One NZ to retire HFC (cable) network

Forums › One NZ (including Farmside) › One NZ to retire HFC (cable) network

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242 posts

Master Geek
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#3464844 25-Feb-2026 20:02

Rickles:

Failing that, accept the deal as is and sell the router?

Pretty much this. Or you go without and lose out on $200 and the monthly discount.

That just does not compute in my mind. Why would you do that?

LurkingKiwi

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Geek
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#3464859 25-Feb-2026 21:16

Rickles:

Anyone know if Kelburn, Wellington yet been subjected to or notified of the change?

I guy I support in south Kelburn (Norna Cres) got the email on 24 Jan with switchoff on 23 March.

He phoned within a few days but the Chorus visit is now booked for 3 March.

SteveC

stevec
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#3464868 25-Feb-2026 22:15

Distorter:
Rickles:
Failing that, accept the deal as is and sell the router?

<
Pretty much this. Or you go without and lose out on $200 and the monthly discount.

That just does not compute in my mind. Why would you do that?

It was not my idea, and @Rickles might have other reasons, but I suspect the main reason someone would take the router and sell it would be because the money was important to them.
I would be inclined to wire the SmartWiFi (so confusing have Super and Smart WiFi which are different but work together) and adopt it into my existing Deco network, then promote it to Main, because it is much newer and better spec than the X20s, so would probably do a better job.
Steve

Eva888

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#3465050 26-Feb-2026 08:28

I still haven’t plugged in the new deco router because chorus man said my old one has the same specs but more inlets so will need a switch for the new Deco. Too much going on at present to deal with this.

TomAckroyd

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#3465257 26-Feb-2026 18:57

Thanks for the feedback. My current setup:
coax into Technicolor TC4400VDF cable modem
ethernet from that to Vodafone H500-T "Ultra Hub" router. I don't use that as the WiFi network creator
ethernet from that to main Deco X20 to create mesh network
two more X20s around the house.

Turns out the Deco BE28 "Smart WiFi modem" is not a modem. The fibre ONT is the modem. So my best option would be: pay the $5/month for a modern WiFi 7 mesh unit, run ethernet from the ONT to the BE28 and use the three X20s as my extenders.

Did I get that right?

[EDIT] This means doing away with all those ethernet outputs on the Ultra Hub. Or should I keep the Ultra Hub and use it in the same way, as a router? And for my VOIP?
[EDIT] I can answer that - the ONT 300 has a TEL port and spare ethernet ports

SteveC

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#3465260 26-Feb-2026 19:16

TomAckroyd: ...
Turns out the Deco BE28 "Smart WiFi modem" is not a modem. The fibre ONT is the modem. So my best option would be: pay the $5/month for a modern WiFi 7 mesh unit, run ethernet from the ONT to the BE28 and use the three X20s as my extenders.

Did I get that right?

[EDIT] This means doing away with all those ethernet outputs on the Ultra Hub. Or should I keep the Ultra Hub and use it in the same way, as a router?

Very close (I think). My understanding is that the BE28 is a Deco mesh node which you could adopt into your existing mesh, using the Deco app. That would give you a mesh of four units - the BE28 and three X20s. The BE28 has two Ethernet ports, so things would work best if you are able to wire it to one of the X20s.
Having said that, One NZ don't mention cabling the Decos together. I suspect this would be because they want to keep things simple, and they can form a mesh over wireless, but wired is (almost) always better.
https://one.nz/help/broadband/modem-support/deco-be28-set-up
https://service-provider.tp-link.com/home-wifi-system/deco-be28/

I find use of the term 'modem' funny. Technically, a 'modem' is MOdulator / DEModuclator to convert between analouge signals (ie phone line) to digital (Ethernet), but common usage is to use it to refer to whatever device your ISP sends you.
The alternative SmartWiFi device is a Deco X53-DSL modem. it really does include a modem to accommodate the DSL connection. That is what the whānau member we are supporting will need, as they want to keep their fixed phone line.
Technically, it includes:

Modem - DSL to Router
Router - WAN Ethernet to LAN Ethernet & DHCP server
ATA - to attach a analouge phone
Access Point - to deal with the WiFi
Ethernet switch - to join the AP, wired Ethernet, and router

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TomAckroyd

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#3465261 26-Feb-2026 19:20

Thanks, Steve. I have since discovered the ONT has a telephone port and 4 LAN ports https://www.chorus.co.nz/help/ont/type-300 , so the X53 may be redundant?

SteveC

stevec
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#3465266 26-Feb-2026 20:00

TomAckroyd: Thanks, Steve. I have since discovered the ONT has a telephone port and 4 LAN ports https://www.chorus.co.nz/help/ont/type-300 , so the X53 may be redundant?

Nope! As far as know, no ISPs have used that port (or the router built into the ONT). It was talked about once as an option for those who only wanted a phone but could no longer get copper.
This video from One NZ shows the ATA port being used in an X53 https://youtu.be/R4SfptFx90s?si=L9SDEkvJeUSMseGs&t=57

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michaelmurfy

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#3465277 26-Feb-2026 21:05

SteveC: Nope! As far as know, no ISPs have used that port (or the router built into the ONT). It was talked about once as an option for those who only wanted a phone but could no longer get copper.

Incorrect,

ONT based voice is a thing that quite a few ISP's like Spark, Mercury, Sky Broadband, 2degrees and 2talk use. See here: https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=49&topicid=174969

RGW mode on the ONT was an offer in the past that a few ISP's also used but was withdrawn on the 31st of October 2024.

One NZ use their own router for voice as do many others so you're right there.

Each port on the ONT can be associated with a different internet service. Somebody may have One NZ on Port 1 and Spark on Port 2 for example for 2 totally different services.

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SteveC

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#3465287 26-Feb-2026 22:18

Kia ora @michaelmurfy
I always like to learn new things. Not just that a lot of ISPs use the ONT ATA, but I don't remember seeing 'RGW' before. I assume it is Router Gateway Wireless. I've always said the Telecommunications industry had more acronyms per square metre than anyone else, all to continue that remarkable line from Theresa Gattung saying that confusion is a valid marketing tool.

Steve Cosgrove
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Mostly at Whitireia Polytechnic, Porirua About ten years before that in general PC support.

Available for contract networking (or other tech stuff) after 30 April 2026.

michaelmurfy

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#3465293 27-Feb-2026 00:04

SteveC:
I always like to learn new things. Not just that a lot of ISPs use the ONT ATA, but I don't remember seeing 'RGW' before. I assume it is Router Gateway Wireless.

RGW - Residential Gateway 🙂

There were quite a few ISP's using it but it wasn't great as ONT's are not normally installed in the most ideal place for WiFi. Most providers opted to either send the customer a router or opted the customer to use their own router instead.

Anyway, that's quite off-topic now!

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Chilko

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#3465366 27-Feb-2026 10:45

Thought I'd share our experience with the HFC switchover, as we are now on fibre as of yesterday. Due to this thread I had been anticipating the notice from One that this would be required.

We were happy HFC customers, as we had a discount and were paying ~$74 a month for 1gbps speeds (at times speed testing at 1.2gbps to my iPhone with the provided Huawei router).

We received the email on 27th Jan stating the HFC would be decommissioned by end of March (Miramar, Wellington) and were offered the $71 deal for Fibre Everyday (500/10) with Smart Wifi and the $200 credit for a 12-month contract. We accepted this offer, primarily due to the $200 credit.

Fibre install was then booked for the week of 16 Feb. We were apprehensive, as we knew the previous tenants living at this property had tried to unsuccessfully install fibre, due to the location of this flat up a flight of stairs behind another property (which is why we were on HFC as this was already connected).

Chorus technicians came by the week before the scheduled install to do the design and fortunately were able to reach the street through an existing duct for old copper or coax lines. The fibre install then happened one week later than planned (probably due to the storm), and with very little notice & bad comms (One NZ sent an email saying the install was now scheduled for end of March, but the same day we got a call from Chorus saying they'd come by the next day in the morning - fortunately I could work from home). Chorus techs then spent nearly the whole day with the install as the duct cable pulling seemed to be much harder than anticipated (and we're a top unit in a two-story house), and they didn't managed to finish that day due to lack of materials. They then came back 7am the next morning to finish the install.

They connected the new Deco BE28 and left the old setup untouched, and told us it should start working in a few mins. It didn't, but that was fine as the old HFC setup was still functioning. The next day I returned home from work and noticed our HFC box no longer had internet, but neither did the Deco wifi network. Tried to troubleshoot by restarting ONT, restarting Deco router, downloading Deco app over data (as you can't configure it via web browser), creating TP-Link account, and trying to follow the setup process in the app. This process was kinda janky as it assumed the Deco hadn't been setup yet and different color lights were showing compared what it said in the app, yet it was already kind of setup by the Chorus techs so got stuck in some kind of loop where the app and phone kept trying to reconnect to the network & Deco. After a couple it rounds of that it just started working. The remaining annoyance now is the lack of ethernet ports on the Deco so either need to get a switch or try repurpose the old Huawei unit as a switch. This morning I just plugged the old Huawei router into the ONT instead so that all our other devices will still work until I have time to configure everything (e.g. our robot vaccuum), which worked immediately and makes me question whether to use the Deco at all.

The final issue we now have is our latest bill which we just received - $101 for some reason as opposed to the expected $74 or $71. As it listed credits for postage and handling, etc, we called One NZ to clarify this and were told the following:

Due to the date of the HFC/Fibre switchover (which we didn't have much control over), our HFC contract was ended before the end of our usual billing month.
Because the contract ended prior to the end of the billing month, our usual HFC discount is therefore not applied for this month.
Due to this, we now need pay $30 extra because we were switched to a slower service before the end of our billing month (we would have happily remained on HFC until the end of the month).
I asked whether they could switch us back to HFC until the end of the month seeing as all the kit was still there, but they said no because HFC plans are now retired.
They instead tried to reiterate that our next two bills would be $0 due to the $200 credit, which is irrelevant as I'm still salty about that extra $30 this month.

In summary, kind of an annoying process for us and definitely salty to be paying the same amount for a slower service, but at least it's working now (and some speed tests are >600 mbps). I will still try to fight our current bill with One as I think it's a bit bullshit. This could be much more painful for someone who is not as familiar with tech.

netspanner

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#3465515 27-Feb-2026 16:08

We got the email of HFC doom today in Christchurch

Right now, your broadband at ..... Spreydon Christchurch is on our older HFC service that’s closing soon in your area. So we need to work together to get you sorted, well before 29 April 2026.

This will be fun, Enable installed the pipe to hold the fibre, but not the fibre itself because we had cable installed. But according to them we have fibre installed.

sleemanj

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#3465535 27-Feb-2026 17:57

netspanner:

We got the email of HFC doom today in Christchurch

I was hoping they might be leaving Christchurch until north island is done :-(

Going to absolutely grate paying the same for half the speed, and no doubt they will force to have the ONT where it's easiest to get to, instead of where the cable modem is in my home office, meaning I will have to connect my Linux workstation wirelessly, which will suck even harder.

Bah.

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KiwiSurfer

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#3465611 27-Feb-2026 21:42

sleemanj:

Going to absolutely grate paying the same for half the speed, and no doubt they will force to have the ONT where it's easiest to get to, instead of where the cable modem is in my home office, meaning I will have to connect my Linux workstation wirelessly, which will suck even harder.

Having been on UFB for several years I have to say the reliability of fibre is an absolute gamechanger compared to any copper tech. I've not even once had a single fault in I believe over seven years as a fibre customer. Just look on here for all the cable faults. I've myself suffered many faults on xDSL. Fibre... is just bliss. I'd take decades of reliable 100mbits fibre over any "higher" speed copper tech any day that might tank down to 1mbits whenever it rains etc.

They do not force you to do anything. It's free to just be nice to the installers and do suggest your preferred option. I'm sure they can figure out a way to achieve it. I've gone through two fibre installs and both times it was installed where I asked with no arguments -- just a matter of figuring out a way to do it and then they got on to it.

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