Shifting from an Orcon Legacy to LLU+ plan

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › Shifting from an Orcon Legacy to LLU+ plan

Spong

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#20433 26-Mar-2008 12:18

I'm on the Browns Bay exchange, and am thinking of moving from an Orcon legacy full speed plan to the Platinum+ plan. Doing the numbers, I just can't say it looks compelling. I already have my own ADSL2+ router and seperate WAP, all configured with the pinholes etc I need. Do I have to rent the Orcon homehub as part of this plan? Is there any reason I really should? Can I choose not to and pay $5 a month less? What will calls to NZ mobiles cost? Thanks.

Tivo upgrades to operate with the new OzTivo EPG, support and service. Over 400 performed here so far. See: www.hillcrest.net.nz

duncanblair

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#118795 26-Mar-2008 16:24

Hi Spong,

The Homehub rental is included in the Platinum+ plan price. You don't have to take it if you don't want it, but there is no discount for not taking it.

You could just go for the Gold+ plan and add a data bundle and/or international calling to make the package suit your needs. The plans are quite flexible.

Calls to NZ mobiles are charged at 42c per minute.

Cheers,
Duncan Blair
Group Product Manager
Orcon

LennonNZ

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#119013 27-Mar-2008 11:05

duncanblair: Hi Spong,

The Homehub rental is included in the Platinum+ plan price. You don't have to take it if you don't want it, but there is no discount for not taking it.

You could just go for the Gold+ plan and add a data bundle and/or international calling to make the package suit your needs. The plans are quite flexible.

Calls to NZ mobiles are charged at 42c per minute.

Cheers,
Duncan Blair
Group Product Manager
Orcon

Also to note about the homehub. As quoted on the Orcon website:

"In the future, we'll be teaching the Homehub some cool new tricks to give you an even better Orcon experience through new and interesting services, so stay tuned..."

This will mean if you are on LLU and don't have an Orcon Homehub other services which we provide via LLU might not be available for customers to use.

Thanks
Craig Whitmore
Senior Systems Administrator
Orcon

Spong

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#119045 27-Mar-2008 13:54

What services might this be? It's just that there's been so much vapourware since LLU was initiated, that I'd like to have some idea of what the extra compulsary rental would give me on the Platinum plan, over what I already have with my own dedicated router and WAP. Personally, I hate paying for something I don't need, and I'm sure a lot of existing users would feel the same.

Tivo upgrades to operate with the new OzTivo EPG, support and service. Over 400 performed here so far. See: www.hillcrest.net.nz

0o0

46 posts

Geek

#119055 27-Mar-2008 15:00

If you don't need the homehub just go for the Gold+ plan and add extra data block.
I signed up a few days ago for the gold+ and an extra 25gb, with a total of 35gb and that came to 120/month.
The only advantage at the moment of having the homehub is the 108mbps wireless speed, my current wireless router setup is 54mb and thats probably more than enough bandwith for now.
homehub specs: http://gigaset.siemens.com/shc/0,1935,hq_en_0_126184_rArNrNrNrN,00.html

LennonNZ

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#119072 27-Mar-2008 15:44

Spong: What services might this be? It's just that there's been so much vapourware since LLU was initiated, that I'd like to have some idea of what the extra compulsary rental would give me on the Platinum plan, over what I already have with my own dedicated router and WAP. Personally, I hate paying for something I don't need, and I'm sure a lot of existing users would feel the same.

The routers have "intelligence" and we can enable/change things on the routers when needed. Upgrading the firmware remotely, enabling IPTV, Changing QOS , SIP, turning on the FXO/FXS ports and anything else which the router can do when/if we offer the services. The router can do alot more than most other ADSL routers can do such as Multiple Wireless SSID's, Policy Routing, Annex M ADSL2+, L2+3+4 QOS, trunked VLAN's,Public Wireless Hotspots,WDS,.....

Thanks
Craig Whitmore
Senior Systems Administrator
Orcon Internet

TimLip

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#119270 28-Mar-2008 08:43

I was connected yesterday (Mar 28) to the Browns Bay exchange, so here are my first thoughts on the whole experience so far.

Well done to Orcon for making this a smooth move away from Telecom - there is some room for improvement with their communication of the connection dates - I had to enquire with them, but they were very very helpfull and responsive via both phone and their email support.

As I said I was on Telecome Xtra and on a data plan that was cosing me $60 per month. I was getting an average of a 1mb link, and at times this would drop to 750k. I also make regular calls to the UK so the Platinium deal with calls to one country is the one I went for at cost of $120. This would save me between $20-$50 per month.

I also was on a 10GB cap which I have started to breach, and Telecom are so anal about this - what a pain to go down to a 56k link for the last week in the month - ahhh!

So back to the Orcon experience:

My connection has not jumped like I thought it might. At the moment Download is about 1.5MB and upload 700k. Although this is not a huge jump, I already feel there a big improvemnt with the syufing experience - everying is a lot respoponsive. - I am wonderign if some of the latency has also been taken away along with the download and upload improvements?

I was never expecting a 24MB link as I am located as far away from Browns Bay as possible.

The setup was easy, but before I did, and after Orcon had switched their side on, I checked the old Telecom link and that still worked on my non-ADSL+ modem. I thought that was strange - perhaps Telecom had not switch off yet. Also, the speed acheived was about the same as I am now acheiving with the new modem. I will run some other tests over the next wek or so.

Overall, I am now getting 15GB of data per month more to download, my download speed has improved by 50%, my upload speed by about 400%, I now have voice mail and caller ID for no extra, I can speak to my family in the UK without worrying about the cost - ALL FOR $20-$50 CHEAPER PER MONTH - WHAT A DEAL.

Obviosuly time will tell if the connection remain stable and hopefully improves it's download capability. Also, I have a MS Home Server and (like my previous setup) it is looking like I am going to have to do some serious config to get that working with Orcon to allow for remote dial in.

Radiotron

180 posts

Master Geek

#119406 28-Mar-2008 20:09

Hi TimLip, welcome to the 'zone, and thanks for a very informative post, I'm not in area for LLU just yet, but have been an Orcon customer for while, sounds like your experience has been pretty good, please keep us informed of any interesting new developments, cheers!

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

rhysb

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#119772 30-Mar-2008 22:24

I switched two connections over to gold+ plans and unfortunately neither went well.

I don't have any problems with the data side. The first connection is a mediocre 4800k down and 1000k up, while the other is a speedy 9800k down and 1000k up. They both feel more responsive and perform really well. However the install process has been very painful. Firstly the change-overs took far too long. While one could overlook a 6hr downtime for the first connection, the 26hr downtime for the second connection was just ridiculous. That'll be a real deal breaker for many people and hopefully Orcon can get it sorted.

The second major problem was with the transfer of the phone numbers. Due to a bug with the online ordering form the numbers were not transfered. Orcon's solution to the problem was for us to have the connections transferred back to Telecom, including having to sign up with Xtra broadband, and then have Telecom re-allocate the numbers to the line. You've got to be kidding! The solution that I worked out with Telecom was for Telecom to customer-link the numbers at the exchange and hopefully Orcon can then transfer them across from there. I was disappointed that the support guys were not a bit more clued up, it felt like things were being made up as we went along.

The third problem is that one of the lines doesn't even ring when you dial it's number. I spoke to a tech before the weekend about it and he he thought he knew what the problem was and would get it sorted, but the weekends been and gone and it still isn't fixed. So a whole weekend without being able to recieve calls. If Orcon want to play with the big boys they need to fix problems a bit quicker than that and not just hope they go away.

Another problem I've found is that if you try to call their help desk from a new line it just doesn't connect. This was for both their corporate and residential support numbers. Certainly a unique way to reduce your support costs.

I really like Orcon as a company and I think they have some great products, I just hope that they can step up to the mark with the LLU change-overs and get the problems sorted.

Due to my experience so far I would have difficulty recommending their LLU service to customers.

PenultimateHop

637 posts

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#119791 31-Mar-2008 00:57

LennonNZ: The router can do alot more than most other ADSL routers can do such as Multiple Wireless SSID's, Policy Routing, Annex M ADSL2+, L2+3+4 QOS, trunked VLAN's,Public Wireless Hotspots,WDS,.....

Who's the vendor?

LennonNZ

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#119795 31-Mar-2008 06:09

PenultimateHop:
LennonNZ: The router can do alot more than most other ADSL routers can do such as Multiple Wireless SSID's, Policy Routing, Annex M ADSL2+, L2+3+4 QOS, trunked VLAN's,Public Wireless Hotspots,WDS,.....

Who's the vendor?

They are Siemens Routers. See the link above from OoO

Thanks
Craig

duncanblair

248 posts

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#119841 31-Mar-2008 11:06

rhysb: I switched two connections over to gold+ plans and unfortunately neither went well.

I don't have any problems with the data side. The first connection is a mediocre 4800k down and 1000k up, while the other is a speedy 9800k down and 1000k up. They both feel more responsive and perform really well. However the install process has been very painful. Firstly the change-overs took far too long. While one could overlook a 6hr downtime for the first connection, the 26hr downtime for the second connection was just ridiculous. That'll be a real deal breaker for many people and hopefully Orcon can get it sorted.

The second major problem was with the transfer of the phone numbers. Due to a bug with the online ordering form the numbers were not transfered. Orcon's solution to the problem was for us to have the connections transferred back to Telecom, including having to sign up with Xtra broadband, and then have Telecom re-allocate the numbers to the line. You've got to be kidding! The solution that I worked out with Telecom was for Telecom to customer-link the numbers at the exchange and hopefully Orcon can then transfer them across from there. I was disappointed that the support guys were not a bit more clued up, it felt like things were being made up as we went along.

The third problem is that one of the lines doesn't even ring when you dial it's number. I spoke to a tech before the weekend about it and he he thought he knew what the problem was and would get it sorted, but the weekends been and gone and it still isn't fixed. So a whole weekend without being able to recieve calls. If Orcon want to play with the big boys they need to fix problems a bit quicker than that and not just hope they go away.

Another problem I've found is that if you try to call their help desk from a new line it just doesn't connect. This was for both their corporate and residential support numbers. Certainly a unique way to reduce your support costs.

I really like Orcon as a company and I think they have some great products, I just hope that they can step up to the mark with the LLU change-overs and get the problems sorted.

Due to my experience so far I would have difficulty recommending their LLU service to customers.

Hi rhysb,

I am sorry (and a little surprised!) to hear about your problems, in particular the 26 hour downtime on one line. Obviously this is new ground for us being the first provider to go to market, so we are working through teething problems with Chorus (particularly in the provisioning process).

Just to clarify, did you sign up these lines during the beta period or have you signed up since public launch?

Cheers,
Duncan Blair
Group Product Manager
Orcon

rhysb

435 posts

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#119843 31-Mar-2008 11:11

Duncan, both were signed up after the public launch.

Still haven't been able to get in touch with Tom to get the phones sorted.

trakman

162 posts

Master Geek

#120793 3-Apr-2008 17:30

I willswitch back to orcon in a nanosecond if you guys offer Annex M ADSL2+

LennonNZ:

The routers have "intelligence" and we can enable/change things on the routers when needed. Upgrading the firmware remotely, enabling IPTV, Changing QOS , SIP, turning on the FXO/FXS ports and anything else which the router can do when/if we offer the services. The router can do alot more than most other ADSL routers can do such as Multiple Wireless SSID's, Policy Routing, Annex M ADSL2+, L2+3+4 QOS, trunked VLAN's,Public Wireless Hotspots,WDS,.....