I do have a while as I just found out about my assingment yesterday, RNLTD of MAR 07. After surfing round here I answered quite a few. But still have few maybe some members can help me out. I was in Osan before (98-99), but as an E-4 (a lot os Soju broke the brain so I forgot alot). Now I am returning as an E-6 (unaccom). Plus a lot have stuff has changed in general.

1. Voltage in Korea? I have heard both 110 and 220. Is it that way on base and off?

2. Are TV's Pal and NTSC, I am sure AFN is NTSC, but is there any cable/sat international channels that are PAL that are worth getting. (if off base).

3. Whats the deal with Internet connections? On and off base. DSL? Cable? High Speed? Also heard there is a 3 month waiting list to get hooked up on base. True?

4. How long is the wait time to move into Dorms...Is the set up still one room with a shared bathroom? Where are the CE NCO dorms nowadays?

Thanks in advance for any insight, I am sure I'll have more questions as time goes on.

Welcome back to Korea!

I will try to answer a few, you will have to wait for others.

All of the Koreans that rent to Americans have both. If you are shown some old apartment without one you can request they put it in. If they don't, don't rent it!

If you get Korean Cable ($8) you will get AFN Prime. You can also by the AFN Sat dish to get the rest of the AFN channels.

You will get hooked up with DSL on the same day your landlord calls. Korean DSL is EXTREMELY fast and it will feel like cable internet.

You will have to wait for this answer. I lived off-base.

Again, welcome!

Mike

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I forgot to mention, here is a list of apartments in Songtan.
http://www.usfkclassifieds.com/index.php?a=5&b=217&c=

Also, check out the Osan Guide I built. It is a little old, but useful.
http://osanguide.com

Mike

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Walt welcome to the site! Glad you found us and hope you enjoy your stay in Korea and on this site.

I'll attempt to answer your questions. I am in the Army at Camp Humphreys but it is pretty much the same all around.

1. Voltage downtown is both 110 and 220. I live down town and have both in my apartment.

2. Not exactally sure what your talking about????

3. There is not a 3 month waiting list, took my all of a day to get my internet hooked up on and off base. I am down town right now and hook up at 100.0 MBS Cable on and off base.

4. Cannot help you, but there are many others on this board that will beable to help you!

Hope this helps, Chuck

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They must find it difficult...

Those who have taken authority as the truth, rather than truth as the authority. --Gerald Massey

Thanks for the quick replies....good info. I am still on the fence about dorming it or going off base. Thats why all the questions. Is there high speed ISP in the dorms at all? That's where I heard that there is and it's a 3 months wait for hook up, not off base.

I am staying on base. So here are the answers to your questions for on base. Also it is not easy to stay off base. You will need the commander's approval (base). Usually there is a waiting list, unless you want to pay it out of your own pocket, no BAH.

1. On base, don't worry about voltage. Anything you bring from the States will work.

2. I am not sure about PAL or NTSC. I think it is NTSC though. I don't have a TV. I only have my computer. But you get the regular AFN channels and about 5 Korean channel in the dorm. If you want to get premium channel, you will have to pay.

3. For onbase, you can hook up your internet within a couple of days. The DSL here is superfast, much faster than Comcast cable I have back home.

4. I don't know about that one, sorry. I don't stay in that area.

Moonsite....thanks for the info.

I was under the impression that as an TSgt I have the option to move off base becase of the dorm occupancy rates being high. As they were when I left. It is obvious that many dorms have been built since then. But the "influx" of SSgt AF wide I thought it would still be that way. Obviously that will make my decision easier.

As far as voltage, I am coming from Europe, were I have some 220 volt items, I know 110v is availible in the dorms but is 220v?

NTSC is standard for AFN, i know this, i was just wondering if off base i could get more channels with a muti-system TV (PAL & NTSC).

Thanks for the help!

As far as pal vs ntsc, If it works in the USA (ntsc, I believe, cant remember) , it works in Korea. Korea was largely rebuilt after the war along US standards for many things like broadcasting and electricity. There is both 220 and 110 downtown. Most apartments/houses have 220 in and then a 110v transformer in the apartment. many have 220 outlets next to the 110 outlets. The landlord, knowing a miguk will be living there will make sure the 110v transformer is working for all the outlets. In the dorms it will be 110. Your electronics probably have built in switching for different voltages if they were built in the past twenty years.

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I would say move off base!

The dorms are convenient for walking to work and other places on base, but it is a different experience living off base. I think you can experience the culture more and you will be able to afford a two bedroom apartment that you can't get on base as a single guy.

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