Spain Forum

Boosting Mobile Phone Signal in the home?

2012-02-10T11:38:29+01:00

Hi, would appreciate any teccie info from those who know;)

I am moving to a townhouse where there is only a weak signal for my Movistar mobile.
I can get a signal if I stick it out the upstairs window! (But lose it as soon as I bring it inside.)

Q - Is there any bit of kit/wire I could rig up permanently that I can plug the phone into to get a boosted/better
signal?

(I know it may also depend on the type of socket I have on my phone - I have two different models of Nokia.
Am I wrong in thinking one can plug into the headset socket and the wire off this acts as an aerial? - Just trying
to think laterally here!)

Any hints/tips/advice welcome

Need iPhone SIM card for unlocked iphone

2010-08-09T08:33:46+01:00

I bought an unlocked iPhone at an Apple Store in Canada with the intention of buying a SIM card in Mallorca and a pay-as-you-go deal. Vodaphone and Moviestar here in Mallorca are recieving a few SIM cards but it seems they are reserving them for contracts of 18 months. I am in Spain for 2 months. Am I out of luck? I may go to Barcelona next week. Will I have better luck there?
Thanks for any help.

DON’T BE A VICTIM

2012-01-27T15:26:42+01:00

This morning I read through the local freeby newspapers all of which carried a piece on one of the latest scams -
A ‘Windows Technician’ phones you and tells you he is calling from Microsoft and that your computer has been sending out error messages - needless to say for him to fix it will cost you money.
I happened to comment on this to my Spanish wife over lunch - “Yes” she said, “I had it yesterday - a man called me over Skype and told me my computer had a problem.”
Well he had met more than a match with ‘My mujer’ -
So don’t be conned none of the major manufacturers will ever cold call you. Never part with any money to any unknown persons - especially when they have contacted you.

Manual how to watch UK TV online

2010-05-18T12:05:02+01:00

Hi all,

I have been looking for a solution as to how to watch UK TV online for quite a while now as this is the only way for me to get it and now I would like to share my results with you as some forums have helped me to finally succeed.

There are many ways of watching UK TV online, and here some ways I have found and my recommendation.

Option 1:
I have tried the service of http://www.ukproxyserver.co.uk as they offer a free 48 hour trial. There are two different ways of connecting to the service, you can either use a Proxy server or a VPN connection. After searching a bit on Google, I found that some people have warned about Proxy servers as all of your traffic will be routed through a server controlled by the owner of it – in this case UK Proxy Server – and of course they can see, copy, manipulate, basically do whatever they want to do. I am not saying that UK Proxy Server are doing any of that, but I would not rely on that. The other option they have is a VPN connection to their servers over there, compared to the Proxy Server, if I am right, it does not redirect all your traffic over this connection and you have more options to watch television as you can use more free tools (e.g. Zattoo). The VPN connection did work but, I could not find any UK channels, so I am not sure what I might have done wrong. It also needs a high broadband speed in order to work properly at peak viewing times. I did not check it much further as I found another solution in a forum around the same time which suited me much better and unlike UK Proxy Server, it is completely free.

Option 2: (Best solution I have found until now):
It is a very smart way of watching UK television as it is just using the VLC player (a popular player to watch videos or listen to music) and then importing a playlist with UK TV channels.

How does it work?
1. Go to the VLC website, download and install the player.
2. Download the zip file attached to this post (UKTV2.zip)
3. Unpack the downloaded file on to your desktop, it contains only one file which is the playlist with all available channels
4. Start the VLC player
5. Drag & Drop the file into the VLC player
6. The player starts streaming the Channel BBC1
7. To change the channel click on View—> Playlist and double click on the desired channel

That should be it and UK TV online should be now available on your PC. As I am the lucky owner of a television which has a connection for my PC, so I can even watch it on the big screen now, just like I would do in the UK. You can also choose either high or low speed depending on your connection – it does affect the quality of the picture so you would only be able to watch on a regular sized computer screen, but if you have a slow internet connection, choosing the low speed will eliminate problems with the picture breaking up.

There is more information about this on different blogs, here is a link to another thread if you are interested in more detailed information:
myp2pforum.eu

Option 3:
Filmon.com – This is a service a friend of mine was using for the last couple of months. In general it was not a bad service, but compared to the VLC it has two significant disadvantages: 1. It is not a free service 2. It breaks up quite frequently if your connection is not super fast! There are different subscriptions available on their website.

Option 4:
ADSL provider, I have found an ADSL provider offering free UK television with their ADSL connection. I was reading their website to find out how this is possible as all other services – except for the VLC player – is not free of charge and even more important are the legal issues in that case. I do not want to migrate my ADSL connection to another provider just because of UK television which might stop working in a couple of weeks. I have contacted them and asked if they could guarantee that the service will be available in the future too, but unfortunately in the reply I was only asked for my phone number so they can check if I can use the service. As my questions have not been answered I have sent them another email, but I am still waiting for the reply, as soon as I have received it I will give you an update.

Conclusion:
Option 2 is definitely the best solution I have found and I hope it will continue to work for sometime. I hope this article does help some of you and I would appreciate if you could let me know your experiences and solutions on how to watch UK TV online.

WiMax?

2011-05-25T20:20:29+01:00

I live in Gipuzkoa and would like to know if anyone has any idea about WiMax internet connection in this area.
I´ve spoken to Euskaltel but they`re kind of pricey.
Anyone an Expat-expert in this field?
I appreciate your time.
T

Technical question re landline/ADSL etc…

2012-01-16T15:01:12+01:00

Hi, We are moving house soon and I have just phoned Telefonica/Movistar to see about a new landline (there has not been one there before) and ADSL service.
They have said they can do LL no worries, but there may be a problem with ADSL as there is ‘No coverage’.
It all got a bit complicated and I gave up, only that someone will phone me later with some kind of answer?

In the meantime, I was speaking to a cheaper call provider who started to tell me that although the landline can be connected from the local exchange, if the house is more than 1500 metres away, there will be a poor/no possibility of ADSL through the line and Telefonica will have to install a wi fi system. But from my last conv with Telefonica, they were not even promising this. Only a ‘Radio phone’.. and I know from other people these are not very reliable.

Can any teccies please confirm about the set up and if I have got the right end of the stick.

If it it going to be this complicated with Telefonica/we have to mess about with different equipment, we would prefer to stay with one of our current providers (although more expensive), with the single dish/antenna system we use for phone and internet.

Just want to rule out possibilities first before spending money on new installs!

Driver Updated needed - help please!

2012-01-08T06:34:10+01:00

I have just got an SPGL-11 Skype Gateway (used, but like new from Friday Ads). It came boxed, with instructions, and mini install disc, but the driver is out of date and also my Windows 7 doesn’t like the automatic update via my OS.

Have been searching high and low for a ‘secure’ free driver download so I can install and use the gateway, but so far no luck (just one source ending pdf - but it all looks dodgy/no easy access to the driver I want without first downloading their pletorha of ‘free driver update software’ etc.)

The box is made by Pluscom Technologies Ltd (Canada?), but there seems to be very litte info on this co and certainly no link to any official driver update that I can find.

Any suggestions/links anyone?
Ta…

(PS - when I follow the install instructions (via disc), all goes OK till I plug the gateway in, then it cuts out and stops the install process. Have tried over doz times to install as I know these things can be fickle.)

website on install disc for co - but no good info there!!! http://pluscom.cn

App Designer Wanted!

2012-01-12T19:42:19+01:00

We are a small business who want to develop and launch an APP. We have in hand a web/general designer, but need someone who is fully experienced and willing to get our App right for the market.

Please PM me to discuss.

New Telefonica Installation - Electricity required?

2012-01-10T09:08:11+01:00

Hi, We are waiting to move into our rennovated house, but the electricity supply is not yet on.
Q- Can we go ahead and order/get installed a Telefonica line without elec to test it (I am guessing the answer is yes - I hope! - as
I have been present at a couple of installs and the guy just goes from the exchange nearby, puts in phone sockets you require and presto he is calling the exchange!) Just want to confirm this as we will order now as we know it could take a few weeks for our application to be actioned but we would like to get phone sorted asap!

Internet WITHOUT phone line?

2011-10-31T14:02:10+01:00

Hola.

Does anyone know if it’s possible to get the internet in Spain without having to have/or sign up for a phone line too.

In the places I’ve rented so far it seems all the landlords have just quoted the un-magical figure of 40euros every month for internet, which is MIGHTY expensive…..........especially as in my current place I did a speed test and the maximum download speed is 5.6.

Sometimes this 40e figure included the phone line too - but I NEVER use it so it just seems like a waste of money. Also as i’m currently living alone (and will have 1 flatmate max) 40e every month is an even greater expense than normal.

My current place has a cable (I think it may be ONO) and also a telefonica socket.

Any advice welcome. Gracias.