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?

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?

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.

[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 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 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 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!!

Heaps of useful advice!! - awesome!

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 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

[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.....

[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?

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