Now ultra unlimited deal

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ShaggyMop

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#289291 26-Aug-2021 11:23

Now are currently offering their ultra unlimited 950/500 plan for $99/month with the first 6 months free if you sign up for 12 months - works out to be $74/month.
We’re looking at upgrading from our bigpipe 100/20 plan which is $79/month, we’ve been with them for probably 8 years but they don’t offer anything deal-wise except offer a free modem and 1 month free, comparable plan is $109/ month.

I’d never heard of Now until recently and most of the info below seems to be old, there is some mention of high latency offshore (which wouldn’t be ideal for gaming) but not sure if this is still relevant. Is anyone on this plan from Now who can chime in?
Or better yet, could anyone comment on how it is likely to compare to Bigpipe?

wratterus

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#2766916 26-Aug-2021 11:25

I'd recommend jumping to Skinny. They have 3 months free at the moment on a 12 month contract, free modem/router too. Still using Spark's network so you have a proper external IP (not static though).

Can't really comment on Now, but wouldn't go there myself.

nztim

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TEAMnetwork

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#2766920 26-Aug-2021 11:27

Now has the best local service, excellent peering, but seem to lack international bandwidth, with a lot of stuff on local CDNs that's not an issue but if you are using various technologies to stream overseas it may buffer

For Seinors I always point them into the direction of NOW as they need more hand holding

EDIT: they use CG-NAT so you need to pay for a static IP if that is an issue

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

chevrolux

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#2766926 26-Aug-2021 11:40

Does Now still run their own network?? I thought Spark bought them a while back...

Edit: No my bad, Spark just bought some shares in Now. I'd still say that's a fairly good indicator they are probably quite a good ISP.

ShaggyMop

16 posts

Geek

#2767044 26-Aug-2021 15:16

We haven’t had to contact bigpipe for literally years, except for moving house, so hand holding isn’t of much value to us - this was more that it looked like a good deal as an upgrade to our basic fibre plan.

Will look into skinny.

I’m not sure what cg-Nat is, would it affect Xbox live gaming Nat? Is the international bandwidth likely to be an issue for gaming etc?

Really we just use it for browsing, work (particularly at the moment), streaming HD Netflix, Disney etc. and gaming on Xbox live. Getting better upload speeds for work and gaming is probably the main motivator, but we have noticed YouTube and Netflix have increasingly been chopping and changing between SD and HD which I’d hope a faster download speed would help with.

nztim

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#2767056 26-Aug-2021 15:33

ShaggyMop: but we have noticed YouTube and Netflix have increasingly been chopping and changing between SD and HD which I’d hope a faster download speed would help with.

This will 100% be your internal network 100mbps is ample back to the usual questions, are you on ethernet? or are you trying this over Wifi?

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

michaelmurfy

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#2767059 26-Aug-2021 15:35

It doesn't sound like you really need a Static / Public IP. Your Xbox will still function fine also.

Also look at 2degrees as they have a pretty good deal on right now especially if you have mobile with them.

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ShaggyMop

16 posts

Geek

#2767066 26-Aug-2021 15:48

nztim:
ShaggyMop: but we have noticed YouTube and Netflix have increasingly been chopping and changing between SD and HD which I’d hope a faster download speed would help with.

This will 100% be your internal network 100mbps is ample back to the usual questions, are you on ethernet? or are you trying this over Wifi?

Mostly wifi via 2x airport extremes. The speed seems to test ok at about 100 on speedtest.net and about 17 up.

Keen to get better upload for gaming and thought downstream might also be less spotty, but perhaps I need to get off my butt and run cat 6 under the house as well - I’ve got cable and connectors just haven’t had time yet.

ShaggyMop

16 posts

Geek

#2767068 26-Aug-2021 15:53

michaelmurfy:
It doesn't sound like you really need a Static / Public IP. Your Xbox will still function fine also.

Also look at 2degrees as they have a pretty good deal on right now especially if you have mobile with them.

The skinny deal is basically the same as Now so if they have a better rep I’ll go with them.
2 degrees isn’t miles off and includes prime video which is a nice bonus, will go have a look at both those sections of the forum

dryburn

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#2767110 26-Aug-2021 16:37

For 2degrees rates

From cheapies: https://www.cheapies.nz/node/29168

"Without any plans it comes to $90/ month without credit. With $150 credit it comes to $77.5/month."