[TelstraClear] Telstra Clear Sign Up Questions

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gerrard8

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#39288 11-Aug-2009 21:23

Hey guys,

I'm thinking of signing up for TelstaClear broadband 10GB pack but I've got a couple of queries that I was hoping you guys could help me with:

1 - I was told by the CSR that I spoke to that a technician needs to come round to my house and attach a cable from my house to the local connection point in the street. My house is about 10m from the street. I was just wondering how disruptive this is to the ground on my property? That is, does it leave a noticeable mark on the lawn, etc?

2 - The CSR also told me that my address in Churton Park will not get access to ADSL+2 until 2011, which I confirmed, and that therefore the cable link up that Telstra Clear will provide will be much quicker and more reliable than its Telecom counterpart called the Explorer Plan. Was he correct in saying that?

Thanks in advance for any help.

cyril7

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#245389 11-Aug-2009 22:11

Hi, assuming your area is underground for Telstra HFC services then the telstra guys will bore a cable through from the street, normally this has little impact on your lawns if any, they can be quite discrete in this respect, but check with them before they do the work and see if they themselves seem confident and you are happy with what they propose to do.

What speeds do you currently get on ADSL. Telstra cable in the Welly district is currently capable of 10Mb/s which is a bit faster than ADSL, which will only give around 7-8Mb/s if you are within 2km of the DSLAM. So yes they can offer better performance and of most importance much lower latency (which is good if you are a gamer), but how much better depends on what you currently get on ADSL.

Cyril

Screeb

698 posts

Ultimate Geek

#245391 11-Aug-2009 22:16

cyril7:
much lower latency (which is good if you are a gamer)

Not true. ADSL generally has lower latency than cable these days, especially with interleaving off.

gerrard8, you will get better value for money with ADSL, unless you really need 2Mbps upload (unlikely).

gerrard8

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#245402 11-Aug-2009 22:34

cyril7: Hi, assuming your area is underground for Telstra HFC services then the telstra guys will bore a cable through from the street, normally this has little impact on your lawns if any, they can be quite discrete in this respect, but check with them before they do the work and see if they themselves seem confident and you are happy with what they propose to do.

What speeds do you currently get on ADSL. Telstra cable in the Welly district is currently capable of 10Mb/s which is a bit faster than ADSL, which will only give around 7-8Mb/s if you are within 2km of the DSLAM. So yes they can offer better performance and of most importance much lower latency (which is good if you are a gamer), but how much better depends on what you currently get on ADSL.

Cyril

Hi Cyril, thanks for your response.

That's good to hear. Yeah, they're coming round next week and I'll be sure to ask them those kinds of questions.

I currently have slingshot dial-up and get downloading speeds of about 3KB. I have never used any broadband service. I plan on using the connection for research and downloading reasonably large files. Could you please explain what "lower latency" means? So you would agree with the Telstra Clear CSR and say that I would be better off going with them than Telecom?

Cheers.

Screeb:
cyril7:
much lower latency (which is good if you are a gamer)

Not true. ADSL generally has lower latency than cable these days, especially with interleaving off.

gerrard8, you will get better value for money with ADSL, unless you really need 2Mbps upload (unlikely).

Thanks for your response.

I don't think so, I'll be using it to research for uni and downloading.

I've heard from a few people that with Telecom broadband you can often have troubles with staying connected with the line. That is, every week or so they'd experience a time when it would take several hours to get any internet service. Is that type of thing not very common?

Ragnor

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#245407 11-Aug-2009 22:51

gerrard8:

I've heard from a few people that with Telecom broadband you can often have troubles with staying connected with the line. That is, every week or so they'd experience a time when it would take several hours to get any internet service. Is that type of thing not very common?

People having those sort of problems usually have a faulty modem, very bad house wiring or something along those lines. Not very common in my experience.

For regular web usage eg: websites, email, standard downloads, youtube, facebook etc you really won't notice much difference between Telstra Cable and ADSL. Either is a massive upgrade from dialup!

michaeln

238 posts

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#245437 12-Aug-2009 00:03

cyril7: What speeds do you currently get on ADSL. Telstra cable in the Welly district is currently capable of 10Mb/s which is a bit faster than ADSL, which will only give around 7-8Mb/s if you are within 2km of the DSLAM. So yes they can offer better performance and of most importance much lower latency (which is good if you are a gamer), but how much better depends on what you currently get on ADSL.

Cyril

Actually, 25Mbps is now available in Wellington.

Screeb

698 posts

Ultimate Geek

#245452 12-Aug-2009 02:08

michaeln:
Actually, 25Mbps is now available in Wellington.

For a mere $230. A service that less than 20 customers have taken up in Christchurch so far. I doubt it's in the price range of gerrard8 (though who knows, maybe he IS a millionaire).

gerrard8, like Ragnor said, you won't notice the difference. The outages and issues with ADSL you hear about are certainly not common. If you don't know latency is, then don't worry about it. It's really only relevant if you play lots of fast-paced online games, and as I pointed out, ADSL is better than cable in this regard anway.

gerrard8

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#245454 12-Aug-2009 02:22

Ragnor:
gerrard8:

I've heard from a few people that with Telecom broadband you can often have troubles with staying connected with the line. That is, every week or so they'd experience a time when it would take several hours to get any internet service. Is that type of thing not very common?

People having those sort of problems usually have a faulty modem, very bad house wiring or something along those lines. Not very common in my experience.

For regular web usage eg: websites, email, standard downloads, youtube, facebook etc you really won't notice much difference between Telstra Cable and ADSL. Either is a massive upgrade from dialup!

Oh ok, that's good to know, thanks.

Screeb:
michaeln:
Actually, 25Mbps is now available in Wellington.

For a mere $230. A service that less than 20 customers have taken up in Christchurch so far. I doubt it's in the price range of gerrard8 (though who knows, maybe he IS a millionaire).

gerrard8, like Ragnor said, you won't notice the difference. The outages and issues with ADSL you hear about are certainly not common. If you don't know latency is, then don't worry about it. It's really only relevant if you play lots of fast-paced online games, and as I pointed out, ADSL is better than cable in this regard anway.

Thanks for that.

Just a couple of other questions:

Does getting an ADSL line require any digging or anything of that nature?

Also, do you know how much of an affect one's modem has on the overall speed and reliability of a broadband connection, as I see that Telecom provides a free modem but is it any good?

Really appreciate all the help guys.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

cyril7

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#245476 12-Aug-2009 08:20

Hi,

Not true. ADSL generally has lower latency than cable these days, especially with interleaving off.

Yes this is by and large true, never used to be however with recent upgrades ADSL has definintely caught up. Depending on your ISP and presumably loading on your local exchange the spread of ping times over any period can signifcantly vary, and this seems to be less so with TCL cable.

Personally I prefer ADSL to cable, an opinion not so much based on the technology they both have the pluses and minuses, however my gripe mainly surrounds the ISP attached to cable and the lack of choice on that medium.

Most of Churton Park being a newer suburb appears to be largely surved off active cabinets, which according to the Telecom site are not due to be upgraded to ADSL2+ ISAMs till late_2010/early_2011. I think I would be wanting to find out from others in your area on ADSL exactly what performance they currently have.

Assuming you currently have a phone line with Telecom ADSL does not require any digging or major changes to your property, however as always if you want optimum ADSL performance I recommend a central filter is installed. This is an important detail to ensure your modem does not get randomly disconnected, PM me if you want a quote to have one installed.

Actually, 25Mbps is now available in Wellington.

Yes was aware that it had finally made its way here after being launched in ChCh a year ago, but as Screeb pointed out, you would need rocks in your head to pay that much for so little.

Also, do you know how much of an affect one's modem has on the overall speed and reliability of a broadband connection, as I see that Telecom provides a free modem but is it any good?

The modem supplied is a Thompson is nothing flash, seems to do all the right things, however it does lock you in to Telecom as an ISP without a payout clause, personally I would prefer a humble DSE XH9949 or TP Link TD-8840 (both the same product) for around $70 these seem very reliable workers.

Cyril

gerrard8

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#245532 12-Aug-2009 11:32

cyril7: Hi,
Not true. ADSL generally has lower latency than cable these days, especially with interleaving off.

Yes this is by and large true, never used to be however with recent upgrades ADSL has definintely caught up. Depending on your ISP and presumably loading on your local exchange the spread of ping times over any period can signifcantly vary, and this seems to be less so with TCL cable.

Personally I prefer ADSL to cable, an opinion not so much based on the technology they both have the pluses and minuses, however my gripe mainly surrounds the ISP attached to cable and the lack of choice on that medium.

Most of Churton Park being a newer suburb appears to be largely surved off active cabinets, which according to the Telecom site are not due to be upgraded to ADSL2+ ISAMs till late_2010/early_2011. I think I would be wanting to find out from others in your area on ADSL exactly what performance they currently have.

Assuming you currently have a phone line with Telecom ADSL does not require any digging or major changes to your property, however as always if you want optimum ADSL performance I recommend a central filter is installed. This is an important detail to ensure your modem does not get randomly disconnected, PM me if you want a quote to have one installed.

Actually, 25Mbps is now available in Wellington.

Yes was aware that it had finally made its way here after being launched in ChCh a year ago, but as Screeb pointed out, you would need rocks in your head to pay that much for so little.

Also, do you know how much of an affect one's modem has on the overall speed and reliability of a broadband connection, as I see that Telecom provides a free modem but is it any good?

The modem supplied is a Thompson is nothing flash, seems to do all the right things, however it does lock you in to Telecom as an ISP without a payout clause, personally I would prefer a humble DSE XH9949 or TP Link TD-8840 (both the same product) for around $70 these seem very reliable workers.

Cyril

Thanks for your post, really appreciate all this info.

My house is right on the outskirts of Churton Park and is almost in Johnsonville really. All the people I know in this area don't have broadband so I'm afraid I can't find that out first hand. I did call Telecom, however, and ask how good an ADSL connection would be at my address and the CSR ran some test with my phone no and said it should work fine.

Thanks for the info about the modems, Dick Smith has the one you mentioned.

davide

214 posts

Master Geek

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#245624 12-Aug-2009 14:53

gerrard8: I've heard from a few people that with Telecom broadband you can often have troubles with staying connected with the line. That is, every week or so they'd experience a time when it would take several hours to get any internet service. Is that type of thing not very common?

I'd say not very common. If on ADSL and your house is too far from the exchange/cabinet then you may experience issues however any good ISP should be able to work this out beforehand and normally won't sign you up if by their calculations you won't get good service.

As Cyril said though, best to get a central filter installed so that the wiring from the rest of the house isn't going to affect the ADSL signal.

(PS Yay, someone from Churton Park... I grew up there :) )

------------------------------------------------------
David Elsbury
Freelance Lighting, Sound and AV Technician
"Technician like ninja... live in shadow, move in silence"

gerrard8

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#245723 12-Aug-2009 17:50

davide:
gerrard8: I've heard from a few people that with Telecom broadband you can often have troubles with staying connected with the line. That is, every week or so they'd experience a time when it would take several hours to get any internet service. Is that type of thing not very common?

I'd say not very common. If on ADSL and your house is too far from the exchange/cabinet then you may experience issues however any good ISP should be able to work this out beforehand and normally won't sign you up if by their calculations you won't get good service.

As Cyril said though, best to get a central filter installed so that the wiring from the rest of the house isn't going to affect the ADSL signal.

(PS Yay, someone from Churton Park... I grew up there :) )

So does the fact that when I type in my phone number on the Telecom website and it says that ADSL can be installed not mean that I will necessairly get a good connection?

Cheers.

Ragnor

8223 posts

Uber Geek

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#245740 12-Aug-2009 18:29

With ADSL you do not have to use Telecom as your ISP, you have the choice of Orcon, Xnet, Vodafone, Maxnet, Slingshot, Telstra and more.

The various ISP's offer pretty competitive phone/internet bundles. Your phone line is Telecom currently? Are you under contract for that?

gerrard8

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#245748 12-Aug-2009 18:40

Yeah my phone line is with Telecom, long-term contract I think. Because of that I'd choose Telecom if I were to get ADSL. It seems to offer the best deals anyway.