Aussies: ADSL questions.

Post by **weemadando** » 2006-01-31 06:45pm

Well, I'm looking at joining the rest of the world in having broadband, so I thought I'd get the advice of everyone as to which provider/plan they recommend.

I'd ideally like to bundle it with a home phone package, but this is not essential. I'd ideally like high up and down speeds and a large download limit too. I've looked at many options, but I am now looking for some genuine testimonials from other gamers.

So, which ones do people think are best, or perhaps more pertinent, which ones do people have horror stories about?

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2006-02-01 12:14am

I currently use and recommend Internode for ADSL services. They're relatively cheap (they were obscenely cheap, but many ISPs are as cheap or cheaper these days) and they're not wankers or clueless. They're helpful, prompt and knowledgable and offer pretty much the full spectrum of Australian services. Unfortunately my exchange doesn't have the newer tech so I'm stuck with 512 or 1.5, but neh. I've no complaints, and everyone knows how rare that is!

As a bonus, they're not Telstra.

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2006-02-01 02:00am

Stark wrote:I've no complaints, and everyone knows how rare that is!

Xon · Post by **Xon** » 2006-02-01 02:11am

iinet is the 3rd largest ISP in Australia, but thier plans are only competitive with bundling, and if you are on a DSLAM.

All itnet's plans are 1500/256 and up. 1500/256 if you are stuck on Telstra hardware, and upto 24000/1024 otherwise(if you are really lucky).

While the quota's arent that great, you'll get shafted with that regard no matter who you go with. Aussie BB is stuck to a quota system, and that isnt going to change. However, iinet's bitcounter which controls the shaping after you use too much often takes a full day or 2 to kick in after you go over. With multi-mb DL, this is a plus. And sometimes it just stops working

And you have nothing happen if you go say, 25gb over your quota (of 20gb peak + 20gb off peak).

You have a choice with broadband in Australia; get shafted by Telstra directly, or indirectly. Either way Telstra will be shafting you.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2006-02-01 02:24am

WOO! I've been the target of a U235ing!

GGS, do any ISPs still charge for overuse? I haven't heard of that since the dialup days. It's pretty lame that we're talking about quotas when most of the western world makes us look like neanderthals. Some ISPs shape you down to 22kbps above your quota: that's ridiculous.

Xon · Post by **Xon** » 2006-02-01 03:48am

Telstra and Optus still do it on a bunch of thier plans.

Also Telstra counts uploads to your quota, everyone else just counts downloads.

iinet shapes to 64kbps if you go ovre your quota, and thats it. So make sure you really run over your quota if you are going todo that, since iinet's shaper can take upto 24 hours to kick in. Sometimes longer.

:edit: Also if you do get an adsl2+ modem/router, invest in a wire mesh cooking tray.

This is to raise the modem up off the surface to allow for airflow. Expect significant temperature drops from this, and improved stability.

InnocentBystander · Post by **InnocentBystander** » 2006-02-01 04:48am

ggs wrote:Telstra and Optus still do it on a bunch of thier plans.

Also Telstra counts uploads to your quota, everyone else just counts downloads.

iinet shapes to 64kbps if you go ovre your quota, and thats it. So make sure you really run over your quota if you are going todo that, since iinet's shaper can take upto 24 hours to kick in. Sometimes longer.

:edit: Also if you do get an adsl2+ modem/router, invest in a wire mesh cooking tray. This is to raise the modem up off the surface to allow for airflow. Expect significant temperature drops from this, and improved stability.

I know basically nothing on this subject save one thing, my edimax router has a special setting just for people who have this Telstra internet service so.. uhm, I'd avoid it. If it requires so much that it warrents a specific WAN setting on the router, there's something wrong.

GuppyShark · Post by **GuppyShark** » 2006-02-01 05:25am

ggs wrote:Telstra and Optus still do it on a bunch of thier plans.

Also Telstra counts uploads to your quota, everyone else just counts downloads.

Optus 'only' shape you down to 64, not 22kbps.

I've been using Optus DSL for a long time and I've only been shaped once, a long time ago. I also download many, many gigs of binary data that is available in the US/UK before AU, so the threat of it doesn't bother me at all.

Disclosure: I work for Optus.

Xon · Post by **Xon** » 2006-02-01 05:33am

It really depends on the quaility of what you are DLing.

With my 20gb peak & 20gb offpeak I can download a heck of a lot of ~350mb "text files". Its when you start hitting entire series and vast number of movies that it starts to be trivial to hit it

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2006-02-01 05:40am

Telstra also enjoy encouraging endusers to flash their routers to the 'Telstra version', pretty much meaning they can't change to another ISP without arsing about with factory resets, reflashes etc. They're basically just wankers. Ironically, they go through periods with frequent outages up here, but the other ISPs (who are just reselling Telstra) don't. Isn't that odd.

I use all my throughput every month. Those text files really add up after a while. I get shaped to 64, so at least I'm not unlucky as those budget users. But hey, demand expands to fill capacity, so meh.

Since I've had to work with, for and on many different ISPs, after price the most important factor is the staff. Chariot Netconnect (heh) have the worst, most ignorant, poorly trained, unhelpful and disorganised staff I have ever encountered outside of Telstra. It's always worth a little extra, in my opinion, to get a decent deal with a company that can actually fix problems, help you with incompatibilities, provide whatever access you need for hosting, all that jazz.

Post by **Gandalf** » 2006-02-01 06:19am

I'm using Telstra ADSL right now, and I should warn you; you need WinXP to run their installation program.

I've had to go out and get a whole fucking new computer that can run it because we're getting rid of the dial up connection.

InnocentBystander · Post by **InnocentBystander** » 2006-02-01 11:35am

Haven't these people ever heard of DHCP or PPPoe?