Anyone using Skinny Wireless broadband? Any good?

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Anyone using Skinny Wireless broadband? Any good?

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catspyjamas

188 posts

Master Geek

#2185745 23-Feb-2019 10:18

I'm using Skinny 4G with the B618s modem. The cell tower is only 100 metres from me, so my reception is pretty stella.

I find it good. It is faster than ADSL2+ the majority of the time, but in peak times (from early to late evening and right through the weekend) it can sometimes be equivalent to and occasionally even lower than I would get with ADSL2+ due to network congestion. The best speeds I've managed on speedtest.net are 85mbps down and 45mbps up, but when it's congested I've gone as low as 2mbps down - not joking!! Fortunately this is very rare. Most of the time I get better speeds than ADSL2+, but not hugely.

I've not tried it, but a family member with Skinny 4G says he can't connect with a VPN when using wireless 4G, but he can on ADSL. He also said he notices a bit of latency and packet loss with 4G, which affects gaming. I'm not a gamer so this isn't an issue for me. Honestly if you have a decent VDSL connection, I'd stick with that, but like someone else said you can always try 4G and if it doesn't suit, must return the modem within 30 days.

nzlogan

77 posts

Master Geek

ID Verified

#2185762 23-Feb-2019 10:51

hio77:

Very Nice. i'd put them at about 1.5KM from the tower?

Yep, 1.8km. Also in a small beach town with a population of ~1600 so probably not much congestion either.

Scott3

3970 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2186073 23-Feb-2019 21:49

It really nice that fixed cellular data with workable data caps has become a feasible option in the last few years. Great option to have on the table (especially for those in CBD apartment buildings that insist on overpriced data being purchased from the building, and preventing installs of xDSL & Fiber).

I am also in Parnell, and plugged my address into the skinny web-page. Interesting things I found:

Modems for 60Gb and 120Gb plans differ from the modem for the 240Gb plan (but they charge the same fee of $99 to purchase them).
My area has the 60Gb and 120Gb plans available, but NOT the 240Gb plan.

I don't know what plans OP is looking at, but I just crunched the numbers on annual cost for the first year of skinny 4G to compare against 2 degrees fiber. I have corrected for skinny "30 day" month (WTF guys a month means a calendar month) for 4G (they use calender month for fiber), and modem purchase. I have included 2 degrees signing bonus, and shipping fee for free (rented) router)

Cost of first year:

Skinny 4G 120gb open term: (49/30)*365.4+99 = $695.82

Skinny 4G 420gb open term: (59/30)*365.4+99 = $817.62

Skinny Fiber 30/10 unlimited, 12mth term = 73*12 = $876

2 degrees UFB 100/20, 12mt term: = 85*12+12-200 = $835 (or $715 if you have a pay monthly cell phone plan with them)

Given the relatively similar first year pricing (especially between the 2degrees 100/20), I would recommend signing up for a year of fiber, and re-evaluating after that. Main reason is to get fiber installed now while installs are free. There is a fund for free installs (that are worth $700+) that will run out at some point (if the government doesn't top it up with more taxpayer money). Not having any need to worry about consumption due to unlimited plan is nice too.

Regarding performance, just ran the google speed test (9:32pm sunday) on a Samsung S8 connected to skinny 4G in Parnell. 17.4mbps down, 1.99mbps up, 72ms ping. My 2 degrees fiber connection on a hardwired laptop gets 2 - 3ms ping on the same test. (speeds generally meet what is advertised for the non gig UFB plans).

I'm not a gamer, but my understanding is that 70ms of ping has an impact (especially if it is added on to a ping due to server location).

As a side note, when I was overseas, we were using on a 4g modem for internet. In that house (concrete), the location of the modem had a big impact on speed. Window sill would gain 10 odd mbps over having it on a side table just below.

Hiamie

354 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2187548 26-Feb-2019 13:39

Thank you everyone for the replies.Some are very detailed and all are informative. Thank you.

It seems there are mixed responses. However, on balance, I think I will go down the fiber path, particularly whilst the installs are free, and the performance is more guaranteed.

Again, thanks everyone that took the trouble to respond.

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