Best alternative to 2Degrees/Snap (UFB)

Forums › New Zealand Broadband › Best alternative to 2Degrees/Snap (UFB)

Lizard1977

2061 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#177879 17-Aug-2015 16:01

I'm a former Snap UFB customer that got transferred to 2Degrees. My contract is coming to an end in a month, and I want to consider the alternatives. I accept it's still early days, but I haven't been too impressed by 2Degrees' service thus far. Plus, the cost isn't quite what I was expecting - while I can upgrade to unlimited data, the Snap Plus Phone now costs an extra $15.

I was planning to switch to Bigpipe and transfer my VOIP service back to VFX, but Bigpipe don't support UFB in Palmerston North. So what are my options? It looks like it's just Spark/VF/2Degrees/Orcon. Are there others I've missed? Which ISP do people recommend for UFB, if Bigpipe isn't available?

sidefx

3714 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1368063 17-Aug-2015 16:06

Bigpipe would have been my pick, a pity you can't get it.

I'm pondering the same thing myself, and whether it's worth keeping my (well wife's actually) mobile on a 2 degrees pay monthly, in which case the the $10 discount makes the new naked plans look ok. Or switch to bigpipe and switch the mobile to a cheaper prepay plan... which looks like it will actually be a little cheaper. We're already on 2talk for VOIP so the price hike to $15 for snap VOIP won't affect us.

"I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there." | Octopus Energy | Sharesies
- Richard Feynman

Lizard1977

2061 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1368070 17-Aug-2015 16:17

If I could switch my mobile to 2Degrees then it would change the calculation a little, but I've still got 15 months to run on a Spark mobile plan, and the early termination charges mean it won't be even close to economical to break the contract until February next year. I'm also nervous about 2Degrees mobile, based on some others' experiences - Spark have been pretty reasonable for mobile services for the past few years.

ubergeeknz

3344 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Vocus

#1368073 17-Aug-2015 16:23

Slingshot is another option (edited: Flip not offering UFB just yet)

staticnz

151 posts

Master Geek

#1368083 17-Aug-2015 16:42

ubergeeknz: Slingshot or Flip may also be options, I'm sure there are others

Flip doesn't have Fibre (coming soon according to their website).

vexxxboy

4245 posts

Uber Geek

#1368086 17-Aug-2015 16:49

you could look at MyRepublic

Common sense is not as common as you think.

surfisup1000

5288 posts

Uber Geek

#1368098 17-Aug-2015 17:19

I've been having issues with snap/2d too...... what is myrepublic like?

Detruire

1772 posts

Uber Geek

#1368152 17-Aug-2015 19:11

You could stay with 2degrees until Bigpipe finally launch here: their rep has said it should be before the end of the year, but IIRC they said the same thing last year about Wellington.

rm *

Sharesies

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

Lizard1977

2061 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1368398 18-Aug-2015 09:43

I think I may end up doing that, and staying on my grandfathered plan (with a data pack addon in lieu of unlimited data) for the rest of the year at least, in the hope that BigPipe will start accepting UFB connections in Palmerston North. From looking around at the other suggestions, for the same package MyRepublic would require a 24 month contract compared to BigPipe's open term. Spark are probably the only other contender for my situation, But it would be more expensive than staying with 2Degrees. So I think I'll stay put for now, and not change plans, and just hope that BigPipe move to Palmy soon.

vexxxboy

4245 posts

Uber Geek

#1368410 18-Aug-2015 09:57

surfisup1000: I've been having issues with snap/2d too...... what is myrepublic like?

they seem to be ok and they have the Gamer plan which has 100 down and 50 up for $119 which includes free voice line . No contract.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

BogBeast

57 posts

Master Geek

#1368768 18-Aug-2015 18:29

Try Voyager. Sharp pricing and the service has been pretty good so far. $69 a month for unlimited 100/20 connection - voice is $20 extra per month.

darylblake

1162 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1368995 19-Aug-2015 07:41

Mynxnet can do a chorus handover in palmy.

jonathan18

7413 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#1369085 19-Aug-2015 09:56

I'm also with Snap/2 degrees UFB in PN, and while not desperate for a change in ISPs (generally happy with the service), I still like to check out the the options available (my contract with Snap should be up now), so have looked at Voyager's and Mynxnet's websites.

BogBeast: Try Voyager. Sharp pricing and the service has been pretty good so far. $69 a month for unlimited 100/20 connection - voice is $20 extra per month.

That pricing is if you sign up for a 24 month contract; the other option (12 months) is an additional $10 a month (so $79 for unlimited 100/20). So, if I was comfortable with a 24 month contract and the $20 for phone, I'd pay the same with these guys as with Snap ($89) but for 100/20 not 30/10 (which we have currently). And if ok with moving phone to 2 talk, I'd it'll be about $8 a month cheaper overall (but a faster speed).

darylblake: Mynxnet can do a chorus handover in palmy.

These guys are certainly not cheap ($99 for 100/20 with no phone versus $69 or $79 from Voyager) - what advantages do they offer for this additional cost?

Lizard1977

2061 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1370259 19-Aug-2015 13:57

Voyager's pricing is very competitive. For about the same money as BigPipe + VFX, I can get an all-in-one package. What's the catch? Is it available only in Auckland? What's Voyager's reputation/service like? I know nothing about them... If the only catch is a 24-month contract, but they have a good service reputation, then it might be worth a shot...

quickymart

13974 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1370334 19-Aug-2015 15:37

Lizard1977: Voyager's pricing is very competitive. For about the same money as BigPipe + VFX, I can get an all-in-one package. What's the catch? Is it available only in Auckland? What's Voyager's reputation/service like? I know nothing about them... If the only catch is a 24-month contract, but they have a good service reputation, then it might be worth a shot...

Re Voyager's UFB service, see: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=49&topicid=177295