New Telephone Connection Options

ladyice · Oct 18, 2007 11:56 pm

For those of you who are still undecided about phone/internet connections..do check out Telstra...we found they had the best offer and have signed up for the "bundle and save" package...includes phone/adsl2+/foxtel/mobile all in one bill...this package gives us 10% off the phone bill each month and the adsl2+ package of $89.95 per month (unlimited) is now $45 for the first 12 months coz we signed up for 24 months.... :wink:

parker · Oct 19, 2007 8:36 am

Please don't go with the PigPond people. If you can get ADSL2+ in your area from Telstra it means there is another 2+ provider there too (Telstra refuse to turn on the high speed unless their is a competitor there). Find out who that other/s is.

ladyice · Oct 19, 2007 11:53 am

parker

Please don't go with the PigPond people. If you can get ADSL2+ in your area from Telstra it means there is another 2+ provider there too (Telstra refuse to turn on the high speed unless their is a competitor there). Find out who that other/s is.

Hi Parker...thanks for your feedback but we checked with 2 other recommended ADSL2+ providers and they couldnt offer the same deal as Telstra. TPG can offer $49 for only 20gb and Internode $59 for $20gb....we like the convenience of one bill and 10% off the phone bills.... :wink:

so this time Telstra wins....

damo · Oct 19, 2007 12:44 pm

ladyice

parker

Please don't go with the BigPond people. If you can get ADSL2+ in your area from Telstra it means there is another 2+ provider there too (Telstra refuse to turn on the high speed unless their is a competitor there). Find out who that other/s is.

Hi Parker...thanks for your feedback but we checked with 2 other recommended ADSL2+ providers and they couldnt offer the same deal as Telstra. TPG can offer $49 for only 20gb and Internode $59 for $20gb....we like the convenience of one bill and 10% off the phone bills.... :wink:

so this time Telstra wins....

Both of the above are much better deals than Telstra have offered you. It sounds like the sales person wasn't exactly clear with what they call 'unlimited'

Liberty ADSL2+ (Bundled) Bundled 12 GB Shaped Counted Dynamic $89.95 /mo

This is more than likely the deal they have put you on, which really only has 12gb of data (but closer to 10gb, or even lower depending on how you use the service, as Telstra count uploads). The providers you mentioned above do not count uploads towards your quota, and both give a higher allowance before shaping at a much lower price.

parker · Oct 19, 2007 7:43 pm

Please also factor in nodephone as a great phone bill reducing option.

Cabinfever · Oct 20, 2007 9:17 am

It is complete and utter madness to go with Telstra as a broadband provider. They are simply the worst at everything, especially service. Internode, Netspace or iiNet are all good choices.

And a 24-month contract ?! Yikes. Good ISPs all offer 3 or 6 month signups. I bet your Telstra "early exit fees" will be ridiculous too.

I suppose it's too late to get out of your Telstra deal now, but for all others - beware !

Rodda · Oct 20, 2007 9:19 am

Some of us have used TPG in the past and I have to say their support service is awful. And, when I was with them I used to get drop-outs, mostly on weekends.

Now that I'm with Optusnet my connection is much, much more solid. The package that we took on with them was and still is reasonable. My only problem is that they haven't got ADSL2/2+ out to Pakenham yet...

Grandlux · Oct 20, 2007 11:06 am

Yes. Optusnet connection is pretty good most of the time. However, whenever it goes down, don't expect the customer support to help you. They won't be able tell you where the problem is even if it is at their end. Yes, they are also slow in rolling out ADSL2+ in our area too.

commodorenut · Oct 20, 2007 11:17 am

I am with TPG (in Sydney) and have never had a prob. I'm on the 150G plan (40/110 on/offpeak) as I download a lot of TV shows like Overhaulin, Mythbusters, Top Gear etc, and also administer a number of websites.

I have never needed the TPG tech support (I'm pretty well clued up) so I can't assess that, but I have never had a dropout in over 4 months, and prior to that it was technically my own prob due to ******* connections in the phone sockets (self install by previous owner) causing it to drop for a minute or 2 now & then - which we worked out lined up with phone calls to the landline!

I have a number of mates in the IT field, and they were all with TPG, which is why I looked at them, and I reckon I made the right choice,

DeKa · Oct 20, 2007 3:46 pm

ladyice

we like the convenience of one bill and 10% off the phone bills.... :wink:

so this time Telstra wins....

If you've got ADSL2+, who cares about this 10% off the Telstra phone bill. Use someone like Pennytel - http://www.pennytel.com and you can call over your internet connection at 8c to *almost* anywhere in the world (well, most Western countries). Nothing like spending 2hrs on the phone to the UK for 8 cents. Best of all, they can display your standard phone number on outbound calls, so it's like you have two "lines" on your normal number. You'd be hard pressed not to save the money you invest in hardware in 2-3 months.

sneakersss · Oct 20, 2007 4:41 pm

Rodda

Some of us have used TPG in the past and I have to say their support service is awful. And, when I was with them I used to get drop-outs, mostly on weekends.

Now that I'm with Optusnet my connection is much, much more solid. The package that we took on with them was and still is reasonable. My only problem is that they haven't got ADSL2/2+ out to Pakenham yet...

I think TPG are fine. Their prices are quite reasonable and their drop outs I can't really comment on too much. During the 12 months we were with them they dropped out one time. But it was their service and the way they handled this particular drop out that put us off.

Other than that short period with TPG we have been with internode for eons (4-5years) and haven't had any problems at all. One drop out occurred a couple of months ago but that was entirely a Telstra fault as the whole suburb was without adsl connection for a day or two.

Catty · Oct 20, 2007 6:20 pm

we are with optus and they are great. There prices are great and service is very helpful.

Not a fan of Telstra. :evil:

mattwalker · Oct 20, 2007 10:33 pm

I ditched Telstra altogether 2 1/2 years ago.....

Never looked back.

I use IINET for everything.

Home phone
Internet
VoIP
The lot.

My phone bill is $30 month for connection and no more than $8-$10 for the phone bills.

With Telstra we were spending $100 - $120/month for the exact same amount of phone calls.

There service is awesome, cust. support is and plans are well priced.

arkraider · Oct 21, 2007 9:54 am

I'm with iinet (ozemail) also Matt, haven't really looked into the voip thing though. Can you tell me, instead of ringing them, do you know if you use the same number you have now with voip or do you get a new number? And can you take that number with you when you move?
Probably a little curly and unfair to ask that one, as we are in cranbourne (std) and moving to lyndhurst (local). But our bills have been a lot cheaper since we got the area wide connection to our line...

mattwalker · Oct 21, 2007 10:44 am

arkraider

I'm with iinet (ozemail) also Matt, haven't really looked into the voip thing though. Can you tell me, instead of ringing them, do you know if you use the same number you have now with voip or do you get a new number? And can you take that number with you when you move?
Probably a little curly and unfair to ask that one, as we are in cranbourne (std) and moving to lyndhurst (local). But our bills have been a lot cheaper since we got the area wide connection to our line...

Good choice

When you get VoIP you get to keep your old number and you get a new VoIP number too.

Ie telstra (iinet) number was 12345678
new Voip number was 87654321

When I moved to my mother in laws house

Telstra number was 12121212
VoIP number stayed as 87654321

The other good things is your VoIP number is completely silent, hence no marketing calls.

Hope that helps...

ladyice · Oct 21, 2007 9:07 pm

Cabinfever

I suppose it's too late to get out of your Telstra deal now, but for all others - beware !

Not too late at all..thanks for all the feedback guys..guess I had my eyes wide shut

......

rerob1 · Oct 21, 2007 9:35 pm

Great post ladyice, lots of very useful information - another one for the favourites!!

Thanks all.

parker · Oct 22, 2007 11:04 am

Telstra rated worst
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/ ... 62,00.html

lobo · Oct 23, 2007 7:10 am

hello,
i am a little late to reply but IT is what i know pretty well. I have tried the Engin VOIP service with Optus internet for over 2 years now and finally decided it was not worth the hassle.
The best plan in my opinion is the optus fusion deal with no contracts if you get it out of them. I get for $99 a month unlimited landine calls all over australia, unlimited calls to optus mobiles, 1300, 13xxx nos plus 20GB of data(includes upload and download)
This plan is not for the leecher(very big downloaders) but more than enough for 3 users at home currently. The $99 includes land line rental cost too.. if you have a optus mobile you can forward all calls to the mobile for free ...(this is what i have done)

Arun

Yak_Chat · Oct 23, 2007 9:49 am

Yes Lobo it is a good service - but ONLY if you exchange is optus enabled.

Otherwise it's not an option.
So shop around.
I agree the BIG T's is one of the more hungry carnivous telco/isp providers out there who prey on the uneducated and weak ones in the pack.
Steve