auyongtc’s blog

Finally got my FTTH service installed at home. For 2,980 yen a month, it’s crazy speed at 100Mbps!

Preliminary testing showed that I was downloading the latest Linux kernel (2.6.15.1) from a Japan mirror site at over 1 megabyte per second. Then I realized I was on 802.11G Wi-Fi, so I reckon it could’ve been much faster if I was connected over Fast Ethernet instead.

Gonna have more elaborate tests these few days. Before that, let me explain how FTTH works in my apartment:

The fiber connection comes into the building, into the riser room. And then the provider uses VDSL signals to provide access to each unit (that subscribes to the service) by tapping into the pre-installed phone jacks in each unit. Therefore, eliminating the need for a phone line! Which means I dont need to pay high price to rent/own an NTT phone line service. FTTH roxx my soxx!

Garrr, shiver me timbers!

Managed to find an open Wi-Fi AP at home finally after walking around my room with my laptop like some fengshui guy with the needle board thingy. Unfortunately, it’s at the entrance of the room and it’s quite cold there. I think I’m gonna go get myself a new Wi-Fi router and turn it into client-mode to siphon the Internet access to my laptop in my room.

My FTTH broadband access is still 2-3 weeks away. For all the fast speed, the service to get activated is damn slow, too much redtapes I guess. Oh well, gotta make do with the ‘borrowed’ Wi-Fi access for now. Gonna buy myself a desk and a chair so that I can surf with comfort at home.

P/S: new things to lookout for: young ladies in miniskirts riding bicycles… lol

Update @ 5pm: My FTTH provider called, they’re coming to install next Friday…. 1 week to go… phew…

Got in to the office early today, so I’ll share to you about my new neighbours. I stay in a mansion. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not what you think. Small apartments are called mansions here. So I live in a kuci-meow sized litterbox of an apartment.

There’s 6 floors in total,　and I think around 10-12 units per floor. Thus far, I’ve seen 27 young ladies in and out of the mansion wearing miniskirts. Of the 27, I would rate 21 as hot. I think I’m in heaven, not Tokyo.

Well, okay, I lied. Until this morning, I’ve never seen anyone else in this mansion, not at the lobby, not at the lift, not even at the corridors. There are tons of bicycles (and a couple of scooters) in the vicinity though, but no human. I think this place is haunted, or that they’re all hermits (does that mean I’ll turn into one someday?!! *gasp!*). My colleague said that it is normal, even after staying in his place for 2 years, he claimed to have only seen 2-3 neighbours at his block throughout his time there. Gosh!

But this morning I saw a guy waiting for the lift on the same floor as me. That’s somewhat reassuring that this place is not deserted. But I’m still keeping my eyes peeled for young female neighbours in miniskirts!

Arrived in Tokyo on Sunday. Got the basic life support system setup in my place now. LOL. Internet access still not yet ready

However, everything else is okay, applied for my Alien card today, and got my bank account - Shinsei Bank is really gaijin-friendly!
Have loads to write and pictures to post, but since I don’t have the convenience of Internet access at home, it’s gonna be sometime till I can get that done. Until then, stay tuned…

BTW, I still cannot understand why girls here still could & would wear mini-skirts despite the near-freezing weather out there. Well, my eyes aren’t complaining, just curious as to why… I guess it’s one of those “Only in Japan” thingy… erm dear, what’s with the frying pan?