Best ISP currently?

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Brendan

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#90899 3-Oct-2011 02:28

I am currently with TelstraClear for broadband (ADSL) in Oamaru. The speed is generally pretty good, and they apparently do not traffic shape their connections.

But they are expensive. Currently I am paying about $150/month on average (use about 40GB/month). I use Youtube a bit, but also download a few ISO's, files, etc. Typically have several web pages open at once, and play the odd online game (teamfortress).

What ISP's would be a better option?

Has anyone recently left Telstra and found it better elsewhere?

I am after personal experiances and best deals.

Thanks.

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#528369 3-Oct-2011 04:43

on the Telecom Total Home Broadband plan you'll get a pretty good / consistent internet connection and 60GB of data for $115 in Oamaru.

SteveON

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#528372 3-Oct-2011 06:34

It's like telecom has gone in a full circle and upped the game. Only a couple of years ago people were against telecom.

sbiddle

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#528374 3-Oct-2011 06:44

Have you actually looked at the current TCL plans? You're probably paying a lot more than you need to. I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be paying $110 per month for your service, unless you're making a lot of toll calls.

kyhwana2

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#528408 3-Oct-2011 09:19

"best"? As in fastest/best download/uploads during peak etc? You're going to pay for decent service, stop being cheap!

hairy1

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#528425 3-Oct-2011 10:09

This gives you a pretty good idea: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=49&topicid=90850

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

Brendan

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#528455 3-Oct-2011 11:33

kyhwana2: "best"? As in fastest/best download/uploads during peak etc? You're going to pay for decent service, stop being cheap!

You should take your comedy show on the road.

Brendan

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#528456 3-Oct-2011 11:34

hairy1: This gives you a pretty good idea: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=49&topicid=90850

hey, thanks! That is great!

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Brendan

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#528457 3-Oct-2011 11:35

farcus: on the Telecom Total Home Broadband plan you'll get a pretty good / consistent internet connection and 60GB of data for $115 in Oamaru.

Interesting... ta.

Brendan

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#528459 3-Oct-2011 11:38

sbiddle: Have you actually looked at the current TCL plans? You're probably paying a lot more than you need to. I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be paying $110 per month for your service, unless you're making a lot of toll calls.

I am also looking at that, and found an "anomoly" in their pricing - with their data packs, it's actually cheaper to buy multiple 10GB packs all the way up to 40 GB...

e.g. a 40 GB pack is $30; but 4x 10GB packs is $28. Weird.

Haven't been too impressed with their speed lately though. And they would want to lock me in to a contract.

kobiak

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#528469 3-Oct-2011 12:10

I vote telecom. No issues at peak times always give me 1.2mbyte/sec download and upload is always at 90kbytes/sec. auckland cbd.

total home is awesome. I wish it could be $20-30 cheaper :D

helping others at evgenyk.nz

Brendan

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#528511 3-Oct-2011 13:40

Quite interesting so far. My findings, thoughts:

Snap:
Rated highly for customer support - but I seldom need this (once a year?), there GB is more expensive than telecom or xnet. Speed is A class. $2 for free youtube. $117/month for 50GB. 12 month contract $150 to break it. POTS phone inc. I gave them a 8/10.

Xnet:
Speed is A class, and their charging regime is fairly uniqe: you have the option of a set select-able package of GB, or you can leave it open ended. With the open ended you only pay for what you use - at $1.28 per GB. It could be as little as $39.95, or - for my usage - about $103.95 for 50GB. Apparently they are still doing the No Contract system. It looks really good.
Now, maybe I am going blind or something but I just cant seem to find a definitive statement about POTS phone included in that price or not. I am assuming not; but I'd like to know what a combined service total is. Anyone?

Telecom:
Highly regarded lately, with A class speed and good deals. A no contract option will cost me $99 (pretty cheeky I thought), and they will charge me $115/month for 60GB. They have 80GB and 100GB plans for $20 and $40 extra. Data over the packaged amount is $2GB. POTS phone included. 9/10.

I prefer a POTS phone because I understand the VoIP options are still reliant on the sometimes flaky provision of ADSL, AND I'd have to buy a VoIP to analouge phone adaptor = $$?? Anyone convince me otherwise?

Anyway: I am sure this discussion may serve other geekzoners as well. Thanks for everyone's help!

Brendan

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#528901 4-Oct-2011 11:02

Update:
Just went to join up with Telecom, and they wanted a $63 connection fee as well?!?

$115 for the braodband account.
$99 for no contract.
$63 for a connection fee?!?

WTF? Anyone else pull this?

Ragnor

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#529051 4-Oct-2011 14:19

Telecom has always charged a connection fee when switching to them from another provider. Maybe not if you you already had a land line with them. The fee used to be $50ish I guess GST + inflation bumped it up a bit.

Very few ISP's offer no joining free with no contract (only Xnet and Orcon I believe) because there are real internal and external setup costs for moving a connection and setting up billing etc.

However look at the total picture for example for 60GB usage:

Xnet Fusion with 60GB usage is $146ish per month
Telecom Total Home Broadband 60GB is $105 per month

The upfront cost is higher with Telecom but you'd make up the difference within 3 months then be better off, especially vs your current ISP (Telstraclear).

NonprayingMantis

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#529057 4-Oct-2011 14:26

Brendan: Update:
Just went to join up with Telecom, and they wanted a $63 connection fee as well?!?

$115 for the braodband account.
$99 for no contract.
$63 for a connection fee?!?

WTF? Anyone else pull this?

Yep. There is a real cost to the ISP for a guy in a van to drive out and connect up a bunch of wires to get your connection working. If an ISP doesn’t charge the fee, then they must allow for the cost in some other way (e.g. higher prices, less international capacity purchased, etc etc)

bener

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#529081 4-Oct-2011 14:55

Telecom has been excellent for me on Total Home Broadband for two months now, speeds are consistent ~13Mbps down, in Auckland. We are close to a good exchange though.

I paid the connection fee but they gave me a deal where they took some off (sorry can't remember what it was). I also thought the 12 month contract was not so bad as they let you have a free move if you shift within the contract period.

Have not had to call helpdesk yet though so cannot comment on that experience.

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