Newsletter #64

Internet Service Providers

As one who does not hestitate to slam my ISP for bad service, I think it only fair to pass along praise when justified. Overall, I've been very satisfied with the service I've received from Cable and Wireless over the years, despite the mini-war I had with them. (See Newsletters #37 and #38 on the web site http://www.panamaretire.net) Just this week, Cable and Wireless installed new cable on the poles in my neighborhood. Now my telephone won't ring and my internet speed is down to 180 kbps from a normal 860 kbps. Everything was working fine until they fixed it.

Most of my friends who have Cable Onda have reported poor response and waiting days for installation, which is common with all ISPs in Panama. Wisper, a wireless system has the receive antenna in the modem and is therefore portable wherever you can receive a signal, did not cover much of Panama City the last time I looked into it.. Recently I received high praise for both Cable Onda and Wisper on my Yahoo group, CompuPan. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/compupan/

Ricky writes:

Henry,

As you can see, my email is still cwpanama.net.
BUT two technicians arrived 1:15 pm. They phoned us before one to ask for directions to the house. So, 15 minutes late..I can live with that.
They did the job real quick, even offered to put in a new cable for the home network to the 2nd pc.

When testing, the modem failed connectivity. They did some testing with a portable unit up to where the cable joins the main cable outside. Apparently the problem is there. So, another "cable group" has to come and fix the problem at the joint, they are not allowed to work on that part of the cable. Only installing & testing inside.
"Hopefully" tomorrow then...

Will read your letter(#37) later on.
C & W must have smelled something is wrong...the speed is back to normal.

Will keep you posted when this nightmare is over.

Ricky

-and-

Cable Onda fixed the connection outside this morning early.
The same technician from yesterday was here at 2 pm. Installed and tested.

Right now, we are flying with this high speed.
Will monitor it for the free month.

Ricky

Rob had this to say about Wisper:

Re: Get "whisper" from Liberty Technology and never have problems

From Tocumen to Arrijan(sp?), I have never had a problem.

There are 7 towers now.

There were only 2-3 several months ago.

Yes, I do not need cable or hone service.
They are provided to me, free in condo.

Rob

I'd like to hear more positive reports on local ISPs. If one provides quality service, the rest have to follow or lose business. Contact Cable Onda at https://www.cableonda.com/ Telephone 390-7777. Wisper is available from Liberty Technologies. http://www.liberty-tech.net/ Telephone 322-0726

Community

On August 19 La Sociedad de Amigos del Museo Afro-Antillano de Panama (Friends of the Afro-Antillian Museum of Panama) will host a gala celebration and dinner in honor of their 25th Anniversary and Commemoration of the 92d anniversary of the Panama Canal. Magistrate Harley J. Mitchell, Engineer Antonio Michel, Doctor Lydia Gordon de Isaacs and Mr. Edward Jordan will be honored for their achievements and contributions to the community.

The celebration kicks off at 7:30 pm in the Gran Salon of Hotel Veneto. Dress is informal. Tickets are available for $30.00 per person until August 15. After that tickets will be $35.00. Contact Judy Dixon at 260-5437 or Gloria Branch at 224-6648 (both speak Englsh) for tickets.

Tipping

Nora, Charlie and Judy went to dinner at a restaurant on the Causeway last evening and had an excellent meal and top notch service. Lindemann's red Aussie wine was excellent. They were, in fact, so pleased that Charlie gave a 20% tip. The waiter asked if he could leave the tip in cash, instead of putting it on the Credit Card, and he did so. As they were getting in the car, the manager came out and asked Charlie if he had given the waiter a cash tip, and Charlie confirmed he had. The manager complained that they have a communal tip jar and all restaurant employees, including the manager, split what goes in the tip fund, and that the waiter had not reported the cash. I don't blame him. I hate this practise. Why should the manager, the cook, and the slackers all get a share of a tip I give a good waiter? It destroys incentive and cheats customers. So despite the good food, fine wine, and great service, I can't recommend a restaurant where the manager chases down customers to ask about a tip, and where good servers have to subsidize poor ones. I wish I could mention the name of the restaurant but Nora is afraid the waiter will be punished if I do.

The website:

One of the reasons I'm late with this week's newsletter is that Nora has given me a lot of new listings for the Real Estate pages, and I've been busy with that. There should be lots of new stuff up by this weekend.