's building wasn't on their service-eligibility list, so no deal.
Netvigator utilizes DSL through the existing phoneline -- majority of HK residents should be able to get broadband this way. Sure enough, my flat qualified, but I hesitated since their own pamphlet indicated a 64kbps-128kbps upstream bandwith. Their 24-month contract requirement and 3-5 day delay for installation were also turn-offs.
iCable back then had a $99 deal. They were able to send over their installer same-day and offered a 15-month contract.
As promised, a "si-fu" arrived that evening with a cable modem. It was hooked up to the coax wall jack and we had broadband in no time. The cable modem contained an ethernet port for the computer and a phone jack. With a traditional telephone plugged into that jack, iCable provided free local calls and a limited amount of monthly international calls. A coax splitter placed prior to the cable modem provides standard-def programming for the television.
I forgot what bandwidth figure the iCable vendor was claiming, but it wasn't important -- the final bandwidth delivered by ANY provider will usually depend on a number of factors... age of wiring infrastructure, unseen bottlenecks, etc
The only true test is to have the equipment installed and run a test from sites like
www.speedtest.net
For his flat, SpeedTest reported a downstream bandwidth of around 1000kbps-1400kbps. The upstream test clocked in at 700kbps-900kbps. In the states, I'd kill for these numbers considering the $99hk price.
I subsequently helped his siblings & other relatives throughout the US setup broadband with a webcam. Because of the healthy download AND upload speeds, both parties are making free videocalls across the pacific with no discernable lag in audio and full-screen video with a fair amount of fluidity.
I've been back to HK on a regular basis and every time I test his bandwidth in-person the numbers don't deviate much. Time of day has negligible effect.
Around '04-'05, I was tasked to help a relative residing east of the Prince Edward district with a similar broadband/webcam setup. I again shopped around and HKBN wasn't available for
that building either, so I went with iCable once more. Testing the bandwidth, I recall the downstream number around 1700kbps and upstream was 1100kbps.
How is the videoconferencing experience through HongKong's asynchronous-DSL? Our family friends live near Castlepeak Rd with DSL broadband. Their low upstream bandwidth results in my receiving choppy video when calling them.
If all you plan to do with broadband is surf websites (mostly download/downstream intensive), any one of the aforementioned providers will offer sufficient downstream bandwidth. Being that this forum has a fair share of "expats", I figure looking for higher
upstream bandwidth will benefit connections to friends & family "back home".
Sorry for the length, but hope this provides some insight
CTG
