Rural broadband install cost

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#2402779 21-Jan-2020 09:14

Do you get good Vodafone cellphone reception? I've found that when talking to Vodafone, it all depends on who you talk to. When I was applying for the wireless 4g broadband plan, on the phone I got told no and I'd have to get an install. But the people in the store were happy to help. They even let me use my own used Skinny 4G modem.

Rikkitic

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#2402819 21-Jan-2020 09:59

If you can get on a WISP, I would recommend it, depending on the provider. We moved from RBI and our connection is much better, no data cap, and even a little cheaper! Download tests are almost always constant at 29 Mbps. Recently I have started getting some buffering issues on some Australian IPTV streams at peak hours, and I'm not sure why, but I also had that on RBI and it was much worse. Overall the WISP is far better and I would never consider going back.

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Jase2985

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#2402994 21-Jan-2020 15:20

Kiwihunt:

Jase2985:

@kiwihunt what are nearby people getting on VDSL?

should be able to pop their addresses into the address checker and see.

Checked next doors address VDSL at 17mbs

i guess thew question is, is around 17mbps going to be enough for you? you should be able to get around double that from a WISP and likely not have a cap either

tripper1000

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#2403019 21-Jan-2020 16:38

Kiwihunt: Don't understand why i cant use the wireless broadband at my place i have good 4g signal on my phone..

Strength of 4G signal isn't the deciding factor for fixed wireless. 4G is primarily for cell phones. If cell towers have surplus 4G capacity they'll monetise it via fixed wireless. If the cell towers are nearing max capacity they won't sell any fixed wireless connections on it/to it.

hio77

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#2403025 21-Jan-2020 17:24

tripper1000:

Kiwihunt: Don't understand why i cant use the wireless broadband at my place i have good 4g signal on my phone..

Strength of 4G signal isn't the deciding factor for fixed wireless. 4G is primarily for cell phones. If cell towers have surplus 4G capacity they'll monetise it via fixed wireless. If the cell towers are nearing max capacity they won't sell any fixed wireless connections on it/to it.

Not to mention most mobiles use incorrect methods to show "signal bars"

it's why you can have full bars and still have a poor experience (or the reverse, low bars and have an amazing experience)

Sony are one of the few devices manufactures out there that use far more accurate metrics to show bars. but from a consumer point of view, this results in "My old phone got more bars, this phone has bad coverage dont buy!"

#include <std_disclaimer>

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

zenourn

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#2403084 21-Jan-2020 19:35

So I'm also rural on a lifestyle block on the outskirts of Rangiora.

Our section had copper installed to the border as part of the consent process so we have ADSL. Initially I went for VDSL but distance was slightly marginal and ADSL gives better performance (18/1 Mbps). However, with three kids streaming lots ADSL doesn't really cut it so I also have a 4G RBI connection that I load balance over (get 20/30 Mbps). I use Ultimate Mobile, https://www.ultimatebroadband.co.nz/rbi-4g-wireless.html they are local and won't give you any rubbish around not being eligible for a plan, etc.

The new B525s modem is cat6 and hence supports carrier aggregation so can use both 700/1800 to download. I'm still on a Cat4 4G modem with two external aerials and found that by default the modem would use 1800 Mhz which was crap with all the trees between my house and the tower, but found a useful tool that allows forcing the band to 700 Mhz and much better.

If you want any further details happy to help.

[edit:removed comma from link]

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Subway

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Geek
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#2404489 22-Jan-2020 11:55

tripper1000:

Kiwihunt: Don't understand why i cant use the wireless broadband at my place i have good 4g signal on my phone..

Strength of 4G signal isn't the deciding factor for fixed wireless. 4G is primarily for cell phones. If cell towers have surplus 4G capacity they'll monetise it via fixed wireless. If the cell towers are nearing max capacity they won't sell any fixed wireless connections on it/to it.

Is a wireless broadband connection tied to a tower or somehow limited at all?

We have 4g Vodafone reception at our bach and RBI, however, Vodafone Wireless Broadband isn't offered, only RBI.

If I was to order Vodafone Wireless Broadband at my urban address could I just take it with me, would it work off the Vodafone Tower?

pom532

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Master Geek
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#2404524 22-Jan-2020 12:28

Subway:

tripper1000:

Kiwihunt: Don't understand why i cant use the wireless broadband at my place i have good 4g signal on my phone..

Strength of 4G signal isn't the deciding factor for fixed wireless. 4G is primarily for cell phones. If cell towers have surplus 4G capacity they'll monetise it via fixed wireless. If the cell towers are nearing max capacity they won't sell any fixed wireless connections on it/to it.

Is a wireless broadband connection tied to a tower or somehow limited at all?

We have 4g Vodafone reception at our bach and RBI, however, Vodafone Wireless Broadband isn't offered, only RBI.

If I was to order Vodafone Wireless Broadband at my urban address could I just take it with me, would it work off the Vodafone Tower?

Try talking to a person in store. They may be able to get you onto the wireless plan. It worked for me

mme

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#2404906 22-Jan-2020 18:57

Vodafone has just launched increased caps for fixed wireless (300 - 1TB per month)

https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU2001/S00135/vodafone-launches-ginormous-data-plans.htm

zenourn

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#2404919 22-Jan-2020 19:54

mme:

Vodafone has just launched increased caps for fixed wireless (300 - 1TB per month)

https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU2001/S00135/vodafone-launches-ginormous-data-plans.htm

Unfortunately says only available to main cities and regional centres. I can understand the reasoning behind this, the 4G network out here really is starting to suffer (the RSRQ and SINR are terrible at times).

For better internet I'm waiting for SpaceX to get Starlink up and running (another launch in two days!).

quickymart

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#2405109 23-Jan-2020 07:36

Starlink? Satellite?

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zenourn

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#2405152 23-Jan-2020 09:24

quickymart:

Starlink? Satellite?

Yes, but satellites in a 550 km altitude orbit so latency is only ~ 30-40 ms. SpaceX have completed 3 launches of 60 satellites so far, need 12 launches for US coverage and 24 launches for global coverage. Aiming for 2 launches a month this year but Elon's aim's are generally rather optimistic.

If all works out and bandwidth, data allowances, latency, and prices are reasonable will provide a good option for rural broadband.

Jase2985

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#2405366 23-Jan-2020 16:30

quickymart:

Starlink? Satellite?

for the same install cost i would rather have the 17mbps vdsl

pdh

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#2405376 23-Jan-2020 16:44

Starlink is slightly off-topic (in 2020) - hopefully will be very relevant by 2021 or 22.

Global satellite-fed connectivity might avoid local bottlenecks - and might even include niceties like VPN and geo-location spoofing... so I can watch Canadian National Film Board films in NZ. (Just a nice, legal (and true) eg.)

I don't really understand the importance of latency for anything other than gaming.
How would Starlink likely stack up compared to Rural Broadband or VDSL ?

zenourn

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#2405436 23-Jan-2020 17:26

Jase2985:

quickymart:

Starlink? Satellite?

for the same install cost i would rather have the 17mbps vdsl

I had 17/0.5 Mbps VDSL. It really wasn't fun. Anytime anything decided to upload (i.e., an iPhone decided to backup/sync the photos someone had taken) it effectively killed the connection. On same line could get 18/1 over ADSL2 which was a big improvement, and combining with 4G solves the upload problem completely.

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