Help Me Understand Internet Connections

Spending2Much on 04/08/2016 - 19:47
Last edited 05/08/2016 - 10:07 by 2 other users

There's no other provider servicing my house besides Telstra, or iinet as a reseller.
I have been told it would be ADSL1, but offnet.
No broadband, NBN or any other such joys.

I'm abusing my 4G 20gb virgin package and any cheap sim card deals around just on myself.
Has been fine for me, mostly, towards end of month I have to slow down on internet….but with the girlfriend and her kids moving in soon, it'll all quickly get chewed up.

I'm told the speed is 1.5mbps. And something about speeding it up to 8 maximum.
That doesn't really mean alot to me.

I usually YouTube, Netflix, web search etc just from my phone, but with others in house, there will be another Netflix connection, Kids Skype their friends etc. Games etc. No doubt some music etc
More laptops and phones connected……

Is this likely to be a frustrating experience or just bearable?

Thanks in advance.

Internet

Comments

  • isthisreally_me on 04/08/2016 - 20:04
    +1

    Folks had 1.7mbps dsl connection and it is fine for youtube, gaming, emails etc, but cant downlaod if watching Fetch tv and vice versa, but was useable.

    • salebuddy on 06/08/2016 - 04:11

      It really depends on circumstances and expectations…but is partly accurate, in my opinion.

      It IS usable, and will get most jobs done…but would drive me insane personally.

      Youtube works, thanks to the scaling video quality….but you wont get any HD stuff through.

      Gaming…i'm sceptical, from experience.

      Emails, no worries.

      Fetch is highly unlikely to work on 1.7mbps….as it generally needs at LEAST a 3-4mbps connection to do anything.

  • Settero on 04/08/2016 - 20:06

    i would not commit to a long plan.
    adsl2+ gets pretty annoying with multiple people using high bandwidth things at the same time ( netflix/games/skype video calls )

    • Spending2Much on 04/08/2016 - 20:26

      24 month contract or month to month and connection fee and cost per month goes up alot.

      • Settero on 04/08/2016 - 21:05
        +1

        figured , its gonna be really bad with multiple people on it.

    • whooah1979 on 05/08/2016 - 05:50
      +1

      i would not commit to a long plan.

      Op is in it for the long term.

      the girlfriend and her kids moving in soon,

  • gasman70 on 04/08/2016 - 20:07
    +3

    Welcome to Australia

  • Diji1 on 04/08/2016 - 20:36
    +2

    Turnbull NET 2.0

    • subywagon on 04/08/2016 - 23:41

      “There are now 2.6 million premises in Australia where you can get the NBN,” the Prime Minister said. “There are well over a million premises that have got it.”
      I guess you're not one of them…

      I'm pretty sure he also stated to a young lady something along the lines of, "If the internet was so important to you, then why did you move where you did?"

  • Savas on 04/08/2016 - 22:18
    +1

    That's more than I get. I know it sucks. Sounds like your best on the OVO plans

  • spackbace on 04/08/2016 - 23:56

    I'm on iinet offset, down the road from the sub-exchange. Get about 17000-19000kbps :) yes I pay more than standard Adsl or naked Adsl etc, but I can't complain with the speed :)

    • Spending2Much on 05/08/2016 - 00:13

      I was told I am 1850m from the exchange.
      How does your kbps figures compare to these quoted mbps…..17 to 19 compared to the 1.5 to 8 I've Been told is maximum.
      How do you pay more? iinet said they've stopped the turbo package. Is that what you mean?

      • spackbace on 05/08/2016 - 00:20

        Yeah I'm on the turbo pack. Have they stopped doing it, or just incorporated the charge?

        • Spending2Much on 05/08/2016 - 00:30

          There's no turbo package anymore.
          The online chat and South African call centre guy didn't really explain it. Couldnt explain it.

          The prices do include phone line rental, but there's a 79.95 connection charge and standard 59 phone line connection charge.

        • salebuddy on 06/08/2016 - 04:16

          @albanyson: I kinda explained below.

          The plans recently changed, so no longer include turbo packs…or more accurately ALL include turbo packs.

          They have essentially removed the 1.5mbps restriction (after a new agreement with telstra was struck)

          So you will get EITHER up to 8mbps max…OR up to 20mbps…it depends on the type of port available for the connection.

      • esosite on 05/08/2016 - 01:53
        +1

        You can only get ADSL1, perhaps the exchange is full on ADSL2 or its so old it doesn't have ADSL2?

        ISPs offer ADSL1 at standard 1.5 or boost 8, which if you take the boost you will probably get around the 8 (6-8 sounds reasonable).

        So compared to Spackbace 17-19mbps you will get 6-8 or so. While not ideal in Australia its reasonable. I'm close to the exchange and get about 14-16mbps. If you can get 8 your doing better than decent portion of australia and for skype/netflix should be useable.

        If you can get iiNet you can surely get TPG or DODO or any of the other telstra resellers.

        Try TPG https://www.tpg.com.au/products_services/broadband-offnet they have 200gb ADSL1 8mbps for $60/month

        • Spending2Much on 05/08/2016 - 03:04

          Thanks alot. Have you used TPG before? Are they any good?
          6 month contract is more palatable.
          They only have maximum 100gb plus 100gb off peak.

          Any feedback on Dodo? They are claiming unlimited for 69.80 on 12month contract.

          Both have the standard phone connection fee.

        • esosite on 05/08/2016 - 10:35

          @albanyson: Have been stuck on dodo 8mbps ADSL1 in Cairns and it was palatable. They are much of a muchness, they work as well as telstras (same hardware) but will have some more peak periods and if you have technical issues and need support you'll have a worst time.

          I'd go for either of them if your wanting a short contract and large amount of data and aren't fussed with needing tech support

  • dasher86 on 05/08/2016 - 10:37
    +1

    have you looked at other alternatives?
    optus home wireless broad band
    http://www.optus.com.au/shop/broadband/home-wireless-broadba…

    Vividwireless
    http://www.vividwireless.com.au/

    or OVO?
    https://www.ovo.com.au/

    I'm currently getting a max DL 2.5mbps and if i wasn't locked in i'd be looking to switch to OVO. i use less than 50gb a month though.
    I'm 5k from the exchange metro melbourne.

    • Spending2Much on 05/08/2016 - 16:07

      Looked at the optus wireless, called our local shop enquiring for the fixed internet and for talking about that.

      The OVO post the other day really caught my eye, I asked earlier if it will work in a 4G Telstra dongle I have. A 3G optus one I have might be too slow.

      Apparently vocod doesn't work in my area? according to the website…..which seemed odd.

  • Speckled Jim on 05/08/2016 - 16:01

    Just posting internal link to OVO deal as I didn't see it:
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/259881

    Pre-paid, no contract. Worst case, you explore other options after trying it for a month.

    • Spending2Much on 05/08/2016 - 16:08

      Yes, I followed that post from the other day.
      That's a good option and I think I'm going to take a 50gb data sim.

  • momov3 on 05/08/2016 - 17:17
    -2

    Best to ditch the girlfriend. (and her kids)

  • [Deactivated] on 05/08/2016 - 22:54

    Ditch the house and move to an area with better internet.

  • Drifta on 06/08/2016 - 00:28

    I would not recommend. We have adsl2+ with TPG but are about 3.5ks from the exchange. (The further you are from the exchange the slower the speed) On a good day we will get a max of 4-5mbps and as soon as more than one user jumps on and starts browsing we can feel it slowing down, almost becoming unbearable. NBN is meant to get connected by the end of the year so holding out till then. Your best bet is to check how far you are from the exchange and if over 1.5ks, find another place to live. You will get frustrated with the internet as soon as the kids go online. Other wireless options mentioned above are also a good idea if you dont want to/cant move.

    • Spending2Much on 06/08/2016 - 00:38

      Been told I'm 1850m from the exchange.
      House is about 7 years old.

      I kinda like where I live and can't afford to move…..

      There's no sign of NBN or broadband for many years to come. The kids will probably grow up and leave home before we get any faster internet it seems.

  • salebuddy on 06/08/2016 - 04:07

    I can explain all of this..
    The iiNet plans have recently changed for off-net, so ignore the 1.5mbps (with a chance of increasing to 8) stuff.

    You will be put on a line that already includes the extra speed.

    It is wholly dependent on distance as to what speed you will get.
    You said you're 1850m from the exchange…if that thats the case…i'd guess you will get close to the full 8mbps…but maybe faster, if a certain type of port is avaiable.
    It is also likely between you and the exchange, there is a "sub-exchange" called a RIM…if there is, thats good, because you will have even less copper length between you and the exchange.
    The reason I mention the RIM is because if there is one, that would explain why you can only go off-net.

    I wouldn't stress too much about speed in your situation.

    People have mentioned vivid…I wouldn't recommend them anymore. Conjested network, that was bought by Optus, and I suspect in it's dying days….but I could be wrong.

    • Spending2Much on 07/08/2016 - 18:19

      Thanks very much.
      Appreciate the explanation and further info.

      Going to go with iinet. And hope we can get the full speed data access.

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