Just a query - switching from Bigpipe UFB to Spark to get 3 months free and Netflix

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Just a query - switching from Bigpipe UFB to Spark to get 3 months free and Netflix

lchiu7

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#220273 3-Aug-2017 08:45

I recently signed up for Bigpipe 200/20 plan and I am pretty happy with it. I didn't use their Huawei modem but just my existing ASUS RT-A66U requiring minimal changes in configuration. That was a relief since I have so many routing rules in my Asus around inbound port routing and blocking outbound traffic to certain IP's :-)

Now I see Spark has a deal with 3 months free, $40 credit and free Netflix (and Lightbox but that is not of interest). I have Netflix now that would save me even more.

A Couple of questions

1. Looks like the equivalent Spark plan is Fibre200 for $120 vs $99 for Bigpipe but I can't see what the upload speed is
2. Could I use my Asus router? I haven't dug into the menus so I am not sure it can do VLAN tagging but I suspect it can
3. What is the actual performance of Spark UFB like? Of course the backhaul is all the same but do Spark have decent international bandwidth?

Thanks

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

Resnick

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#1836243 3-Aug-2017 09:06

Re: Question 2; Your router can do VLAN tagging and will work with Spark. The vlan tags ate setup under the IPTV tab from memory.

Linux

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#1836245 3-Aug-2017 09:08

Upload on plans is 20Mbp/s unless you are on the 1Gbp/s plan which is 500Mbp/s upload

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cbrpilot

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Spark NZ

#1836252 3-Aug-2017 09:21

lchiu7:
3. What is the actual performance of Spark UFB like? Of course the backhaul is all the same but do Spark have decent international bandwidth?

Thanks

Hi lchiu7,

The backhaul used for Spark Broadband is not the same as that used for BigPipe. BigPipe have their own network.

Our International bandwidth is great - we don't limit this in any way. What you will find different between different RSPs is their international interconnection (that is connections and peering agreements in other countries) may all vary, and thus you can see different traffic paths and performance to different sites depending on the RSP that you use. That said, I have no reason to believe those interconnection details are different between Spark and Bigpipe as we use the same international provider.

At Spark we have worked very hard to ensure that we provide the best possible international performance over all our Broadband products.

Dave.

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

michaelmurfy

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#1836253 3-Aug-2017 09:21

Spark are one of the best, if not the best when it comes to bandwidth. You'll get the same as BigPipe with the added benefit of a local point of presence meaning your traffic won't have to hop up to Auckland all the time. I don't think you'll notice any of this.

The 200Mbit plan is 20Mbit up - you can always go Gigabit.

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surfisup1000

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#1836292 3-Aug-2017 09:54

It is irritating how spark make it so difficult to find plan upload speeds -- they are there if you poke around for a while, but why not make it more obvious?

I recently moved to spark fibre from 2degrees (who are looking overly expensive these days, maybe riding on past glory?). Kept the Fritz 7490 running, all good.

The spark network has also been great, no regrets. I noticed crashplan AU have increased their speeds too, I get really good upload speeds on larger files.

lchiu7

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#1836354 3-Aug-2017 10:45

@all

thanks for the responses. I am now checking to see if I have an early termination clause in my Bigpipe contract. I don't think so because I didn't take their free modem offer and I had no other deals.

A couple of questions

1. I have fixed IP with Bigpipe. is that something Spark can do and does it cost a once off or a monthly cost?
2. If you have an existing Netflix account how do you transfer it over to the Spark free one?

Finally without Netflix the savings are not huge. $100/month versus $120/month for Spark means I would pay $240 extra a year. But Spark's offer is for 3 free months so $360 savings and another $40 deal. So in the first year I would be paying Bigpipe $1200 versus ($1440 - 3*$120 - $40) or $1040 so saving about $160.

Of course factoring in Netflix makes it much better.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

Dyson

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DarkShadow

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#1836356 3-Aug-2017 10:49

lchiu7:

1. I have fixed IP with Bigpipe. is that something Spark can do and does it cost a once off or a monthly cost?
2. If you have an existing Netflix account how do you transfer it over to the Spark free one?

1. $15/month

2. You'll get a link from Spark once you're all signed up. Go to the link, and enter your Netflix username/password to redeem the offer.

kryptonjohn

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#1836358 3-Aug-2017 10:52

Do early termination charges apply on Spark VDSL upgrading to Spark Fibre?

Coil

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#1836367 3-Aug-2017 11:06

DarkShadow:

lchiu7:

1. I have fixed IP with Bigpipe. is that something Spark can do and does it cost a once off or a monthly cost?
2. If you have an existing Netflix account how do you transfer it over to the Spark free one?

1. $15/month

2. You'll get a link from Spark once you're all signed up. Go to the link, and enter your Netflix username/password to redeem the offer.

Having to pay for a static IP month to month with Spark vrs once off with BP. You will be going backwards if your with spark for a static IP.

Just stay put with BP, At the end of the day its all just marketing crap and your gonna be paying like for like.

kryptonjohn

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#1836370 3-Aug-2017 11:09

Could you use a free ddns service instead of a static ip? That's working for me and means I never have to renew anything to keep my DNS country spoofing working for Netflix/Hulu/Vudu...

lchiu7

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#1836399 3-Aug-2017 11:27

Coil:

DarkShadow:

lchiu7:

1. I have fixed IP with Bigpipe. is that something Spark can do and does it cost a once off or a monthly cost?
2. If you have an existing Netflix account how do you transfer it over to the Spark free one?

1. $15/month

2. You'll get a link from Spark once you're all signed up. Go to the link, and enter your Netflix username/password to redeem the offer.

Having to pay for a static IP month to month with Spark vrs once off with BP. You will be going backwards if your with spark for a static IP.

Just stay put with BP, At the end of the day its all just marketing crap and your gonna be paying like for like.

I am heading towards that conclusion. Paying per month is just not good value and then the savings disappear in the following year when I pay $120 versus $100.

If it isn't broken, then I won't fix it :-)

Thanks to all for your input.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

Dell

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Coil

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#1836578 3-Aug-2017 13:55

lchiu7:

Coil:

DarkShadow:

lchiu7:

1. I have fixed IP with Bigpipe. is that something Spark can do and does it cost a once off or a monthly cost?
2. If you have an existing Netflix account how do you transfer it over to the Spark free one?

1. $15/month

2. You'll get a link from Spark once you're all signed up. Go to the link, and enter your Netflix username/password to redeem the offer.

Having to pay for a static IP month to month with Spark vrs once off with BP. You will be going backwards if your with spark for a static IP.

Just stay put with BP, At the end of the day its all just marketing crap and your gonna be paying like for like.

I am heading towards that conclusion. Paying per month is just not good value and then the savings disappear in the following year when I pay $120 versus $100.

If it isn't broken, then I won't fix it :-)

Thanks to all for your input.

Very good philosophy to have, I am also of the same belief and the amount of times that I should have not "fixed" something that wasn't broken...

Jase2985

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#1836693 3-Aug-2017 16:21

@surfisup1000 did you look at the plans an pricing page?

https://www.spark.co.nz/shop/internet/plans-and-pricing/