Switching Fibre ISP Any Recommendations?

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#2108395 15-Oct-2018 18:22

I felt a new topic was necessary because the situation has drastically changed from the topic here and I'm asking vastly different questions.

michaelmurfy

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#2108402 15-Oct-2018 18:38

KitChan:

I felt a new topic was necessary because the situation has drastically changed from the topic here and I'm asking vastly different questions.

It really hasn't. Mixer also works no problems on the ISP's I've tested. I honestly feel there is actually not a single issue here nor anything your ISP can fix. There is no point changing providers as all are going to have similar performance. The fact is, ensuring the best speed and latency to multiple worldwide locations is incredibly difficult.

Going by latency or Speedtest results is also not a gauge on how the ISP performs either. There are many other factors you have to account for.

Nobody is stating that 2degrees is a "godsend" as you've stated on your other thread either - it is just simply a good ISP with decent performance to multiple locations and great peering within NZ along with great support. Stuff Fibre (which is actually Devoli behind the scenes) is a great network too however I don't have nearly as much exposure with them and thus won't recommend them nearly as much.

It simply comes down to you adjusting your expectations on an ISP and understanding that no ISP will make a massive network-wide routing change for a single user. Really, this is what it is. Network routing, peering and paths can change at a drop of a hat - your ISP is offering a "best effort" service.

For what you're asking for in both your other thread and this one you need to go to a business plan with a full SLA to offer the best network performance to the given locations you've mentioned stipulated in the contract with them but even then I don't think they can do much. All your tests are completely fine for a residential connection.

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Goosey

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#2108409 15-Oct-2018 19:03

Sorry to hijack (but didnt think its worth starting a new thread...

VF about to switch me from VDSL to Fibre this week. Ive got the DSL plugged in (of course) and connected the WAN port to LAN1 of the ONT.

I assuming the ONT will negociate with the router (UltraHub with latest firmware), and choose the best connection?

I only ask as I most likley wont be home, but wife will be and potentally will need the phone to be working (and I cant ask her to reach up and unplug the dsl jack and reboot the router because we are only a few weeks away from expecting #child2 to arrive.... and dont want her climbing up onto a stool to reach my cabinet (not that we need to but she would to safe herself from stretching herself out).

thoughts?

(part of me thinks VF might keep the DSL active until they know fibre working ok.....but thats thinking logcially right)! (and if thats the case will the ultrahub choose fibre over dsl)?

michaelmurfy

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#2108412 15-Oct-2018 19:06

@Goosey This really depends on the router and I'm not sure about the Ultrahub either. In theory, if the VDSL sync goes down it should work over the UFB connection but my gut is telling me you'll need to do a physical switch at the time of the changeover.

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#2108414 15-Oct-2018 19:12

@michaelmurfy

Thanks, my feeling too. Just needed a GZhuman to bounce this off!

Will see what happens "8am Wednesday" as per the info VF and Enable have texted me last week..... You just never know, the ultra hub might hot swap configure itself to use the WAN (given it would suposedly do the same if a vodem was connected for failover).

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#2108418 15-Oct-2018 19:20

Goosey: @michaelmurfy

Thanks, my feeling too. Just needed a GZhuman to bounce this off!

Will see what happens "8am Wednesday" as per the info VF and Enable have texted me last week..... You just never know, the ultra hub might hot swap configure itself to use the WAN (given it would suposedly do the same if a vodem was connected for failover).

If that were to happen it'll be too easy - since when has Vodafone made something easy ;)

Leave clear instructions in front of the router stating "if internet goes down unplug this lead and reboot router".

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#2108431 15-Oct-2018 19:47

Goosey:[snip]we are only a few weeks away from expecting #child2 to arrive

OT but.... congratulations :-)

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#2108544 15-Oct-2018 22:08

@RunningMan

Thanks mate :-)

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#2109089 16-Oct-2018 19:49

@KitChan

I'm considering Stuff how were they?

I am changing as my ISP has stopped IPv6 which is mandatory for me which limits my choices to Stuff, 2D, Voyager, Vocus. Currently Stuff over 2D due to the 30 day money back if I am not happy even on 12 month commitment

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#2109096 16-Oct-2018 20:08

Don't think you'll get a response as they've been banned

xlinknz

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#2109098 16-Oct-2018 20:12

dfnt:

Don't think you'll get a response as they've been banned

who has been banned?

Ah KitChan is inactive...

michaelmurfy

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#2109114 16-Oct-2018 21:01

xlinknz:

@KitChan

I'm considering Stuff how were they?

I am changing as my ISP has stopped IPv6 which is mandatory for me which limits my choices to Stuff, 2D, Voyager, Vocus. Currently Stuff over 2D due to the 30 day money back if I am not happy even on 12 month commitment

Honestly - if IPv6 is important then go with Voyager. They give you a delegated /56 range to play around with and are a great ISP. Also got great support.

Stuff Fibre's network (which is Devoli behind the scenes) is very good, but I've seen pretty average customer support from Stuff themselves (likely since they're dealing with a third party and are really only a reseller).

I'm personally with 2degrees with a static /56 through them, also my parents have got a /56 with Voyager. I've seen very comparable performance between the two. If you've got an on-account mobile with 2degrees then it is worth joining them too.

All 3 ISP's (Stuff, Voyager and 2degrees) have great networks but I can only speak of Voyager and 2degrees from a support standpoint where the only exposure I've had with Stuff is through others.

xlinknz

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#2109120 16-Oct-2018 21:15

michaelmurfy:

xlinknz:

@KitChan

I'm considering Stuff how were they?

I am changing as my ISP has stopped IPv6 which is mandatory for me which limits my choices to Stuff, 2D, Voyager, Vocus. Currently Stuff over 2D due to the 30 day money back if I am not happy even on 12 month commitment

Honestly - if IPv6 is important then go with Voyager. They give you a delegated /56 range to play around with and are a great ISP. Also got great support.

Stuff Fibre's network (which is Devoli behind the scenes) is very good, but I've seen pretty average customer support from Stuff themselves (likely since they're dealing with a third party and are really only a reseller).

I'm personally with 2degrees with a static /56 through them, also my parents have got a /56 with Voyager. I've seen very comparable performance between the two. If you've got an on-account mobile with 2degrees then it is worth joining them too.

All 3 ISP's (Stuff, Voyager and 2degrees) have great networks but I can only speak of Voyager and 2degrees from a support standpoint where the only exposure I've had with Stuff is through others.

Thank you for the reply

The reviews of Voyager on https://www.broadbandcompare.co.nz and their own facebook page would suggest they have customer service issues. I've seen similar poor reviews of 2D too (I am a customer of 2D via Warehousemobile)

Another option for me is Inspire.net but at least with stuff I get to try and if I find them wanting can opt out in 30 days even on their 12 month plan. Good point I'll check what prefix I get with Stuff.

michaelmurfy

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#2109129 16-Oct-2018 21:36

xlinknz:

Thank you for the reply

The reviews of Voyager on https://www.broadbandcompare.co.nz and their own facebook page would suggest they have customer service issues. I've seen similar poor reviews of 2D too (I am a customer of 2D via Warehousemobile)

Another option for me is Inspire.net but at least with stuff I get to try and if I find them wanting can opt out in 30 days even their 12 month plan. Good point I'll check what prefix I get with Stuff.

I take those reviews as a grain of salt. There are many posts with good feedback for both ISP's here and there are staff reps active on Geekzone to assist with any problems. I've gone via the normal phone support route with both ISP's (no, I don't get special treatment) and have only had great service.

Voyager: Assisted me with replacing their router with a VoIP unit for my parents landline by providing me all the right settings. Also fixing my parents connection at 10:30pm the other night.

2degrees: Both mobile and broadband, I've had great phone support and in-store support. The staff on Geekzone are prompt at sorting out customer issues and they've always been very transparent and honest with any network issues they may have on. There is also a thread here regarding them. The connection itself is reliable and fast.

You've got to remember, with social media often the posts that appear are of the negative as if a service is working well people will normally not post. My Father has also called Voyager not understanding the setup he has (as I was unavailable) and the rep assisted him with rebooting his Edgerouter X by getting my father to describe what boxes are connected and how they're connected. My father said during the whole process the guy was incredibly patient and helpful - the end result of the call was his internet working. He has told me that he is incredibly happy with them after having problems in the past with Spark and Vodafone.

Again, from the experience both myself and others have had I have to disagree with 90% of the reviews left regarding Voyager - they bought out Actrix and had to move customers off the old Actrix network onto their own - sure, this is going to peeve a few customers off and is a big task. You'll note many of the reviews are a part of this. Other reviews are quite old and they've gotten better over time (parents have been with Voyager for around 2 years now).

This is why you shouldn't trust review sites - go by what others say on forums like Geekzone and GPForums instead.

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#2109718 17-Oct-2018 13:50

michaelmurfy:

...This is why you shouldn't trust review sites - go by what others say on forums like Geekzone and GPForums instead.

Firstly I do find review sites esp. ones that are not reselling ISPs helpful as some ISPs consistently get better reviews than others that said I don't rely only on what one or two sites say. I look for consistency of reviews across many sites. I also wary of fake reviews and certainty don't "trust" them. Consumer is a good place to look too as they have ISP satisfaction survey results.

If I only went with what people say here or on GPF I would not have used MyRepublic or Unlimited Internet both of which I had excellent service and experience with

All service providers have ups and downs but some are in my view definitely more consistent than others in regards to reviews.

BTW who are Devoli?

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