[wellylug] broadband recommendations, etc

[Bruce Hoult]

On 9/10/07, Atom Smasher <atom at smasher.org> wrote:
> i'm new to NZ and i'll soon be renting a house in hataitai. does anyone
> recommend (or recommend avoiding) any companies in particular for...
>
>   * high speed internet
> all i need is a connection to the net, and tech support that won't hang up
> on me if i say i'm not running windoze. cheap and reliable are the two
> key factors. i don't watch TV, and i won't need a phone if i have VOIP.

No contest.  TelstraClear Cable, if available.  4 Mbps down, 2 Mbps
up, 10 GB/month for $49.95, $3/GB for overuse.  No phone or TV
required, though you can add them on if you want (phone adds $20 I
think).  I forget how much more 20 GB costs (but you need to be
averaging over 16.7 GB/month for it to be worthwhile).  And you can
get 10 Mbps down and 40 or 80 GB/month for not too much more.

Unfortuantely the tech support sucks.


>   * VOIP phone service
> again, cheap and reliable are key. it would be nice if i could also get a
> US phone number, for incoming calls.

If you want a US number then that's totally independent of being in NZ
then.  Just use whatever you're using now.


>   * phone service (?)
> do i have a choice? do i need it if i'm using VOIP on a cable modem?

No you don't need it.  I have cable modem and no phone.

At the moment you are required to pay for phone service i you get DSL.
 This will supposedly change Real Soon Now .. months rather than
years.


> anything else that's good to know about hataitai? feel free to respond
> off-list if it's too far off topic.

Walking distance to downtown .. decent little group of shops ... steep
hills.  Either stuck in a valley or else great views, depending.