Farmside: Is it really that bad ?

Forums › One NZ (including Farmside) › Farmside: Is it really that bad ?

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coffeebaron

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#1136375 24-Sep-2014 11:08

dcole13: Also, if you get Vodafone broadband and a sure signal you can repeat your mobile signal over your adsl, but I can't remember the minimum speed. You will need to ask JohnR

This is where (Bethells) Vodafone first did their big promo for SureSignal, so should work very well one would assume :)

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hio77

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#1136634 24-Sep-2014 15:25

coffeebaron:
dcole13: Also, if you get Vodafone broadband and a sure signal you can repeat your mobile signal over your adsl, but I can't remember the minimum speed. You will need to ask JohnR

This is where (Bethells) Vodafone first did their big promo for SureSignal, so should work very well one would assume :)

expect for that dreaded conklin! the irony of it all i suppose ;)

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coffeebaron

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#1136867 24-Sep-2014 19:18

I remember when Telecom got into trouble with one of their broadband promos. Someone working from home at Piha on broadband, when there was no broadband service in Piha.

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kiwikiwi

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#1136876 24-Sep-2014 19:40

coffeebaron: I remember when Telecom got into trouble with one of their broadband promos. Someone working from home at Piha on broadband, when there was no broadband service in Piha.

That would of been pretty awkward to explain. Advertising service when it isn't exactly there

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PhantomNVD

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#1136970 24-Sep-2014 22:03

dcole13: Also, if you get Vodafone broadband and a sure signal you can repeat your mobile signal over your adsl, but I can't remember the minimum speed. You will need to ask JohnR

From personal experience, the SureSignal requires AT LEAST 1Mb/s to even synch up and connect... and as thats my PEAK connection mine is sitting in a cupboard awaiting our move to a VDSL area (where there's likely to be good enough Cell coverage that I'll prolly end up selling it again anyway :)

MichaelNZ

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#1137492 25-Sep-2014 13:51

hio77:
raytaylor:
In the meantime you may also want to see if there is a local WISP operating in your area.

normally ild suggest this. but the guy who does WISP in the area can be a total pain to deal with.

if hes not interested, he will simply stop showing up. no communication at all. - refer to the little story in my earlier post here..

Due to that ild not recommend that particular WISP... which is disappointing really..

Satellite is the last option I'd recommend before dialup.

Wireless Nation is the provider I'd suggest.

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hio77

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#1137497 25-Sep-2014 13:54

MichaelNZ:
hio77:
raytaylor:
In the meantime you may also want to see if there is a local WISP operating in your area.

normally ild suggest this. but the guy who does WISP in the area can be a total pain to deal with.

if hes not interested, he will simply stop showing up. no communication at all. - refer to the little story in my earlier post here..

Due to that ild not recommend that particular WISP... which is disappointing really..

If's it (The Wireless Provider) is who I think it is, I 2nd this.

Satellite is the last option I'd recommend before dialup.

Wireless Nation is the provider I'd suggest.

look through the thread. i did name them after prompting.

Ild be delighted to hear others had similar experiences with him.

i just find it unfortunate that we have family friends who are forced to use them - dsl simply isnt possible at that distance. (although to be fair, they rave about them, they were on satellite before that afterall.)

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dcole13

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#1137500 25-Sep-2014 13:57

Again, get a master filter and if the hear able noise is still there log a fault

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jaybeedee

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#1155648 15-Oct-2014 19:39

So here is how it all ended up.

We ended up with Farmside for a bunch of reasons and so far it is doing exactly what it says on the box. We haven't had any sustained heavy storms but in the heavy showers we had, we haven't lost any throughput.

We did actually try ADSL which was marginally better once we got the POTS fault sorted but still not acceptable nor consistent enough.

Our experience with Spark was they had really good smooth provisioning and communication processes but not an acceptable product (understandable given the location, population density and distances involved).

Farmside has a product which is working well for us consistently giving us just over 4Mbps and ping of 600ms( 10-15 times the throughput at peak times and 4 times the throughput of the best ever single speedtest we got on ADSL) and has been consistently available.

Unfortunately their sales process and communications are absolutely shocking, more like dealing with a Telco and call centre from 20 years ago with miscommunication, unnecessary delays and cock-ups between them and their partners.

The other big plus for us was we got hold of a Vodafone suresignal box configured for Farmside which gives us Vodafone cellphone coverage and texting. I understand this will be commercially available soon.

So upshot is we are pleased.

Our situation is different to lots of people and it works for us. In a different set of circumstances we might have explored an aerial on the roof and trying to pick up data over cellular (Thanks Coffee Baron for the input). People complain that satellite broadband is expensive but it strikes me that paying twice as much as we would for ADSL and getting something much faster and more reliable is good value. We know we won't be skyping or gaming.

The other way I look at is that it is no different to water or any other service out in the country. In town I connect to the mains running outside. Here we would have to spend $Y to buy a tank and invest in a bore or a pump or a rooftop collection system, filters, etc etc. No different to investing $X in a dish on the roof (which is buried in the monthly fee)

So we are pleased with our decision, despite the frustrations of ordering and installation.

Thanks to all for advice.

hio77

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#1155651 15-Oct-2014 19:52

Interesting to hear farmside worked out better for you, not surprised given the conklin however.

Long as the cost works out good for you, Ild say your one of very few who come by here and happily accept it!

Good to hear suresignal works too, Thats a huge step that vodafone are opening up to this - be it may be select providers.

4mbit down in that part of the valley, thats pretty decent!

Irony of this thread is i have actually recently started moving back out to the Waitaks .. Unfortunately not to enjoy the landscape.... Im in the process of building up Effective rules and caches to manage it the best i can - load balance and such.

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