weird advice: about unlimited data on broadband, and chromecast with mobile

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › weird advice: about unlimited data on broadband, and chromecast with mobile

jlittle

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#236462 3-Jun-2018 21:46

Got a call from a friend who is not very technical, and I don't understand what she's been told by Spark.

She's had an issue with going over a broadband monthly data cap (on copper). Mostly Netflix on her TV with a chromecast. So, she asked to move to an unlimited plan, and was told sorry, your router can't do unlimited. What? Can anyone explain how that might be so?

So, they sold her an unlimited mobile plan for her phone; no tethering allowed, but she "can do Netflix by mirroring from her phone". What? Can anyone explain how she could mirror to the chromecast while using mobile internet? The broadband connection is still running, for other uses.

Now, in principle, the wifi router could be disconnected from the internet, and the android phone set (via developer options) to keep the mobile connection going while on wifi, and so serve internet to the chromecast, but I'm very sceptical about that. Or does the Netflix app have some magic she hasn't found; if the phone is on the wifi, mobile data is not used, and if not, the cast button is not there.

Jase2985

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#2028020 3-Jun-2018 22:02

something doesnt sound right there

firefuze

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#2028021 3-Jun-2018 22:04

I know you mentioned they are on copper, but is that confirmed? Its just that for a rep to say you cant get unlimited, it would imply your friend actually has fixed wireless (4G/LTE) connection which is only offered up to 120GB/240GB

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#2028032 3-Jun-2018 22:32

You are speaking about 2 different things here mobile data and fixed line (broadband) delivered over copper

They should have unlimited over the home broadband copper connection not the mobile connection that actually has a cap of 22GB then slowed down after the cap is exceeded

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#2028044 3-Jun-2018 22:59

Spark website says there's an unlimited copper plan, $94.99/month. If she feels the advice given was wrong (and I think the rep was pushing for fixed mobile broadband) then she should call Spark and lodge a formal complain and ask for a proper plan to be put in place.

The router itself has no limits. It depends on the plan.

richms

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#2028055 4-Jun-2018 00:54

You can mirror an android phone (well most of them) to a miracast stick. The chromecasts do not do that, they work by going on wifi and then pulling the stream directly. Miracast has the phone send the contents of the screen and audio over wifi direct to a cheap reciever that normally looks similar to a chromecast.

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Kiwifruta

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#2028059 4-Jun-2018 06:11

richms:
You can mirror an android phone (well most of them) to a miracast stick. The chromecasts do not do that, they work by going on wifi and then pulling the stream directly. Miracast has the phone send the contents of the screen and audio over wifi direct to a cheap reciever that normally looks similar to a chromecast.

Chromecasts can do this too.

Jase2985

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#2028081 4-Jun-2018 07:48

Kiwifruta:
richms:
You can mirror an android phone (well most of them) to a miracast stick. The chromecasts do not do that, they work by going on wifi and then pulling the stream directly. Miracast has the phone send the contents of the screen and audio over wifi direct to a cheap reciever that normally looks similar to a chromecast.

Chromecasts can do this too.

@Kiwifruta

could you please explain how yo cast to your chrome cast without a wifi connection please

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chevrolux

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#2028167 4-Jun-2018 10:22

Sounds to me like the Spark employee pushing their mobile network over fixed line services.
I'm guessing the keywords they look for are copper, slow, need more data..... "OK cool, we can give you an unlimited mobile plan"

hio77

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#2028169 4-Jun-2018 10:34

Sounds like there has been a bit of confusion..

We certainly do copper unlimited, there is no modem requirement there.
Is it possible the discussion included a move from adsl to vdsl? This would likely require a new modem.

Most mobiles won't use cell data while attached to a wifi network. Which is required for casting last i checked...

Hard to really comment based on third person feedback, but i feel like there is more to the story.

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jlittle

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#2028197 4-Jun-2018 12:02

firefuze:

I know you mentioned they are on copper, but is that confirmed? Its just that for a rep to say you cant get unlimited, it would imply your friend actually has fixed wireless (4G/LTE) connection which is only offered up to 120GB/240GB

That makes sense. The report of copper came through someone else.

jlittle

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#2028199 4-Jun-2018 12:16

Jase2985:
Kiwifruta:
richms:

You can mirror an android phone (well most of them) to a miracast stick. The chromecasts do not do that, they work by going on wifi and then pulling the stream directly. Miracast has the phone send the contents of the screen and audio over wifi direct to a cheap reciever that normally looks similar to a chromecast.

Chromecasts can do this too.
@Kiwifruta could you please explain how yo cast to your chrome cast without a wifi connection please

This is the essence of the second part of my question. Normally the chromecast connects to the wifi, but to set it up initially your phone connects to it; so the hardware can do it. But I don't know how.

hio77: Sounds like there has been a bit of confusion..

Sorry, my post implied my confusion at least. Maybe I could have made that plainer.

We certainly do copper unlimited, there is no modem requirement there.
Is it possible the discussion included a move from adsl to vdsl? This would likely require a new modem.

Would there be a cost to move to VDSL with Spark? The Chorus address checker says VDSL is available, fibre scheduled for January 2019. Perhaps the install of the fixed wireless (4G/LTE) connection, if indeed that's the case, has a contract term.

hio77

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#2028205 4-Jun-2018 12:30

jlittle:
hio77: Sounds like there has been a bit of confusion..

Sorry, my post implied my confusion at least. Maybe I could have made that plainer.

We certainly do copper unlimited, there is no modem requirement there.
Is it possible the discussion included a move from adsl to vdsl? This would likely require a new modem.

Would there be a cost to move to VDSL with Spark? The Chorus address checker says VDSL is available, fibre scheduled for January 2019. Perhaps the install of the fixed wireless (4G/LTE) connection, if indeed that's the case, has a contract term.

Highly suspect the offer of wireless was being offered :)

For vdsl. A cost could be there if going non contact. Especially if a modem is required.

Personally I'd go vdsl now, contract. Free modem. Would be the hg659b and you will be ready with a modem for fibre!

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.