Orcon or Compass for UFB?

Forums › New Zealand Broadband › Orcon or Compass for UFB?

danepak

1112 posts

Uber Geek

#188986 12-Dec-2015 17:12

About to move to NZ. I want UFB and from what I can see, the best offers are:
Orcon unlimited, 100/20 including landline, free calls and modem with first month for free for $95
Compass, as above, but $90 per month (no free month though).
Any recommendations? Are both equally good?
I looked at Slingshot too, but they're $94 + $10 for phone and am extra $35 for modem (including postage).

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1647 posts

Uber Geek

#1449282 12-Dec-2015 18:07

Which city are you moving to?

Kiwifruta

1423 posts

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ID Verified

#1449312 12-Dec-2015 18:40

Check out Trustpower too. We are paying $49/month for unlimited UFB and landline phone for 12 months and then the next 12 months will be no more than $79/month. We also have our electricity with them.

Their customer service is the best I've had for an internet/phone or electricity company. 4 out of 5 tines they answer the phone without me going on hold.

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#1449319 12-Dec-2015 19:05

danepak: About to move to NZ. I want UFB and from what I can see, the best offers are:
Orcon unlimited, 100/20 including landline, free calls and modem with first month for free for $95
Compass, as above, but $90 per month (no free month though).
Any recommendations? Are both equally good?
I looked at Slingshot too, but they're $94 + $10 for phone and am extra $35 for modem (including postage).

If you're moving to NZ, then I assume you don't have much in the way of family here.

In which case, take the opportunity to get rid of the landline and just use your mobile for calling. you almost certainly won't need it, and the only calls you receive will be from scammers or cold callers..
For contacting your family back home, use Skype/Facetime or similar services.

you'll also need to make sure that wherever you move to, ufb is actually available.

Other ISPs to consider:

Bigpipe
2Degrees
Spark
Vodafone

danepak

1112 posts

Uber Geek

#1449327 12-Dec-2015 19:24

DarkShadow: Which city are you moving to?

Auckland (Milford, North Shore). UFB is available.

danepak

1112 posts

Uber Geek

#1449329 12-Dec-2015 19:33

NonprayingMantis:
danepak: About to move to NZ. I want UFB and from what I can see, the best offers are:
Orcon unlimited, 100/20 including landline, free calls and modem with first month for free for $95
Compass, as above, but $90 per month (no free month though).
Any recommendations? Are both equally good?
I looked at Slingshot too, but they're $94 + $10 for phone and am extra $35 for modem (including postage).

If you're moving to NZ, then I assume you don't have much in the way of family here.

In which case, take the opportunity to get rid of the landline and just use your mobile for calling. you almost certainly won't need it, and the only calls you receive will be from scammers or cold callers..
For contacting your family back home, use Skype/Facetime or similar services.

you'll also need to make sure that wherever you move to, ufb is actually available.

Other ISPs to consider:

Bigpipe
2Degrees
Spark
Vodafone

Yes, we're moving in to my mother in laws house. She's already got broadband with Spark and she doesn't want to lose the landline (unfortunately).

Thanks for the list of the other ISPs.
Bigpipe doesn't offer landline.
2Degrees only offers up to 30mbps.
Spark and Vodafone are both more expensive, compared to Orcon and Compass (and Slingshot too).

One more question: Does everyone use the same fibre, or has Spark (for example) got their own? Or can I expect the exact same speed, who ever I go with (as long as they don't throttle)?

quickymart

13924 posts

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#1449336 12-Dec-2015 19:43

They all use the same fibre.

quickymart

13924 posts

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#1449337 12-Dec-2015 19:44

Also - not all of Milford has fibre available (I used to live there). If you're in the hill areas you may be out of luck.
You can check your mum-in-law's address here:

https://www.chorus.co.nz/network-map

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danepak

1112 posts

Uber Geek

#1449338 12-Dec-2015 19:45

quickymart: Also - not all of Milford has fibre available (I used to live there). If you're in the hill areas you may be out of luck.
You can check your mum-in-law's address here:

https://www.chorus.co.nz/network-map

Yep, already checked her address. All good for fibre.

Sideface

9349 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1449341 12-Dec-2015 19:52

If you want fibre, and need a new install, be prepared for delays of weeks or months - regardless of which provider you choose.

You may need to get xDSL as a stopgap measure, then upgrade to UFB with the same provider.

Sideface

michaelmurfy

meow
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#1449358 12-Dec-2015 20:03

I'd personally recommend 2degrees if you're wanting a full bundle deal. Otherwise BigPipe do decent broadband however you'll need to provide the router (Spark routers are cheap to get off the likes of Trademe).

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richms

28168 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#1449361 12-Dec-2015 20:05

Keep the landline where it is. Moving them to the fiber seems to always introduce downtime etc. I would get fiber from bigpipe and keep the phone with whoever it is with at the moment.

Richard rich.ms

danepak

1112 posts

Uber Geek

#1449362 12-Dec-2015 20:06

Sideface: If you want fibre, and need a new install, be prepared for delays of weeks or months - regardless of which provider you choose.

You may need to get xDSL as a stopgap measure, then upgrade to UFB with the same provider.

I spoke to Slingshot earlier and they said it would take 20-25 business days for me to get UFB and that I would be staying with Spark until then and therefore, no downtime.

Lorenceo

904 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#1449363 12-Dec-2015 20:06

2degrees does offer faster than 30Mbps. The base plan is 30/10, you can get up to 200/200Mbps.

DarkShadow

1647 posts

Uber Geek

#1449364 12-Dec-2015 20:09

Everyone uses the same fibre, but that dose not mean you will get the same speeds. Different companies have different backhaul and upstream which can affect performance.

You will also need to think do you want to get stuck in a contract?

danepak

1112 posts

Uber Geek

#1449370 12-Dec-2015 20:14

richms: Keep the landline where it is. Moving them to the fiber seems to always introduce downtime etc. I would get fiber from bigpipe and keep the phone with whoever it is with at the moment.

The issue is that it would be be more expensive to do, I think (without having checked it properly though).
I can imagine to pay Spark for the phone by itself and then internet through another company.

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