We have had our phone lines for about 10 days now. The only reason we got a phone line is because in the Rincon area, DSL is the fastest most reliable Internet available. Your options include satellite, Choice Cable and a wireless broadcast that is similar to satellite. The satellite Internet and TV goes down every time a rain storm comes through and although the download speeds are quite fast when there is reception, the upload speeds are always pretty slow. Choice Cables Internet is just the worst…it is akin to dial up when it isn’t down completely. This is the connection I am using at the office and it is down at least twice a week and the average speed when it is up is 70k. Keep in mind a dial-up connection is 56k. The DSL in this area is provided by PRT and runs at 2mg download and 1mg upload and is reliable. I have not heard of one instance where it has gone down unless a phone line was taken down in a car wreck or storm.
Now that we have the phone lines, the only thing we need to have high speed internet at the house (we work online so this is important) is a DSL modem. I have been slammed with work lately and have been anything but efficient having to deal with Choice Cables horrible service and finally got fed up with waiting for our modem to show up yesterday so I went looking for one. I called Radio Shack, Office Max, Wal-Mart and three computers stores all of which covered from Isabella to Mayaguez. No one carries DSL modems down here, just cable. Every store I asked said the same thing; “Why do you need to buy one, the phone company gives you a DSL Modem for free?”
Although I was pulling my hair out over it yesterday…I am just going to have to settle in to the island lifestyle and wait for the phone company to get us our modem.
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I found your post very helpful. My sister recently moved to Rincon is interested in high speed internet. It’s obvious that your experience proves dsl is the better choice. My sister has tried calling to get dsl hooked up but can never get anyone to speak english to her. I’m interested to know how are you making out now?
Chris:
I am glad the post helped. The experience your sister is having the PRT (Puerto Rico Telephone) is the same problem I have and anyone dealing with them will continue to have until they start hiring more bilingual operators. It is really hard to find someone that speaks English at Puerto Rico Telephone.
The PRT DSL is the best Internet in Rincon, but it still has some problems. Our Internet does slow down sometimes, mostly in the afternoons(super fast in the morning) We have had a few separate occasions where it went down for a couple of hours and one Sunday a few weeks ago it was down all day and all night, which sucks because Sunday is Summers busiest work day.
With all that said…I still like our DMax DSL service here in Rincon but would really like to see some more English speaking operators at Puerto Rico Telephone.