Browse Forums General Discussion 1 May 13, 2008 10:34 am Hey guys i know this subject has been discussed in the past, but i'd like to know your opinions of something i'm considering?
We are looking at ADSL2+ (24Mbps/1000kbps) at the new place (which we have been advised is available). And we are also looking at VOIP instead of a fixed land line with rental.... I'm possibly looking at the iiNET Naked DSL Home 5 Plan which gives 30G Pk/60G Off-Pk (2am-12pm) with the wireless 4 port router with VOIP... This will include free local and std calls - but need to check on calls to mobiles as that isn't mentioned? For those that are currently using VOIP in their places, how do you find the quality....does the fact that you may have say another 2-3 computers on and logged into the internet make any difference to the quality of the line? Is the quality as good as a fixed line? Is there anything beyond the obvious loss of power = no phone that i need to concern myself with? Got to get me some new cordless phones compatible with VOIP for the rest of the house too now. Is it better to go with an ISP/VOIP provider or keep them seperate? Any suggestions/recommendations? Re: VOIP Vs Land Line Connections 2May 13, 2008 10:43 am P,
Go for it! We were with iinet voip for 2 years and it was great. Mobile call costs are about the same as being with telstra but landline is 10c per call untimed and to other iinet voips is free! The router has a thing called QOS (Quality of Service) which saves bandwidth for the phone so that is not even a concern. The router allows you to plug in a standard portable phone system too...no special voip phones required. The quality is about 80% of a traditional line IMO but is always getting better! Just make sure you have a mobile connected and the 000 thing (power out) is not an issue. The savings are too good to ignore: No $33 to telstra for a phone line... Cheap telephone calls Lightning fast internet Large download limit.. Its all good! Re: VOIP Vs Land Line Connections 3May 13, 2008 10:50 am Thanks Matt, when you had iinet, did you have the wireless router?
And when you say 80% of the quality of a fixed line, is the line scratchy or is there delays? What is it that is lacking? Is there any particular reason that you moved away from iinet? Alternatively is there another provider out there that may offer better service/products? Oh and lastly, is it better to go with 24mth contract term or no contract for $150. Any and all advice is appreciated.....i'm leaning towards no contract atm???? Re: VOIP Vs Land Line Connections 4May 13, 2008 10:53 am Hi Nicola.
I use VOIP for all my calls and no one has been able to tell the difference (apart from the fact that my phone number in their caller id is a little odd). At first I could tell the difference but that was fixed by getting a better handset (I use normal Panasonic cordless 5.8Ghz phones). Call quality also depends on who you are using for VOIP. I suggest looking on http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/ to see what users are saying. Check the Voice over IP & the IINet forums. Check out http://www.adsl2exchanges.com.au/ to see which ISPs provide ADSL2 in your area - make sure IINet is an option. And then find out their requirements for getting the service connected. I was looking at Exetel, who offer naked ADSL, they supply their service through Optus equipment but require that you first have an active phone line through Telstra (confusing ) My exchange is ADSL2+ enabled but only by TPG and Telstra, neither of them offer the naked plans I tried to get signed up with TPG but Telstra have put me on a pair gain phone line so I'm told that I will never be able to get ADSL2 I refuse to give up hope though. I didn't realise this was going to be a problem - take my experience as a warning and if you have to organise your own telephone line through Telstra, tell them you want to be able to get ADSL2+. According to the people on Whirlpool, if Telstra do something special when they put in your request for a new phone line, you have a good chance of not having my problem. Check out this thread http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-re ... m?t=461047 I'm not entirely certain that this applies to ADSL2+ as well but I wish I had seen it before I put in my request for a phone line. Also, with VOIP if you get the right equipment at the start (the right modem/ata) you can register with more than one VOIP provider and just use the one that has the best deal for the particular call type you are making. I only have one provider, mynetfone, but I find the value wonderful - I've been using them for 12 months and my highest monthly bill has been $2.75 That's with every single member of my family living in rural Victoria/NSW. I notice a drop in call quality if I am using the internet at the same time as I am on the phone - not a massive change though, it was worse when my dad was here too and we were networked on the same connection. But I am on a crummy 512 plan. If you can get ADSL2+ I'm fairly certain you won't have a problem. Lastly, if you do get rid of the landline, I don't think VOIP phones can call 000 so either have a phone line for that purpose only or use your mobile. Sorry if this post is all over the place... trying to hurry because I have to go to the chiropractor Received keys to my new home on 16/5/08 Re: VOIP Vs Land Line Connections 5May 13, 2008 10:59 am Thanks so much Colleen, we are waiting for our phone call back from Vision Stream for the phone connection so i will be making sure that we mention that we want ADSL2+ capability on the line.
Will definitely check your links today. Thanks again... Re: VOIP Vs Land Line Connections 6May 13, 2008 11:10 am **Phoenix** Thanks Matt, when you had iinet, did you have the wireless router? Still do 4 years later! **Phoenix** And when you say 80% of the quality of a fixed line, is the line scratchy or is there delays? What is it that is lacking? I noticed the line was like CD quality vs Tape quality initially but it got better as time went on. When I left iinet I could tell the difference but only just... **Phoenix** Is there any particular reason that you moved away from iinet? Alternatively is there another provider out there that may offer better service/products? I left as they dont offer ADSL2+ (nobody does) in my area and their 1.5mbit plans are outrageously expensive! **Phoenix** Oh and lastly, is it better to go with 24mth contract term or no contract for $150. Any and all advice is appreciated.....i'm leaning towards no contract atm???? Dont be afraid of the contract. The get out clauses are only up til 6 months and you plan on being in your house for a long time anyway! Re: VOIP Vs Land Line Connections 7May 13, 2008 1:11 pm Be careful - Telstra SAY they can provide ADSL to the Chase and some residents have it but unless something has changed it recent months there are not enough ports to cater for demand. Lots of us have sat. or wireless or mobile internet.
We have repeatedly tried to connect to ADSL and been advised until they upgrade Berwick south exchange no can no do. So I'd maybe wait and see if they definately can when the time comes. Re: VOIP Vs Land Line Connections 8May 13, 2008 1:25 pm P,
Did you check iinet's coverage? http://iinet.net.au/iinetwork/coverage.html It appears there is no BERWICK in there?? Re: VOIP Vs Land Line Connections 9May 13, 2008 1:28 pm Hmmm thanks Mudtrilogy, i think i'll have to check with our neighbour what internet she's got....they moved in about 5 weeks ago.
I'm on Chilli wireless internet now and it's not very good...and it's very expensive! But hopefully theres only about a month left with them....so looking forward to ADSL speeds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Re: VOIP Vs Land Line Connections 10May 13, 2008 1:47 pm If you want to check the availability of ports in your area, go to:
http://telstrawholesale.com//products/d ... -plans.htm First, look at the ADSL Enabled and Proposed Enabled Distribution Areas report to see what DA your street is (go to the tab for the first letter of your street name and then search for your street in your state). Make a note of the DA number to the left of your street name. Then go to the ADSL Capacity report and search for your DA in your suburb (easier to search by suburb) and it will tell you how many ports are available. If it's a low number, maybe talk to your site supervisor about getting the phone put on NOW and get your internet hooked up early (sure you'll have to pay for months you won't use, but once those ports are gone it can take years to get one). The capacity report is either updated every Monday or every second Monday. If there are not a lot of ports available in your estate, it might be a good idea to check that report frequently so if they start getting really low you can make a move. Received keys to my new home on 16/5/08 Re: VOIP Vs Land Line Connections 11May 13, 2008 1:53 pm You do need to consider emergency calling though -- 000 doesn't work over VOIP and the phone doesn't work if you don't have power (obviously). If you have anyone with medical issues, a landline is preferred over a mobile because 000 can get your address automatically, regardless of whether you have Caller ID or a hidden number. Calling 000 or 112 on a mobile works, but you need to be able to tell the operator where you are.
Also, VOIP may have problems with alarm monitoring and faxing, as they use digital to analog conversion techniques that can be stuffed up by the VOIP compression that usually occurs. Re: VOIP Vs Land Line Connections 12May 13, 2008 1:57 pm I got excited when I read your post and went and checked our number - initally it says that ADSL2 is available but then when you get to the stage of giving the address it lists other options and says that ADSL may be available but not guaranteed.
It is variable - apparently depends on whether you have been placed on a pare gain (??) line which we have. Friends opposite the big park have ADSL and they applied at the same time as us.... Good luck Vodafone is the cheapest wireless/mobile we could find. Still better than dial up Re: VOIP Vs Land Line Connections 13May 13, 2008 2:04 pm Colleen If you want to check the availability of ports in your area, go to: http://telstrawholesale.com//products/d ... -plans.htm First, look at the ADSL Enabled and Proposed Enabled Distribution Areas report to see what DA your street is (go to the tab for the first letter of your street name and then search for your street in your state). Make a note of the DA number to the left of your street name. Then go to the ADSL Capacity report and search for your DA in your suburb (easier to search by suburb) and it will tell you how many ports are available. If it's a low number, maybe talk to your site supervisor about getting the phone put on NOW and get your internet hooked up early (sure you'll have to pay for months you won't use, but once those ports are gone it can take years to get one). The capacity report is either updated every Monday or every second Monday. If there are not a lot of ports available in your estate, it might be a good idea to check that report frequently so if they start getting really low you can make a move. Wow excellent information. Thanks Colleen! Re: VOIP Vs Land Line Connections 14May 13, 2008 2:47 pm OH NO!!!!
There is only 13 left for 12 streets in our estate!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is that really bad???? On the phone to jump up and down NOW!!!!!!! IF only they would call back when they say they will!!!!!!!!! Re: VOIP Vs Land Line Connections 15May 13, 2008 3:05 pm iinet are not in your area yet anyway P...
No point in jumping if you cant get it!!! Re: VOIP Vs Land Line Connections 16May 13, 2008 3:11 pm Hmm interesting, i just spoke with them and they said yes?
How do you know it's not available Matt? The guy said that t it takes 10-20 business days and that's once i have a phone line... I'm in deep you know what!!!! I don't care about the phone, just the internet? How long does it normally take to get a landline connected on-site? Panic is starting to set in a bit...... Re: VOIP Vs Land Line Connections 17May 13, 2008 3:33 pm Here is what I did Phoenix when we built. I found out when the handover date was going to be, I ordered the phone service before hand for the new address (i.e. in your case now), once you have a number allocated then you can order the ADSL service. I had this all operational before we had moved in.
Make sure you organise for the phones to be connected on site the day of handover, this will also minimise the delay. Re: VOIP Vs Land Line Connections 18May 13, 2008 3:38 pm Did you miss t his post above P??
mattwalker P, Did you check iinet's coverage? http://iinet.net.au/iinetwork/coverage.html It appears there is no BERWICK in there?? Click the vic button down the bottom of the page Re: VOIP Vs Land Line Connections 19May 13, 2008 4:19 pm The phone itself takes only a day or two but they eventually offered us dial-up.... so we also lost our discounted bundle with phone line etc. Trust me complaining will get you no-where. BUT I will find out from hubby as there is a govt agency that will sub. sat. internet to the value of $2400 over 1 or 2 years if broadband not available in your area.
I'll get back to you. Otherwise its not too bad on mobile internet.... just not broadband. Our street and all our neighbouring streets had no ports. I was also told from telstra never not pay your internet as they will immediately reconnect to another person. ie if you lose connection there is no immediate right to reconnection. Re: VOIP Vs Land Line Connections 20May 13, 2008 4:56 pm mattwalker wrote: Quote: Did you miss t his post above P?? mattwalker wrote: P, Did you check iinet's coverage? http://iinet.net.au/iinetwork/coverage.html It appears there is no BERWICK in there?? Click the vic button down the bottom of the page Mind you Matt is doesn't mention Cranbourne either, but I have ADSL1 here... I don't think their list is up to date...... Sorry to hijak "P", but can you VOIP for a fax line also??? Gav & Vanessa Building In Melbourne (Sth East Suburbs) http://www.arkraider.blogspot.com/ Rawdon Hill Construction - Canterbury Heritage Building Standards; Getting It Right! It's all good. You can get both wye piece and the coupling with or without thread. The cost difference is negligible and means the plumber only has to carry the single… 1 4933 4 10824 Hi everyone, Looking for some advise. We are about to build an above ground pool in our backyard. There is a private sewer line running under the pool at 1.6m… 0 11763 |