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adorabilly
Joined: 20 May 2006
Posts: 430
Location: Ras Al Khaimah
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 Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 3:55 am Post subject: |
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another etisilat horror story.
So we moved here exactly 9 weeks ago (to the RAK). on the second day here we went and set up cell phone service and ordered adsl internet to be installed where we lived. And after 9 weeks I have recieved exactly 2 phone calls about setting it up. And in both instances the person said "what is your address?" And I told them, they replied "oh you have it wrong in the computer you have to reapply."
So a 9 week wait so far, with lots of calls to the customer service line, and visits to etisilats office and still nothing is done.... I wish there was another provider here in the RAK.... |
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helenl
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Posts: 1202
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| Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 5:54 am Post subject: |
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A possible internet alternative is offered by the Orbit Satellite TV service. You don't even have to have a phone line (BTW 9 weeks is a little long to wait but certainly not a record for UAE when dealing with Etisalat).
I'm not sure of the cost but it's supposed to be available for high speed/broadband? Might be worth a call to Orbit to find out. Plus, because Etisalat isn't the provider then those services they try to block should be available. |
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MTelmar
Joined: 01 Sep 2007
Posts: 63
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| Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 6:49 am Post subject: |
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| helenl wrote: |
A possible internet alternative is offered by the Orbit Satellite TV service. You don't even have to have a phone line (BTW 9 weeks is a little long to wait but certainly not a record for UAE when dealing with Etisalat).
I'm not sure of the cost but it's supposed to be available for high speed/broadband? Might be worth a call to Orbit to find out. Plus, because Etisalat isn't the provider then those services they try to block should be available. |
I was just on Orbit's website, checking out their TV offerings, and was wondering this very thing - can you get TV/internet bundle-type of a thing - but couldn't find anything about it (will keep looking).
DSL offering through Etisalat leaves much to be desired, well, at least for my spoiled high-speed/low cost/unlimited/uncensored self (but they do offer a wireless modem, which is pretty much a must for me - I shall never be constricted by wires again, if I can help it!)
Maybe I'll ask one of the expat ladies, and see if they know  |
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Iamherebecause
Joined: 07 Mar 2006
Posts: 427
Location: . . . such quantities of sand . . .
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| Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:06 am Post subject: |
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Whatever you do, DON'T buy your wireless modem from Etisalat. I bought some thing from them made by Linksys and basically it won't work unless it's linked directly to the computer by a wire... wireless range was meant to be 25 meters or something and I can't get it to do its stuff from one room to the next.
Ask a techie colleague - and shop around |
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Miyazaki
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 635
Location: My Father's Yacht
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| Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 10:19 am Post subject: |
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| Does anyone have any photos or links to pictures of typical housing available for teachers in the UAE? |
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kish_kish
Joined: 02 Sep 2007
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 10:43 am Post subject: |
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Well the facebook problem seems to be fixed....for me and for now anyway.
I would have to agree about not buying the wireless modem from Etisalat, as it will definatley not have the range that you are used to....I think it's so that people cannot share their inernet access (and their bill) with your neighbours (in an apartment building).
Finally, I must admit that I was happy with Etisalats prompt service, my inernet was set up within 3 days.....maybe this is a record towards the other extreme of the 9 week long wait....wow...I applaud your patience.
What's this I hear about VIP internet access, where you do not have blocked sites? |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 1:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Miyazaki wrote: |
| Does anyone have any photos or links to pictures of typical housing available for teachers in the UAE? |
Just do a Google of real estate in the Emirates. There are plenty of sites for rentals. Look at the lower end of the scale for flats. (few of us get penthouses or villas.  )
Depending on your employer, of course, the housing is generally a 2 bedroom flat in a newish building.
VS |
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Afra
Joined: 02 Feb 2003
Posts: 389
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| Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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Miyazaki wrote:
Does anyone have any photos or links to pictures of typical housing available for teachers in the UAE?
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Typical single teacher? Typical couple? Typical family? Your question is too vague. However, the HCTs in Dubai are having enormous problems finding suitable properties for teachers. Some teachers who arrived for this academic year are still in hotels, with spouse and family. Some left when they saw the accommodation on offer. Most of the housing advertised on the various UAE real estate sites is far above the Housing Allowance, unless you want to contribute. |
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MTelmar
Joined: 01 Sep 2007
Posts: 63
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| Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 5:16 pm Post subject: |
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The facebook problem seems to be fixed universally
That's too bad about the wireless modem - guess I might just have to bring my existing one with me - you know, the one that supports my entire neighborhood 
(there's quite a few of networks available in my house, but only this 'Ryan' person and I keep ours open for everyone... got to find who he is, 'cause I want whichever modem he's using - he doesn't live on my street, so whatever he's using has an amazing range!) |
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Miyazaki
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 635
Location: My Father's Yacht
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| Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 5:20 am Post subject: |
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V.S, Afra:
Thanks for the info on housing.
Will Google and have a look at what is offered on the lower end of the 2 bdrm, 'newish' places.
Teachers left after seeing the housing - WOW! 
In fact, I've been left with the impression over the yeas of reading this board that the housing was quite good, genrally speaking, for the UAE TEFL'ers.
Thanks again! |
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The Lemon
Joined: 19 Jan 2003
Posts: 42
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| Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 7:44 am Post subject: |
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| helenl wrote: |
A possible internet alternative is offered by the Orbit Satellite TV service. You don't even have to have a phone line (BTW 9 weeks is a little long to wait but certainly not a record for UAE when dealing with Etisalat).
I'm not sure of the cost but it's supposed to be available for high speed/broadband? Might be worth a call to Orbit to find out. Plus, because Etisalat isn't the provider then those services they try to block should be available. |
I'm headed to the UAE in early 2008 and am reviewing internet options. Getting around the Etisalat blocks (particularly the daft voip restrictions) by using Orbit would be good, but I'm not thrilled with the 512kb max limit on home usage, nor does the "we'll throttle your bandwidth if you use it too much" throughput shaping disclaimer at the bottom impress me. Etisalat's 1mb/sec ADSL option is much more attractive, at least on paper.
Unless you run into adorability's problem where they don't actually show up to give you service. In the country where I live now, the telco provider turned on the service over carried the phone line somewhere downtown and all I had to do was plug in the ADSL modem myself. Is the Etisalat housecall necessary? |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 2:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Miyazaki wrote: |
Teachers left after seeing the housing - WOW!
In fact, I've been left with the impression over the yeas of reading this board that the housing was quite good, genrally speaking, for the UAE TEFL'ers.
Thanks again! |
Your impression wasn't incorrect, but rapid population growth is finally catching up with supply. When I was in Abu Dhabi in the mid-90's for instance, there was a 30-40% vacancy rate in new flats as they were building them way faster than they were renting them.
That said, late arrivals always get the leftovers. I was the last teacher to arrive (as I was a very late hire) and the flat that I was assigned was not acceptable. I refused it... and politely stated the reasons why... and just as politely told them that I wouldn't be able to stay if this was it, but at the time there were hundreds and hundreds of empty 2 bedrooms, so they gave in. In the same situation now, I would likely have left. (and I had another offer in hand that I could have still accepted)
Acceptability probably also depends on what the living conditions were like in your previous job.
VS |
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