Thread: Need Advice on an Appropriate Home Plan

Would appreciate some help in deciding on an appropriate home plan. I surf a lot and also download tons of stuff (p2p, torrents). I already have a broadband plan (Ortel in Bhubaneswar, Orissa) but lately I think they've been limiting the upload speed which affects torrent downloads and screws up my ratio in the few sites where the the Dl speed is decent. But on the whole I can't get the usual speeds from most sites. They also have a 1.00 AM - 7.00 AM free DL slot.
I also do not have a landline and yesterday when I visited the BSNL office here they advised me on the Home UL 900 Plus as I'll have to apply for a landline first but there'll be no monthly charges for the phone. This plan has unlimited DL and UL and is 256 kbps. So I've gone ahead and applied for the landline and once I get the tel number and ringtone then I can apply for the 900 plan.
Any advice or suggestions would be most helpful. Any information on the speed, service etc would also be most welcome.

Home 500-c Or 500c+ are the plans on which BSNl should be proud of they have night unlimted, Free calls, 2Mbps constant speed. You can download more in 500 plans than u can in 900UL 256Kbps plans only using free hours of Night unlimted of these plans.

infoinn is absolutely right.. even i feel home 500 is the best plan!!

Home 500 C+ is the plan for you but be sure to do these things:

- do all heavy downloads during 2 AM and 8 AM only
- trigger the modem to reboot at 2:05 AM and then again before 7:55 AM
- Use 8 AM to 2 AM slot for plain surfing only
- completely switch off ADSL modem when not in use

I agree with all the above, home 500+ or home 500 c+ is the best plans right now, as there is no phone rental at all and you can download all things during their nighttime unlimited time. I actually was at unlimited plan but i switched to 500 combo plan for speed issues and i am doing fine now and really enjoying it.

Thanks a ton guys. All of you have been helpfull. The verdict is clear .. its the 500 C+ to go for. I feel that in Bhubaneswar maybe there aren't too many subscribers and that the speed on 900 Plus may not be that bad but its better to be careful. I am also assuming that one can change plans anytime...?

Originally Posted by just4kix

Home 500 C+ is the plan for you but be sure to do these things:

- do all heavy downloads during 2 AM and 8 AM only
- trigger the modem to reboot at 2:05 AM and then again before 7:55 AM
- Use 8 AM to 2 AM slot for plain surfing only
- completely switch off ADSL modem when not in use

Thank you very much. Will bother you again once I've got the whole thing set up ..especially on rebooting the modem etc. Does that mean just turning it off and on? Also what is the final bill on the 500 C + .. after taxes and all?

Since I can afford Rs.1000/- (with great 'kasht') would it be a good idea to go in for the Home 1000 plan since its 384 Kbps upto 2 Mbps? But with no free monthly charge for the tel - right? Any suggestions?

Originally Posted by rasarat

Thank you very much. Will bother you again once I've got the whole thing set up ..especially on rebooting the modem etc. Does that mean just turning it off and on? Also what is the final bill on the 500 C + .. after taxes and all?

For home plan 500 C the final bill will be Rs. 500 + 61 tax that comes as 561 per month if you don't download anything more than your alloted limit of 1.5 gb. Remember they also charge you a initial deposit of Rs. 500, which i suppose is refundable or adjustable in the future if u cancel the subscription.

Originally Posted by xwhyz

For home plan 500 C the final bill will be Rs. 500 + 61 tax that comes as 561 per month if you don't download anything more than your alloted limit of 1.5 gb. Remember they also charge you a initial deposit of Rs. 500, which i suppose is refundable or adjustable in the future if u cancel the subscription.

Thanks! So the 500 C+ will be around 672 or so with an initial deposit of Rs.600/-. The 500 C+ has a 2.5 GB limit but the catch is that they only have 50 free calls. What's with the min hire period of 3 months in both the Home 500 C plans?

min hire period means you can not apply for plan change before 3 months(say to 900 unlimited after 1 month).though many users have claimed that they got their plan changed before 3 months.i guess it depends on the local exchange of your area.

Originally Posted by rasarat

What's with the min hire period of 3 months in both the Home 500 C plans?

It could also mean that you cannot close your connection within this 3 month period and you should have been availed this plan for at least 3 months else your security deposit might be taken by them, i suppose. This they are trying to avoid situations like those who take up temporary connections to download their hearts content and then close up the connection!

Originally Posted by whitestar_999

min hire period means you can not apply for plan change before 3 months(say to 900 unlimited after 1 month).though many users have claimed that they got their plan changed before 3 months.i guess it depends on the local exchange of your area.

Thanks whitestar_999! Just read in one of the threads that the 900UL speeds have increased. Man! Am I confused again.
Maybe I should just go for the 500C+....

Originally Posted by xwhyz

It could also mean that you cannot close your connection within this 3 month period and you should have been availed this plan for at least 3 months else your security deposit might be taken by them, i suppose. This they are trying to avoid situations like those who take up temporary connections to download their hearts content and then close up the connection!

Thanks xwhyz! Any news on the increased speeds on the 900UL ..? I guess I'll have to go with the 500C+ .. just waiting for my landline to come thru.

this may not sound cool but maybe if you wait for like 2 weeks everything would be clear as to which plan has what speed

Originally Posted by superprash2003

this may not sound cool but maybe if you wait for like 2 weeks everything would be clear as to which plan has what speed

Still haven't got my landline so maybe I'll just have to hang in there for another two weeks or so .. also maybe I ought to check with my local BSNL office regarding any changes in the pipeline ..

Originally Posted by rasarat

Thanks xwhyz! Any news on the increased speeds on the 900UL ..? I guess I'll have to go with the 500C+ .. just waiting for my landline to come thru.

I will look at this in this manner. There is no point in depending upon (maybe premature) hopes on some rumour, especially if your need is urgent. Look at the rumour in this way:

- UL 900 speeds may increase from current 256 kbps (fixed) to 256 kbps upto 2 mbps.
- All limited plans speeds may increase from current 256 kbps ~ 2 mbps to 2 mbps ~ 8 mbps.

Apply for the plan you like most and you will still not loose. You can always switch later, if you wish.

Originally Posted by rasarat

Would appreciate some help in deciding on an appropriate home plan. I surf a lot and also download tons of stuff (p2p, torrents). I already have a broadband plan (Ortel in Bhubaneswar, Orissa) but lately I think they've been limiting the upload speed which affects torrent downloads and screws up my ratio in the few sites where the the Dl speed is decent. But on the whole I can't get the usual speeds from most sites. They also have a 1.00 AM - 7.00 AM free DL slot.
I also do not have a landline and yesterday when I visited the BSNL office here they advised me on the Home UL 900 Plus as I'll have to apply for a landline first but there'll be no monthly charges for the phone. This plan has unlimited DL and UL and is 256 kbps. So I've gone ahead and applied for the landline and once I get the tel number and ringtone then I can apply for the 900 plan.
Any advice or suggestions would be most helpful. Any information on the speed, service etc would also be most welcome.

Hey man here the thing,

I also has Ortel before,I am BBSR,


BSNL plans-

HOME 500 -DOWNLOAD speed UPTO 2 Mbps-Upload speed estimated 40-50 kbps-DOWNLOAD LIMIT 2.5 GB-6-8 FREE(5Gs can easily downloaded in one night)

HOME 500C-everything same as abobe except,download limit 1.5GB,and some free calls,

Don't go for HOME 900-waste of money,if you keep your PC running for 24 hrs you'll get max of 2.7GBs downloaded,

for your information in any scheme the upload speed is not satisfactory,I get a max of 50 kbps upload,

and you'll have get a landline connection for BB(bsnl broadband),

don't worry you'll get the connection in a week,

only problem is do you stay in a rented house ?
if yes then you'll have to get the money reciept of your house owner or a court statement of your address(100 Rs-go to any notary advocate),

if no then you'll only need adress proof of the house,

and if money no bar for you the go for the latest wireless EVDO 2.4 mbps(24 hrs unlimited), 550/month,

any more queries,I am always on line,post your request here and I'll get the mail.


happy uploading,

Originally Posted by just4kix

I will look at this in this manner. There is no point in depending upon (maybe premature) hopes on some rumour, especially if your need is urgent. Look at the rumour in this way:

- UL 900 speeds may increase from current 256 kbps (fixed) to 256 kbps upto 2 mbps.
- All limited plans speeds may increase from current 256 kbps ~ 2 mbps to 2 mbps ~ 8 mbps.

Apply for the plan you like most and you will still not loose. You can always switch later, if you wish.

yup... but one of our member posted that he had seen a bsnl form which hs printed like 900UL(256-2mbps)...

rasarat.. y dont u walk to bsnl office and make it confm??

Originally Posted by bharatgourabdas

Hey man here the thing,

I also has Ortel before,I am BBSR,


BSNL plans-

HOME 500 -DOWNLOAD speed UPTO 2 Mbps-Upload speed estimated 40-50 kbps-DOWNLOAD LIMIT 2.5 GB-6-8 FREE(5Gs can easily downloaded in one night)

HOME 500C-everything same as abobe except,download limit 1.5GB,and some free calls,

Don't go for HOME 900-waste of money,if you keep your PC running for 24 hrs you'll get max of 2.7GBs downloaded,

for your information in any scheme the upload speed is not satisfactory,I get a max of 50 kbps upload,

and you'll have get a landline connection for BB(bsnl broadband),

don't worry you'll get the connection in a week,

only problem is do you stay in a rented house ?
if yes then you'll have to get the money reciept of your house owner or a court statement of your address(100 Rs-go to any notary advocate),

if no then you'll only need adress proof of the house,

and if money no bar for you the go for the latest wireless EVDO 2.4 mbps(24 hrs unlimited), 550/month,

any more queries,I am always on line,post your request here and I'll get the mail.


happy uploading,

Thanks Bharat! You've been very informative. I just got my landline connection today along with the telephone. Should have the dial tone tomorrow or by Monday latest. I stay in Unit 6, Near Governor House Chhak. Was tempted to go for the 900UL but nearly all the posts here are recommending the 500C or 500C+ plans. There is some talk here about the 900 plan becoming 256kbps upto 2 Mbps. Will talk to the BSNL folks here and see what they have to say.
I do have one q for you. Are you sure about the EVDO speeds and rates? Asked a couple of my freinds and they were very doubtfull about the speeds. Rs 550/- for unlimited sounds great but what's the total cost? Could you please let me know?
Thanks once again.

Originally Posted by aruncse30

yup... but one of our member posted that he had seen a bsnl form which hs printed like 900UL(256-2mbps)...

rasarat.. y dont u walk to bsnl office and make it confm??

Yup! Plan to do just that first thing this Monday.

Originally Posted by rasarat

Thanks Bharat! You've been very informative. I just got my landline connection today along with the telephone. Should have the dial tone tomorrow or by Monday latest. I stay in Unit 6, Near Governor House Chhak. Was tempted to go for the 900UL but nearly all the posts here are recommending the 500C or 500C+ plans. There is some talk here about the 900 plan becoming 256kbps upto 2 Mbps. Will talk to the BSNL folks here and see what they have to say.
I do have one q for you. Are you sure about the EVDO speeds and rates? Asked a couple of my freinds and they were very doubtfull about the speeds. Rs 550/- for unlimited sounds great but what's the total cost? Could you please let me know?
Thanks once again.

3500/- for EVDO-2.4mbps-550/month
2800/- for NIC- 144kbps-250/month

see the BSNL board ad at Banivihar sqaure

I am not confirmed yet about the actual speeds which people get , but according to the scheme it says 2.4mbps unlimited(no dnld or upld limit)

Originally Posted by aruncse30

yup... but one of our member posted that he had seen a bsnl form which hs printed like 900UL(256-2mbps)...

rasarat.. y dont u walk to bsnl office and make it confm??

Just got back from the BSNL office and they don't have any idea about increase in speeds in the 900UL plan. May happen and then maybe not...

bsnl evdo is not good at all.....torrent speeds is too worst.
u can get a max of 1.5 mbps......for free rapidshare its really sucks.
dont go for evdo at all....if u want to download heavy things.

Originally Posted by jillam123

bsnl evdo is not good at all.....torrent speeds is too worst.
u can get a max of 1.5 mbps......for free rapidshare its really sucks.
dont go for evdo at all....if u want to download heavy things.

Are you using any download manager for http and ftp downloads?

As reported in other threads of this forum, the average spped of EVDO seems to be 500~1000 kbps. Further, since its based on wireless CDMA technology, the speed would varry with variation in signal strength. Also, EVDO uses shared IP. So, many open torrents and Rapidshare would not work most of the time.

A wired ADSL Broadband would always be a better choice.
The distinction between Home500, 500C and 500C+ are as follows,
Home500:
Rent 500, Download limit 8AM-2AM 2.5 GB/mth, 2AM-8AM unlimited.
Supplementary Broadband Plan, requires a regular Voice Land Line plan to work with. So min. Voice Rental Rs.180 for 50 free calls.
Minimum Cost: Rs.680+tax i.e. Rs.764 for 2.5 GB download and 50 calls

Home500C:
Rent 500, Download limit 8AM-2AM 1.5 GB/mth, 2AM-8AM unlimited. plus 175 calls
Combo Plan, does not require regular Voice Land Line plan to work with.
Minimum Cost: Rs.500+tax i.e. Rs.561 for 1.5 GB download and 175 calls

Home500C+:
Rent 600, Download limit 8AM-2AM 2.5 GB/mth, 2AM-8AM unlimited. plus 50 calls
Combo Plan, does not require regular Voice Land Line plan to work with.
Minimum Cost: Rs.600+tax i.e. Rs.673 for 2.5 GB download and 50 calls

Make a choice based on your overall requirements