[TelstraClear] How to ditch telecom for good?

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mattz

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#12612 27-Mar-2007 14:10

After four years living in wellington in four different flats I am finally moving to one where cable is connectable.

I have a few questions that I hoped some helpful person can answer.

I understand that I will need a broadband router, is it in anyway possible to use my existing ADSL router (behind cable router) in a wireless bridging mode or similar?

Is it possible to get the internet service without a phone line or cable TV. What are the suggestions for the best / cheapest VOIP solutions if I can just get the cable internet.

Lastly how to do I qualify for a free install / no term contract.

Finally if I do have to get a phone line I will probably continue with ADSL any indication yet when naked DSL is comming and any ballpark figure?

sbiddle

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#65155 27-Mar-2007 14:28

mattz: After four years living in wellington in four different flats I am finally moving to one where cable is connectable.

I have a few questions that I hoped some helpful person can answer.

I understand that I will need a broadband router, is it in anyway possible to use my existing ADSL router (behind cable router) in a wireless bridging mode or similar?

Is it possible to get the internet service without a phone line or cable TV. What are the suggestions for the best / cheapest VOIP solutions if I can just get the cable internet.

Lastly how to do I qualify for a free install / no term contract.

Finally if I do have to get a phone line I will probably continue with ADSL any indication yet when naked DSL is comming and any ballpark figure?

It really just depends on the type of router you have at present.

Yes you can get cable without a phoneline or TV - minimum plan is the 10GB plan.

In terms of VoIP providers you only have two choices - iTalk or VFX. I would recommend VFX.

Contact TCL for details of free install - you can't get a free install and no term contract, I believe you have to sign up for a 24 month contract to get free install.

antoniosk

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#65202 27-Mar-2007 19:21

mattz: After four years living in wellington in four different flats I am finally moving to one where cable is connectable.

I have a few questions that I hoped some helpful person can answer.

I understand that I will need a broadband router, is it in anyway possible to use my existing ADSL router (behind cable router) in a wireless bridging mode or similar?

Is it possible to get the internet service without a phone line or cable TV. What are the suggestions for the best / cheapest VOIP solutions if I can just get the cable internet.

Lastly how to do I qualify for a free install / no term contract.

Finally if I do have to get a phone line I will probably continue with ADSL any indication yet when naked DSL is comming and any ballpark figure?

1. If your ADSL modem supports switching off the ADSL part and repurposing a LAN port as the WAN port, then it should be ok. I know of no consumer grade routers that do that though, only business grade

Once you have a router connected though it works very well with the cable modem.

2. I don't think you can get internet only without phoneline as a consumer - only business customers get that.
3. Talk to TCL and cut a deal. We run promotions every now and then offering free install/no term, or 1 month free - but you won't know until you ask. And if you're bringing the phone service over as well it usually makes it easy to get free install.
4. Naked DSL is being touted for September/October but in the short term it won't be much of an improvement over today's Telecom DSL. Upgrading backhauls takes time...

________

Antoniosk

sbiddle

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#65205 27-Mar-2007 19:29

antoniosk:
2. I don't think you can get internet only without phoneline as a consumer - only business customers get that.

Apart from a short time towards the end of 2005 where the policy was changed and then changed back again you've always been able to get cable without a phoneline. It's not something that TCL advertise (and they don't even list individual pricing on their website) but is available. There is quite a large customer base of customers who only have cable connections with TCL and no phoneline. I haven't had a TCL phoneline now for around 9 months, I'm 100% VoIP.

mattz

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#65251 28-Mar-2007 07:59

Thanks for the answers guys, so basically I will need a new router. But it is possible to get cable without the phone line, but the 10gig plan is the min one you can do this on.

What about wholly software VOIP providers any experience with them? Any recommendations for broadband routers for VOIP so I guess they will need QOS.

sbiddle

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#65254 28-Mar-2007 08:26

mattz: Thanks for the answers guys, so basically I will need a new router. But it is possible to get cable without the phone line, but the 10gig plan is the min one you can do this on.

What about wholly software VOIP providers any experience with them? Any recommendations for broadband routers for VOIP so I guess they will need QOS.

Buying something QoS capable is always a good idea.

You just need to decide whether you want an IP phone or want to use an existing phone. If you're happy with using a normal phone when something like the Linksys WRTP54G is a good idea as it's a router + ATA VOIP adapter in a single unit and very reasonably priced. If you want an IP phone the Linksys SPA921's are hard to beat but you'll be looking at around $350 - $400ish depending on where you buy them from for one of these and a good router whereas the WRTP54G's are around the low $200's or so from memory.

FatTofu

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#65269 28-Mar-2007 12:53

Yeah to get cable broadband by itself you have to get the 10GB plan or bigger. Since you live in Wellington you can just go into their store in Courtney central. I was in there the other day and you can still get hooked up with a free install and no terms, you can also get your first month free I think and a free movie pass to reading cinemas.

mattz

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#65279 28-Mar-2007 16:08

Cheers for the info FatTofu that deal sounds mint, i'll have to check it out.