Looking to switch ISPs

[Murphinator]

G'day guys

I am looking to switch from Bigpond ADSL1 to TPG ADSL2+.
i have a few questions..

1) Does bigpond participate in the churning process? i have read a couple contradicting articles and am unsure.

2) Does TPG package a suitable modem with an 18 month contract or do i need to purchase a new modem suitable for ADSL2+?
If yes, what is the best modem for ADSL2+ in your opinion? Or where is a good comparison/reviews site?

3) I pay month by month for Bigpond, and i am not on a contract. Is there cancellation fees, or do i need to cancel within a certain period of each bill?

also.. VOIP or Skype? Difference??

Will be very grateful for help with this

 

[seanoff]

1) Whirlpool about Telstra to TPG specifically, but i think they only churn to people using Telstra wholesale DSLAMs.

2) CNET, APCMAG.com, Whirlpool. do some reading

3) surely that is on their website.


VOIP = Voice over IP. Engin (for example) with their voicebox allow you to plug in a std phone and use it as your VOIP handset. calls to POTS etc are made in a pretty std way. Engin have plans like a Telstra or Optus home phone

skype is now essentially a video phone. Skype requires a computer headset. you can call in and out to normal phones but it is charged /min and you need to buy pre-paid credit

you need to compare the two and work out what's easiest for you.

 

[NitroFan]

If you're not on contract there's no cancellation fees.

 

[Black Panther]

The big question you should answer is why would you want to join TPG?

 

[AC for PM]

I personally recommend Internode but check the whirpool forums to gather your own info on different ISPs and their various plans.

 

[Murphinator]

Internode doesn't have ADSL2+ for my area yet.
We want faster, cheaper internet and not to mention increased downloads.
have friends on TPG, not many complaints from them..
Thanks for your help guys

 

[FIGJAM]

We had the TPG / Internode hitout in the last ISP thread.

Haven't had a solitary issue with TPG ever. Fast, reliable and cheap.

Murphinator, I use a Dynalink RTA1025W which TPG support and which you will have to buy yourself. I don't know if there is a newer recommended model, but I just got one they support. Eitherway, it works very well.

For VOIP, I use PennyTel and have an analogue telephone adapter purchased through PennyTel pre-configured. Am on the Crazy Talk plan as I work from home and it gives me effectively all I can eat landline and mobile calls for under $19.

I have Skype too but never use it because it's expensive relative to others.

I can't wait until I can get TPG naked-DSL. My plan in not giving Telstra one cent may be fully realised soon!

 

[Hawk Dork]

I have skype $6 unlimited Oz landline
Got a cordless handset from Aldi for $70 perfect
use Landline for 1300 numbers as Skype charges by time on those.
Only hassle is slight delay at begining (6 sec)

 

[Murphinator]

thanks a lot guys, the help is appreciated.

 

[Ant_]

1) Whirlpool about Telstra to TPG specifically, but i think they only churn to people using Telstra wholesale DSLAMs.

Correct, you can only fast churn between two ADSL 1 connections. Once you hit ADSL/2 it means canceling service then reapplying.

 

[Hawk Dork]

In my town if you want ADSL 2 its Telstra and maybe( I was lucky and got it )or its the opposition and sorry we dont have any available.

 

[RoosterLad]

Correct, you can only fast churn between two ADSL 1 connections. Once you hit ADSL/2 it means canceling service then reapplying.

Yep, that's because Telstra suck the bollocks and only do churns, not Single Service Transfers.

You can always churn to TPG ADSL1 then migrate to their ADSL2+ DSLAM though, that will mean no downtime.

 

[Ant_]

Yep, that's because Telstra suck the bollocks and only do churns, not Single Service Transfers.

You can always churn to TPG ADSL1 then migrate to their ADSL2+ DSLAM though, that will mean no downtime.

If the ports on your exchange are full/near full I would recommend this route. You run the slight risk of when your service is canceled your port is given to the waiting list.

 

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Just wondering how Skype can be expensive. Isn't there an option to subscribe and then you get unlimited calls? Or is that only for International numbers?

 

[Hawk Dork]

Subscribe for Land lines only
$15 International or $6 Local

As I live in regional Qld and all my services are in Bundy or Glady and friends in Melby (see what I did there)
$6 a month saves me about $80 a month in STD calls.
So I am happy

 

[DeadlyAkkuret]

I think some countries have landline and mobile phones included. I asked on the Skype forum and was told that US landlines and mobiles are included in the package, which will save me over $800 this year!

 

[scooterb]

What do you guys think of iiNet ADSL2+?

 

[FreoDocker]

I'd probably recommend going with aaNet (they have some of the cheapest rates as long as you don't need too much hand holding from tech support). Otherwise I'd probably go with Internode.

If you want to compare prices, a few handy sites are:
BroadbandChoice on Whirlpool.
Phonechoice Australia
YourBroadband.com.au
ADSL2Exchanges

 

[rfctigerarmy]

I'm thinking of going from Optus Cable to iiNet ADSL2+. TPG seemed interesting but from what I've read, their speeds are crash hot.

aaNet is other I'm considering.

 

[thebiff]

I have TPG ADSL2 and they have been rubbish for me. Not impressed at all and will be switching to telstra as soon as my contract runs out. I would much rather pay a bit extra (even if it is over priced with telstra) and get a service that actually works. Also at least you know you will get an operator within a couple of minutes of calling telstras call centre.

 

[seanoff]

I have TPG ADSL2 and they have been rubbish for me. Not impressed at all and will be switching to telstra as soon as my contract runs out. I would much rather pay a bit extra (even if it is over priced with telstra) and get a service that actually works. Also at least you know you will get an operator within a couple of minutes of calling telstras call centre.

NOT TELSTRA

go to Internode, Westnet or someone. NOT TELSTRA

NOT TELSTRA

quick lesson ADSL 2+ prices

$59.95 Internode = 25Gb

$59.95 Bigpond = 600Mb

$99.95 Telstra = 25Gb

$89.95 Internode = 55Gb

$99.95 Internode NAKED = 55Gb

The telstra prices are the cheapest they have because they include the discount for having a Telstra home phone.

Its your money, but if you want to throw it away, good on you. I'll PM you my bank details, you join internode and send me the balance of what you would have paid Bigpond.

 

[Ant_]

I have TPG ADSL2 and they have been rubbish for me. Not impressed at all and will be switching to telstra as soon as my contract runs out. I would much rather pay a bit extra (even if it is over priced with telstra) and get a service that actually works. Also at least you know you will get an operator within a couple of minutes of calling telstras call centre.

I would steer clear of Tel$tra, however it's your money.

 

[FIGJAM]

Also at least you know you will get an operator within a couple of minutes of calling telstras call centre.

Having been with TPG, aaNet and BigPond, I can state unequivocally that they are all about the same in terms of phone service.

I'm still staggered at the amount of people wanting to talk to people after the connection is established. Ya have to from time to time, but it wouldn't make my top 10 on things to worry about (would be #1 on things to want to avoid IMO!).

All ISPs go down from time to time. If you expect to have someone to vent to at that instant, expect the phone lines to be jammed with chumps like yourself. Take a damn walk in the park or something!

With BigPond cable (2003-2005) my downtimes were 1-2 hours. That got long enough for me to want to hurl abuse (especially as I work from home for the most part). But you get the engaged signal because every human and company in your proximity are at that point asking questions (or at least trying to!).

TPG and aaNet, any down periods are/were relative heartbeats in time.

 

[NitroFan]

Dunno about ADSL2, but with ADSL1 I can't recommend Exetel enough. I get 90gb (30 on peak, 60 off) for $60 a month. Off peak is midnight-midday which is far better than what most others offer, and in June they're bringing in an option to chose 12-12, 1-1 or 2-2 as the off peak.

I've only been with them a couple of months, but I'm yet to experience any problems at all.

 

[scooterb]

Not really....

Most others divide off peak and peak in two equal amounts.