Need to find a large dataplan for mobile internet

[kitkat]

Hi and good morning to everybody!
I'm currently in Belgium, but plan to emigrate to Macedonia before the end of the year. I'm moving to a region around Skopje. During the first year I will stay in a house where there is no Internet connection and no landline.
During a preliminary visit last May I went to T-Home who sent technicians to evaluate the area. After 10 days I was told that there is no infrastructure in the road below and therefore I can get no landline and no Internet to the house. That was bad news.
However, I really need to be connected with a laptop. I've been thinking about tethering from a mobile data plan, or use a mobile surf plan for laptop, but these appear to be at most 10GB per month, which is not enough. I'm currently used to 150GB plan with my Belgian provider.
In short: does anyone know how I can get a large dataplan without a landline? Preferably not too expensive? Since I have to use Google translator for most webpages in cyrillic (even this forum), it's not easy for me to find information myself. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance to everyone!

 

[Daniel86]

Hello and welcome to our IT forum, I am sure that you will find the appropriate answers to your requests here.
For start you can check for option like this if there is possibility in your area
http://go.sunwireless.com.mk/mk/index.php/internet/post-paid
@HardCorec

 

[borcep]

Guess this also will be of some use, despite not being sure about coverage.

 

[bizmak]

You can check this too.

 

[kirev]

Hi and good morning to everybody!
I'm currently in Belgium, but plan to emigrate to Macedonia before the end of the year. I'm moving to a region around Skopje. During the first year I will stay in a house where there is no Internet connection and no landline.
During a preliminary visit last May I went to T-Home who sent technicians to evaluate the area. After 10 days I was told that there is no infrastructure in the road below and therefore I can get no landline and no Internet to the house. That was bad news.
However, I really need to be connected with a laptop. I've been thinking about tethering from a mobile data plan, or use a mobile surf plan for laptop, but these appear to be at most 10GB per month, which is not enough. I'm currently used to 150GB plan with my Belgian provider.
In short: does anyone know how I can get a large dataplan without a landline? Preferably not too expensive? Since I have to use Google translator for most webpages in cyrillic (even this forum), it's not easy for me to find information myself. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance to everyone!

Well, next time first check for fiber optic availability before moving I don't believe you can find a good solution.
But, hey, did you check for cable operators in the area? Sometimes they might have undocumented LAN solutions. And check with your immediate neighbors if anyone already solved the problem

 

[kitkat]

Hello and welcome to our IT forum, I am sure that you will find the appropriate answers to your requests here.
For start you can check for option like this if there is possibility in your area
http://go.sunwireless.com.mk/mk/index.php/internet/post-paid
@HardCorec

Hi Daniel, thanks for your reply. Sunwireless is interesting, the price is good. Unfortunately the coverage map is not available... I'll come back and check again.

Guess this also will be of some use, despite not being sure about coverage.

Borcep, thanks for helping. Unfortunately I'm outside the area of coverage with Neotel.

You can check this too.

Bizmak, thank you! That is helpful. This is the coverage I get:

All providers: GSM ok

- VIP - UMTS: just about ok
- ONE - LTE Rural coverage: very dodgy...
- T-Mobile - UMTS: ok

It looks like I'm safest with a mobile plan from T-mobile if I have to choose between these three.
However, am I right in assuming that, since I'm covered by GSM by all providers, that I can tether my computer to my phone with all three?

Well, next time first check for fiber optic availability before moving I don't believe you can find a good solution.
But, hey, did you check for cable operators in the area? Sometimes they might have undocumented LAN solutions. And check with your immediate neighbors if anyone already solved the problem

Hey thanks, Kirev. Actually, I don't have much choice. Anyway, I'm not staying in the same house for more than a year. I'm looking to get my own place, so this would be a temporary solution. Thanks also for the tip about cable providers. I will definitely check with the neighbours, but I'm doubtful.

 

[kirev]

...This is the coverage I get:

All providers: GSM ok

- VIP - UMTS: just about ok
- ONE - LTE Rural coverage: very dodgy...
- T-Mobile - UMTS: ok

It looks like I'm safest with a mobile plan from T-mobile if I have to choose between these three.
However, am I right in assuming that, since I'm covered by GSM by all providers, that I can tether my computer to my phone with all three?
...

Kinda. Video uplink solutions use such hardware. They bond six sim cards (you can use different operators) and bond it for quality video transmissions from the field. I suppose they are pretty expensive.

 

[kitkat]

Kinda. Video uplink solutions use such hardware. They bond six sim cards (you can use different operators) and bond it for quality video transmissions from the field. I suppose they are pretty expensive.

Good lord. I don't think I will need anything as sophisticated as that. But I want to be able to Skype/chat and surf the internet every day. If I can tether--like I suspect--I need to find a large GSM mobile data plan, because I don't think 10GB is nearly enough.

 

[kirev]

Good lord. I don't think I will need anything as sophisticated as that. But I want to be able to Skype/chat and surf the internet every day. If I can tether--like I suspect--I need to find a large GSM mobile data plan, because I don't think 10GB is nearly enough.

Cool, so you should buy a SOHO router (e.g. http://www.anhoch.com/product/36623/tenda-wireless-n-3g4g-router-300mbps-4g630 ) that can use one USB stick for 3G/4G connectivity and share that over wires/wireless. Use your own stick (unlocked) so you can put different SIM cards (if provider coverage is not good, you'll have to go to other) in it because the problem with postpaid plans is that you cannot extend the GB limit. If it's 10GB, you are done when you use them all. You will have to switch to prepaid cards.

 

[kitkat]

I'm a noob. I don't understand what you are saying. ;p It's a bit too technical for me. Could you please repeat that in noob-language?

 

[kirev]

You need SIM card - I suggest using prepaid cards as you can put a new one when you exhaust the data cap.
You need USB 3G stick like this http://www.anhoch.com/product/36027/usb-3g-modem-ldk-hsdpa-wmicrosd-slot where you'll put the SIM card and surf on your computer.
You need a router to share the data plan with two or more computers. Like this one http://www.anhoch.com/product/36623/tenda-wireless-n-3g4g-router-300mbps-4g630 .
You should put the SIM card in the USB 3G stick, then you put the USB 3G stick in the router and configure everything. The good thing is that they can probably do that for you in ANHOCH (where you should buy all the ICT equipment you need, they are simply the best) and if it does not work, you should scout other shops for USB stick compatible with the router.
And that's about it. When you go over 10GB, you'll have to take out the SIM card and put a new one with 10GB and so on. When the month is over and you spend the last 10GB, you can go back to the first SIM card, top it up with 800 denars and you'll get new 10GB. Rinse and repeat. In the meantime, you will take your laptop with you to a friendly cafe/office and download some updates there and/or some movies from iTunes or such, just to save some gigabytes on your mobile data plan.
Surely, you should scout your neighborhood for cable internet or some wireless alternatives, but you'll have your backup solution ready. Bonus - it will work everywhere in the world (almost) with a local SIM card and you can still use your router when you find proper internet.
Со лесно...

 

[Necromancer]

Maybe if you provide some information about the location you plan on living at, someone can ask around and help out, maybe some forum users even live nearby and can help out. I'm pretty sure that the local cable companies will be able to provide a better Internet connection and cap in contrast to the ISPs.

 

[kitkat]

You need SIM card - I suggest using prepaid cards as you can put a new one when you exhaust the data cap.
You need USB 3G stick like this http://www.anhoch.com/product/36027/usb-3g-modem-ldk-hsdpa-wmicrosd-slot where you'll put the SIM card and surf on your computer.
You need a router to share the data plan with two or more computers. Like this one http://www.anhoch.com/product/36623/tenda-wireless-n-3g4g-router-300mbps-4g630 .
You should put the SIM card in the USB 3G stick, then you put the USB 3G stick in the router and configure everything. The good thing is that they can probably do that for you in ANHOCH (where you should buy all the ICT equipment you need, they are simply the best) and if it does not work, you should scout other shops for USB stick compatible with the router.
And that's about it. When you go over 10GB, you'll have to take out the SIM card and put a new one with 10GB and so on. When the month is over and you spend the last 10GB, you can go back to the first SIM card, top it up with 800 denars and you'll get new 10GB. Rinse and repeat. In the meantime, you will take your laptop with you to a friendly cafe/office and download some updates there and/or some movies from iTunes or such, just to save some gigabytes on your mobile data plan.
Surely, you should scout your neighborhood for cable internet or some wireless alternatives, but you'll have your backup solution ready. Bonus - it will work everywhere in the world (almost) with a local SIM card and you can still use your router when you find proper internet.
Со лесно...

Wow, Kirev, that's a good solution.
If I understand correctly, I don't need a router if I only have 1 computer. But why do I need to buy several SIM cards? Can't I keep topping up the first one?
EDIT: uh, that's a silly question I suppose. So basically what you are saying is: buy several mobile data surf plans like this one: http://www.t-mobile.mk/public/mobile-surf-prepaid.nspx and rotate them every month?

 

[kitkat]

Maybe if you provide some information about the location you plan on living at, someone can ask around and help out, maybe some forum users even live nearby and can help out. I'm pretty sure that the local cable companies will be able to provide a better Internet connection and cap in contrast to the ISPs.

I would stay at my parents' house in Katlanovo.
I know there is Internet in the spa (Banja), but not where my parents live, unfortunately.

 

[Daniel86]

As for now, solution provided by Kirev is the most confirmed that will work for sure, but if you keep topping the first SIM card, you will hate Macedonia instantly because of the big expences for topping, while changing several SIM cards that have promotional 10GB every month for low price, might be cheaper
The cable providers would be perfect solution as they provide pretty stable and cheap connection with bigger monthly limit, but you must check with each operator to see if there is support for their service in that exact area that you will live in.
Smart move while waiting for answers from this forum, would be contacting each operator, describing your issue and sending them exact location of the place, like street address, number of the same, maybe add coordinates or link from Google Maps with the exact location, because even if they don't list some services on their official site, they may have support for the same, or provide extensive support to solve your problem. You can create one good constructed message and send it to all operators, to avoid losing time writing separately to each operator.

http://blizoo.mk/contact.html
http://neotel.mk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=11 [email protected]
http://www.sunwireless.eu/contact-us.html
http://www.one.mk/Net_SMART-tarifi.html http://one.mk/kontakt.html They also have online live chat, but if they offer WADSL internet to you, avoid it at any cost, look for cabled solution only.

For now, that's all I can think of, if someone has something to add, it would be also helpful for you.

Живели, Cheers

 

[xenon]

A od kaj si ti bate shto mama i tato ti se od Katlanovo a ti ne znaesh ni dva zbora da beknesh na makedonski?

 

[FLEGMA]

xenon пробува да ви ги отвори очите дека ве возат од since 26 Aug 2015

Large data plan, my ass.
Ѓоа ќе седи на Солунска Глава.

 

[kirev]

Wow, Kirev, that's a good solution.
If I understand correctly, I don't need a router if I only have 1 computer. But why do I need to buy several SIM cards? Can't I keep topping up the first one?
EDIT: uh, that's a silly question I suppose. So basically what you are saying is: buy several mobile data surf plans like this one: http://www.t-mobile.mk/public/mobile-surf-prepaid.nspx and rotate them every month?

Q1: Yes. Single computer - no need for a router.
Q2: Yes. The SIM cards cannot be topped more than once a month. That's why you need a few of them that you'll rotate. But the cards are free, you only pay for the service, so 10 cards or one, it's the same cost

 

[kitkat]

A od kaj si ti bate shto mama i tato ti se od Katlanovo a ti ne znaesh ni dva zbora da beknesh na makedonski?

A od kaj si ti bate shto mama i tato ti se od Katlanovo a ti ne znaesh ni dva zbora da beknesh na makedonski?

Hi there, I understand a little. My mother is Belgian. My father is Macedonian. That's why. I have lived all my life in Belgium.

 

[null_ptr]

I'm currently in Belgium, but plan to emigrate to Macedonia...

Jokes aside, you know that people actually emigrate from/through Macedonia and not the other way around ?

 

[kitkat]

Q1: Yes. Single computer - no need for a router.
Q2: Yes. The SIM cards cannot be topped more than once a month. That's why you need a few of them that you'll rotate. But the cards are free, you only pay for the service, so 10 cards or one, it's the same cost

Excellent! That's what I'll do. And I'll check out the cable, like Daniel86 suggests.

 

[kitkat]

Jokes aside, you know that people actually emigrate from/through Macedonia and not the other way around ?

Yes I know that. But I'm special like that. Ha.:silly:

 

[kitkat]

As for now, solution provided by Kirev is the most confirmed that will work for sure, but if you keep topping the first SIM card, you will hate Macedonia instantly because of the big expences for topping, while changing several SIM cards that have promotional 10GB every month for low price, might be cheaper
The cable providers would be perfect solution as they provide pretty stable and cheap connection with bigger monthly limit, but you must check with each operator to see if there is support for their service in that exact area that you will live in.
Smart move while waiting for answers from this forum, would be contacting each operator, describing your issue and sending them exact location of the place, like street address, number of the same, maybe add coordinates or link from Google Maps with the exact location, because even if they don't list some services on their official site, they may have support for the same, or provide extensive support to solve your problem. You can create one good constructed message and send it to all operators, to avoid losing time writing separately to each operator.

http://blizoo.mk/contact.html
http://neotel.mk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=11 [email protected]
http://www.sunwireless.eu/contact-us.html
http://www.one.mk/Net_SMART-tarifi.html http://one.mk/kontakt.html They also have online live chat, but if they offer WADSL internet to you, avoid it at any cost, look for cabled solution only.

For now, that's all I can think of, if someone has something to add, it would be also helpful for you.

Живели, Cheers

Thanks a lot!
Actually, I've done that already (including a Google Map with exact location) and I have written to T-Home & T-Mobile, but they were not nearly as helpful as you people are here.
You have been a great help, thank you once again.