No Chorus cables to house only Vodafone cable -- what are my ISP options?

Forums › New Zealand Broadband › No Chorus cables to house only Vodafone cable -- what are my ISP options?

spagbowl

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#173839 8-Jun-2015 13:50

Hi Geeks

I would say that I made a rookie error but I didn't know this situation existed...

Apparently my new rental unit does not have Chorus lines to it. Vodafone cable only. I didn't know! The "Find my address" function on the Orcon website listed both ADSL and VDSL services available.

The Chorus technician who visited the unit (Ross - brilliant guy) told me that at a time TelstraClear would pay for cable lines from street-to-units if developers agreed for it to be the sole connection.

My question: Must I go with Vodafone services or are there other options? I don't think I can find an equal or better deal with Vodafone.

Any wisdom always appreciated.

PS: Sorry to freitasm if this post should have been placed under a different subcategory.

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#1319391 8-Jun-2015 13:56

UFB area at all?

Richard rich.ms

spagbowl

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#1319400 8-Jun-2015 14:09

No -- "UFB fibre up to 200 Mbps between Jul-2016 and Jun-2017".

Good thinking through - thanks.

richms

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#1319401 8-Jun-2015 14:10

Guess you will have to get a vodafone connection then and hope that you arent in an area that is affected by huge congestion.

Are you renting straight off a developer or is it individually owned titles with their own problematic landlords and slow property management?

Richard rich.ms

spagbowl

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#1319405 8-Jun-2015 14:14

I suspect the latter. But if it turns out the landlord does own all units -- would it help?

richms

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#1319406 8-Jun-2015 14:16

If they own them all then there are less people to approch to get chorus cabling installed to the place if you find the vodafone offerings to be unsatisfactory.

Richard rich.ms

johnr

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#1319408 8-Jun-2015 14:20

Just put an order in for Cable (HFC) via the Vodafone website

DonGould

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#1319412 8-Jun-2015 14:22

spagbowl: No -- "UFB fibre up to 200 Mbps between Jul-2016 and Jun-2017".

Good thinking through - thanks.

You can get Chorus to run their network back in, but it will cost you.

I suggest that by the time you consider a $200 installation fee you'll be better off just going with VF until the UFB gets to you.

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overkill

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#1319452 8-Jun-2015 14:59

johnr: Just put an order in for Cable (HFC) via the Vodafone website

And if you decide to call in, STRESS the point of Cable, otherwise you will have Ross arrive back to connect you up to Vodafone on the Chorus network, this happens all to often.

"Setting the Standard in Quality and Commitment"

spagbowl

45 posts

Geek

#1319534 8-Jun-2015 16:48

Thanks DonGould. I will stop by a Vodafone store on my way home. The myriad options on the website are very confusing. (Nice website domain name, by the way).

Cheers richms -- cabling may be an option if Vodafone's options aren't competitive.

And thanks overkill. Reinforces visiting a store to get it right.

johnr

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#1319537 8-Jun-2015 16:52

The options are not confusing if you just want broadband (naked) or broadband with phone (clothed)

From the main Vodafone NZ site select ' Broadband ' top bar and then select what you would like

John

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#1319561 8-Jun-2015 17:04

spagbowl: ... Apparently my new rental unit does not have Chorus lines to it. Vodafone cable only. I didn't know! ...

By "cable" I presume that you mean VF cable HFC 100/10Mbps or 50/2Mbps.

The VF website is extremely confusing when it comes to cable plans, and still refers to old TelstraClear plans as well as their own (better) ones.
Be aware that cable is contract-only, typically for 12 months, with significant early termination fees.

Despite the recent peak congestion problems, cable is still probably a better option than VDSL (but not as good as fibre).
VF are actively upgrading their upstream hardware to improve their cable service.

AVOID CABLE TV (2 year contract, expensive, lots of problems)

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deadlyllama

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#1319566 8-Jun-2015 17:10

Our landlord did this back when he built a house in our backyard (and didn't drop our rent) back in, er, 2005 or so? Telecom wanted lots of money to connect the back unit, TelstraSaturn (or whatever they were called back then) didn't.

Are you by any chance in Karori West, behind a house that has a TV antenna mounting pole near the back right that has no antenna on it? (The antenna was a 2.4GHz slotted waveguide for a community wifi network that never really happened)

spagbowl

45 posts

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#1320031 9-Jun-2015 09:51

johnr - I beg to differ. The Vodafone website with cable plans is a mess. I click on "Cable" and it takes me to "Fibre"... then there are myriad sign-up offers which apply to some services and not others. Joining credit, half-price NEON, $10 On Account discount, HD access free (I've read previous Geekzone forum posts about whether SKY's "HD Access Ticket" is needed and was still confused).

So... I stopped by the Lambton Quay Vodafone store and was confused even more. The salesperson did not know about the joining credit offer and instead offered me three months free SKY Sport and first-month broadband free. I took the brochure and went home. (I assume 99% of queries at the stores are mobile-related but the lack of knowledge about your home services is appalling).

And then I called your 0800 number. A CSR named Maddy was excellent and very helpful (thankfully so - telephone customer service when I was last a Vodafone broadband customer in 2009 was atrocious). Maddy was patient and explained the sign-up offers - which apply and which do not - built me my plan and told me the offers made by the store salesperson had expired. In the end i was only eligible for $10 On Account credit (work phone) - $178-$198 joining credit is not available on Naked Broadband plans and the credit doesn't quite cover the additional $20 per month charged for home phone for the 12 months (so not worth it to me).

Installation should occure some time soon. My SKY HDi decoder is a large paperweight until I return it.

12 month contract. $199 early termination fee but no charge to move house.

Sideface: I went for Vodafone TV with SKY. 12 months rather than two years. I read previous Geekzone forums on issues with Vodafone TV (and predecessors) and hope it will be okay.

deadlyllama: No, not Karori West.

I'll update this post on the installation process. It may be useful to someone in future -- looking back at old posts on related subject-matter was helpful to me.

spagbowl

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Geek

#1328253 20-Jun-2015 12:19

I ordered Vodafone cable on 8 June. Installed 19 June. Nine business days so not too bad (Orcon using Chrous was three business days).

Downer technician was helpful and competent. Network speed as promised. Vodafone TV box is pretty good -- takes a little adjusting after a long time using MySKY HDi -- with no issues so far but it needs its own modem which is cumbersome (and unusual).

My one issue with the installation price is the indicated "preferred installation date" on the order summary. I read 'preferred' to mean when the customer would like it installed (in my case ASAP) -- instead it means when Vodafone think it can be installed (c. 20 business days).

Thanks to all those who wrote on this forum with suggestions. Very happy to be back online despite the monopoly situation.

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#1328255 20-Jun-2015 12:37

spagbowl: I ordered Vodafone cable on 8 June. Installed 19 June. Nine business days so not too bad (Orcon using Chrous was three business days).

Downer technician was helpful and competent. Network speed as promised. ...

Excellent

What cable plan/speed are you on?
What happens to speeds at 9pm?

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