Are there any work-around on this problem?

I’ve tried to reconfigure our VPN server to lowest encryption level, and still it didn’t work. I’m only using PPTP VPN. And I think the router they are using is not properly configured to route vpn packets or is not capable of routing vpn packets, Residential lines use private IPs and NAT it to public IP, and most of the routers are capable of routing VPN protocols even if using NAT technology.

Or is it really a restrictive service by smart bro T_T. Because of this event, I created an IPSEC VPN connection and test if it will work because the PPTP didn’t. When I checked the log, it always logs that the packets received was malformed and rejects it. Sorry for some technical jargon and thank you for any reply I hope this one works in a residential line… VPN is one of my purpose why I subscribed to smart bro…

Popularity: 34% [?]

I am from makati. I have been a subscriber since May 2007.

1st month was great. I’m getting like fairly fast when i download mp3, videos and games. After that the service completely s#!%k. I get disconnected every hour and speed is like 15-29kbps. The worst I had was 2kbps(wth).

I wanted to get rid of the service but every time I asked everyone from customer hotline, they would say that I need to pay for the penalty since I’m locked for 1 year.

The service is 100% terrible. If you try to build the picture, it’s never been the subscriber’s fault. We were told that the service is like 10 times faster than dial-up but in reality, it’s worst than dial-up.

My question is — Shouldn’t be the governments job to catch businesses who mislead consumers? Where is the consumer welfare act now? Why are consumers being locked up on a contract and asked to pay a penalty when infact we are being mislead and betrayed? Or maybe someone from the government is enjoying a huge cut while the ppl are being milked by this greedy CEO.

I really wanted to get rid of the service but the big question is…. Who breached the contract? Is it the consumer who wants to discontinue the service before completing the contract or the greedy Smartbro who mislead and betrayed you at the very start? pls post your blog. I really appreciate it.

Popularity: 39% [?]

I guess, as all of us here are current Smart Broken subscribers, you probably know what’s plaguing this poor excuse for an Internet Service Provider since last week from this post’s date; the frequent timeouts of their DNS servers.

What I’m perplexed about is this; why is it happening? Do these self-proclaimed technological wizards that handle Smart’s networking equipment and system never prepared themselves for such an occurance? Seeing as their marketing department seems to be so impressed by their work that they keep getting new victims… er, subscribers for their 7x faster than dial-up internet connection. Did they actually think that they’ve set-upped a very stable system that can handle this much load? Are they scratching their hairy bottoms right now trying to figure out what’s wrong with their servers? Or do they just not care, as long as they get their paychecks every month?

Now if you [I'm addressing the SMART people] do know what the problem is, are you doing something to resolve it? And if you do resolve it (and I know that we, your customers, are praying that you do), are you creating measures to ensure that thsi sort of thing doesn’t happen again? Or are these questions too much for your brains to comprehend?

These are just some of the questions that ran through my head trying to understand, in any logical sense that I can find, as to what these people from Smart are thinking right now.

As for our dilemma right now, I actually found a small article on the web about it, and I wish to share the find[ click here ].

So many questions, will they be answered though? What’s your response, SMART people?

Popularity: 37% [?]

I was planning to continue my subscription to smart wifi/bro for a second year because its cheaper 788@256kbps despite the fact of a very unimpressive service and support that I have experienced, but my surprised that old wifi subscriber will be mandatorily upgrade to the Bro plan because they have repackage as Smart Bro and for unidormity of account (an issue that those in wireless center has been surprise too and told me that it is untrue and wifi subscriber should maintain its plan despite of the changes, another and ultimate proof of uncoordinated, conflicting and contrast of statement between those in CSR and wireless center that I have already noticed since the time ive subscribed a year ago) well to confirm this issue I call their CSR and they repeatedly insist this forcible upgrade, so…my point now is why would I upgrade to 999/384kbps if they cant even sustain a stable connection speed of 788/256kbps for a day, mostly Im soaked in a dial-up speed and no week that Ive missed calling their TSR who has a robotic script sinced the acquisition of meridian.

So few weeks before the termination of my Lock-in with smart wifi I inquire to Globelines for an internet service in advance because I thought It would take few weeks to install after the approved application like what Ive experienced in Smart wifi when I apply for subsription they said only 3 days to install after the approved application but it took a month to install plus a week more before It was activated.

True, Smart and Globe were two different worlds. to cut this blah in short Globelines broadband install after 3 days of my application with no installation fee (for those with existing innove phone lines only) 995/512kbps (as of july 31, not always that high but it maintains a ranged of speed and browse fast with minimum discon, that if the modem is in good shape) technical support is good with a sense thou bit long to contact and, acts fast, onsite visit is guaranteed in 24 hours. Im not doing this to promote there service im just defining the line of service, quality and truthfullness. remember there is no perfect ISP Network. anyway goodbye to Smart wifi I will miss those in CSR whom I always talk though they speak an overstated and overused line…and maybe to this blog where I express all my anxiety and itch over smart bro/wifi since yugatech days.

Popularity: 34% [?]

I have paid last month with P233 pesos on smart wireless center as per what is written on my bill..

Early September, I receive a bill for P999 plus my P233 outstanding pay which I have already paid. What puzzle me is that the billing period is for August 11 - September 10..

How come the bill come so early? and the due date is September 1, a few days after I recieve the bill?

I also would like to ask how long do paid bills reflect to the billing statements. or do the billing statements generated at an earlier time?

I just want to clear things up about this one since i am paying by next week..
——-

One thing more.. this past 12 days.. smart connection turns bad.. are the lines congested and if they are can we switch access points?

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About the speed, i have recently discovered that the speed is around 300kbps but what i got is on around 100kbps, and sometimes it drops to 40kbps.. i was happy if it can turn back to a steady 100kbps or at least reach 200kbps..

——
Ipconfig connection.. Why do i have only 5minutes lease connection for smart and then the connection refreshes?

Thanks..

Popularity: 37% [?]

Hey guys, just to let you know BBC News today (19 December, 2007) has published the calling that a watchpanel in the UK called Ofcom Consumer Panel had asked the Broadband Carrier in the UK to do something about the “Up to…” thingy that they promise their consumer. You know what the U.K. people are promised speed of “Up to … 8 megabits per second” and they more likely get only a third of that!

By simple computation, those poor Brits are only getting 2.67 megabits per second, w/c is actually 14 times greater than what our “subject” offers! And ask yourself… “Am I getting a third of 384 kbps?” You could test your speed with this link broadbandtest. Post your result as comments, if you don’t mind.

Soo, what is it that the Ofcom Consumer Panel want? Below is the full text.

“An open letter on broadband speeds to the chief executives of the UK’s leading Internet Service Providers

James Murdoch, Chief Executive, BSkyB

Ben Verwaayen, Chief Executive, BT Group

Charles Dunstone, Chief Executive, Carphone Warehouse

Olaf Swantee, Chief Executive, Orange UK

Mary Turner, Chief Executive, Tiscali UK

Neil Berkett, Acting Chief Executive, Virgin Media

9 October 2007

As you of course will be aware, there is widespread concern being expressed at the moment about the difference between the “up to” speeds advertised in your broadband packages, and the actual speeds experienced by many subscribers.

As this is an issue of such fundamental importance to consumers here in the UK, I am writing, as Chairman of the Ofcom Consumer Panel, to seek your views about how this problem might be addressed. The Consumer Panel is an independent body that advises Ofcom on the consumer interest in the communications market.

At the most basic level, it seems to us that in any transaction, people need to be able to see:

• What they are buying

• What influences the performance of the product or service they buy

• How to do something about it if, in the event, the product or service doesn’t live up to expectations.

Against these simple tests, we believe that broadband customers are not at the moment getting enough information.

We are of course aware of the technical reasons for the “up to” terminology that you use in particular in your advertising and marketing literature.

I would however like to have your views about how these technical issues might be better addressed in terms of giving clearer information to potential customers.

Some suggestions that we would welcome your view on are these:

1. Advice to potential customers at the point of sale about the speed likely to be available on their specific line (plus an explanation that this will also be impacted by the contention rate).

2. Extend the cooling off-period within your contractual terms to a sufficient length so that the customer can actually experience the speed and quality of the connection before becoming contractually committed.

3. Enable customers who sign up to a 12 or 18 month contract and who experience speeds and quality well below the advertised speeds, and whose problems persist rather than be resolved by a technical solution, to exit from the contract early and without penalty.

I would very much like to hear your views on this problem in general; and your response to the three specific points made above.

I would be very happy to meet with you if this is the most convenient way to move this forward.

I am copying this letter to Ed Richards at Ofcom and Chris Graham at the ASA.

(signed)
COLETTE BOWE

Chairman, Ofcom Consumer Panel” - (I ask forgiveness if I’m doing something wrong in publishing this text)

What do you say? I hope that somebody from the Senate, the Congress, the NTC, the consumer’s advocates or whomever with a bit of influence notice this.

Salamat and Merry Christmas

Othello

Popularity: 40% [?]

Buong month down ang base station??!! Napaka-walang kwenta ng Smart bro sa Pampanga!may technical activity DAW na ginagawa sa base station ARAW-ARAW kaya super intermittent ang connection ko! Grrrrr….!!!!!!!!!! Eto pa..i requested technical visit ..ni once walang pumunta!! NASAN ang customer-orientation ng SMART???!!! Matagal ko ng gustong magpadisconnect kaso i’m stucked with the damned 12-months lock-in period! Smartbro in Pampanga really sucks!!!!! :(

Popularity: 36% [?]

Not sure if Smart is aware that there are a lot of people illegally connecting/connected to their AP’s. People even sell their Motorola Canopy’s for as low as Php 2,000 not really sure if they know how much that device is worth.

I know this beforehand because I know someone hooked up illegally. NO MONTHLY BILLS. Connections like this make paying customers suffer. I mean it’s already slow and these illegal connections make it M&%*#%%(#(*&^% slower.

Check out this guy offering UNLIMITED SMARTBRO WIRELESS CONNECTION FOR 1 YEAR

• cheap_inet on December 11, 2007 10:05 AM - User is Online

  reactivate your expired smartbro available for 1month 500pesos and for 1year 3000pesos only anywhere in the philippines.

  for any comment nd inquiries YM me anytime at cheap_inet@yahoo.com

Popularity: 38% [?]

Its been almost 3 weeks since I gave SmartBro a call to inform them that I am unable to send email using my outlook… even though I’m using the right outgoing mail server.

First call : They told me to wait 24 hours and observe

24 hours passed

Second Call: Gave me an SR# and told me to wait and observe for 24 hours… again (starting to get pissed)

48 hours passed

3rd call: The response of the CSR is surprisingly stupid.

SmartBro CSR: Sir, ano po ba ang email address ninyo?

Me: E di sinabi ko yun email add ko.

SmartBro CSR: Naku sir, kaya pala hinde kayo makasend ng email eh. Hinde kase kayo pwede gumamit ng ibang email address aside dun sa binigay namin sa inyo. Hinde nyo ba natatandaan yun email address na na-provide namin sa inyo.

Me: Ha?!? Anong sinabi mo? 5 taon ko na ginagamit tong email add ko at simula nun nagpakabit ako sa inyo ginagamit ko toh. Anung sinasabi mo na hidne pwede gumamit ng ibang email address t@n6a ka ba.

SmartBro CSR: Hinde po talaga pwede sir eh.

…edi binaba ko na lang ang telepono.

SO clearly walang proper training ang mga tao ng Smart.

Up to this day wala parin nagyari sa email add ko nde padin ako maka send ng email kahit gumagana sya sa webmail and sa ibang ISP. Meron akong mahabang thread ng email form the Smart Customer Support I will post that once I get a response tomorrow. You should see how frustrating it is to talk to them.

Sana mabasa toh ng kanilang so called “Higher Technical Team” na parang mga diyos dahil hinde sila pwede kausapin ikaw pa na customer ang magihintay sa kanila. tsk tsk

Meron pa bang ibang site na related sa smartbro para maikalat ko yun email thread. kelangan makita to ng lahat ng consumer dahil all out ang marketing ng smartbro kelangan mapigilan yan makakuha ng bagong biktima.

I am also calling for all Smartbro subscribers whos having the same problem and related problem. The NTC or whatever government facility should suspend the operation of Smartbro because clearly they do not satisfy most clients due to bad service and unwelcoming CSR’s.

Popularity: 36% [?]

Stupid Smart Bro technical support. I was at work and I had my girlfriend who was at home to re complain about the loss of my home internet connection. They made her look up stuff and found out something about my local IP address was wrong. Their solution? They told my girlfriend to upgrade my OS. What the fuck?!? Aside from the OS having no bearing on what my IP address is because I obtain my address automatically from the router antenna they installed, they have the nerve to tell me that I need to upgrade my Windows XP?!? They should be shot, stoned, flayed, and burned alive.

I called the support line myself and made my feelings on their response very clear. Now they tell me that my antenna may not be pointing to the base station; they think it might have been messed with somehow. My theory is those damn cats always running on my roof are to blame. Now, if those idiots at Smart just said something like this before then it would have saved me some time to get it fixed.

Popularity: 36% [?]