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Local Items: FlamingoTV
Bonaire Talk: Local Items: Archives: Archives 2005 - 2006: Archives - 2006-03-01 to 2006-07-31: FlamingoTV
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Harrie Cox (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #331) on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 10:34 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I have a nice story to tell.

Last week I was at “More for Less” and I asked Mike, the butcher for one kg (=1000 grams) of beefsteak. And after some work he put a package on the counter. I thought that it was a little small for one kg. So I asked to check the weight. And he said yes, it is just 850 grams. Our supplier is out of cows, so there is not more. But on the label it was listed for 1000 grams. I asked why, and he said, you wanted 1000 grams, so you will have to pay for 1000 grams. I said: But I just got 850 grams? Yes, he said, but I just have got 850 grams, so you have to pay for 1000 grams. I said this is ridiculous, I just get 850 grams, and have to pay for 1000 grams? That is not fair of you. And then with a big smile on his face he pointed me at a small paper on the wall, in the back of the butchery. It said:
1. The butcher is the boss.
2. The butcher decides what you get and what you have to pay for it.
3. If you do not agree and don’t pay, you will get nothing, and you will have to starve to death.
4. When you don’t want to pay for the ordered amount of meat, also when I deliver you less, you will get nothing, and you won’t get the money back you paid in advance.

Everybody who is reading this knows this is not true, and just a story.
But when you read for “butcher” “FlamingoTV” and for “1000 grams” “40 TV-channels” this is exactly what happened to me, and to all the people on Bonaire.
I am quite sure, if this happened to Mike, that he couldn’t provide me with the full 1000 grams, he would make a deal with me like: you get just 850 grams, but I will charge you for just 500 grams, and I am so sorry. Actually with the same big smile.

Now about FlamingoTV.
When we started business 3 years ago, I could choose between FlamingoTV and TDS/UTS. TDS had more channels, and also more possibilities like pay-TV. When I asked the people of FlamingoTV about that they said: we are going to have more channels soon, and get pay-channels too, and pay-per-view soon. And we are better and cheaper then TDS. Besides that, you can get Hi-speed Internet by cable from us, for a few cents more. (Like I can buy vegetables with my steak at More-for-Less).
At that moment they had 40 channels, I got a list of them, listing all channels.

What a huge lie that appeared to be. .
Two months ago we had just 34 channels. At this very moment, I just checked: 38 channels, two of them very snowy and rainy, and two other channels not streaming, one channel giving the same programme as another channel, and one channel from Flamingo itself, it is called “Information”, but it is nothing else then advertisement for Flamingo. No information, and a list of available channels very outdated (channel 22 and 42 are still on that list and not available for months already). This is no information, and cannot be counted as an extra channel. So at this moment just 32 different channels of average or better technical quality. I don’t speak about the loss of channels with good programming like TechTV, PBS, TCM, that have been changed for channels with bad programming like Foodchannel, ei, or RealMadridTV.
So less channels, in stead of more, no pay-per-view, and no pay-channels. The high-speed Internet appeared to be an unpaved road, only usable on slow speed with a 4WD (BTW. Internet seems to get better, although it was again very bad, the last days).

So these are the reasons I started to pay 15% less (only on the TV-fee, I paid 100% for the Internet-fee) one-and-a-half month ago, and I sent them a nice mail explaining why, well in advance. I also sent two reminders, because there was no reaction at all. Finally last week I wanted to send another reminder, but while there was no Internet available, I sent it by fax. And guess what? FlamingoTV called me back last Thursday, telling me that they had never received any of my mails (I even got a “read”-confirmation of them!!) So I promised to send them copies of those mails (by fax of course), but the lady that called me just said, whatever I wrote, and whatever arguments I might have, the only thing for me to do was just to pay the full 100%, and if I wouldn’t pay, I would be disconnected, also from Internet, although I paid the full fee for that. Any discussion was useless. She asked me what they would have to do if every customer would start to pay less. (Well I tried to explain that they could perhaps provide a better service, but she thought Flamingo’s service was absolute top.) I asked her if FlamingoTV still paid for NBC (Channel 22) and TelePuertoRico (Channel 42). Of course not, she said. And you expect me to still pay for those channels? Of course you have to pay, also for the channels that are not available. It is in our general delivery rules. Actually I never have got them, and I asked her to send me a copy.
They will be something like this:
1. FlamingoTV is the boss.
2. FlamingoTV decides what you get and what you have to pay for it.
3. If you do not agree and don’t pay, you will get nothing, and you will have no cableTV.
4. When you don’t want to pay for the ordered number of channels, also when I deliver you less, you will get nothing, and you won’t get the money back you paid in advance.
(Seen this before?)

I asked if I could keep the Internet-connection, when disconnected from CableTV, and she said, NO, disconnected from CableTV also means disconnection from Internet. (When I decide to not buy my meat with Mike of More-for-less, I can still buy my vegetables at More-for-less, but that is something else, I know).
I asked the lady to be connected to her Supervisor, (not possible), I asked her to give my complaints to her Supervisor, and ask him to call me back, she promised that, but also remarked that they just will call back when I pay the full fee (what was first, the chicken or the egg?). I asked to be connected to the general manager, director of Flamingo or FlamingoTV. (They were not in the office at that moment). I could speak with the person that is responsible for the technical part, And I did. Nice guy BTW. Was useless too. This is not a technical problem, it is a commercial problem, and needs a commercial solution.

Actually I think the only possibility to change this behaviour is when more people want to start paying less, then they feel it in their income, and when they disconnect you, you must be consequent, and go to the competitor, and take all the initial costs, then Flamingo will really feel what the consequences are when delivering poor quality. Perhaps this helps.
I know there is a good possibility Flamingo will disconnect me. I am prepared for that, and will go to the competition if so. A stronger competition will also help Flamingo to wake-up finally.

So dear BT-friends, when you don’t hear anything from me anymore. Flamingo will have disconnected me. But I will be back…… With a better Internet-connection, and with more TV-channels…….

Please all of you, think about doing the same, paying less, in accordance with the number of channels you can receive, and send them a letter (by fax or postal mail) explaining why.

Harrie

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Antony Bond (BonaireTalker - Post #71) on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 11:06 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

In my experience of businesses on Bonaire Harrie, and with that I include all Government offices, one thing that is lacking is common sense.These people realise that you are right and that compromises could be made but everything has to be done "by the book".

I too have had these conversations with Flamingo to no avail, even when I cancelled and took my business elsewhere, they could not have cared less. I sincerely believe that they will have that attitude right up to the last customer.

I have had similar issues with other businesses on the island and met with the same attitude. For example, I bought goods from Kooyman to the tune of 250naf, when I opened up the goods (window blinds) they were all damaged. I bought the blinds at around 4.30pm and returned them the following day at around 9.30am. Despite my arguments and protests, they would not issue me with a refund. As they had no replacement blinds, I was given a credit note, so now, I have to spend my money at Kooyman whether I want to or not.

I spoke to the duty Manager there who looked at me as though I was dirt. An email to head office did not even warrant a reply. So, despite the fact that it was their fault, I still had to pay. My advice to anyone buying from Kooyman, if it is sealed, open it up on the floor in the shop before you hand over your hard earned cash. Why do they do this? Because they have no competition, they are the only general DIY store on Bonaire and they know that.

I wish you every success with your crusade Harry.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Harrie Cox (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #334) on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 2:16 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Antony.

You are right, it is not only Flamingo, all companies on Bonaire have nearly the same attitude.
I could tell the same stories about Special Security Services, It took half-a-year to have something changed on the installation, and it appeared they didn't check the 24-hours-check. (I changed to a competitor), and WEB is even worse. It took one year to get an answer about a problem with over-voltage, which damaged quite some stuff. Didn't get any compensation, because they are not responsible for their deliveries, according to their general sales conditions. (I wish there was a competitor).
I think Kooyman wasn't as bad as other companies, you got at least a credit note, that is more then I got from WEB, or Flamingo. BTW, Where else would you buy do-it-yourself-stuff on the island? I could give you lot of other examples with other companies or officials on Bonaire.
And, some time ago I saw locals buy a bike from the chinese shop, When the child wanted to go on the bike, in front of the shop, the front-wheel-fork broke, and they went back into the shop, minutes after they had left. No way, there was no guarantee, because the boy would have acted too rough with his bike. And the locals left, without arguing. I think, we Magambas are used to better service, that is our problem here.

That said, Bonaire is still near to heaven on earth.....

Harrie

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Menno de Bree (BonaireTalker - Post #66) on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 9:59 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Harry; I like your butcher story :-)) It is even worse for a company like Flamingo TV is; We all can live happy ever after and survive easily without them, but we do need to eat and do need to get groceries !!! They (Flamingo) indeed better watch out having a customer service like they have shown up until now- it might become very quiet at there offices .....
I am not happy at all with the mandatory TV connection. I do not care about the TV part - I just (MANDATORY ??) "need" to have it for being connected to the cable for my internet needs. So, that simply makes my internet connection being quiet expensive compared to the competition available.
I do not like to run up and down from company to company to get a better deal or when they offer their product at a better rate, which probably will be very temporary anyway, but, there are limits to what a customer can bare.
I have stopped writing complaints (since that is a complete waist of time and effort) and I have stopped calling them, since the person answering the phone has absolutely no clue about anything at all.
I am luring to the competition, but, things work fine for me at this moment and I just want to give them some time to get it sort out and arranged properly. Maybe they wake up in time, let's see .......

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Harrie Cox (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #335) on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 10:33 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Menno,

there is one big difference between the butcher-example and the cableTV/Internet-reality.

There are lots of butchers and grocery-stores in different price-ranges, and quality-ranges. There are just two TV-suppliers (up to now, a third perhaps coming, end of the year) and just two Internet-suppliers on the island, so the choice is very narrow.

Do you really believe they will wake-up in time? I doubt.

Harrie

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ann Phelan - www.bonairecaribbean.com (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2179) on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 10:11 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Does anyone have Riccardo's email? My Flamingo TV connection is so slow..much slower than before..I am very frustrated.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Harrie Cox (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #336) on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 10:43 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ann,

I do have his mail-adress, but I am not sure I am allowed to give that away.

If you go to his profile you can send a private message through the board. I did that some time ago, and he answered me quite fast.
I know he is having some days off, so that can be the reason it is difficult to contact him.

Good luck!

Harrie

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Andrew Uhr (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #197) on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 11:27 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I'm with you Ann. Since increasing our line speed by 3 times, my connection has never been slower. I had a ray of hope when Mr. Vos
started posting to this forum and I actually saw some improvement. I guess it was too much to expect that improved service would continue over a long holiday week-end but given Flamingo's total disregard for it's customers, I'm not surprised. Its okay for us to pay for 24/7 service but Flamingo has no concern when it does not even come close to upholding it's end of the deal. I'll be exploring alternatives and dumping both cable and internet from Flamingo as soon as possible.

Andy

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2036) on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 11:26 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

call 717 3878 and tell them what is happening to your service. I had to switch back to TELBO over the weekend As well.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim and Jane Madden (BonaireTalker - Post #28) on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 10:20 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Is it just me? Tonight, Tuesday, CBS is gone so we're down to just ABC?!!? Travel channel is back, A&E gone; Food Channel is gone, I don't watch it but it's a favorite of Joe from Pasa Bon Pizza....Anybody else but me have extremely sllllooooowwww internet connection yesterday and today? Maybe we should all get together and buy our own satellite :-)?!!??

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Professor Tribs (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2452) on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 10:30 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi All! Don't laugh, but I am a huge fan of 24. I have not missed an episode. I will be in Bonaire for the last three episodes. Is 24 airing there? It is on Fox. (Oh please, oh please, tell me it is!) If you can get it, is it on Flamingo or Satellite?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Harrie Cox (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #337) on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 10:54 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jim & Jane:

Yes we should.....

But we need more to join us..

It is so bad, what they sell for such a big amount of money....

Harrie

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ann Phelan - www.bonairecaribbean.com (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2184) on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 7:33 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Its not RIGHT taking channels away ...I love the food channel..man...I am in..when do we get the satelite??

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Pete Brown (BonaireTalker - Post #50) on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 7:39 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Prof Tribs,

Probably best to set that VCR before you leave. No Fox on FTV. However it is listed as being offered on UTS should you be staying at a place using that service. (We do get 24 reruns on WGN--working on Day 3 currently.)

Pete Brown

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Alex Brown (BonaireTalker - Post #82) on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 7:53 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jane,
Let's put the satellite up at your house. That way I can call Jim when there are technical difficulties.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Alex Brown (BonaireTalker - Post #83) on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 10:03 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I'm sure that you will all be relieved to hear that I just spoke with FTV and (drumroll)....they "are working on it". I know it's a load off my mind.

(Message edited by bandbfarm on April 19, 2006)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim and Jane Madden (BonaireTalker - Post #29) on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 9:10 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Oh yeah, they worked on it...good news, we had abc and cbs from Erie and New York like we used to (real time programs) for awhile today...bad news, prime time we lost CBS and USA...still gone...where are the TV fairies when we need them!!!!! Maybe if we contact Halliburton they have a free satellite they can lend us...how about the one that supposed to be looking for Osama....obviously it's not working so maybe we can use that for TV signals on Bonaire! Somebody check on that!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Alex Brown (BonaireTalker - Post #84) on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 9:26 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Janie, Halliburton says they're "real busy" right now, and only the government can afford their rates--let's see if Chavez will let us bounce off a Venezuelan satellite.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan - "Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy" (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #295) on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 7:42 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Do you think Chavez will give bargain rates to Bonaire residents? After all, we can't qualify for heating oil.

I will be on the phone at 8 AM. It is more than a pity that can't get more folks to make some noise over this as something would be happening! I now scan channels just to see what we do/don't have.

I will be a gofer for Jim.....

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Harrie Cox (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #338) on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 10:21 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

An Update:

One week ago I had the telephone-call in which Flamingo told me all the things mentioned in the first post. According to our appointments, I have sent them copies of the "lost" e-mails, and she promised to ask her Supervisor and/or general managers to call me. She also promised to send me the general sales conditions.

And you know what?

Still, after one week, absolute silence. This is Flamingo. The only answer is the loss of even more channels. And don't talk about the Internet-speed, it's tear-pulling.

Come-on, fellow BT'ers. I really think it is about time to send those lazy, uninterested ***-***** mails, and letters and bombard them with telephone-calls. If all of us do so, perhaps there will be some response. This is too bad....

Harrie


(Moderators: ***-***** removed by myself!!!!)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Alex Brown (BonaireTalker - Post #85) on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 2:46 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Harrie,

Maybe all our calls are actually having an impact--at least at the moment we have all the networks back, even NBC (although the picture is lousy). So it seems FTV is in fact trying, even though they'll probably be gone again by nightfall :-).

But let's all keep the pressure on any time there's a problem.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By WHUDS (BonaireTalker - Post #40) on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 7:07 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

TDS is horrible at my place :-( :-( 3 weeks of frozen TV

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rona of Black Durgon Inn & Scuba Center (BonaireTalker - Post #59) on Friday, April 21, 2006 - 10:15 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thank you for bringing channel 22 back!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Harrie Cox (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #340) on Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 12:09 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Indeed, lots of channels are back. Just 21 and 38 are not streaming, and 42 is still gone.

My complements to the people of Flamingo for now.
Please keep it like that, make the quality of the channels better, and please solve the still present problems.

Harrie

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By WHUDS (BonaireTalker - Post #41) on Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 9:33 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

UPDATE TDS still not working! Stick with Flamingo

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Harrie Cox (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #342) on Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 10:51 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hello WHUDS,

TDS is depending on the possibility to "see" the sendpost, that is located on the mountain in the centre of the island. Most houses can get good reception, sometimes a big mast is necessary, there will be cases where reception will not be possible. I heard that you can get your money back when this is so in your case. My neighbour had TDS, and had problems in the beginning, until they made the mast longer and changed the position of the antenna, since then it was fine. I also hear a lot of people who are just enthusiastic about TDS, in most points of the service. So probably your experience is one of the exceptions?

BTW: Flamingo is still doing relatively well, see my post of April 22nd.

Harrie

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Harrie Cox (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #366) on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 11:42 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

As I was posting several posts on the FlamingoTV and Flamingo-Internet-threads, I also feel the need to post something to tell about the conversation I had with one of the responsible persons at Flamingo (mr. R. Vos), a few days ago.

My main problems with Flamingo were the following.
1. Loss of many channels at the cable-TV-section, including low-quality of several channels, and change of some interesting channels for less-interesting channels (in my humble opinion).
2. The promises Flamingo made 3 years ago, when I started doing business with them, which they didn’t realise. (more channels, perhaps paid for, pay-per-view, a.s.o.)
3. The not being answered of e-mail-conversation at all.
4. The absolute uninterested answering of phone-calls about bad performance.
5. The slow and low-quality of the internet-connection
6. The not availability of a 24-7-service-office, for not-general interruptions.

I had a good, clear and honest conversation with mr. R. Vos about these points. He is responsible for the Internet-operations of Flamingo, but was also allowed to talk about the CableTV-operations.

Ad. 1. The channels of Cable-TV. The last days many channels came back. Channel 22 (the so-loved NBC) is back, Channel 20, (A&E) is back, Channel 36 (was ei, is PBS again), Channel 38 (was TCM, is Real Madrid now), Channel 42 (was TelePuertoRico, is Travel Channel now). Just Channel 21 (Telemundo) is not streaming, Channel 25 (Enlace) has no sound, and Channel 37 (AMC) is snowing. Concluding, we have as much channels as before, and only three of them with some problems. Flamingo is really doing a better job. Mr. Vos explained that many providers changed from analog signal to digital signal without informing Flamingo in-time. But it took them some time to get the necessary adjustments done. He also said they are trying to get better-quality channels back for the channels that are gone. (like TechTV, one of my favorites.)

Ad 2. FlamingoTV will change to a fibreglass-network the coming time. That isn’t an easy job. The fibreglass-cables will be put into the ground (the old-fashioned copper-cables are above); this will make a much more reliable network, less influenced by weather and other problems. They will start in Rincon, then upto Sabadeco, Hato, to Playa. Belnem will be the last to get fibreglass-connection. The fibre-glass-cable will be digital which gives Flamingo more possibilities. More channels when paid for, and pay-per-view, as promised years ago. These changes will not be effective before end of this year, perhaps later.

Ad 3. Mr. Vos has looked after the e-mail-complaints I had, and found out that they had been lost somewhere in the Flamingo-organisation, because of a fault in the communication-lines and instructions. He told me, these problems were solved now.

Ad. 4. About the uninterested answers by the helpdesk-personnel, he said that this was in his opinion absolutely unacceptable, and he would be working on that too. (We’ll see)

Ad. 5. A very important one, the Internet-speed. After the bankruptcy of their previous supplier, Flamingo had to go to a new provider. We were several days out of Internet, but when the connection came back, we got a lot faster speed. Since then there were some more problems, but it appears to be solved by now. The speed is amazing faster. I had yesterday a downloadspeed of about 656 kbps, which, compared to the 25 to 50 kbps before the move, is marvellous. Mr. Vos had some remarks on this. We, the personal users get this speed at least for the moment as a kind of compensation for all the problems there have been before. They also experienced with a system that, when the bandwidth for the business-users, is not fully used, it is “given” to the personal users, but businesses get always priority, when they need it. They also pay more for the service. It appears that the personal users have a benefit of this system. Another interesting remark he made (and I don’t know if that is correct), is that the potential speed of a Internet-connection by cable is higher then an ADSL-Internet-connection. At the moment they are absolutely speeding the ADSL-connection out.
So, up to now, compliments for the Internet-performance of the “new”-Flamingo.

Ad.6. Flamingo wants to set-up a 24/7 available service. And they are trying to find two new employees to do that job. It is very difficult to get good qualified personnel on the island. Also because of all the changes coming on in the future.


A lot of promises, and just a few things realised. Mr. Vos asked me to have some patience (till end of the year) with Flamingo, until they have most of the problems solved. I think they are really trying to do better, and also making the plans to do even better in the future. It seems they are back on the right track now, and I have to turn back some of the harsh remarks I made in this thread earlier.
I hope you can do something with this report.

Harrie



(Message edited by harmoni on May 8, 2006)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brigitte Kley - Coco Palm Garden (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #460) on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 7:26 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Found this today in the Amigoe and remembered this discussion .... TDS on Curacao and they pay Naf 135 per month

http://www.amigoe.com/artman/publish/artikel_20352.php


 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2396) on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 1:03 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

This is not yet in the English addition online which was last updated on the 29th. Perhaps it will appear there, just to satisfy the curiosity of the non Dutch speakers among us (like me!).

Or perhaps a kind soul will post a rough translation. :–)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Pete Brown (BonaireTalker - Post #51) on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 1:52 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

An online translator offers:

ALREADY MORE than six weeks is the reception of (almost) all channels of TDS, even so now and then channel 8, abominabel bad, this till continuous annoyance of the viewers. Your first reaction had been tolerated becomes ‘just', perhaps the image tomorrow better. Only after ‘tomorrow' came there yet many ‘tomorrow', with large frustrations.

Then your TDS try to reach telephone for explanation of this penibele situation. Further then a pleasant lady do not come you, connect to a technical expert is there however not by.

Correct serviceverlening should restrain, that the management of TDS zélf the initiative took her clientele explanation to give about this technical problem and especially how long it yet will last before the flaws remedied are. This can happen my ssee the most functionally means an advertisement derision vóór the evening news on channel 8.

The leadership of TDS gives to be the impression a ‘abusadó' and must feel ashamed for that reason deep.

TDS, ups and downs so haughty, what of you do not want to hear, your clients are entitled on that to!

Apparently bad picture, bad attitude, bad service and expensive to boot... What's not to like?

Pete Brown

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Suzie Mulvey (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Saturday, August 26, 2006 - 6:10 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We are buying a house in Bonaire next year. I have read many comments about Flamingo TV. Has the service improved and how many channels do you get? Is there a satelite/direct TV provider that services Bonaire?
Thanks for the info
Suzie

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ann Phelan - www.bonairecaribbean.com (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2375) on Saturday, August 26, 2006 - 6:24 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

The TV aspect is fine. Sometimes channels disappear such at BET and Food Channel for weeks. Today my reception on HBO and Showtime was bad. The internet for days has been slow. During rainy season last Oct. and Nov. I had few days with internet. What can I say..I live on an island.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2241) on Sunday, August 27, 2006 - 11:33 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

their internet is down right now...they offer lots of excuses, little service...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Pete Brown (BonaireTalker - Post #52) on Sunday, August 27, 2006 - 3:07 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Suzie,

On the TV service side of things, FTV is, ah, interesting. Of their 40 or so channels probably about 3/4 are in English and comparable to a basic tier cable service in the US--minus Fox and the minor networks, but including HBO, Showtime and CineMax. At 65 naf a month ($35 or so) basically an OK deal.

On the negative side, there are often channels that go unexpectedly dark for indefinite periods of time; PBS and A&E seem particularly susceptable. Local 'wisdom' blames this on FTV periodically being caught illegally boosting channels from who knows where or whom, or just being a chronic slow payer to providers and occasionally getting slapped down for it. FTV blames it on periodic unspecified 'antenna problems.'

Another negative for sports fans is the absence of Fox and the fact that we have the 'wrong' ESPN--ESPN Latin America rather than stateside. So lots of soccer, poker, rodeos, tennis and golf, but no college sports. We also get the wrong CNN--this time we get the US FoxLite version rather than CNN International. So the news coverage is not what one might hope for; but there is ABC, CBS, NBC, sometimes PBS --plus BBCA's newscasts. Also Deutsch Welle has some English language news programs.

There are DishNet antennas all over the island, either obtained in Curacao or Venezuela or brought down from the States. i know of some folks who still maintain homes in the States and simply carry a receiver back and forth between their homes there and here, leaving antennnas in place at both location.

There is also a wireless service (TDS) based in Curacao, but their programming doesn't seem to represent much if any improvement over FTV, and some people have reception problems, depending on location.

Pete

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Suzie Mulvey (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Sunday, August 27, 2006 - 4:03 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thank you all for the info. I have really enjoyed reading info from BT each evening. I am learning so much and enjoying everyones sense of humor.
Suzie

 


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