Hi All,

I have a friend living in the Mangatangi area on the eastern side of the Hunua Ranges.

He is currently using a satellite based ISP which is rather expensive and apparently not that reliable.

A neighbour has ADSL - apparently fibre runs as far as the Mangatawhiri School, which is 5km away and then the neighbour has ADSL via copper from the school.   

My friend has been pondering as to whether there is some means by which he could set up a trial with Spark to see if there was some way he could see if ADSL would get him a better internet service than what he is already getting.

My suggestion was that he simply sign up for a no-term plan which he could terminate at any stage and see how ADSL works for him.   My feeling is that it would be slower than the satellite based service he's currently got, but may be more consistent.   

He's spoken to the major telco's who can't provide any details as to when cellular rural broadband may become available.

Would anyone here have other ideas as to how to "trial" ADSL apart from simply signing up and seeing "how it goes"?  Is there any other methodology by which the line could be tested for potential speeds?

Cheers

Darryn