Relocating to Germany

[JamminJoeyB]

Good day JLCers,

About 5 days ago I got word that I will probably be going to Germany in July for a couple of years. Yep the military loves to move people around from time to time. My only question is about broad band access. Since I don't really speak or read much german yet. I was hoping that some one who lives there could tell me about what is available. I know is the states we have lots of choices, from Cable, DSL and now high speed wireless in some cities.

While I could live on dial up. I really don't want to have to find a modem for my pc.

[je_fro]

Stay away from the german babes...they love to marry GI's and then take their pensions after retirement...
<edit>hahaha...I'm not bitter or anything....:o </edit>

[Parcival]

Yep the military loves to move people around from time to time. My only question is about broad band access. Since I don't really speak or read much german yet.

Don't worry, that will be easy.

(1) If you're living on the US base, you'll feel like at home anyway. You will see US streetnames, buy US goods in US shops, and don't need to learn a single word in German if you don't want to.

(2) Germans learn English at elementary school level. Even if their English happens to be bad, they'll understand you if you talk slowly.

(3) If your base doesn't provide broadband already or you're living off the base, you have a variety of carriers that offer all these services. The biggest provider (= former monopolist) is the German Telekom (http://www.deutschetelekom.com/dtag/cms/content/dt/en/startpage). When I watch German TV, the prices in the commercials are about the same as with other carriers. However, you can also buy a news paper and get detailed information on current comparisons between the various carriers.

(4) The most useful link for German - English translation is LEO (http://dict.leo.org/), a free and powerful online dictionary run by the Technical University of Munich.

[Parcival]

I found some more interesting links for you:

Onlinekosten.de (http://www.onlinekosten.de/breitband) has an overview on broadband ("Breitband") internet access. It also features a "Tarifrechner" (http://www.onlinekosten.de/tarifrechner/) (tarif/rate/cost calculator) that allows you to quickly compare the various current offers.
Since modern German uses so many English words, you should be able to navigate the site. "Regionale Carrier" (regional/local carriers) and "flatrate" should be very easy to understand.

One more word: when you see an "Aktion" on something in Germany, it is "on sale".

If you want to read German IT news, then the publications by Heise (http://www.heise.de/) are a must read. However, in bigger convenience stores you can also buy English literature. Germany has a number of Linux magazines (1 (http://www.linux-magazin.de/), 2 (http://www.linux-user.de/), 3 (http://www.easylinux.de/)) and many LUGs (http://www.pro-linux.de/lugs/) that will gladly welcome you.

[klackenfus]

I was stationed in Germany for four years, from 1987 until 1991. It was the best four years of my life. I graduated from college in 1986, was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and off I went after my branch school at Fort Knox. I loved the German people, the massive amounts of history, the food and of course, the beer. You won't regret getting orders to Germany.

[JamminJoeyB]

Thanks for all the info guys. I know it's going to be a blast. I'll be checking out those links to see what kind of deals there are.

I know that the base I am going to does not have on base housing. I'll be on the economy for a place to live and that will probably dictate my options as far ast a fast connection goes.

I've gotten spoiled with road runner here in NC. It's been a pretty fast and reliable connection.