Upgrading from VDSL 150G to Unlimited

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Upgrading from VDSL 150G to Unlimited - reassurance needed.

BrutusNZ

22 posts

Geek

#177495 4-Aug-2015 15:03

Hi,

I often end a billing period with around 140GB of traffic but streaming videos and YouTube will eventually push us over the 150GB cap.
My current info -
- VDSL 150GB plan with free static IP (which I use)
- Speeds are 8Mbit/40Mbit
- Fibre is not available until after June 2016
- No noticeable slow down at peak times
- Overall I'm very happy with the service provided by Spark

I've been trying to get my head around the pro's and con's of upgrading my plan.
The first thing to do was to read through many threads and calling the Spark help desk.

I understand from the sticky thread that there is no shaping currently on Spark so I'm happy with that.

The person I spoke to at the help desk said -

1/ The 500G fixed plan has been withdrawn so unlimited was my only choice
2/ Once upgraded to unlimited, I cannot go back to the 150GB plan
3/ The cost to upgrade from fixed to unlimited (with static IP) would be $6/month ($109 to $115) - seemed very reasonable!
4/ The unlimited plan has a traffic management policy but it is independent and different to the fixed plan traffic management policy.
This is how (I think) she explained the traffic management policy to me-
Customers on fixed data plans are in one pool and customers on unlimited plans are in another pool. In times of peak network load (in my area) customers with unlimited plan pools will be slowed down to insure customers in fixed data plan pools are not adversely affected. If network loads continue to increase eventually all pools will be slowed down proportionately.

That would seem to go along with what my neighbour said as I haven't noticed any slow down during peak times but my neighbour (on unlimited plan) has noticed during the school holidays their internet is noticeably slower.

I suppose I just need some reassurance from the Spark experts that what I was told is correct, then I can make a decision.

Your kind help is greatly appreciated.

PeterReader

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#1358743 4-Aug-2015 15:03

Hello... Our robot found some keywords in your post, so here is an automated reply with some important things to note regarding broadband speeds.

If you are posting regarding DSL speeds please check that

- you have reset your modem and router

- your PC (or other PCs in your LAN) is not downloading large files when you are testing

- you are not being throttled by your ISP due to going over the monthly cap

- your tests are always done on an ethernet connection to the router - do not use wireless for testing

- you read this topic and follow the instructions there.

Make sure you provide information for other users to help you. If you have not already done it, please EDIT your post and add this now:

- Your ISP and plan

- Type of connection (ADSL, ADSL2, VDSL)

- Your modem DSL stats (do not worry about posting Speedtest, we need sync rate, attenuation and noise margin)

- Your general location (or street)

- If you are rural or urban

- If you know your connection is to an exchange, cabinet or conklin

- If your connection is to a ULL or wholesale service

- If you have done an isolation test as per the link above

Most of the problems with speed are likely to be related to internal wiring issues. Read this discussion to find out more about this. Your ISP is not intentionally slowing you down today (unless you are on a managed plan). Also if this is the school holidays it's likely you will notice slower than usual speed due to more users online.

A master splitter is required for VDSL2 and in most cases will improve speeds on DSL connections. Regular disconnections can be a monitored alarm or a set top box trying to connect. If there's an alarm connected to your line even if you don't have an alarm contract it may still try to connect so it's worth checking.

I recommend you read these two blog posts:

- Is your premises phone wiring impacting your broadband performance? (very technical)

- Are you receiving a substandard ULL ADSL2+ connection from your ISP?

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cbrpilot

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Spark NZ

#1358756 4-Aug-2015 15:15

Oh dear. It seems you've been provided some incorrect information in regards to traffic management.
As per:

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=39&topicid=171109

Spark does not shape any traffic. We do not manage unlimited traffic differently than data cap traffic. Unlimited is as it sounds.

My views are my own, and may not necessarily represent those of my employer.

BrutusNZ

22 posts

Geek

#1358858 4-Aug-2015 17:20

Hi,

Thank you for that clarification. I had read that thread but after reading some other threads and with the information from the help desk I had wrongly concluded that "Shaping" and "Traffic Management" were different things.

So..... unless there is something else I have misunderstood, there are no disadvantages going to unlimited. The extra $6/month (for me) is a small price to pay for the increased data.

cbrpilot

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Spark NZ

#1358870 4-Aug-2015 17:47

The only thing I'd be wary about is your static IP.
According to this form:
https://www.spark.co.nz/form/1,,5208,00.html

On the Unlimited Plan, you'd be charged an additional amount for a Static IP on the Unlimited Plan - versus your existing plan where it is free.
Also be aware that you cannot opt out of Port 25 filtering on the Unlimited plan.

Dave.

My views are my own, and may not necessarily represent those of my employer.

BrutusNZ

22 posts

Geek

#1358898 4-Aug-2015 19:00

Hi Dave and thank you for the additional information.

I hope I was given the right pricing??? I was careful to confirm with the help desk lady that I wanted to upgrade to unlimited with the Static IP. She calculated that it would be $115/month (up from $109). When I queried as to why it was only $6 more than my current plan she said it was because the unlimited plan was slightly cheaper and then adding on the Static IP brought it up to $115.

I'm pretty sure I won't be needing to send email on Port 25 from here.

Ragnor

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#1358936 4-Aug-2015 20:29

We didn't notice any difference in performance when we switched from a data cap plan to the unlimited plan.

This form (near the bottom) says static ip address is indeed $15/month (inc gst) as the unlimited plan does not include a free one
https://www.spark.co.nz/form/1,,5208,00.html

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Jase2985

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#1358940 4-Aug-2015 20:48

ditto for me going from 500gb plan to unlimited.

cant say ive ever noticed a slowdown that wasnt an actual fault, which was fixed in about 5 days as it required a large hole dug on the street and took 2 workers about 18 hours to fix.

AKLWestie

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#1358974 4-Aug-2015 21:21

I moved from 500GB to unlimited a few months ago, gave up static IP. Everything worked fine. Noticed no change in speed.

quickymart

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#1358982 4-Aug-2015 22:02

Same, I went from 150GB to unlimited last year, noticed 0 change in speed at any time.

BrutusNZ

22 posts

Geek

#1378392 2-Sep-2015 16:25

Thought it was time to update my changeover from 150G to Unlimited.

I called the help desk and was able to change over to the Unlimited plan with a Static IP, the price was confirmed at $114/month ($99.99+$15).
The help desk said there would be some adjustment as the changeover was part way through the monthly billing cycle.
All good :-) and very easy.
The change to my plan was made within 24hrs. No problems with speeds or Static IP so all was great :-)

Then I received my Spark Account :-(
The bill was about $17 higher than I was told!

Called and spoke to a very nice lady at the Spark Help desk, she was knowledge and friendly.
Basically I had received some incorrect information during my previous 2 calls to Spark, they hadn't checked my account correctly.

1/ When you change over from an old 150G Plan. If you are getting the $10 discount for VDSL you will loose it.
2/ When you transfer a Static IP address to an Unlimited plan, you are charged a part payment to the end of your billing period. In my case it was about $7

After a long discussion she apologised for the incorrect information and pricing assurances I was given.

So in a nutshell the final cost upgrading my old 150G Plan with a free Static IP ($109) to a Unlimited Plan with Static IP ($124.99) was an increase of $15.99

I requested a credit for the $7 Static IP charge. I already had a free Static IP till the end of the billing period so I thought it was unfair that I had to pay $7 just because I transferred over part way through the billing period. If you want to avoid this, I would suggest upgrading at the end of your billing period.

Also I suggested to her that Spark should change the name of the $10 VDSL charge as it has nothing to do with VDSL. You are charged an additional $10 if you have a Landline (Voice and VDSL) but are not charged it if you have Naked (only VDSL).