Documenting my switch back to telecom broadband 'as-it-happens'

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Documenting my switch back to telecom broadband 'as-it-happens'

Batman

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#38845 5-Aug-2009 11:30

Just thought i'd post regarding how smoothly/badly this goes.
I'm with slingshot - Joined 5/8/2008.
Rung them today to confirm: and they say i am no longer under any term/contract. (Darn should i have got them to send me an email to confirm in writing? We shall see ...)

Rang telecom to get back onto their broadband. Took about 20 minutes altogether. Had to agree verbally to all their conditions and was recorded.

It was interesting for me because i didnt get a chance to choose my username and initial password. I have to wait till the CD is couriered to do this. And even then it may take till Monday. Hmm ... i remember in the past once the cabinet is connected - within 3.5 hours of calling actually!! i tried every hour - (or something like that) i can then quickly switch my modem settings to log onto slingshot and say bye bye to telecom (yup i was on telecom, then slingshot, now back to telecom). But without a username this time ... this could be interesting.

So waiting for the stuff to arrive ... 3 working days max it says (that's Monday! yeah as you may have guessed we've gone over the slingshot limit about 10 days ago) ... am hoping to get the stuff tomorrow or at least Friday and hoping the broadband would have already been activated when i got the CD. Fat hopes? We shall see.

Now can anyone advise me a better modem to get above 10MBps down/660Kbps up? This seems to be the max that my 1st gen DLink 604 can do.

Involuntary autocorrect in operation on mobile device. Apologies in advance.

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#242933 5-Aug-2009 11:53

Telecom seems to let any username connect now - did when a friend changed back from orcon lousy phone UBS service to big time.

Richard rich.ms

NonprayingMantis

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#242944 5-Aug-2009 12:05

yeah I heard that too. Probably worth a try to do that.

bonkiebonks

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#242964 5-Aug-2009 12:40

You can create a Telecom/Xtra username here: https://selfservice.xtra.co.nz/live/selfservice/olr/OLR01PushbackPage?registrationCode=

You can read the FAQ here: http://telecom.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/telecom.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1583

Ragnor

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#242969 5-Aug-2009 12:46

I just switched myself and the process is a little disjointed. However you don't need to wait for the starter kit to arrive in the mail.

It's correct you don't need a specific username and password in your adsl router on Telecom Broadband as authentication is tied to your line/account, just put in user@xtrabb.co.nz for both (mainly so you don't continue to use your old slingshot username/password) in your modem.

Next if you know your new Telecom account number you can create a "Your Telecom" and "Xtra" account and email address online

To create a your telecom login:
http://www.telecom.co.nz ( in the "your telecom" section on the right click register)

To create an xtra login (email address etc)
https://selfservice.xtra.co.nz/broadband

Batman

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#243027 5-Aug-2009 14:38

ah! what would one do without geekzone?!
the link says my old username is taken - probably by ME! (was hoping i could salvage the stuff on Flickr that i've uploaded - there must be a way :p)

okay will use 'user' until i can figure out how to get my old user name back ... or to move the stuff on old flickr username to new username

... fingers crossed it's already up and running ;p (been 5.5 hours now) by the time i get home from work!

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#243028 5-Aug-2009 14:40

any ideas about the original question regarding modems? i dont wish to spend more than $150 or at all if it's not going to get me above 660Kbps upload on my adsl2 broadband

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NonprayingMantis

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#243054 5-Aug-2009 15:24

if you just signed with Telecom then you should get at the very least a single port modem for free, and probably a wireless one (depending on what promo is running at the moment). Either will be ADSL2+ enabled meaning you can get decent speeds.
You can, of course go out and buy one yourself, but Id wait and see how well theThomson one from Telecom performs. It's free after all.

Ragnor

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#243055 5-Aug-2009 15:26

Depends how close you are to the cabinet/exchange? What are the line stats in your current modem (SNR, Attenuation etc)?

Also on Big Time I doubt a higher sync speed will translate much into higher download speeds.

Batman

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#243076 5-Aug-2009 16:01

here are the stats (1st gen dlink, slingshot) at the bottom. how can i tell how far i am from the exchange?

hmm good idea i can plug in the thomson single port and see how it compares! (but otherwise we'll need a 4 port router with wireless just like everyone else) unfortunately could not haggle a free wireless thomson off the rep.

we will be on one of the data-capped plans as i dont want to find out how good or bad Big Time is at our place. the forums seem to report 50-50 of superfast internet vs harshly capped speeds so i prefer to know what i'm getting.

ADSL Firmware Version: 5.00.04.00 - 5.00.03.00 - 5.00.03.00 Annex A - 01.07.2b - 0.52
ADSL Software Version: V3.00B02.NZ.20060711
Line State Connected
Modulation ADSL_2plus
Annex Mode Annex A
Max Tx Power -38 dBm/Hz

Item Downstream Upstream Unit
SNR Margin 12 12 dB
Line Attenuation 23 12 dB
Data Rate 11716 660 kbps

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Batman

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#243204 5-Aug-2009 19:44

no luck tonight. will try again tomorrow night. do i enter user@xtrabb.co.nz as the password too?

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bonkiebonks

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#243216 5-Aug-2009 20:11

You can just ask them when you will be switched over. Mine was pretty quick, 3 working days I believe including my homeline.

dakiwikid

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#243247 5-Aug-2009 21:50

I left xtra 5 years ago and was delighted to join XNet.After great service from Xnet decided that my best international speeds of 1Mb/s 70% of the time over last 18 months was a rip off I meekly returned to Xtra.Now loving international speeds of 6-7Mb/sec.Was quick and easy to reconnect with old username.

Ragnor

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#243254 5-Aug-2009 22:02

joker97: no luck tonight. will try again tomorrow night. do i enter user@xtrabb.co.nz as the password too?

Yes, you can actually put anything in it doesn't matter once you're switched (as long as it's not your old isp's login).

nzbnw

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#243265 5-Aug-2009 22:19

I believe there is a minimum 2 working day turn around for the connection so the alterative supplier can be notified of the change (and in theory stop billing you).

nzbnw

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#243282 5-Aug-2009 22:32

nzbnw: I believe there is a minimum 2 working day turn around for the connection so the alterative supplier can be notified of the change (and in theory stop billing you).

nzbnw

Thats the theory anyway! When I switched from Xnet to Telecom last year they continued to bill me as they claimed they never heard from Telecom or myself that the connection had moved. After a threat to take me to Baycorp I paid for 4 months worth of internet I never recieved from them (rudest customer service ever). Telecom were no help unfortunately.

Moral of the story: Make sure you call Slingshot after you've been moved to confirm that they know and will stop billing you!

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