Spark Fibre 200 with Landline (Voip)

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302 posts

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#1314262 29-May-2015 17:47

GregV: Yeah - definitely some teething issues. Took me much longer than expected, but I now have internet and phone coming off the fibre. As soon as I could authenticate with and complete the Downer online form, things happened as and when they should (there was still an issue with the cordless phone offer, but that was resolved by cbrpilot on here). Plan changed, and voice was cutover on the day/time agreed.

I'll give it another go moving parents over to FibreLL solely using the online process. Hopefully it is smooth sailing.

Thx Greg - wish they had directed me to this URL on 5th May.....

https://k2.downer.co.nz/runtime/runtime/form/sparkfibretransferloginform

hobsonlea

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#1317407 4-Jun-2015 14:17

hobsonlea:
hobsonlea:
GregV: Moving from Fibre30 to Fibre100+LL, and it has been a slow process. I understand that there were new things for the CSRs to learn, but my order placed over the phone on the 5th - launch day - was actually cancelled with no notification to me. It was only when I contacted Spark to see how the plan change was going that I was told about the cancellation. Resubmitted on Tuesday, and I now have a reference number, so fingers crossed.

How long should it take to do the plan change, and VoIP cutover (no wiring visit required)?

I had exactly the same issue - ordered on 5th May, on 6th got email saying new modem on way, modem arrived a day later, but then it went quiet... I managed to find the original ref no,- only when I rang up on the 12th to find out status, did they tell me there was an issue - that they needed to stop the copper and move me to VOIP and had cancelled the order. Eventually got a new Ref number for the job ... still no action as of 20/5 - I asked for update and was told "it is still in our (Spark) system and then the handover to Chorus will take 5-10 days ... they continue to insist I need a technician onsite.. the ONT is next to the existing main RJ45 outlet - where the one Cordless base station sits.. sigh....

Pete

Sigh a number of more interactions with Spark.... Seems my
1 order / 2 modem arrived / 3 delay / 4 sorry its wrong order needs to be re-entered correctly / 5 new order / 6 new promises new dates... / 6 DECT Phone eventually arrived after a couple of calls .. / 7 sorry wait anther 5-10 days then we can pass over to chorus... / 8 so called today / 9 sorry wrong order in system - seems I need to do the order online / this generates the sending of the modem (already here...) and this generates the sending of the DECT Phone (here) and this generates the booking of Downer for the switchover to occur...

which is now scheduled for one month after the order was placed accepted... crikey it shouldnt have to be this hard... I must have spoken to >10 people and had >10 Chat sessions and about 10 emails.... sigh.. so 5th June supposedly something happens in a switch somewhere - and I move my Phone to the ONT port and 200Mbs will pour down my new speedy Fibre Connection...

Ok - so I now have two Gigabit Router/Modems... and Two DECT Phones.. sigh..

Today 4th our Fibre connection went offline - after call to 123 it seems Chorus has taken down my Fibre connection in prep for the upgrade tomorrow... I cant understand why they would so this, certainly not without advance warning - what a poor poor service from Spark / Chorus.. How can they make money with quality of service like this...

wasabi2k

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#1317424 4-Jun-2015 15:22

Just filled out form for Fibre 100 to new plan, $30 a month cheaper.

No mention of DECT handset at all which is a shame, could use a new one.

Now have to get our alarm cutover to GSM.

HamishO

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#1317426 4-Jun-2015 15:27

I called our alarm company about switching to a fibre based landline. Apparently our alarm is too old to work with those IP modules, and we would need to replace $800 worth of parts. Needles to say I'll stick with copper! At least we get to keep out 50Mb/s uplink now.

maxeon

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#1317427 4-Jun-2015 15:32

HamishO: I called our alarm company about switching to a fibre based landline. Apparently our alarm is too old to work with those IP modules, and we would need to replace $800 worth of parts. Needles to say I'll stick with copper! At least we get to keep out 50Mb/s uplink now.

^^ That is interesting. I was hoping my existing landline ports will work when we switch to Fibre Landline? So I can continue using my existing Cordless phones.
I read somewhere Chorus / Spark charge a one-off fee to feed back the wire into the Central Jack so it livens up all the existing ports in the house?

Anyway ..

I am staying away from changing my current Plan till these teething issues are resolved. I am happy with my 100/50 unlimited with copper landline for now, although paying a bit more.

tdgeek

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#1317439 4-Jun-2015 16:05

maxeon:
HamishO: I called our alarm company about switching to a fibre based landline. Apparently our alarm is too old to work with those IP modules, and we would need to replace $800 worth of parts. Needles to say I'll stick with copper! At least we get to keep out 50Mb/s uplink now.

^^ That is interesting. I was hoping my existing landline ports will work when we switch to Fibre Landline? So I can continue using my existing Cordless phones.
I read somewhere Chorus / Spark charge a one-off fee to feed back the wire into the Central Jack so it livens up all the existing ports in the house?

Anyway ..

I am staying away from changing my current Plan till these teething issues are resolved. I am happy with my 100/50 unlimited with copper landline for now, although paying a bit more.

There is no teething issue for that function, its quite clear.

Next to the ONT is a white box, these have been installed in recent months prior to Spark's VoF capability. It is an ATA termination.

You can use one jackpoint for your cordless phone, etc. When the installer changes you to VoF, or you are a new connection to VoF, you do what is effectively a free self install, connect your phone to the ATA jack on the ONT. Easy, no charge.

Or, if you want your existing jackpoints to be useable, the charge is $49 and the network company installer will connect your jackpoint network to that white box, thereby integrating all the jacks to fibre. Good time to also say "dont worry about that jack, but can you liven up this one that was turned off years ago" As the installer will take care of that at the ETP, the plastic box outside the house.

The solution we use means you can use normal phones, etc, you do not need a special phone. There should be no compatibility issues, including permanently wired alarms. To all the devices its still behaving like a standard copper jackpoint.

Hope that helps

maxeon

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#1317451 4-Jun-2015 16:42

tdgeek:
maxeon:
HamishO: I called our alarm company about switching to a fibre based landline. Apparently our alarm is too old to work with those IP modules, and we would need to replace $800 worth of parts. Needles to say I'll stick with copper! At least we get to keep out 50Mb/s uplink now.

^^ That is interesting. I was hoping my existing landline ports will work when we switch to Fibre Landline? So I can continue using my existing Cordless phones.
I read somewhere Chorus / Spark charge a one-off fee to feed back the wire into the Central Jack so it livens up all the existing ports in the house?

Anyway ..

I am staying away from changing my current Plan till these teething issues are resolved. I am happy with my 100/50 unlimited with copper landline for now, although paying a bit more.

There is no teething issue for that function, its quite clear.

Next to the ONT is a white box, these have been installed in recent months prior to Spark's VoF capability. It is an ATA termination.

You can use one jackpoint for your cordless phone, etc. When the installer changes you to VoF, or you are a new connection to VoF, you do what is effectively a free self install, connect your phone to the ATA jack on the ONT. Easy, no charge.

Or, if you want your existing jackpoints to be useable, the charge is $49 and the network company installer will connect your jackpoint network to that white box, thereby integrating all the jacks to fibre. Good time to also say "dont worry about that jack, but can you liven up this one that was turned off years ago" As the installer will take care of that at the ETP, the plastic box outside the house.

The solution we use means you can use normal phones, etc, you do not need a special phone. There should be no compatibility issues, including permanently wired alarms. To all the devices its still behaving like a standard copper jackpoint.

Hope that helps

Cool, that gives a lot of clarity how the VoF setup works.
I will wait for my billing cycle to trigger an invoice (New Fibre connection from ADSL) and then initiate the plan change from 100/50 copper to 200/20 VoF.

Two Questions ..

You said "Next to the ONT is a white box" - there is no White Box for me, there is ONT and then there is a Ethernet cable connecting from ONT to my Modem supplied by Spark (Gigabit model).

My ETP is downstairs (outside) and ONT is upstairs (inside) near the patch panel, does the $49 charge cover the costs of wiring it back? I suppose I can just plug in my Cordless near my ONT and can survive as well.

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Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

tdgeek

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#1317465 4-Jun-2015 17:14

maxeon:
tdgeek:
maxeon:
HamishO: I called our alarm company about switching to a fibre based landline. Apparently our alarm is too old to work with those IP modules, and we would need to replace $800 worth of parts. Needles to say I'll stick with copper! At least we get to keep out 50Mb/s uplink now.

^^ That is interesting. I was hoping my existing landline ports will work when we switch to Fibre Landline? So I can continue using my existing Cordless phones.
I read somewhere Chorus / Spark charge a one-off fee to feed back the wire into the Central Jack so it livens up all the existing ports in the house?

Anyway ..

I am staying away from changing my current Plan till these teething issues are resolved. I am happy with my 100/50 unlimited with copper landline for now, although paying a bit more.

There is no teething issue for that function, its quite clear.

Next to the ONT is a white box, these have been installed in recent months prior to Spark's VoF capability. It is an ATA termination.

You can use one jackpoint for your cordless phone, etc. When the installer changes you to VoF, or you are a new connection to VoF, you do what is effectively a free self install, connect your phone to the ATA jack on the ONT. Easy, no charge.

Or, if you want your existing jackpoints to be useable, the charge is $49 and the network company installer will connect your jackpoint network to that white box, thereby integrating all the jacks to fibre. Good time to also say "dont worry about that jack, but can you liven up this one that was turned off years ago" As the installer will take care of that at the ETP, the plastic box outside the house.

The solution we use means you can use normal phones, etc, you do not need a special phone. There should be no compatibility issues, including permanently wired alarms. To all the devices its still behaving like a standard copper jackpoint.

Hope that helps

Cool, that gives a lot of clarity how the VoF setup works.
I will wait for my billing cycle to trigger an invoice (New Fibre connection from ADSL) and then initiate the plan change from 100/50 copper to 200/20 VoF.

Two Questions ..

You said "Next to the ONT is a white box" - there is no White Box for me, there is ONT and then there is a Ethernet cable connecting from ONT to my Modem supplied by Spark (Gigabit model).

My ETP is downstairs (outside) and ONT is upstairs (inside) near the patch panel, does the $49 charge cover the costs of wiring it back? I suppose I can just plug in my Cordless near my ONT and can survive as well.

If you had fibre connected a while back, there wont be a white box near to the ONT, only recent connections. When it was known how the VoF will be designed, it was added then. If you haven't got one and you go from voice over copper to VoF, the installer will add the white box. Near. Mine is around 200mm. Could be closer or further away, depending what suits.

The $49 is solely for integration. If you don't integrate, the white box does nothing, the ATA cable from the ONT to the white box, does nothing. Integration will join the jackpoints to that white box, which connects to the ONT, so you can use the ONT ATA jackpoint.

Someone else here will know, but if you want integration, the white box either connects to any other jackpoint (to join the jackpoint network) OR it has to be run to the ETP. I assume the former but I don't know. In my case I have a Sky jackpoint next to the ONT, maybe thats a 5 minute job. Others will entail running cable from outside ETP into the house which would be the same route as the fibre. Either way, the $49 will allow you to have two or more of your jackpoints active. How much hassle that is for the installer is his problem, as with all jobs like this, swings and roundabouts.

maxeon

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#1317466 4-Jun-2015 17:23

tdgeek:
If you had fibre connected a while back, there wont be a white box near to the ONT, only recent connections. When it was known how the VoF will be designed, it was added then. If you haven't got one and you go from voice over copper to VoF, the installer will add the white box. Near. Mine is around 200mm. Could be closer or further away, depending what suits.

The $49 is solely for integration. If you don't integrate, the white box does nothing, the ATA cable from the ONT to the white box, does nothing. Integration will join the jackpoints to that white box, which connects to the ONT, so you can use the ONT ATA jackpoint.

Someone else here will know, but if you want integration, the white box either connects to any other jackpoint (to join the jackpoint network) OR it has to be run to the ETP. I assume the former but I don't know. In my case I have a Sky jackpoint next to the ONT, maybe thats a 5 minute job. Others will entail running cable from outside ETP into the house which would be the same route as the fibre. Either way, the $49 will allow you to have two or more of your jackpoints active. How much hassle that is for the installer is his problem, as with all jobs like this, swings and roundabouts.

Thanks for the above. It is now a lot clear. I might not even need a white box beside the ONT if the Integration is not required.

wasabi2k

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#1317475 4-Jun-2015 17:53

HamishO: I called our alarm company about switching to a fibre based landline. Apparently our alarm is too old to work with those IP modules, and we would need to replace $800 worth of parts. Needles to say I'll stick with copper! At least we get to keep out 50Mb/s uplink now.

Kiwi Alarms quoted me $200 for a GSM module - which is supposedly universal, $800 sounds like a rip.

Does anyone know how you reschedule a booking? Can you just call 123?

Sred

73 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 17

#1317477 4-Jun-2015 17:53

Today 4th our Fibre connection went offline - after call to 123 it seems Chorus has taken down my Fibre connection in prep for the upgrade tomorrow... I cant understand why they would so this, certainly not without advance warning - what a poor poor service from Spark / Chorus.. How can they make money with quality of service like this...

same thing just happened to me, have had no fibre for 24 hours as suspected chorus switched off fibre prior to speed upgrade NEXT WEEK!!! just got home from work and fibre back on at 100/20 as im still should be on 30/10 till next monday

at lleast the new phones arrived yeaterday but no sign of the new gateway/modem/router on wait for call back as fibre faults coudnt see the order for the new modem,
when i was ordering the guy reckoned that huawai 630 modem is better than my gigabit netcomm router and my apple airport extreme with AC wireless and i couldnt upgrade to the 959? with the gigabit ports

seems like still teething problems between spark and chorus and its the customer who is suffering.

Sred

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Master Geek
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#1317492 4-Jun-2015 18:36

was on hold so long battery went flat, don't suppose they going to call back

Sred

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#1317504 4-Jun-2015 19:13

well nearly 2 hours later the switch to 100 + LL has been cancelled as spark and chorus dont have a clue and am sticking with 30/10 and phone over copper

HamishO

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#1317505 4-Jun-2015 19:18

My alarm seems quite old and is certainly quite failure prone, hence I am totally understanding as to why one of those IP modules (that either connects the to a mobile network or your router) is no compatible. It is apparently due to a feature called 'Contact ID' being missing from my alarm. When the alarm next fails it may need replacement anyway so we will probably switch to IP then.

I was told in no uncertain terms that my alarm would NOT work over VoIP. My understanding from talking to the technician is that the ATA unit would not correct packetise the alarm signals every time. He said only about 1 in 50 signals from my alarm model would get through.

Others may have POTS alarms that do work better over VoIP, and certainly many people can just get one of those $200 IP modules to solve their problem. I did note that Matrix Security also mentioned an addition $8 a month for IP monitoring (I'm not sure if that was just the GSM version though) - that did sound like a bit of a rip to me, but it doesnt matter given I'm not going to do it anyway.

So for me to switch to a fibre landline (or go naked) it would cost at least $1k up front, require 2 installers to come over (Spark/Downers + Matrix Security), stop our phone from working in power cuts (unless the alarm powered the ONT and router) and reduce my upload bandwidth by more than half - all to save a mere $22, maybe $30 a month!

I'm just glad I don't live in Australia where copper lines are cut off a year after fibre is installed. Even $200 for an IP module (and that doesn't include installation) is a lot of money just to switch to Fibre now without ordering two separate plans. A lot of people don't even realise how much better their crappy ADSL broadband can be, and this doesn't help people switch over.

BarTender

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#1317581 4-Jun-2015 21:10

HamishO: My alarm seems quite old and is certainly quite failure prone, hence I am totally understanding as to why one of those IP modules (that either connects the to a mobile network or your router) is no compatible. It is apparently due to a feature called 'Contact ID' being missing from my alarm. When the alarm next fails it may need replacement anyway so we will probably switch to IP then.

I was told in no uncertain terms that my alarm would NOT work over VoIP. My understanding from talking to the technician is that the ATA unit would not correct packetise the alarm signals every time. He said only about 1 in 50 signals from my alarm model would get through.

Others may have POTS alarms that do work better over VoIP, and certainly many people can just get one of those $200 IP modules to solve their problem. I did note that Matrix Security also mentioned an addition $8 a month for IP monitoring (I'm not sure if that was just the GSM version though) - that did sound like a bit of a rip to me, but it doesnt matter given I'm not going to do it anyway.

So for me to switch to a fibre landline (or go naked) it would cost at least $1k up front, require 2 installers to come over (Spark/Downers + Matrix Security), stop our phone from working in power cuts (unless the alarm powered the ONT and router) and reduce my upload bandwidth by more than half - all to save a mere $22, maybe $30 a month!

I'm just glad I don't live in Australia where copper lines are cut off a year after fibre is installed. Even $200 for an IP module (and that doesn't include installation) is a lot of money just to switch to Fibre now without ordering two separate plans. A lot of people don't even realise how much better their crappy ADSL broadband can be, and this doesn't help people switch over.

Just be glad you're not getting water, power or gas connected to your house like un-subsidised Fibre installs. Since then you would be up for a $8k+ bill for getting any of that connected. I remember when I moved the power meter from one part of my house to an external box. There wasn't much change in 2k when I did that.

I comparison $200 sounds pretty reasonable to me. So it all needs to be taken in context really.

In regards to your alarm not working over VoIP. I personally find that quite surprising. Talking with a lot of the guys who did the testing, a whole raft of devices were tested and very few had issues that couldn't be sorted by reconfiguration of the device. To me that raises questions about how robust your alarm is in the first place and if it's even worth having monitored?

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