MTNL Triband Review

[Deep]

After reading many posts about MTNL's Triband plan, I decided to write on review which can help everyone

So here I go:

I have been using MTNL triband for more than a month now and yes I can include myself in one of their happy customers

The speeds are very good, there is no downtime at all..till now I have not seen my net connection going down...(apart from daily disconnection at 11.54 in the night..I think it’s for NU plan...)

They have plans ranging from Rs. 199 (400 MB - 256 kbps) to Rs. 9,999 (18 GB - 2mbps) a month

The plans are very good value to money and you get what you pay for..not like local cable operators who charge more and give less...

Let me move on to everything step by step:

Requirements: You need a MTNL telephone line, machine with at least Windows 98 installed (of course you can use it on Linux or other OS too but they won't be able to help you with that), Ethernet Card

1. Registration Process: The registration process is very easy, you have to visit their telephone exchange, fill small form and submit it. The registration fees are Rs. 300 and Rs. 500 initial deposit for modem (if you are going to use their modem). If you have your own modem then you do not need to pay Rs. 500 extra. These charges will be added in your telephone bill. You can also register by calling them on their helpline number 1500 (Mumbai) but there is kind of risk in that, they might put wrong plan under your telephone number. It had happened to me, instead of NU plan, they had put me in pay as per use plan. (I will talk about it more later in this post)
   
   
   
2. Time Required: They require around 1 week of time to get the things rolling but if it takes more than a week then it means that the time has come to visit telephone exchange and enquire about it. Reasons for delay can be problems with local server computer, issues with work orders etc...But visiting them personally will solve the issues quickly.
   
   
   
3. Installation: Their person will call you before visiting your place, there is nothing much to install actually. You just need to change your IP settings and configure the modem with your username and password. The guy will configure the stuff for you and the things should start running in 10 minutes max.
   
   
   
4. Things to be taken care of: First change your modem admin panel's password. The admin panel is located here: http://192.168.1.1/ (that's the default location)...the default username and password will be admin and admin. Now since it is very easy to guess so it is better to change it....to change the password, logon to the admin panel, click on tools tab and type in the new password.
   
   
   
5. Troubleshooting: There is generally no problem with the net connection and you do not need to contact triband support...but if you are contacting them for some technical problem then do not expect them to solve your problem...you won't find technically sound people, (of course they will be able to fix very basic problems) they will just have answers ready on their screen so if they see something which is not in their answer sheet then…they will give you complaint number and then be ready to follow it...you might need to visit the telephone exchange if they don’t reply in couple of days or the best way would be, use google for technical errors you get, its very easy to trace out the problems
   
   
   
6. Customer Support: The people at MTNL (telephone exchange as well as on phone) are very polite and helpful but the only thing they lack is resources, they are ready to help you with their best but they don't have enough resources, answers ready to help...
   
   The other part is, they do not have enough customer support executives (which again comes under resources but worth mentioning it again)...now you will get idea about it when you call them...when you dial 1500 or 1504, you will have option to dial 1 for Marathi, 2 for Hindi and 3 for English...whatever number you press the answer will be in Hindi or Marathi...so this shows that they really need some English speaking and technically sound people...

Here is my short story about their customer support:

I applied for Triband NU plan over the phone, I got confirmation with the registration number...I waited for a week or so, still no one has visited my place for installation, I called them up on their helpline, I was asked to confirm it with the telephone exchange people...I visited telephone exchange…enquire about the net connection....lady at the helpdesk wrote something on the paper and asked me to meet someone inside the office...I managed to find that person after asking few people...I gave her details about my registration…she told me, due to some server issues the person couldn't come to my place but he will be there after 2 days...and dot after 2 days person came to my place and setup the net

So that part was over, I was very happy with the connection and was waiting to test out download speeds in the night...started the download…was getting around 25-27kbps on torrent downloads...I checked my online usage on their site...and was bit shocked to see the different name in the plan...I had applied for NU plan and it showed me TRIB_AA which is pay as per use plan...I called their helpline at 1.30 AM, I was not expecting anyone to pickup the phone but a lady picked up the phone, I told her about it, she also confirmed that its TRIB_AA, they have not given me NU plan...she asked me to call 1500 and get it changed...I called the other number...it was ringing...so I called in the morning and was asked to visit telephone exchange...I visited telephone exchange, the lady at the helpdesk asked me to meet some person inside (the same person I had met last time), I met her and gave the details...she looked in her files and told me that 1500 people told us to give TRIB_AA plan so we gave you the same...so...what next? She asked me to visit helpdesk and fill the form to change the plan, I did that...I got some receipt...and was told that it will be done within a day....I waited for 2 days...nothing happened...I visited their office again...I was told that someone did not close my earlier support ticket so it will be done once this ticket is closed by 1500 people...I asked her to do something and get it done...she called some person...and closed the support ticket and gave me new work order number....and told me that it will be done in a 2-3 days as the computer of the person who manages this was not working.....

I waited for 2 days, nothing happened, I called directly to the person whom I had met earlier (in the office)...I gave her my work order number and asked to check the status...she told me, she has not received work order from helpdesk and she will try to get it today and it will be done in 2 days...

Today, her last day of her "2 days"....

So I hope the plan gets changed by tonight...

So this whole incident proves that, they lack proper customer support system, customers have to meet people who are in the testing room and get the things done, there is more of paper work than computerized things...so this leads to slow implementation of things...so being helpful and polite does not help, the people should be active and quick at the same time.....

So, to end the review....Pros include:

• Very flexible plans for everyone
• Less installation and registration charges
• Very good speeds
• Reasonable rates compared to other ISPs like TATA, Sify etc..
• No downtime or very less downtime
• Customer Support - very helpful people and very polite

Cons include:

• Takes time to fix the problem
• Lacks proper support system to solve user problems
• Customers still have to visit the telephone exchange to fix certain problems...it should be made online and with ease

I think above points should be enough to point out pros and cons of the MTNL Triband..

I hope you guys like it

Regards,

Deep

[zegulas]

Hey Deep, why should we change the password???

I mean nothing happens if we don't change it.

[Deep]

Well anyone can access your machine from outside..for example. If I type your IP address in my browser then it will ask me for admin user and pass..

so if the pass is default, then I can easliy get in

[shwetanshu]

Gr8 review deep, but admin is not the one that needs to be changed but the password of the account that is ur username and CA number ur password, i.e. the username and pass that u use to check ur usage with. First it has to be changed on the net in ur Account Info page, the it has to be reflected in the http://192.168.1.1 , in HOME ---> WAN. there's no point in changing the admin password coz u r anyways connected to the net even if u dont login, atleast thats wat the person who came to install the modem told me.

[Deep]

Hi,
There is no point in changing the password of the usage thing, because it wont allow anyone else to use the same login and pass. i.e. you can use your account only on your telephone..

So even someone gets the password, he wont be able to do anything....

I asked to change password of 192.168.1.1 because when you connect to the net, you are assigned public IP and if I type the same IP in my browser, use the default login details, I can easily get into your modem's admin panel.

So it is always better to change the password of admin panel.

Regards,
Deep

[delhibhai1000]

because it wont allow anyone else to use the same login and pass. i.e. you can use your account only on your telephone..

Not true. U/N & Pwd. r not tied to d line-its not lik d CLI dial-up thing...

[Deep]

dude? they are..try to connect using your MTNL username and pass (i.e. your phone number as username) from any other number and check first..

it wont work 101%

Deep

[delhibhai1000]

If d other No. has TriB too, then it'll work.
Gimme ur U/N & Pwd. & i'll let u know!

[Deep]

Originally Posted by delhibhai1000

If d other No. has TriB too, then it'll work.
Gimme ur U/N & Pwd. & i'll let u know!

I still don't think so, because I have asked this to their person also..it works only from telephone line you are using.

And even if you change it and do not change the pass of admin, then it is very easy to get pass easily through getting into admin panel via remotely...

Regards,
Deep

[drgrudge]

How is the Upload speeds? Are they capped like Dataone (I dont get more than 7-8KBps)...

[Deep]

I get around 25kbps upload....

[wizrulz]

Hey upload speed of 25Kbps is too, good! But i wanna know Y MTNL has put restriction on data d/l? As speed and everything is fine with me but if they wanna put restriction they should had restricted on the time used and not d/l as more we surf more automatic d/l will be done and before we know the free 400 Mbs will be over. So i am happy using the cable net till they change there policy. Mtnl has also doubled there net phone line rates by 100% so that they can lure the users of dailup to triband , which is not fair as again the question of d/l is there, as most of us d/l freewares and keep updated our PC which will easily go to around 1gb a month, so that means its going to cost same as cable net.(although we do not get the same speed)

[rollcage]

I got the MTNL Triband 590NU today ..

The speed is good..

When I login .. DU-Meter showed 29KBps to 31.8KBps ..
So .. speed has no issues...

.........

I have changed the password... at admin panel

and

Originally Posted by Deep

Hi,
There is no point in changing the password of the usage thing, because it wont allow anyone else to use the same login and pass. i.e. you can use your account only on your telephone..

So even someone gets the password, he wont be able to do anything....

Deep, I checked that at cybercafe ..
I could login to my usage page at http://register.bol.net.in
.. So I have changed the password for that too ..
I suggest you, to do the same.



BTW
The mtnl people that came for installation .. have installed the D-Link ADSL Router (DSL-502T) at usb port..
But now I have connected it through on-board LAN..
Is there any difference, .. what you are using .. since my Lan is unused
I use it through Lan only.

[Deep]

Hi,
You will be able to login from anywhere to your register.mtnl.net.in account but you wont be able to connect to your net account from anywhere else...i.e. use yor net account from somewhere else...

I am using LAN thing as USB might be slower than LAN sometimes..and I do not see any point in keeping USB port busy is LAN port is free

Regards,
Deep

[rollcage]

Yes thats why .. I have plugged the LAN cable instead of USB.

Secondly, ... about using the account somewhere else is simply impossible.

....

Everything seems to be good at the moment!

Cons: (IMO)

-- The MTNL old govt employees...

[wizrulz]

@rollcage

I got the MTNL Triband 590NU today ..

The speed is good..

When I login .. DU-Meter showed 29KBps to 31.8KBps ..
So .. speed has no issues...

So whats this Ni8 plan actually i am confused
The MTNL site says"Night Unlimited timings are 0000 hrs to 0800 hrs."
So what r the actual time which they will consider for free Mb's and free time means the d/l done in that time will not be considered?

[Deep]

Yes before 12 - u can download upto 1 GB but within 12 - 8, there are no limits.

So that's the actual time for free unlimited downloads

Deep

[mail2and]

@grudgy... mtnl has free un-capped uploads

even dexter is using that

[jamyang312]

Hey, if u should ask me this plan sucks coz i am using it.
it sucks becaUSE instead of 256mb connection i am stuck with a 56 kb connection.Now what do u think about it?all my friends have the seme problem.lol.

[Deep]

I am on NU plan, absolutely no problems..get speeds around 27-28kbps

Deep

[rollcage]

I am also getting 28KBps speed ...

jamyang312, Where are you located man.. Contact the nearest Exchange/Sanchar Haat.

[drvarunmehta]

Originally Posted by jamyang312

Hey, if u should ask me this plan sucks coz i am using it.
it sucks becaUSE instead of 256mb connection i am stuck with a 56 kb connection.

That makes no sense at all. First of all what is a 256mb connection?
How did you get stuck with a 56 kb connection? Did you use some tool to measure the bandwidth? Are you sure you aren't using a dial-up connection?

Originally Posted by jamyang312

Now what do u think about it?

I still think it's a good value for money connection.

Originally Posted by jamyang312

all my friends have the seme problem.lol.

I'm sure they do!

[Deep]

I think he might be on some dialup plan lol

[jamyang312]

uh oh sorry,
I use a 256 kbps broadband connection.
sorry guys,

[adithyagenius]

Regarding gaming... its routed through australia and DGM in MTNL said that they pass all the traffic to VSNL and VSNL handles the routing. I am using DSLNU 590 scheme.

1. India Ragnarok Online (inRO) - There is no lag mostly. Iget superb 17ms ping. But sometimes for a min or so it lags in the vsnl part of the network.

2. A3 Inida (hosted by Sify) - It lags badly in vsnl part of the network on its way back to india from australia.

3. R.O.S.E North America (NA Rose) - I can patch and all but cant connect to the server.

4. America's Army - I am having issues with Punk Buster updating over and over again. Maybe its my computer problem although on dial up I dont get that issue. The pings are generally more than 200ms.

I havent tried Anarchy Online and some other games.

Regarding downloads with bit torrent.
1. Bittornado - slow download speed due to the damn yellow light. Its cuz of nat firewall in the ADSL router. Even after port forwarding its not that good.
2. Bit comet - It owns. restrict the upload rate to 21kbps and download reaches upto 25kbps on very healthy torrents. Disable uPnP and chose a port and do port forwarding on ur ADSL router by making a new rule in virtual servers.


Its a sad thing that the net dcs at 11:52 to 11:56 pm. Day b4 yeterday I cudnt connect till 1 am. Thats when I play RO and I miss out on the fun


How is it for other fellow gamers using Triband?

[wizrulz]

Hey this mi8 be in the wrong thread but did not wanted to start new thread so posting it here.
I am using local cable net and i wanna check the speed it is giving me.
i ahev taken 128 kbps plan but can't find anyting which will show me the speed. As it is connected to onboard lan card it shows 100Mbps which is not possible. I wanna know the speed so that i can check if they r really giving me the speed that i have applied for and whether in future if i change the plan do they upgrade.
I haveDU meter but it shows up/l and d/l speeds.
Help

[Deep]

Originally Posted by wizrulz

Hey this mi8 be in the wrong thread but did not wanted to start new thread so posting it here.
I am using local cable net and i wanna check the speed it is giving me.
i ahev taken 128 kbps plan but can't find anyting which will show me the speed. As it is connected to onboard lan card it shows 100Mbps which is not possible. I wanna know the speed so that i can check if they r really giving me the speed that i have applied for and whether in future if i change the plan do they upgrade.
I haveDU meter but it shows up/l and d/l speeds.
Help

download some file from big site and the speed should be around between 12-16kbps..if it is not then..the connection is slow..

Deep

[adithyagenius]

@Deep
Did you see the usage details of MTNL triband?
The updating of usage details seems to be very slow.
Do you know any alternate way of checking usage every hour. I play a lot of games and I want see which games uses how much dl & ul every hour.
I used to check usage on dial up by double clicking the network connect icon in system tray. But here it shows packets sent and recieved and not in bytes. Is there a way to change this?

[Deep]

Hi,
The usage is calculated each time you disconnect the internet.

So if you disconnect the net manually in say, 1 hour then it will add the usage for that time (you can view the same in sessions)

Deep

[bala4digit]

hmm....so NU is gud....but DEEp wat's da cost????......... wat bill amnt u get for every mnth....???wat's da limitations....d/l limits....time limits....validity period....plss reply????....between 12-8 wat's da maximum data v can download in NU plan???????.....pls reply!!!!!!

BYE!!!!

-MOJOJOJO-