Any geeks not so picky on speeds etc?

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jonathan18

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#1160689 23-Oct-2014 14:24

I'm having to make a decision re speed on the two options offered by my ISP:

* upgrade to unlimited data on my current speed (30/10) for $89 a month (an additional $14 over the current 100GB), a cost that will remain as long as I stay on the same plan (and no additional contract required), or

* as per current deal, upgrade to an 80/20 plan with unlimited data for $95 a month, but sign a 24 month contract.

Any advice re these options?

Given speed's not an issue for me (whereas a decent data cap is), and I'm not sure about being tied down for a further two years, I'm swaying towards just paying an additional $14 for unlimited on the 30/10 plan, which also allows me to change plans at any point in the future.

For the first time ever we've had some quality issues with Netflix a few times this week (not always playing in full HD; some buffering), but I'd imagine this isn't a limitation of my 30/10 connection (local speed test = 28MshB down), but something specific to the Netflix stream and that the problem wouldn't be fixed by a faster connection - would that be correct?

Sideface

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#1160784 23-Oct-2014 15:54

jonathan18: ... Given speed's not an issue for me (whereas a decent data cap is), and I'm not sure about being tied down for a further two years, I'm swaying towards just paying an additional $14 for unlimited on the 30/10 plan, which also allows me to change plans at any point in the future. ...

You have answered your own question.
Stick to your existing plan and go unlimited.
I hate 2-year contracts - a lot can change in 2 years.

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hio77

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#1160785 23-Oct-2014 15:56

Sideface:
jonathan18: ... Given speed's not an issue for me (whereas a decent data cap is), and I'm not sure about being tied down for a further two years, I'm swaying towards just paying an additional $14 for unlimited on the 30/10 plan, which also allows me to change plans at any point in the future. ...

You have answered your own question.
Stick to your existing plan and go unlimited.
I hate 2-year contracts - a lot can change in 2 years.

as long as the contract doesnt lock you into a plan, but simply service with the company - and your Plenty happy with their service etc, i have no issue at all with a 2 year contract..

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

chevrolux

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#1163514 28-Oct-2014 12:58

chevrolux:
TwoSeven:
chevrolux: Depends what you are doing I suppose.

...
Now I live in an area with Cable (130/10) and it's awesome!! Now when I'm away I can VPN in to home and watch stuff on the NAS no sweat at all.

I would be surprised if your VPN speed was over 10Mbs.

Never tried to max it out. But I can easily stream 720p but do get buffering trying a full HD video. Most of the time I am connecting from a hotel hotspot so my speeds on that end isn't that good anyway, normally enough for a stream though. My router can more than hack it too.
Will try a speedtest tomorrow over 4G via the VPN when I'm back in the city tomorrow....

Sorry it took so long... here we go. Toped out at the speed limit of 10Mbps so yea, a faster upload would be sweet for streaming HD over the VPN .

kiwigeek1

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#1163548 28-Oct-2014 13:42

we went from asdl+ to fibre unlimited (not the fast uncap speed).. and the speeds and unlimited data is no problem at all for watching streams and downloading and uploading
and android app playing (but not fps tested on pcs so far as we not much into those)

and its more stable now.. less disconnects epsc when it rains heaps :)

Handsomedan

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#1163649 28-Oct-2014 15:39

I have 10/1 ADSL and to be honest, I am pretty satisfied.

Use the Apple TV to stream the odd movie, surf the net, watch a few You Tube videos and download emails.

All in all, it does what I need at the speed I need it.

I'd love ultr-fast data speeds but don't want to pay for the privelege.

Handsome Dan Has Spoken.
Handsome Dan needs to stop adding three dots to every sentence...

Handsome Dan does not currently have a side hustle as the mascot for Yale

*Gladly accepting donations...

hio77

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#1163689 28-Oct-2014 16:11

Handsomedan: I have 10/1 ADSL and to be honest, I am pretty satisfied.

Use the Apple TV to stream the odd movie, surf the net, watch a few You Tube videos and download emails.

All in all, it does what I need at the speed I need it.

I'd love ultr-fast data speeds but don't want to pay for the privelege.

ild personally would want more, but there is that point where paying more for it doesnt work out worthwhile ill admit.

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

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DravidDavid

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#1164110 29-Oct-2014 08:39

I went from a perfect 24Mb/s line, to a 17Mb/s line to an 11Mb/s line to a 1.8Mb/s line.

I really miss the city for it's sync rates! I have conditioned myself to the poor speeds however. When I'm gaming, my girlfriend watches offline content and when my girlfriend is watching YouTube or similar I do something else. It's good for 480p continuously, but nothing more. Downloading is done off-peak when we are in bed or at work.

As soon as someone watches YouTube and the other is playing a game, one or both stop working all together.

I play CS:S quite a bit and my ping is between 5ms and 10ms to NZ servers and 25ms to 30ms to Australia. That is it's only saving grace, otherwise I'd probably move.

rayonline

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#1164114 29-Oct-2014 08:47

Admittedly due to a 2yr contract with Snap even for current customers we upgraded to a 100/20 b/c the 30Mbps one doesn't have unlimited. So from our 200GB 30Mbps we paid $5 more for unlimited and it is 100/20. $95 is also a great deal when many ISPs charge that for their unlimited 30/10 option (with a VOIP local number).

With the 30Mbps the parents use the TV PAD for Asian TV for like a few or several hours a day they are retired and it's been fine. Igloo streaming ditto for the others in the bedroom. I guess for normal usage for us never been an issue.

Yeah the 2yr plan doesn't lock us in a plan, we can change but we just have to be a Snap customer for 2yrs.

hio77

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#1164244 29-Oct-2014 12:23

DravidDavid: I went from a perfect 24Mb/s line, to a 17Mb/s line to an 11Mb/s line to a 1.8Mb/s line.

I really miss the city for it's sync rates! I have conditioned myself to the poor speeds however. When I'm gaming, my girlfriend watches offline content and when my girlfriend is watching YouTube or similar I do something else. It's good for 480p continuously, but nothing more. Downloading is done off-peak when we are in bed or at work.

As soon as someone watches YouTube and the other is playing a game, one or both stop working all together.

I play CS:S quite a bit and my ping is between 5ms and 10ms to NZ servers and 25ms to 30ms to Australia. That is it's only saving grace, otherwise I'd probably move.

time to move over to csgo ;)

i personally can stand playing while there are standard downloads going, ping will spike to just over 100 but consistently sit there, ild perfer not to though, it is painful going from my 50/10 vdsl where ild consistently get 28~30ms!

Unfortunately in this house, things arent quite so nice around, oh your gaming, ill wait. its more of a case of im not gaming, so bugger everyone else torrent max upstream 2000+ connections time! - ever played with 30% packetloss? the rubberbands and norego is infuriating!

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

DravidDavid

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#1164347 29-Oct-2014 14:34

hio77:
DravidDavid: I went from a perfect 24Mb/s line, to a 17Mb/s line to an 11Mb/s line to a 1.8Mb/s line.

I really miss the city for it's sync rates! I have conditioned myself to the poor speeds however. When I'm gaming, my girlfriend watches offline content and when my girlfriend is watching YouTube or similar I do something else. It's good for 480p continuously, but nothing more. Downloading is done off-peak when we are in bed or at work.

As soon as someone watches YouTube and the other is playing a game, one or both stop working all together.

I play CS:S quite a bit and my ping is between 5ms and 10ms to NZ servers and 25ms to 30ms to Australia. That is it's only saving grace, otherwise I'd probably move.

time to move over to csgo ;)

i personally can stand playing while there are standard downloads going, ping will spike to just over 100 but consistently sit there, ild perfer not to though, it is painful going from my 50/10 vdsl where ild consistently get 28~30ms!

Unfortunately in this house, things arent quite so nice around, oh your gaming, ill wait. its more of a case of im not gaming, so bugger everyone else torrent max upstream 2000+ connections time! - ever played with 30% packetloss? the rubberbands and norego is infuriating!

Rego in CS:S is bad enough without the downloads going! But I can't stand CS:GO. I'm trying to warm myself up to it, but it's not really working. There is hardly any NZ based community for it...Everyone is competitive. Being able to fire up my computer, drop in to a Gameplanet Assault 24/7 server and gun down the enemy within 30 odd seconds is too good to let go. I'm to busy to wait for a match!

hio77

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#1164353 29-Oct-2014 14:42

DravidDavid:
Rego in CS:S is bad enough without the downloads going! But I can't stand CS:GO. I'm trying to warm myself up to it, but it's not really working. There is hardly any NZ based community for it...Everyone is competitive. Being able to fire up my computer, drop in to a Gameplanet Assault 24/7 server and gun down the enemy within 30 odd seconds is too good to let go. I'm to busy to wait for a match!

i probably have faced you a few times..

CSGO is a beast to get used to, the console UIs... that had me not touching it for months have buying it!

CSS died for me back when the TF2 update was put into it.. before then, i averaged about rank 8 on CND assault.. it was all i did!

Recently i have started back up on GP assault once in awhile, but i sure dont play it like i used to. CSGO vs CSS, Whole different feel to the game when you get to the nitty gritty stuff!

CSGO is all about the competitive scene really, i personally have friends who are sponsored here so its definitely not totally lacking, just need to find it really.
Generally i find games within about 20 seconds, assault is very unpopular though. - Although its not the T sided beast that it is in CSS iver!

Servers are lacking a bit though in terms of NZ based community servers, but given the way the gaming market sits now, i have become used to travelling that 30ms to aus...

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

DravidDavid

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#1164370 29-Oct-2014 14:58

hio77: i probably have faced you a few times..

Probably! I used to play quite often...I go by Happy Camper on CS:S.

hio77:
CSGO is a beast to get used to, the console UIs... that had me not touching it for months have buying it!

CSS died for me back when the TF2 update was put into it.. before then, i averaged about rank 8 on CND assault.. it was all i did!

It's much different. I hate the UI and don't want to spend time getting to know it since I don't really like the change in game play either. Funny you mention ranking 8th...That's about where I am on the GP ranks at the moment. I have been knocked down from 6th as I don't play as often anymore.

hio77:
CSGO is all about the competitive scene really, i personally have friends who are sponsored here so its definitely not totally lacking, just need to find it really.
Generally i find games within about 20 seconds, assault is very unpopular though. - Although its not the T sided beast that it is in CSS iver!

Servers are lacking a bit though in terms of NZ based community servers, but given the way the gaming market sits now, i have become used to travelling that 30ms to aus...

It's much different. I hate the UI and don't want to spend time getting to know it since I don't really like the change in game play either. I havn't really spent much time looking past the Gameplanet forum and the built in community server manager...Probably a good thing anyway, I'm not exactly the best player and probably nowhere near as hardcore as those playing community based CS:GO.

ripdog

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#1164457 29-Oct-2014 16:23

I got 100/50 partly because of uber-fast game downloads (steam will peg my pipe), capacity to do more than one thing at a time without worrying (keeping crashplan running constantly even while gaming), but most importantly to push the average and median connection capacity up. New services only possible over high-speed connections will only appear once a critical mass of high-speed connections has been achieved.

If everyone decides to stick with ADSL or 30/10 because "it loads youtube 720p and that's all I want", then that's all we'll ever have. The tech world needs early adopters.

jtbthatsme

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#1164463 29-Oct-2014 16:35

The only reason I will try to get faster speeds when I move (which won't be for at least a year) is to help provide better connections for gaming. I am on a unlimited plan at the moment on ADSL and according to my console get around 10-12Mbbits down and 1 up which for competitive multiplayer is not that great on the upload side.

For my general use as in downloads of tv, movies and general browsing I'm more than happy with the time taken and speeds we get.

However if pricing and availability were not issues I'd take the fastest I could get.

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