10412 Another Telecom Italia enquiry.

We Have theTelecomomy Internazionale package, it just runs through our normal land line, we use Tele2 for our adsl, I hope that helps ?

Thanks, that does help.
Interesting to know you can combine offers from different providers. :smile:

I don't think you need to worry about ISDN - it seems to be a bit of a surpassed technology (not that I know anything techy, I just read the adverts...). For sure on an ADSL line you'll get offered 'extra phone numbers', but unless you are running a business I can't see the point.

I'm not sure that Teleconomy Internazionale is a wonderful option any more, considering the efficacy (improving every day) of things like Skype - which come free with a broadband connection. If you are happy to use any of the VOIP sevices I'd suggest you think carefully about whether you need Teleconomy Int. (Would be interesting to hear debora..etc on this topic).

I had a bash at Skype earlier this year Charles but it wasn't that successful, my built in mike kept going off and then it packed in completely.
Probably my fault and should I try again.
I am self employed as is my partner who would perhaps best have a separate number as well.
We have also always had an individual number for fax and dare I say it, B list contacts. :eeeek:
Perhaps it's time to rethink the whole thing and maybe for two people talking long distance for hours at the same time VOIP might be the alternative. :smile:

We have Teleconomy International and have found it to be extremely cost effective especially when phoning those individuals (ancient relatives in particular!) or businesses who do not have access to internet /Skype. We did try Skype for using with friends also linked up but found it to be a complete nightmare with very unreliable reception. Now we use Windows messenger and have found that to be very good indeed.

[quote=anne2;97050]We have Teleconomy International and have found it to be extremely cost effective especially when phoning those individuals (ancient relatives in particular!) or businesses who do not have access to internet /Skype. We did try Skype for using with friends also linked up but found it to be a complete nightmare with very unreliable reception. Now we use Windows messenger and have found that to be very good indeed.[/quote]

Oh Skype has [I]really[/I] cleaned it's act up now as far as transmission goes... I would say it is 110% better now than a few months ago. I'm quite happy combining Skype, Skype 'Out' and Teleconomy Internazionale now, and pay next to nothing for the calls I [I]have[/I] to pay for!

But I suppose at the end of the day we all 'go' for the combination that suits us best - and so we should!

Of course Anne many of our contacts are not on Internet and I had to pay to contact them through Skype. Not bad rates but I would prefer to use the phone.
Thanks for the update on Skype Carole. I hadn't even heard of Skype "Out" before.
My fault as I had automatically deleted the news emails from them as I didn't use it anymore.
I'll definitely have another look at it.

I'm on Alice 7meg broadband and am lucky to get 475Kbps downloads and 278Kbps uploads which is painfully slow. I have asked them to check the line and they say they have but it never gets any better - unfortunately my Italian is not good enough to shout at them so nothing changes.
However I use Skype and find it very good - even though it keeps telling me that my connection would be better if I got broadband instead of dial up! I pay the Europe one off payment per month for unlimited calls to normal landline numbers and it works really well.

This slow speed will more than likely be because of the distance you are from your telephone exchange. The further away you are, the slower your speed.

I'm not sure exactly, but you would only get the full 7Mbs if you lived within a Km of your exchange. Speed drops off quite rapidly after that.

The only other thing to try, is to make sure you are connected at the main phone socket for your property, as using an extension has been known to cause slow speeds.

Also make sure that your modem/router has got the latest firmware/software for it as this can improve things too.

[quote=IRITALIA;96890]Hi,
Does anyone on the forum have the Alice Mega 7 package and are using the Telecomomy Internazionale service as well?
As I will be full time in Italy in the New Year I thought I would choose this as I use both Internet and phone long distance a lot.
Part of the Mega 7 options is for up to three extra phone numbers at a cost of only €1.00 a month per number. To use this offer I assume you would need ISDN to be installed as well to deal with the extra load? :veryconfused:
I was quite excited until I noticed a clause in the Teleconomy offer saying it was not available for ISDN lines. :no:
Am I snookered or is ISDN not required to use extra phone numbers? :eerr:[/quote]
Forget ISDN - this is/was a technology that was designed pre-broadband. The two are mutualy exclusive (you can't have broadband running over an ISDN line and vice versa). Extra lines are a "software feature" of a modern exchange and (likely) a broadband connection. For example we have a telecom Italia additional line plugged into the back of our broadband "modem" (it's not a modem really but then we get into even more techie stuff).
As mentioned in this thread distance is a major factor on what download speeds you will actually get. The other factor is contention - the more subscribers that get connected to the same broadband access point the slower your connection performance will be.

Thanks guys for all the useful info. :smile:
Great to know I don't need ISDN for an extra number.
I have been told by the technician who installed the line that the speed should be around 4.5 mega in my area. :veryconfused:
I will believe that when I eventually have the phone and internet completed.
I still am somewhat in shock that after paying €2964 to have the phone line installed they only brought the line through the garden (buried) to an exterior wall of the house. I then had to ask the muratore to drill through said wall and bring the line into the cantina. Not sure how much that will cost as it has just been added to general work still being done by his firm. Now I have to pay roughly €950 (the cheapest and most extensive preventivo) for an electrician to put in a centralino and bring the cable through the house to the various telephone points. This does though also include a separate centralino for wireless ADSL which wasn't in other quotes.
Three people for the one job. :eeeek:
If my memory doesn't fail me, here in Germany the telecom technician came into the house and did all the connection of the various lines, programmed the box, etc, and all for only the call out fee and an hourly rate which after the first hour was divided into 20 minute sections.

Then to get some of this money back I suggest that you register with Telecom Italia for their scheme where you pay exactly 10 euros a month and can then call Europe and North America without paying anything but 10 euros and the line rental charge!

Number one priority there Noble. :yes:

You really seem to be overdoing your telecoms provision! With an adsl line you could have just one socket connected to a wireless router, and some GAP VOIP cordless phones. Basta! Telecom should provide and fix the socket for free as part of the installation for which you have already paid (though it is down to your man to drill the hole, otherwise TI will string the line over the front of the house and drill through a windowframe).

So for (say) €100 router: €100 VOIP phone: €80 for five GAP phones you can make three calls simultaneously and do a load of other stuff you never dreamed you needed! The bandwith is fixed obvously, so if you are simultaneously videoconferencing on the PC it might all go a bit banana shaped.

I doubt if Fiat have a system as complex as you are thinking about installing :bigergrin:

When we had the phone line installed, our groundworks people put the underground trunking in from the pole over the other side of the road. When TI came, they fed the cables through, drilled through the house wall, covered the cable with ducting and fitted the relevant sockets etc in the entry room. Our electrician then made the final connections around the house.

Your absolutely right Charles, I probably don't really know what I'm having installed. :bigergrin:
It was only last month that I realised that, although I have a flat rate international calling subscription with Deutsche Telecom, I also had a contract for international calling with Vodafone. I have been paying €100+ a month to them on top of my Telecom flat rate for some while. :eeeek:
It's not that I have money to burn, far from it, but I work away from home a lot and pay by direct debit without really checking bills.
I had obviously agreed to a German Vodafone sales person just to get them off the phone without really realising what I had agreed to. :frown:

[quote=Geotherm;97344]When we had the phone line installed, our groundworks people put the underground trunking in from the pole over the other side of the road. When TI came, they fed the cables through, drilled through the house wall, covered the cable with ducting and fitted the relevant sockets etc in the entry room. Our electrician then made the final connections around the house.[/quote]

Seems service is a bit of pot luck depending on either your area or how keen your workman is. :bigergrin:

We have finally had our phone line installed yesterday after waiting for over a year, lots and lots of phone calls and 5 cancelled appointments. The TI guys put in 4 poles, drilled a hole in our wall (in the centre of the back wall of our house to my shock!), covered it in ducting and fitted the internal boxes. Today they have been back to check the broadband and phone connections are all set up correctly. They have been very helpful despite our poor Italian and even though we have had to wait so long for them to get here, were please eventually with what they have done.

The only thing is now they say that we have to wait 15 days for TI to post us out a modem or we can buy one in a local shop which we have to pay for then set up a contract and pay €2 per month. Has anyone else done this as we are not sure if we have understood the TI guy correctly? Also does anyone know if there are different tariffs for broadband with TI and which is the best one to use? Have looked at the website but it is confusing as it is only in Italian and our Italian isn't quite up to that level yet!!!
Thanks for your help. Sarah and Mark

We bought our own modem, I only use the 2mb option as not playing games and the download speed is quite sufficient for what we need. If you buy your own modem then you can opt out of the E2 per month additional cost.

I got my service in January this year. At first they put me on "Alice Free/Alice Night & Weekend" which translates as been free ONLY at night and weekend but a fortune during the day!
I changed it to "Alice 7 Mega" which when translated means I get less than 1 meg at all times and Skype keeps telling me to change to broadband from dialup!!!
I still haven't received the wireless router which was promised for free as part of my package so I would go out and buy your own straight away rather than waiting. You then don't have to pay the 2 euro per month to Alice so they say.

Hi Sarah & Mark,

any flat service from TI will be fine. I think the minimum now for a new line is 7Mb anyway. What did you choose when you signed up to get ADSL? That will be what you have - whatever you chose at the time.

Try M&P in Comunanza for an ADSL modem. They have plenty and you can get a wireless one there if you have a laptop that is wireless enabled. They are very helpful although always busy.

If you get stuck, feel free to give me a call. It's my "proper" day job :-)

Hi Penny....

Great info (especially in the 'general' Penna san Giovanni area!)

I think the bandwidth issue is an interesting one as in my experience the more the better is the norm.......BUT...............sitting here with my 1.2mb connection gives me everything I need (as mentioned)................I'm not into games, I suspect these need a lot more, but for (what I think of as) the norm..........I'm pleasantly surprised.

I have use GlobalMedia (?) down the road toward Fermo - excellent, Fidoka (or is it Fiduka??? sorry) in San Ginesio are also superb and they have installed etc etc etc.............oh it costs me circa 20E per month good/bad ????

I'll bear you inmind with any technical issues that arise !:winki:

You're welcome! Been doing it for nearly 20 years

To be honest, I was quite happy with the old 2Mb I had and I am doing things over the internet that need a lot of bandwidth upon occasion. I didn't ask to be upgraded to 7Mb, it was just automatic. I think this is now the norm from TI if it is available in your area.

Lots of things affect the speed - how many people are connected at the exchange simultaneously, how "clean" your line is (i.e. any tiny breaks, connections, trees interfering), which modem/router you use and does it have the latest driver/firmware, are you using internet explorer or mozilla, are you plugged in to the main phone socket where it enters your house.......

........and that's just off the top of my head!

I have 'Teleconomy' packages on two lines, one standard and one ISDN, although we had a communication at the time which pointed out the issue with ISDN, somehow it just works fine so I wouldnt worry about it!

Good Luck,
Maria

[quote=IRITALIA;96890]Hi,
Does anyone on the forum have the Alice Mega 7 package and are using the Telecomomy Internazionale service as well?
As I will be full time in Italy in the New Year I thought I would choose this as I use both Internet and phone long distance a lot.
Part of the Mega 7 options is for up to three extra phone numbers at a cost of only €1.00 a month per number. To use this offer I assume you would need ISDN to be installed as well to deal with the extra load? :veryconfused:
I was quite excited until I noticed a clause in the Teleconomy offer saying it was not available for ISDN lines. :no:
Am I snookered or is ISDN not required to use extra phone numbers? :eerr:[/quote]

[quote=Maria H;102804]I have 'Teleconomy' packages on two lines, one standard and one ISDN, although we had a communication at the time which pointed out the issue with ISDN, somehow it just works fine so I wouldnt worry about it!

Good Luck,
Maria[/quote]

Thanks Maria.
I have my line and I'm listed in the telecom book but as I was connected (after 3 no shows) only a few days before I left Italy I still haven't gotten an electrician to connect the line through the house. I've got someone linded up though.
Can I ask how long it took for Teleconomy to be activated after you put in the initial request?

It took about 3 weeks to kick in but is fabulous and truly can save a fortune if you call UK (Europe) or US frequently!
Enjoy......... m x

Telecom Italia......'answering service' Does anybody know about this as I seem to have it !! It automatically cuts in if I don't answer my phone within 3 rings !! Driving me up the wall !!
I don't know where to access the messages (if there are any), how do I stop it happening ????

HELP!!!

To disactivate the service:
Per disattivare il servizio digita sulla tastiera: # 63 #

To listen to your messages:
Per accedere alla segreteria e ascoltare i messaggi ti basta:
- digitare 4 e * (asterisco) e pronunciare “Segreteria” oppure
- comporre sulla tastiera il codice * # 64 #

Hope this helps

I will get back to you on the this once I have tried it................Thank you VERY much!!:winki:

Does anyone know how I can find out the number of my account at Telecom Italia?
I would like to apply for Teleconomy Internazionale and Mega7 now so it will be ready for January when I go to Italy.
To do this I have to join 187 & Alice online but need the account number to sign up. I was informed I can find it on my telephone bill.
I sent an email to Italy to ask my cousin who is dealing with bills at the moment to send me the number and he tells me I haven't had a bill yet (new line in September) so he can't help.
I could perhaps send Telecom an email but they would never reply so a bit of a catch 22 situation really.
Any suggestions that I might be overlooking?
Thanks. :smile:

Looking at our bills there does not seem to be an account number anywhere.
Have you tried putting in the actual phone number? Ours is written without any gap between the code and actual number, the only other number on the bill is the CF.

Tanks Anne and I did take your advice and managed to sign up by adding the phone number and my CF, email address, etc. I got the comfirmation mail from them and then proceeded to try and activate Teleconomy. I was then informed that in order to access Area Clienti I would have to complete registration by adding the number and date of my last bill. :veryconfused:
Only in Italy eh! :bigergrin:

Oh well, at least you will be ready to go once you have received that bill! They are sent every two months so one may arrive soon! Fingers crossed and good luck!

PS: the fattura number is highlighted so is easy to spot, as is the date!!!!!!!!!

Well I did receive my first telecom bill only to find that I have been paying for Alice 7 internet since they connected my line on August 28th. :eeeek:
That's what I call super service as I hadn't yet requested it and don't even have a phone socket fixed up in the house yet. I didn't mind paying for the line rental as you take the first appointment they give you even though it turned out to be the forth as they never turned up for the first three. :bigergrin:
I don't suppose there is much point in querying this and trying to get the money credited when I get the phone sockets fitted in February? :no:

[quote=IRITALIA;107893]Well I did receive my first telecom bill only to find that I have been paying for Alice 7 internet since they connected my line on August 28th. :eeeek:
That's what I call super service as I hadn't yet requested it and don't even have a phone socket fixed up in the house yet. I didn't mind paying for the line rental as you take the first appointment they give you even though it turned out to be the forth as they never turned up for the first three. :bigergrin:
I don't suppose there is much point in querying this and trying to get the money credited when I get the phone sockets fitted in February? :no:[/quote]

Glad to hear things are working out. At one point we were charged for an ISDN link that we did not have - we had enquired but not taken it any further. Having argued with Telecom on several occasions - they insisted that according to the computer we had an ISDN box, however in the end they did admit the error and gave us a full refund. So I suppose it all boils down to how much is money is involved and whether you consider it worth the fight!!! Good luck!

Oh I think you should definitely query it!!
I have to admit that the last time I spoke to TI on the phone (to report a WIfi router defunct after we had been struck by lightning!) they were absolutely charming and incredibly efficient and helpful - yes, really!! :smile:
They logged the problem, directed me to the nearest assistance point and the dead router was swapped for a new one when I got there.
I haven't had to talk to them about overpayments or bills for services NOT rendered though so don't know how you would get on there - but I'd say "nothing venture, nothing gained"!

Give it a try and, if nothing else, you could maybe entertain us with the ensuing dialogue :winki:

I think I will give it a go and speak to them when I'm back next month.
They did give me all the discounts though that were on offer at the time.
Free installation, reduced monthly charge for the first year, etc.
I'll have to work out if it would cost me more to have it "reconnected" or just leave it and cut my losses or gains as the case may be. :veryconfused:

Hopefully the last question about Alice Mega7...........................................?

Did anyone with Mega7 have an access code/password or software sent to them to connect to the internet?
I tried to make the wireless connection but couldn't as it was a secure server (I think) and it wouldn't allow access.
As my electrician only connected my phone/wireless internet on my last day in Italy I didn't have time to ring Alice for help. :eeeek:
When I got home I tried to find a download on Alice but found nothing, not even an Alice internet sign-in homepage.
I will ring Alice when I go back but forewarned and all that would help if indeed I am missing any personal key codes or software.
Any words of wisdom would help. :smile:

To connect to Alice, you normally have to go through the modem setup and type the password " Alice adsl" and confirm a 2nd time

Actually, the username is: aliceadsl
and the password is the same: aliceadsl
all lower case and no spaces.

Does anyone know how to cancel this useless service - how much notice do you have to give and how do you return the router? I can't get anyone to understand my useless Italian when I ring.

Thanks Paul for the clarification.
Why useless ? I have used it for about 2 years now and not had any problems.

This might help:

1. When you install and configure a wireless router/modem, there are several types of security that can be used. All use either a [B]password[/B] or a [B]network key[/B] to allow your laptop to connect to the router. You will need either the admin password to your router to reset or view this password (or network key) or you will need to know what they password (or key) is to connect to the router. If you have neither, you will not be able to use the router.

2. When initially configuring the router to conect to Alice, you need to use a logon of aliceadsl and a password of the same (as pointed out by Geotherm & Paul RG). This is a one-off task though and once the router is setup, you will not need to enter this again. I would imagine the engineer did this for you.

3. You then need to connect your laptop to the router via the wireless connections and enter the password or network key described in 1.

I suspect from what you describe IRITALIA, that no.1 applies to you. In the paperwork that came with your router should be a user manual (or it may be on the CD) that will give the default admin password for the router, in which case you can logon to the router and see the password or network key you need to use.

At the moment I'm only getting upload and download speeds of 320 Kbps which is just about dial up speed where Alice are advertising it as up to 7meg. Mine is nowhere near even 1/2 meg. I have constantly tried to get them to come out and check the line - they are always going to come "next Friday". I still haven't received the wireless router even though for the last year I have been billed E5 per month for it.
I want to cancel my service at the end of April but can't find out how many weeks notice to give and don't want it cutting off until then - they are a nightmare to deal with.

I only get download speeds of up to about 150 when I am using Bittorent, although the connection is at 1.5. It seems to be that the exchanges have not all been upgraded yet, or that the usage is too high for the line.

I'm talking about full connection speed - although it should be called slow not speed.
If they haven't upgraded the exchanges they shouldn't charge for the service.

Thanks for all the advise guys and Penny you are right I believe I need to configure the router. Hopefully now with the 'aliceadsl' password I will get online and can do so.

Sorry to hear about your problems with slow download speed Paul.
I was informed by the TI technician that the speed was 4.5m but I don't know if that is a reality. Mind you, Barga along with several others in the province of Lucca had a big festa on 21st February to celebrate the arrival of the wonder that is Internet Veloce.

[url=http://www.barganews.com/2009/02/21/connectivity-day-e-festa-per-larrivo-di-internet-veloce/]“Connectivity Day”: è festa per l’arrivo di Internet veloce at barganews[/url]

I won't hold my breath! :no:

ciao geotherm the speed you get downloading using bittirrent is not quite the same as you max connection speed, this is dependeant upon seeds and leechers how many of each are online and how much bandwith they are letting out, for eg my connection is 8meg however i only get a max of 400kb with bittorrent so i wouldn't worry about that.

[quote=Geotherm;112833]I only get download speeds of up to about 150 when I am using Bittorent, although the connection is at 1.5. It seems to be that the exchanges have not all been upgraded yet, or that the usage is too high for the line.[/quote]

[quote=marco;112876]ciao geotherm the speed you get downloading using bittirrent is not quite the same as you max connection speed, this is dependeant upon seeds and leechers how many of each are online and how much bandwith they are letting out, for eg my connection is 8meg however i only get a max of 400kb with bittorrent so i wouldn't worry about that.[/quote]

Hi
Its also depends where the seeds and peers are of course, I have my pc running 24/7 and I get as much as 250kb overnight from 2meg, but at 8.02 am that drops to 40-50kb, annoying really...........but have signed up for 7mega with tele2 , so will let you know how that goes :SLEEP:

[quote=marco;112876]ciao geotherm the speed you get downloading using bittirrent is not quite the same as you max connection speed, this is dependeant upon seeds and leechers how many of each are online and how much bandwith they are letting out, for eg my connection is 8meg however i only get a max of 400kb with bittorrent so i wouldn't worry about that.[/quote]
I dropped the upload speed to 10kps and that helped increase downloads as not using the bandwith so much. Thanks

[quote=marco;112876] however i only get a max of 400kb[/quote]

400Kbps - Luxury!:bigergrin: