Broadband, Do you have it?

**Motig** · 18th October 2006, 07:55

Xtra broadband which hopefully will be a lot better after the 26th. 5gb with 2 kids doesnt take long to disappear! The pricing of the others which all seem to be similar plus the fact I dont think you can get some of them in Oamaru means stating with xtra. Plus memories of changing to a cheaper dial up option a few years ago and discovering half the time you couldnt even connect so staying with what I can rely on.

**paturoa** · 18th October 2006, 08:02

Originally Posted by Jantar

+1

And there is a large proportion of the country who can't get BB.

not true any more..

Just with Telecom over 95% of the population can access DSL based BB and there is wireless for a bunch more see http://www.telecom.co.nz/chm/0,5123,...202469,00.html

...and other providers like woops (Woosh) have been paid millions from the gubbermint to provide coverage too

**James Deuce** · 18th October 2006, 08:06

Originally Posted by Weasel

Here comes a dictionary definition;

broadband

A class of communication channel capable of
supporting a wide range of frequencies, typically from audio
up to video frequencies. A broadband channel can carry
multiple signals by dividing the total capacity into multiple,
independent bandwidth channels, where each channel operates
only on a specific range of frequencies.

The term has come to be used for any kind of Internet
connection with a download speed of more than 56 kbps,
usually some kind of Digital Subscriber Line, e.g. ADSL.

So where's the bit that says it has to be 2mbps or 5mbps or 10mbps?

By definition Telecom have defeated the Dictionary definition of Broadband.

In case you haven't been paying attention, our major Telco owns the infrastructure and decides how traffic is managed, often to the detriment of the ISPs forced to use their service.

Yes, your gear may be capable of dividing traffic into multiple independent channels, using multiple signal, but at the points where NZ interfaces with the rest of the world, or even rural telephone switches, we are limited by physical hardware as to the number and type of concurrent connections that can be supported.

VOIP, Internet gaming, and lately International DNS replication (query the forward lookup zones on a couple of different ISPs and gag at the different responses.) are all unreliable services in the NZ environment, due to the arbitrary way Telecom chops those signals up to suit its lousy infrastructure.

I'm not discussing "speed" (it isn't actually speed, but volume measured as chunks of bandwidth. Us humans perceive it as speed). I'm commenting on the inability of our infrastructure to meet the requirements of the definition of Broadband. I was installing "Broadband" in 1986, that included multiple addressing protocols, data streams both analogue and digital, CATV, proprietary building management protocols, lift controls, and security systems. Within the bounds of a single building of course. I kinda know how it should work. It doesn't work that way in NZ, It shouldn't be sold as "Broadband". TelstraSaturn cable is the only service that comes close.

**James Deuce** · 18th October 2006, 08:08

Originally Posted by paturoa

not true any more..

Just with Telecom over 95% of the population can access DSL based BB and there is wireless for a bunch more see http://www.telecom.co.nz/chm/0,5123,...202469,00.html

...and other providers like woops (Woosh) have been paid millions from the gubbermint to provide coverage too

What a load of cock.

Ever used a DSL connection on a pair shared (at the Exchange end) connection over what used to be a party line? Which happens to be the norm for practically every rural exchange/subscriber setup.

Dial-Up is faster.

**Squeak the Rat** · 18th October 2006, 08:16

I've got an album by the Dixie Chicks. That's a real Broad Band.

Actually I don't I just wanted to be a smart arse

Where is the option for "I don't even have a computer at home"? Or "I use a wireless device when not at work"?

**sAsLEX** · 18th October 2006, 08:28

I find the ten gigs on my present connection limiting.

Need to find one with either unlimited or free National traffic, which is funny since I joined this wireless company at greater expense due to the unlimited plan i joined on, but they changed that out fuckers.....

**Lil_Byte** · 18th October 2006, 08:40

No one on DSL in New Zealand has broad band, just faster than dial up. The crock of s*** that Telecom calls broadband belongs somewhere in a 3rd world country. Actually I think the 3rd world countrys do better.

Just a thought for the day

if a dukedom is ruled by a Duke
a Kingdom by a king
a pricipality by a prince

why are we called a cuntry

**bobsmith** · 18th October 2006, 08:45

All plans currently offered in NZ sucks.. All of them within a reasonable price range (ie less than $100 a month) has their upload capped to 128kbps which very much limits what you can use your connection for. I has to be the most frustrating thing on the earth for "power users"

Sure you have a lot of bandwitch for download but the 128kbps upload soon gets congested with any upload you maybe doing and if you're connecting multiple servers at a time it soon gets congested with overheads etc...

For me, the major issue with the broadband has been the very very low cap on upload speed and the small data cap. I'm currently on ihug 2mbit plan with 10Gb peak and 10Gb off peak. Since I use up my 10Gb usually within a couple of weeks having that off peak data before it gets capped is fairly important though I would not go for any less peak data. you can't get this plan any more though, instead for the same price now you're getting the 5Gb/10Gb plan with 3.5mbps download speed... They used to advertise that as "fast as" just don't see how they got away with it. The download line can usually take more speed in inner city areas and the upload is still capped at 128kbps...

And your computer is as secure as YOU make it. your ISP has nothing to do with it. (except for isps like telecom who might offer their customers false deception of security and make them complacent about security) I would boycott telecom for as much as I can without losing money due to my issues with their business practice (ie monopoly) and their supposed "ownership" of the copper lines which should never have been "theirs" to start with. Half the reason why new zealand telecommunication system is so third world is due to the telecom monopoly in the past.. let's hope the unbundling will solve "some" problems. (well it's still only a partial unbundling so I don't see much happening yet....

)

**The Tazman** · 18th October 2006, 09:06

Thank you all for your comments, information on how it is over hear and taking the time to vote.

I never had BB in the UK but some of my friends did and I was sure back then (a few years ago) that things were better there then they are here now.

I think I'll wait and see what happens on the 26th and hope that they start moving into the 21st century

Cheers

Taz

**Transalper** · 18th October 2006, 09:25

I don't think you'll find what happens on the 26th will make sweet f.all difference to the home user. My plan with the 5gig data cap will still cost the same, just my download speed is supposed to be raised to max available for my line, but even now it never seems to get to the 3.5mb download i payed for. (Xtra Explorer Plan)
Although if i take a drop to 2gig cap then it looks like i could get max 'upload' and 'download' speed for my line for the same $50 per month

**Paul in NZ** · 18th October 2006, 09:45

I tried to get BB....

The nice man at telstra rang me and since I have cable TV already made me a great offer. I explained that I have an older PC with no either net card and the house has a concrete floor foundation and all the problems that their installers have had in the past - he appologised and admitted that in the past, some of the sub contractors they had used were not quite up to snuff but that he would send around a superior a grade technical type dude and all would be good...

hmmmm...

Well the guy rang to confirm the appointment and arrived on time.

Him... 'Oh you have a concrete pad foundation'

me (sigh)

Him.. No worries, I can run the cable down the outside of the house and finish it off with a nice piece of T cap....

me - no, thats not acceptable and showed him how the other guy had done it.

Him.. Oh - you have an old PC

me - yeees.... It runs windows 98 version 2

Him - oh - that could be a problem...

me - I know, I did ask...

Him - yeah we have a real problem with the sales guys eh...

In short - wasted a day shagging about and if i want broadband I need to run my own cables down the wall or replace my PC with a laptop and put in a wireless router. Frankly I wondered why I bothered with the useless pricks. Everything is outsourced and paid at a bit rate. They won't go the extra mile to help you out because they will loose money. I even offered to help run the cable or pay extra but nah - not interested.

screw them - they are ALL useless leeches.

**Jantar** · 18th October 2006, 10:12

Originally Posted by paturoa

not true any more..

Just with Telecom over 95% of the population can access DSL based BB and there is wireless for a bunch more see http://www.telecom.co.nz/chm/0,5123,...202469,00.html

...and other providers like woops (Woosh) have been paid millions from the gubbermint to provide coverage too

I know that's what Telecom claim, and I am in the area they claim has full coverage, yet because I live more than 6km away from the exchange They can't provide. Nor can they provide any of the hundred or so subscribers who live between Clyde and Omakau, yet they still count us as being in the 95% of the population who are covered. As for wireless? Yes it is available at a price, but my neighbour who tried it quickly went back to dial up. Wireless out here is just so much slower than dial-up that it can hardly be called broadband.