Help-advice On Which Broadband Isp

[Gingermick]

Mine drops to 56k after 12Gb in a month (256 unlimited). At the average speeds I get, 12Gb wouldn't be possible.

[Termite]

Well I realy appreciate all the advice and the trouble taken to post rates etc. I thank you one and all.
My initial choice was to be Internode, from some of your recommendations and their attractive no-contract (if you ignore the 6 month stipulation) 2Gig at 512 for $39.95. But, and its a big BUT, they want $129 to sign on and then another $199 for a modem.

Telstra will, admittedly with a 24 month contract, give me 512 400Meg for $39.95 which is plenty of download for me. The big attraction is a signup of $189 including modem with $100 CASH back because I'm a full Telstra phone account, plus a further $20 off my signup fee if I signup online.

So it works out to get started with
Internode $328
Telstra $69

Once again thanks for your help
Kind regards
Bill

[RETIRED]

There is one thing to remember when you switch to broadband. Every (and I mean every) page is counted as a download. It soon adds up.

[Grunt]

Termite, you should consider getting your own modem. You can buy them for less then $100 from most computer stores.

400 MB is not a lot and Telstra can be brutal with excess charges. $150 per GB is outrageous. Make sure your plan is 'shaped' and does not have excess usage charges.

Page 1 of this thread is 385KB in size including images. Even if all the images have been saved locally on you PC from previous visits you will still download 198KB everytime you look at this thread. Since you have loaded a page with my Avatar on it before the computer is smart enough not to download it.

If you plan has excees charges you are likely to pay more in your first phone bill than the connection fee with Internode.

Grunt

[Wood Butcher]

iiNet at the moment give you a free modem and free setup fee if you sign with a two year contract. The only catch is that if you disconnect within the two years you have to pay back the cost of the modem and setup. The modem also has USB and LAN ports so the flexibility is good.
The plans are also shaped after you use up your quota so there are no extra charges, and the quota you get depends on the monthly cost.

[vsquizz]

Termite, You don't have to get their Modem, you can provide your own. I recently retired my old Netcomm and get a Billion ADSL/Router which saves me having a separate router. I think it cost $89.00.

Cheers

[shaunburgess]

Termite,

If you are in the country, non-metro, you should be able to get the government's HiBis discount as well. I think we are on 512/256 500mb download for $39.95 per month. That is with bigpond!

[kiwigeo]

So it works out to get started with
Internode $328
Telstra $69

Cheaper on the face of it but you get what you pay for:

1. What sort of modem do Telstra provide? At one stage they were supplying really cr**py USB modems while most other ISPs were supplying ethernet modems.
2. Internode supply a modem ready setup for Internode....it costs a bit more but theres no dicking with settings..its plug in and go. And if the modem doesnt peform Internode will fix the thing or replace it no questions asked.
3. Backup service...Internode beats Telstra in this department hands down. Im a Mac user but when I ring up Internode with a problem I get to talk to someone who knows something about Macs. Try getting Mac friendly support from Telstra Bigpond.

[kiwigeo]

I`ve had Telstra adsl for a bit over 2yrs and I can count on one hand how many times its been down, so I cant complain to much.

My Internode service has never been down in the same period. Every second week I read in the paper or on Whirlpool of a major Telstra broadband outage somewhere on the east coast.

[kiwigeo]

This is the Internode Price Plan. For $50 a month you get an extra 5GB. It is unlimited in the same way Telstra is and that you go to dial up speeds if you exceed the limit. Uploads are free. Telstra will cost you $60 a month for a lesser service. It is plainly a better deal.

Grunt,

Alot of the internode plans are dynamically throttled once you go over your limit....this means if its a busy time of the day you might drop back in speed but NEVER to dial up modem speed. If its not a busy time of day then you dont really get knobbled at all. THATS one of the big differences between the node and other ISPs.

[kiwigeo]

iiNet at the moment give you a free modem and free setup fee if you sign with a two year contract. The only catch is that if you disconnect within the two years you have to pay back the cost of the modem and setup. The modem also has USB and LAN ports so the flexibility is good.
The plans are also shaped after you use up your quota so there are no extra charges, and the quota you get depends on the monthly cost.

Wood B....I think you'll find the modem and setup isnt free..its all costed into the contract.

[Grunt]

Thanks for that Kiwigo, didn't know that.

I'm with Internode and have never exceeded my limit. I'm on 1500/256 plan with I think 15gb download. Don't come close.

I'm really pleased with Internode. The only time I've had downtime is when the whole Telstra network is down. One of the guys I work with is with Telstra and he was down at exactly the same time and duration.

[Grunt]

Also, iiNet only seemed to have the faster and more expensive 1500/256 plans. Which is ok if that is what your after but if you want entry level iiNet isn't for you.

[kiwigeo]

Thanks for that Kiwigo, didn't know that.

I'm with Internode and have never exceeded my limit. I'm on 1500/256 plan with I think 15gb download. Don't come close.

I'm really pleased with Internode. The only time I've had downtime is when the whole Telstra network is down. One of the guys I work with is with Telstra and he was down at exactly the same time and duration.

Grunt, Looks like were both happy noders. I had a few problems logging in last night. I phoned up the node at 8.30 pm and got through to a real person in 5 minutes. I told the guy I was on a Mac and he knew straight away what to do....and he wasnt even a Mac user. Cant ask for better service than that.

[Grunt]

I told the guy I was on a Mac a

Sorry to hear that.