Looking to Switch from Spark to 2Degrees

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › Looking to Switch from Spark to 2Degrees - Need some help.

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1554 posts

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#2616974 6-Dec-2020 13:37

why not give skinny a try. That way you get the Spark reliability at reduced prices.
Unlimited VDSL connection is $73 / month

you'd need to use a different provider for your voip line - but something like 2talk is about $10 / month

Giggle

46 posts

Geek

#2616996 6-Dec-2020 14:21

Thanks very much for the comments.

It's a lot to consider. Wary of changing, but tired of paying excessive rates for a small amount of bandwidth.

I will probably make the decision this week. I'll post once we decide. Many thanks

Giggle

46 posts

Geek

#2616997 6-Dec-2020 14:24

@ cokemaster - one of the reasons we are looking a 2D.

@ farcus - skinny isn't available in our area. Thanks

farcus

1554 posts

Uber Geek

#2617038 6-Dec-2020 16:10

@ farcus - skinny isn't available in our area. Thanks

Skinny (VDSL) should be available if you already have a Spark VDSL connection.
The Skinny wireless product has limited areas where it is available (only urban areas)

ANglEAUT

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#2617049 6-Dec-2020 16:46

cokemaster: If you have a super gold card, you will be able to knock a further $5 per month off your landline/broadband connection.

https://sg.2ddiscount.co.nz/

Up to an additional $20 off pm? That should make the OP happy.

Please keep this GZ community vibrant by contributing in a constructive & respectful manner.

Giggle

46 posts

Geek

#2617053 6-Dec-2020 16:55

farcus:
@ farcus - skinny isn't available in our area. Thanks

Skinny (VDSL) should be available if you already have a Spark VDSL connection.
The Skinny wireless product has limited areas where it is available (only urban areas)

Ahh...you are correct. I used the Skinny Jump address checker - didn't know the two were different. While Jump isn't available, seems the other is. Looking now. Thanks

ANglEAUT

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#2617073 6-Dec-2020 17:29

Giggle: ... Same applies to email - would rather have everything local. ...

quickymart: Local e-mails? As in, .nz? ...

cyril7: ... As for email, I strongly recommend you move to a free cloud service such as gmail, its an unfortunate thing that so many are stuck on an ISP simply due to an old fashioned practice of ISP providing email ...

I think Giggle means POP3/IMAP locally on their computer, not locally in the country.

@Giggle, you can have your cake & eat it too. If you need help with any of the below, PM me.

GMail allows POP3 / IMAP downloads, similar to Xtra
If you move away from Spark, last I heard, you can keep your @xtra email for $5 p/m. I don't know if this applies to Skinny, but I would imagine it does
I have done this for older friends of ours & it worked pretty well
This is $0 cost & maybe +-6hrs over the next year managing the process 🍻
This can be done independent of your ISP search 😍

Here's the process

Sign up with GMail
Configure POP3 / IMAP access
Configure your mail client
1. Consider if you want one combined inbox or two separate inboxes
Configure GMail to fetch your @xtra mail via POP3
1. Think about leaving your email on the server during the transition phase
2. & deleting from the server once you are comfortable with the process
See your @xtra mail flow into your inbox via Gmail
Configure your email client to use your Gmail address by default
Later, at your leisure, update your email address on various systems / mailing lists & at companies to the new Gmail address
== Technical details done - now comes the people part ==
From your Gmail address, notify those that you regularly send emails to, that your email address has changed
1. Don't use your @xtra email address
2. If people search for the email that your address has changed, they will only find the new address
From now onwards, your email client will use your new GMail address
People will simply reply to these email & automatically use your new GMail address
You will see the amount of email addressed to your @xtra address quickly dwindle

Once you are sure that now new emails are addressed to your old @xtra email, you are ready to terminate that address. 🎉

Please keep this GZ community vibrant by contributing in a constructive & respectful manner.

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Giggle

46 posts

Geek

#2617098 6-Dec-2020 18:50

@ ANglEAUT - Thanks for all the effort you put into that post. Wow.

You are correct - it is the pop3/imap I want. Good call.

Yes....correct again...we can stay with xtra for $6per month. This will probably be what we do until we are certain of things - then maybe pull that plug once we have switched all our email over to a new address - been 25 years with Spark - so a lot of people, sites, etc to switch over.

I already have backup gmail with pop3 access. Appreciate the offer greatly.

I might take you up on a pm to discuss the cell booster thingee. Didn't know it was a thing, but it will depend on the cost. Also, we have budget cell phones, so perhaps they are the problem??? Maybe new (Better) phones would make the connection better. However, our area is known to have poor reception (parts of it) even though we have a full 360 degree view in all directions. Don't know why? Not sure were the cell tower is for us either. I'll look at this after sorting out the broadband.

As for the other post - Skinny doesn't seem to do landlines. Simpler if we stay with someone that does. Slingshot has a better broadband deal then 2D, but all the extras one needs soon add up the total package. I guess it's reasonably close though.

I do wish 2D had an addon that gave say 100 mins of mobile calls per month from the landline. Slingshot does 1000mins, but @$15 pm. It's a lot extra for the few calls we make, but I guess we would ring more mobiles if it was included for a small fee. The current per minute mobile call rates are still outrageous.

That's about me. Many thanks.

nzlogan

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#2617134 6-Dec-2020 21:16

Perhaps have another look at Slingshot, as they do mobiles, and you could just make mobile calls from these.

If you can get the extra $15/month off (from the Flip deal another GZ member mentioned), it would make it about $70/month for 150GB and a landline with national calling. Slingshot also do mobiles, and each mobile will give you a $5 discount - so depending on how much your prepaid plans are now, it could be cheaper when bundled all together with Slingshot. I believe Spark is the parent provider for their mobiles.

One of my parents is with Slingshot, and have been for a fews years now - and haven't had any major problems. Support has been alright, although I think I've only had to use them a couple times.

ANglEAUT

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#2617822 7-Dec-2020 21:06

Giggle: @ ANglEAUT - ...

I might take you up on a pm to discuss the cell booster thingee. ...
Not sure were the cell tower is for us either. ...
The current per minute mobile call rates are still outrageous. ...

I was thinking of this Sure Signal (Femto-Cell). Note that there have been comments (? sbiddle /richms / michaelmurfy?) on this site these some of these are not legal & links were posted to legal ones. Searching the forums, somebody mentioned Cellutronics
Where do you live? https://gis.geek.nz/about#aboutCellTowers
2Deg has Voice over Wi-Fi calling. Requires a newer phone 💸, requires a Wi-Fi connection for voice calls, could use your unlimited home data for this 😜.

Cheers

Please keep this GZ community vibrant by contributing in a constructive & respectful manner.

c0ld

234 posts

Master Geek

#2617891 8-Dec-2020 07:59

ANglEAUT:

Giggle: @ ANglEAUT - ...

I might take you up on a pm to discuss the cell booster thingee. ...
Not sure were the cell tower is for us either. ...
The current per minute mobile call rates are still outrageous. ...

I was thinking of this Sure Signal (Femto-Cell). Note that there have been comments (? sbiddle /richms / michaelmurfy?) on this site these some of these are not legal & links were posted to legal ones. Searching the forums, somebody mentioned Cellutronics
Where do you live? https://gis.geek.nz/about#aboutCellTowers
2Deg has Voice over Wi-Fi calling. Requires a newer phone 💸, requires a Wi-Fi connection for voice calls, could use your unlimited home data for this 😜.

Cheers

Sure Signal is Vodafone, 2degrees do not offer a femtocell product. If you have at least a bar or two outside you may want to take a look at Cel-Fi which is the only available approved repeater for consumers on 2degrees. This will pipe the outdoor 3G / 4G inside.

100% recommend Wi-Fi Calling, works a treat and is available even on lower end devices now.

Giggle

46 posts

Geek

#2617915 8-Dec-2020 09:08

@ ANglEAUT - Yeah...I found a site saying a lot of the repeaters are not legal here. One was selling them as if they were a NZ company, but they weren't. Typical.

Thanks for the pointer about Wifi calling. Didn't know it was a thing.

@ c0ld - looked up that site, but their repeaters are too expensive. Sounds like a good idea though.

"https://www.cellutronics.co.nz/active-repeaters-v2" does them here, but again...too expensive.

Broadband is first. Then the next step is a get a new mobile phone. Not sure what brand or model to get (that'll be something we need to look into) but $1000 phones are out of the question. Perhaps $299 - $399 is the range we would consider. Still adds up for two phones. Once this is done, it will tell us if our cheap phones are the issue for something else. I tend to think it is the area for some reason. We're with Vodafone, so perhaps their cell towers are further away??

Been looking again at Slingshot. I've been looking at them for a while actually (was originally their plan I was going to use) - but unfortunately, there are way too many negative reviews to go down that path I think.

While most companies have them, Slingshot seems to get more than normal. I realize there are probably people with them that are satisfied, but their poor customer service and connection reviews seem to stand out.

Thanks for the input. Much appreciated.

ajw

1932 posts

Uber Geek

#2617939 8-Dec-2020 10:06

Giggle: @ ANglEAUT - Yeah...I found a site saying a lot of the repeaters are not legal here. One was selling them as if they were a NZ company, but they weren't. Typical. Thanks for the pointer about Wifi calling. Didn't know it was a thing. @ c0ld - looked up that site, but their repeaters are too expensive. Sounds like a good idea though. "https://www.cellutronics.co.nz/active-repeaters-v2" does them here, but again...too expensive. Broadband is first. Then the next step is a get a new mobile phone. Not sure what brand or model to get (that'll be something we need to look into) but $1000 phones are out of the question. Perhaps $299 - $399 is the range we would consider. Still adds up for two phones. Once this is done, it will tell us if our cheap phones are the issue for something else. I tend to think it is the area for some reason. We're with Vodafone, so perhaps their cell towers are further away?? Been looking again at Slingshot. I've been looking at them for a while actually (was originally their plan I was going to use) - but unfortunately, there are way too many negative reviews to go down that path I think. While most companies have them, Slingshot seems to get more than normal. I realize there are probably people with them that are satisfied, but their poor customer service and connection reviews seem to stand out. Thanks for the input. Much appreciated.

If you have 2 degrees cellphone coverage why not look at warehouse mobile for mobiles. I use 200 x minutes a month for $4 and that includes calls to 16 countries.

warehousemobile.co.nz

Giggle

46 posts

Geek

#2618083 8-Dec-2020 12:46

@ ajw - A little OT...but...

Does 2D have their own cell towers or do they piggyback on the normal ones?

What type of mobile should I get 3G or 4G or should it do both. Then...there is something called 3G boosted? Not sure I understand 2D's coverage map.

200 x minutes a month for $4 sounds good and would suit my wife. I on the other get away with a $20 per year prepay :)

What is the story on using my existing number? Do I have to change it?

Linux

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#2618085 8-Dec-2020 12:50

@Giggle 2degrees now provides 99% of it's mobile coverage from its own towers and national roaming will be turned off next year after the MoRAN deployment is complete

https://www.2degrees.nz/media-releases/moran-release/

" Does 2D have their own cell towers or do they piggyback on the normal ones? "

I have no idea what you mean by ' Normal ones '

2degrees supports Wi-Fi calling

I have noticed over the last few months that my handset does not roam any longer onto VodafoneNZ for the places I visit

No you do not have to change your mobile number due to mobile number portability between carriers in NZ

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