Aruba Connectivity [Data & Voice]
Jan 20, 2006 | 9:11 pm
#1
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Aruba Connectivity [Data & Voice]
I just found out my Cingular BlackBerry is useless in Aruba (no GPRS service), and I'll need access to my Lotus Notes email. Was hoping to not take a Notebook PC for my five day trip, but alas this doesn't now look possible.
Surfing around various sites it appears there is a wi-fi network on the island, that one can subscribe to for a specific day or a full week. Anyone have experience with this connection method (cost, reliability, how to initially acquire access, etc.)? An internet cafe is not a viable alternative, due to VPN issues.
Also I do not have GSM cellphone to take with me (I use Verizon CDMA in the U.S.). Has anyone rented a reasonable phone. I need to make probably fifteen minutes a day of outgoing calls to the U.S., and probably receive about the same incoming.
Surfing around various sites it appears there is a wi-fi network on the island, that one can subscribe to for a specific day or a full week. Anyone have experience with this connection method (cost, reliability, how to initially acquire access, etc.)? An internet cafe is not a viable alternative, due to VPN issues.
Also I do not have GSM cellphone to take with me (I use Verizon CDMA in the U.S.). Has anyone rented a reasonable phone. I need to make probably fifteen minutes a day of outgoing calls to the U.S., and probably receive about the same incoming.
Jan 21, 2006 | 9:42 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 209
Sorry, I can't help you regarding the data side but I purchased a prepaid sim card at the airport when I was down there in August. Everything worked great with my gsm phone and I added some additional minutes without a problem. There are two small shops when you exit baggage claim, I believe both rent cell phones. There is the web site of one of them. I don't think you need to pre-book but they give you the option.
http://www.arubafastphones.com/about.htm
19.5 cents per minute to the USA flat rate
Rental rates
First five (5) days
$ 8.00 per day
All days following $ 5.00 per day
Incoming calls are FREE
No additional service or maintenance charges.
Quantity of calling time is tailored to your needs.
Note..... you get a Aruba phone number so caller from the us will be paying international rates
The other shop might have been
http://teleshop.setar.aw/rent-a-cell.php
They are the major phone system in Aruba
http://www.arubafastphones.com/about.htm
19.5 cents per minute to the USA flat rate
Rental rates
First five (5) days
$ 8.00 per day
All days following $ 5.00 per day
Incoming calls are FREE
No additional service or maintenance charges.
Quantity of calling time is tailored to your needs.
Note..... you get a Aruba phone number so caller from the us will be paying international rates
The other shop might have been
http://teleshop.setar.aw/rent-a-cell.php
They are the major phone system in Aruba
Jan 21, 2006 | 4:21 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 19
==> Aruba: The following networks operate ... <==
New Millenium Telecom Services (NMTS) (Digicel)
GSM 900/1800 < www.~.~ >
SETAR (Servicio di Telecomunicacion di Aruba) (SETAR GSM)
GSM 900 < www.setar.aw >
SETAR (Servicio di Telecomunicacion di Aruba) (SETAR GSM)
GSM 1900 < www.setar.aw >
GSM 900/1800 < www.~.~ >
SETAR (Servicio di Telecomunicacion di Aruba) (SETAR GSM)
GSM 900 < www.setar.aw >
SETAR (Servicio di Telecomunicacion di Aruba) (SETAR GSM)
GSM 1900 < www.setar.aw >
Jan 21, 2006 | 5:53 pm
#4
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Join Date: May 1998
Location: Texas, U.S.A.
Posts: 19,523
Originally Posted by Craig6z
I just found out my Cingular BlackBerry is useless in Aruba (no GPRS service), and I'll need access to my Lotus Notes email. Was hoping to not take a Notebook PC for my five day trip, but alas this doesn't now look possible.
Surfing around various sites it appears there is a wi-fi network on the island, that one can subscribe to for a specific day or a full week. Anyone have experience with this connection method (cost, reliability, how to initially acquire access, etc.)? An internet cafe is not a viable alternative, due to VPN issues.
Surfing around various sites it appears there is a wi-fi network on the island, that one can subscribe to for a specific day or a full week. Anyone have experience with this connection method (cost, reliability, how to initially acquire access, etc.)? An internet cafe is not a viable alternative, due to VPN issues.
Jan 21, 2006 | 7:41 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 209
Wireless in Aruba
Forget that a friend purchased a wifi connection at the Aruba Bearch Club but it is part of a bigger operation by Setar
http://www.wifi-aruba.com/ $35 for 1 week. Hotspot link on bottom of page. Connection was OK..... not super fast or slow.
http://www.wifi-aruba.com/ $35 for 1 week. Hotspot link on bottom of page. Connection was OK..... not super fast or slow.
Jan 22, 2006 | 9:58 am
#6
Moderator: Avianca, Travel Photography, Travel Technology & USA
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Posts: 3,812
Originally Posted by madison8
Forget that a friend purchased a wifi connection at the Aruba Bearch Club but it is part of a bigger operation by Setar
http://www.wifi-aruba.com/ $35 for 1 week. Hotspot link on bottom of page. Connection was OK..... not super fast or slow.
http://www.wifi-aruba.com/ $35 for 1 week. Hotspot link on bottom of page. Connection was OK..... not super fast or slow.
{P.S. Sorry I was logged in as moderator, but this is Craig6z speaking}
Jan 22, 2006 | 10:02 am
#7
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Location: The shape-shifting urban sprawl that is El Lay. FT member #71.
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Posts: 4,839
Originally Posted by PremEx
I can sense you want that full Hong Kong connectivity experience, eh?
Darn CrackBerry.
Jan 22, 2006 | 10:23 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Texas, U.S.A.
Posts: 19,523
Maybe someone will capture a photo this time.
I may not have captured you red-handed, but the "evidence" can still clearly be seen in your hands:
http://members.aol.com/premexfiles/blackberryhk.jpg
Feb 9, 2006 | 7:44 am
#9
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Join Date: May 1998
Location: The shape-shifting urban sprawl that is El Lay. FT member #71.
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Posts: 4,839
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry7290/4.0.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 UP.Link/5.1.2.9)
An update...
Currently in Aruba and despite checking with Cingular multiple times, the BlackBerry does work. Digicell does have a GPRS service that works with Cingular. The other cell provider ("Setar", which is gov't owned) does not. I did rent a cell from Fast Phone, however the rate to the US is closer to 24 cents. Daily rate is still $8. Setar rentals are only $5/day, but call cost to the US is about 20 cents per minute more.
I called Cingular when I recognized GPRS service would work, and had them institute the old AT&T world data rate, until I return. They did, but still could not acknowledge they had servive in Aruba.
An update...
Currently in Aruba and despite checking with Cingular multiple times, the BlackBerry does work. Digicell does have a GPRS service that works with Cingular. The other cell provider ("Setar", which is gov't owned) does not. I did rent a cell from Fast Phone, however the rate to the US is closer to 24 cents. Daily rate is still $8. Setar rentals are only $5/day, but call cost to the US is about 20 cents per minute more.
I called Cingular when I recognized GPRS service would work, and had them institute the old AT&T world data rate, until I return. They did, but still could not acknowledge they had servive in Aruba.
Feb 9, 2006 | 2:12 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: A Southern locale that ain't the South.
Programs: Bah, HUMBUG!
Posts: 8,014
Originally Posted by Craig6z
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry7290/4.0.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 UP.Link/5.1.2.9)
An update...
Currently in Aruba and despite checking with Cingular multiple times, the BlackBerry does work. Digicell does have a GPRS service that works with Cingular. The other cell provider ("Setar", which is gov't owned) does not. I did rent a cell from Fast Phone, however the rate to the US is closer to 24 cents. Daily rate is still $8. Setar rentals are only $5/day, but call cost to the US is about 20 cents per minute more.
I called Cingular when I recognized GPRS service would work, and had them institute the old AT&T world data rate, until I return. They did, but still could not acknowledge they had servive in Aruba.
An update...
Currently in Aruba and despite checking with Cingular multiple times, the BlackBerry does work. Digicell does have a GPRS service that works with Cingular. The other cell provider ("Setar", which is gov't owned) does not. I did rent a cell from Fast Phone, however the rate to the US is closer to 24 cents. Daily rate is still $8. Setar rentals are only $5/day, but call cost to the US is about 20 cents per minute more.
I called Cingular when I recognized GPRS service would work, and had them institute the old AT&T world data rate, until I return. They did, but still could not acknowledge they had servive in Aruba.
