Rural broadband, no initiative in my area

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Rural broadband, no initiative in my area - self help possible?

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Biddle Corp

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#749805 23-Jan-2013 20:14

RBI uses external antennas linked to the modem/router.

coffeebaron

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#749809 23-Jan-2013 20:24

As mentioned in PM, very good chance RBI wireless will work for you; just the cost for the amount of data you want to use is quite high.

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#749811 23-Jan-2013 20:25

Oh, and ignore any coverage you get with an old iPhone, 3Gs or something??

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PhantomNVD

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#749823 23-Jan-2013 20:46

sbiddle: You can completely forget about a Chorus DSL upgrade because it's never going to happen. Firstly even if the exchange is upgraded you're too far away, and secondly you're not going to get a cabinet closer because your solution is already in place - the Government funded wireless RBI network which is designed to cover people such as you who were outside the RBI DSL upgrade.

Your solutions are either to pool together and partner with somebody to build your own network which would have a lot of variables but could be in the $10k - $20k range or simply use the RBI network that is in place now. I don't know what Vodafone site you would connect to but there are plenty There are upgraded Dual Carrier RBI sites already delivering up to 25+ Mbps.

yup, as CoffeeBaron said:

coffeebaron: As mentioned in PM, very good chance RBI wireless will work for you; just the cost for the amount of data you want to use is quite high.

Did the math and found RBI has actually screwed any sort of 'medium heavy' rural user:

Install install cost is $499 + $75 travel, this is on 24 mth term.
Monthly is $105, fo rfirst 10GB, then either 10GB blocks at $17.50, or $2.50 per GB.

Thats a cool $210 for an 80Gb plan or $272.50 on a pas as you go basis!

We all know that once it's faster - us geeks can't help but use use MOAR! :D

would your organisation be willing to partner with a local initiative like sbiddle suggests CoffeeBaron?

how many confirmed signups would I need? (currently have 36 @ +/- $100/mnth)

coffeebaron

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#749828 23-Jan-2013 20:53

PhantomNVD:

would your organisation be willing to partner with a local initiative like sbiddle suggests CoffeeBaron?

how many confirmed signups would I need? (currently have 36 @ +/- $100/mnth)

Have already started looking into this; but won't make any promises or give time frames at this stage.

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sbiddle

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#749830 23-Jan-2013 20:57

But remember the average NZ internet user is using around 15GB per month, up from around 10-12GB or so a year ago. IMHO this makes the pricing competitive for the vast majority of internet users in NZ.

You do have to remember however that wireless RBI is a regulated offering - if you're unhappy complain to the Commerce Commission as they set the pricing.

Your problem with any solution you build yourself is getting any sort of high capacity backhaul in to your area. That could easily cost you $big to get DMR kit to give you any sort of decent speeds and really guarantee much more than 5Mbps or so per user. I do this sort of stuff for a living, and to be honest you're looking for a city solution in the middle of absolutely nowhere, and reastically there are plenty of challenges that would stop you.

PhantomNVD

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#749850 23-Jan-2013 21:14

coffeebaron:
PhantomNVD:

would your organisation be willing to partner with a local initiative like sbiddle suggests CoffeeBaron?

how many confirmed signups would I need? (currently have 36 @ +/- $100/mnth)

Have already started looking into this; but won't make any promises or give time frames at this stage.

AWESOME!

without making any binding statements, what kind of user base might be necessary for this to become financially viable for you guys?

Quic Broadband

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jjnz1

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#749909 23-Jan-2013 22:47

PhantomNVD:
coffeebaron:
PhantomNVD:

would your organisation be willing to partner with a local initiative like sbiddle suggests CoffeeBaron?

how many confirmed signups would I need? (currently have 36 @ +/- $100/mnth)

Have already started looking into this; but won't make any promises or give time frames at this stage.

AWESOME!

without making any binding statements, what kind of user base might be necessary for this to become financially viable for you guys?

Can you get more than 25 subscribers connecting to one site within your area? For example the farm hill (rise) just east of Ronald Ave?

If you can't then the cost goes up considerably. If you can and you can get the farm owner to agree (via lease), a solar site could be erected there, providing backhaul to the nearest high site.

A quick calculation sees that around 25+ customers may work so your 36 customers @ $100 per month may be fine. (like the may's!) That would also give you around 20Mbps download/10Mbps up.

Remember, be prepared to sign a term contract for a solution like this.

jjnz1

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#749923 23-Jan-2013 23:07

nickb800: This comes to mind, although there are clear differences. Perhaps they are a 'flexible' organisation that would at least hear you out on your business case http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/5007463/Broadband-isolation-over-for-Wellington-suburb

Re: needing 3 relay stations, you could use solar to power the APs, although this would increase complexity and upfront cost

We may be able to do something like this for your neighborhood like we did for Horokiwi, but that would involve a big investigation. Worth pushing if you get the numbers behind you though.

PhantomNVD

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#749934 23-Jan-2013 23:26

jjnz1:
nickb800: This comes to mind, although there are clear differences. Perhaps they are a 'flexible' organisation that would at least hear you out on your business case http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/5007463/Broadband-isolation-over-for-Wellington-suburb

Re: needing 3 relay stations, you could use solar to power the APs, although this would increase complexity and upfront cost

We may be able to do something like this for your neighborhood like we did for Horokiwi, but that would involve a big investigation. Worth pushing if you get the numbers behind you though.

YES, I have 36 signed up for an option like this from a recent town council meeting we went to... but WHAT would we get for this $100 (and probably most only sign a 24month contract?)

i.e. I'm not only pushing for a decent access speed, I'm hoping for some sort of plan where i could get in the region of 80 Gb cap for not more than $150(ish) too?

jjnz1

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#749940 23-Jan-2013 23:45

PhantomNVD:
jjnz1:
nickb800: This comes to mind, although there are clear differences. Perhaps they are a 'flexible' organisation that would at least hear you out on your business case http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/5007463/Broadband-isolation-over-for-Wellington-suburb

Re: needing 3 relay stations, you could use solar to power the APs, although this would increase complexity and upfront cost

We may be able to do something like this for your neighborhood like we did for Horokiwi, but that would involve a big investigation. Worth pushing if you get the numbers behind you though.

YES, I have 36 signed up for an option like this from a recent town council meeting we went to... but WHAT would we get for this $100 (and probably most only sign a 24month contract?)

i.e. I'm not only pushing for a decent access speed, I'm hoping for some sort of plan where i could get in the region of 80 Gb cap for not more than $150(ish) too?

That cap is more than achievable for $150.
Our plans vary depending on how much it costs to get you that service.
For example, we have some small towns we are servicing that have NO DSL coverage, and are currently on our 'trial' unlimited cap plans for less than $150.

PhantomNVD

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#749944 23-Jan-2013 23:56

jjnz1:
PhantomNVD:
jjnz1:
nickb800: This comes to mind, although there are clear differences. Perhaps they are a 'flexible' organisation that would at least hear you out on your business case http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/5007463/Broadband-isolation-over-for-Wellington-suburb

Re: needing 3 relay stations, you could use solar to power the APs, although this would increase complexity and upfront cost

We may be able to do something like this for your neighborhood like we did for Horokiwi, but that would involve a big investigation. Worth pushing if you get the numbers behind you though.

YES, I have 36 signed up for an option like this from a recent town council meeting we went to... but WHAT would we get for this $100 (and probably most only sign a 24month contract?)

i.e. I'm not only pushing for a decent access speed, I'm hoping for some sort of plan where i could get in the region of 80 Gb cap for not more than $150(ish) too?

That cap is more than achievable for $150.
Our plans vary depending on how much it costs to get you that service.
For example, we have some small towns we are servicing that have NO DSL coverage, and are currently on our 'trial' unlimited cap plans for less than $150.

unshaped unlimited plan in NZ?? - Mind blown!

Coming here 7 years ago from an English (London to be fair) unlimited "BE" data plan 14 down 5 up for 20 pounds to NZ's capped system (even IF you could get the speeds) was a real downer.

I go to bed now dreaming of a brighter future for our quiet, beautiful seaside town, one where we connect at speeds undreamed of here, and can actually USE TV on demand :)

Thanks for ALL the great replies on this thread!

... the saga isn't over yet, but hope springs anew! :D

atomeara

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#2121700 7-Nov-2018 16:49

This a new subdivision at the end of the Glenbrook Peninsula which has had fibre run to it, Chorus have now upgraded the non broadband cabinet servicing Glenbrook Beach to support broadband with ADSL 2+ and VDSL both being orderable.

(Purple VDSL, Orange ADSL 2+ and Green NGA (UFB))