Ditching Homeline, moving to BigPipe, and getting 2Talk VOIP

Forums › New Zealand Broadband › Ditching Homeline, moving to BigPipe, and getting 2Talk VOIP

JoshWright

398 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#151918 9-Sep-2014 21:48

Currently, we pay ~$110 month for standard 150GB capped ADSL and home phone with Vodafone, getting us a measly 4Mbps download speed.

Our contract ends this month, so I was thinking of moving to BigPipe for their $79 unlimited naked ADSL, and moving our phone to a $10 2Talk VOIP plan (Parents insist on keeping our seldom-used landline, I'm their teenage son so I don't mind as they're paying for it..).

According to what the 2Talk website says, I need to port the number to them before I disconnect it so that we don't lose it. Should I do this before we cancel the Vodafone Service, and let them know what's happening? Or should I tell BigPipe to keep the number active even though they're a Naked provider?

We currently have a Vodafone Station (The one with LCD screen) as our modem, its settings are pretty horrible to customise, and it's quite locked down. Does this work on other non-Vodafone ISPs? Our other option is a very dated DSL-502T haha. Also, should we buy a Linksys PAP2T adapter? These seem to be easily obtained for a low price on Trade Me. Is this the correct hardware for connecting our standard Uniden phone to VOIP?

We also need to install a Master Filter to try improve our horrible download speed, as VDSL/UFB are likely never coming our way. Coffeebaron quoted an install a while back, but I need to try convince the parents to pay for it as I can't stump up the $200 haha. Ahh the drawbacks of being a geeky teenager living rurally...

Thanks everyone for your help, I'm a complete noob when it comes to VOIP :)

1 | 2

6019 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#1125374 9-Sep-2014 21:48

Hello... Our robot found some keywords in your post, so here is an automated reply with some important things to note regarding broadband speeds.

If you are posting regarding DSL speeds please check that

- you have reset your modem and router

- your PC (or other PCs in your LAN) is not downloading large files when you are testing

- you are not being throttled by your ISP due to going over the monthly cap

- your tests are always done on an ethernet connection to the router - do not use wireless for testing

- you read this topic and follow the instructions there.

Make sure you provide information for other users to help you. If you have not already done it, please EDIT your post and add this now:

- Your ISP and plan

- Type of connection (ADSL, ADSL2, VDSL)

- Your modem DSL stats (do not worry about posting Speedtest, we need sync rate, attenuation and noise margin)

- Your general location (or street)

- If you are rural or urban

- If you know your connection is to an exchange, cabinet or conklin

- If your connection is to a ULL or wholesale service

- If you have done an isolation test as per the link above

Most of the problems with speed are likely to be related to internal wiring issues. Read this discussion to find out more about this. Your ISP is not intentionally slowing you down today (unless you are on a managed plan). Also if this is the school holidays it's likely you will notice slower than usual speed due to more users online.

A master splitter is required for VDSL2 and in most cases will improve speeds on DSL connections. Regular disconnections can be a monitored alarm or a set top box trying to connect. If there's an alarm connected to your line even if you don't have an alarm contract it may still try to connect so it's worth checking.

I recommend you read these two blog posts:

- Is your premises phone wiring impacting your broadband performance? (very technical)

- Are you receiving a substandard ULL ADSL2+ connection from your ISP?

I am the Geekzone Robot and I am here to help. I am from the Internet. I do not interact. Do not expect other replies from me.

quickymart

13958 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1125383 9-Sep-2014 21:52

What is your location? What options are available?

JoshWright

398 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#1125387 9-Sep-2014 21:58

quickymart: What is your location? What options are available?

Tamahere (Between Hamilton and Cambridge). We're too far away from the exchange (yes exchange not cabinet) to get anything better than 5Mbps down. No 4G coverage, there is wireless provided by FarmSide, LightWire, and Vodafone wireless RBI, but our usage is far too much to go wireless without paying a fortune. Really our only option for a speed improvement is a Master Filter install, which my parents don't really seem to understand.

beachgeek

64 posts

Master Geek

#1125389 9-Sep-2014 22:00

It sounds like you have a pretty good plan. I would suggest you look at a new wireless modem( remenber you are saving $20 a month over Voda) with a VOIP port if you can find one. I am in the process of replacing my secong Linksys PAP2T in five years. Make sure you get a good quality new modem as the cheaper modem can very painful ( i tried a TP Link last year that caused no end of problems changed to a ASUS and no problems at all)

JoshWright

398 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#1125397 9-Sep-2014 22:05

One thing I just thought of. The Vodafone Station does have ports for a phone to plug in, apparently these are used for fibre. Would it be realistically possible to flash an alternative firmware that unlocks these ports and allows them to be used for VOIP? Or am I thinking crazy...

Coil

6614 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1125399 9-Sep-2014 22:06

JoshWright: One thing I just thought of. The Vodafone Station does have ports for a phone to plug in, apparently these are used for fibre. Would it be realistically possible to flash an alternative firmware that unlocks these ports and allows them to be used for VOIP? Or am I thinking crazy...

Nope.
(They are used for VOIP, Vodafone sell VOIP with fibre only)

JoshWright

398 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#1125400 9-Sep-2014 22:09

TimA:
JoshWright: One thing I just thought of. The Vodafone Station does have ports for a phone to plug in, apparently these are used for fibre. Would it be realistically possible to flash an alternative firmware that unlocks these ports and allows them to be used for VOIP? Or am I thinking crazy...

Nope.
(They are used for VOIP, Vodafone sell VOIP with fibre only)

Thanks Tim for clearing that up, that's what I thought. Can anyone recommend a quality sub $150 ADSL modem with VOIP built in? Wi-Fi and DHCP routing is done by our Airport Extreme, so anything I can just hook up to that would be fine.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

DarkShadow

1647 posts

Uber Geek

#1125425 9-Sep-2014 23:03

I did pretty much the same thing and it turned out well. (I then got a job at Bigpipe, but that's another story)

There's two ways to do it.

First is to sign up the Bigpipe, and tell us you want it "POTS on". We'll switch your broadband over, but keep your landline in place, you then port your landline to 2talk. Advantage: minimal downtime. Disadvantage: usually this works well, but sometimes the landline will get cut off even though we specified not to, and you'll lose your number.

Second way is to port your landline to 2talk first. After it is complete, sign up for Bigpipe. Advantage: Your landline number is safe. Disadvantage: You'll have broadband downtime.

For hardware, how about RTA1320 (black) for modem, and SPA-2102 for ATA.

dcole13

534 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1125520 10-Sep-2014 08:07

I haven't heard of a decent router with voip built in, I would go with an ata like the PAP2T (works great for me) and another router.

Home ADSL: School:

Coil

6614 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1125603 10-Sep-2014 10:20

dcole13: I haven't heard of a decent router with voip built in, I would go with an ata like the PAP2T (works great for me) and another router.

Fritz boxes dont seem too bad.
Ask any Snap! user.

dcole13

534 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1125609 10-Sep-2014 10:25

TimA:
dcole13: I haven't heard of a decent router with voip built in, I would go with an ata like the PAP2T (works great for me) and another router.

Fritz boxes dont seem too bad.
Ask any Snap! user.

Yeah fritz but that's over 200. NF4V is bad

Home ADSL: School:

coffeebaron

6234 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1125611 10-Sep-2014 10:33

If you want good reliable VoIP, then good house wiring and solid internet connection is very important. Especially if your VoIP provider is different to your Internet provider. You will notice straight away quality problems with VoIP if used on a bad intent connection, and most likely it will be the VoIP that gets the bad name.
Where your VoIP and internet provider are the same, there is usually a greater level of QoS control that can help overcome some issues with not so optimal DSL.
WXC do a great unlimited plan including VoIP and included hardware rental for $99 month.

If you go with BigPipe + 2talk. Make sure you get a router that does good QoS, is solid for rural lines (e.g. DrayTek), get a public IP with BigPipe and run a new dedicated CAT5e/6 cable form ETP to router and remove all other wiring.
Same goes for any VoIP over DSL.

Rural IT and Broadband support.

Broadband troubleshooting and master filter installs.
Starlink installer - one month free: https://www.starlink.com/?referral=RC-32845-88860-71
Wi-Fi and networking
Cel-Fi supply and installer - boost your mobile phone coverage legally

Need help in Auckland, Waikato or BoP? Click my email button, or email me direct: [my user name] at geekzonemail dot com

Coil

6614 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1125612 10-Sep-2014 10:33

dcole13:
TimA:
dcole13: I haven't heard of a decent router with voip built in, I would go with an ata like the PAP2T (works great for me) and another router.

Fritz boxes dont seem too bad.
Ask any Snap! user.

Yeah fritz but that's over 200. NF4V is bad

Wait for the right one to pop up.

dcole13

534 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1125616 10-Sep-2014 10:35

TimA:
dcole13:
TimA:
dcole13: I haven't heard of a decent router with voip built in, I would go with an ata like the PAP2T (works great for me) and another router.

Fritz boxes dont seem too bad.
Ask any Snap! user.

Yeah fritz but that's over 200. NF4V is bad

Wait for the right one to pop up.

Plus some fritz have DECT built in.

Home ADSL: School:

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#1125638 10-Sep-2014 11:19

NF4V is a great device. Has a couple of downsides but I'd say it's the best Ethernet+VDSL2 device on the market right now after the Fritz.

1 | 2