Help with new phone line/ISP please

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corksta

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#21006 12-Apr-2008 17:28

My fiance and I live in Takapuna, Auckland, in the upstairs part of her parents' house. Unfortunately upstairs there is not a single jack, and the way the house is set up, it's going to be easier for us to get a phone jack installed upstairs with its own line.

Her parents have their own internet connection and phone service with TelstraClear, so we want a second line for ourselves, but only for internet access - we don't want or need our own phone number, which I guess my research has told me this is what Naked DSL is all about.

I have a couple questions about it all:

1. Looking on Telecom's web site about setting up a second phone line it says there are two charges involved: installation and monthly rental. Installation is obvious but we don't want to pay a monthly rental on a line that won't be used as a phone line. Will Telecom do it this way or will we have to pay the monthly rental and once we sign up to an ISP that offers NDSL will that cancel the monthly charge?

2. I use Windows Home Server at home, which allows you to access the server while you're not at home, so I need an ISP that either doesn't block ports 80 and 443, or has different APNs which allow incoming requests to the server which I could then put into the configuration of the broadband modem to allow remote access. Do all ISPs do this?

3. What are your experiences using NDSL from the various ISPs? I'd use the internet for gaming on Xbox Live and we download a lot of music and videos so would need a pretty decent monthly allowance. I see Orcon is due to open up their Takapuna exchange this month which would allow me to use their NDSL service so maybe that would be an option for us.

Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions!

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#123081 12-Apr-2008 17:55

Hello,

The two biggest providers who are offering 'Naked' DSL are WorldxChange and Slingshot. Personally I would lean more towards worldxchange as they appear to be much more customer focused, however it does pay to do some research on your options.

Telecom don't actually provide a Naked DSL product at this time, all the plans on their website discuss having a home line as a requirement.

Orcon may offer an option through their LLU products.

As you want a second line, unless one has been installed previously, chances are that you'd need to get a tech (from Chorus nowdays?) to visit to wire the lines together. You may wish to contact the sales channels of your chosen ISP to see if they are able to provide a costs (worldxchange discuss fees, but not actually new installation fees).

You'll also want to look at a few of the forums here, there is some discussion about international throughput issues which may concern you. A lot of them seem to be based on 'speedtests' which can show many funny things... but with a no minimum term, if you don't like the service you are free to chose another provider (unlike Slingshot who has a minimum 12 month term).

Both Slingshot and WorldxChange are fairly flexible when it comes to high usage.

As for port 80 and port 443, I don't think any provider here in NZ blocks it, it should just be a case of adding port forwarding in your router.

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corksta

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#123084 12-Apr-2008 18:19

Thanks cokemaster, much appreciated. The default APN of Vodafone's 3G broadband service blocks those two ports which caused me all sorts of headaches until the Geekzone forums (where else?!) sorted it for me, but if other ISPs don't then it won't be a problem.

Maybe I'll choose an ISP first and see if they can help with installing a second line.

Cheers!

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#123086 12-Apr-2008 18:43

Ah yes, you'll find the default profiles on Vodafone are designed to prevent incoming connections. Probably to reduce the possibility of remote users using peoples potentially expensive mobile broadband usage.

Either that or its a NAT (can't remember which).

On fixed line broadband, most modems have a basic firewall and most operating systems by default will have firewalls to prevent incoming connections (and the excess costs aren't as high).

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#123253 13-Apr-2008 19:20

Firstly, any reason why you can't share the parents connection (offer to pay half or something), then either cable or wireless a connection to upstairs?

Else, if you go N-DSL, it will probably be easier to sort this with WorldxChange, as they have been going flat tack dealing with these since the beginning. I'd request "Full Installation – a Technician will visit your premises - $149.00". That way it will be up to Telecom's Chorus to workout how the wires get to upstairs.

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corksta

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#123270 13-Apr-2008 20:07

It really is the only practical option for us. I use Vodafone's 3G broadband service now which is ok, but 6GB isn't enough so might as well get at least twice that for a similar price through N-DSL. There are too many walls that are too thick, a microwave, and a 2.4GHz phone all in the way between their office and our little nest (tried already) which made the wireless performance quite erratic.

So does that mean it would cost $149 to wire it up or are there potential charges on top of this?

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#123331 14-Apr-2008 08:23

corksta: So does that mean it would cost $149 to wire it up or are there potential charges on top of this?

I wouldn't be 100% sure, as maybe they may have an "out" clause for some situations, but I think they would have to discuss that if that turned out to be the case. I'm guessing that $149 is the equivalent charge for upgrading to a full install for clothed-DSL.
You are welcome to send me a PM, as I can do this work for you, but as you're in Takapuna (I generally cover the West), then I'd be somewhat more expensive than the Telecom option.

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corksta

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#123373 14-Apr-2008 11:14

Thanks coffeebaron, that's very kind of you to offer to do it! I just got an email from Xnet, and their response to my question about getting them to arrange a tech to come out (after I explained our living situation) and install the line was:

We can arrange a tech to come out to do installation for you, you will be looking at a cost of $149.00 (full installation) for this.

So the way I read this is that it will cost $149 to set up the new line, but like you say there's always the possibility they'd have an "out' clause.

I wonder what the waiting time is for getting someone out here - might send you a PM if it's going to be weeks!