Leaving petrol in the tank

[craigb]

Well tonight's the last night of the month and so my broadband account starts anew tomorrow.
Trouble is, I've still got 10mb left in the account (I'm only on a 400mb plan).

I just hate not using it all up, 'cause the bloody cable company won't let you roll it over.

Why not?

I've bloody well paid for it after all. :mad:

[Sturdee]

Don't you use the net very much Craig ? :confused:

We are close to our monthly limit at 12.5 gig ( and having also used the 9 gig 2.00am to 8.00am free bonus ) mainly from my daughter downloading tv programs direct from Seppo land.

Sometimes we use it all up by the 29th and we are reduced to dial up speed. :(

Peter.

[Ashore]

I hope your with Telstra I've got shares Thanks if you are



The trouble with life is there's no background music.

[Sturdee]

I hope your with Telstra I've got shares Thanks if you are



Sorry, Optus cable for me and I don't think they make much from us. :D

Peter.

[Ashore]

Dam & blast



Ever thought of switching to telstra



The trouble with life is there's no background music.

[Cliff Rogers]

Go here, read EVERY link that has been posted, you've got 52 minutes ... :D

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=18871

[Ashore]

Go here, read EVERY link that has been posted, you've got 52 minutes ... :D

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=18871
And your point being???????



The trouble with life is there's no background music.

[Cliff Rogers]

He wanted to use up the 'petrol in the tank' ???? I think ??? :confused:

[Ashore]

cause the bloody cable company won't let you roll it over.

Why not?

I've bloody well paid for it after all. :mad:

No he didn't wan't to use it just wanted to know why his internet company wouldn't let him use the unwanted portion next month as he couldn't find enough use for it this month
This is a valid point and is a blight on the australian consumer
we are all being ripped off I only wish he was a telstra customer
Maybe I'll have to get some sing tel shares and then I wont feel so bad as Julie Andrerws says


The trouble with life is there's no background music.

[shaunburgess]

atleast you can get broadband, we in the country are still struggling with ISDN paying for 2 lines so we can get speed. Isn't it amazing that because i live in the country i don't get calls from other phone companies as there is no profit in setting up in a little country town. (85 km from the Sydney CBD). I hate the leeches that setup in this country, provide no infrastructure get wholesale prices from Telecommunication companies, and with an automated billing program, an indian call centre, snazy marketing campaign and half a dozen sales people start flogging "their product" to people around australia. When something goes wrong they immediately blame everyone else.


Perhaps i get like this because companies i deal with complain about this all the time "we signed up because it was cheaper" it's like everything else you get what you pay for.

my $2.50 worth (inflation)

[craigb]

Don't you use the net very much Craig ? :confused:


Nah Pete, I pretty much only use the net at home for accessing the BB.

All my other surfing I do at work :eek: ;) :D

As Ashore picked up, I do find it annoying that you can't roll over the unused portion of your bandwidth.

It's just a scam if you ask me.

[Bob Willson]

This is basically a hangover from the old dial-up days when it took a modem with a phone line exclusively attached to the other end of your phone line. The ISPs habitually oversold their equipment and each modem would be sold to about 25 people to use between them.
The idea of not allowing rollover was to ensure that people didn't save up all their time and then stay on-line for days at a time thus tying up a line that could be used for many others.

Nowadays of course, they just do it because they can and because Tel$tra isn't upgrading the system as much as they should as they are far too busy paying out money to their share holders, thus robbing the company of funds that it could have used to upgrade the infrastructure. Still, never mind, if they need more money they will just increase the cost of your line rental.

[Coldamus]

Craig,

Your situation is similar to mine except I'm on Telstra ADSL. Monthly usage allowance is 400mb for roughly $50 per month.

Although I keep my home internet usage as light as possible, I still have to ease up towards the end of the month to avoid going over that. When SWMBO is here, we go well over it.

The solution of course is an unlimited plan but with Telstra that is approx $70 a month which is too much.

Is there anyone here using Dodo ADSL who can comment on it? (Reliability, speed, etc.). I'm a bit put off by their adverts that push the "$9.95 a month for the first 3 months" deal when in the small print it says the minimum cost for a 24 month contract is approx $1070. i.e. the real cost is approx $45 a month.

Still, that's cheaper than Telstra. The other thing I don't like about the Dodo conditions is the "credit card only" aspect. I am very reluctant to give anybody carte blanche to charge my card whenever they feel like it. The card has almost melted already.

Comments anyone?

regards
Coldamus

[Bob Willson]

I can certainly comment on the credit card only aspect of it.
I help to run APANA (http://richardson.apana.org.au/apana/BRISBANE/index.cfm?PageID=AO3) which is a club for web enthusiasts.
I recently had the (very) dubious pleasure of setting someone up for ADSL. They should have supplied their card details first and I was at fault for not getting that info first. However:
They BEGGED me to get them on to ADSL as they had been told many times that Tel$tra did not have the infrastructure to allow this. So, big hearted me says OK and I go away and arrange it all. I came back next week saying OK it is now all setup, just give me your card details and I will tell you the logon name and password.
Ummm, since we asked you to do that, we have been approached by a few other companies that are also offering ADSL to us and we can get all our phone calls cheaper etc. :mad: :mad: :mad:
So, we are out by the $50 connection fee, the $200 early disconnection fee (a Tel$tra charge for going clickety-click) plus the three months of line charges while he stuffed us around.
THAT is why they insist on credit card numbers first. I don't blame them.
PS Dodo tend to over sell their ADSL too and you will not always be able to get good speed or reliability.

[craigb]

I can certainly comment on the credit card only aspect of it.
I help to run APANA (http://richardson.apana.org.au/apana/BRISBANE/index.cfm?PageID=AO3) which is a club for web enthusiasts.
I recently had the (very) dubious pleasure of setting someone up for ADSL. They should have supplied their card details first and I was at fault for not getting that info first. However:
They BEGGED me to get them on to ADSL as they had been told many times that Tel$tra did not have the infrastructure to allow this. So, big hearted me says OK and I go away and arrange it all. I came back next week saying OK it is now all setup, just give me your card details and I will tell you the logon name and password.
Ummm, since we asked you to do that, we have been approached by a few other companies that are also offering ADSL to us and we can get all our phone calls cheaper etc. :mad: :mad: :mad:
So, we are out by the $50 connection fee, the $200 early disconnection fee (a Tel$tra charge for going clickety-click) plus the three months of line charges while he stuffed us around.
THAT is why they insist on credit card numbers first. I don't blame them.
PS Dodo tend to over sell their ADSL too and you will not always be able to get good speed or reliability.


Jeez Bob, what a rotten thing to do to you. Some people have no ethics. :(

No wonder you were :mad: :mad: :mad:

[Bob Willson]

Hi Coldamus
For that same $50 a month APANA (http://richardson.apana.org.au/apana/BRISBANE/index.cfm?PageID=AO3) can give you 4 gig @ 256K
I myself am on the 8 gig * 512k plan for $60 a month

[Grunt]

These are the costs from my ISP Internode. I'm on a 15gb per month 1500/256 speed at $70 a month. I reckon that the Home-512 starter pack at $40 a month with 2gb at 512/128 speed is great value.


<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TH align=middle colSpan=2>Setup Fee </TH></TR><TR class=cell-bg-2><TD>New ADSL Service </TD><TD align=middle>$129</TD></TR><TR class=cell-bg-1><TD>Relocate an existing Internode ADSL service
(click here for relocation form (https://accounts.internode.on.net/cgi-bin/relocate)) </TD><TD align=middle>$99</TD></TR><TR class=cell-bg-2><TD>Transfer (Churn (http://adsl.internode.on.net/faq/churn.htm)) an existing ADSL service
(from other participating Internet Providers) </TD><TD align=middle>$39</TD></TR><TR><TH colSpan=2>Other Fees and Charges </TH></TR><TR class=cell-bg-1><TD colSpan=2>
Click Here to view other fees and charges (http://adsl.internode.on.net/pricing/home.htm#options)
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=4 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR class=cell-bg-1><TD align=middle>Plan</TD><TD align=middle>Monthly Cost</TD><TD align=middle>Maximum Speed
(Download/Upload)</TD><TD align=middle>Monthly
Downloads</TD><TD align=middle>Quota Control</TD></TR><TR><TH colSpan=5>256kbit / 64kbit</TH></TR><TR bgColor=#eee2d0><TD noWrap bgColor=#eee2d0>HOME-256-Starter*</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#eee2d0>$29.95 </TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#eee2d0>256k / 64k </TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#eee2d0>500 MB</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#eee2d0>Shaped</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=5> </TD></TR><TR><TH colSpan=5>512kbit / 128kbit</TH></TR><TR bgColor=#e4cead><TD noWrap bgColor=#e4cead>HOME-512-Starter</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#e4cead>$39.95</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#e4cead>512k / 128k </TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#e4cead>2 GB </TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#e4cead>Shaped </TD></TR><TR bgColor=#f8e2a3><TD noWrap bgColor=#f8e2a3>HOME-512-Value</TD><TD align=middle>$49.95 </TD><TD align=middle>512k / 128k </TD><TD align=middle>15 GB </TD><TD align=middle>Shaped </TD></TR><TR bgColor=#e4cead><TD noWrap bgColor=#e4cead>HOME-512-Pro</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#e4cead>$69.95</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#e4cead>512k / 128k </TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#e4cead>30 GB </TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#e4cead>Shaped </TD></TR><TR bgColor=#f8e2a3><TD noWrap bgColor=#f8e2a3>HOME-512-Elite</TD><TD align=middle>$109.95 </TD><TD align=middle>512k / 128k </TD><TD align=middle>60 GB </TD><TD align=middle>Shaped </TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=5> </TD></TR><TR><TH colSpan=5>1500kbit / 256kbit</TH></TR><TR bgColor=#d9bc91><TD noWrap bgColor=#d9bc91>HOME-1500-Starter</TD><TD align=middle>$59.95 </TD><TD align=middle>1500k / 256k </TD><TD align=middle>5 GB </TD><TD align=middle>Shaped </TD></TR><TR bgColor=#f5d676><TD noWrap>HOME-1500-Value</TD><TD align=middle>$69.95</TD><TD align=middle>1500k / 256k </TD><TD align=middle>15 GB </TD><TD align=middle>Shaped </TD></TR><TR bgColor=#d9bc91><TD noWrap bgColor=#d9bc91>HOME-1500-Pro</TD><TD align=middle>$89.95 </TD><TD align=middle>1500k / 256k </TD><TD align=middle>30 GB </TD><TD align=middle>Shaped</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#f5d676><TD noWrap>HOME-1500-Elite</TD><TD align=middle>$129.95 </TD><TD align=middle>1500k / 256k </TD><TD align=middle>60 GB</TD><TD align=middle>Shaped</TD></TR><TR><TD class=cell-bg-1 colSpan=5>
Note: Home Symmetric 512/512 services are available
at the same price points as 1500/256 above.
</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=5> </TD></TR><TR><TH colSpan=5>Extreme ADSL2+
Min: 1500kbit/256kbit --- Max: 24000kbit / 1000kbit</TH></TR><TR class=cell-bg-1><TD colSpan=5>
Only available on Agile ADSL2+ DSLAM enabled exchanges
(click here for more information (http://adsl.internode.on.net/pricing/home.htm#extremenote))
</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#f5d676><TD noWrap>HOME-Extreme-Value</TD><TD align=middle>$59.95 </TD><TD align=middle>Min: 1500k/256k
Max: 24000k/1000k</TD><TD align=middle>15 GB </TD><TD align=middle>Shaped </TD></TR><TR bgColor=#d9bc91><TD noWrap>HOME-Extreme-Pro</TD><TD align=middle>$79.95 </TD><TD align=middle>Min: 1500k/256k
Max: 24000k/1000k</TD><TD align=middle>30 GB </TD><TD align=middle>Shaped </TD></TR><TR bgColor=#f5d676><TD noWrap>HOME-Extreme-Elite</TD><TD align=middle>$119.95</TD><TD align=middle>Min: 1500k/256k
Max: 24000k/1000k</TD><TD align=middle>60 GB </TD><TD align=middle>Shaped</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[zathras]

Most use the Tel$tra infrastructure, but certainly not their plans.

Almost any other ISP will provide massive downloads and higher speed for the same price.

Was there any reason why you chose Tel$tra ?

I personally have had enough of this shareholder comes first cr@p. :mad:

Don't get me started on $30 line rental these days :eek:

I'm with netspace and get 10GB / month on 512/128 for only $49.95 -

400MB is a joke these days, and their excessive usage charges are beyond a joke :(

[craigb]

Well I went with Optus and oriiginally chose them beacuse they had a $0 installation deal going at the time.

It's cable not ISDN so AFAIK I'm on a 10 mbs ethernet Lan.

The actual speed I get depends on how many other people happen to be on my Lan at the time. :rolleyes:

However, the yearly contract is up in September so I'll definitely be reviewing my broadband options.

As has been said, 400Mb is bugger all.
I only pay $40 /month for it though not $50.

[Grunt]

Craig,

I'd stay with Optus. They have the fastest service around. I've had cable from Optus and Telstra and now ADSL. Give me Optus anytime.

Optus' plans will be cheaper/more downloads again by the time September comes around.

[craigb]

Craig,

I'd stay with Optus. They have the fastest service around. I've had cable from Optus and Telstra and now ADSL. Give me Optus anytime.

Optus' plans will be cheaper/more downloads again by the time September comes around.

Thanks Grunt.

Actually, if I could get 1GB from Optus for the same price or just a leeetle bit more :rolleyes: I'd be a happy chappy.

Cheers
Craig

[Ashore]

The other thing I don't like about the Dodo conditions is the "credit card only" aspect. I am very reluctant to give anybody carte blanche to charge my card whenever they feel like it. The card has almost melted already.

Comments anyone?

regards
ColdamusMate get your self a debit only card keep say $100 in it and top it up each month or as you use it
This way you can do all your internet buying and the most you can get ripped off is $100
It's worked for us for years with no problems and a lot of piece of mind

Rgds
Russell


The trouble with life is there's no background music.

[Grunt]

The trouble with life is there's no background music.


But there is always the voices in your head to keep you company.

[Ashore]

But there is always the voices in your head to keep you company.
You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me.

[MathewA]

Mate get your self a debit only card keep say $100 in it and top it up each month or as you use it
This way you can do all your internet buying and the most you can get ripped off is $100
It's worked for us for years with no problems and a lot of piece of mind


In North America a person is only responsible for the first $50 no matter how much the bill if their card is stolen and or used by someone that isn't allowed. Do you not have that in Aus

[Ashore]

In North America a person is only responsible for the first $50 no matter how much the bill if their card is stolen and or used by someone that isn't allowed. Do you not have that in AusI don't know mathew there are rules and loopholes the little book of rules is written in the usual legal jargon
As to card being stolen or mis used then I think that may be right but there is at least one loophole in that if your pin No is also stolen ie both in your wallet together or your pin is using the no.s on your card or an easily worked out no then your not covered.

but the thing is if a company that you give direct debit axcess to, makes a mistake with your bill and deducts a huge amount you have to get it back from them and is nothing to do with the credit card company.


The trouble with life is there's no background music.

[Sturdee]

As has been said, 400Mb is bugger all.
I only pay $40 /month for it.

Craig,


I am on Optus cable 13 gig plan for $ 69.95 a month. Currently they also give a free 9 gig midnight to dawn extra download which is not generally advertised. When we exceed this we are not charged extra but access is reduced to dial up speed. :eek:

As my daughter uses the lion share she pays $ 50.00 and I pay the rest. Also as we use Optus telephone service I get an extra discount on my phone (for using both services) of $ 9.00 a month.

BTW there was no installation fee and no fixed contract.


Peter.

[kiwigeo]

Sometimes we use it all up by the 29th and we are reduced to dial up speed. :(

Peter.

With Internode once I get to the monthly limit the link is dynamically throttled back........ie speed is cut back but only if its a busy time of day. Even when dynamic throttling is in effect its never back to modem speed.

[Daddles]

Well, I'm on the super expensive bigpond broadband - $59.95 a month, unlimited download, flat rate. Sure, it's not the quickest of their products but it's still faster than I need - the only thing I wait for is the other site to respond.

Incidentally, I use the internet a lot - searching, submissions, research, stuffing about with reprobate woodies, etc. Changing from dial up to this broadband plan has resulted in quite a saving, due in part to no longer having to dial out to connect. Also, my phone is no longer tied up so people can contact me (and I don't have to ring them back - more saving). Somehow, it also allowed me to change my phone plan (probably the drop in phone calls) but with that, my total phone bill (mobile (emergency use only), ordinary phone plus broadband), has dropped by about 40% since the change. This wouldn't happen for everyone but it's helped me.

Richard

[kiwigeo]

Well, I'm on the super expensive bigpond broadband - $59.95 a month, unlimited download, flat rate. Sure, it's not the quickest of their products but it's still faster than I need - the only thing I wait for is the other site to respond.



Richard.....are Telstra still charging for uploads as well as downloads?

[Coldamus]

Thanks everybody for the replies and to CraigB for raising the subject. Ashore's debit card solution is great and will solve my objections on that score as well as providing security for internet purchases.

I chose Telstra ADSL because my mobile and home phone are with them, so I get a small rebate. Also they had a self-install kit so I didn't have to lose a day's income waiting at home for a technician. (the house has Optus cable but Optus wanted to go through the whole install process again - permission from landlord, inspect the premises, blah, blah.)

I still have a few months to run on the Telstra contract but after that will definitely look at all the options put forward.

regards
Coldamus

[zathras]

Straight from the Tel$tra broadband site:

Things you should know
Monthly Plan Allowance (MB and GB) means combined upload and download data transfer (except for some traffic provided from time to time by BigPond at no cost). For the purposes of calculating usage, 1 Gigabyte = 1000 Megabytes. Unused usage forfeited.

I really cannot believe people put up with this tripe.
400MB for $39.95 then $0.15/MB beyond that - can be a very expen$ive account to operate especially as the 400MB is for 512K download speed.
With my 512K connection, I can usually achieve ~52KB/sec downloads. Extrapoloating that gives you only ~131 minutes before you blow your budget !YEOUCHY :eek: (400 x 1024 / 52 / 60)

The sting in the tail is that even just browsing the web, there is so much two way traffic, which you DO get charged for, that you can blow this 400MB real easy.

<Hinch> Shame Shame Shame </Hinch>

And I keep getting an Indian man calling at tea time wanting me to come back. Go jump in the bog swamp is my reply :p . (my name for Bigpond)

[craigb]

Craig,


I am on Optus cable 13 gig plan for $ 69.95 a month. Currently they also give a free 9 gig midnight to dawn extra download which is not generally advertised. When we exceed this we are not charged extra but access is reduced to dial up speed. :eek:

As my daughter uses the lion share she pays $ 50.00 and I pay the rest. Also as we use Optus telephone service I get an extra discount on my phone (for using both services) of $ 9.00 a month.

BTW there was no installation fee and no fixed contract.


Peter.

Peter,

I can see that for your usage model, you do seem to be getting value for money, and good luck to you say I :).

Thing is, for me, I have absolutley no need for that amount of bandwith in a month, so why should I pay $30 over what I'm paying now for a heap of space I'll never use?

I reckon that if I could get a gig per month at the cable speed I'm getting now for $5 extra, well then I'd be reasonably happy.

Craig

[MICKYG]

Howdy all--- On the questions and answers re internet connections. I have been with TPG and the plan is 20 Gigabytes per month at a speed of 1.5 MBPS and all this for $49.95 per month. A similiar plan is still available for metro users and another plan which is dearer is available for country users. Check the TPG website. I am more than happy with the service and the plan we have. I paid for the modem when I changed to ADSL. You find the slow servers very quickly and I can only use about half of what is provided.

I dont know of any better deal available.

Kind Regards

Mike. :D :D :D :D :D :D Thats a TPG Smile.

[craigb]

Howdy all--- On the questions and answers re internet connections. I have been with TPG and the plan is 20 Gigabytes per month at a speed of 1.5 MBPS and all this for $49.95 per month. A similiar plan is still available for metro users and another plan which is dearer is available for country users. Check the TPG website. I am more than happy with the service and the plan we have. I paid for the modem when I changed to ADSL. You find the slow servers very quickly and I can only use about half of what is provided.

I dont know of any better deal available.

Kind Regards

Mike. :D :D :D :D :D :D Thats a TPG Smile.

Mike,
It's great that you are so happy with your deal. Well done you :)

However, how do you know that you are actually getting 1.5 MBS?

And is that download, or DL + UL combined?

What is the total cost of your service over the contract period. ?

Also, TPG buy their bandwith from Telstra don't they?

[Grunt]

Also, TPG buy their bandwith from Telstra don't they?

ADSL is over the phone lines (copper) which is all Telstra. Everyone else are retailers and uniformly cheaper than Telstra.

Download speeds and upload speeds are different with ADSL. Mine is 1.5mbs download and 256kbs upload. Download limits are really download and upload combined.

[craigb]

Grunt,
There is, is there not, a freebie software program you can download that will "count the bytes" and report on what you are actually getting?

[Daddles]

Richard.....are Telstra still charging for uploads as well as downloads?

I dunno mate. I just get the flat fee charged each month. And it's always changing - if I'd hung out for three weeks, I would have got different deals and free install. I didn't hang out because I'd just missed the free install by a week. It's one of those weird things, and the TELSTRA shops are friggin' useless. Do all your research on the net, then ring Telstra and get them to talk you through it. I forget the difference it made now, but it did make a difference.

Cheers
Richard

[MICKYG]

Mike,
It's great that you are so happy with your deal. Well done you :)

However, how do you know that you are actually getting 1.5 MBS?

And is that download, or DL + UL combined?

What is the total cost of your service over the contract period. ?

Also, TPG buy their bandwith from Telstra don't they?

Hi Craigb,

From decent servers we're regularly getting around 150kbps downloads so I think that equates to the full 1.5MBps. (Found this online if you're interested. http://www.tcpiq.com/tcpiq/linespeed/Results/StateConnectionStats/?CountryId=12&StateId=245&ConnectionId=4733 Shows TPG to avg around 1200kb so a little less than the full speed but still not toooo shabby)

Only the download is metered (as far as i know) and after 20 gig the speed just throttles to 64k.

For a 6mths contract total cost would be approx $488 which included a Dlink ADSL modem. (At the time of "signing up" there was no 6mth min contract involved)

As stated in a post above all providers use Telstra lines.

Hope that helps.

Regards Mike

[Ashore]

As long as your neighbours have wireless it only costs you the d-link
much cheeper and no limits.



. He who dies with the most toys is nonetheless dead.

[vsquizz]

No contracts I say, thats why I'm with iinet on the Lite scheme with the fax line on iiphone for $50 month:


<TABLE class=table_generic cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TH> </TH><TH>iibroadband2 monthly price (http://www.iinet.net.au/broadband/#cost)</TH><TH>iiphone monthly line rental (http://www.iinet.net.au/broadband/#phone)</TH><TH>down/up speed (kbps) (http://www.iinet.net.au/broadband/#speeds)</TH><TH>quota (peak + offpeak) (http://www.iinet.net.au/broadband/#quota)</TH></TR><TR><TD class="ctl_primary primary_text line_dark" noWrap>pay as you go
with iiphone</TD><TD class="light line_light">$29.95
($59.95 cap)</TD><TD class="light line_light">$29.95</TD><TD class="light line_light">up to 12000/1000</TD><TD class="ctr_light line_light">500MB, then
$0.06/MB</TD></TR><TR><TD class="cbl_primary primary_text" noWrap>pay as you go
without iiphone</TD><TD class=dark>$39.95
($69.95 cap)</TD><TD class=dark> </TD><TD class=dark>1500/256</TD><TD class=cbr_dark>250MB, then
$0.06/MB</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gap colSpan=5> </TD></TR><TR><TD class="ctl_primary primary_text line_dark" noWrap>starter
with iiphone</TD><TD class="light line_light">$39.95</TD><TD class="light line_light">$29.95</TD><TD class="light line_light">up to 12000/1000</TD><TD class="ctr_light line_light">2GB + 2GB</TD></TR><TR><TD class="cbl_primary primary_text" noWrap>starter
without iiphone</TD><TD class=dark>$49.95</TD><TD class=dark> </TD><TD class=dark>1500/256</TD><TD class=cbr_dark>1GB + 1GB</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gap colSpan=5> </TD></TR><TR><TD class="ctl_primary primary_text line_dark" noWrap>light
with iiphone</TD><TD class="light line_light">$49.95</TD><TD class="light line_light">$29.95</TD><TD class="light line_light">up to 12000/1000</TD><TD class="ctr_light line_light">10GB + 10GB</TD></TR><TR><TD class="cbl_primary primary_text" noWrap>light
without iiphone</TD><TD class=dark>$59.95</TD><TD class=dark> </TD><TD class=dark>1500/256</TD><TD class=cbr_dark>5GB + 5GB</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gap colSpan=5> </TD></TR><TR><TD class="ctl_primary primary_text line_dark" noWrap>medium
with iiphone</TD><TD class="light line_light">$69.95</TD><TD class="light line_light">$29.95</TD><TD class="light line_light">up to 12000/1000</TD><TD class="ctr_light line_light">20GB + 20GB</TD></TR><TR><TD class="cbl_primary primary_text" noWrap>medium
without iiphone</TD><TD class=dark>$79.95</TD><TD class=dark> </TD><TD class=dark>1500/256</TD><TD class=cbr_dark>10GB + 10GB</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gap colSpan=5> </TD></TR><TR><TD class="ctl_primary primary_text line_dark" noWrap>heavy
with iiphone</TD><TD class="light line_light">$89.95</TD><TD class="light line_light">$29.95</TD><TD class="light line_light">up to 12000/1000</TD><TD class="ctr_light line_light">40GB + 40GB</TD></TR><TR><TD class="cbl_primary primary_text" noWrap>heavy
without iiphone</TD><TD class=dark>$99.95</TD><TD class=dark> </TD><TD class=dark>1500/256</TD><TD class=cbr_dark>20GB + 20GB</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

There are a few marginally better deals available but they all seem to have contracts. Don't buy a modem off an ISP, get one from your local geek for a $100 and save yourself the brass.

Cheers

[shaunburgess]

It's great to see veryone using wonderful service providers, but who do they call when something goes wrong? Telstra......(i sell Telstra so i'am biased)

If you are on ADSL great, i can't get that and use ISDN but i would be checking the speed that your paying for, as ADSL share's bandwith amongst all user's on that exchange no matter if they are with Telstra, Optus etc the more poeple that log on the less bandwith that is available.

I all su*** as i can't get it at home and stuck with 128Kbps at least that is guaranteed. At work i have 1500kbps x 256kbps and pay $99 per month unlimited, run 7 computers off of this through a thing with lots of lights and cables (non IT talk) and the internet is very quick, i can't imagine needing much more than 256kbps running a single computer.

As stated before there are no ISP's even willing to talk to people in my small country town even Telstra countrywide aren't interested!

[Stuart]

Guys & Gals,

Go to www.whirlpool.net.au

They evaluate all broadband services offered in Australia and give you a side-by-side comparison of the best for your area. There is also a heap of news as it comes to hand.

There is also a BB where you can see the same sorts of things that we discuss here about woodworking being discussed about broadband service provides etc (can't think of anything more boring myself - but it was useful when I was choosing my ADSL service).

[Bob Willson]

I actually share my ADSL connection with my neighbours. I have a wireless router, so I got them to buy a iwreless card for their computer (about $60) and they connect through my network. They pay half the costs ($30 month) and for that, they get 4 gig a month at 512K.
Works out great. :)

[namtrak]

Grunt,
There is, is there not, a freebie software program you can download that will "count the bytes" and report on what you are actually getting?

One of the punters for Internode has written a little free program which monitors downloads etc It is really handy, especially since we are sharing our connection amongst 5 other computers!! Its called mum.exe

[vsquizz]

Not all ISP's just "rent the gear" off Telstra. Here's the email about my exchange





We are pleased to inform you that your telephone exchange has been selected for installation of our broadband hardware, also known as DSL Access Multiplexers (DSLAMs).

For customers on our new broadband2 plans, this will provide access to fast speeds of up to 12 Mbps, enabling you to use the Internet for more content-rich activities such as video, music, data and voice functions.

What does this mean to you?
We will transfer your broadband access onto our own DSL network. There may be a minor disruption to your connection, however the majority of customers don't experience any service interruption during the transfer.

If you experience connection problems, we suggest that you reset your modem, by switching it off for a few minutes and then back on. The transfer will occur between 5th July and 6th July, 2005.

Deploying our own DSL network enables us to reduce our dependence on our wholesale broadband provider, and provide you with much faster broadband speeds, new product offerings and, over time, reduced prices.


Cheers

[Bob Willson]

Nah squizz, that's just customer relationships crap. They still just rent off Tel$tra.

[shaunburgess]

Ask where the new fangled machines are located, yep Telstra's exchange! Ask them what carries their fandangled DSL, yep Telstra lines! Ask them when someone cuts a line who goes and fixes yep Telstra!

[Grunt]

Yup it all goes through Telstra. However, Telstra won't fix it any faster if you subscribe through them. Once every couple of months someone at Telstra pulls the wrong plug and all the ADSL in the area goes down. My neighbour has Telstra and gets his service back at the same time I do. He just pays a lot more than I do.

As a matter of fact, our office ADSL went down for over 24 hours and it caused a lot of pain, so we investigated what our options were. Telstra would not guarantee a response time to retify the problem. Optus however would even though they are using Telstra's infrastructure. Optus pays Telstra for guaranteed service times. We weren't big enough to get Telstra's interest.

We decided to get a fibre connection instead of ADSL. :D

[shaunburgess]

I know what that is like, Telstra and Bigpond especially can be a pain in the A***. Some days they just seem not to want business, no matter how much you plead, please please please take this customer!!!! and this is from someone who has sold Telstra and Telecommunications for over 10 years:confused:

[Sturdee]

Yup it all goes through Telstra. ......

Optus however would even though they are using Telstra's infrastructure. Optus pays Telstra for guaranteed service times.


Grunt, that may be where you are but not where I am.

I have on one side of the street the Telstra old copper wire telephone cables ( still being used ) strung up on poles together with the Optus cable that provides telephone, internet and pay TV and on our side the buried Telstra cable which provides telephone ( but only if you have the others ), internet and pay TV.


Peter.

[zathras]

It's great to see veryone using wonderful service providers, but who do they call when something goes wrong? Telstra......(i sell Telstra so i'am biased)



WARNING

If you aren't with Tel$stra DO NOT call them if you are having problems with your broadband connection. Call your ISP.
If you call Tel$tra and nothing is found wrong, bang $90 thank you very much. :eek:

A colleague at work got an email from his ISP warning about this. Well heeded advice methinks.