Switching broadband and phone providers - it almost seems too hard

Forums › New Zealand Broadband › Switching broadband and phone providers - it almost seems too hard

CitizenErased

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#165893 23-Feb-2015 21:21

I currently have my phone service with Spark and broadband with FYX. Due to the new pricing structure imposed by Chorus, my monthly broadband connection fee will increase by $19.64 from March 10, so it no longer makes economic sense to remain with FYX (a shame, because their service has been good). Switching my broadband to Spark doesn't appeal, because their pricing isn't competitive, especially as I don't want to be locked in to a fixed term contract. I've been considering either Actrix (rated #1 ISP in the recent Consumer survey) or Flip.

This is where I see things getting messy: My FYX billing cycle ends on March 9 - they only require 24 hours notice to terminate the service, so no issues there. My Spark billing cycle ends on March 25 and they require 30 days notice to terminate the service. So on the face of it, it seems impossible to switch broadband and phone services to another provider without doubling up on charges for a month.

How have other people handled this situation? When you sign up to the new ISP do you request an install date 30 days from now and then give notice to your current ISP?

sbiddle

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#1245208 23-Feb-2015 21:31

Just FYI it's not Chorus at fault for these changes if you're of the opinion it is. Spark could be giving voice customers a credit who have UBA service with another provider a credit, but choose not to (and in some ways I don't blame them for not doing this).

Why not just move to VoIP if you like the Fyx offering?

CitizenErased

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#1245221 23-Feb-2015 21:44

Why not just move to VoIP if you like the Fyx offering?

I don't see any info on naked broadband on the Fyx website.

Does VoIP perform OK on an ADSL connection when it's competing with other network traffic?

I'd also need to replace the two cordless phones in the house, so that would be a significant upfront cost.

sbiddle

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#1245226 23-Feb-2015 21:52

As there is no difference in the price of naked or clothed UBA these days I would have assumed the Fyx price applies for naked or clothed DSL.

No need to replace the cordless phones if you move to VoIP, you just need to buy an ATA to plug them into.

Jase2985

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#1245228 23-Feb-2015 21:57

CitizenErased:

Does VoIP perform OK on an ADSL connection when it's competing with other network traffic?

I'd also need to replace the two cordless phones in the house, so that would be a significant upfront cost.

wrong on both accounts

pretty sure VOIP has QoS so its traffic takes priority over other traffic

and you can still use old phones you just need an ATA which isnt a huge upfront cost

CitizenErased

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#1245232 23-Feb-2015 22:01

Noob question: My router is downstairs, one phone is upstairs and there's no structured cabling in the house, so how would I patch that phone into the router?

JohnButt

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#1245233 23-Feb-2015 22:04

A nice alternative is to purchase a gateway, ie a modem/router/wifi/ATA/DECT-basestation all in one. The handhelds connect directly to a gateway and cord mess disappears.

And yes VoIP works fine on ADSL so long as the line is faster than VoIP

DrCheese

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#1245272 23-Feb-2015 22:58

CitizenErased: Noob question: My router is downstairs, one phone is upstairs and there's no structured cabling in the house, so how would I patch that phone into the router?

Just get a DECT (1.8 GHz) cordless phone with two handsets. The phone base station (which has one of the cordless handsets) plugs into the ATA, which then plugs into the router. Your upstairs second cordless phone can anywhere in the house.

I've got five cordless 5.8 GHz phones around my three storey house. Only one needs to be plugged into an ATA next to my router.

A better system is cordless VoIP phones which don't need an ATA.

David.

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DarkShadow

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#1245279 23-Feb-2015 23:12

CitizenErased: Noob question: My router is downstairs, one phone is upstairs and there's no structured cabling in the house, so how would I patch that phone into the router?

If you have a master filter, you can use the existing phone cabling in the house. Disconnect your internal phone cabling from the Chorus network. Plug your ATA and phone one into the socket downstairs using a double adaptor. Plug phone two into socket upstairs.

BarTender

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#1245331 24-Feb-2015 07:41

I'm not sure why bill cycle dates has any impact on which ISP / Voice provider you go with? If the date ends on a particular day worst case is you end up paying a few days or end up with a credit. If you were moving to Spark they would align the Broadband and Voice bill cycle dates together so it would all apply on whatever day you wanted. Otherwise VFX is excellent for VoIP.
Personally unless you are comfortable messing with your internal wiring and could put it back when / if things change then I would tend to recommend against mucking with it since Chorus get a tad grumpy if you have broken things and are getting them around to fix it. But if you are comfortable full 'yer boots, but that would normally indicate you wouldn't need to post on Geekzone in the first place ;).

CitizenErased

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#1245505 24-Feb-2015 13:09

BarTender: I'm not sure why bill cycle dates has any impact on which ISP / Voice provider you go with?

Assuming that your current telco/ISP will issue you a credit if you cancel part-way through a billing cycle, I guess that's not an issue.

raytaylor

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#1245774 24-Feb-2015 18:23

CitizenErased: Noob question: My router is downstairs, one phone is upstairs and there's no structured cabling in the house, so how would I patch that phone into the router?

When we are professionally installing our service, we open the demarc box on the side of the house, and disconnect the incoming chorus line.

We then wire the ATA into the back of any telephone socket in the house, and so all the internal telephone wiring becomes active again, and all phones run as normal again.

Its super easy to do once you have seen it once.

Ray Taylor

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Dratsab

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#1245833 24-Feb-2015 19:32

CitizenErased: I currently have my phone service with Spark and broadband with FYX. Due to the new pricing structure imposed by Chorus, my monthly broadband connection fee will increase by $19.64 from March 10, so it no longer makes economic sense to remain with FYX (a shame, because their service has been good). Switching my broadband to Spark doesn't appeal, because their pricing isn't competitive, especially as I don't want to be locked in to a fixed term contract. I've been considering either Actrix (rated #1 ISP in the recent Consumer survey) or Flip.

This is where I see things getting messy: My FYX billing cycle ends on March 9 - they only require 24 hours notice to terminate the service, so no issues there. My Spark billing cycle ends on March 25 and they require 30 days notice to terminate the service. So on the face of it, it seems impossible to switch broadband and phone services to another provider without doubling up on charges for a month.

How have other people handled this situation? When you sign up to the new ISP do you request an install date 30 days from now and then give notice to your current ISP?

Not sure why it's hard, decide on what date you want to make any jump, based on termination notice requirements and get the ball rolling. Just because a billing cycle ends on a particular day doesn't mean you have to move then, it just means you'll end up with a partial bill for part of whichever month you move in.

In respect of your other question about VoIP running OK over ASL - yes it does. I had VoIP over ADSL for almost 6 years, firstly with Xnet, then with Vodafone. Now I'm on VDSL and using a Vodafone supplied modem so can't use VoIP, meaning I have a Uniden XDECT R035BT+1 to sell off, but that's another thread - or a PM ;-)

Edit: Link added.