Vodafone T-Box Service Withdrawal (incl DOCSIS 2.0 & 3.0 Modems)

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#2648075 5-Feb-2021 11:27

Hi, @sansom can you confirm that techs are required to integrate phone wiring when they perform these upgrades that include disconnecting from the TCL/Voda POTs switch and moving to the UltraHub ATA, ie they are required to liven all house phone points and remove the street connection. Is this within scope or not.

Cyril

sansom

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#2648076 5-Feb-2021 11:27

Newtown:

Adding to my previous post...

The technician plugged our landline into the Ultra Hub. When I asked about integrated wiring, he said that it would only be done if the jackpoint was next to the Ultra Hub. Currently the jackpoint is in a different room.

I thought integrated wiring meant hooking up the new equipment to work with existing jackpoints, even though it might mean that a new jackpoint is added. I might be wrong here, and it would be great to hear from others.

You are right, we are covering the cost of integrating with your existing jackpoints. If you DM me your account details I can follow up on this with Downer.

Hamish

KaroriPete

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#2648091 5-Feb-2021 12:10

Thanks Cyril,

Yes I think I already have DOCSIS 3.1 as I have the "Fibre 200" plan. (As an aside I find it interesting that people without a fibre plan are getting upgraded to the fastest fibre speed, while loyal early adopters do not.)

I do have ethernet from the office to the lounge where I run my own NetGear Wifi router, and also feed ethernet back to the office again. The supplied Superhub is unused at the moment, but I guess I can plug that in too if its needed for the telephone interface. I could even setup another Wifi channel just for downstairs.

The trick will be getting the Superhub connected to the phone circuits, but from recent messages it sounds like the installers might help with that.

Cheers,
Pete.

prevaljo

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#2648093 5-Feb-2021 12:18

sansom:

Newtown:

Adding to my previous post...

The technician plugged our landline into the Ultra Hub. When I asked about integrated wiring, he said that it would only be done if the jackpoint was next to the Ultra Hub. Currently the jackpoint is in a different room.

I thought integrated wiring meant hooking up the new equipment to work with existing jackpoints, even though it might mean that a new jackpoint is added. I might be wrong here, and it would be great to hear from others.

You are right, we are covering the cost of integrating with your existing jackpoints. If you DM me your account details I can follow up on this with Downer.

This seems to be a potential issue with this migration. My landline terminates in a separate location to the Ultrahub and the tech left leaving an RJ11 terminated cable near the Ultrahub. Aside from this the migration was well done, the Downer tech was on time and efficient.

I learned subsequently that at some locations the techs are leaving the old T-Boxes for the household to continue to use to watch recorded programs, not sure if this is "true".

Eva888

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#2648232 5-Feb-2021 15:17

NickR1:
Eva888:
Nice chap from VF Offshore team just called. He says he has escalated the SLAM and Vodafone is still working to create it. This is 4 days after it was originally ordered. My own suspicion is that my internet has been cut off by their efforts.

This is worrying. If you had HFC already installed then we'll have a SLAM (Service Address) for you already. Unless you have something like a non-subdivided property or sleepout (they usually mix up our records) I can't see why we'd be stuck at this stage.

Feel free to PM me your details and I can take a closer look.

As suspected was switched off by VF. I sense it’s a case of teams not all having the same access to clients and one hand can’t know what the other is doing.

Now waiting for a new SLAM to be generated to enable migration to happen. It’s not over yet but patiently sticking with the plan.

Special thanks @NickR1 I’m sure your intervention helped get this moving along.

KaroriPete

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#2648235 5-Feb-2021 15:35

Hi Prevaljo,

Some customers, myself included, purchased their T-Box for a one-off fee when they first launched, so perhaps they're entitled to hang on to them after the cut-over. I'm assuming they don't need to be enabled on the network in order to play back recorded content. I'm trying to work through all the stuff I'd get around to watching one day, just in case this isn't possible.

Cheers,

Pete.

antoniosk

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#2648377 5-Feb-2021 19:22

KaroriPete:

Hi Prevaljo,

Some customers, myself included, purchased their T-Box for a one-off fee when they first launched, so perhaps they're entitled to hang on to them after the cut-over. I'm assuming they don't need to be enabled on the network in order to play back recorded content. I'm trying to work through all the stuff I'd get around to watching one day, just in case this isn't possible.

Cheers,

Pete.

Pete

This isnt like Tivo; the boxes are 100% dependant on central servers for DRM management amongst other things - the whole tbox system is being decommissioned, meaning the box will be useless.

But I'm sure Hamish has thought through each permutation and has a deal in the offing....

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Send money globally for less with Wise - one free transfer up to NZ$900 (affiliate link).

KaroriPete

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#2648529 6-Feb-2021 08:32

Thanks Antonio,

I’d better crack on and watch all my recorded stuff then before it disappears. (It’s a shame it isn’t like TiVo - best PVR UI I’ve come across).

Cheers,
Pete.

KaroriPete

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#2655186 12-Feb-2021 13:47

I've now got my letter from VF regarding the T-Box withdrawal. I also have Chorus banging on my door every few weeks wanting to install a fibre cable. Yesterday when I explained that I already have Vodafone HFC Cable and don't really want two unsightly lines hanging off the house, he said the Chorus cable could be used by anyone, including Vodafone, but then in the future I wouldn't be limited if I wanted to switch internet providers. He then qualified this (I think) by saying that Vodafone may offer better package deals when using their own cable so perhaps it made sense to stay with what I have for the moment. To be honest I found him difficult to follow as he spoke of many things very quickly and kept talking over the top of me.

So, I'm now wondering (assuming what I think he said is correct), if I could change from T-Box to VF TV, update the landline to run over IP, and switch from HFC to fibre at the same time. Would there be cost implications to do this, and is trying to co-ordinate all this to happen at the same time with minimal loss of service just crazy talk?

Cheers,
Pete.

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#2655194 12-Feb-2021 14:15

@KaroriPete 100% get Fibre installed, This is a no brainer you can still use Vodafone but then this gives you the choice to change to any ISP

antoniosk

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#2655206 12-Feb-2021 14:39

KaroriPete:

I've now got my letter from VF regarding the T-Box withdrawal. I also have Chorus banging on my door every few weeks wanting to install a fibre cable. Yesterday when I explained that I already have Vodafone HFC Cable and don't really want two unsightly lines hanging off the house, he said the Chorus cable could be used by anyone, including Vodafone, but then in the future I wouldn't be limited if I wanted to switch internet providers. He then qualified this (I think) by saying that Vodafone may offer better package deals when using their own cable so perhaps it made sense to stay with what I have for the moment. To be honest I found him difficult to follow as he spoke of many things very quickly and kept talking over the top of me.

So, I'm now wondering (assuming what I think he said is correct), if I could change from T-Box to VF TV, update the landline to run over IP, and switch from HFC to fibre at the same time. Would there be cost implications to do this, and is trying to co-ordinate all this to happen at the same time with minimal loss of service just crazy talk?

Cheers,
Pete.

It's mainly down to price:

On HFC, you remain at gig speeds, and the monthly price with a landline will be $63/month (I'll leave the VTV costs to the side for the moment, as they appear to be set by Sky.). For many intacts, they will have multiple taps in the house, so you should be able to move the modem around the house if thats useful to you. You get the Voda router (homehub I think).

On UFB, you'll need a fibre install - which is another overhead line, no avoiding that - and the ONT affixed in your house where it's going to live ongoing (fibre doesnt move, and the ONT is screwed to the wall). But you'll have choice of any ISP, which might be of use to you. Gig pricing is $103/month, with Homehub(or knock $4 off with BYO router)

The Voda TV runs on any internet connection, which I think is its major USP, but in theory voda has tagged traffic now, so video streaming should always be higher priority than anything else. On another network no-one can guarentee that unless there are bilateral agreements in place (there aren't), so you'll be at the mercy of the other ISP's traffic policy and voda's policy on sending streaming outside it's network. In practise it will be great most of the time and have the occasional crap moments.

Since the change is being offered by Voda with no term commitments, the easiest route is to manage the switchover while still on cable, and plan for UFB rather than try to coordinate both (which might mean new ISP time etc).

________

Antoniosk

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#2655401 12-Feb-2021 18:28

We're currently on Gigabit HFC (and happy with it) but wary that fibre installs might not be free forever so don't want to miss out on that.

Bowering

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#2655794 13-Feb-2021 19:44

antoniosk:

KaroriPete:

I've now got my letter from VF regarding the T-Box withdrawal. [SNIP]

Since the change is being offered by Voda with no term commitments, the easiest route is to manage the switchover while still on cable, and plan for UFB rather than try to coordinate both (which might mean new ISP time etc).

Antonios is right, I believe.

I've just done the change and the T-boxes will be swapped out in May (we have one with the LOT of content we want to get through; there was no pressure for this to be earlier). The only problem was that this delayed install was, it seems, not communicated to Downer. There was a wee plethora of calls and texts. But, a quick call to Downer and that was sorted - I just need to call them when I'm ready. This is something that Vodafone should look at - the disconnect will create a lot of angst for some people.

The deal offered to stay with VF, rather than move to other options (I had researched them and knew the costs), was very good and the agent was very helpful. New price seems to be in effect already despite us still using the old T-boxes, and an Ultrahub turned up day after the call.

Hope that's useful.

Hammerer

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#2655843 13-Feb-2021 21:42

Yabanize:

We're currently on Gigabit HFC (and happy with it) but wary that fibre installs might not be free forever so don't want to miss out on that.

We've had Chorus out in Lower Hutt knocking on doors to get the ONTs installed this year without us moving from HFC. I don't know if that is everywhere but it might be worth asking.

Fog

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#2655933 14-Feb-2021 10:06

Any hints on when they are going to look at the change to those on Cable in Kapiti.?

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