NBN Discussion

[Hvr]

Aldimobile

I love Aldimobile and have recommended it to several people.
When you change plans to a higher level your data carries over, but when you go to a lower level plan you lose any unused data.

 

[RB]

Another Aldo mobile user here-only need a basic plan & rarely use any of my mobile data so that bank continues to grow. Haven't had any reason to talk to customer service

 

[Quickstatus]

any power cut means zero home communication

Yes an FTTP model would have left the legacy copper intact and available for POTS. Though the Opex may make the maintenance of a wholesale network in order to keep POTS uneconomic

The storms after the major bushfires last year took out powerlines and there no power to the Telstra substation or the Telstra towers. The towers lasted a few hours but the the generators ran out of fuel. You would think that Telstra would have enough people around to refuel the gennnies but no. Would have been easier to train a local resident to do that and entrust them with the keys.

I use my Aldi sim in the mobile operated electric gate opener. No call charges because when I ring the gate, it will detect the caller ID and hang up and operate the gate. Basically the same tech as a mobile trigger for an IED.

 

[rogerkambah]

Yes an FTTP model would have left the legacy copper intact and available for POTS. Though the Opex may make the maintenance of a wholesale network in order to keep POTS uneconomic

The storms after the major bushfires last year took out powerlines and there no power to the Telstra substation or the Telstra towers. The towers lasted a few hours but the the generators ran out of fuel. You would think that Telstra would have enough people around to refuel the gennnies but no. Would have been easier to train a local resident to do that and entrust them with the keys.

I use my Aldi sim in the mobile operated electric gate opener. No call charges because when I ring the gate, it will detect the caller ID and hang up and operate the gate. Basically the same tech as a mobile trigger for an IED.

Sounds like something I need. Do you have a website link please?

 

[Quickstatus]

Do you have a website link please

something like this:

4G GSM Gate Opener

The ultimate access control where you can open your gate from anywhere. Our GSM Gate Opener will allow you to add users who need access to your property.

bmgi.com.au

or google GSM gate openers

Insert sim card (comes with phone number)
Program unit with authorised mobile phone numbers
Get an electric gate installer to install the unit or DIY

Make sure phone has caller id active
ring the gate's mobile number
The gate opener will recognise the authorised number and hang up without accepting the call, then it sends a trigger signal to the electric gate will cause the gate to open

Most electric gates will open then automatically close
I set the gate to open with a call and close with a call - I do it to allow trades to come in, gas bottle deliveries.
If the fire alarm back to base rings, I call the electric gate to open the gate in case 000 needs to get in. (Otherwise they ram the gate if house is on fire)
Can ring anywhere from anywhere in the world.

 

[prozac]

I am a bit confused with some of the shorthand being used. What is "HFC internet"?
I have managed to avoid connecting to the NBN so far and now moving to a new home. Still not wanting NBN can anyone tell me if 5G wireless internet is a viable alternative or have any other suggestions?

 

[Lynda2475]

I am a bit confused with some of the shorthand being used. What is "HFC internet"?
I have managed to avoid connecting to the NBN so far and now moving to a new home. Still not wanting NBN can anyone tell me if 5G wireless internet is a viable alternative or have any other suggestions?

HFC = Hybrid Coaxial Cable - its broadband delivered over the old Foxtel/Telstra cable network, and is one fo the fixed line services not as good as FTTP (Fibre to the Home) but better than FTTC (Fibre to the Curb) and heaps better than FTTN.

I have nbn HFC and have had zero issues. TBH choice of provider will likely impact your experience more. I recommend AussieBroadband.

I used to have an Optus 5G modem (part of a trial for my job, also had one of their 4G ones) and the 5G worked well if I put it in the window (4G worked anywhere) so that I was within line of sight of the mobile tower, other colleagues had less sucessful results.

5G/4G uses the mobile phone network. Your sucess will depend on quality of 5G coverage in your area and sometimes the building you live in, 5G doesnt cope well if if a high rise with tinted windows.

 

[straitman]

I am a bit confused with some of the shorthand being used. What is "HFC internet"?
I have managed to avoid connecting to the NBN so far and now moving to a new home. Still not wanting NBN can anyone tell me if 5G wireless internet is a viable alternative or have any other suggestions?

We use a 4G (5G not available in our area) wireless internet connection which is far better than the NBN offering we tried. 500Gb per month at 200-300Mbps with decent bandwidth. $68 per month via Optus.

 

[Quickstatus]

What is "HFC internet"?

NBN is basically the “last mile” connection between you and the WWW.

The technologies used in that last mile are:
FTTP - fibre to the premises
FTTN - fibre to the node - then existing copper to the premises
FTTC- fibre to the curb/kerb - then existing copper to the premises
HFC - hybrid fibre coaxial - the same as Telstra cable. NBN purchased it from Telstra
FW - fixed wireless - usually radio waves like mobile but the locked into one tower
Satellite

HFC is an goood way to get internet via NBN.
Some HFC areas are being upgraded to 1Gigabit speeds
I would try it out. Most internet providers will sell you a month to month no contract plan. Try it for one month and see how you go. I would recommend a provider who has good service such as Aussie Broadband

5G?. Who know where you live. Use the Telstra 5G coverage map to find out.

NBN gets a bad wrap but I think most people don’t have a problem with it.
Is the NBN at your place supplied via HFC?

 

[prozac]

HFC = Hybrid Coaxial Cable - its broadband delivered over the old Foxtel/Telstra cable network, and is one fo the fixed line services not as good as FTTP (Fibre to the Home) but better than FTTC (Fibre to the Curb) and heaps betetr than FTTN.

I have nbn HFC and have had zero issues. TBH choice of provider will likely impact your experience more. I recommend AussieBroadband.

I used to have an Optus 5G modem (part of a trial for my job) and it worked well if I put it in the window but I was within line of sight of the tower, other colleagues had less sucessful results. 5G uses the mobile phone network. Your sucess will depend on quality of 5G coverage in your area and sometimes the building you live in, doesnt cope well if if a high rise with tinted windows.

Thanks for the comprehensive response Linda2475. Is a home owner given a choice of which NBN is available or are you told what you'll get?
I'll take a look at the ABB site.

WE use a 4G (5G not available in our area) wireless internet connection which is far better than the NBN offering we tried. 500Gb per month at 200-300Mbps with decent bandwidth. $68 per month via Optus.

That sounds reasonable and good speed too. The new house is around 25m from the front boundary so unsure how NBN would be supplied.

 

[Lynda2475]

s a home owner given a choice of which NBN is available or are you told what you'll get?

No, NBN generally determine what network is available in your area. The address checker on both NBN or AussieBroadband will tell you what type you will be offered.

If in metro you will generally have one of the fixed line offerings (FTTP, HFC, FTTC or FTTn). If in rural or remot it will be Fixed Wirlesss or Satellite.

There is a program where you can pay extra to specifically have FTTP installed if its not available in your metro area but that can cost thousands and would only be worth it if you are a serious user running a dat heavy business from home.

 

[Quickstatus]

unsure how NBN would be supplied.

given a choice of which NBN

Put your address into here and NBN will let you know what NBN technology is available for your premises. There is no choice. NBN determines which technology it uses to build the network in your area

Check your address | nbn

Check your address to see if the nbn™ network is available at your home or business and find out everything you need to know about how to prepare for the nbn™.

www.nbnco.com.au

 

[prozac]

NBN is basically the “last mile” connection between you and the WWW.

The technologies used in that last mile are:
FTTP - fibre to the premises
FTTN - fibre to the node - then existing copper to the premises
FTTC- fibre to the curb/kerb - then existing copper to the premises
HFC - hybrid fibre coaxial - the same as Telstra cable. NBN purchased it from Telstra
FW - fixed wireless - usually radio waves like mobile but the locked into one tower
Satellite

HFC is an goood way to get internet via NBN.
Some HFC areas are being upgraded to 1Gigabit speeds
I would try it out. Most internet providers will sell you a month to month no contract plan. Try it for one month and see how you go. I would recommend a provider who has good service such as Aussie Broadband

5G?. Who know where you live. Use the Telstra 5G coverage map to find out.

NBN gets a bad wrap but I think most people don’t have a problem with it.
Is the NBN at your place supplied via HFC?

Thanks for the wrap-up explanation. I currently have ADSL2+. I doubt new home has any internet connection as seller is elderly.

 

[Lynda2475]

I doubt new home has any internet connection as seller is elderly.

That will depend on the area, because the copper network has been switched off in many areas already, forcing an end to ADSL and copper phone line services, so the nbn infrstucture may already be installed to deliver a landline for the porevious owner as a VOIP service even if they didnt use the internet.

 

[Quickstatus]

I doubt new home has any internet connection

most homes are ready to connect to the internet with just a technician visit . Sometimes not at all with a self instal kit provided via your internet provider:

 

[coriander]

Hybrid Fibre-Coaxial is old repurposed PayTV cable. In many cases, new cable had to be strung. It's generally the thick black cable hanging under electricity wires.

Depending on the age of the cable you'll generally get 100/40. It's not as good as FTTP but generally much better than FTTN.

If you have a "need for speed" almost all HFC connections can be upgraded to 250/25 with 1000/50 from 2023.

If you backup or upload to the cloud, the 100/40 is better than the 250/25.

We have FutureBroadband at work and get 98-105/38 any time of day or night: steady stable connection, I don't think we've been down once in the 2 years we've had HFC

HFC will always be MUCH better than wireless especially in terms of amount of data per month.

I can understand your trepidation: I looked at an FTTP upgrade but the $28k fee (plus the fact that my neighbours could then get FTTP for $300) put me off .

I am more than happy with my HFC connection.

HTH

 

[prozac]

This is what ABB reckons is available. Not very inspiring.


Quickstatus, the NBN site reports -

 

[straitman]

Thanks for the wrap-up explanation. I currently have ADSL2+. I doubt new home has any internet connection as seller is elderly.

By way of comparison. When we moved from ADSL2+ to NBN we went from approx 15Mbps to 25Mbps so in our case it wasn't worth the effort. That's why we went to 4G.

For where we live Optus has a much better signal than Telstra.

Re using Aussie BB. We used them for quite a few years (ADSL 2) and they were good until we had an issue. They wouldn't take any ownership of the problem and the service manager insisted that we run a separate internet line from the outside connection to the room we wanted to use the internet from. When that didn't fix the problem they demanded that it be removed or we had to pay for it. Not really an issue other than the extra capped hole in the wall.
Meanwhile an industrious Telstra Tech started checking all the pits back to the exchange until he found one connection that fell apart in his hands.
ABB then couldn't understand why changed to another provider as soon as we could thereafter.

 

[Lynda2475]

I have 50/20 and that works fine for me. I can stream 4K tv on Prime and be on a teams/video call at work at the same time without issues.

If you currently have ADSL youd be used to somewhere between 12-20Mbps, so a 25/5 will seem normal for you (or a little faster download and much faster upload) and a 50/20 will seem like a major upgrade.

If you have been happy with on ADSL+ you wont need the highest plans.

As others have said, connect with a provider taht doesnt charge connectoon fees and doesnt require you to sign a contract and see how you go. Gopod providers allow you to upgrade/downgrade your plan month to month if your needs change. And if your not happy you can cancel and get a mobile broadband service but they usually require you to sign a contract.

*** Edited to add - just noticed the mesg you got from nbn site, means you cant connect right now (and that teh previous owner didnt have a connection). So your options are to look at Mobile broadband.

https://www.optus.com.au/broadband-nbn/5g-home-broadband - will let you check if it is available, if not likely offer you a 4G version for less.

 

[Quickstatus]

NBN site report

Sounds like HFC is in your street. There are global issues regarding the supply of the HFC modem (which is supplied free by NBN).