Claro 3G mobile internet update
Submitted by kevins on Fri, 2010/06/18 - 18:31.
I arrived in Nicaragua yesterday, bought a SIM chip from Claro at the airport ($6), put $23 on it (not the $20 that the Claro web site claims), asked the sales gal to use one of their phones to activate one week of internet service, plugged the chip into my Sierra Wireless Compass that I have been using with AT&T in the states and....it works! Even on Linux! (Ubuntu 10.04). $20 for a full week of laptop internet access is great. And the modem costs under $100, either in the states or down here, so why not go for it if you are traveling here?
Don't make the mistake I did, which was: Immediately after buying the chip, I plugged it in and went online. Worked great, but I was paying a crazy per-minute price (something like $1/minute). You need to send a message to activate it for a day ($6), week ($23), or month ($69) before using it.
If you have Windows, you can use their software to send the activation message through the modem itself. Under Linux, you have to plug the chip into a SIM-compatible phone to do it. You can borrow a phone from anyone off the street--since you are using your SIM chip it doesn't cost them anything.
I was able to connect at the airport, and also now in downtown Esteli. According to two online speed tests, I am getting between 1 and 1.5 megabit/second download, and 115 kbps upload here in Esteli.
The only glitch so far is that it seems like the connection was timing out after 1-2 minutes of inactivity. I have set my email client to poll for new messages once per minute, and it hasn't dropped me yet, so fingers crossed.
I will report later on Claro 3G coverage in smaller towns and remote areas, and also on Movistar 3G services (which I haven't yet tried).
Claro Inalambrico
Would you be able to provide me the info for the "tower guy"? Thanks!
a tip and a question
I've been using Claro 3G Mobile for 3 weeks in Nueva Guinea. When it works, it works pretty well. (I can stream the radio broadcast of the SF Giants games, but videos take a v. long time to load.)
It works enough of the time to be worthwhile, but I do get dropped quite often, and it is difficult to get a connection in the evening. Frustrating.
Here's the tip; Open the Claro software, but instead of clicking on 'connect,' go to Network and Sharing Center to connect to 'Enitel Nicaragua.' It is possible to set the properties of this connection to reconnect if dropped and retry till connected.
Now here's the question: I get many, many blank text messages from +3406. Does anyone know how to make them stop?
Lloyd
dose claro use the same signal
as the cell phone or a diferent signal..the last 2 times i was in la dalhia and waslala..had a good phone signal but no internet..stopped into the claro office in waslala and they told me the the internet was down..it is down a lot up there..becuse i was there for about a week each time and no internet
Jinotega
The 3g modem is a bit of a pain. Claro does not have the connections needed for all the modems in use here. Best connection is usually for only 30 minutes if you try to get on in the morning, Impossible to get a connection in the evening. The speed is usually below 48kbps for download and greater for upload. I usually only send for a connect time of one hour for 10 cords and keep the rest of recharge for the next connect. Usually can not use for more then a half hour before being dropped each time.
Sim Card for iPhone
Hi
I am heading down to visit and hang out and my iPhone is already unlocked. Can I use a Claro sim card to get data only so I can use Skype? Any recommendation would help.
Thanks
Louie
Movistar and Claro 3G Wireless and Claro Cable for Granada
I've tried Claro and Moviestar 3G USB Modems and Claro Cable Internet in Granada.
The cable had the most consistent and high upload and download speeds. Service was intermittent. Note that Claro is currently installing cable in some neighborhoods now.
The Claro 3G USB Modem has had the highest download speeds, best reliability, with only short drops in service but has slow upload speeds.
Movistar had slow up and download speeds and also was very unreliable.
Mixing modems
For fun, I tried my Claro SIM chip in my Movistar modem. Sadly, it would not connect. I suspect the Movistar modem is locked into the Movistar network.
3-G service
The 3-G service is basically Glorified Cell. Any where it's offered that you have good cell service (3-5 bars) it should work. It is more suspect to line of sight from the antenna than cell phones. There are several repeaters available to boost the signal. These require a external antenna mounted high as possible with the booster near your receiving point inside the home or office. http://www.wilsonelectronics.com/ is a US vendor I have used their (SignalBoostTM DT Desktop Amplifier) in Gigante for 2 1/2 years. They have many much better units available, it just takes $$. We have homes in our project that can not recieve a cell call, with these units they can get 3-G and cell service. Dsterrett
3G or not 3G
My understanding is that any given cell tower may or may not support 3G service. So you might have 5 bars, but if your tower is not 3G capable, you'll only be able to get 128 kbps speeds. If you have a 3G phone, it should tell you whether it has connected via 3G or via the older/slower technology. The Claro web site (http://www.claro.com.ni/Internet/Turbonett%20Movil%203G/Cobertura.aspx) indicates that most cities have 3G, and the implication is (and my experience so far seems to confirm) that outside those cities, you'll get the 128 kbps speeds.
Still, if you are in a remote area, and your alternative is expensive/slow cable, $60/mo for Claro or $2.50 per 12 hour block of usage for Movistar looks pretty good, even if it's not full 3G speed. You don't need a phone. Just buy the prepago modem for about $60-80, recharge it with some money, activate the service, and start using it.
Mobile internet in Masachapa
Living in Masachapa (minutes from San Rafael del Sur) I am unable to get a mobile internet access. I tried with Claro. Nothing to do. I was ready they install a phone line or a tower. Mobile internet seems not in a way to arrive in that region. If someone can help guiding me through the process, he is welcomed. I really need a internet connexion at home.
Internet in Far NW
We're up here in Mechapa, just outside of Cogisuina - we pay $400 a MONTH for satellite internet and I've been trying to find a better way....Claro seems to be moving in a big way in Chinandega, so if anyone can help guide me on which phone to buy to give it a shot, or if you have had success in Jiquilillo (down the beach from us), we'd love to know! We use a plant phone with a tall antennae and Movistar prepago for telephone. We like the wifi for guests at the hotel, but saving a couple hundies a month is just too tempting! Stacy
tower
Put up a inhalambrico internet tower, it cost around 600$ and 49$ per month, 512 speed, very good service. I do have some contacts in this case and have written about it several times here on NL, I have 2 towers, 1 in Diriamba and one here at Rancho Vikingo. Look it up, and dont go to your local Claro office, let the tower guy do your work.
Contacts for putting an internet tower
Hey Roger, Could you provide me the information for the "tower guy" or any other contacts you have for this service? Thanks so much!
Internet
Hey Rogertroll.
I would like to know how to contact this "Tower guy" that provides internet service through the Antenna/Tower sertup..
I live very close to Diriamba, so when i saw the word "Diriamba" in your post, my eyes just illuminated like never before! lol The thing is, we have a very expensive ISP (Alfanumeric), and i am really fed up paying $250/month each time.. I knew this Turbonett Inalambrico thing worked, but everytime i would go to Claro, they would tell me that the service was no longer available... which i think is absurd. They should be promoting this option head on.
Wired internet is not an option, because i live a mere 1 KM away from the service! :( And Claro 3G is a joke. I want stable, fast internet once and for all!!!
Thanks in advance!!!
Inhalambrico
Really wanted to do that however we had your tower guy out and he said he could not build a tower tall enough to get out of this valley. He tried his Movistar modem and it worked! Went to Rivas yesterday and bought one asnd shure enough it works sort of. it shows 3 bars but connection and speed is erratic running 10 to 45 Kbps. pretty slow but better than nothing. The advantage is we can take it to town with us and take advantage of faster rates. Cost $25/month. Ithink I will invest tin a signal booster and see if it helps. We set up a simple wifi net and had 3 laptops on one modem this afternoon. Itr was slow but we all could do e-mail and surf the web slowly. Was too slow for Skype however. Our finca is just south of Tola. The point is there is no one awnser to the internet problem and everyone will need to find what works at their particular location. Charles
How do I set up a WiFi network
using my Claro 3G chip from my laptop? Is there a web site I can go to for detailed instructions? I have a powerful wireless router that I brought from the states. www.ambientalistas.biz Kenny
Cradlepoint 3G/4G
I'm looking at the Cradlepoint line of 3G/4G routers to create a WiFi network. There are several options which seem to do the job at different prices:
CTR350 Mobile Broadband Travel Router at MSRP $99.99 MBR900 - 3G/4G Ready Mobile Broadband N Router at MSRP $149.99 MBR1000 Mobile Broadband 'N' Router | 3G/4G Wireless Router MSRP $249.99 CBA750 Mobile Broadband Adapter: 3G/4G Ready MSRP $299.99
The ZTE MF626 USB 3G Modem which Claro sells is listed on the compatibility list.
I'm leaning towards the MBR900.
Anyone tried any of these routers?
[b]Hotel Papatara[/b] Alamikamba, Municipio de Prinzapolka RAAN, Nicaragua (505) 8618 2750 cellphone
The CTR350 works well with
The CTR350 works well with Claro's ZTE MF-626.
I'm using an AZTECH router.
The Claro modem plugs into the USB port of the router.
Always make sure the router and the modem are compatible.
Part # or Model #
of your Aztech Router please.
I tried a Netgear last time I was down, wouldn't talk to the Claro USB modem I borrowed.
This is my preferred solution too, with a Wilson amp and external antenna.
I'll buy the Aztech and bring it down next trip.
Part # or Model #
of your Aztech Router please.
I tried a Netgear last time I was down, wouldn't talk to the Claro USB modem I borrowed.
This is my preferred solution too, with a Wilson amp and external antenna.
I'll buy the Aztech and bring it down next trip.
Don't use the D-Link DIR-655
Xtreme N Gigabit Router with the Claro USB ZTE MF-626 chip. It won't talk to Claro either. www.ambientalistas.biz Kenny
Claro 3G from other locations
My original Esteli test was from the Hospedaje Sacuanjoche, just southeast of the central park, and speeds were good there. Now, from Hotel Meson, just northeast of the central park, I can only get dial-up speeds (50-125 kbps). Still better than nothing, but disappointing given that I'm still in the city, just two blocks from the Claro office. Maybe it would be better outside my room.
Earlier today I was at a finca near Venecia, half-way between Condega and Yali ("middle of nowhere"). When I got myself to where my Claro phone had a signal, I was able to get online. Dial-up speeds, again, so that tower probably doesn't support 3G yet.
Claro internet from a shack
We got caught in a rainstorm in the mountains southeast of Jinotega, and took refuge in a typical campesino shack. Dirt floor, no running water or electricity, but it kept us dry. While there, I fired up my laptop and connected to the internet using the Claro internet. The service was slow (no surprise), but just the fact that I was able to connect from up there was pretty amazing.
Jinotega: slow
From inside the Hotel Bosawas in Jinotega, I'm only getting slow speeds. I have tried about ten times this afternoon and evening, and have not yet seen two blue lights. Maybe tomorrow I'll try from somewhere outside in case they built a Farraday cage around my room.
The power has gone off several times this evening, and is off now. But my laptop with batteries still works, and the 3G modem does too, so I can continue surfing despite the outages. A nice bonus feature of 3G mobile internet.
Works in Matagalpa
I am getting full 3G service from inside the San Jose hotel in Matagalpa, near one of the parks. (Sad that I don't even know exactly where I am right now).
Matagalpa 3G
The Hotel San Jose (which was extremely nice for $20) is behind the San Jose church, which overlooks the Ruben Dario park near the south end of town.
The internet connected at low speed maybe 25% of the time. Seemed random. That seems to be the case in several (maybe all) cities and/or hotels, but to varying degrees.
Not working in Matagalpa now
Since arriving back in Matagalpa Wednesday afternoon, I have not gotten my Claro modem to work at all here. Nothing has changed (that I know of), but I can't even connect at slow speeds.
My initial optimism has dimmed a bit.
Claro working again
It worked again after I bought another week. I think I just got cut off one day earlier than I should have been.
South of Esteli
Was on a finca just east of the Pan-Am, 7 km south of Esteli. Was slow again, with the orange "not 3G" light.
It's possible that from higher on the hill, where the signal is stronger, I might have gotten a 3G connection. Or perhaps it's like the connection at Hotel Meson, where sometimes it is slow and sometimes fast. Or perhaps that tower isn't yet 3G-capable.
But again, slow internet is better than no internet.
I haven't yet found anyone with a Movistar phone who will let me activate my Movistar internet. Claro seems to own the market, at least in Esteli. Hopefully by Monday I'll be able to try Movistar, one way or another.
Now fast from Hotel Meson
Moments after posting my previous note, the light on my modem changed from orange to blue, which indicates 3G. Sure enough, I'm now getting 1400 kbps, which is a decent broadband speed. Maybe the 3G tower was taking a lunch break.
mobile modems
this is an interesting new technology, especially for people on the move or with multiple computers (such as family members with laptops).
Someone gave a Movie star modem (these are small devices that resemble flashdrives) to a family member. We tried it out on several computers. It worked well in town but not on our new homesite on the edge of town. This is the pay-as-you -go type where you buy minutes at the local pulperia.
We checked on their prices for a post paid system and they were pricey. We checked on Claro and they had service with free hookup and $34 a month. We went for it and it is very useful when it works, even at the slowest speed that we bought. (It's 30 bucks plus IVA). And it only took 4 trips to Claro to get it!!! They must be under pressure from Managua to sell product.
About 30% of the time, both in town and at the new house, it has no signal or assorted mystery messages and doesn't work, often for many hours. Hopefully this is something they are going to fix. For areas with no regular service and no cibers, it's worth doing as a better-than-nothing option.
¨Independence is the only benefit we have gained, at the expense of all else¨ -Simon Bolivar
Claro 3G
What's the latest on this?
Is it best to get the cheapest rate because the higher speeds don't actually exist, or what?
I'm interested in Granada and Niquinomo coverage.