Broadband Compare tool

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57 posts

Master Geek

BroadbandCompare

#1584791 2-Jul-2016 19:25

Hi all,

deadlyllama:

It deduces I can get UFB so suggests ISPs that don't have a handover in my area (bigpipe, voyager).
Suggests an unlimited Actrix plan! I thought, wow, Actrix do unlimited now? Turns out they don't.
If I say I want a static IP it doesn't show MyRepublic. Who offer static IPs.
The database of plans is a bit rubbish, and it clearly doesn't cope with less-than-nationwide UFB coverage.

MyRepublic plans have been updated yesterday. Now information about MyRepublic is accurate.

Actrix plans will be updated tonight or tomorrow.

hio77:

damn, thats impressive for adsl2...
Some of the wireless providers appear to have disappared (or ratings simply changed, im not going to go through all the pages)
Gisborne net is being suggested as third for my address now, Never knew Rural Westcoast Auckland was so close to gisborne!

Thanks for this notice. We updated Unlimited Internet plans yesterday. Now it is accurate.

We are checking coverage at the moment (ADSL, VDSL, UFB). We are developing some enhancements related to providers geo-location (yeah, even right now).

chevrolux:

Hahahaha wow.....
This seems like a fantastic tool for uninformed consumers to be basing their internet provider choice on.
But seriously, although the site clearly has good intentions this is the sort of misinformation that makes NZers have such a bad attitude towards our ISPs. Imagine when joe bloggs from Auckland rings gisborne.net and asks for a highspeed wireless connection, then gets all grumpy when they tell him it's not available.

Yes, we know that it can be some inaccurate data related to providers geo-location. This is on our short-term enhancements list.

freitasm: I find interesting some people have no problem using beta software but get so sarcastic when they could help improve a new service.

Thank you for these words.

We are trying to make a really good and useful web-site for people. Of course, at the early stage, we face some issues. However, we are open to any feedback (positive or negative) and we are ready to listen and make changes if it is required.

PhantomNVD: Wasn't trying to be sarcastic myself, just thought to point out a seemingly obvious error. I see that business is somehow separated from residential, though I'd personally say that's an arbitrary separation as many home businesses might also be looking at this, and some home users are prepared to pay for a business plan if they want/need some business grade features?

@BroadbandCompare FWIW my ISP is Skinny Broadband.

*edit - so if I severely limit the financial range I finally see Skinny, listed last, and only rated 4/4??? I'm getting 25-30/1-5 so is 4/4 the minimum or 'expected' for my address?

Could I suggest a slightly easier to compare 'grid' option where all the providers at the same filter were offered 'equally' with a rating value listed separately? E.g. If my price point is $55 (like skinny is) I could either filter the price or scroll down a table listing to the $55 row and see what other options there are in that price category. Seems like a table view would show far more options in an easier-to-compare way, even if only as an 'option'?

Thank you for your feedback.

Skinny provider is listed on our web-site: http://www.broadbandcompare.co.nz/broadbands/index

I see, you found it. That's great. We are waiting for plans update for Skinny on Monday. Sorry for possible inconvenience here. Providers change their plans very often. We try updating plans ASAP. Please, forgive us here, we just launched. It can be some delay updating plans these days.

> Could I suggest a slightly easier to compare 'grid' option where all the providers at the same filter were offered 'equally' with a rating value listed separately? E.g. If my price point is $55 (like skinny is) I could either filter the price or scroll down a table listing to the $55 row and see what other options there are in that price category. Seems like a table view would show far more options in an easier-to-compare way, even if only as an 'option'?

You could change 'sorting type' from rating to price:

Is what you need?

Thanks.

BroadbandCompare

57 posts

Master Geek

BroadbandCompare

#1584794 2-Jul-2016 19:31

Hi all,

We updated plans for these providers yesterday:

Compass
MyRepublic
TrustPower
Unlimited Internet

Some providers (Actrix, Skinny and others) will be updated soon too.

Rating recalculates after each update.

Also, we fixed some issues - thank you, guys.

Feel free to ask any questions.

Also, we would appreciate any comments or suggestions that will help us to enhance the Website. Send us an email:

- hello@broadbandcompare.co.nz

- alex@broadbandcompare.co.nz

Visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BroadbandCompare/ and our Twitter: https://twitter.com/CompareHello

We will publish a report from launching event soon.

A lot of changes are coming soon. Stay tuned :)

Thanks.

hio77

12999 posts

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Lizard Networks

#1584803 2-Jul-2016 19:37

freitasm: I find interesting some people have no problem using beta software but get so sarcastic when they could help improve a new service.

apologies if i missed something here, but nowhere mentioned in the press release posted; that they are a beta service.

thats the president i have followed on with within this thread.

the service itself, clearly has quite a few flaws, that will get picked out.

IMO, the service should have opened up as beta here, to leverage the input the community brings, that would have netted a much more positive response.

As for sarcastic comments, it really depends on how you take them, negatively as sarcasm is simply not going to help anything. but taking the point picked out and turning it around into an improvement to make would be the way to make use of that criticism...

#include <std_disclaimer>

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

BroadbandCompare

57 posts

Master Geek

BroadbandCompare

#1584804 2-Jul-2016 19:46

hio77:

apologies if i missed something here, but nowhere mentioned in the press release posted; that they are a beta service.

thats the president i have followed on with within this thread.

the service itself, clearly has quite a few flaws, that will get picked out.

IMO, the service should have opened up as beta here, to leverage the input the community brings, that would have netted a much more positive response.

As for sarcastic comments, it really depends on how you take them, negatively as sarcasm is simply not going to help anything. but taking the point picked out and turning it around into an improvement to make would be the way to make use of that criticism...

Hi hio77,

We appreciate any feedback here.

Any feedback (even the negative one) can help us improve our web-site.

Thanks!

PhantomNVD

2619 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1584829 2-Jul-2016 20:14

Yes I did sort by price and set the slider to $47-$57 to eventually find the provider I have. What I'm suggesting is actually to have a Table View option, where providers at a selected filter (whether price/speed or whatever) are compared side to side. Something like this:

Obviously this one is a little busy, as there is more to differentiate iPhones from each other, but you get the idea?

BroadbandCompare

57 posts

Master Geek

BroadbandCompare

#1584837 2-Jul-2016 20:24

PhantomNVD: Yes I did sort by price and set the slider to $47-$57 to eventually find the provider I have. What I'm suggesting is actually to have a Table View option, where providers at a selected filter (whether price/speed or whatever) are compared side to side. Something like this:

Obviously this one is a little busy, as there is more to differentiate iPhones from each other, but you get the idea?

Well, I see. It's a bit tricky to create something similar because we have several levels: provider - plan - options.

But, you know, something like this is on my ToDo list already. Can't say much about ETA. However, we will analyse this and make something useful for you - it's for sure.

Thanks.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79250 posts

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Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#1584876 2-Jul-2016 21:24

I didn't say they are beta. I am saying that people have no problems with providing feedback for beta products but will act very aggressive with other services.

And yes, I am not happy with the tone. There are ways and other ways of saying/writing things.

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mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#1584888 2-Jul-2016 21:58

I did try it yesterday in a real life situation where I was looking for a new broadband provider. However it didn't list the provider or plan that I ended up going with, who was Spark. The two advanced search filters I used in my search, was restricting plans to unlimited data plans, and plans with a 12 month contact. The speed was the full range, as was teh price settings. However Spark didn't appear in the 2 pages of results. Under one of the searches I did, it did list Spark for my locatoin, but it was a Gigatown plan (for Dunedin I presume), yet I am in Wellington. The other thing it doesn't take into consideration is that Spark give a cashback of $10 per month on a new contract on the plan I went with, and also give 1 GB of wifi a day, and free lightbox. The display cashbacks for some other ISPs, but not Sparks plans. So sparks plan ended up being one of the best deals I could find. So it still pays to go to each ISPs website and check out the plans. You can also contact an ISP and see what deal they may do for you. I believe the NZ Consumer had a similar website, althouhg I couldn't find it when I tried searching for it.

BroadbandCompare

57 posts

Master Geek

BroadbandCompare

#1584891 2-Jul-2016 22:07

mattwnz:

I did try it yesterday in a real life situation where I was looking for a new broadband provider. However it didn't list the provider or plan that I ended up going with, who was Spark. The two advanced search filters I used in my search, was restricting plans to unlimited data plans, and plans with a 12 month contact. The speed was the full range, as was teh price settings. However Spark didn't appear in the 2 pages of results. Under one of the searches I did, it did list Spark for my locatoin, but it was a Gigatown plan (for Dunedin I presume), yet I am in Wellington. The other thing it doesn't take into consideration is that Spark give a cashback of $10 per month on a new contract on the plan I went with, and also give 1 GB of wifi a day, and free lightbox. The display cashbacks for some other ISPs, but not Sparks plans. So sparks plan ended up being one of the best deals I could find. So it still pays to go to each ISPs website and check out the plans. You can also contact an ISP and see what deal they may do for you. I believe the NZ Consumer had a similar website, althouhg I couldn't find it when I tried searching for it.

Hi mattwnz,

It is true that providers geo-location is not perfect at the moment. As I mentioned above, this issues is on our shortest priority ToDo list.

Could you give us details about your current Spark plan, so we could check it?

Regarding cashback, this is NOT cashback from providers. This is about cashback that we offer people who switch to another ISP using our website (check description and T&C).

Thanks.

PS Regarding other options (free lightbox, 1Gb Wi-Fi per day and so on), we gather this additional information. We will add this as a 'Special offer' tool or as an additional plan description later.

mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#1584903 2-Jul-2016 22:41

BroadbandCompare:

mattwnz:

I did try it yesterday in a real life situation where I was looking for a new broadband provider. However it didn't list the provider or plan that I ended up going with, who was Spark. The two advanced search filters I used in my search, was restricting plans to unlimited data plans, and plans with a 12 month contact. The speed was the full range, as was teh price settings. However Spark didn't appear in the 2 pages of results. Under one of the searches I did, it did list Spark for my locatoin, but it was a Gigatown plan (for Dunedin I presume), yet I am in Wellington. The other thing it doesn't take into consideration is that Spark give a cashback of $10 per month on a new contract on the plan I went with, and also give 1 GB of wifi a day, and free lightbox. The display cashbacks for some other ISPs, but not Sparks plans. So sparks plan ended up being one of the best deals I could find. So it still pays to go to each ISPs website and check out the plans. You can also contact an ISP and see what deal they may do for you. I believe the NZ Consumer had a similar website, althouhg I couldn't find it when I tried searching for it.

Hi mattwnz,

It is true that providers geo-location is not perfect at the moment. As I mentioned above, this issues is on our shortest priority ToDo list.

Could you give us details about your current Spark plan, so we could check it?

Regarding cashback, this is NOT cashback from providers. This is about cashback that we offer people who switch to another ISP using our website (check description and T&C).

Thanks.

PS Regarding other options (free lightbox, 1Gb Wi-Fi per day and so on), we gather this additional information. We will add this as a 'Special offer' tool or as an additional plan description later.

I still can't find any information about the cashback, so if I am making that presumption that it is provided by the ISP, which I am guess most people who see it will be. People never read T&Cs, especially on something that is supposed to make their life easier, but I also couldn't find info in the footer T&C's by searching 'cashback' there either. So I am not sure where the info is. For example, on your homepage you have a Myrepublic box, with the big 'Purchase' button below which links to the MyRepublic website. At the top left of the box, the yellow cashback bar should have an 'i' on it so if you click on it, a box should appear to explain what it means, and who pays it, or it should have a link to info about the cashback as a link in the box. At the moment I presume it would be the ISP. If you do click on the yellow bar it just displays the following, Gamer 100Mbps FREE Installation & Setup FREE Awesome Gigabit Router New Zealand Based Support Worth Over $300, but nothing about the cashback.

The plan I got was Ultra Fast Fibre 100 (100 download speed) Unlimited plan. With the discount ($99.99per month), and the cashback($110) credit, it works out at $90-91 per month, with free local calling and modem on a 12 month contract. That along with Lightbox and Public wifi IMO is one of the best value plans for my particular needs.

glimpNZ

28 posts

Geek

#1584940 3-Jul-2016 00:56

PhantomNVD: Yes I did sort by price and set the slider to $47-$57 to eventually find the provider I have. What I'm suggesting is actually to have a Table View option, where providers at a selected filter (whether price/speed or whatever) are compared side to side. Something like this:

Obviously this one is a little busy, as there is more to differentiate iPhones from each other, but you get the idea?

You mean something like this? :)

NonprayingMantis:

yet another broadband comparison tool.

"For the first time ever"

Lolwut?

add it to the list:

www.glimp.co.nz

www.broadbandme.co.nz

http://broadband.t5.co.nz/compare

and there have been many others come and go over the years - like the consumer.org one tel me that I think has now shut down.

Thank you for the mention btw, appreciate it.

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#1584943 3-Jul-2016 01:27

Gave it a test to see if it finds my current plan. Or otherwise to see what it recommended. It didn't give a single option for 2degrees broadband. Yet it gave 3 listings in a row for My republic. The weird part was all 3 of those My Republic listings were all for the same monthly cost, same speed, and same amount of data. I had to study them just to try to figure out what was different about them. It turned out to be different contract terms / contract types.

Found out why it wasn't giving me any listings for 2degrees - I had selected the Static IP box, After I cleared it a 2degrees plan appeared. 2degrees definitely offer Static IPs (I have one from them). Also an Orcon plan appeared as well - AFAIK they also offer static IPs.

Could you also please change the slider for selecting what speed you need. As it lists 100Mbps as the max. Yet for alot of the ISPs that sell UFB, 100Mbps is the slowest speed UFB they offer.

And could you add a "Mobile" box to the list of "Select Any Extras You Need" options. As Spark, Vodafone, 2degrees all give a discount if you also have an on account mobile with them.

And I also had plans from Primo Wireless offered to me. Yet they only appear to cover the areas served by UFF. And Im in a Chorus area.

Also please change the contract term options. Probably best to change it into a slider. As selecting 36 months meant that no plans at all appeared. I can't think of any reason why having a shorter contract term could ever be a bad thing. So was expecting to still see plans with terms shorter than 36 months. After signing a 30 year mortgage contract, signing a 2+ year ISP contract is no problem. Especially if you get better pricing as a result. (Approx 10 years left on the mortgage due to overpayments).

deadlyllama

1260 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1585418 4-Jul-2016 09:26

Suggestions:

* Link to the plan summary PDF most providers now provide.

* Where does the rating information come from? Can I suggest developing some sort of way of turning TrueNet reports into a star rating, and calling up customer service in the evening and giving us a "time on hold" rating too? That's particularly important if you're getting fibre into an MDU and every time you call your ISP you end up on hold for 20 minutes. "100%" rating for MyRepublic is clearly absurd given their TrueNet results.

* I don't see InSPire Net in the results.

* And as I said before, you're showing a bunch of ISPs with a less-than-national UFB footprint in the results.

BroadbandCompare

57 posts

Master Geek

BroadbandCompare

#1585434 4-Jul-2016 10:09

Hi all,

thank you, guys, for your feedback and suggestions.

I will reply to everyone today later. Yesterday was stuck with some infrastructure modifications.

Stay tuned!

Thank you.

Dairyxox

1594 posts

Uber Geek

#1585490 4-Jul-2016 11:13

It would be nice if it integrated something like Truenet results, and ranked the providers against that data too.

While sites like this are a good start for uninformed consumers, I'd hate to make the decision based solely off this information.

For example a family member who chose My Republic has learned this the hard way. It looked alright on compare pages like these, but performance is definitely sub-par.

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