Is It Worth it to Get NBN Now?

Lwaterbottled on 06/04/2018 - 11:23

Hey OBers,

We've been getting more and more advertisements in the mail and email about switching to NBN, and am wondering whether it's worth getting it now or should we wait until later when prices may drop?
I think we're with TPG ADSL2+ which includes unlimited data for about $70 - we signed up for it a couple years ago and price may have changed a little bit. Current download speed via speedtest.net is around 13 to 14 MBs per second and it's doing fine for us - don't really have any issues of slow internet.

What would you guys suggest?

Thanks!

Internet Broadband nbn

Comments

  • nicholsonr on 06/04/2018 - 11:31
    +2

    Depends if your location has FTTN or FTTP.
    If you have FTTN there is no guarantee of decent speed if you are far from the node/pillar.
    If you have FTTP then it's worth changing as you will get a much higher download rate for the same price or less.

    Either way, Copper will be turned off in your area at some point so you should consider looking around and moving now rather than later but either way choice is yours.

    • waterbottled on 06/04/2018 - 11:51

      I checked and we have FTTN, we just don't know how far it is from our place.

      • ESEMCE on 06/04/2018 - 13:10

        Ask your neighbors if they're on NBN and what Speeds they are getting

    • [Deactivated] on 06/04/2018 - 12:33

      Is nbn™ Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) of same quality as FTTP?

      • ESEMCE on 06/04/2018 - 13:09

        No, but still far better than FttN

        • [Deactivated] on 06/04/2018 - 13:23

          Thanks :)

        • AlienC on 06/04/2018 - 13:34

          For what it's worth.

          My FTTP at my parents place feels a lot flakier than my FTTN at my own place.

          Some delay and noticeable lag at the FTTP especially when gaming.

          FTTN is solid doesn't skip a beat but will be replacing the router at the FTTP to something faster so it may change.

        • ESEMCE on 06/04/2018 - 13:53
          +3

          @AlienC:
          Only explanation can be either different ISP's or different (and poorly provisioned) POI for your parents.

          FttP should have single digit pings.

        • AlienC on 06/04/2018 - 13:55

          @scubacoles: poi?

          Yeah I am on ACN… don't ask

          They are on Optus.. again don't ask..

          If we both went on buzz Telco.. omg the savings and probably increased reliability because this is bad..well the Optus is. The ACN is actually ok.. Some drop outs but comes back a minute or so later and not very often.

        • ESEMCE on 06/04/2018 - 14:02
          +3

          @AlienC:

          POI = Point of Interconnect
          The boundary where NBN's network hands over the data stream to the ISP's network and subsequently to the Internet.
          In ADSL days this is the Telephone Exchange… In NBN days, it generally remains the nearest large Telephone Exhange.

          Optus have a pretty shocking reputation on NBN.
          Can recommend telecube for a great combination of good service and low cost.
          Personally would stock with Optus than move to Buzz telco if it were just a choice of the two.

        • AlienC on 06/04/2018 - 14:16

          @scubacoles: tbh I just want low cost.

        • Mibo on 17/04/2018 - 19:41

          @scubacoles: I have fttp and I don't have single digit pings, but that's probably because I'm in tassie.

      • JayOh on 07/04/2018 - 10:30

        It may be better in some areas, but we switched from telstra cable to HFC nbn last year and it has been nightmare of constant, daily dropouts. We've had both telstra and nbn techs out about 6 times. The last time, they confirmed that everything in our house out to the street is fine and the problem is upstream from us, meaning nbn HFC. I was speaking with someone who lives a few streets away and they were switched over to HFC a few months ago, but the rollout stopped about halfway up the street because of all the complaints nbn were getting.

        On a daily basis we lose internet, foxtel and home phone. The phone doesn't matter so much, but when you've recorded programs on foxtel and they keep getting interrupted it's really annoying. The kids trying to do uni work at home get pretty worked up as well when the internet keeps dropping out.

        We've now received the new telstra smart modem that has a 4g backup connection and switches over automatically. This doesn't help with foxtel but at least the interruptions are only a few minutes while it cuts over to 4g. One of the telstra techs actually suggested leaving the modem disconnected from the nbn box and staying on 4g permanently to avoid all interruptions.

        In short, avoid HFC as long as you can.

        • [Deactivated] on 07/04/2018 - 17:43

          Thanks for the feedback. I'm inclined to stick with mobile broadband. Soon we'll have 5G.

  • Hithere on 06/04/2018 - 11:38
    +2

    I doubt if prices will drop, if anything they'll most likely go up as the Government intends to eventually sell NBN off and try to make a profit from it.

    You'll have to go on to the NBN eventually, up to you when, but if you don't do anything after about 18 months of the NBN being available to you they will turn off your current copper connection leaving you with nothing.

    • waterbottled on 06/04/2018 - 11:52

      Ahh I see so it's just a matter of time and determining when is more convenient for us and how much shopping around we've done then?

  • inherentchoice on 06/04/2018 - 12:16

    It might be at least a couple of years away, but I'm hoping Starlink will be very cheap and reliable. They are certainly developing it to be fast and with low latency (as the satellites will be in LEO only 600 km up instead of 36,000 km up in GEO like existing systems).

    They already have two prototype satellites in orbit.

    https://youtu.be/ghOpZFjPQtY

    Apparently there's some other companies who are also developing systems including Samsung.

    It's inevitable that it will happen, it's just a question of whether it will be 5 years or 50 years, and whether or not it will be cheap.

    • sandman87 on 09/04/2018 - 20:21

      Narrator: after waiting 50 years, it wasn't cheap.

  • Densor on 06/04/2018 - 12:19

    Are you paying for your home phone line separately with TPG or Telstra ? You can save up to $40 a month by getting rid of the home line rental once you change to NBN. That's a great reason to change.

  • ausdday on 06/04/2018 - 12:50

    for extra $10 a month, you can get unlimited data 100/40 NBN from MUNGI. And if you currently using home phone just for ADSL2+, you can take that away and it will end up cheaper.

  • dcep on 06/04/2018 - 12:57
    +1

    wait for buzztelco 12mbps unlimited @ $19pm

    flamesuitON

    • AlienC on 06/04/2018 - 13:31

      When is this.. I want to get this for my place then a separate phone line elsewhere and probably save like $50/month

      • MeesusEff on 06/04/2018 - 14:38

        they said that was a one-time offer :(

  • barbarella on 06/04/2018 - 12:57
    +1

    I would wait as long as possible - give them as much time as possible to iron out any local hiccups

  • Baysew on 06/04/2018 - 13:03

    Diji1 can't be very far away.

  • ESEMCE on 06/04/2018 - 13:13

    Personally I say go for it.
    NBN speeds are far better for upload, even on the 25/5 tier.
    If you can get faster then great.
    The only exception to this would be if you use/need a Home Phone, in which case NBN is flippin terrible.

    But as others have stated, you HAVE to switch at some point.

    • kiitos on 07/04/2018 - 15:28

      Regards: home phone, why is it horrible? We only use or home phone for incoming calls, but would like to keep our home phone number.

      • Magus on 08/04/2018 - 12:59
        +2

        Home phone via FTTX (except some FTTP) uses VOIP. This traffic is tagged correctly for priority via your RSP supplied Router, and NBN (and hopefully your RSP!) honor the tagging priority.
        There are thousands of VIOP configs out there now, so there is no standard configuration. Every bit of hardware has their own unique benefits and issues.

        Many RSPs (Telstra, optus) lock the hardware they supply so you can only use them, and their very expensive call rate. Some even have old business models and charge you 'line rental'.

        You are not restricted in your ITSP selection, so you can go with Telstra NBN and Telecube phone.

        Downside. You have one service from your house. Subject to power in area, and a lot of environmental conditions. Your router has limited control of QoS, so your VOIP call may sound like you are in the toilet if there is a lot of Congestion at any point in the call path. This can be from; streaming at your end, torrents (local congestion), unable to achieve the minimum speeds (will work like VOIP on ADSL- tell everyone in the house to get of devices, you are making a call), area congestion (HFC problem, but could be FTTN/B in dense areas, CVC congestion (if your TAGing is not correct/honoured), RSP configuration, ITSP configuration.

        As you can see, that is why many people remain with expensive services from T&O when others dramatically cheaper are available.

        • ESEMCE on 08/04/2018 - 17:04
          +2

          Thanks Magus, that's a pretty comprehensive explanation.

          My Answer would have been.
          Landline on NBN requires Internet to be up.

          My FttN (800m line length, but only 35mbps maximum line rate due to dodgy 60 year old copper) drops out around 3 times per day (thanks Malcolm). That's 3 times per day where my landline phone drops a call, or just plan doesn't ring.

          It also therefore requires the modem to be powered.
          I have installed a UPS to keep my modem running through power outages another hidden cost of this "cheaper" option.

          AND requires the modem to be stable. Many people are experiencing issues with poor modem stability for VoIP, that results in VoIP dropping out even if the Internet stays up, or not reconnecting if Internet drops out.
          In these situations, there is no indication that your phone is not working without picking up your phone, unless you happen to look at your modem VoIP light (even then, there are reported issues of modems indicating VoIP up, but in reality it is not).

          The lucky people with FttP, have only the power supply issue to contend with and the NBN NTD has the option for an internal battery backup.
          For everyone else, they're at the mercy of modem stability.

        • Iggemo on 18/04/2018 - 09:38

          @scubacoles: Can i ask you something dude?

          MY house has two phone lines, separate numbers and connections. We just had NBN box installedl the other day. Now my dad uses one phone line for his phone which he does need (he calls overseas a lot etc) and i use the other line for internet to the house.

          If i get NBN on my phone line, can he keep his phone service on his line or does NBN to the house cancel all existing services?

          Also, if the copper lines are being switched off 18 months after NBN availability (this is my understanding?) what exactly are older people, pensioners, etc to do? Like, they can't keep their existing lines or numbers? I can see this will be an issue

        • ESEMCE on 18/04/2018 - 10:20
          +1

          @Iggemo:
          2 separate lines = 2 separate accounts.
          You'll only lose connectivity on the line you choose (this is assuming that the Line tech doesn't stuff up the connection which is pretty likely)
          But in the long term EVERYONE MUST switch to NBN. Ultimately there will be no choice to stay on the old system as it will be decommissioned.
          Old people will have to move to NBN just like everyone else.

        • Iggemo on 18/04/2018 - 10:47

          @scubacoles: ty for the reply!

      • kiitos on 08/04/2018 - 19:47

        I see - thanks!

  • crazyboy on 06/04/2018 - 14:31
    +1

    I live in Blacktown, we have Optus $95 and 25 Mbps and I just checked its FTTP.
    I am using from last 8 months, never had a moment when internet was slow or down.
    Before I used TPG ADSL in Clayton, VIC and it was really slow in peak hours like loading a website becomes nightmare, otherwise speeds were 7 Mbps.

    • GaryQ on 07/04/2018 - 11:42
      +1

      Clayton, Vic also happens to be one of the most concentrated Uni student populations in Victoria

  • HeWhoKnows on 07/04/2018 - 07:41

    You havent got long. They will turn the old ADSL off soon. Better get cracking.

    • Magus on 08/04/2018 - 13:05

      You may have a while yet.

      One in Six house with NBN available, cannot get NBN!

      Untill this is addressed in your area, ADSL and PSTN cannot be switched off. Then there is the issue of ISDN. Replacement via FTTP is easy. Via FTTN a bit more problematic. They now have to overbuild with FTTC. (And so is costing more than if they went FTTP)

      One in Three services had issues in activation, often requiring one or more tech visits (but this is OK, it is counted as OPEX)

      • HeWhoKnows on 09/04/2018 - 16:12

        They usually write to you and give you 6 months to switch once NBN is available to your home.
        What you say is highly generalized and probably does not apply to many areas.
        Yes there can be hiccups along the way as with any new technology.
        Yes, NBN must be available of course.
        In Randwick we have now been told NBN is finally coming but nothing more so the waiting continues.
        Meanwhile ADSL is serving us just fine.
        I cant wait - just not sure for what?????

        • Magus on 10/04/2018 - 18:00

          Our area went RFS in Aug last your after it was delayed more than a year. Since then, I have had the state of more work needed, 'on average, UP TO six months', for the last seven months. Found now it will be end July 18, so I think that some basic arithmetic is lacking at nbn.

          A nearby area has had NTTN for 3 yrs now. Still has people unable to connect. The problem is widespread, and will require expensive infill of FTTC (which requires FTTP style network in the ground). The good news is that the areas that have gone live with this have managed over 80 Mbps! - Still not the 100 or 4*1000 that FTTP is able to deliver with higher reliability. Might be why so many countries are bypassing FTTC and going to FTTP 1Gb+

        • HeWhoKnows on 11/04/2018 - 13:12

          @Magus: Not sure if I should be cheering or ducking for cover

  • smhto on 07/04/2018 - 08:53

    I've just made the switch. After a bit of looking around, I found Exetel to offer the best value for money and still retain my old land line number and includes local, national, mobile and international calls to certain countries. Unlimited download on the 50/25 plan for $69.95.

    • waterbottled on 07/04/2018 - 09:41

      sounds good, i'll look into it!

  • RonaldR on 07/04/2018 - 14:50

    SPEEDY 5G COULD 'DISRUPT' NBN MODEL, SAYS COMPETITION REGULATOR
    The competition regulator has warned 5G could steer customers away from the national broadband network and towards mobile-only internet connections.
    Turnbull - The Liberals & Labor are guilty of criminal Negligence -Turnbull was warned that switching to copper and Nodes would make the NBN obsolete in a very short time.
    If Rudd and Labor had listened to the advice given that they should re-establish Labor’s National Bank of Public Credit that was closed down by Menzies an agent for the queen & city of London. The NBN would have been completed before the Liberals were back in power. Plus it would have been fully Fibre optic and Satellite –not Telstra’s run down copper wire network and the cost of building the Network would have been a lot less, The cost of the NBN to the consumer is highly inflated and could be classified as price Gouging = Greed & away of ensuring Australians don’t get the speed they should be getting . 500Mbps is what most Australians should be getting at an affordable cost. Turnbull should have been kicked out of Government not made PM. At the same time he was destroying the quality of the NBN he was investing in Fibre Optic networks in other countries and he knew what he was doing to the NBN’s future.

    • Magus on 08/04/2018 - 13:10

      Morrow wanted phone plans subject to 'NBN Tax' so a $12 price rise may be on the way, depending on the crony they replace him with. Morrows comments on this wer at odds with the Govt and NBN policy of haveing absolutly no vision of the future.

      Remember, There is no current of foreseeable app that would benefit form more than 12 Mbps. - NBN Futurist - M Turnbull.

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