Need help choosing cable internet (non-NBN HFC) provider

Misterbumpy on 25/09/2017 - 20:03
Last edited 02/10/2017 - 12:33

Hey all, need your help again.

I'm moving in to my new house and it looks like non-NBN HFC is the fastest internet connection I can get (NBN arrives 2019+). The actual problem is there doesn't seem to be any good cable deals with fast speed - in fact it seems that cable bundles have become more expensive than they were 2 years ago.

I've been using Optus' $90 entertainment bundle (unlimited data, unlimited standard and mobile calls, Fetch TV with bonus channel and free boost [almost consistent 100/2 in Richmond, VIC!]) for a couple of years and sadly it's no longer offered :( Optus now only offer a $60 and $80 bundle with with standard pay-as-you-go phone line and Fetch TV on the later, but they're all 30/2 speeds, and speed boost is only available on the later, which would bring it up to $110/m - so paying more for less than 2 years ago. Plus, at the Optus retail store that I visit annually (and know the owners reasonably well) said they couldn't offer any discount for existing Optus customers.

I also have a Telstra mobile contract so there's potential for me to sign up with Telstra's $90 cable broadband deal with 1000GB with PAYG calls and possibly get a loyalty discount of -$10, or pay $10 extra for Telstra TV, but I don't know what value I would get from this (besides access to Foxtel Go) than what I already have on my LG C6 TV with webOS 2.0 (similarly with Fetch TV).

The main reasons I need fast HFC is:

  • Household will eventually have 4 people
  • All users have smartphones
  • Often simultaneous usage of YouTube, FaceTime, and more
  • Netflix and probably iTunes 4K HDR streaming
  • Dropbox synching

Any advice?

TL;DR
Help me choose either Optus or Telstra HFC:
* Optus Fetch TV vs Telstra TV - I've used Fetch and it's pretty good for FTA, cable channels and Netflix, but what's Telstra TV like in comparison; is Foxtel Go/Now good worth it for the box?
* Anyone have experience with streaming Netflix 4K - how much data would a move or TV episode consume?
* Anyone on non-NBN cable (HFC) in the western Melbourne suburbs (Footscray area) with speed boost/pack - what is your actual speed peak and off-peak?
* Why on Earth is $80 Optus broadband only package the same price as the $80 entertainment bundle when it DOESN'T have Fetch TV yet everything else is the same??

Internet

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 25/09/2017 - 20:07
    +1

    optus and telstra have HFC
    choose one or the other.
    its not hard.

    • JimmyF on 25/09/2017 - 22:29

      Agreed..

      Telstra for the best 'speed', Optus for the best 'value'

  • Misterbumpy on 25/09/2017 - 20:09

    Unless I'm blind, do Telstra specify their speeds for HFC on their site?

    • dcep on 25/09/2017 - 20:49
      +1

      normal is 30mbps unless you add speed pack

    • JimmyF on 25/09/2017 - 22:28
      +2

      Yes they do

      30/1 base speed
      100/2 for the speed pack

  • Diji1 on 25/09/2017 - 22:23
    -3

    so there's potential for me to sign up with Telstra's $90 cable broadband

    If you're in a non-NBN HFC area then by definition you cannot have a choice of providers. It's either Optus or Telstra, no choice.

    When the idiotic plan to give Telstra as much of your money as possible ends, sometime mid 2019, a button will be pressed and suddenly you will have "NBN cable", the same cable you had the day before and you will be able to choose any NBN provider.

    Blame Turnbull for this, please don't vote for the shoddy Telstra employee next election thanks.

    • Misterbumpy on 03/10/2017 - 15:52

      Technically, that's still a choice, even if it's just two major players. But I get that it doesn't really fee like it when they're both about the same price.

  • Misterbumpy on 02/10/2017 - 12:31

    Thanks all for your advice. I know it sounds straightforward (yes, I know it's Optus or Telstra), but I guess from my overly (and probably unnecessarily) detailed and long question I wanted to know the details of each. So the points I wanted to know are:
    * Optus Fetch TV vs Telstra TV - I've used Fetch and it's pretty good for FTA, cable channels and Netflix, but what's Telstra TV like in comparison; is Foxtel Go/Now good worth it for the box?
    * Anyone have experience with streaming Netflix 4K - how much data would a move or TV episode consume?
    * Anyone on non-NBN cable (HFC) in the western Melbourne suburbs (Footscray area) with speed boost/pack - what is your actual speed peak and off-peak?
    * Why on Earth is $80 Optus broadband only package the same price as the $80 entertainment bundle when it DOESN'T have Fetch TV yet everything else is the same??

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