Internet advice or opinions please

[wildfire1]

I am thinking about getting broadband connected to my home PC, My question is -have any of you guys or gals purchased a Jetstream starter pack and done the install yourself?
:doobey:
If so was it easy or hard?
Did you get any help?- if so then where?
Are you happy with the performance?
Was it value for money?

Thanks

[curious george]

Not done the started pack thing.
I'd consider woosh, I've set up a few systems with a lot of success.
I'm with Orcon, I find them good to deal with, mainly because it's not Telecom.

If you can, get an extenal modem, not internal, and consider one with a built in hub, in case you want to connect more computers.
It's very easy to hook up once you get ip addresses sorted, and choose a password

[Ms Piggy]

I'm a bit of a PC bimbo but our flat has Slingshot for our broad band ISP and we bought the router from Dick Smiths. It was all very easy to set up once Telecom eventually fixed the fault in our phone line.

[dhunt]

I haven't done the starter pack method. I just bought a modem and a couple filters. Piece of cake to setup. I think that's basically what the start pack is???

Let me know if you need any help setting it up at all.

[Nox]

I've got iHug Ultra. For a reasonable price (< jetstream) they give you a v.fast download (faster than jetstream), up to three gig a month, and a nice new satellite dish for your roof or wall. Only problem is that it still uses a modem/phone-line for uploads, so it ties up the line, and can be slow if you're trying to upload a lot of stuff (which suits me fine).

If you can get it though, cable is the way to go. It's the best bang for your buck. You can get some amazing packages, it's fast in both directions, and it's cheaper than jetstream.

[bikerboy]

I am thinking about getting broadband connected to my home PC, My question is -have any of you guys or gals purchased a Jetstream starter pack and done the install yourself?
:doobey:
If so was it easy or hard?
Did you get any help?- if so then where?
Are you happy with the performance?
Was it value for money?

Thanks
Yeah, I just got it earlier this month. Seemed a good deal despite my being anti telecom. I was told by a guy at Dick Smith that they are all Telecom in a way. Telecom has the lines etc. the others pay to use.

So was easy to install once they replaced the defective modem. I do however have an Apple so it set eveything up automatically. Service was very good when trying to sort out the modem.

Only real complaint is the free service desk never answers in under twenty minutes. :yes:

[FlyingDutchMan]

Cable rocks. Fast both ways, low pings if you're into your games, and a static IP, which is all good for hosting stuff.

[DarkNinja]

We have it at home, its brilliant to have but its a real pain to start coz you gotta pay alot for your home etc so heres the tricks:
1) Get the jetstream starter pack, you never use up 3G in a month its hard as
2) You gotta buy a DSL router www.stylespc.co.nz is a great website lots of cheap stuff
3) if the DSL router doesnt already have a hub attached, and you want to hook jetstream to more than one computer, you need to buy a Hub. A Hub is basically a splitting of the jetstream into about 8 different avaliable gaps
4) if you get offered to get your telephone line split, DONT, again at www.stylespc.com just e-mail them and ask for a Microfilter for each phone line. These are about $25 each, and what they do is silence that awful internet noise from the line, and also stops disrupting the internet connection when you get a call. Sometimes if you have an old cordless phone they dont work anymore i.e. make it so silenced that you cant even hear the dial tone. but cordless phones are cheap these days.
5) more money :no: your conna have to pay for the connection fee, get it while its still $99 a pop.
6) network cables, again, www.stylespc.co.nz, you need one for every computer, but these dont cost much.
FINALLY) i think ORCON does a much better deal than telecom (cheaper) but im not so sure about reliability.
I hope this helps, PM me if you have any doubts about the stuff ure gonna buy.
DN

[DarkNinja]

Oh yeah i forgot to actually reply to the main thread.
It is quite hard but if you want to do it just follow the book, ring up and abuse customer services when it doesnt work, they are reallllly helpful.
Value for money is pretty good but we only get good usage if we have 3 computers running all the time.
Jetstream is awesome, wouldnt have anything else, i cant beliave im gonna have to go back to 56k :(
DN

[Hoon]

Depends on what type of user you are i.e. sole email/surfer person thru to a gamer/leecher in a flat full of leeching students etc. In Auckland we don't have cable so unfortunately thats not an option.

However, luckily for you, Telecoms new plans (http://www.telecom-media.co.nz/releases_detail.asp?id=3096) take effect today so if you are going broadband you might as well get one of the new 2mbit plans for the same price as the old. These aren't available anywhere else yet because of Telecoms fascist dictatorship so everyone else is still stuck reselling the old plans.

But if bandwidth is more important to you than a clear conscience then sell your soul to Xtra/Telecom!!

[Hitcher]

Jetstream isn't broadband. Somebody should take Telecom to the advertising complaints authority...

[Ghost Lemur]

Depends on what type of user you are i.e. sole email/surfer person thru to a gamer/leecher in a flat full of leeching students etc. In Auckland we don't have cable so unfortunately thats not an option.

However, luckily for you, Telecoms new plans (http://www.telecom-media.co.nz/releases_detail.asp?id=3096) take effect today so if you are going broadband you might as well get one of the new 2mbit plans for the same price as the old. These aren't available anywhere else yet because of Telecoms fascist dictatorship so everyone else is still stuck reselling the old plans.

But if bandwidth is more important to you than a clear conscience then sell your soul to Xtra/Telecom!!


Damn those plans suck.

*hugs cable*

Anyone who can survive on 10GB a month doesn't need "broadband". Thankfully with the cable plans the 10GB cap is intl with national taxed at 1/10. Any average month I'll get through about 40GB - 70GB of combined traffic.

Yes I know you guy don't have cable, but there are other options. Wireless, in multiple forms (dependant on area).
The main thing to remember is if you support a monopoly, through giving them business, then you can't really complain when they take you for every cent and take you up the ass just for good measure.
Remember you've got us (competition supporters) to thank for even having these new pathetic plans. Else you'd all still be stuck with 128k joke they called "broadband".

Anyway enough ranting from this cabled Tux freak.

[wildfire1]

Thanks all!! :2thumbsup

Heaps of useful advice!! - awesome! :2thumbsup

I think I might buy an ADSL modem (external)and a couple of line filters - only one machine for now, but may pay to get a hub too. I'm with :ar15: telecon so they make it pretty easy to pay for the service and get a discount on the whole deal (or so it appears).

Thanks DarkNinja - i will have a snoop around that site you recommended.
Thanks biker boy - I went into 'Dicksmith' the other day to talk to them about setting it all up, some 13yr old kid tried to sell me a 'had a problem but now weve fixed it modem" for $65.00. Think i might stick to new new.
Thanks Ghost - i didn't fully understand what you were saying (cable?), the only cable i understand is 'clutch' or 'brake', or SCART - But i will do some more digging - and i admire your passion on the subject :eek5:

[Blakamin]

Damn those plans suck.

*hugs cable*

Anyone who can survive on 10GB a month doesn't need "broadband". Thankfully with the cable plans the 10GB cap is intl with national taxed at 1/10. Any average month I'll get through about 40GB - 70GB of combined traffic.

*hugs cable too*
mmmm...10mbit..... :Pokey:

[The Pastor]

I am thinking about getting broadband connected to my home PC, My question is -have any of you guys or gals purchased a Jetstream starter pack and done the install yourself?
:doobey:
If so was it easy or hard?
Did you get any help?- if so then where?
Are you happy with the performance?
Was it value for money?

Thanks
Plug in modem. Plug in phone line. Follow the modems instructions on how to set it up, And ring ur ISP for the data you need to put in. If you're near the shore I could come and do it for ya

[DarkNinja]

Wildfire, i also forgot to mention that some ADSL routers include a few network hubs in them too, i would put my money on that coz' we spent an extra 200$ where we didnt need to on a hub :S

[Zapf]

Hi wildfire1,
I do this sort of setup / ISP thing for work. If you keen I can sort you out with a DSL connection / modem / install. make it a turn key / no brainer for you.

Give me a call on 029 241 0185 or 09 309 8393 and ask for Felix durning office hours.

Cheers

[SpankMe]

Just got this from Xtra.

We've got some great news about your Xtra JetStream plan ? you'll soon have a super fast connection, and won't pay a cent more for it:

Eight times the speed!: we're ramping up your download speed from 256kbs to 2mbs ? that's eight times faster than your current plan. All for the same monthly price of $69.95. The speed will make great broadband content, like video and games, even more fun.
You don't need to do anything ? we'll make the change automatically during November and December. You'll know the upgrade has happened when you start surfing at eight times the previous speed!

:banana: 2Megabit :banana: Just watch me eat up the 10GB cap.

[Blakamin]

Just got this from Xtra.



:banana: 2Megabit :banana: Just watch me eat up the 10GB cap.

hehehe... my 10mbit did it in a day if i let it!

[jrandom]

:banana: 2Megabit :banana: Just watch me eat up the 10GB cap.

Awww, nuts. I checked the Jetstream website, and they have indeed revamped their access plans, but my 3GB/$49.95 plan stays at 256Kbps.

I suspect their marketing strategy will work well, because I'm very, very, very tempted to go for 10GB of 2Mbps for $69.95.

[k14]

:banana: 2Megabit :banana: Just watch me eat up the 10GB cap.

And your point is?? That you can reach your 10gigs 8 times faster than before? Its still pretty stupid, the telecom network can't even handle everyone on 2mbit, probably would struggle to do 1mbit. It is just a marketing ploy, it is all in the luck of the draw. If you are the only one on your exchange with jetstream then yes you will get good downloads, but if everyone on your exchange has it you will be lucky to get 128k speeds consistently.

I'm on orcon 128k unlimited, that is sweet for me. I get through 20-30gigs a month no problems, and that is only downloading when I am asleep. If you can get it in your area go for wired country, much more reliable and faster than jetstream will ever be.

[jrandom]

If you are the only one on your exchange with jetstream then yes you will get good downloads, but if everyone on your exchange has it you will be lucky to get 128k speeds consistently... If you can get it in your area go for wired country, much more reliable and faster than jetstream will ever be.

Are you really asserting that Telecom doesn't have an internal NZ data network capable of supporting 2Mbps for all of its Jetstream subscribers? That seems unlikely, because it wouldn't be hard to implement.

What's your source for that statement?

Or are you misinformed and/or spouting off, and somehow relating the fact that New Zealand itself doesn't have a lot of bandwidth on its outgoing gateways to the fact that most internet connections that people care about will be made to sites hosted overseas (USA/Europe)?

Because *that* situation, if it is the case, will certainly be degraded by a large population with broadband to their ISPs, and is certainly NOT going to be improved by switching one's ADSL ISP to or from Telecom, 'Wired Country', TelstraClear or anyone else.

[k14]

The source is very reliable, one of telecoms electrical engineers. Also wiredcountry is wireless to the persons house but I'm not sure how they get the signals around the country, good point there. The truth of the matter is that the NZ infrastructure the way it is at the moment can probably only support 512kb reliably, but it is better than nothing. I doubt anyone would even use the full capablities of 2mbit anyway, apart from downloading which the 10gb cap negates.

[Blakamin]

The source is very reliable, one of telecoms electrical engineers. Also wiredcountry is wireless to the persons house but I'm not sure how they get the signals around the country, good point there. The truth of the matter is that the NZ infrastructure the way it is at the moment can probably only support 512kb reliably, but it is better than nothing. I doubt anyone would even use the full capablities of 2mbit anyway, apart from downloading which the 10gb cap negates.
with my cable I noticed the difference with everything when I went from 2mbit to 10mbit, web pages included... but to get top speed you need a server that can pump it out as fast as you can take it... not tooo many of those around tho...

[jrandom]

The source is very reliable, one of telecoms electrical engineers.

Ah, OK. You should have stated that originally. Bit of a worry, eh?


I doubt anyone would even use the full capablities of 2mbit anyway, apart from downloading which the 10gb cap negates.

Well, I use 2Mbit at work, and I regularly enjoy the benefits of fast downloads (such as watching the MotoGP videos half an hour after I get the link to them...)

I suspect the 256Kbps throttling incurs a latency penalty, too, making it less suitable for gaming. But I'm not entirely sure of that; it's just a random thought.

[k14]

Fine then, take the piss why don't ya :mad:

I'm probably going to take the 256k UBS from orcon, probably similar performance, no data caps and only $49 a month.

Just wait and see, in a few months everyone will be whinging and moaning because their "2 mbit" is just the same as the 128k they used to have.

[jrandom]

Fine then, take the piss why don't ya :mad:

Eh? Who's taking the piss? Did you misinterpret something I said there?


I'm probably going to take the 256k UBS from orcon, probably similar performance...

Well, I dunno. Like I said, I really do see a noticeable difference between the 2Mbps I use during the day, and the 256Kbps I go home to at night.

[k14]

Well, I dunno. Like I said, I really do see a noticeable difference between the 2Mbps I use during the day, and the 256Kbps I go home to at night.

Sorry, maybe I did.

Yeah that will be because at the moment a very small amount of people have jetstream, jetstart is what the high proportion of the population have (the 128k "broadband", as opposed to proper 8mbit ADSL). Each exchange can only handle (I can't remember the exact number), but it is something like 20Mbits for all the houses it services. This is increased in commertial areas where businesses use jetstream. So at the moment each residential exchange is fine with the amount of bandwidth it has, but when it gets ramped up to 2Mbits, then its fine untill 20 people on that exchange get it, then everyone suffers.

Also the latency is a big issue, something to do with the way telecom has structured the system to handle the data or something like that. I could be totally wrong, this is what I understood, if anyone wants to correct me feel free.

The thread is getting a little off topic now...

[jrandom]

The thread is getting a little off topic now...

I wouldn't say that at all; this discussion is very pertinent to what home internet access solution people choose. Anyone who wants to comment further, go for it, I say.

In any case, there's no real reason why threads can't morph within their headlined subject. No point being a topic Nazi.

(Ooooh! Godwin's Law! Snap!)

[SpankMe]

Bugger, the upload speed is only being increased from 128 to 192 kbps. That sucks for file swappers and people who run servers. :Pokey: