Best unlimited broadband provider

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boland

547 posts

Ultimate Geek

#138738 15-Jan-2014 10:20

We just moved into New Zealand from The Netherlands. We are looking for an unlimited broadband provider, such that we can Skype / video chat, watch Dutch TV shows, etc., without having to watch the amount of data used.

I have been browsing all available providers for a while and have looked at all the reviews. In my opinion the providers with the best review is Maxnet. However, this one has a waiting list. Also, it has some restrictions of the usage, e.g. no unmonitored downloading.
At Maxnet we aren't also allowed to backup our photo's online. I own a NAS which backups our photo's online and with which I downloaded TV shows back home in The Netherlands.

I've also looked at Flip, Orcon, but both have some bad reviews.
We aren't used to such restricted broadband providers. In The Netherlands no internet provider has a data cap...

I just need some tips from you, hope you can help me!

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266 posts

Ultimate Geek

#967402 15-Jan-2014 10:25

Im with Orcon and i can say i have not had any trouble with them, if im late on bills they extend them for me without extra charges, we use close to 500gb-999gb a month

Never had a problem with customer support, however take this with a grain of salt as others have had many problems with orcon customer support, i however give them the thumbs up.

Also Kia Ora and welcome to NZ

I'm going to noob myself past judgement

boland

547 posts

Ultimate Geek

#967405 15-Jan-2014 10:29

Thanks. I indeed read some bad things about Orcon. Reading further here I see some good things about Slingshot. Download speed is not priority one, just enough for clear video chat and no buffering during e.g. Youtube. Downloading can be done during e.g. the night.
Not sure now, Orcon, Slingshot, ...?

I did not find a good ISP review site at all.

Things are a bit different than back home. Default internet speed was 50MBps without any cap....

andrewNZ

2487 posts

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Inactive user

#967410 15-Jan-2014 10:33

Where are you living? It might affect recommendations.

boland

547 posts

Ultimate Geek

#967412 15-Jan-2014 10:35

andrewNZ: Where are you living? It might affect recommendations.

Pinehaven, Upper Hutt. Not sure if we have a homeline; we don't currently live there yet.

xpd

Geek @ Coastguard NZ
13771 posts

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#967414 15-Jan-2014 10:36

boland: Thanks. I indeed read some bad things about Orcon. Reading further here I see some good things about Slingshot. Download speed is not priority one, just enough for clear video chat and no buffering during e.g. Youtube. Downloading can be done during e.g. the night.
Not sure now, Orcon, Slingshot, ...?

I did not find a good ISP review site at all.

Things are a bit different than back home. Default internet speed was 50MBps without any cap....

Different infrastructure, more ppl etc etc.....

Ive been with Orcon for a number of years now and had no major issues with the service itself. Customer service seems to be the biggest complaint about them, but I rarely have to contact them so dont know if its improved or not. I just contact them via Twitter when i need to with no issues.... :)

Everyone has their views on the ISP's out there, some say Orcon good, some say Orcon bad, those like me using Orocn will say good, and that the others are bad...and so on.

Only thing you can do is pick one and cross your fingers ;)

PS: Orcon is good ;)

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

LinkTree

boland

547 posts

Ultimate Geek

#967417 15-Jan-2014 10:38

VDSL is available at our address. Unlimited Orcon plan VDSL is $119. Do you Orcon users have ADSL+, VDSL or Fibre?

What is the speed of Slingshot? I don't see anything about ADSL/VDSL/Fibre/...

Sideface

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#967425 15-Jan-2014 10:44

Welcome to New Zealand.
I've been with Orcon since they started, and have been on their unlimited ADSL2 / VoIP plan since it started.
They do NOT have a "fair use policy", and the connection is truly unlimited.
I live in Wellington and typically use 500 GB per month.
ADSL speeds are consistent thoughout the day, with no significant drop during peak periods (my connection is monitored for speed 24 hours per day by TrueNet.)
Good value for $99 per month.
I will be upgrading to Orcon's unlimited VDSL2 / VoIP plan on Friday ($119 per month).

Sideface

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

BigPipeNZ

1170 posts

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BigPipe

#967427 15-Jan-2014 10:46

Hi,
Have a look at

www.bigpipe.co.nz

We offer naked (no landline needed or included) VDSl with no datacap for $99. I think every other provider includes some kind of voice line with their VDSL, and requires a 12 month contract, so it's up to you if you get value out of that and are happy to commit.

We're only in trial phase at the moment, meaning you can't sign up direct but must register interest and we will send invitations.

On the plus side, we don't have any connection fee or long term contract, so if you don't like what you are getting you can leave anytime.

You will need to bring your own modem though. You can buy a decent one for less than $150, and since we are doing free broadband until the end of March, it will more than pay for itself

I won't tell you how awesome we are, but we have a few geekzoners on board who can give you their honest feedback. :D

Cheers

bigpipe.co.nz
https://www.facebook.com/BigPipeNZ
https://twitter.com/BigPipeNZ

Lyderies

266 posts

Ultimate Geek

#967428 15-Jan-2014 10:47

We have VDSL and it is awesome, absolutely amazing, no problems and great speeds

Im not sure about other providers so you will need others recommendations for those

I'm going to noob myself past judgement

boland

547 posts

Ultimate Geek

#967705 15-Jan-2014 18:11

Allright, both Orcon as Slingshot seem fine. I hope some Slingshot users will also reply here.

I am not sure if Orcon VDSL is faster at my place than ADSL+. Is there a site where I can check my expected DSL speeds? We use to have such sites in NL, where you could calculate the distance to the main DSL point, and with that your expected speed.

rp1790

738 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#967914 16-Jan-2014 08:19

Have been with Slingshot ADSL on an AYCE plan for about 3 years and have been very happy. Don't do much in the way of torrenting but sometimes large amounts of Usenet downloads and that go's at full line speed.

Having said that, in the last 4-5mths I have noticed a large slow down at peak times (say, 5-8pm) that hasn't been there before. Makes Netflix unusable at that time. It is only recent so may be related to more people being on AYCE plans and the VDSL rollout.

DravidDavid

1907 posts

Uber Geek

#967936 16-Jan-2014 09:05

I have been on Slingshot's various unlimited plans since the beginning and have been extremely happy with the price and performance. I came from Telecom's BigTime plan (long story) and it has well out performed it at all times. I've had various houses with different sync rates and always seemed to be able to max out the line where ever I lived.

Again, like any ISP there have been people report major issues, both customer service and performance related. If you don't need to talk to anyone though, they are the same as any other ISP.

If you are moving in to a fibre ready zone, jump on that. Much faster, more reliable..etc. If you are keen on ADSL 2+ then you might want to do a few things like install a master filter if you own your own home of course.

Flip is great. They are only a small team, but get the job done. Any bad reviews you come across are provisioning or Chorus issues that take a long time to get resolved. Nine times out of ten, it's out of any ISP's hands. Don't take reviews to heart too much.

Cheers.

boland

547 posts

Ultimate Geek

#967950 16-Jan-2014 09:21

Hi thanks to you all. I have a slightly better feeling with Slingshot, so I'll try them. House is not fiber ready sadly, so we'll do VDSL.
Won't be using torrents much, mostly usenet.

Buzz Bumble

332 posts

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Inactive user

#967965 16-Jan-2014 09:24

Someone I help out switched to Slingshot and had massive problems and delays getting the connection done properly and then keeping a consistent connection. They quickly switched back to Xtra and everything was fine (with the connection anyway ... email is a whole other story).

Personally I'd avoid all the small fish (who often just piggy-back one of the main providers). I'd also avoid hopeless Vodafone and all its issues as well as Xtra thanks to the silliness of using Yahoo for email. That really only leaves Orcon ... just try to forget that they use that silly Dot Con clown as a spokesman in their adverts.

boland

547 posts

Ultimate Geek

#967967 16-Jan-2014 09:30

Compared by size, is Orcon much bigger than Slingshot?
In my opinion a smaller company should not be worse than a big company. Big companies tend to have multiple departments where each department points another department as the problem. At least, that's my opinion with telco's in NL. Calling about a problem could result being switched between several departments.
Slingshot has the option to downgrade VDSL to ADSL+ if the speed isn't high enough. That option isn't offered by Orcon, at least not explicit. And, termantion costs of Slingshot are NZD 149,- compared to NZD 199,- of Orcon.

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