Geek talk: Maxis 3G review

Nowadays, for those who is trying to make voice call to me and you find yourself hearing a "fast" version of a engaged tone, this most probably means I'm using my HP as a modem to connect to the Internet. But you can SMS me and I will recieve straight away.
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Remember those days when you use these things..

Yes, that's a 56k dial up modem if you remember one of these!

to connect to the internet. And if you remember, these things, which are called 56k dial up modem, have a maximum bandwidth of only a pathetic, 56 kbps (Kilo BITS per second)! That is like only 7 kBps (Kilo BYTE per second)!! Ah yes, those good old days, and somemore, we all know how our STUPID local ISP TM NET is, most of the time I was only able to connect to their network at ONLY 9.6 kbps!! Yes, 9.6 kilo BITS per second!! That is barely even more then 1 kilo BYTE per second!!

But I still love the internet back then, I was willing to wait like a stupid idiot infront of the computer screen, sometimes for up to 10 minutes just to wait for a page to load.

Fast forward abit to when I was in form 2, or when I'm 14 years old, finally broadband was introduced to Malaysia, by our most favourite local ISP again, TM NET, but this time they named their broadband devision Streamyx. But no matter, it is still from the same company!



When it first started off, they only offered 512 kbps connection, unlimited usage for the same RM88 a month without modem, then a few months later they automatically upgrade all the RM88 users to 1 Mbps connection. Of course, being me, I bugged my dad day and night until he finally convinced to sign up for me. And I remember the first time I used Streamyx, I was in love with it. Finally I don't have to wait 15 minutes or more to download a song, I don't have to wait 10 minutes plus to load a webpage, I don't have to fight with my mom everytime I use the internet because the stupid dial up modem will engaged the phone line and prevent anyone from calling, and I don't have to worry about controlling how long I can stay online as there is no limit! This is amazing, and it gets even better when I learn you can download your favourie TV shows online!

But until recently, people start noticing that Streamyx is crap. Their connection is not consistent; some people can't even connect to Streamyx for long before being disconnected again, most of the time they can't even come close to their promised 75% of the advertised bandwidth, which is around 750 kbps or 93 kBps (Actual 1 Mbps connection should get about 125 kBps). And to make things worst, most of the time Streamyx are having problems either with their servers, or with their under-sea cables connection to overseas, which explains why overseas website sometime take years to load! For example, our favourite torrent website, "TV Torrents", many times it wouldn't load at all! And that is why you have bandwidth results like these when you use a overseas bandwidth tester...


A result I've gotten a few times when I run a ADSL bandwidth test on Bandwidth Test Place


The result I get when I repeat the test with a DIAL-UP bandwidth test on Bandwidth Test Place

Okay maybe is not all that bad, if you're loading a webpage which it's servers are located in Malaysia, and also connected to Streamyx, at least you get a more reasonable speed..


Results from Streamyx bandwidth test.

But then again, how many of the web page we normally visit which their servers are located in Malaysia? Not many that I know off, and the most important: Bitcomet, Ares, Limewire are all overseas connection!

Maxis 3G
When I thought all hope is lost and I've to suffer with Streamyx for probably another half a decade or so before a good competitor comes up, I discovered:


Yes, the new Maxis 3G. Actually it is not a broadband provider, it is more for people with 3G handphones to have access to fast data connection. How fast? As fast as 1.8 Mbps with HSPDA, 3.5G! So since my new Dopod 838 Pro supports up to 3.5G, again, I bugged my dad until he finally sign up for the 3G unlimited package for me. For RM120 a month, I get to connect to 3G network for unlimited usage! So now, I have a 1.8 Mbps connection on my handphone, and I can go online practically anywhere which has Maxis signal! Perfect, exactly what I always wanted!

So, how good is it really is? Since it is wireless and all, and run off the same handphone GSM network, and again, it is wireless!! I've only 2 words to say: "Very good!". Here is my new connection speeds with Maxis 3G...


Same overseas bandwidth test, now with Maxis 3G. 527.7 kbps or 64.4 kBps. Good good. Already faster then Streamyx!

Let's see how it does on our very own Streamyx bandwidth tester..


Woohoo! 1.32 Mbps or 165.34 kBps!! This IS GOOD!! It totally whoop Streamyx ass in their own home..

But how good is it when it comes to downloading stuff on Bitcomet?? Here's the result:


130 kB/s?? Not enough you say?? You want more??


145 Kb/s!! This is really good!


So, for "only" RM120 a month, I can access internet through my handphone as fast as 1.8 Mbps anywhere in Malaysia, as long there's Maxis signal. And these test shows that it IS better then Streamyx, much better! So much better that I finally don't have to wait a good 10-20 minutes for my Naruto to stream enough data first on Youtube before I can watch it, now the moment I click, the video starts playing, and it streams fast enough so that it never have to stop and buffer my video!

Cons
BUT WAIT!!, is not all that good actually! For such a new and amazing technology, there are sure a few bugs somewhere right?! Of course I'm right!!

First of all, you can't get 3G connection ALL over M'sia. 3G coverage is only limited to KL area, Johor, and Penang! The rest are either only EDGE or GPRS connection. I'm able to connect to all 3, but my phone will automatically choose which is the fastest I can connect too. Obviously 3G is the fastes, follow by EDGE and GPRS. At GPRS speed, I'm only getting less than 20 kBps. So how did I get those results above? This kind of speed was only attainable in MY HOUSE! Yes, I'm lucky to have such a perfect 3G network in my house, all thanks to the Maxis radio tower right on top KDU college, which I'm not more then 100 meters away!

Second, it is possible to surf your internet in your car, if let's say you're in the backseat of a nice big car going outstation. But if your nice big car goes anywhere faster than 60 km/h, or sometimes even slower then that, the data connection to Maxis will be broken, or it will really slow down and break eventually, even if connection is excellent.

Third, to connect to Maxis 3G. Obviously it has to be through your handphone. Your handphone has to have a modem function only you can connect your laptop or computer to your phone. And this is problem. Once you activate the modem mode, your whole phone will be like a modem. So when you're connected, people who tries to make voice call to you won't be able to get through!! But fortunately, SMS is still able to come in, so is not that bad. And if you want to make a voice call out, the connection will be disconnected first.

Fourth, because I'm only using the HP as a modem, and it is not a router, that means I can't forward any ports I want. So which means I can't create Dota games. Only can join.

Fifth (not Maxis fault though), if are a geek and noticed all this stuff, then you should know that there's alot of saying around that you can use your HP as a modem and connect to your laptop through bluetooth. So you can leave your HP in your pocket or briefcase. But in reality, this is not true. Once you connect your laptop to your HP through bluetooth, the maximum connection speed is only 115.2 kbps! And bandiwdth test results shows that the speed drop to below 30 kBps! Why is this so? It is because bluetooth technology is not meant to transfer this much data, so bluetooth bandwidth is very slow. And another thing is, if you put your HP more then 2 meter away from your laptop, even if it is line of sight, your surfing speed will drop even more!! This actually means Bluetooth is quite useless to transfer large amount of data in a fast time. So, you're tied with connecting your HP to your computer with USB cable! Well, at least it charges your HP at the same time.


So, in conclusion, even though there are so many flaws, and it is not perfect yet. But the idea of having internet access, no matter fast or slow, ANYWHERE you go already justify for all it's flaws. For now, I really enjoy using it as I move around, I can always be connected to MSN on my HP itself. Or even when I connect it to my laptop. But when I'm at home, I definitely use it for general website browsing, video streaming and so on. But I'll still keep Streamyx to download movies over a long period of time.