Telecom for homeline and Xnet for broadband?

Forums › New Zealand Broadband › Telecom for homeline and Xnet for broadband?

Wify

27 posts

Geek

#74993 11-Jan-2011 13:49

Hi there. I'm not too much of a geek, so please excuse my ignorance :)

I am looking at moving into a flat with six people. One thing I'm considering for our internet/phone situation is telecom for homeline (apparently they have an unlimited tolls plan or something?) and Xnet for internet (I'd also add in one of their broadband phone connection things). This way we would have two separate numbers which is what we need.

Is this possible on just one phone line?

Thanks :)

RunningMan

8953 posts

Uber Geek

#426120 11-Jan-2011 14:01

Yes, it is.

An alternative to consider would be Xnet Fusion (naked DSL internet, with one VFX phone line) and then add a second VFX line for a second number (no payment to Telecom for a line).

It would really depend how many toll calls, and to where you are wanting to make. You would need to do the sums and work out what the cost would be each way...

There are other possibly cheaper solutions around, eg. 2Talk, however, they do require a bit more knowledge to set up and get running. Xnet's VFX however is great for the consumer - works exactly as you would expect a normal landline to work, is reliable, and very reasonably priced. Helpdesk are good too. I'm not affiliated with them in any way, other than being a satisified customer.

jjnz1

1358 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#426121 11-Jan-2011 14:04

Read this:

http://www.xnet.co.nz/vfx/

It explains how the Xnet 'broadband phone connection thingees' work.

Why do you want another landline? Do your potential flat mates not have cell phones?

Wify

27 posts

Geek

#426123 11-Jan-2011 14:14

Because our flat situation is this; 5 people in the house, and I am in the self-contained sleepout. Thus, if someone wants to call me and the house picks up, someone is going to have to come out and knock on my door. There is a fence between me and the house, so it would be like having to go to your neighbours house all the time if you shared a phone. This way I could have my own number with Xnet and not disturb anybody :)

I'd use my cellphone, but none of my friends have money to call a cellphone number unfortunately.

The 2nd line is actually a great idea in terms of price. The reason I thought to go with telecom was because of the unlimited tolls thing, but considering we wouldn't have to pay a high rental cost it may even out anyway.

RunningMan

8953 posts

Uber Geek

#426132 11-Jan-2011 14:25

Wify:
The 2nd line is actually a great idea in terms of price. The reason I thought to go with telecom was because of the unlimited tolls thing, but considering we wouldn't have to pay a high rental cost it may even out anyway.

That's really the big question. If the type of toll calls you are making line up with one of Telecom's plans, then that may be the best option. However, while Xnet don't offer (that I know of) special plans like Telecom, their general toll rates are a lot cheaper per minute.

With you in a seperate building - how does the internet get to you? Is it wireless, or a wired connection?

As a suggestion for a hardware setup, you could have something like the SRP527 or WAG310G in the house, doing the internet and phone. They also provide a WiFi connection for wireless network.

Depending on the cabling in the house, both of the above units also support a 2nd line, if you able to phyiscally connect your phone to it (cordless phone perhaps??)

If that wasn't possible, you should be able to get a wireless network bridge to give you a wired internet connection in your building from the main house, that you could then plug an ATA like a SPA2102 or PAPT2 to run your phone line.....

jjnz1

1358 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#426133 11-Jan-2011 14:25

Is there or can you run a network cable between the two houses?

Wify

27 posts

Geek

#426150 11-Jan-2011 14:50

Thankfully its not just wireless; I have a telephone cable in the sleepout :)

Alternatively I'd happily pay my own internet/phone bill like I am, but it'd have to be via mobile broadband internet and I have heard BAD things in regards to Woosh.

webwat

2036 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#426218 11-Jan-2011 17:27

Only phone line going to the sleepout? How can you get internet there if the same phone line being used for internet in the main house? If its easy enough to run an outdoor-rated Cat5 cable to the sleepout, then I recommend doing that, and careful to put a drip loop at each end. Otherwise ask Xnet if they have a wireless option for VFX.

Time to find a new industry!

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

coffeebaron

6231 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#426305 11-Jan-2011 21:21

Hi Sarah,

I'm a dealer for WorldxChange, so can help you through all the options. If interested, send me a PM (email) with some contact details, and I'll get in touch.

Cheers
Fraser

Rural IT and Broadband support.

Broadband troubleshooting and master filter installs.
Starlink installer - one month free: https://www.starlink.com/?referral=RC-32845-88860-71
Wi-Fi and networking
Cel-Fi supply and installer - boost your mobile phone coverage legally

Need help in Auckland, Waikato or BoP? Click my email button, or email me direct: [my user name] at geekzonemail dot com

kyhwana2

2566 posts

Uber Geek

#426330 11-Jan-2011 23:11

If the DSL (xnet) router is out in your room, how is the rest of the house going to get net?

Wify

27 posts

Geek

#426808 13-Jan-2011 12:09

Oh I thought you could have multiple routers?

In my old house with my parents, my dad had two routers running. We had our main proper router in my bedroom, and with cables extended it to my room. But clearly I don't get what a "telephone cable" is then. I assumed it'd be the ring I plug my router and phone into currently in my boarding room. So then, I won't be able to get internet then without wireless? Wireless connections are not very good so I am hoping this is not the case. The sleepout is close enough though that it could be done if necessary.

kyhwana2

2566 posts

Uber Geek

#426828 13-Jan-2011 12:44

Wify: Oh I thought you could have multiple routers?

In my old house with my parents, my dad had two routers running. We had our main proper router in my bedroom, and with cables extended it to my room. But clearly I don't get what a "telephone cable" is then. I assumed it'd be the ring I plug my router and phone into currently in my boarding room. So then, I won't be able to get internet then without wireless? Wireless connections are not very good so I am hoping this is not the case. The sleepout is close enough though that it could be done if necessary.

You can, but it isn't recommended. (You'll be double NATing).
Unless you mean DSL modems, instead of routers, in which case you can't have more than one on the same phone line/account.

You might have had a switch, with Cat5/6 going to your room.
"Telephone cable" can mean several things, but usually it's the line/cable that your phone line comes in on/around the house, with BT sockets that you plug your DSL modem into.

Assuming you have a BT socket/phone jack in your boarding room, you plug your phone/DSL modem-router into that and yay you have internet. But how are is the rest of the house going to get net? They can't plug their own DSL modem into the jacks in the house UNLESS it's on a seperate line.
If you only have the one line, you're going to have to run Cat5/6 into the house, or have them use wireless to connect to your modem/router.

Wify

27 posts

Geek

#426855 13-Jan-2011 14:03

I see. So as we only can have one modem, I guess then that will have to go in the house, and I will have to connect to it wirelessly? So then, is that a very bad option? Are there some wireless modems that are suitable for my needs?

coffeebaron

6231 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#426860 13-Jan-2011 14:24

What's the layout of the property? Does it look easy enough to run a cable between house and sleepout?

Rural IT and Broadband support.

Need help in Auckland, Waikato or BoP? Click my email button, or email me direct: [my user name] at geekzonemail dot com

AndrewTD

292 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#426870 13-Jan-2011 15:07

I use Xnet with VFX and am very happy with it on the whole.
In your situation you need to get both internet access and a working phone in your sleep out.

The simplest solution may be to install a single wifi router in the house with analog phone ports on it.

Given you're fairly new to all this, I would recommend selecting a model of wifi router that WorldxChange support and effectively control for you. http://www.xnet.co.nz/vfx/hardware.shtml

Attach to the phone port one of those standard DECT systems phones that have more than one handset registered to them - like this one as an example: http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/4d2e51920180e0c82740c0a87f3b06eb/Product/View/F7723P.
Keep one of the handsets in your sleep out. In this scenario all phones ring at the same time for an incoming call.

As others have suggested, if it is at all possible to do so, run a cat5 or cat6 cable out to your sleep out. Cable is always better than wifi.

If you just have a single laptop or PC in the sleep out, and it is within the range of the wifi router in the house, then you are fine just using the wifi - no cable needed.

If you have more than one pr more devices in your sleep out that doesn't have wifi in it already, then you will have to get a bit more complex and add a wifi access point with local switch ports - basically another wifi router device set up in bridge mode i.e. not routing.
And again I say - running cable to your sleep out would be much simpler to setup and use. You could just put a cheap, "dumb" Ethernet switch in your sleep out and connect all the devices you want.

Good Luck :)

kind regards Andrew TD

RunningMan

8953 posts

Uber Geek

#426874 13-Jan-2011 15:40

If you are just trying to get internet and phone to your building, you could use either the WAG310G or the SRP527 on the Xnet hardware page. Install that in the main building.

These both have WiFi, so unless there is significant distance to your building, should be fine geting internet to your building.

These units have two phone lines available.

Plug the main flat's phone in to one, and just plug a cordless phone in to the other for your phone, and keep the handset in your building.