Spark Tivo Unmetered data ending on the 30th June

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Spark Tivo Unmetered data ending on the 30th June - which ISP it switch to?

mattwnz

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#173699 2-Jun-2015 13:29

I presume most of you have now got the letter from Spark that the unmetered data is ending at the end of this month. So what are affected people going to chose to do, or who are people going to switch to? For my home I am looking at just a normal phone line and 'unlimited' data, with an easy switch, so looking at the best deal on price?

Anyone got any suggestions. VF is probably out, because I do want reasonable support when needed, so don't want to be on hold for hours.

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#1316193 2-Jun-2015 13:44

Spark unlimited isn't that expensive now

mattwnz

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#1316196 2-Jun-2015 13:51

DarkShadow: Spark unlimited isn't that expensive now

It is quite a bit more than other providers are charging though. Just a quick search and you can get nearly the same deal with Now Internet for $85 per month, which looks to be 15-20% less. Spark did also put up their pricing a few months ago. Sparkare also offering $110 credits to new customers(not exisiting ones), which means that they don't really want my custom as an existing customer, so I would be better to move.

kobiak

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#1316201 2-Jun-2015 13:59

bigpipe.. is spark's low-cost solution for geeks :) unlimited plans from $69 and no contracts.

helping others at evgenyk.nz

trig42

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#1316214 2-Jun-2015 14:15

Want support - Spark or Snap
Can DIY - Bigpipe.

My 2c.

mattwnz

20149 posts

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#1316218 2-Jun-2015 14:19

kobiak: bigpipe.. is spark's low-cost solution for geeks :) unlimited plans from $69 and no contracts.

Thanks, I forgot about bigpipe, they may suit me better. I have just had fibre installed on the street, so that also opens up my options, so the timing of this is quite good. I don't think sparks support is that great these days, as they subcontract out support offshore, so it is difficult to understand the people on the other end of the phone.

lxsw20

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#1316220 2-Jun-2015 14:21

BigPipe don't offer a phone option. IME Spark support is fine to deal with.

If you want a phone line, good service and good internet then IMO your options are Snap or Spark.

Wheelbarrow01

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Chorus

#1316223 2-Jun-2015 14:24

mattwnz:
kobiak: bigpipe.. is spark's low-cost solution for geeks :) unlimited plans from $69 and no contracts.

I don't think sparks support is that great these days, as they subcontract out support offshore, so it is difficult to understand the people on the other end of the phone.

That's not entirely accurate - While some of our phone support staff are located overseas, there are still quite a number located in Auckland, Hamilton and Christchurch, and it is luck of the draw (as well as the time of day) that determines where your call gets connected to.

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Jaxson

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#1316244 2-Jun-2015 14:37

What data are you getting though that it's worth changing providers for?

The EPG data is minimal, so it's only an issue if you're using one of the addon features, now provided by I don't know who.

Freeview itself is free.

Changing because of TIVO just doesn't make a lot of sense to me?

mattwnz

20149 posts

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#1316258 2-Jun-2015 14:53

Jaxson: What data are you getting though that it's worth changing providers for?

The EPG data is minimal, so it's only an issue if you're using one of the addon features, now provided by I don't know who.

Freeview itself is free.

Changing because of TIVO just doesn't make a lot of sense to me?

That is the thing, I don't know how much data I am using, as the letter doesn't give any details, and their meter is disabled. But I would be moving solely based on being able to save $15- $20 or so dollars a month if I were to remain with Spark, which over a year is a few hundred dollars. But by the looks of it I would expect that I would need unlimited data. The other thing I have noticed with Spark, but it may also be affecting other ISPs, is slower internet during the later afternoons and evenings. But that is likely the Netflix/lightbox effect.Then there is the incentives that ISPs offer new customers such as the first few months free etc, which are additional savings over a year.

Anyone got any opinions on Now Internet? They look like a small regional ISP, and I have heard they were previously Airnet? which I have in the past heard good things about. However their broadband checker on their website is broken, which isn't the best sign.

mattwnz

20149 posts

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#1316263 2-Jun-2015 14:56

Wheelbarrow01:
mattwnz:
kobiak: bigpipe.. is spark's low-cost solution for geeks :) unlimited plans from $69 and no contracts.

I don't think sparks support is that great these days, as they subcontract out support offshore, so it is difficult to understand the people on the other end of the phone.

That's not entirely accurate - While some of our phone support staff are located overseas, there are still quite a number located in Auckland, Hamilton and Christchurch, and it is luck of the draw (as well as the time of day) that determines where your call gets connected to.

That is based on my experience whenever I have phoned up, it has always appears to have gone offshore. Although I guess it maybe someone based in NZ where English isn't their first language.

mattwnz

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#1316519 3-Jun-2015 00:22

Just had a look at snaps pricing as per someone's recommendation above, and their prices look quite high, and their early termination rates for the 1st 12 months, of a 24 month contract are nearly $500, which is off putting to see.

I must admit that comparing ISPps is a pretty complex task, and no ISP seems to have all the information available such as wiring fees, price for caller display etc. I am preparing a table to compare the prices, because one ISP that I thought was cheap charge an extra $5 to rent the modem which you never end up buying, so there are lots of little hidden fees. It is far more complex than when I last looked for an ISP.

Still trying to decide whether I should go UFB, as I will likely be moving to a non UFB address in the next 6 months, and don't want to get stung with an early termination fee.

I thought vodafones pricing looked pretty good, but due to my address being in a cable areas, as well as a UFB area, they won't give me the ADSL option which is annoying.

At this stage, Myrepublic looks to be the best option as a UFB connection, solely based on bang for buck. Bigpipe would be the better option, but it doesn't do my UFB area, as it says it only does 30% of Auckland at the moment.

DarkShadow

1647 posts

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#1316542 3-Jun-2015 06:41

Bigpipe does Wellington too.

Batman

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#1319001 7-Jun-2015 22:57

mattwnz: Just had a look at snaps pricing as per someone's recommendation above, and their prices look quite high, and their early termination rates for the 1st 12 months, of a 24 month contract are nearly $500, which is off putting to see.

I must admit that comparing ISPps is a pretty complex task, and no ISP seems to have all the information available such as wiring fees, price for caller display etc. I am preparing a table to compare the prices, because one ISP that I thought was cheap charge an extra $5 to rent the modem which you never end up buying, so there are lots of little hidden fees. It is far more complex than when I last looked for an ISP.

Still trying to decide whether I should go UFB, as I will likely be moving to a non UFB address in the next 6 months, and don't want to get stung with an early termination fee.

I thought vodafones pricing looked pretty good, but due to my address being in a cable areas, as well as a UFB area, they won't give me the ADSL option which is annoying.

At this stage, Myrepublic looks to be the best option as a UFB connection, solely based on bang for buck. Bigpipe would be the better option, but it doesn't do my UFB area, as it says it only does 30% of Auckland at the moment.

no point applying for UFB ... by the time you are connected ... time to move!

lxsw20

3552 posts

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#1319003 7-Jun-2015 23:12

mattwnz: Just had a look at snaps pricing as per someone's recommendation above, and their prices look quite high, and their early termination rates for the 1st 12 months, of a 24 month contract are nearly $500, which is off putting to see.

I must admit that comparing ISPps is a pretty complex task, and no ISP seems to have all the information available such as wiring fees, price for caller display etc. I am preparing a table to compare the prices, because one ISP that I thought was cheap charge an extra $5 to rent the modem which you never end up buying, so there are lots of little hidden fees. It is far more complex than when I last looked for an ISP.

Still trying to decide whether I should go UFB, as I will likely be moving to a non UFB address in the next 6 months, and don't want to get stung with an early termination fee.

I thought vodafones pricing looked pretty good, but due to my address being in a cable areas, as well as a UFB area, they won't give me the ADSL option which is annoying.

At this stage, Myrepublic looks to be the best option as a UFB connection, solely based on bang for buck. Bigpipe would be the better option, but it doesn't do my UFB area, as it says it only does 30% of Auckland at the moment.

Snap do no contract term for $99 sign up. Provide your own Router (not supported but works).

michaelmurfy

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#1319004 7-Jun-2015 23:26

Go with BigPipe or Spark.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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