[WXC/VFX] I think I wanna change my plan - before even starting it hehe

Forums › One NZ (including Farmside) › [WXC/VFX] I think I wanna change my plan - before even starting it hehe

attilathegorilla

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#23665 6-Jul-2008 12:43

Ok, here`s the deal. I don`t use my landline that much, only for occasional local calls. So I thought why waste 40 bucks a month with Telecom? Decided to go Naked DSL and gave in a subscription to Xnet`s Fusion. It costs about 90 bucks for a 20GB plan, so I get to save 10 bucks plus I get double the data, plus Full speed/Full speed.

Sounds good.

But then I had another look at the options, and it seems that if I choose the Flood plan and keep my landline with that 20 dollar/month phone plan (Supercap A), then I would pay exactly the same amount as for Fusion. And I would still be able to use my old phone, no special equipment needed etc. The 1000 minutes included in this Supercap A is about 10 times what I normally use, so it`s more than enough.

So I have two questions please:

1. How does Flood compare with Fusion in terms of speed, up and down? Are they both ADSL 2+ max/max? Is there any difference at all?

2. And does it cost anything to change my plan and get back to regular phone + Flood, once I get connected to Fusion? I think I`m getting connected on Monday so I may be late in asking for a change.

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Dratsab

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#143358 6-Jul-2008 14:45

First port of call should be the helpdesk...

What equipment will be installed for your modem/routing? If it's a linksys WAG54GP2v2 then you won't need any special equipment for your phone anyway as it has two analogue ports built into it that convert your phones signal to digital across the broadband link.

If it's other than that and doesn't have telephone ports you'll simply need to add an analogue telephone adaptor (ATA) such as a PAP2T or SPA2102 (both Linksys). Not complicated at all, but they are an extra expense.

As I see it: (Edit: The following numbers don't relate to your questions)
1. The Fusion plan is charged at a base rate of $69.95/month with data being charged at $1.02/gb, up to your cap level. You only pay for the data you use, so if, in a month, you used half of your cap (10gb) you would pay $80.15 for the month + the costs of any toll calls you made.

2. The Flood plan costs $49.95/month with data being charged 1.02/gb. So if you used half your cap in a month you pay $60.15 for the month + the costs of any toll calls you made + $40 dollars to Telecom or whoever for the rental of your analogue line, which you would have retained.

1 is cheaper than 2 by $20.

Don't confuse the Supercap rental with line rental - they're two completely different things!

attilathegorilla

213 posts

Master Geek

#143369 6-Jul-2008 15:58

Thanks Dratsab,

I wasn`t sure I could call Helpdesk, cos I`m not yet a customer, I tried to call sales but they don`t work Sundays.

I had the misconception that the Supercap plans would have included the line rental! So if you wanna use an analogue phone line, you always must pay Telecom 40 bucks, plus whatever special plan you want? Woooow. That info, if true, sheds a new light into the darkness in my head.

Well in this case it`s a no-brainer. At the moment I haven`t looked at any special equipments such as Adaptors, but I`ll do that soon. At first, I just wanna play around with things via a softphone. With this VFX thing, I can make calls straight from my computer with a headset, can`t I? I just need to configure Asterix, and away I go without the need for even an ATA. Am I correct?

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cokemaster

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#143374 6-Jul-2008 16:08

You buy something like the Linksys WAG or PAP2, and then plug your normal landline phone into that. You get a dial tone and it acts just like a normal phone, except your voice is converted into IP and sent over the tubes...

The prices vary a lot, but if you look around - you can get a bargin.

Keep in mind that your DSL must be active for it to work, if you lose internet connectivity - you'll lose your ability to make/recieve calls (though you can set another landline or mobile for your fallback number).

I believe you can get the supercap thing applied to a VFX connection, but check with their website or helpdesk first.

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attilathegorilla

213 posts

Master Geek

#143403 6-Jul-2008 17:47

Has anybody used one of these before? Grandstream HandyTone 486 ATA adapter. Seems great value.

http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/48704d9d052460a0273fc0a87f3b06c4/Product/View/XH9440

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maverick

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WorldxChange

#143410 6-Jul-2008 18:12

attilathegorilla:
Has anybody used one of these before? Grandstream HandyTone 486 ATA adapter. Seems great value.

http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/48704d9d052460a0273fc0a87f3b06c4/Product/View/XH9440

great value but not the best product, also not certified to use with us

http://www.xnet.co.nz/vfx/hardware.shtml

Yes I am a employee of WxC (My Profile) ... but I do have my own opinions as well

https://www.facebook.com/wxccommunications

attilathegorilla

213 posts

Master Geek

#143414 6-Jul-2008 18:24

maverick:

great value but not the best product, also not certified to use with us

http://www.xnet.co.nz/vfx/hardware.shtml

What does `certified` mean? Is there any reason why any regular ATA wouldn`t work with your service? Or does it only mean that you can`t guarantee it works, because it hasn`t officially been tested?

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#143424 6-Jul-2008 18:44

This was discussed many times before - and should have a sticky for that.

In short VFX is a telco grade product/service. Working with certified hardware means it will "just work" (TM). No messing around.

If you start playing with softphones or non-certified boxes then WorldxChange can't be responsible if things don't work - for example if you have a messed up dial plan and calls don't go through. Or if you have the wrong rules and a call to a mobile is not terminated and the billing clock keeps ticking.

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attilathegorilla

213 posts

Master Geek

#143433 6-Jul-2008 19:02

I guess you`re right, it`s not worth the risk for a difference of 20 dollars. First I wanted to replace my router with a VOIP capable all-in-one solution, but Xnet only has one suggestion, a wireless one, which I avoid by definition. Will probably end up getting this PAP2T.

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Niel

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#143508 6-Jul-2008 21:59

Why do you avoid the wireless routers? Disable SID broadcast and allow only approved MAC addresses (and don't enter any in the allowed list) then you are secure.

No soft phone available.

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frio

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#143510 6-Jul-2008 22:08

Disabling broadcast and blocking access via MAC addresses is the simplest form of protection to crack, and represents no security at all.

1) All your data is being broadcast unencrypted. Anyone can download a packet sniffer (like Kismet), log your traffic, then extract anything they want out of it.

2) Any basic packet sniffer will pick up your network. Again, Kismet would list it off the bat. All it takes is for a potential hacker to fire up Kismet, take a quick look at the traffic being sent and received (to get the MAC address) and they're able to use your network (as opposed to just logging everything you do). Standard networking equipment allows you to change MAC address these days - all they've got to do is pop in your number.

You're a million times better off with WPA (preferably WPA2), setup with a PSK of around 8+ characters. I typically pick a phrase like "This is my home network", CamelCase it and swap vowels for numbers - "Th1sMyH0m3N3tw0rk". Secure, easy to remember, easy to use. WEP can do the job in a pinch, but it's crackable within a matter of hours (as opposed to days/weeks for WPA/WPA2).

To the OP though, why not just buy a wireless router and disable the wireless? They all let you do that :).

attilathegorilla

213 posts

Master Geek

#143616 7-Jul-2008 10:11

To the OP though, why not just buy a wireless router and disable the wireless? They all let you do that :).

Hmmm I had no idea that was possible. So you can use a wireless router with the traditional wired method?

I`m a bit of a hypochondriac when it comes to wireless devices, it`s not just about security. I don`t even like to have my cellphone switched on cos of any radiation.

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attilathegorilla

213 posts

Master Geek

#143618 7-Jul-2008 10:15

No soft phone available.

What about Asterix? Can`t I just use that straight from my pc?

If honest work and justice are not enough - we'll get a lawyer.

maverick

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WorldxChange

#143620 7-Jul-2008 10:16

yes you can use Asterisk in lieu of the Linksys hardware options

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frio

80 posts

Master Geek

#143824 7-Jul-2008 14:45

attilathegorilla:
To the OP though, why not just buy a wireless router and disable the wireless? They all let you do that :).

Hmmm I had no idea that was possible. So you can use a wireless router with the traditional wired method?
I`m a bit of a hypochondriac when it comes to wireless devices, it`s not just about security. I don`t even like to have my cellphone switched on cos of any radiation.

Yup :). Wireless devices typically include a stack of 4 ethernet ports. You can turn off the wireless component in pretty much all of them (which disables the antennae, so there's nothing being broadcast/no radiation and suchlike :)).

attilathegorilla

213 posts

Master Geek

#143851 7-Jul-2008 15:15

Great to know. Learn something new every day

If honest work and justice are not enough - we'll get a lawyer.