Where do I go to get internet service? I live in Life apts. and I went to the LG booth on-base but they told me they only service on-base. I have no idea where to go? And also for cable, did everyone go to the customer service in the BX frte decoder? Trying to get wireless in my apt. is not an option cuz I live on the first floor with no reception.

Thanks again!

DNR0506, you might want to start with your realtor if you went through one to get your apartment. I had my house hooked up with cable tv and cable internet for 40K won per month. I think it's a reasonable price, but don't know that its the best deal in town. The guy that did my place is named Kinnam (019-352-7967). He works for Hanvit Ginam Broadcasting Co or one of their smaller dealers. The phone number on the receipt he gave me is 31-1577-2377. He speaks ok english so you should at least be able to ask if he does installation at Life Appartments.

Make sure you read your contract, cable and internet were included in my rent per my lease.

__________________
CH-47 SI

They must find it difficult...

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

Hi, dnr!

Our cable was arranged by our realtor (we went through Michelle at Korea Realty), your realtor might be able to help you out if you get in touch with them. Pricing seems to be fairly comparable to the U.S., as far as structure, they have the "no frills" cable plus internet , then other "tiers" including more channels. We had the basic no frills/ internet package and paid around 33, 000-35000 won a month.

The decoder box you're speaking of getting at the customer service desk is for AFN satellite TV, which carries around 7 different AFN channels. Unless your previous resident has left you a satellite dish, you'll need to purchase a dish which cost somewhere in the area of 85.00 (available from the customer service desk in the BX) , and have it installed (the price varies, usually Korean contractors, unless you have a friend in coms who can help you :) ). The decoder box itself is 13.95 a month (check to confirm this,this was as of a month ago), and in order to get it, you have to have a STAR card. (If you don't have one,and want one, you can apply at the customer service desk as well).

The AFN satellite you receive off base is different than the AFN on base as it doesn't have any "Commander's Channels" , etc. so you won't be receiving any of the announcements, such as school closings,etc. , that you get on base. *Supposedly* , those announcements were available on the AFN channel on local cable (it was channel 75 in our area) , however, we never once saw one,and with the removal of AFN from a lot of cable systems now, it's iffy at best.

I heard a -rumor-, and again, this is only a rumor, though if LTC Lawhorn is reading or available , he may be able to confirm or deny this, that sometime in the near future, AFN satellite will be able to support a local commander's channel, so it may be that in the future, AFN satellite subscribers *will* have that benefit.

Hope you're getting settled in well otherwise! :)

*hugs*

Dee :)

Yeah we're going through Michelle & Alex too, and cable/internet is included. I went to buy the satellite and decoder from the BX today and guess what.....the installer told me it's impossible to get reception in my building! Now that really sucks! I know I can order digital cable, but does that have ANY american channels other than CNN? I'm looking for sports, hgtv, mtv, children channels, etc....BTW...I live in Life Apts. building 5!

I don't know if cable is the same all over, but we have two certain American channels - AFN Prime and Discovery - and some of the Korean channels generally play things in English (there's a Lifetimeish channel, an action movie channel, and one that plays old episodes of the CSIs). Other than that, we've gotten really good at Go and our golf skills have improved dramatically and we can pick out the good kimchee by seeing what kind of juices come out when it gets squeezed!

Honestly, with the ability to watch American TV on the computer, if our cable and internet weren't together in the same bill we might just cancel the cable.

Kara

P.S. Sesame Street comes on AFN Prime at 0800.

The Hallmark Channel piggybacks with one of the Korean channels at night, or at least it did, in the area I was in (Shinang 2 Dong). I don't remember which Korean channel it may be found on, but if you look after about 9 pm, they show some good American stuff.

*G* Of course, you have to find it in between the 15 minutes of infomercials that seem to air around it!

Dee :)

Yes, there are a load of back-to-back commercials, but then there aren't as many *during* the show.

Kara

(Dee, you miss it here, admit it!)

There are plenty of sports on Korean cable. But if you want to watch American sports, football in particular, you'll probably be disappointed, as not many games are broadcast on Korean tv. But there is lots of soccer, rugby, and cricket.

For many years, Korean cable companies have included the AFN signal (that they get via antenna) in their cable packages. But it's a pirated signal and in the last few years, more and more pressure is being put on them to stop pirating it. Point being: it could disappear from the cable package any day without notice.

Of course, if you live in a town next to a base, you should be able to get it with an antenna.

Honestly, believe it or not..I do miss it there.

It's great to be home,and to visit with the family.. but I miss all you guys.

Just knowing that I won't be seeing you on Wednesday nights, or whenever I see you *G* is a hint of melancholy.

Dee :)