Which ISP for me?

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LordMaximus

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#30949 26-Feb-2009 21:51

Hello all!

I recently moved to this country from Canada back in December. I managed to find a nice IT job and I'm just about to move to an apartment building in Parnell around the Auckland area and need to find the right ISP/Phone Provider for me.

First off, my budget is around $100 a month. I surf the web quite a bit, when I'm home on general websites, maybe 5-10 streaming videos a day. I also use Skype to call home to canada. I have an ftp setup from my PC back home that I use for downloading photos and home videos from my parents so I'm looking for a data plan of about 15-20 gigs a month. I know that seems like alot, but I wouldnt look at anything else, maybe 10 if the price was right. I would like to get the best speeds for my money, but for me consistency would be best

I also need just a basic home phone plan that I'm not going to be using all that often, just for emergencies as I can use skype for the rest.

I have been looking into Orcon quite a bit as the ADSL2+ looks nice, with a silver+ package that includes phone and 5 gigs for 79.99 , then adding on 25 gigs for 20 bucks.

It was a toss up between this and telecom's total home package for the same 99.95 a month, but I checked telecoms site and they dont supply adsl2+ to parnell area at the moment, and Orcon says they do.

Is there anyone living in the Parnell area who can recommend a good provider? Or an orcon user who can help me out?

To Recap:

15-20 gigs data
Consistent speeds, very little outtages ( its NZ i know they have them everywhere)
Cheap home phone plan
> or = $100 a month.

Thanks guys, look forward to hearing back from you. Go easy on me

LordMaximus

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#198283 26-Feb-2009 21:53

Oh and I did look at the Wiki, and for all the info it has, its not really area specific for problems and user comments. Thanks though.

grant_k

3539 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#198286 26-Feb-2009 22:02

LordMaximus: ...I checked telecoms site and they dont supply adsl2+ to parnell area at the moment, and Orcon says they do.

I'm 99% sure this is incorrect. Telecom has upgraded pretty much all exchanges in Auckland to ADSL2+ by now.

EDIT: I just checked on this, and here is what the Telecom Wholesale web site says:

Exchange: Ak Central Fully Migrated to ADSL2+: 17/06/2008

It also mentions that Parnell Road is due to be cabinetised in 2011, which will give even faster speeds, but for now, you will definitely be getting ADSL2+. The full spreadsheet is here if you want to see for yourself:

http://www.telecomwholesale.co.nz/f530,260952/260952_ADSL2_completion_dates_13-10-08.xls

Ragnor

8223 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#198291 26-Feb-2009 22:25

You can use this map tool on the telecom wholesale site to give you an idea of where your address is in relation to the local exchange and cabinets. Telecom's network arm Chorus is currently installing roadside cabinets throughout the country to reduce the length of copper lines and increase ADSL sync speed.

http://www.telecomwholesale.co.nz/maps

If your address more than a few kilometers away from the exchange and your area has been cabineted I would recommend going with Telecom or any ISP using Telecom wholesale equipment. Basically means almost every ISP apart from specific plans from Orcon, Vodafone and Slingshot (Orcon+, Vodafone Red Network and Slingshot Next Big Thing).

You will get a much higher ADSL sync speed closer to the exchange OR connected to a roadside cabinet.

Currently the legal situation that would enable Orcon and Vodafone to install equipment in the cabinets hasn't been resolved yet (they have equipment in pretty much all exchanges in Auckland but not the new cabinets). Potentially you could have a longer copper run to the exchange and a lower ADSL sync speed on Orcon+, Vodafone Red orSlingshot Next Big Thing vs. being connected to a cabinet on a ISP using Telecom wholesale equipment.

If your area has not been cabineted and won't be for awhile OR your address is close to the exchange you should just make a judgement call and go with whichever ISP's plan you like the best. Maybe whichever ISP has the least complaints about outages and speed on the forums here lol!