Questions regarding rural broadband

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thegeneral

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#119496 3-Jun-2013 14:10

Hi guys, just have a few questions that I have searched for but can't find the answers.

I'm living just outside of Pirongia, in Te Pahu. There is an exchange in Pirongia I believe, which is too far away from me for broadband. But there is a cabinet closer to me, 2.6km away by following the roads. My question is: Is the distance for getting internet the same between the house and exchange as it is between the house and cabinet? From what I have read, about 5km is max distance between house and exchange, so if the same rule applies for cabinet I may have a chance at getting broadband?

In the past Telecom have told us it is not possible because of distance but having spotted this little cabinet, I'm hoping something has changed. I will be getting in touch with them but if anyone has any input here that would be great.

Here's a pic of the cabinet (I think its the cabinet!):

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19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#830038 3-Jun-2013 14:16

Is that a front on photo?

thegeneral

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#830040 3-Jun-2013 14:23

Yes, acquired from Google Maps. I could possibly get a photo of it myself later today if it would help with anything? Located here next to pole: -37.952873,175.192386

Edit: This is as much angle as I can get off of Google Maps,

Cbfd

307 posts

Ultimate Geek

#830042 3-Jun-2013 14:27

Whats the id on that cabinet - cant read it

Cbfd

307 posts

Ultimate Geek

#830043 3-Jun-2013 14:29

Ps thats an old school cross connect cabinet - maybe getting upgraded with rbi

thegeneral

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#830044 3-Jun-2013 14:30

I'm unsure of the ID. I'll have to have a look this afternoon when I drive home. I have been trawling through the Chorus website trying to find PDFs with relevant cabinet/exchange info for Pirongia/Te Pahu but I haven't had any luck sadly.

thegeneral

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#830048 3-Jun-2013 14:41

Cbfd: Ps thats an old school cross connect cabinet - maybe getting upgraded with rbi

Would a cross connect cabinet be able to provide ADSL to a house 2.6-3km away Cbfd? Cheers

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#830059 3-Jun-2013 15:25

thegeneral:
Cbfd: Ps thats an old school cross connect cabinet - maybe getting upgraded with rbi

Would a cross connect cabinet be able to provide ADSL to a house 2.6-3km away Cbfd? Cheers

Cross connect cabinets have no active electronics. Their purpose is typically to split a main MPF from the exchange into smaller cable runs to various streets or properties.

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plambrechtsen

1948 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#830061 3-Jun-2013 15:32

thegeneral: Yes, acquired from Google Maps. I could possibly get a photo of it myself later today if it would help with anything? Located here next to pole: -37.952873,175.192386

Edit: This is as much angle as I can get off of Google Maps,

That Geo location doesn't show up a location for a new RBI cabinet, and yes that does look like a cross cabinet and not a Conklin or ASAM or similar rural cabinet.

If you're with Telecom message me your address and I can see what the story is, or email me pl at telecom.co.nz and I can have a look.

And that area looks to be exchange fed from PIR Pirongia.

thegeneral

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#830089 3-Jun-2013 16:43

Thanks sbiddle

plambrechtsen:
thegeneral: Yes, acquired from Google Maps. I could possibly get a photo of it myself later today if it would help with anything? Located here next to pole: -37.952873,175.192386

Edit: This is as much angle as I can get off of Google Maps,

That Geo location doesn't show up a location for a new RBI cabinet, and yes that does look like a cross cabinet and not a Conklin or ASAM or similar rural cabinet.

If you're with Telecom message me your address and I can see what the story is, or email me pl at telecom.co.nz and I can have a look.

And that area looks to be exchange fed from PIR Pirongia.

Have just PM'd you PL, also the box has PIR-C printed on it. I had a look at it and i can tell there is not much to it, it was quite wobbly on its base also.

grant_k

3539 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#830126 3-Jun-2013 17:23

I have a friend living near to Te Pahu and her only option is Vodafone's 3G wireless service. However, there are areas around Te Pahu which are covered by Lightwire (aka No.8 Wireless). Check out their coverage map:

http://www.lightwire.co.nz/tools/rural-coverage-map/

Another friend has been using them for many years and recently upgraded to their No.8 Core+ service a few months back. She is very happy with it.

P.S. This offer might be of interest:

Have you got any Fieldays specials?Yes! We are offering zero connection fee signups from 1st May - 30th June 2013

thegeneral

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#830131 3-Jun-2013 17:35

grant_k: I have a friend living near to Te Pahu and her only option is Vodafone's 3G wireless service. However, there are areas around Te Pahu which are covered by Lightwire (aka No.8 Wireless). Check out their coverage map:

http://www.lightwire.co.nz/tools/rural-coverage-map/

Another friend has been using them for many years and recently upgraded to their No.8 Core service a few months back. She is very happy with it.

Yes Lightwire is a good service, we are currently using them through RuralLink for our internet. The service isn't perfect, we used to run our phones through VOIP with them but we had to many drop outs and phone calls sounding like we are talking through water, that we had to switch back to Telecom.

If we can get broadband though Telecom (even if its 1-2mbit) then that will cut our costs down as we use a lot of data and wireless isn't too data friendly. Also the internet can disappear when the weather gets a bit rowdy.

I've just discovered Satlan, $69 per month for unlimited priority based wireless internet. I think they run from the hospital, which is 18km from me as the crow flies, so will have to get in touch with them and see what distance there gear can handle, and what gaurantees they can make regarding VOIP.

grant_k

3539 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#830138 3-Jun-2013 17:49

If you are only able to get 1-2Mbit/sec speeds with ADSL, then the reliability will most likely be crap. The local Chorus tech. said that we might get 1Mbps if we were lucky and was saying how much cheaper it would be than wireless. Having suffered with unreliable ADSL services before, I am not interested in going down this route, as 7km is well outside the design range of ADSL, so we would be asking for trouble.

Looking at your area on Vodafone's RBI coverage map, their 3G wireless service is already available in your area. Before you write it off as too expensive, check out this plan from Ultimate with 20GB and then $1.50 per GB overage:

http://www.ultimatebroadband.co.nz/rbi-max-enhanced-plans.html

This is the plan I'm using with a VoIP phone service, and it works perfectly. Fraser (aka CoffeeBaron) does installations in the Waikato, so he could most likely hook you up with this service if you are interested.

thegeneral

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#830144 3-Jun-2013 18:01

grant_k: If you are only able to get 1-2Mbit/sec speeds with ADSL, then the reliability will most likely be crap. The local Chorus tech. said that we might get 1Mbps if we were lucky and was saying how much cheaper it would be than wireless. Having suffered with unreliable ADSL services before, I am not interested in going down this route, as 7km is well outside the design range of ADSL, so we would be asking for trouble.

Looking at your area on Vodafone's RBI coverage map, their 3G wireless service is already available in your area. Before you write it off as too expensive, check out this plan from Ultimate with 20GB and then $1.50 per GB overage:

http://www.ultimatebroadband.co.nz/rbi-max-enhanced-plans.html

This is the plan I'm using with a VoIP phone service, and it works perfectly. Fraser (aka CoffeeBaron) does installations in the Waikato, so he could most likely hook you up with this service if you are interested.

Ah I see, thats a good point about reliability with ADSL. I'll see what PL gets back to me with.

I'll keep UBB in mind for sure. It's a tad to expensive data wise for me but I will still consider it.

Looking at the Vodafone coverage, I have a coverage line running through my property, so could be dicey but wont really know til I try!

Thanks for the comments grant-k

InstallerUFB

840 posts

Ultimate Geek

#830168 3-Jun-2013 18:52

thegeneral: Thanks sbiddle

plambrechtsen:
thegeneral: Yes, acquired from Google Maps. I could possibly get a photo of it myself later today if it would help with anything? Located here next to pole: -37.952873,175.192386

Edit: This is as much angle as I can get off of Google Maps,

That Geo location doesn't show up a location for a new RBI cabinet, and yes that does look like a cross cabinet and not a Conklin or ASAM or similar rural cabinet.

If you're with Telecom message me your address and I can see what the story is, or email me pl at telecom.co.nz and I can have a look.

And that area looks to be exchange fed from PIR Pirongia.

Have just PM'd you PL, also the box has PIR-C printed on it. I had a look at it and i can tell there is not much to it, it was quite wobbly on its base also.

PIR/C is just a cross connect cabinet with a 75 pair copper feed off the PIR/H cab (calculated distance between is 4.7km ) PIR/H is also only a Cross Connecton Cabinet (calculated to be 500m from PIR exch)

thegeneral

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#830175 3-Jun-2013 18:59

InstallerUFB:
thegeneral: Thanks sbiddle

plambrechtsen:
thegeneral: Yes, acquired from Google Maps. I could possibly get a photo of it myself later today if it would help with anything? Located here next to pole: -37.952873,175.192386

Edit: This is as much angle as I can get off of Google Maps,

That Geo location doesn't show up a location for a new RBI cabinet, and yes that does look like a cross cabinet and not a Conklin or ASAM or similar rural cabinet.

If you're with Telecom message me your address and I can see what the story is, or email me pl at telecom.co.nz and I can have a look.

And that area looks to be exchange fed from PIR Pirongia.

Have just PM'd you PL, also the box has PIR-C printed on it. I had a look at it and i can tell there is not much to it, it was quite wobbly on its base also.

PIR/C is just a cross connect cabinet with a 75 pair copper feed off the PIR/H cab (calculated distance between is 4.7km ) PIR/H is also only a Cross Connecton Cabinet (calculated to be 500m from PIR exch)

So nothing to get excited about I assume?

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