Help! I need broadband!

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JoeCool

43 posts

Geek

#30463 9-Feb-2009 17:52

Hi All,

I'm hoping that someone out there can think of something I haven't:

I need broadband in my new home - I live in RedBeach, right along side Totara Views (but not in) and I can't get broadband. I'm wait-listed for the roadside cabinet, but Telecom tell me to expect a wait of several months! Here's what I've looked into:

Xtra (obviously!)
Vodafone (since they've got in to some of the exchanges). They said "No. Sorry. Can't give it to you there." That was a quote!
Orcon (They also are putting equipment in to exchanges). If I was connected directly to the exchange they COULD give me ADSL2. But nope. They tell me I'm connected to roadside cabinet "Red Beach 6" Anyone know where that is?
Orcon Rural. They positively discouraged me - said it was very slow etc.
Compass. They have wireless broadband in Orewa. but you need clear line of site to teh Nautilus building, and I'm obscured by a house!
Vodafone mobile. Coverage is terrible. Even my mobile drops calls!
Telecom mobile. Coverage is not great, and their plans really suck. Also I'd have to build up a gateway machinefor that since I need multiple machines connected and I don't know of any routers that support mobile connect cards!
Satellite. That may work but at around $200/month? Not sure I can afford that!

Anyone got any ideas? I'm happy to move home calling, banking, insurance, loyalty, laundry service, ANYTHING over to a company that can get me connected at a reasonably speed and price.

Here's hoping someone can think of something else...

Cheers,
JoeFrustrated!!

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#194952 9-Feb-2009 18:28

JoeCool:
Telecom mobile. Coverage is not great, and their plans really suck. Also I'd have to build up a gateway machinefor that since I need multiple machines connected and I don't know of any routers that support mobile connect cards!

First of all, welcome to Geekzone.

I think you'll find actuallly they do exsist...
something link this might do you if you go with your Telecom 3g plan

kind regards

Knoydart

JoeCool

43 posts

Geek

#194962 9-Feb-2009 19:10

Hi Knoydart

Thanks for the welcome! I've been reading Geekzone for a while, just never had the need to post before... :-)

I will look into these routers. I can't find much reference to using them with Telecom but if I can I'll talk to Telecom about alternatives to their advertised plans - as much as I would like to rid myself of Telecom forever!

Get this: I called the Xtra helpdesk to make sure I could get ADSL at this house before I moved in. I guess my wording was wrong. I asked "Is it available" But I should have asked "How long will it take to get it?"

johnr

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#194966 9-Feb-2009 19:29

Hi

I have used 3G data on vodafone in red beach 100s of times no issue. Phone as modem and also using vodem.

John

JoeCool

43 posts

Geek

#194971 9-Feb-2009 19:43

Hi Guys,

Yeah, it works fairly well...except where I live! My phone calls drop 2 out 3 times & the vodem I borrowed from work...well, let's just say I wouldn't call it broadband - I wonder if there's such thing as "Middle of the road but gets there eventually-band". It ain't dial up, but a bit painful. I'm prepared to live with it if I can get a router, I'll admit.

Looking at those routers (which don't seem to be on the Linksys site any more) i think they only have PCMCIA slots...but of course vodafone only sell Express cards now. I'm still looking though...over my middleband vodem!

johnr

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#194982 9-Feb-2009 20:45

Hi Joe

Have you got the newer Vodem stick or the older E220? What SW version are you using?

Have you also tried locking the Vodem to 3G only?

If the early Vodem E220 goto www.mobilenetworks.co.nz and download the Vodem 3.3 update and run both files in the download firmware and software this can be done on a XP/Vista machine

Once updated remove the old Vodem software off the machine

John

JoeCool

43 posts

Geek

#194988 9-Feb-2009 21:16

Thanks John, it is indeed the E220. I'll update the software (after I download it at work...) & see what happens!

Cheers!

johnr

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#194989 9-Feb-2009 21:32

Tip: remove SIM when vodem is updating and make sure you run both files one at a time.

John

Quic Broadband

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

JoeCool

43 posts

Geek

#194998 9-Feb-2009 22:13

I see what you mean, doubles the connection speed at least. we'll see if the connection is any more stable...

I appreciate the help.

Cheers,
Joe

johnr

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#195008 9-Feb-2009 22:32

Under tools settings network pref you can lock vodem to 3G only. How many bars of coverage do you have on 3G?

nate

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#195013 9-Feb-2009 22:53

JoeCool:Anyone got any ideas? I'm happy to move home calling, banking, insurance, loyalty, laundry service, ANYTHING over to a company that can get me connected at a reasonably speed and price.

Move house.

johnr

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#195018 9-Feb-2009 23:20

nate:
JoeCool:Anyone got any ideas? I'm happy to move home calling, banking, insurance, loyalty, laundry service, ANYTHING over to a company that can get me connected at a reasonably speed and price.

Move house.

ROFL

cisconz

cisconz
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#195046 10-Feb-2009 07:49

nate:
JoeCool:Anyone got any ideas? I'm happy to move home calling, banking, insurance, loyalty, laundry service, ANYTHING over to a company that can get me connected at a reasonably speed and price.

Move house.

Nice

Hmmmm

JoeCool

43 posts

Geek

#195049 10-Feb-2009 07:59

That you Nathan? From 2bit...oops, I mean 3bit

In all seriousness, I would consider it...except...I called to make sure I could get it HERE before I moved in. What are the chances someone's gonna just say it's available again - only to move in & have them say "Yeah, it's available...in about a year from now!"

Seriously, I'm not laughing! This is costing me...much!

JoeCool

43 posts

Geek

#195089 10-Feb-2009 12:21

The saga continues.

I just found out that there are 29 waiters on my cabinet. The person on the top of the queue has been waiting 202 days so far...

Naturally, this information wasn't provided by Telecom. They refuse to give this info.

Isn't it great that we live in a telco monopoly. Goverments are dreaming about fibre to every home in NZ. We can't even get broadband over copper to every home!

Oh well. Maybe I'll just go back overseas.

johnr

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#195090 10-Feb-2009 12:34

JoeCool: The saga continues.

I just found out that there are 29 waiters on my cabinet. The person on the top of the queue has been waiting 202 days so far...

Ouch!

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