Hi, I am looking for a new ADSL2+ connection
Optus is $20 more expensive per month, but they claim they are a 'TIER 1' provider
TPG is a 'TIER 3' provider
The optus rep told me that my home is on the very edge of the exchange, hence my slow speeds.
Would it benefit me to go with Optus in the hope of faster speeds? The rep told me optus/telstra do not give TPG full use of their infrastructure, hence in theory, going with Optus will be faster.
Thanks!
Agree. TPG has been good and fast for me too.
TPG fine for me too. Gaming performance is OK, ping is fairly consistent. Congestion slightly worse at certain times of day, but doesn't really affect me much because due to my distance I'm limited to 11mbps downstream anyway. I'd probably notice it more if my line could sync at higher speeds.
The only problem I've noted with TPG is Youtube performance. I don't know if it's just me, or is it affecting all TPG users, but Youtube videos feel like they're being throttled and it's simply not possible for me to watch a video in full HD for more than a few mins (the buffering stalls and the video suddenly drops to potato 240p quality when it resumes playing again)
TPG QLD User here. 18ms to local QLD Servers in games. No issues with Youtube performance.
I have had TPG for the last 8 years and no major complaints. Speeds on average are good consistently (Excellent in my current property 500m from the exchange).
If I moved I wouldn't hesitate again. Unlimited for $70-80? a month is good enough for me.
Have a read of whirlpool forums. It all depends on your area so the advice to ask a neighbour is really sound.
We have TPG here and it is rock solid reliable, consistent 10mbps and has never dropped out.
The latency is not great, but ADSL is ADSL and given the horror stories I've read about OPTUS in some areas, it just isn't worth the stress to 'upgrade'
Congestion aside, I am more interested in knowing if Optus has the capabilities to provide me with faster speeds VS tpg - give that I am on the very edge. For anyone interested, I am currently maxing out at 600kb/s in Epping NSW.
I might even do a poll of max speeds as a reference point for everyone later!
Joysky, I think the Optus rep is full of $%^t. You may want to use TPG's map to give you an idea of possible speed at the new location (http://www.tpg.com.au/maps/). I think you would be better off posting to forums.whirlpool.net.au (choosing an isp).
You have a better chance of changing your speed if you improve your home phone wiring or choosing a modem with a better chipset for your line conditions (Both things discussed on Whirlpool)
I've been with TPG for over 5 years and I've had no problems. I live on the border of the exchange (2.5km away) and haven't had an issue. Also, TPG is growing rapidly in the telecom industry. I think they increased by 18% last year but still have a long while before they can catch up to Telstra or Optus.
You would be a Dodo to go with Optus, We have Optus at work (1.2kms from exchange) and it sucks Donkey balls whereas have Tpg at home and am 2.6Kms from exchange and get a consistent speed of 700Kb/s which is not bad for the distance.
Do you know if HFC/cable internet is available at your address?
I've had TPG for the past 5 years at least and can't fault it.
Was previously on Optus Cable and can't tell the difference in the speeds, well for what I use it for anyway.
I have heard horror stories about TPG when it comes to technical support but have been lucky enough to not experience this myself.
Optus won't give you faster speeds than TPG, they should be around the same. (In fact, if TPG put you on Telstra infrastructure, you can possibly get it faster)
Also, you have many more choices so you don't have to go for these two.
Thanks for the replies everyone, I think I've been swayed and will try out TPG ($79.99) and save a few hundred :)
Unfortunately cable doesn't reach my house, although I would recommend the current $90 unlimited cable bundle on at the moment (https://www.optus.com.au/shop/broadband/bundles/90-superfast…). If you want unlimited mobile like me, its only $10 a month more then TPG ($79.99) with the added bonus of no set-up fees + you get a 1TB 'fetchTV' box. (My friend signed up last week and is getting 50mb/s although I'm not sure if he paid extra for the speedpack)so it seems like good value if you can get it.
I faced this exact same thing a few years ago. Slow tpg adsl, and the promise of faster adsl with optus
Total scam. Paid more money for a data cap that just added to my woes
Speed was exactly the same, and then worse when they shaped it after hitting the limit
I can't think of a single thing that was better about Optus over TPG for adsl, only downsides
That contract period felt like it would never end
Check how far you're from the exchange as it makes a massive difference.
Been with TPG for many years getting 13Mbps/1Mbps, now that I've moved and am only getting 4.5Mbps/1Mbps :c
First off, I wish I had a recording of the Rep's " Full use of the infrastructure" comment. Someone trying to make a sale is one thing, but maggotty misrepresentation like that is unforgivable in my book. To quote a wise old man by the handle "Twitch", " He's not even wrong".
Scrimshaw's "youtube quality" link was your best guide - you can plug in different providers for your area and see how they compare. In Adelaide, Optus come a sad and poor second to TPG in that test - and that reflects "real" use gathered from a very large sample of users.
Visit the whirlpool forums. Relying on what a rep tells you often leads to disappointment . The comment that "optus/telstra do not give TPG full use of their infrastructure" is worse than an outright lie - it is a calculated piece of dissembly on a par with a political speech that goes " I am aware my opponent has matriculated in the past, and is a serial ejeculator when in public, but..".
If you are lucky, TPG have their own equipment at the exchange, meaning you can get their cheaper bundle, and connect to their pipeline [ which appears to be a lot less clogged than Optus's if the whirlpool forums are a fair reflection.]. The Speed on ADSL will rely on your distance from the exchange - and ALL providers are using the same wires…
I've been with them for many years at different locations
As long as you don't need their customer support ur ok
I've had my issues with TPG mobile over the years, but I'm still with them so I guess that says something. Recently added ADSL2+ to our package with them and I must say, either I just got lucky or they're starting to improve their customer service. Setup was less than 2 weeks and we only had mobile broadband before that so they had to get Telstra out to fix the copper line etc. but this was all done within the same 2 weeks. For me, $60/mth for unlimited internet is awesome. It's early days but it seems very reliable and the speed is fine for us, we mostly use it for streaming TV and You Tube. 6 month contract and $100 setup fee.
What a lot of crap. According to Whirlpool data TPG do not use Optus DSLAMs at all. My concern with using TPG or anyone offering unlimited at low prices would be poor speeds, unless they give priority to non-unlimited users. However, at some exchanges TPG has their own fibre so local Internet sites should be good, but overseas ones would not. Another concern I have is with the quality of their bundled phone on exchanges with their own DSLAMs, which is VoIP from the DSLAM on. You do seem to hear concerns about Optus on some exchanges where there are long delays in upgrading backhaul for reasons unknown to me, you rarely hear the same complaint from people on Telstra DSLAMs.
If you want to try an Optus DSLAM try a cheaper provider such as Exetel. Looking forward, TPG may gain better connectivity if they succeed in acquiring iinet. The tier stuff is pretty meaningless you just want a provider that has uncongested links to local or foreign ISPs, or uses intermediaries that do the same. In fact, I reckon being lower down in the food chain might even be better if you use multiple upstream providers. TPG certainly has the scale of Telstra and Optus as providers but whether its quality and customer service are up to them or smaller providers is another question.
TPG customer customer care is too worse. Had an issue with Home Phone and Internet in March. They took 3 weeks to fix. And told that they will adjust the bill. Not so far even after chasing with them many time. And got a new problem with home phone. Raised technical support issue yesterday, 6th may 2015. And got the message that the Technician will visit on 1st June 2015. Almost 4 weeks. And their Custoimer Care number never gets connected to Technical Support. I tried hundreds of times. Its useless. Raised a TIO complaint against them as well. No improvement for them.
I request not to get into the TPG trap. It is a shit.
tpgs been great for me , some areas they tend to oversell their service and you get congestion , find a neighbour with tpg and ask , dont trust what the optus lady told u.