Re: [tlug] How to use eMobile Huawei USB dongles (with Asashi net)

[John Fremlin <john@example.com>]

Ian Barwick wrote:
> * The contract period is 12 months, right?
> (according to the pricing details as
> https://asahi-net.jp/service/mobile/shin_chouwari_service.html ;
> there's no info on the English pages at all as far as I can see).

I'm not sure where the info was but as I recall Bruce explained that one 
can terminate the contract without penalty with a month's notice (you 
have to return the dongle). The signup is all in English if you can find 
out the webpage (sort of hidden on the Asahi net site as I remember) -- 
you have to fax the signup form.

> * Within Tokyo, how is service in general? E.g. if I plonk myself in a
> random Starbucks,
> McDonalds etc. am I likely to be able to get a decent connection?

Yes.

> * How well does it work inside buildings?

Generally fine -- it's like a 3G mobile phone connexion.

> * What kind of speed do you get? I am basically looking for "fast
> enough for basic web
> surfing" and "stable enough for SSH sessions", with the option of
> downloading the odd
> couple of dozen megabytes of source files should I need them.

About 200kB/s (2-3MBps) down is regular can generally be counted on -- 
sometimes I get more. The main issue is that 3G has a terrible latency 
of a few hundred(?) milliseconds.

The stability is not super great, maybe the connexion drops once or 
twice a day, but for interactive ssh it's fine.

The best part is that you can use it on the train on the go (provided 
you are not going through a tunnel or underground of course).