Anyone else think tether locking on the 'unlimited' plan sucks?

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Anyone else think tether locking on the 'unlimited' plan sucks?

ipearx

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#223041 9-Sep-2017 18:14

Skinny have introduced their 'unlimited' plan, with two big limitations:

- After 22GB, it slows down (fine, not ideal, but I guess the network just can't cope otherwise?)

- No tethering .

The no tethering sucks the big one IMO. Putting my computer online through the phone is the whole point of data for me. Some questions:

- Is this the first no tethering plan in NZ? or have other ISPs done it too?

- How do they enforce the blocking? are they analysing the traffic or packets? or is it purely a network settings thing?

- Does it just feel so wrong to anyone else to have an ISP dictate how I route traffic?

- I wonder if dedicated 4G modems would work?

freitasm

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#1861453 9-Sep-2017 18:17

Spark launched their plan, no tethering allowed. 2degrees does not have the limitation.

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Behodar

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#1861457 9-Sep-2017 18:20

I understand why it's done; people typically use a lot less data on a phone. In my opinion you should be able to "stack" the unlimited plan for on-phone use, plus a regular data plan for tethering, but it doesn't seem that this is currently possible.

Dial111

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#1861459 9-Sep-2017 18:25

Not sure if this would work but maybe allocating a set amount of data to tethering, once that allocation is used then lock it till your next cycle. Not ideal but you still get to tether I guess.

sbiddle

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#1861475 9-Sep-2017 18:48

Define "sucks"?

I have absolutely no issues with it. If you want a truly unlimited mobile broadband offering I'm sure Spark would be happy to negotiate with you if you're willing to pay $799 per month rather than $79

If Skinny (or Spark) offered an unlimited plan for $79 I'd be willing to put money on you posting on here next week complaining about mobile speeds being terrible.

sbiddle

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#1861476 9-Sep-2017 18:49

Dial111:

Not sure if this would work but maybe allocating a set amount of data to tethering, once that allocation is used then lock it till your next cycle. Not ideal but you still get to tether I guess.

As already discussed doing such a thing would be a nightmare. Tethering is detected by TTL, so having to manage a different data cap based on TTL is possibly not something any rating system could cope with.

LivingSkinny

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#1861603 10-Sep-2017 00:05

freitasm: Spark launched their plan, no tethering allowed. 2degrees does not have the limitation.

Which unlimited with tethering plan on 2Degrees are you referring to?

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rugrat

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#1861611 10-Sep-2017 00:33

LivingSkinny:
freitasm: Spark launched their plan, no tethering allowed. 2degrees does not have the limitation.

Which unlimited with tethering plan on 2Degrees are you referring to?

The $70 plan on this page

It's 25 GB with no strings attached can do what you like with it, tether, family share.

Even though it's not called unlimited I'd say on Spark/Skinny the data plan wouldn't be nice to use once it's slowed down, so they miles as well be limited.

I'm not in that market price point though, and I'm getting 4G 100% on Skinny, where wasn't with 2Degrees.

cruxis

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#1861672 10-Sep-2017 08:58

I think windows or Mac use a different TCP/IP stack sizes that can be detected. Which can infer that your typical phone operating system is not being used to generate traffic.

Also windows 10 and Mac OS like to check to update servers which dead give away a laptop or desktop is being used.

alasta

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#1861678 10-Sep-2017 09:07

I see that Spark is still offering the older 7.5Gb plan for $80. If Spark or Skinny could offer a bit more data at that price point then it would seem like a good compromise for those who want to be able to tether.

tdgeek

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#1861679 10-Sep-2017 09:10

rugrat:

LivingSkinny:
freitasm: Spark launched their plan, no tethering allowed. 2degrees does not have the limitation.

Which unlimited with tethering plan on 2Degrees are you referring to?

The $70 plan on this page

It's 25 GB with no strings attached can do what you like with it, tether, family share.

Even though it's not called unlimited I'd say on Spark/Skinny the data plan wouldn't be nice to use once it's slowed down, so they miles as well be limited.

I'm not in that market price point though, and I'm getting 4G 100% on Skinny, where wasn't with 2Degrees.

Id assume the slowdown is managed to the high user, but if a tower used by 2D congests, then it might really slow down for everyone.