There are several ways to access the internet in Iwakuni; which is best for you will depend on whether you live on or off base, how much you use the internet, how you prefer to pay, and even whether or not you have your own computer!
We ended up using AT&T, which as far as I know is still only available to on-base residents. We kept our Urban Internet account and our AOL account, but due to the expense of the toll calls to log onto these services, we rarely used them. In retrospect, I suppose we should have canceled Urban, but Urban informed it's users that they were trying to get a line on-base, which would once again make them an affordable choice. To my knowledge they were never able to.
AT&T has an access line on base (253-4638), which makes them the most affordable for those living on base. The service was not available to off-base residents, and I believe that is still the case. There is also a Customer Support Hotline (241-4242), available from 10am to 10pm, local time. When we signed up, there was a $50.00 sign-up fee, and then we paid $300 up front for 12 months of internet access. This is the best (only?) choice for those who prefer to pay by cash, rather than major credit card. There is also a monthly payment plan, which is more expensive. I have read that they were looking into changing their pricing to usage-based, vs. 24/7 access; this to encourage people to log off when not using the internet, so others can log on. Now, they are planning to offer complete wireless service to their customers, by summer 2002. AT&T offers only internet access, e-mail, etc. They do NOT offer webpage space. The Surf Shop's "unofficial webpage" is gone; there was talk of an official one, but so far no sign of it. AT&T Jens does have a website for all Japan locations, though. Locally, they did offer hourly internet access, from their computers at the Surf Shop (located near the Soba Shop, and across from the Southside Bowling Center). Also now available from AT&T: fax service, cell phone service, Color PhotoCopy service (!), and scanning service. You may want to e-mail them at
surfshop@ika.attmil.ne.jp (or phone them at 253-4829). I notice they are now referred to as the "Personal Telecommunications Center"! Same phone number and listed as Bldg. 189; I don't know if this indicates a move for them. Hours are listed as M-F 10am-8pm; Sat 11am-7pm.
NOTE: If you are e-mailing someone with an AT&T e-mail address, make sure you are using the latest domain address; used to be @iwk0.attnet.or.jp, it's now @ika.attmil.ne.jp
We got an account with
Urban Internet,
shortly after arrival in Iwakuni (in fact we were still in the TLF!). The
access number was a local call, off-base into the city of Iwakuni; as of 10/1/97 these calls now cost 10 yen/minute, which can really add up if you spend a lot of time on the Net, but can be negligible if you only use it occasionally. The cost,
which is paid by credit card in Yen, was working out to just over $25.00/mo.,
due to a favorable exchange rate (it is even more favorable at the time of this update!). This pays for unlimited access, through your browser,
such as Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer. They have an E-mail address
for more information, which is info@urban.ne.jp
You get 5MB free web-page space, too, with them. Personally, I've found the Geocities free web pages too easy to pass up; another thing I like about Geocities and other free pages that are NOT connected to your internet service- when you move, your pages don't disappear! A new option, as of April of '98, is to go right out the main gate to
PC-International, where you can sign up for Urban Internet services, and get help with those forms from real English-speaking Americans! While you're there, you might want to check out the other services and products offered... they sell computers & computer parts, and provide repair services, as well.
NOTE: Since we first arrived in Iwakuni in '96, Urban has changed the e-mail address for it's users; the first part stayed the same but the "or" was changed to "ne". I.E., our address was spencers@ymg.urban.or.jp; it changed to spencers@ymg.urban.ne.jp Just an example- we are no longer in Iwakuni!
We were on AOL before we went overseas, and we kept our AOL account while in Iwakuni. Many people do... the prefered way to do this would be to use the "bring your own access" option, and access your AOL account through AT&T or Urban. I never did actually figure out how to do this, but to access AOL by the long-distance access code would get VERY expensive (I know this!). However, since you may get to Iwakuni, and still need to change your access info, you'll need to know the access #'s to log on: You need to change to AOL's Global Network (Keyword: International Access) There is a $6.00/hour surcharge for logging on from outside the US. The nearest access number is in Hiroshima, which is a long-distance call from Iwakuni. (From on base, access number is 98-082-2549192, in which the 98 serves to get you a long-distance line off-base.) And you still pay your monthly service charge for your AOL account, which doesn't get you unlimited hours anymore, in fact it doesn't get you a single minute!
The Marine Message Center is inexplicably closed forever. Internet and color copy services are now offered at the Surf Shop (Personal Telecommunications Center). Pack and Wrap and b/w copy services are now offered at the Engraving Shop.
For instant online communication, there are several possibilities. Many people are using ICQ. My son has it and uses it; I don't. We have AOL's Instant Messenger (you don't need an AOL account to get this, and it's free), which I prefer.
There are also military related chat-rooms where you can meet new folks or arrange to meet your friends or family there at a particular time. Yahoo has a few clubs with message boards and chat rooms, that may interest you: The Military Wives Lounge, The Marine Corps and Navy Wives and Marine Moms and Dads. This last one has almost 500 members and seems very active and supportive. And of course, there is my Ch@Iwakuni Chat Room on our site! Feel free to use it... invite your friends and family to meet you there... that's what it's there for! The more the merrier, or so they say!
FEPG maintains a long list of sites (well over 1000) that offer free e-mail accounts, in English as well as other languages. It also shows whether they are web-based, or just forwarding, or whatever. Some, like Geocities, also offer free webpages. This is a good option, especially if you have access to a computer which is not your own personal computer, or if you share your computer with others. I find it much more convenient in the military life, to have one account that I never have to move, and can access from anywhere.
The MARS stands for "Military Affiliated Radio System"; this is a worldwide network of amateur, professional and military radio operators. Before e-mail and call-back services, many of us "old timers" used MARSgrams to keep in touch with our servicemembers... now MARSgrams have entered the electronic age!!! If you have e-mail, but your servicemember doesn't, you can still use your e-mail to get the message to them, thanks to the volunteer services of some very caring folks! Here's how it works:
A few days later, you should receive a confirmation of your Marsgram! Please keep in mind that this is a volunteer service; it could take anywhere from several hours to several days to reach your servicemember, and should not be relied upon for emergency messages... but to say a quick "Love ya... thinkin' of ya", or to wish someone a "Happy Birthday", it's a wonderful service to have available for free :-)
My personal favorite site for finding online newspapers worldwide is Online Newspapers, from Australia (used to be Web Wombat). From here, you can search by name of the newspaper, by state, or by country. You might be interested in an English version of the Japanese Daily Yomiuri, or the American Armed Service's own Pacific Stars and Stripes, (this site has greatly expanded!). I have also found that I can keep track of what is happening in Jacksonville, NC, where we still own a house, or in Orange County, CA, my old stompin' grounds :-)
There are basically two direct dialing options here; KDD and IDC. These are further broken down into two options, each (Regular KDD, Route KDD, Regular IDC and IDC Straight). To be honest, there doesn't seem to be a great deal of difference between them- they are all expensive, at well over a dollar/minute to call the states. You can also use calling cards, such as AT&T, MCI and Sprint. You can make 1-800 calls, through these services, too, but you are billed for a regular call (it's not free). By the way, Government phones may not be used by people using personal long-distance phone cards; blue pay telephones were said to be installed in common areas for phone card calls. Unless it has changed since we were there, the phones in the TLF fall under the "government phones" rule, and you have to use a pay phone even for your calling card calls :-( There may be another option, though...
This new service should make phone calls from MCAS Iwakuni to the States (including Hawaii, Alaska, Saipan and Guam) cheaper and easier. However, I'm hearing that there is a toll call charge involved with this, in addition to the 29 cents/min. :-( I don't know yet if it's true. The new service, known as Ninja Call, is a direct dial option and is billed with your usual billing from the Telephone Office at 29 cents/minute! The number you dial from MCAS Iwakuni is: 96-005356-1-area code-phone number. The service is provided over KDD's lines; it is not available from off-base phones, paid phones or cellular phones.
Links to other callback service sites on the Web
NewWorld Telecommunications Advertises at 20 cents/min., from Japan to the USA
Internet Phone Company Advertises at 14cents/minute, Japan to the USA, and USA to Japan.
There are other
companies offerring similar services, but these are all the working URL's I have found.
Of course, there is now the option of placing your call through the internet, in one of several ways. As I collect info on those options, I'll put up the links for you. We haven't used those at this time, so I can't comment on them, other than to say the technology is growing so fast... if you tried it a year or two ago and didn't like the quality, you may be in for a pleasant surprise now!
If you are calling Iwakuni from the US, the standard commercial method is to dial 011-81-827-21-4171 and ask the operator for extension XXXX (the last 4 numbers of the DSN #, as in DSN 253-XXXX); or dial 011-81-6117-53-XXXX, for direct dial, without the operator.
Most areas of the US now have the availability of services such as 10-10-345 and similar 10-10 numbers. With this one, you can dial Japan from the States for 13 cents/min.... with no extra fees, minimums, etc. You may want to check it out, or see what is available in your area. We have used this to call Japan, with perfect satisfaction.
The photo above is the AFN building as it was when we were there... it is my understanding that they got a new building since we left! So many changes! Good for them!
It is my understanding that the base is working to get a "real" cable TV contract going with Americable. When that happens, by the way, it would be possible to have the option of cable internet service! Meantime, the TV that is available is through AFN. While we were there, they were calling AFN's offering "cable", and it included 10 radio stations, with a variety of programming, which I now see no sign of :-( There is a schedule for the one regular radio station at the AFN website, though.
There is also a video channel, INTV-14, which plays videos (uncensored) from Torii Video/Softland International. I'm going to always be working on this section... the base makes changes as fast as I find out and write about them! Please continue to have patience. Thanks :-)
© 1999 donella@bigfoot.com
Get your own Free Home Page