True cost of Vodem?

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Old Grey Geek

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# 11887 16-Feb-2007 11:15

I was discussing this with a freind the other day as he was considering getting one of these as he lives in the far north and seems to have no other broadband options. $49.95 for a Months worth of broadband seemed reasonable considering the setup costs of the network and the low cap seemed OK in light of the lack of bandwidth on Vodaphones network, but, and this seems like a big but, a but so huge that..... I digress. Well anyhoo. Excess data charged at $0.50 per mb is frightening when you work it out. For him to use the web as I do (I use my full 21gig cap every month) would work out at around $10,000.00 a month and that, to me, seems just a tad expensive.

Waddaya reckon?

sbiddle

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# 61005 16-Feb-2007 11:24

Vodafone's current pricing is simply not designed for somebody transferring that amount of data. Determining true stats is probably pretty hard but the average usage for NZers with internet access seems to be somewhere around the 5-8GB per month range and a large number of users do use less than the 2GB per month that the Vodem plans offer.

Remember not everybody thinks the internet is just one big P2P network designed solely for downloading movies and watching YouTube all day.

tonyhughes

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# 61006 16-Feb-2007 11:29

Old Grey Geek: I was discussing this with a freind the other day as he was considering getting one of these as he lives in the far north and seems to have no other broadband options. $49.95 for a Months worth of broadband seemed reasonable considering the setup costs of the network and the low cap seemed OK in light of the lack of bandwidth on Vodaphones network, but, and this seems like a big butt, a butt so huge that..... I digress. Well anyhoo. Excess data charged at $0.50 per mb is frightening when you work it out. For him to use the web as I do (I use my full 21gig cap every month) would work out at around $10,000.00 a month and that, to me, seems just a tad expensive.

Waddaya reckon?

If all that was done over WAP it would be over a million dollars a month!

But seriously, the design of the plan clearly indicates that its it not intended for a 21GB a month user.

If I watch pay per view movies on Sky 6 hours a day, 7 days a week (which is how often many people watch TV (but not me!!)), then I would have a HUGE bill. But clearly the idea of pay per view is that you would use it anywhere from once every few months, to once or twice a week.

Same goes with data plans - you know the cost in advance. If you choose to use it like a low cost ADSL connection, then you know you are getting a $10k bill. If you dont want the bill, seek an alternative.

:-)

freitasm

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# 61008 16-Feb-2007 11:44

Old Grey Geek: I was discussing this with a freind the other day as he was considering getting one of these as he lives in the far north and seems to have no other broadband options. $49.95 for a Months worth of broadband seemed reasonable considering the setup costs of the network and the low cap seemed OK in light of the lack of bandwidth on Vodaphones network, but, and this seems like a big but, a but so huge that..... I digress. Well anyhoo. Excess data charged at $0.50 per mb is frightening when you work it out. For him to use the web as I do (I use my full 21gig cap every month) would work out at around $10,000.00 a month and that, to me, seems just a tad expensive.

Waddaya reckon?

Wrong in so many levels... First is not "vodem" but the whole 3G service. Then each one has different requirements. And one will use the tool that's best for the work at hand. You can just have a hammer and see everything as a nail.

The 3G service would be ok for someone like my parents in law, who have only a 1GB ADSL plan at home. But then they have two laptops at home, and sharing the vodem connection won't work ok. So they have the option of having the Wireless Router with 3G card, or DSL. Knowing how ADSL is faster than 3G, there's no much discussion: it's DSL.

Now you see, if they didn't need to share a connection, then 3G could be just what they needed. They use less than 1GB a month.

You use 21GB a month, so your requirements are different. You don't need a hammer, you need a nailgun.

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alasta

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# 61009 16-Feb-2007 12:36

My monthly usage averages around 1Gb, so 3G broadband is fine for me. For someone who averages more than 1.5Gb it would be unsuitable because of the risk of being hit with astronomical overuse charges.

I still check my usage every few days just to play it safe.

Old Grey Geek

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# 61023 16-Feb-2007 15:43

Oops, got a wrist slap from Da Boss Man

freitasm: Wrong in so many levels... First is not "vodem" but the whole 3G service.

The whole point of my discussion with my mate was that he wanted broadband in the Far North. He lives in Peria, about halfway between Taipa, Doubtless Bay and Kaitia so we looked at the Vodem. When we worked out what it would cost for him to do what he wanted it was a bit of a shock. Like I said I can understand it being more expensive but that just seemed ridiculous.

freitasm: You don't need a hammer, you need a nailgun.

I've got 4 nail guns and about a dozen hammers. ;-)

grant_k

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# 61025 16-Feb-2007 16:05

Old Grey Geek: I was discussing this with a freind the other day as he was considering getting one of these as he lives in the far north and seems to have no other broadband options.

I don't think that's correct. We drove through Peria about a month ago and a lot of the countryside is flat to rolling so your friend should be able to get Satellite Broadband or Kordia Extend wireless. Of these two, the satellite option is better if he plans to use 3GB or more:

http://www.wirelessnation.co.nz/services_home.php

1GB would set him back $59, 3GB for $69 or 5GB for $89.

Kordia Extend wireless is much better for VoIP (due to low latency) but if that isn't a requirement, then Satellite Broadband would be the way to go. Xtra Wireless is priced at $60 for 1GB or $70 for 2GB. There are other options for more than 2GB but they get seriously expensive.

Of course, your friend would be well advised to avoid P2P altogether unless he is happy to pay some massive bills. If P2P is a "must-have" then your friend is going to need to move into Kaitaia

. For myself, I'd rather forget the P2P and stay in the peaceful countryside

Old Grey Geek

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# 61058 16-Feb-2007 23:46

I love it when people just tell me I'm wrong. Can't anyone come up with anything positive?
I am just trying to help someone. I know that if you choose to "go bush" you can"t expect city advantages but one of the great advantages of the intaweb is that you should be able to do just that, work from home, wherever you want to live. For NZ to achive its full potential, as a "clean green paradise" we should be working towards this goal instead of being seen as a way for multinationals being alowed to stick us like penned pigs, maybe it's time for, dare I say it? legislation

grant_k

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# 61059 17-Feb-2007 00:21

Old Grey Geek: I love it when people just tell me I'm wrong. Can't anyone come up with anything positive?

I don't understand the logic of your argument

I have provided some detailed pricing on Satellite and Wireless options which are available to you.

What is so negative about that?

Worse, you didn't see fit to respond to the 2 alternatives I gave, so I'm wondering why I bothered...

cokemaster

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# 61060 17-Feb-2007 00:46

Rural broadband connections will no doubt cost more to 'run'. By 'run', I'm referring to the cost of installing the equipment, installing the nessecary backhaul arrangements, the equipment itself, the cost of sending servicemen out to provision DSL lines and so forth... because of the lower customer base its not nearly as profitable as say cities or urban environments, particularly when you take into account the length of some of these rural lines. One could come to the conclusion that rural customers do indeed cost more and aren't nearly as profitable (if at all if you factor in the same plans etc) as their urban brothers.

It would be nice to have rural broadband access - when I visit my folks their DSL connection is always busy due to someone downloading, so I have to resort to mobile broadband while I'm down there. Its only 1X coverage however its usable and while its not the fastest kid on the block (compared to EVDO, UTMS, or HSPDA) - I can live with it because I'm guessing that I'd be one of the few users who'd actually use his mobile data connection quite heavily in that area.

Satellite technology is really going the most cost effective method to provide 'rural broadband'. Why? Because while you have the high cost of renting space on the satellite, the beam potentially covers the entire country regardless of position which is probably less than installing a lot of dslams and co everywhere in the countryside. They just need line of site of the Satellite. A similar case exists with rural wireless too.

Sure, the performance may not be as high as its DSL cousins and the price may be higher too - however its one of the 'premiums' of living rural.

So in fact your statement is true:

"but one of the great advantages of the intaweb is that you should be able to do just that, work from home, wherever you want to liv"

Its just rural and remote areas cost more and potentially need to pay more. Those dslams, cellsites, satelites, wireless sites aren't free...

Look at the rural wireless and Satelite options posted above - they are probably the best for you. But remember that if you want to use your connection heavily - be prepared to dig deep.

Edit: Just noticed grants post after posting rant.

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Old Grey Geek

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# 61072 17-Feb-2007 10:34

Sorry Grant I competely misread your post, after far too many afterwork drinks. I've given him a link to this thread so's he can make up his own mind. Thanks for all your input guys and after reading Tony's article the cost of the Vodem pales into insignificance compared to the WAP charges but thosre figures on TXT were staggering $1.3 million per Gb ????

tonyhughes

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# 61078 17-Feb-2007 11:02

People on Geekzone take great delight in point out inaccuracies, or omissions :-)

There is USUALLY some positive info thrown in for good measure too!

Often, posts can seem short and sharp on Geekzone, but its usually because someone is reply to 3 or 4 posts in the 5 mins they have before going to do something else, they/we dont sit there with a scowl on our faces hammering out terse replies to appear mean.

A good reminder to all though, that through text posts, its very hard to tell a persons mood/attitude. So be clear and concise, and always attempt to provide some positives!

:-)

Have a great day!!

grant_k

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# 61083 17-Feb-2007 12:50

Old Grey Geek: Sorry Grant I competely misread your post, after far too many afterwork drinks.

No worries Steve

I wondered if it was me that was missing something!

Old Grey Geek: one of the great advantages of the intaweb is that you should be able to do just that, work from home, wherever you want to live.

In my case, the Kordia Extend Wireless service has enabled me to do just that, for the past 3 years. Sure it's more expensive than what I would pay in Auckland for a faster/better plan via ADSL. In my view however, escaping the rat-race is something you can't put a price on

I hope that your friend finds a viable broadband option using either IPSTAR Satellite or Kordia Wireless. If you have any specific questions regarding the Kordia Wireless service, please let me know as I can probably answer them.

Old Grey Geek

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# 61088 17-Feb-2007 18:31

Thanxz guys, warm fuzzies all round.