Best solution for temporary mobile broadband to cover office usage?

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RedJungle

Phil Gale
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#123170 27-Jun-2013 09:34

Hi Folks,

We're due to move into our new office space this weekend (this is in Napier). And yesterday were suddenly hit by the bombshell that our landlord has put in his resource consents to get connected to the copper network too late, and it could be up to 3 weeks before any fixed line broadband is available.

We're software developers and we really cannot work without broadband. So, dilemma here is for me today is to make a decision on whether to delay our move by three weeks or not. Or whether there is a non-fixed (3G/Wifi) solution which could cover us in the meantime - without running costs into the $1000's.

Looking at devices such as this: http://store.telecom.co.nz/mobile/prepaid/mobilebroadband/huawei-e5220-mobile-hotspot

That appears it could be a viable option for 3 or so weeks. I imagine Vodafone have a similar device. The issue would be around data allowance. There will be 8 staff making reasonable usage of the connection for up to 3 weeks time..

Hopefully I'm misunderstanding the pricing, but on face value, under the Telecom pre-paid plans - this looks like the cost is $49 for the first 3GB but then $200 for each additional GB. So, say for a 25 GB usage (which does not seem to be a lot) this would cost us $4,449.

Is anybody across the options a bit better and could recommend something that would cover this situation better?

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#845925 27-Jun-2013 09:56

2Degrees 12gb mobile broadband for $99 might be a bit more cost effective? Napier is in their Mobile Broadband zone.

Paulthagerous

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#845928 27-Jun-2013 09:59

You can buy as many lots of the 3GB as you like, it's only if you run out it goes into those rates.

So, 10x3GB = 10x$49 = $490 for 30GB as long as you add the additional packs before you run out of data allowance.

wongtop

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#845930 27-Jun-2013 10:01

I would grab one of the Vodafone devices, probably the R208 in your case as the R205 only supports 5 wifi clients, then when the included data ran out put in a 2degrees sim in with the $99/12GB pack on it. You would need to be inside the 2degrees mobile broadband zone though (http://www.2degreesmobile.co.nz/mobilebroadband/broadbandzones). If not then either Telecom or Vodafone should be OK, but I would just keep on switching SIM cards rather than incurr the $200/GB rate. If the worst comes to the worst retailers often have the USB modems on sale for around $30, which includes 2GB, just use the SIM from one of these, pop it in the wifi device and throw the USB modem away/sell it on trademe.

RedJungle

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#845931 27-Jun-2013 10:01

Paulthagerous: You can buy as many lots of the 3GB as you like, it's only if you run out it goes into those rates.

So, 10x3GB = 10x$49 = $490 for 30GB as long as you add the additional packs before you run out of data allowance.

Cool, so I suspected that may be possible. But the wording on the Telecom site is pretty ambiguous at best. :)

trig42

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#845933 27-Jun-2013 10:03

Where in Napier are you going to be?

I noticed when I was there checking a rental property 4 weeks ago that Fibre is in the ground in and around the Hill.

Maybe you can get UFB/VOIP and not worry about copper?

Paulthagerous

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#845935 27-Jun-2013 10:06

RedJungle:
Paulthagerous: You can buy as many lots of the 3GB as you like, it's only if you run out it goes into those rates.

So, 10x3GB = 10x$49 = $490 for 30GB as long as you add the additional packs before you run out of data allowance.

Cool, so I suspected that may be possible. But the wording on the Telecom site is pretty ambiguous at best. :)

Yeah, not the clearest. However, from the Telecom terms and conditions page (under Extras):

Customers can have multiple Extras for the same product type (text/data/minutes)

Source:

http://www.telecom.co.nz/helpandsupport/helpandsupport/other/termsandconditions/xtmobilenetwork/telecommobilespecifictermsandconditions/

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RedJungle

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#845954 27-Jun-2013 10:19

trig42: Where in Napier are you going to be?

I noticed when I was there checking a rental property 4 weeks ago that Fibre is in the ground in and around the Hill.

Maybe you can get UFB/VOIP and not worry about copper?

Ahuriri. We are getting Fibre. But again, the connection is not available until they can get consents from the Napier District Council.

RedJungle

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#845959 27-Jun-2013 10:39

Paulthagerous:
RedJungle:
Paulthagerous: You can buy as many lots of the 3GB as you like, it's only if you run out it goes into those rates.

So, 10x3GB = 10x$49 = $490 for 30GB as long as you add the additional packs before you run out of data allowance.

Cool, so I suspected that may be possible. But the wording on the Telecom site is pretty ambiguous at best. :)

Yeah, not the clearest. However, from the Telecom terms and conditions page (under Extras):

Customers can have multiple Extras for the same product type (text/data/minutes)

Source:

http://www.telecom.co.nz/helpandsupport/helpandsupport/other/termsandconditions/xtmobilenetwork/telecommobilespecifictermsandconditions/

Awesome, thanks!

TwoSeven

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#845962 27-Jun-2013 10:41

If you are a business then I would probably suggest calling Vodafone or Telecom and asking to talk to one of their business reps. They might have a better solution available than what you see in the stores.

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thegeekboy

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#845980 27-Jun-2013 10:52

That's a really interesting problem.
What option did you go with?
I doubt that you're the only person ever put in this situation, and it makes me wonder what a typical setup is for temporary construction offices.

I noticed that device only goes to 21Mbps - look for a dual-carrier device if you can.
That Vodafone one that someone mentioned is dual carrier. http://www.vodafone.co.nz/shop/mobileInternetDetails.jsp?skuId=sku24400066

My first thought was actually to talk to a friendly neighbour and offer to pay their broadband bill for the month if they'd share it over Wi-Fi.
Top up your staffs mobile phones and get everyone to tether?

graemeh

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#846200 27-Jun-2013 14:56

What speed/type of connection do you use today?

If it is currently anything better than ADSL I think you should wait until the connection is installed and tested at the new place.

Having 8 staff unable to work or unable to work at their normal output level can get very expensive very quickly.

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RedJungle

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#846208 27-Jun-2013 15:00

Thanks folks, a local ISP looks like they can hook us up temporarily with their local Wifi network. Just waiting on confirmation now.

Failing this, I'm going to do with a Telecom 3G unit as a fallback.

Fordman

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#846446 27-Jun-2013 21:39

Problem solved, 3.75G Cellular Broadband Routers (supports 4 x Lan Ports + wifi, also will operate off a 12 volt car-battery ) are available from a techo-business in the south island they have several models available.

If you have 2-Degrees Metro Cellular Data coverage at your location, you are in luck.

Go to; www.comtecfone.co.nz

Toastiewarm

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#846451 27-Jun-2013 21:51

thegeekboy: That's a really interesting problem.
What option did you go with?
I doubt that you're the only person ever put in this situation, and it makes me wonder what a typical setup is for temporary construction offices.

I noticed that device only goes to 21Mbps - look for a dual-carrier device if you can.
That Vodafone one that someone mentioned is dual carrier. http://www.vodafone.co.nz/shop/mobileInternetDetails.jsp?skuId=sku24400066

My first thought was actually to talk to a friendly neighbour and offer to pay their broadband bill for the month if they'd share it over Wi-Fi.
Top up your staffs mobile phones and get everyone to tether?

To answer your question re construction offices

For our site offices (I work in construction) for short term (say 3-4months) we have Netcomm routers (3G/4G) which have simcard slots directly into them and they also have a WAN port I think, a 4ethernet ports and 2x usb ports too. Otherwise we use the Huawei Hotspots and usually run wifi for most devices (say 2 laptops and a printer and maybe a wireless drive somewhere connected all up to it) All from Telecom (exclusive supply)

We get a pretty good deal from telecom around contracts etc due to our size.

Anything more than 3-4months and we look at getting adsl if possible, usually we run cable to the pillar ourselves and they connect the ends up. I think we pay approx $250 for a connection. Usually they will let us relocate the contract to a new location when required, however due to it being telecom we can't get adsl only and have to pay for a phone line which we never use as we always use mobiles (so using adsl isn't a common option).

We're always looking for better speeded options and find that often the mobile broadband is significantly slower to our VPN (which is in Aussie) than if using say home adsl connections so makes downloading data from central storage difficult indeed.