Internet & Phone Plans

[Just*Managing Member Find all posts View Profile Close Just*Managing]

I was told about a special being offered by a big communications supplier that sounded intersting. For $99- per month, I get free local and national phone calls plus free mobile calls (to like provider pones) plus 20Gig per month on ADSL2+. Given that I'm averaging $130- per month for this with only 3 gig on standard ADSL, I was interested. Rang their sales team & asked a number of questions. Quite helpful and very eager to get me to sign on the spot but I told him I wanted to make sure there was no penalty or exit timing with my existing provider. He asked if I would do that now & when I said yes he asked if he could call me back in an hour or 2. Yes I said. You'd think that sounds like a hot buyer, which surprised me when 2 days later, I've had no followup call. I know I could ring them back but is this an indication f the service they will provide going forward?

My question then is why did you choose your Phone & Internet provider & for those that have ADSL2, is their a marked diference between standard ADSL?

[Justo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Justo]

iinet ADSL2+ all the way. 8)
Speed and a good overall deal. I'm on 10gb peak 20gb offpeak which is from midnight till midday. If you go over your download limit the speed is capped to 64k for either peak or offpeak (whichever period you have exceeded)..which is slow but still beats the outrageous penalty charges that some companies have.!

If you can get ADSL2+ go for it..once you've got it you will wonder how you ever lived with anything slower.! The speed difference is instantly noticeable. 8)

[P1 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close P1]

iinet ADSL2+ all the way. 8)
The speed difference is instantly noticeable. 8)

That all depends. :wink:
ADSL technology gives varying speeds depending on how far away you are from the providers ADSL node. If you are at the limits - around 4Km the speed on ADSL2+ will be about the same as ADSL1. Even closer in, the speed will depend on the level of noise in the cables between you and the node. Your copper line is in a bundle with many others and these other lines may be using technologies that interfere with the ADSL and hence slow it down. However, if you are close to the node, it is quite likely you will get noticable speed improvement.

[bitdist Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bitdist]

P1 is spot on
But you would always go for it if you can anyway as in a lot of the cases adsl2 can be cheaper than adsl
adsl2 goes further as well, so if you are a long way from the exchange and could not get adsl, you might be able to get adsl2

If you go to www.whirlpool.net.au you will be able to see if you can get adsl2 and compare plans from just about everyone that offers them

[Russ WA Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Russ WA]

Just a thought, I recently changed to a new contract with Optus Fusion.

DSL broadband 2

Great deal, Unlimited calls all included Phone, mobile(Optus only),No line rental ect.

$89 a month

But they charge you for uploading as well as downloading so my 7gig will run out very
fast as apposed to there standard contract which only charges you for downloads. I may

have to change again and try IInets new naked contract.

I get more download allowance for the same price.




Russ

[Shell Member Find all posts View Profile Close Shell]

try Westnet excellent customer service!! I spent over an hour on the phone trying to work out a problem I was having with our internet, the tech was very helpful, unlike others I've encounted with other companies. They don't treat you like an idiot they tallk in plain english. This call was followed up the next day to see if everything was still working ok. As well as email to see that all was working and a furher call a month later to see I was still happy, or if there was anything else I needed assistance with.

As for pricing they have numerous options and you don't have to be locked into a contract. Currently I'm on a 12gig option (5 peak/7 off)plus freebie downloads from there site, and it's shaped so no surprise charges at the end of the month.It might be a little more expensive then some others but ($44.95)but it's worth it for the service and reliability.
They also do phone deals and by combining the 2 they take $10 off your internet, call costs are much the same as telstra.

[UberSarge Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close UberSarge]

iinet ADSL2+ all the way. 8)
The speed difference is instantly noticeable. 8)

That all depends. :wink:
ADSL technology gives varying speeds depending on how far away you are from the providers ADSL node. If you are at the limits - around 4Km the speed on ADSL2+ will be about the same as ADSL1. Even closer in, the speed will depend on the level of noise in the cables between you and the node. Your copper line is in a bundle with many others and these other lines may be using technologies that interfere with the ADSL and hence slow it down. However, if you are close to the node, it is quite likely you will get noticable speed improvement.

I'm on the same plan and completely agree with Justo. Telstra and Optus can't even come remotely close to iinet for price and performance. I am one of the lucky ones as I only live 800m from the exchange!! Happy days!!!

I pay $59/month for the internet and get 10Gb Peak and 20Gb off peak. Telstra can't even do a plan that will supply that! Not only that, I can completely reccommend iinet's customer service team. Always helpful, extremely knowledgable and non-Indian!!!! :wink:

[Russ WA Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Russ WA]

UberSarge
With iinet when they charge you ,Do you pay for downloading and uploading as a total bundle.
eg: Plan Data means monthly combined upload and download data transfer - 1 Gigabyte = 1000 Megabytes.
Just interested?

Russ

[Chippy Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chippy]

Hi Russ

Iinet's naked DSL charges both uploads and downloads towards your quota.

Cheers
Chippy

[UberSarge Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close UberSarge]

UberSarge
With iinet when they charge you ,Do you pay for downloading and uploading as a total bundle.
eg: Plan Data means monthly combined upload and download data transfer - 1 Gigabyte = 1000 Megabytes.
Just interested?

Russ

Russ,

My plan is metered on download only. Completely uncapped for upload. I heard rumors on the net that iinet were looking to start including uploads as well because of the prevalence of customers uploading large files onto YouTube and other high-bandwith sites, (as Chippy points out with their naked plans) but at this stage their ADSL2+ net/phone plans are metered on download only.

Optus now include both upload and download in their quotas and Telstra are starting to bring them in as well.

iinet's website has all of the relevant info for you, including the all important "plug in your phone number and we'll tell you if you can get it" section. iinet will give you extra download quota if your home phone is with them as well which may influence your decision. However, if you want to use their ADSL2+ plans with a different phone provider, the naked plan may suit you. But as chippy pointed out, both download and upload contribute to your monthly quota.

I also like the fact that they send you a 4 port wireless router (for a cost, about $200) completely configured. You literally unpack the box, plug everything in and turn on. It's that simple. I run my main PC via a network cable, my media server by cable, my Xbox 360 by cable and use the laptop via the wireless. I'm no expert and it was all painless. :roll:

[Russ WA Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Russ WA]

Thanks for your input.

I've just discovered with Optus I can move my plan up and down the

scale month by month. iinet's packages sound really good but for me to

change I think i'll get penalised because i'm in a 24 month contract and

direct connected with DSL on a Optus line.Westnet is also interesting but

is all to hard, so I'll keep with Optus for a few more months I think until I

get speed limited again then look at upgrading I suppose.

For the money we pay for phone and internet services they are cleaning up.

What did I do when I didn’t have a computer and internet and all those bloody phones?

That’s right I didn’t have kids then and we had girl friends and pubs. :wink:

[Gordo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Gordo]

I have TPG ADSL2 costing me $40pm + $20 Telstra line rental. I also have Pennytel Voice Over IP (VOIP) ($5.00 per month). This costs me $0.08 per call nationally and I believe $0.17 per minute to mobile phones. No cost to anothe Pennytel VOIP number. I can call NZ cheaper than I can call next door.

Bear in mind that VOIP uses your broadband so you may need to up the stakes in that dept. I only use 800M per month but my plan is 6G per month.