Should I switch to UFB when it is installed and drop Vodafone cable?

Forums › New Zealand Broadband › Should I switch to UFB when it is installed and drop Vodafone cable?

Bananabob

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#153873 10-Oct-2014 18:00

I have a broadband connection via Vodafone cable. UFB is coming to my street. Is there a benefit in switching to UFB from Cable? Would I gain anything in the long run.

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#1151467 10-Oct-2014 18:03

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES but you cant get UFB with vodafone it would have to be with another provider.

Bananabob

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#1151468 10-Oct-2014 18:04

l43a2: YES YES YES YES YES YES YES but you cant get UFB with vodafone it would have to be with another provider.

Yes but why?

Quinny

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#1151469 10-Oct-2014 18:07

I was a huge fan of cable and when new home was built went to Snap (via enable not Chorus). I have found my connection way better, faster and more stable. Work out what isps offer ufb where you are and check the forums for those providers for a better idea.

Yabanize

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#1151471 10-Oct-2014 18:10

Quinny: I was a huge fan of cable and when new home was built went to Snap (via enable not Chorus). I have found my connection way better, faster and more stable. Work out what isps offer ufb where you are and check the forums for those providers for a better idea.

Which cable speed were you on? 15/2 or 50/2 or 130/10

eXDee

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#1151473 10-Oct-2014 18:26

Yes because future proofing and choice.

InstallerUFB

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#1151474 10-Oct-2014 18:33

Bananabob:
l43a2: YES YES YES YES YES YES YES but you cant get UFB with vodafone it would have to be with another provider.

Yes but why?

Vodafone dont do UFB in an area that they supply with their cable network

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michaelmurfy

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#1151481 10-Oct-2014 18:58

You will need to change ISP but I have found (after living in a house with Vodafone Cable) that UFB is just a far better product. I am also a big fan of the better upload.

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Whinery

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#1151487 10-Oct-2014 19:10

Bananabob:
I have a broadband connection via Vodafone cable. UFB is coming to my street. Is there a benefit in switching to UFB from Cable? Would I gain anything in the long run.

Fibre has better performance. Also, going "red" locks you in to a single network, a single provider, and limits choice and future options. UFB locks you in to Chorus to the CO, then nearly every RSP in the country sells a fibre plan, so if you don't like a term or condition, or want to shop for the best performance on an unlimited plan, you have that freedom.

Do it sooner, rather than later, because the LFC install is free now, but it could end at any time.

Also, the plans for fiber are increasing, and there'll likely be faster and better plans soon from all the providers.

But don't worry about which is best. It's MyRepublic. Even if you aren't sure, sign up with MyRepublic now, as we have a 3-month free trial (yes, you can sign up for 3-months, try it, and cancel at the end and return the modem and you owe $0.00). So try it, we are offering it because we think that at the end, you'll never go back to DSL or cable. UFB is that much better.

Regards,
Marc Whinery
Senior Product Manager, MyRepublic

Yabanize

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#1151489 10-Oct-2014 19:14

michaelmurfy: You will need to change ISP but I have found (after living in a house with Vodafone Cable) that UFB is just a far better product. I am also a big fan of the better upload.

Where you on a DOCSIS3 plan? You can get up to 100 down 10 up through it at the moment. And VF is working on faster speeds. Overseas they have apparently managed to get 10Gigabit per second over it.

I agree fibre is the future though, Cable is a great alternative for places that don't have fibre

ajw

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#1151545 10-Oct-2014 21:03

I have vfone cable 50/2. The way I look at things the cable network owes vfone around $900 million and the only better product on the market is fibre. Obviously vfone will want to get a return on their investment so will be interested to see as time progresses how much cheaper cable pricing will get.

dcole13

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#1151554 10-Oct-2014 21:17

Yes, just do it. Switch to Bigpipe. Do it why? Because, it is more future proof, more stable, suffers so much less congestion than the HFC network, faster download, faster upload, better ping. I could go on.

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timmmay

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#1151585 10-Oct-2014 21:53

UFB is more likely to work in a power cut or emergency, cable relies on mains powered repeaters. Also you can switch to an ISP that offers better customer service and routing, Snap! is good. Cable is good when it's working, but if it goes wrong Vodafone are a bit of a nightmare to deal with.

Bananabob

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#1151735 11-Oct-2014 10:20

Thanks for replies guys. UFB it is then.

Sideface

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#1151749 11-Oct-2014 10:42

I have VF cable 50/2 in Wellington. Works well. No problems during power cuts (I have a good UPS).
I would probably change providers and upgrade to UFB fibre if this was an option, but there is a catch:
"cable" areas seem to get low priority for fibre - we are still "UFB deployment dates for your area are still being developed" on the Chorus Network Capability Map.
2019?

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sbiddle

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#1151755 11-Oct-2014 10:52

Sideface:
"cable" areas seem to get low priority for fibre

There isn't really any truth to this. The reality is cable covers the entire Kapiti, Hutt Valley (with the exception of the Western Hills) and Wellington suburbs right through to Johnsonville. Many of these areas already have fibre. A huge chunk of Petone, Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt already has UFB despite having cable.

The simple reality of UFB is that up until this year the focus has never been residential areas.

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