Getting a Better Internet Connection (With Globe Philippines)
Many people complain about their Internet Connection in the Philippines (and other places too!). Most people do not realize there are things they can do to improve their Internet connection. This is actually a reply to a man speaking about Globe, and is specifically about what he can do to help himself. However, this pretty much applies to people all over the world. I just thought I would share these tips with you…
A man named Clifford wrote: (I snipped most personal or identifying information.)
Wednesday, May 2, 2012, 4:46 am [EST]
im a retired ~snip~ living in talisay cebu phillipines area called lower ~snip~ cabinet or local cabineet he is over sold and or over loaded and we also need a main server in this area because of the huge amount or residential homes being built here and the internet is always crashing giong off line and ond or slow to no broswing for the entire area . and globe refuses to upgrede this area to ease the traffic on 20 year old cabinetts that are failing what can we do to force globe to spend big money to upgrade this area immidatly. as the tecs are here every week for hours
My Answer:
Nomaste (It just means “I bow to you!” ~ as with respect!)
Hello Clifford!
First, to be clear, I am not associated with Globe or any other Internet Service Provider any longer. I am a customer, just like you.
Likewise I have Globe (although I have a Sun Cell Wireless for a back up).
Internet Frustration
I understand your frustration with Globe, believe me if there was anything better, I would have already switched by now. It took me Feb., March and half of April to finally get someone to pass on information to a network engineer about how to fix the Router Problems (selective browsing) causing all their clients problems. It took the engineer about 5 minutes to fix the problems for thousands of customers. (After I told him exactly where it was!)
However, as I said, I enjoy Globe because I know what PLDT and Sun are like! (Actually they are now the same thing!)
Forcing Globe
Forcing any big company in the Philippines to do anything is nearly impossible. I was lucky enough to have Globe upgrade the cabinet I am in, with brand new fiber optics. How? Well, an over speeding, drunk, truck driver kind of smashed the old one with his truck! I am not sure what it would cost to get someone to drive into your cabinet! I am certainly not suggesting that!
New Globe Office
The good news is that Globe is building a big new switching office for Talisay (actually there is no switching office in Talisay at this time, we are just grouped and sent on old wires to Cebu City. The new office is on the SRP. If you go North on the SRP from San Isidro Road, on the right is the YU Apartments and it is across the Highway. I have been watching them build it, install 2 back up generators. And install fiber-optic cables to various places. When it gets put online (a year?) I am sure things will get better. But I do not expect a USA standards!
I do not know what is your skill level, but there are some things you can do to make a better connection through Globe.
1) Do NOT buy Globe’s cheapest connection – 1MB.
That is what all the Internet cafes buy and Globe does not maintain it. Get the next one up2 MB or better. It cost P200 more than the cheap one, but I found the service is better also.
2) Do NOT use WiFi in your house.
WiFi in the Philippines is NOT the same as in the States. Better to just have an Ethernet cable. The computers in my house have no WiFi router! Besides, the World Health Org now says WiFi may be a cause of breast and prostate cancer! Thanks but, No Thanks!
3) Do Not use Globe DNS.
DNS or the Domain Name Server, is what changes names, like NewLipHe.org into numbers (IP Addresses). Everything on the Internet runs on numbers. Globe has DNS servers that do this, when they are not broken.
One day my friend called me up and said he was mad at Globe because everyone on Globe was down for half a day. I said I was on Globe and still working fine! He came over to my house to see it for himself! What we realized it that Globe, Sun and PLDT all have problems getting Server Admin’s (quality) for their DNS servers in Manila. So when the servers fail, Globe clients are down. The next two suggestions are solutions for this.
4) Cheap DNS
Find a good DNS server in another country (perhaps two or three other countries) and program your router to use those instead of using Globe. This is better, but it does mean a total outage if Globe loses a line to those servers.
5) Install your own DNS server.
That is what I did for a while and I am going to do it again next week… This is the best solution, but it requires putting up a small server on your site. I do not know what your skill level is, but just about any computer (think cheap) can do this job well. You can download the Ubuntu Server package and get the DNS server running.
I am planing to move all my movies to the server so they can be watched on any computer on my network. I will need a slightly larger box for that. I figure a new computer will cost about P13T. But if you have a used computer laying around you could use that for a DNS server. OR even a cheap used one. DNS causes about half of my problems with Globe.
6) Get a STATIC IP Address.
Every time the power of phone goes out, or you shut off your router, you get a new IP address from the Globe “pool”. That is called a dynamic IP Address because it can change at any time. If you want to run an incoming server (host your own web pages) you need to have a Static IP Address – it never changes. I told Globe it was for my kids school… The reason I got it is to make my connection more stable. A Static IP Address does not change each time you use the Computer.
Picture this, say Globe had 8 problems with their network. Now figure you are in a pool with 10 connections. Eight of them have DIFFERENT problems. So each time the problems is different. A tech who actually fixes a problem (and I doubt most do that) would fix one of them, when you shut down, and turn on your computer the next day, you have the same problem. Think Carefully, what is the first thing they tell you to do… Power down the Router, right? So then you come up with a different IP Address and maybe one of the 2 our of 10 that work!
With a STATIC IP Address, that won’t work, so they must fix the problem YOU are having. And when you shut down, and power up, you have the SAME address that was really fixed. Does this sound like what is happening to you?
They used to charge a one time fee for a Static IP Address. But I love mine!
With the pool address (look below at your information when you sent me that message, you are in the Globe-VISMIN-IP-POOL (no surprise, right?). With a Dynamic Pool address, people suspect you are bad. Say that a spammer and cracker and all around evil Internet person just had the IP Address 180.190.165.19. He (or she) did all kinds of evil things all over the Internet, and plenty of systems put up 96 hour (4 day) road blocks… This guy was trying to break into all kinds of systems to rob and steal and destroy. Automatically when these attempts were discovered, servers started blocking that address… just for 4 days or so.
He got tired, or just hung up to get a new, fresher IP ADDRESS. 75% of Non Card Internet Fraud from this country is on the Internet in another country – so Dynamic addresses in the Philippines are automatically suspect. Now that address is dynamically assigned to you. He was hacking, cracking, committing fraud, spamming and doing all sorts of evil… Now you get the same address dynamically assigned to you. IP Address 180.190.165.19 is blocked for 4-7 days so any place he was doing his stuff will now BLOCK YOU! They do not know why you are, they only know your IP Address!
Try this out for yourself…
http://whatismyipaddress.com/blacklist-check
REAL CHEAP METHOD: If you get any red, you can likely shut off your router, restart it after a minute and test again and you IP will change and the red may be gone!
7) Praise the techs that come to your house!
It may sound strange, but usually the guys that come to your house cannot do anything to fix your problem. If you complain at them they will just want to do less and leave as fast as they can. Instead, appreciate them. Treat them well, chat with them about other things. Sometimes then they will think out of the box and offer a solution they would not normally offer. And sometimes they will bump you up to their supervisor. Asking to talk to their supervisor is a waste of time, but showing them they have an intelligent question for their supervisor, may just get the attention you need to solve your problem.
I have been in the Philippines more than 25 years, and one thing is for sure, it is not Japan, Canada, Germany, the UK or Missouri or California! My Honeybun saw a Globe guy working on the new cables the other day… one of the guys we had been nice to and you know what he told her? He was saving one of the first connections for us!
Part of living in the Philippines is accepting that this is a 3rd world country. More than that, it is a Filipino World. Don’t try to make it something else! Services are NOT on par with the Bill Gates in the States. Power, water, Internet, you can expect outages on a regular basis. When I have a brown our here, I go to the mall, or go to the beach. So now, I kind of look forward to these failures and complain when things work to well… or not!
8) Your Computer and Internet (Phone) needs to be grounded!
Wherever you were in the world, your computer was likely plugged into a grounded three prong outlet. Here your computer is likely plugged into an ungrounded outlet. In the States your phone box (Telephone fuses on the outside wall of your house) was likely grounded too (go check! Find your phone box, and see if there is a wire from it to a ground stake! Make sure it is not broken and it is tight!). If your computer, or your phone box, is not grounded, you will continue to have problems.
Adding a ground to your compute plug is not a hard job… It just takes a little time. Did you ever touch your computer and get a low voltage shock. It did not really hurt, but you were aware of it. That is really a danger that kills people every year in the Philippines. When there is a brownout / black out, on one side only, and no ground, the whole 240 Volts can be connected to the case of the Computer!
If your telephone cabinet is 20 years old, it likely has little to no grounding, so grounding at your house on your phone and computer is even more important. I have seen house that did not even have fuses, just drop wire twisted to house wire… DEMAND a grounded fuse on the side of your house, if you do not have one. I know Globe will give you that!
Well, there are Eight Solid and Proven Ideas on how to get a better Internet Connection Through Globe.
Take Care,
Lan
to get better speed and connection you can get a direct concetion to your local cabinet with no splices in the line you can locate closer to your local cabinet called a dslam. you can try to get a static ip address which you will only be able to get from globe business class.have the field tec try the best ports in the cabinet to hook your line to.the higest speed in the talisay city area is 3mb until april or may of 2012.whan the area upgrade will be activated . but a 4 hour 1 meg speedboost is available.at 10 to 2 am and pm in the talisay city area.
.
Thanks Clifford, good info, hope it helps someone…
Hi!
Thank you for this post. I’m bookmarking this and sharing to my friends.
I guess the problem with globe is the BM 622i which I have right now. I’ve made 6 modem changes already and have reported this problem several times.
Additional websites “unsupported” by globe include most HTTPS websites. Websites such as bpiexpressonline or paypal.
I’d like to use other DNS servers unfortunately my internet connection would die.
Right now, their technical support service are having technical problems in accessing account databses.
Could you give them another nudge on this one?
🙁
@Ramiel
Linux Mint Mate
UBUNTUNot MicrosoftYou can change your DNS in your computer, I use Linux Mint Mate
Ubuntuand it is very easy, I do not use Microsoft for anything, it just causes too many problems.BM 622i
BM 622i is a WiMax router and I am guessing your are using WiMax! This post is actually about WIRED DSL (Land Line), however, I have used both bpiexpressonline and paypal (and a few other banking and money accounts) via both Globe WiMax and Sun Wireless. I really suspect you are using Microsoft products as these, (IMHO with 40 years experience!), are usually the cause of problems, especially on HTTPS (port 443) connections.
Standards Compliant
I use the Ubuntu with Firefox and both of these are standards compliant, meaning they work well with other standards compliant software. Microsoft products have a long history of breaking standards to try to gain market share (i.e. to get more money from you!). Sadly, even if nothing is wrong with Globe and nothing is wrong with your BM 622i or with any of the other six routers (modems) you have had, if they are standards compliant, Microsoft Windows and the Internet Explorer are not.
Suggestions:
1) Do not use Microsoft anything. 99.9% of problems people ask me about is because they use Microsoft. However, if you use Microsoft and switch to Ubuntu, it is a little different (easier once you get past the learning curve).
2) If you insist to use Microsoft, try building a firewall (small server) between your home network and Globe. You will need an additional computer and Ubuntu Server (free download). There are plenty of directions on building an Ubuntu home server. Of course if you do this your internet speed will really jump because your home server will be talking server to server code (not workstation to server).
If you insist to use Microsoft AND you do not want to have a home server, here are some things you can try…
3) Use FireFox instead of Internet Explorer – it is free and easy. http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/
4) How to use Google Public DNS on Windows 7 and Windows XP
Just as a closing note: To show you exactly what I mean, when friends were over to my house and complaining about how slow their connection to Globe was, and asked me to help them get a fast Globe connection like I was using at my house… Well, here is what I did…
I took one of my kids low powered computers (the cheapest one I can buy at any computer store in Cebu). I have Ubuntu loaded (Download Ubuntu Here!) and it automatically loads and defaults to Firefox. So I would take this cheap, low powered computer (surely less than what you have!) over to their house.
I would plug it in at the same location they had their Windows high speed, top of the line, super computer plugged in, and fire it up. Suddenly their Globe internet connection came to life and started working perfectly for the first time! (You cannot go wrong with Ubuntu!) It was amazing how this low powered Ubuntu computer would out perform their super powered Windows box! Plugged into the Internet at exactly the same point.
What was even more amazing was that when I unplugged this little computer and plugged in again the Windows super box…. At that very moment, Globe started failing again!
(Obviously the problem was with Globe and not with the non standard compliant Microsoft Windows Super Computer!)
Nudge:
So let me give you a little nudge on this one. I fully agree that Globe has some problems, but before you think the problem is Globe or the BM 622i, or that Globe has “unsupported” HTTPS websites somewhere (and maybe your connection is different from all the other Globe connections I have ever seen), I would suggest you make a friend, who has a computer running Ubuntu, and plug it into your BM 622i at your house – your problem may just be Microsoft Windows!
You could also download a live version of Ubuntu, load it to a CD or thumb drive and try Ubuntu live on your computer without touching your hard drives. It is a little more technical, but I am sure your Ubuntu friend can help you.
PS To Microsoft Windows Lovers
PS: I freely admit that I hate Microsoft Windows (99.999% of all the cases of trouble people ask me to help them solve, are all problems with Microsoft Windows). I have not used Microsoft anything in half a decade. The last Microsoft anything I used was Windows 98, which was by far the best Microsoft product every produced (IMHO with 40 years experience). I do not support Microsoft anything. Any comments in favor of Microsoft anything will be deleted, and not appear on this website as I personally know it is not true. If you are having problems with Globe, Sun, Smart, PLDT and any modem or router, it is likely because you are using Microsoft Windows. You have the right to flame me, or make as many post as you want telling me I am wrong, and likewise I have the right to delete them and spare the public from reading them.
PS To Ubuntu Lovers in the Philippines
PS: If you are in the Philippines, you are using Ubuntu, and you have a serious question about how to configure Ubuntu to get the best Internet connection possible, I would love to help you!
Thank you for that comprehensive post.
I’ll try ubuntu and see if it will solve my problem.
Too bad we cannot get everyone to switch to Ubuntu so the world would become a more productive place!
I think you’re entitled to hating microsoft. I do too (lol) but most of my friends and family are on microsoft so porting documents are hard especially powerpoint.
Currently installing ubuntu and will give a feedback.
Thanks again!
Although improving, porting powerpoints to/from Ubuntu/Windows is not (yet) a perfect science. Some tweaking may be needed (in either direction). If you are using powerpoint to print, then save your files in PDF and this is not a problem. However, if you are actually using it to display, I would make sure to use LibreOffice (rather than OpenOffice). I think LibreOffice is more compatible to powerpoint.
If you must pass to friends and family often, and have absolute perfect powerpoints, and LibreOffice does not perform to what you really need, you can also use the actual Microsoft powerpoint 2007 in Ubuntu under Wine.
Hi, I took your advice and switched to Ubuntu. I can visit most of the sites now but there are still sites that can’t be reached.
I work as a blogger/writer and my client says the WP dashboard of the site I was working on, was ok on his end but I can’t access it.
Anyway, thanks for your advice about Ubuntu. It’s really a nice OS.
And weirdly, I can’t post properly to your site when I’m on Ubuntu.
@Ramiel – Your post from Ubuntu seem ok on this end. I read and analyze every post on 148 websites before allowing them live on the Internet, this sometimes takes a few weeks or months if I happen to be extremely busy. So just because your post does not appear right away, it may be just in the queue.
so, globe tattoo in the philippines is dynamic?
@JohnDale…
No, from the information I have, Globe tattoo (wireless) uses a dynamic (Not dynamic – which is global) with no hope of a static IP in sight.
Not, All wireless in the Philippines uses a dynamic Network Address Translation NAT. Meaning each time you get a different IP for local, which is NAT’d to the Global Internet.
I won’t get into it here, but if you access your router you will usually have an IP Address like 10.x.x.x, within the network, within the Philippines only. That is NAT’d (translated) by a local server to a global address. Try http://www.myipaddress.com/ to see the global address.
For DSL (that is with a wire or telephone line), you will still get a dynamic address, but it will be a global address (you router and global address will be the same. As an option, you can get a Static IP with this type of installation.
For me, I have now moved and made the switch to PLDT – I now hat a global dynamic address – good enough for what I need as I am not running a server at this location.
Hi Lan! I just want to let you know that you are awesome!
I hope you can help me.im connected with globe 5mbps. I checked the speed i got is 4.5mbps with a ping of 20ms. But when i connected my 8 computer the ping rises up to 500ms with no response in youtube when i tried to watch simultaneously.i probably have a problem in distribution/router or because of my dynamic ip. Do you think that if i request for static ip, does it will solve my connection / sharing problem. Thank you
Hi Michael,
Most youtube videos need about 2mbps to run smoothly. If you want 8 computers to run youtubes “simultaneously”, you would need a connection speed of about 16mbps! You may be able to get by with a little less, but you will need at least 1mbps+ per computer.
You did not say how you connected to the globe router. If you are using wifi, there are limits to the interface. If you notice, I-Cafe’s use Ethernet cables, not wifi. I would recommend using Ethernet cable (cat-5) and a good high speed switch/hub.
I am not saying no wifi will work, some will, some won’t.
Here is a test, shut off 7 of your computers and test each computer alone – does it have the single computer speed, it should. Test each of the computers this way.
Now run a youtube on one computer and start another computer. At that speed you should be able to run two computers with youtube. Try 3, then 4, keep adding computers till it fails. So if it fails at 5 then you can run 4 computers with simultaneous youtube on a 5mbps connection. You would then need 10mbps for 8 computers.
If it fails at 4 computers then you can run 3 computers on 5mbps and you would need about 12mbps to actually run 8 computers simultaneously on youtube.
You should do this test in the morning and keep in mind that you will smash into the Globe “fair use” policy with 8 computers downloading youtubes all the time.
Good Luck,
Lan
Just ran across your site and I hope you weathered the storm with out loss.
I am having issues with globe, been working with them now for a month. They will be back here on Sunday. I have a 5 Mbps connection when it works. I will try and get them to give me a static IP when they get here.
I had PLDT and it been a nightmare …I disconnected service with them 3 months ago and they are still billing me. Even after a trip to their office.
O well my main reason for this post was to wish you well. I know you were in the path of the storm. Best wishes to you and your family.
David
Thanks David!
The whole east wall (nearest the beach) was ripped off and a huge hole punched in the south wall. We have repairs underway. Plus the whole patio roof is gone! But thanks to the Lord Yeshua, Marie, baby Zoe and I are all ok.
I am not currently on globe.
I moved from Talisay Cebu to Dumaguete City, and now have a PLDT land line DSL connection.
Here is a tip, I have not written about yet, for others who may happen this way. Try to avoid the wireless connections if at all possible. I have a Sun wireless, which I think is the best here, and I use as a back up to my PLDT land line DSL connection, but I would not recommend it for serious use.
I would suggest that different areas are better served with different providers. So Globe may be the best in one area and PLDT may be the best in another area. I would check around and find people in your area who have an Internet connection and see what they think of it.
Thanks again for your concern,
Lan
I have a question and I have a suggestion.
Question: What do you mean when you say “WiFi in the Philippines is NOT the same as in the States.” and to use Ethernet? Wifi is the same everywhere. (Just as Ethernet is.) The Wifi routers here are not made here. And they are from the same companies that sell them in the US. Signal strength / propagation in buildings varies depending on materials used in the building and the actual physical layout of the building, but that’s true anywhere.
Suggestion: Regarding DNS, I agree not to use the ISPs DNS. (But even back in the states I don’t use my ISPs DNS. I use Google DNS. It’s free, it’s fast, and unless your Internet is down, Google is unlikely to ever be unreachable. Info on their DNS is here: https://developers.google.com/speed/public-dns/
Hi Robert,
You made some good points… The post was written for Filipinos in the Philippines, where Globe provides service. “WiFi” in general use here has an association to wireless Internet. Likewise many of the Wifi routers here are NOT made in places that pass standards the the USA would require… I have seen many from China that I could not even find specs on the Internet.
WiFi is effected by MANY different things… Like large bodies of water (The Philippines is 7000+ islands!), wiring (yours and your neighbors), reinforced concrete, often without bounded reinforcement bars, nearby power lines, and other things. These often cause the WiFi to switch to a higher power mode, increasing health risks even greater, or to switch to a slower speed, reducing Internet access. I would even venture a guess that many ISP’s here provide house branded WiFi routers they bought from the lowest bidder… I had one, it gave me a headache so bad that after a couple weeks of bad sleep, my doctor suggested I switch it off… the headaches and sleepless nights vanished.
Google “wifi health hazards” for more information.
DNS – I used to use Google and they are pretty good most of the time… Currently I am using OpenNIC (www.opennicproject.org) DNS and I like it a lot. When I set up a new computer the first thing I do is get them off the ISP DNS.
Thanks for the info.
I am currently having a battle with Globe. I am a foreign national as well, and never in all my days have seen such indifference and bad customer service in a company.
My internet is suppose to be 2 mbps, it never ever reaches even 10% of that (it shows in the speed test 2 mbps, but not in downloading/browsing).
Now they told me there is a 5gig capping. which is in the general conditions, I never had to sign any documents, so naturally i am disagreeing this measure. Requested on the 26th of December to provide me with the copy of the document i signed. surprise surprise: nothing has been found yet.
I will go to the board of telecommunications soon, since i refuse to take this kind of BS.
Hello Jeroen,
Being a foreigner living in the Philippines can be a little hard to understand and adapt to. In the Philippines, one word seems to get in the way a lot and cause more misunderstands, more then anything else. The word is UNLIMITED!
How do you define unlimited?
I have an unlimited text Globe cell phone, but it is limited in that I cannot send text to Smart or Sun! Limited in that I cannot send text abroad. Limited by the FUP so I cannot send a lot of text in a ten minute time frame (about 20 text in 10 minutes will get you cut off for the rest of the day with globe). It seems to me that my “unlimited text” is really very limited. The unlimited means I can send a few text an hour to only Globe cell phones!
What about unlimited Internet? Is not 2mbps a limitation from the very start?
Globe is not the only one… I buy Internet Hosting in other countries like the USA. They often say “unlimited web pages”. But a web page is both the HTML and the images, most of these limit the images in the fine print – the HTML, the actual page, is really very small.
Like you, I would prefer a more exact specification… but could you really understand it? Would you understand terms like burst speed, uncompressed band width and the dozens of other terms?
So what is unlimited really mean? It means a fraction of 2 Mbps until you reach 5gig a day – then a reduction of speed. Consider things a different way, think about the bandwidth YOU NEED. For example, a movie is about 2-3 gig in size, if you needed to down load 10 movies a day, you would need to down load 20-30 gig a day! You would need to buy your Internet by the amount of bytes per day. That would be 4-6 times what you have now… and surely would cost more. Believe it or not, they sell this!
Now as the the NTC, or board of telecommunications as you referred to them. Well, if it makes you feel better, complain. Just keep in mind that the very same NTC is who set the rules the telecoms are following – that they may sell Internet based on burst speed (the very maximum speed) and you will likely NEVER get that. So your complaint will be to the people who make the rules…
The solution…
So how do you get 4-6 times the Internet bytes that a P1099 plan delivers? Well, one way would be to buy 4-5 P1099 plans! REALLY! However, there is a better, cheaper, way…
Platinum Home Broadband – it seems to be just what you are needing… 10Mbps is P3499 a month. Minimum speed is up to 100% of plan’s subscribed speed. Minimum service reliability is 80%. Now that is about 3 times what you are paying and about 28 times the amount of down load bytes per day if you use it 24 hours a day, with no FUP or capping!
hai when im using globe broaband after 1/2 hour globe text that (Hello! We noticed that your data usage today has been really high. We’re now reducing your browsing speed to maintain quality service for all Globe users. Please be guided by our acceptable terms on fair use for browsing promos, which you can read about at surf.globe.com.ph/fup. To browse at normal speeds, you can unsubscribe from your current promo by texting STOP to 8888. Regular browsing rates will apply thereafter. Thanks! ) then i cannot browsing in my pc or i cant internet like before help?
Yes, that is correct.
The new link is:
Globe Mobile Fair Use Policy
They clearly state (near the bottom)…
Mobile surfing offers from Globe are generally meant for emailing, browsing and search activities. Customers who frequently use file-sharing software or download large files are usually the ones affected by our policy. Media streaming and downloading of torrents also contribute to the excessive use of bandwidth capacity.
Three gig a month may be downloading just one HD movie! As Globe states on that above page…
This means customers on an Internet promo and plan who exceed 1 GB a day or 3 GB per month (whichever comes first) will experience browsing at slower speeds.
Clearly Globe is beginning to become more transparent with their FUP. PLDT has a similar policy on their mobile access.
Obviously the goal of Globe is to sell you a higher priced package. Although no one wants to pay more, the old adage that you get what you pay for does apply. Actually, I am a little happy that Globe is coming out with what their FUP is on each of their plans. This helps me design systems that do what my clients needs. When the FUP was a secret, it was much harder to design workable solutions for needed access.
lan i reaLLY wanna know if setting up my dns to google and setting up static ip address will improve my modem or internet connection to globe? and is it safe to set up a static ip’s?? is it secure particularly to those hackers to access your modems?
Hi Rico,
I have been running DNS from Google for years. It works well on Globe, as well as PLDT and even SUN wireless.
You can do this without any problems.
As to a Static IP Address… There is no problem as long as you change your password on your modem. I am no longer on Globe (I switched to PLDT), but I have heard that both Globe and PLDT have new crummy rules about static addresses (they made them very expensive).
According to them, you only need a Static IP when you are serving files. That is a lie. But that is their reason.
Frankly, I am an Internet professional. I would like a Static IP Address for Internet Security reasons. For example, I have a dozen servers on the other side of the world. I make changes to these via a login and password. How much more secure could I make this if I had a Static IP Address. Just imagine, I could tell my servers to only listen to requests from my Static IP Address! So to hack my server, a hacker would need to both have My Username, My Password, and My Static IP Address.
This has nothing to do with outgoing bandwidth, nor serving files. Frankly, with dynamic DNS you could serve files from your home server, set up a website, and do it all with a dynamic IP Address. So PLDT and Globe charging more for OUTBOUND traffic to get a Static IP Address is ridiculous.
My server farm in other countries charge $2 for extra Static IP Address. If PLDT offered me one for say P80 – I\d take it!
PLDT and Globe, in my expert opinion, have no valid reasons for what they are doing.
My advice, switch to Google DNS and try it for a while. Get a static if it is not too costly.
Hi, Just found your blog while googling static ip for Globe, following their switch to CGN.
Is it possible to obtain a static ip on a domestic adsl line (currently on 5Mb contract)? If so, is it a monthly fee, or one off fee? Globe Customer Service (now, there’s a misnomer for you) seem to realise that they’re, technically, way out of their depth, and curtail any support call I make.
I share your hatred for Microsoft, having been running ARM processors for my desktop machines ever since I moved up from CPM/80, up until I moved here in 2007. I switched over to Ubuntu then, and would still recommend it for any non-techie person. However, I’ve recently started using ArchLinux on my personal desktop, but setup/configuration of the desktop is not for the faint of heart!
With regard running your own dns – I am now using a Raspberry Pi, running archLinux ARM – it hosts my dns, dhcp and ntp services/relays, as well as managing the UPS which supports the router. This is realatively easy to set up, very cheap (the Pi costs only Php1,800) and is cheap to run, too – no need for any moving parts. I could even build a ‘ready to run’ image, and host it on my website, if anyone is interested!
I’m confused by your comments re WiFi. There is no reason why your home wifi here should be any different to that which you have used in the west ,,, unless you’re relying on a crippled, ISP-provided, router.
I certainly wouldn’t advocate using a laptop on your lap, but I suspect that using WiFi is no more harmful than using a cell phone – which generates a stronger RF signal, and often gets placed close to your brain!
RE comments about speed limitations – as I say, I’m currently on a 5Mb plan. At night, I lift constraints on my p2p activity (I limit myself to modest usage during daytime peak hours) and regularly see night-time downloads running in excess of 400kB/s (B = bytes. b = bits) and uploads in excess of 100kB/s, so I would say that I’m getting a speed which lives up to expectations. Like any Internet service world wide, you share your bandwidth (5Mb/s, in my case) with several other people, so if everyone is using their connection heavily, then you will all experience something less than the speed mentioned in your contract. Traditionally, UK domestic lines had a contention ratio of 50:1 (that is 50 users sharing the 5Mb/s) and business lines were at 20:1. So, at the worst, your domestic connection would only run at 1/50 of the contract speed!
@Peter
CGN
A lot of confusion could be saved by understanding that CGN is actually just NApT on a larger scale. It is no longer dynamic IP Addressing.
In other words,the old dynamic system had a pool of world IP addresses and would assign one to you to use while you were connected. This maintains the end to end stateless condition of the Internet, which is so powerful.
A static IP Address was just a world |IP Address that was routed directly to you and you alone.
Because of the limit of IP Addresses in IPv4, the wireless systems in the Philippines were installed with NAT, NApT, or CGN. Any of these systems CAN map a world address to a network address – but Philippine wireless providers have chosen to say they can’t instead of they won’t.
STATIC IP ADDRESS
Is it possible to obtain a static ip on a domestic adsl line.
The short answer is YES! The long answer is technology vs. policy! So far the policy of all Wireless connections said they can’t (won’t) do it.
With Globe switching its wired network to CGN, I would suspect that they will follow suit and say they cannot supply a static address. I would also suspect that Globe will continue to provide static address for people who have and need them, and |I would expect to see Globe over-charging for an static IP address in a “server configuration” service like PLDT does, one static IP, half the bandwidth, twice the price.
If you do not have a static IP already I think it will now be near impossible to get one from Globe and costly to get one from PLDT.
CPU Chips
Where I am it is just easier to get Intel Chips. I am running one I-7 in my machine. My partner has an I-5. We also have two duo-core Atoms that we use for teaching. My overseas servers are farmed out with Pair Networks and Reck Space.
MyOPERATING SYSTEMS
My recommendations for OS is usually based on a Windows user trying to break the death grip Microsoft has on him. As a Cutting Edge (Bleeding Edge) Linux Distro, I have heard good things about ArchLinux, but it is not something I would suggest to anyone who was trying to leave Microsoft. These people usually want a low learning curve, and ease of installing.
I came to Ubuntu via PC-BSD and Desktop -BSD – both desktops on the FreeBSD platform. FreeBSD is a rock solid server platform, I am still using it on my Pair Network servers. As a desktop, it was great for me, but not a good choice for people leaving Microsoft. Ubuntu with GENOM2 was a very usable and recommendable system.
Then Canonical forced Unity on us. Ubuntu/Unity even broke some low end boxes because Unity is so bloated. One of my little Atom boxes with 2 gig of main memory broke. All I was asking was it to play movies for a three year old! Immediately I hated it and it has gotten worse since then. This is what happens when open-source, open community gets pushed out by corporate America. That is my opinion. Not only mine it seems.
A lot of people did not like Ubuntu Unity. They wanted a stable OS they could trust and would not break all the time. Enter Linux Mint. Mint comes in a number of flavors, Mate is basically the repaired GNOME2. Cinnamon is more on the lines of MAC, or a better version of Ubuntu Unity. There is also a super reliable version, if you have something mission critical!
To date ALL but one of our work stations have migrated to Linux Mint with Mate. This is scheduled to get a new motherboard/processor in the first quarter and I will do the Mint upgrade at the same time. Until then, I plan to run the Ubuntu package that installs the Mate desktop on Ubuntu.
Raspberry Pi
Nice idea. I was thinking about getting a few of these for a CoderDojo in the Philippines when I get my seminar building finished.
WiFi
The WiFi debate (as well as cell phones) usually focuses on radiation damage. It is interesting that virtually all cell phones come with a warning to not put it to your ear! (keep it at least a centimeter away!). It appears that 10-30% of people are effected by nearby WiFi. Take note that does not say “damaged by WiFi.” Terrible headaches and lack of sleep in a house with WiFi are not yet considered damage.
However, many people would do well to replace their WiFi with Cat 6 cable. Better night’s sleep and getting rid of migraine headaches.
Conclusion
With your results, I doubt a static IP would improve your connection any at all. Thanks for posting Peter, this may be a road map for other Globe users to follow.
If you post your ‘ready to run’ image, also post a link here.
CGN
Sure, NAT on a large scale, and why I suspect that the sessions limit may not be deliberate – how many NAT port translations can a single gateway cope with?
A half-way house for CGN/static IP would be the option of dynamic public addresses for those who request it – we could still use ddns to route in to our lan, but I’m sure Globe would say that it would be too complicated/confusing. On the other hand, Globe must now have a large pool of public IPs which are currently unused. I will try visiting the local sales office to enquire about getting a static address.
CPU Chips
Of course – my main machines are now Intel X86-based. Desktops are currently on Sandybridge i series. Main server is on Ivybridge Xeon. I still have a couple of older Core Duo machines in use. I also have a couple of AMD E450 machines, currently sitting idle – pensioned off from media player service, replaced by ARM systems. My external server is hosted by 5quid.
OS
I agree that Ununtu is by far the best choice for someone being weaned off Microsoft. I’ve been trying to install Mint on one machine, to have a play. Silly me – I didn’t check the MD5 sum, so have wasted a couple of hours trying to get a corrupt image to run!
It’s definitely worth playing with Raspberry Pi. I’m using them for a home automation project, teaching myself, and the kids, Python as I go. My first Pi was deplayed to manage the UPS on my router – it was a no-brainer … spend $$$ on a network enabled UPS, or attach a 1,800PHP system via USB!
WiFi
I understand your concerns, and I do have wired ports (and Gb routers) at various strategic locations around the house. but there are some devices which rely on wifi – primarily the kids wanting to use their phones.
Conclusion
It would still be good to lift the sessions limitation, and the CGN does extend ping times a little – however, I much happier now than I was a week ago!
@Peter – I am glad you are happier now than last week.
Ubuntu vs LinuxMint Mate
To be clear, I am leaving Ubuntu for LinusMint Mate. Mint/Mate is a flat out stable OS on every machine I have installed it, and people coming from Windows love how easy it is. I have started telling people LinuxMint Mate is like Windows, except it works! However, if you are downloading in the Philippines, always check the MD5!
WiFi
WiFi, not allowed in my house. It effects ME! It is hard to convince some people that they do not hurt!
Globe
Now I am going to play the devil’s advocate for a little while, just for balance.
I strongly suspect Globe switched to CGN on their DSL due to lack of available IP Addresses. PLDT is much bigger, and much stronger. When they got into the biz, they bought huge blocks for future expansion. I believe PLDT bought blocks for their wireless, Smart Bro, which they did not use.
Globe “evolved” into this with former names like Islacom merging into their system. IP addresses ran out 2 years ago, no one can get any more. But the sales of Internet services continues to rise, drastically rise! Skyrocket Rise! More users (think call centers) means the NEED for more IP address, even on CGN. I have read where CGN can have a 50 to one benefit on IP address use, Call centers do not run well with less that global dynamic address. So I suspect Globe needs a lot more IP Address than they can get,
The Real Problem
The actual problem is the lack of networks switching to IP6, the new Internet system. IP4 should be retired and abandon as quickly as possible, but CGN extends the life of IP4, and does it pretty cheaply. Problem, almost all of what people want is on the IP4 system. Something needs to be done to force networks (mainly servers) to plug directly into IP6 so more consumers will also plug in. Consumers do not want to plug in because there are not as many servers, and servers do not want to plug in because there are not as many clients. And to force people, isn’t that some kind of censorship?
Censorship
Actually the Internet is full of censorship! I am not even talking about places like China or North Korea. Actually, as far as I can determine, North Korea has no Internet censorship at all! Surely the censorship in the USA is much, much worse than the censorship in North Korea!
You see, North Korea has only 4 Class C networks arriving via China. That is a total of 1024 IP Addresses in the whole country! But not all IP address on a network are usable, some must be used for routing, etc. Based on CNN’s research, North Korea has Internet access for only about 500 of its top party officials. They are self censoring, or they die!
So you can see that, from the right point of view, there really is no censorship at all in North Korea. You either control everything and do not want any change, or you do not have any Internet to censor!
My Rights, Your Rights!
My grandfather was a wise man. He once told me that rights are like driving a car. My rights end where the other cars bumper begins!
Free Speech in America allows people to say anything they want… Except…
Not lies about people.
Not threats to people.
Not where you have no rights.
For example, you may not believe in God, but you may not interrupt a church from having their religious services in their building. Oddly, most colleges and universities in America severely limit what you can say and where you can say it on their campus? Censorship, in some form, is a way of life.
The same applies to anyone who owns a website. For example, I delete spam on this site without a thought. I maintain about 150 websites for different organizations, Strangely they all have a zero tolerance for allowing porn to be posted on their websites. Virtually all websites have policies in effect that censor what is allowed to be posted. It is not censorship because it does not prevent you from setting up your own website, at your expense, and saying anything you want (as long as it is the truth and breaks no laws!)
Amazingly no one has any right to post anything on the Internet unless they own the website they are posting on! If a website owner allows you to post, that is a privilege. If he later deletes it, that is the OWNER’s RIGHT!
Money
Finally, there is the matter of money. Globe and others are in the business to make money. I read a statistic that said over 99% of Internet users in the Philippines buy the least expensive plan! This did not include business and industrial users like schools. Just people using a private Internet connection at home. Pretty amazing stats if you think about it.
Back to Normal
Ok, having played the devil’s advocate… I think there is a lot that can be done to improve things. The Internet in the Philippines is one of the worst and most expensive in Asia. But the government is controlled by the same people who own the money making Internet businesses! Get a fair and impartial NTC that reported to the people… But how are you going to do that?
BTW, I meant to say, with regard to the new Globe CGN implementation:
If you are suffering from poor Internet connectivity – very slow response, huge numbers of dropped packets etc – look at your number of concurrent sessions (or connections). My router shows this information in two places – most usefully on the bandwidth monitor page, where the number of sessions per local ip address is shown.
The new CGN scheme appears, either by design or by accident, to impose an unreasonably low maximum limit on concurrent open sessions. I have retuned some of my machines and router settings and am now back to an acceptable Internet performance. This may not be a problem for most people, but I have more than 30 devices connected to my lan!.
Thanks Peter, I am sure that will help some Globe users who have been switched to CGN.
I have just posted on a thread about CGN problems on the Globe community board only to find that they are now moderating the posts (censorship?).
Honestly, I would expect Globe to delete every post on that community board that is about policy. You may not realize it but that board is about configuration. How to configure your Globe provided equipment to work with CGN. I am sure they should and will delete any post that even questions the wisdom of using CGN and that is their right and that is the way it should be! Read my other answer and you will see clearly that it is NOT censorship at all. It is just business and you violated their business policy.
If you want to blame someone, blame the ISP’s in the USA with 1.5 BILLION IP Address. I highly doubt you will find any there using CGN. When an ISP in the USA is forced to use CGN, everyone will switch to IP6. Remember, ALL IP’s have been assigned to companies, they are not all used. That means huge companies have plenty of IP’s where smaller ones are running out. It will continue to get worse until it gets so bad that websites are demanding to be put on IP6. That is still years away.
Hi Lan, This is a really great article!
I know everyone here reading are experts. And I really want to know, how to improve the NAT type that Globe is offering. Is it really to get a static IP or are there any other alternatives (like using a different DNS other than what Globe is providing?) Getting a Static IP with Globe in what I’ve read is going to have an additional Php700 ($16) to my current monthly payment.
Now just to get you on my perspective, I’m asking with regards to online gaming. I’m currently getting a NAT type (NAT3) wherein it’s really hard to have a stable connection using Globe’s Plan 5 Mbps.
Thank you in advance to those who would answer. Good day!
@Jeff – There is likely much more going on with your connection than what is stated, Let’s get to the real problem…. The world quietly ran out of IPv4 addresses. Companies like Globe cannot get any more. Larger / older companies like PLDT were able to stockpile (or hoard). The only real solution is to switch to IPv6, which has its own set of problems, unless everyone does it at the same time!
The Internet is designed to be stateless, as well as wired. Try to get back to that.
All NAT (or CGN) is stated at each NAT point (and most wireless connections as well).
The Internet is build on an end to end principle, wireless and any form of NAT breaks that. The more there is, the more broken it is.
What can you do?
Try to get rid of as much NAT as possible. I NOW connect via PLDT DSL wires on my land-line telephone. It has a dynamic Global address, so I get a new Global IPv4 address, time-shared with other PLDT subscribers.
I have a router, with NAT3 and WiFi turned off. It is wired to my computer via an Ethernet Cat-6 cable. This goes through a gigabit switch, to also serve the other computers on my network. The router has a NAT to serve this network.
Therefor, between me and any normal server on the Internet, there is ONE NAT and NO Wireless.
Carrier-grade NAT (CGN), also known as large-scale NAT (LSN)… Now used by Globe in the Philippines and used by ALL wireless Internet in the Philippines.
Consider the people who have many transitions (wireless or NAT).
One use scenario of CGN can be described as NAT444, because some customer’s connections to public servers would pass through three different IPv4 addressing domains: the customer’s own private network, the carrier’s private network and the public Internet.
Then throw in wireless to your router and WiFi from your router, and these are all opposed to the end to end principle.
My Recommendations
Use Wire, not wireless. That means DSL on land-line telephone lines, and Ethernet Category 6 cables instead of WiFi.
Don’t buy Carrier-grade NAT (CGN). Buy a Static IP OR a Dynamic GLOBAL IP. Some Philippine providers only offer Static and CGN – vote with your money and don’t buy CGN.
Buy enough bandwidth. Today’s games require more bandwidth that those of yesteryear… Likewise in years past people got unused bandwidth. Today there are more customers to fill up that extra bandwidth. If two years ago you were fine with 3-5mbps, today you will likely need 8-10mbps for the same performance – because there is less left over bandwidth.
Likewise, if you game during peak periods, you will likely need even more, because the pie is cut even smaller. Or buy guaranteed bandwidth (be prepared to pay!). “UPTO 5mbps” means “5mbps when no one else is using it!” Plan to use 1/2 or 1/3 when real people are using it.
Guaranteed bandwidth of 5mbps will get you 5mbps anytime of the day or night. This is the type of bandwidth call centers buy.
If you want better Internet, contact your congressman, and ask a few thousand times why is Internet in the Philippines both the most expensive in Asia and also the slowest in Asia? Nation building today depends on good, cheap, reliable Internet.
Hi
this there some tutorial site or application can you suggest to me learn about configuring static, port forwarding and bridge mode using globe dsl modem.
thanks a lot
None that I would recommend. You could just google each of those, but the answers will depend both on your router and also your service provider.
Static means you have an IP Address that never changes it’s number. So any internet commented computer can find you at that number. This would be required for a DNS server or for an https: web server. Not actually required for hosting a website, but it makes it easier. Static address are most often used for servers, not clients.
Port Forwarding just uses some form of NAP to forward packets to one of a number of servers/computers within your local network.
Bridge mode just turns your router into a modem. For example, in my former office I had my router in bridge mode and followed it up with a computer server / firewall / office server. Any packet had to go both through the server AND through the router in bridged mode. This can be good fr people with a static address.
Remember that ALL THIS depends both on your router AND your provider. For example, static address MUST be set up at Globe.
HOWEVER, to use any of this you need a GLOBAL NETWORK ADDRESS. That means no private addresses (NO NAT / NO CGN). These break the end to end policy. Google Private network and Carrier-grade NAT and read the wikipedia to get started.
I have been told Globe is converting all it’s networks to CGN. Most wireless in the Philippines is already running NAT.
Hi Lan,
Like most of the Globe subs in the country, I could only scratch my head for all these troubles, learned to take a deep breath or better yet, sleep through it. If I won’t, I would go all crazy…yelling to tech support people who can’t help but say sorry. I learned to fix internet troubles myself, swore not to call tech support unless it is a matter of life and death!
I am doing an online home-based job and needless to say can’t do anything without internet. I am on a 5mbps plan which itself is a total rip off! I only get up to more or less 2mbps sometimes less than 1. (I was expecting to get at least 3.5 to 4 out of the 5). This is just me ranting out (sorry :)) Actually, I find your blog and the comments here very helpful. I will surely try Ubuntu soon! You’re awesome. I’ll bookmark this page so I can get back to this later. Well wishes to you and your family!
I agree! But the real problem is the government officials who both own and regulate the phone/internet industry. If you cannot find a government official who owns large holdings in communication, you may need to look at family and friends.
You said, “I am doing an online home-based job” – if that job pays you well enough, you maybe should consider the added expense of upgrading as a cost of doing business. I have upgraded about six times already. I am currently recommending 8-10Mbps for people working on the internet.
Do not ever get wireless if at all possible. I prefer PLDT to Globe at this time. In days long gone, I preferred Globe.
Besides looking at what they provide vs what I am “paying for”, or what they advertise, I try to look at what I need, and buy that. If you need 10 Mbps to do your online Job or Business – then that is what you need and that is what you should buy.
Until people stop voting for rich leaders, then it is the consumers who will continue to suffer. Knowing that, buy what you need and help elect poor but educated people who have no relative in any government office. Good advice in any country.
But I agree with you!
Im having problems connecting my samsung galaxy E7 to my Globe Wifi but my parents phones can connect with it with no problem at all. I’m the only one having problems with it. Can you help me please?
Hi Naomi,
If your parents phones connect ok, you may want to look at the settings in their phones and try to set up your phone like theirs. If that does not work, then you will need to check the router admin section and see if your phone is blocked.
Although it takes more time and effort, you can also contact Globe and tell them the internet does not work – demand a service man come to your house (where the router is) and have EVERYTHING on hand. That would include your phone at least and better if your parents phones are there too. TEST everything before the service people leave.
globe signal is very slow I cant finish my project now
tomorrow our deadline!!!!!!!!!why???????!!!!!!!!
Yes, I switched and now have two connections, PLDT and Sky Cable. They both have problems and often are out of service at the same time!
If i change my ip adress (on what globe gave to me)and i change it to what i get in http://www.myipaddress.com does my net can speed up? Sorry coz I didn’t understand hehe thank you for your respond
@James – No, because the Globe Network does not use Global IP Addresses. They use CGN which is translated.
Interesting read, I think this is about the only article available online that discusses NAT444 in the Philippine setting. If all the above mentioned is correct, then the Philippine Internet is going to be a sh*tpile of trash until IPv6 is rolled out – which probably won’t happen for the next half decade. I do think NAT444 is somewhat a bandaid solution but it should only be implemented for a very short period of time. I very much like how you explained how NAT breaks the principles of the Internet and how it should be an end to end principle. I work for an ISP elsewhere in the world and we did implement NAT444 at one point and in some areas, however we saved the option to move some clients that require what you call a Global Dynamic Address, since some of the services that they use over the Internet doesn’t work with NAT444. We did this by allowing Tier 2 and higher reps to switch their path outside of NAT444, but unfortunately I don’t believe Globe and other ISPs here are doing it, as Tier 1 Reps don’t even know what NAT444 is. It is rather unfortunate how the tech support here are uneducated, but that’s a different issue and I’d rather not go into detail.
Anyway for the sake of the discussion I’d like to add that people shouldn’t believe the results of the speedtest.net all the time as ISPs can simply cheat it by prioritizing the hosts for speedtest and others, while throttling various different protocols. I do understand that packet shaping is sometimes required but at times it is almost a crime how ISPs here are doing it.
@Jason – You are so correct!
I have a PLDT account that still has a pooled global dynamic IP address. Regardless of ISP, the Internet dies for hours every day, and often slows down to frustrating (almost unusable) speeds. Sky Cable also uses a global dynamic address at the present time – but still has major problems with speed. Both Sky Cable and PLDT and Globe (three different ISP’s) often die at exactly the same time! Makes me think there may be an upstream carrier (underwater fiber cable) they use in common.
Somewhere between P1,000 and P4,000 a month all providers offer a static IP address. Often attached to some kind of expensive account for hosting. I had one (back then it was free) on a Globe account in Cebu. Often my neighbors asked me why my account of basically the same as theirs, worked so much better.
Update: Sky Cable uses a “large-scale NAT” (LSN) deployed on the RFC 1918 address space 10.0.0.0 – 10.255.255.255` (10.0.0.0/8) as does other ISP’s in the Philippines.
Customers are limited to use 172.16.0.0 – 172.31.255.255` (172.16.0.0/12) and 192.168.0.0 – 192.168.255.255` (192.168.0.0/24).
I am not aware of any ISP who is using the CGN address space of 100.64.0.0/10