Tips on using
 the site

Internet Service Providers

There are two Internet Service Providers in Dominica - Cable and Wireless (the telephone company) and Marpin Telecoms & Broadcasing Company. The simplest connection is to Cable and Wireless which provides a dial-up server at about the cost of dial-up servers in the U.S. You can order Internet service at the same time as you order your telephone from the Cable and Wireless office in Portsmouth. If you wish, you can order a second, internet dedicated phone line at a reduced rate.

Marpin TV offers several kinds of service. They offer a conventional dial-up server. However, you will have to pay Cable and Wireless for the call to the Marpin server in Roseau and the cost is absurd. Marpin also offers 128 Kbs (Express Path) service through their TV cable as well as full cable modem service.

Express Path Service should be good for Internet telephony, but as of this writing I haven't tried it. It costs EC$75 (US$28) per month for unlimited service. You are automatically connected anytime you have your computer on. There is also an EC$150 connection fee. Your computer must have an ethernet card which can be purchased and installed in Roseau for EC$136 or in Portsmouth for EC$211. Express Path Service is available in most, but not all, housing occupied by students. You do not have to pay for cable TV to use the Internet.

For EC$1500 (US$560) you can even get the high speed box that gives cable users exceptionally high bandwidth.

COMPUTERS

There is not much advice to give on choice of computers. Laptops are more convenient to transport, there is no duty charged when you bring a laptop in or out of Dominica, and most laptops will run on either 110 or 220 volts. However, desktops have obvious advantages, the duty is only 7%, and Amerijet will be happy to ship one here for a reasonable price. There are some simple requirements for Internet telephony.

Please be advised that students will be required to pay duties on the Cost Insurance Freight (CIF) value of the goods brought onto Dominica. Some CIF values include - Computers: Duty at 9.5%, CD and DVD players at 48%, CDs and DVDs at 60%, and All Other Electronic items at 48%.