Looking for broadband (in Melbourne)

[MadMax]

Moving house soon and looking at what Broadband options I have.

Must be under $50 a month, preferably less.

I checked http://broadbandchoice.com.au (http://broadbandchoice.com.au/)

I tried the DSL plans:

ConnectionISPPlan NameMetro
MonthlyDown/UpPrepaid
megsExcess
rateDSLZCTS (http://bc.whirlpool.net.au/bc-isp.cfm?id=386&s=1&p=5161)Preselect30 Ultra512$29.95 /mo 512/12825 GBShapedDSLaaNet (http://bc.whirlpool.net.au/bc-isp.cfm?id=373&s=1&p=3143)512/C2$38 /mo 512/1284 GB$3 /GBDSLZCTS (http://bc.whirlpool.net.au/bc-isp.cfm?id=386&s=1&p=5165)Preselect10 Ultra512$39.95 /mo 512/12825 GBShapedDSLTSN Internet (http://bc.whirlpool.net.au/bc-isp.cfm?id=136&s=1&p=4611)8Mb/256k DSL2+$39.95 /mo Max/2565 GBShaped

They seem very cheap and yet good download allowances and speed, as well as shaping.

I don't think I need more than 3Gb a month.

OK tell me why I should not use this! Would be looking at closer to $50 for cable options.

Is this DSL a worthy option? And at only $30 a month.

Appreciate any wise words and good karma.

Cheers,
Max

[MadMax]

Bugger table looked fine before posting:

All 4 plans DSL

ISP: ZCTS
Plan: Preselect30 Ultra512
Cost: $29.95 /mo
Down/Up: 512/128
Prepaid Megs: 25Gb
Excess Rate: Shaped
IP: Static
Fees: Modem costs + $10 delivery


ISP: ZCTS
Plan: Preselect10 Ultra512
Cost: $39.95 /mo
Down/Up: 512/128
Prepaid Megs: 25Gb
Excess Rate: Shaped
IP:Static
Fees: Modem costs + $10 delivery

ISP aaNet
Plan: 512/C2
Cost: $29.95 /mo
Down/Up: 512/128
Prepaid Megs: 4Gb
Excess Rate: $3 /Gb
IP:Static
Fees: Modem costs

ISP TSN Internet
Plan: 8Mb/256k DSL2+
Cost: $39.95 /mo
Down/Up: Max/256
Prepaid Megs: 5Gb
Excess Rate: Shaped
IP: Dynamic
Fees: Connection $129 + modem cost

[PtP]

I am not much help here but history proves you are much better sticking to the well established name brands because of the risk of falling over in a weeks time leaving you high and dry, also the lesser known smaller firms never have enough cash to upgrade so your connection just degrades as new people join. This list seem to be all no names and could/would suffer these problems I am sure.

[PtP]

DSL Netspace (http://bc.whirlpool.net.au/bc-isp.cfm?id=11&s=1&p=3426) 512 (M) $49.95 /mo 512/128 5 GB (+5 GB) Shaped


would be a reasonable option but lets see what people say.

[MadMax]

TPG and iPrimus appear to have faster speeds and higher mb's at the same price.

Aren't they reasonable ISPs?

(Haven't looked at setup fees)

Cheers,
Max

[PtP]

iPrimus no problem but tpg have been having some financial problems.

[MadMax]

Never used ADSL, is it essentially the same as cable, in so far as, you are always on as soon as you boot up the PC, and no disconnections after 3 hours or any other traps, user to modem ratio problems, busy signals?

Is it in any way LESS than cable?

Cheers,
Max

[MadMax]

For example:

Compare these two plans, one cable one ADSL:


Cable
Telstra Bigpond
Unlimited Plan name
$59.95 /mo
Dn/Up = Max/128
10Gb Prepaid megs
Shaped excess rate
Upstream counted

Vs

DSL
iPrimus
2000 -12000 Plan name
$49.95 /mo
Dn/Up = 2048/384
12Gb Prepaid megs
Shaped excess rate
Upstream free


So what am I getting for $10 a month extra with the cable plan?

Cheers,
Max

[[WTF]hakenspit]

For that primus plan you need to be within about a click of the exchange....also primus internet is shit, tech support are useless and hideous delays getting through to em.

I would suggest you look at more established companies...what is it you want it for? gaming? free download mirrors?

I have been with internodes for over 6 months now and very happy camper.

they have a 512/128 16gig shaped plan for 59.95 I know its 9 bucks over what your looking at spending but I would seriously consider it if you can as they offer great reliability and tech support that actually know their shit.

They also have a lot of gaming servers and free file mirrors not to mention you can stream ABC contents for free :D

[MadMax]

Not too fussed about tech support, some good forums on broadband websites that answer questions better than any company's tec support.

I really won't need more than 3Gb a month, I just want an occasional online game, download software updates, demos, patches. I don't download or stream any contents, and don't download music, or warez stuff. Occasionally I will work from home, read email and chat up some chicks lol.

$50 a month on my budget will already be stretching it, hence this thread.

If I want to spend $59 i will go telstra cable.

You mentiond ABC, as in the TV station so you can watch Bananas in Pyjamas? Or ABC as in the radio station so you can listen to classical music? OR is there some porn streaming channel called ABC?

Thanks for help so far.

Cheers,
Max

[[WTF]hakenspit]

abc radio/triple j etc, they also mirror other stuff aswell as offer steam contents mirror
http://adsl.internode.on.net/unmetered/index.htm

the only draw back with them is that you cant get a plan below 16gig for 512 but for reliability they are great, also the free spam filter is a usefull tool. I would suggest if your looking at a smaller isp that you go to http://www.whirlpool.net.au/ and ask for ppls thoughts on there. Here is a link for isp's that offer 512 3 gig plans with shaping for under 50 bucks a month both dsl and cable you can alter choices up top
http://bc.whirlpool.net.au/bc-plan.cfm?state=vic&class=0&type=res&pre=3000&cost=50&speed=512&ip=1&sort=1&conntype=1&conntype=4&rt=1&dd=1&xeu=1


Here is a thread dedicated to isp choices I have found whirlppol a great insight into a lot of ISP's and its probably worth looking at the sorta feedback they are getting in their forums. http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-threads.cfm?f=92

[AussieWilly]

Ive been with TSN for over a year on ISDN. Very good company, I near have a permanent conection.

By the way max, "Fees: Connection $129 + modem cost" is now $99.

[MadMax]

I made contact with Telstra yesterday to try and get phone and internet happening.

I reckon I spent an hour and a half with their online chat assistance.

What I wanted to do was get a phone connection with no line rental, yes no line rental fees at all, something worth considering for some people. The catch is you cannot make outgoing phone calls, but can accept incoming calls. You are allowed to ring some special numbers like 000 etc. The other gotcha is you aren't allowed to own a mobile phone in your name.

Well I was accepted in to that (lied about the prepaid mobile haha) BUT then came the bad news. I wasn't in a cable net area, damn, and also I can't use ADSL on such a connection, damn again, so much for a cheap way out.

There is a budget phone connection with line rental only $18 so I went for that (slightly more expensive local calls not a bother to me), and of course ADSL is now my only broadband choice (with telstra anyway).

Telstras offering of 256k speed at $59.95 is just not fast enough, and at $69.95 for 512k speed it's too damn expensive.

So my options left are a $50 ADSL 512k speed smaller ISP, or try Optus and see if they service cable in my area, and go back to the no line rental phone connection.

Trying to keep phone line rental + net costs to $70 a month or less.

Cheers and thanks for the replies,

Max

[MadMax]

Ok to end the story:

I phoned Optus to see if cable was available and it was.

Now, optus generally is more expensive than Telstra's cable (but Telstra isn't available).

At $74.95 a month it certainly blows my $70 budget for net and phone, and I was connected to Telstra phone of $18 plan.

However, by going on a 12 month contract, and switching to Optus phone it works out like this:

All setup fees are waived.

By having phone and cable with optus The $74.95 cable becomes $64.95 a month.

By going 12 month plan it also means 3 months a year of cable are free.

So Total cable costs for year are : $64.95 x 9 = $584.55 which averaged over 12 months becomes $48.71

And the phone rental is $25.95 with optus.



So thats $74.66 a month phone rental + cable, so slightly over budget but a good deal I think. No installation fees, no modem fees, etc and that's on the 12Gb cable plan.

(I can drop down to the $49.95 1Gb cable plan at any time (also 3 months free) if I find I'm not using more than 1Gb a month too or looking to save more money (i.e average $37.46 a month))

(Cancelled the phone with Telstra)

All done, 1 week to wait for install though. See you online.

Cheers,
Max

[[WTF]hakenspit]

whats the dl limit with optus? congrats on some good bargain hunting

[MadMax]

dl lims with this optus plan is "unlimited" which in real terms means 12Gb download (upload not counted) and then the speed is capped at 64k after reaching that, so no extra costs.

Cheers,
Max