Is fibrex worth getting?

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › Is fibrex worth getting?

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#2210181 3-Apr-2019 15:27

michaeln:
cyril7:

No, the answer is no, the number of moving parts in a HFC network is considerably greater

FibreX: [OLT] ==== fibre ==== [D-CMTS] ---- co-ax ---- [0 or more amps] --- [cable modem]

GPON: [OLT] ==== fibre ==== [splitter] ===== [ONT]

They are both shared, polled, time-division multiplexed systems. There are many similarities, because of course PoN borrowed from Cable, just as DOCSIS 3.1 borrowed from cellular techology.

The biggest difference being that in for GPON the only powered components are at either end, The Vodafone HFC (FibreX) networks involve a lot of powered components with very few backups existing in two cities in NZ with very shaky power networks.

TLDR; Power goes down in a neighboring suburb (You still have power), GPON stays online and working but with HFC there is a decent chance your internet is going down.

vexxxboy

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#2210194 3-Apr-2019 16:08

Ross55: I have had Fibrex in Christchurch for about 2 years now and am more than happy with the experience. I actually get the advertised speed in both directions and don't considder the 10ms latency to be of particular concern. I have however very recently been offered an upgrade to fiber FOR FREE and supposedly same or better speed at no extra cost (I just hope it isn't a scam). I believe this might in the long run be better for VODAFONE.

you do realise everybody gets fibre installed for free and it depends what ISP you go with on cost , so not a scam.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

PottsyNZ

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#2210601 4-Apr-2019 10:31

I signed up for an upgrade from normal fibre to fibrex and it seems to have fallen into a black hole, a few weeks and no confirmed install date.

Got sent the new router so I guess that's something?

ajw

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#2210603 4-Apr-2019 10:37

I just re-signed to a 2 year contract on Fibre X. Free speed upgrade, unlimited free national calls, 5x free best mates and a switch to VOIP for phone. I can't complain with the service I have received.

Lias

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#2210664 4-Apr-2019 12:05

PottsyNZ:

I signed up for an upgrade from normal fibre to fibrex and it seems to have fallen into a black hole, a few weeks and no confirmed install date.

Got sent the new router so I guess that's something?

The word you are looking for is downgrade.. going from fibre to fibrex is NOT an upgrade.

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allan

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#2210670 4-Apr-2019 12:11

PottsyNZ:

I signed up for an upgrade from normal fibre to fibrex and it seems to have fallen into a black hole, a few weeks and no confirmed install date.

Got sent the new router so I guess that's something?

i'm not sure why you would do that. You are likely to get a much better experience on your existing fibre connection.

sen8or

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#2210672 4-Apr-2019 12:12

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BoerieGalore

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#2210688 4-Apr-2019 12:34

Lias:

PottsyNZ:

I signed up for an upgrade from normal fibre to fibrex and it seems to have fallen into a black hole, a few weeks and no confirmed install date.

Got sent the new router so I guess that's something?

The word you are looking for is downgrade.. going from fibre to fibrex is NOT an upgrade.

Can't say I agree with that.

Its plan and speed specific. FibreX 200/20 plan on Vodafone cable network is far better in my opinion to a 100/20 plan on chorus fibre network. The faster plan with vodafone is also cheaper. If you want gibabit speeds, then obviously fibre will be your choice. Both technologies can carry high speed internet.

BoerieGalore

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#2210702 4-Apr-2019 13:01

vexxxboy:

Ross55: I have had Fibrex in Christchurch for about 2 years now and am more than happy with the experience. I actually get the advertised speed in both directions and don't considder the 10ms latency to be of particular concern. I have however very recently been offered an upgrade to fiber FOR FREE and supposedly same or better speed at no extra cost (I just hope it isn't a scam). I believe this might in the long run be better for VODAFONE.

you do realise everybody gets fibre installed for free and it depends what ISP you go with on cost , so not a scam.

Vexxxboy raises a good point. If fibre is available in your area you may as well get it installed for free. Who knows how much longer it will still be available for free?

Its better to have the option to pick and choose between service providers and having both networks available to you , than to be limited to ISP’s on Chorus only. Vodafone broadband plans on chorus fibre are a lot more expensive than the exact same broadband plan on fibrex. Why on earth would anybody in their right mind want to pick the Vodafone chorus fibre plan if the faster plan is available on cable, and cheaper? Personally I hope the Vodafone cable network stays around for a long time. Its good to have some competition to the chorus network, it also helps keep the chorus prices down. It’s a winwin for the fibrefanboys.

lchiu7

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#2210781 4-Apr-2019 15:04

BoerieGalore:

Vexxxboy raises a good point. If fibre is available in your area you may as well get it installed for free. Who knows how much longer it will still be available for free?

Its better to have the option to pick and choose between service providers and having both networks available to you , than to be limited to ISP’s on Chorus only. Vodafone broadband plans on chorus fibre are a lot more expensive than the exact same broadband plan on fibrex. Why on earth would anybody in their right mind want to pick the Vodafone chorus fibre plan if the faster plan is available on cable, and cheaper? Personally I hope the Vodafone cable network stays around for a long time. Its good to have some competition to the chorus network, it also helps keep the chorus prices down. It’s a winwin for the fibrefanboys.

Didn't I read somewhere that Vodafone wanted fibre to be unbundled also so they could put their own kit in (like the DSLAM days) but Chorus charges made it completely uneconomic? They would not do that where cable is available though I presume?

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Lias

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#2210787 4-Apr-2019 15:17

BoerieGalore:

Can't say I agree with that.

Its plan and speed specific. FibreX 200/20 plan on Vodafone cable network is far better in my opinion to a 100/20 plan on chorus fibre network. The faster plan with vodafone is also cheaper. If you want gibabit speeds, then obviously fibre will be your choice. Both technologies can carry high speed internet.

If you only care about the headline speed and price, and not latency or reliability, then it may be a better deal, but the technology is still worse. VDSL can obtain 100/30 in some cases, it still doesn't make it better.

Lias

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#2210788 4-Apr-2019 15:19

lchiu7:

Didn't I read somewhere that Vodafone wanted fibre to be unbundled also so they could put their own kit in (like the DSLAM days) but Chorus charges made it completely uneconomic? They would not do that where cable is available though I presume?

Wasn't just Vodafone, it was also Vocus, and yes Chorus's initial price made them spit the dummy but it's not dead yet.

BoerieGalore

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#2210820 4-Apr-2019 15:42

Lias:

If you only care about the headline speed and price, and not latency or reliability, then it may be a better deal, but the technology is still worse. VDSL can obtain 100/30 in some cases, it still doesn't make it better.

Reliability has a lot more to do with ISP actually than what most people like to believe. Some ISP's in NZ have terrible reliability, chorus fibre or not.

Lias

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#2210854 4-Apr-2019 17:00

BoerieGalore:

Some ISP's in NZ have terrible reliability, chorus fibre or not.

Don't disagree, *cough* friends don't let friends join Trustpower or My Republic etc *cough* but the technology is also part of it, and UFB is more reliable than copper or cable.

quickymart

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#2210870 4-Apr-2019 18:46

I wouldn't really call moving from fibre to cable an upgrade. Not these days, anyway.

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