Just Joined NOW

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Malboo

57 posts

Master Geek

#243269 4-Dec-2018 06:22

I have joined NOW 3 weeks ago and so only one problem in the beginning which was a Chorus problem they didn't hook up the landline properly speed and connection all seem fine using the new D7000 Netgear router -mistake -wifi is fine readyshare for USB hard drives after using my Netgear R7000 not working which was a good unit firmware issue from what I have read so have bought a 1 bay NAS that works so all good

It's been good dealing with the call center no waiting on the phones for long 5 minutes would be the longest.

The alarm system also still works with Fibre so don't have to change anything there

Malboo

57 posts

Master Geek

#2153050 1-Jan-2019 18:34

And 4 weeks with no problems Yay only thing not good was with my new modem Netgear D7000 readyshare not working so have bought a 1 bay NAS

SBQ

104 posts

Master Geek

#2167497 25-Jan-2019 17:07

Sitting on my table is a 2nd hand Spark Ultra Broadband modem (Huawei HG630b) I bought off TradeMe for $8. Going from ADSL2+ Spark to NOW! VDSL I will be interested to see if the speed is faster.

I've been reading the line to the modem and to the connection point matters in cable quality. Using old stranded copper wire vs solid core CAT6. I have all the crimping tools so will see how RJ11 - RJ45 DIY is any better than the one included in the box?

Switch over is set on Jan 29th. Now! just told me on that day just turn off the old modem and put the new VDSL modem on.. and power on. Nothing else. Hope I don't get any hitches. Also on their landline package too with caller ID + Faxability 2nd # for $81/month on 12 month contract. Prior, Spark was soaking me $120/month because they won't honour any more $15/month discount.

Malboo

57 posts

Master Geek

#2167668 25-Jan-2019 22:43

Good to hear you are nearly up and running

Make sure that the land line is connected properly mine wasn't done correctly by Chorus when they ran all the wires so had to get someone back to connect it correctly the ONT all worked fine, the land line worked plugged directly into the ONT which is in the laundry but the old land line plugs wouldn't work.

I would get rid of the land line but its handy in a emergency for my daughter

muppet

2571 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2167683 26-Jan-2019 06:39

Now are an amazing ISP. When we moved to Napier, they worked with Unison to cover where we live with fibre (it runs on the overhead lines) because our zone is outside of the Chorus area.

Anyway, they've been an amazing ISP. I just can't believe how few outages they have. I can only think of one time we were down for ~2 hours due to some fault they had, otherwise for the past 5 years it just works.

The few times I have had to talk to their support staff, it's an instantaneous experience.

I don't care about latency or ping or any of that gamer crap, so I can't speak for how they stack up against the others, but we never have any problems with performance. They host a local Netflix CDN so watching stuff is never a problem.

SBQ

104 posts

Master Geek

#2169705 29-Jan-2019 16:03

Ok here's an update. Today was the day I thought I was switching over from Spark to Now by swapping the modem. I was going from ADSL to a VDSL so used a different modem that supports VDSL. Unfortunately, my line connection is still on ADSL. After a few phone calls I learned that Chorus REJECTED Now's order to switch ISP. They said that Chorus has that right to stop offering copper in areas that HAVE FIBER as an option. Well i'm not ready for fiber now because Enable (Chch fiber operations) would only do a shoddy install on my property. That is run a fiber conduit along my fence so burglars can easily snip the line.

Now said they are looking into it with Chorus and will get back to me tomorrow :(

zyo

513 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2223470 25-Apr-2019 08:50

SBQ:

Ok here's an update. Today was the day I thought I was switching over from Spark to Now by swapping the modem. I was going from ADSL to a VDSL so used a different modem that supports VDSL. Unfortunately, my line connection is still on ADSL. After a few phone calls I learned that Chorus REJECTED Now's order to switch ISP. They said that Chorus has that right to stop offering copper in areas that HAVE FIBER as an option. Well i'm not ready for fiber now because Enable (Chch fiber operations) would only do a shoddy install on my property. That is run a fiber conduit along my fence so burglars can easily snip the line.

Now said they are looking into it with Chorus and will get back to me tomorrow :(

Wow, I dont understand Chorus' justification for the rejection, if they force you to switch to fiber (which as you said is handled by Enable) then they lose your business altogether.

That sounds really really dumb....

SBQ

104 posts

Master Geek

#2224864 25-Apr-2019 14:57

Now has been great so far. Having real good line speeds and my landline + fax ability (different phone #) working no issues.

I've been confirmed by others regarding the copper / fibre fiasco. I've heard that many ISPs are pushing towards fibre and telling customers that "their copper lines are about to be 'out of service'". My aunt received this kind of information from Actrix and she went through the hassles of getting fiber installed through Enable. For months her voice line was all scratchy / echoed. My cousin down the street was an early fibre user and has never bothered to fix the same voice echo / delay issues on his land line.

I don't think Chorus is spreading such rumours but more like the ISPs wanting to keep their profit margin by getting customers to ditch copper and go to the cheaper fibre lines.

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pchs

185 posts

Master Geek

#2224960 25-Apr-2019 16:57

Agree NOW are a great ISP - Spark are their major shareholder but assume they let them run at arms length. You do get the benefit of Spark's GGI bandwidth and peering as well, and also by the looks of it they are using 2degrees for International bandwidth too so another bonus.