Does anyone videoconference with their friends/family back home that lives in one of the housing areas?

If so, what service are you using and what are your Internet service provider options? and is that working/providing a sufficient upload speed?

Is Americable just TV service or is it also internet?

Are there any options besides Americable for television? (again, only talking the housing areas)

I haven't moved there yet but will be in Yokosuka.

Thanks.

If you live on base, Americable is the only option for cable --TV and internet both. If you live off base you have more options, and can purchase faster internet.

For what Americable offers, conference calls back home haven't been a problem depending on the quality you're looking for... and the cable doesn't hit one of it's low moments.

We use Skype, and if you call stateside to another Skype user with the webcam, it's free. We've been very happy with the service.


You also may want to hit up the search bar because the cable issues and third party phone providers (like Skype and vonage) have been addressed many times to help with any further questions.

Thanks Elizabeth, I was looking in the internet and computer section and not the "off-topic" section.

That's what I plan on using - skype to videocall.

Has anyone ever used Nationphone for TV service? This is not an advertisement - I only ask because I've heard such bad things about Americable. Supposedly it lets you set up cable service here in the US and then it comes in through your internet connection. I'm seriously considering it, but I'd rather not be  the first to try it in a housing area.

Thank you.

From what I've heard about internet service on base, it may not work too well because it's soooooo sloooooow. You may have trouble streaming and they'd probably cut you off if you exceed your bandwith.

Posted By alohawaii2 on 11 May 2010 06:20 AM

Has anyone ever used Nationphone for TV service? This is not an advertisement - I only ask because I've heard such bad things about Americable. Supposedly it lets you set up cable service here in the US and then it comes in through your internet connection. I'm seriously considering it, but I'd rather not be  the first to try it in a housing area.

Aloha, I answered your last post on this before it got deleted. From what I read about nationphone, it sounds a lot like Slingbox. With slingbox, you have a friend set up a cable box that you can control & view remotely on your TV through the internet.  Nationphone does the same thing for a fee so you don't have to rely on a friend.  Soooo.... has anyone successfully used Slingbox from a housing area?  If so, then Nationphone would probably also work.

Posted By Elizabeth on 11 May 2010 03:39 AM
If you live on base, Americable is the only option for cable --TV and internet both. If you live off base you have more options, and can purchase faster internet.

I've posted about this in a few other sections, but no one ever answered... Has anyone on base ever contacted Plala?  They are a DSL internet provider owned by NTT.  I have it in Iwakuni, but it's a nationwide service. Website is www.plala.or.jp; it's all in Japanese.

The thing about plala is that I don't even have a Japanese phone line and they are still able to provide service. They did this by setting up a wireless link on my balcony. There is a short range antenna on my balcony which points to a similar antenna on a nearby telephone pole.  From there, they use NTT phone lines to connect me with internet service.

This tells me that someone on base could do it IF you are in line-of-sight of an OFF-BASE telephone pole. You will find Plala to be fast, reliable and affordable, and could be a great alternative to Americable for SOME on-base users.  They do NOT have English-language customer service, so find a Japanese friend to help you call them and see if they can provide you service on base.  I strongly urge someone to try, and maybe get relief from the tyranny of Americable.

None of the towers or townhouses on Yokosuka are anywhere near an off-base telephone pole.

How about Ikego or Negishi? Anyway, someone oughta call & see if there's anything Plala can do. It's better than being held hostage to Americable from what I can tell.