Re: [WAMUG] FTTP and ISPs…not Apple

[Neil Houghton via WAMUG]

Hi Stephen,

As an ABB shareholder, I would encourage everyone to change to ABB  ;o)

Though, I have to admit, I am still loyal to Internode - I switched to them 
from Telstra when we moved from dial-up to ADSL and have always found their 
customer support to be very good (even since the iiNet/TPG buyouts).

I too have frequently had service problems with Telstra in the past - both 
technical on the old dial-up and, more recently, with double billing of 
auto-recharge on pre-paid mobile plans - however, I have found their online 
chat service to have improved a lot (this was for the double billing issues).

One bonus I have had from Telstra: when I switched to internode, I continued to 
pay Telstra around $25 pa to keep my bigpond email address (like Daniel this 
wasn't my main email but I didn't want to lose it) so I was very surprised, 
back in 2015, when Telstra told me they were retiring Bigpond but they would 
continue to provide my Bigpond email FREE OR CHARGE!   -   a year or so later 
it was migrated to Telstra meil and, to date, it still all works - even though 
it is around 8 years since I paid for the email service!

Disclaimer - I am also a Telstra shareholder!!

Cheers


Neil

-Original Message-
From: WAMUG  on behalf of Stephen Chape via 
WAMUG 
Reply-To: WAMUG 
Date: Thursday, 13 July 2023 at 09:50
To: WAMUG 
Cc: Stephen Chape 
Subject: Re: [WAMUG] FTTP and ISPs…not Apple

   Hi Rosemary.

   I have had ongoing issues with Telstra for the past 4 months.

   Promise to fix issues but then fail to do so over and over again.

   I am now on the verge of going to Aussie Broadband.

   They get amazing reviews from customers.

   One review site recently ranked them number 1 in Australia.

   And 2 of my friends are with them and reckon they are the best.

   Their price for my plan is the same as Telstra, so no cost advantage
   there.

   But if I also take both our mobiles to them as well, that is way better
   priced.

   Anyway just thought I would give some more feedback 👍

   On 12 Jul 2023, at 7:06 pm, Daniel Kerr via WAMUG
wrote:

   Hi Rosemary
   Without know exact details, but if it’s similar to mine situation
   (which it sounds like it), technically neither side are actually
   “telling lies”.
   When NBNCo have been going through certain areas and doing the FTTP
   upgrades, they only have “some” ISP’s that seem to have early access to
   this “faster NBN”. Whereas iinet/Westnet dont seem to be one of the
   ISP’s with access to these upgrades. So when they look it up, in the
   iinet/Westnet/TPG system, your area probably isn’t available to go
   faster on their network.
   And NBNCo who do say the upgrade is available, in the “small print” -
   it’s only with some ISPs.
   This is the same sort of thing I’ve found. Because I’m signed up to
   NBNCo newsletter and info for my area, I got an email from saying
   “faster internet is available” But iinet tell me,..no I can’t get
   faster internet. So they’re both actually correct. As far as iinet are
   concerned for their “access”,..they can’t offer anything faster. But if
   I go with a different ISP,…then I can actually get faster.
   I just found the email from them,..which says,..
   "Hi Daniel,
   As you have registered for updates, we’d like to let you know that your
   location may be able to upgrade to nbn® Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) if
   you order an nbn powered plan based on nbnHome Fast or higher◊."
   Then a button I click that says “Check out the list of participating
   providers” - which loads this page
   https://www.nbnco.com.au/residential/upgrades/more-fibre/find-a-partici
   pating-provider
   And Westnet and iinet (for whatever reason) aren’t listed as a
   participating provider.
   For the time being I’ve stuck with iinet and use their NBN100 plan,….as
   I’ve always felt a bit loyal to them to stay.
   But with some of the newer ISP’s nothing offering better plans (and
   sometimes better pricing), I’ve been weighing it up to change as well.
   I was looking at the Aussie Broadband plans, as they tend to get good
   reviews and always seem to be ranked quite high for reliability, cost,
   service etc.
   (I wouldn’t touch dodo with a barge pole for another example,…lol. Had
   some many customers been with them that had issues and left).
   The one downside to moving obviously is losing your email address. But
   I believe iinet and Westnet still offer an “email only” service. (I
   know they previously had this service,..so I assume they still do.
   Haven’t checked for a while). You used to be able to pay $25 a year to
   keep your email address. So you then don’t have to go round and tell
   every

Re: [WAMUG] FTTP and ISPs…not Apple

[Stephen Chape via WAMUG]

   Hi Rosemary.

   I have had ongoing issues with Telstra for the past 4 months.

   Promise to fix issues but then fail to do so over and over again.

   I am now on the verge of going to Aussie Broadband.

   They get amazing reviews from customers.

   One review site recently ranked them number 1 in Australia.

   And 2 of my friends are with them and reckon they are the best.

   Their price for my plan is the same as Telstra, so no cost advantage
   there.

   But if I also take both our mobiles to them as well, that is way better
   priced.

   Anyway just thought I would give some more feedback 👍

   On 12 Jul 2023, at 7:06 pm, Daniel Kerr via WAMUG
wrote:

   Hi Rosemary
   Without know exact details, but if it’s similar to mine situation
   (which it sounds like it), technically neither side are actually
   “telling lies”.
   When NBNCo have been going through certain areas and doing the FTTP
   upgrades, they only have “some” ISP’s that seem to have early access to
   this “faster NBN”. Whereas iinet/Westnet dont seem to be one of the
   ISP’s with access to these upgrades. So when they look it up, in the
   iinet/Westnet/TPG system, your area probably isn’t available to go
   faster on their network.
   And NBNCo who do say the upgrade is available, in the “small print” -
   it’s only with some ISPs.
   This is the same sort of thing I’ve found. Because I’m signed up to
   NBNCo newsletter and info for my area, I got an email from saying
   “faster internet is available” But iinet tell me,..no I can’t get
   faster internet. So they’re both actually correct. As far as iinet are
   concerned for their “access”,..they can’t offer anything faster. But if
   I go with a different ISP,…then I can actually get faster.
   I just found the email from them,..which says,..
   "Hi Daniel,
   As you have registered for updates, we’d like to let you know that your
   location may be able to upgrade to nbn® Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) if
   you order an nbn powered plan based on nbnHome Fast or higher◊."
   Then a button I click that says “Check out the list of participating
   providers” - which loads this page
   https://www.nbnco.com.au/residential/upgrades/more-fibre/find-a-partici
   pating-provider
   And Westnet and iinet (for whatever reason) aren’t listed as a
   participating provider.
   For the time being I’ve stuck with iinet and use their NBN100 plan,….as
   I’ve always felt a bit loyal to them to stay.
   But with some of the newer ISP’s nothing offering better plans (and
   sometimes better pricing), I’ve been weighing it up to change as well.
   I was looking at the Aussie Broadband plans, as they tend to get good
   reviews and always seem to be ranked quite high for reliability, cost,
   service etc.
   (I wouldn’t touch dodo with a barge pole for another example,…lol. Had
   some many customers been with them that had issues and left).
   The one downside to moving obviously is losing your email address. But
   I believe iinet and Westnet still offer an “email only” service. (I
   know they previously had this service,..so I assume they still do.
   Haven’t checked for a while). You used to be able to pay $25 a year to
   keep your email address. So you then don’t have to go round and tell
   everyone your new address and lose access to your email address.
   (I don’t actually really use my @iinet address a lot, but I’d still
   like to keep it if I did change.
   I had considered going to the Aussie Broadband NBN1000 plan,. But it’s
   another $50 a month. So I didn’t really go much further then look and
   dream. lol.
   So as mentioned without knowing “exact” details, that would be my take
   on it anyway.
   The best place I find to see what you’re able to get is the actual
   NBNCo website. As they’re the ones who do or change the infrastructure.
   So normally their information is most up to date.
   If you go to https://www.nbnco.com.au - then put in your address to
   check. It will advise you what you can get on your premises.
   I also think some of the companies are wearing the cost of the “$0
   upgrade cost to upgrade to fibre” - in the hope of perhaps getting new
   customers and building their customer base. And perhaps iinet/Westnet
   didn’t want to wear the extra cost of it. But I’m only guessing there -
   I could be completely wrong.
   Hope something there helps.
   Kind regards
   Daneil
   ---
   Daniel Kerr
   MacWizardry
   p : 0414 795 960
   e : 
   w : 
   **For everything Apple**
   NOTE: Any information provided in this email may be my personal opinion
   and as such should be taken accordingly, and may not be the views of
   MacWizardry. Any information provided does not offer or warrant any
   form of warranty or accept liability. It would be appreciated that if
   any information in this email is to be disseminated, distributed or
   copied, that permission by the author be requested.

 On 12 Jul 2023, at 6:33 pm, R

Re: [WAMUG] FTTP and ISPs…not Apple

[Rosemary Spark via WAMUG]

   Hi Daniel,

   Thanks for jour very full answer.

   Cheers

   Rosemary Spark

   On Wed, 12 Jul 2023 at 19:06, Daniel Kerr via WAMUG
   <[1]wa...@lists.wamug.org.au> wrote:

 Hi Rosemary
 Without know exact details, but if it’s similar to mine situation
 (which it sounds like it), technically neither side are actually
 “telling lies”.
 When NBNCo have been going through certain areas and doing the FTTP
 upgrades, they only have “some” ISP’s that seem to have early access
 to this “faster NBN”. Whereas iinet/Westnet dont seem to be one of
 the ISP’s with access to these upgrades. So when they look it up, in
 the iinet/Westnet/TPG system, your area probably isn’t available to
 go faster on their network.
 And NBNCo who do say the upgrade is available, in the “small print”
 - it’s only with some ISPs.
 This is the same sort of thing I’ve found. Because I’m signed up to
 NBNCo newsletter and info for my area, I got an email from saying
 “faster internet is available” But iinet tell me,..no I can’t get
 faster internet. So they’re both actually correct. As far as iinet
 are concerned for their “access”,..they can’t offer anything faster.
 But if I go with a different ISP,…then I can actually get faster.
 I just found the email from them,..which says,..
 "Hi Daniel,
 As you have registered for updates, we’d like to let you know that
 your location may be able to upgrade to nbn® Fibre to the Premises
 (FTTP) if you order an nbn powered plan based on nbnHome Fast or
 higher◊."
 Then a button I click that says “Check out the list of participating
 providers” - which loads this page
 [2]https://www.nbnco.com.au/residential/upgrades/more-fibre/find-a-p
 articipating-provider
 And Westnet and iinet (for whatever reason) aren’t listed as a
 participating provider.
 For the time being I’ve stuck with iinet and use their NBN100
 plan,….as I’ve always felt a bit loyal to them to stay.
 But with some of the newer ISP’s nothing offering better plans (and
 sometimes better pricing), I’ve been weighing it up to change as
 well.
 I was looking at the Aussie Broadband plans, as they tend to get
 good reviews and always seem to be ranked quite high for
 reliability, cost, service etc.
 (I wouldn’t touch dodo with a barge pole for another example,…lol.
 Had some many customers been with them that had issues and left).
 The one downside to moving obviously is losing your email address.
 But I believe iinet and Westnet still offer an “email only” service.
 (I know they previously had this service,..so I assume they still
 do. Haven’t checked for a while). You used to be able to pay $25 a
 year to keep your email address. So you then don’t have to go round
 and tell everyone your new address and lose access to your email
 address.
 (I don’t actually really use my @iinet address a lot, but I’d still
 like to keep it if I did change.
 I had considered going to the Aussie Broadband NBN1000 plan,. But
 it’s another $50 a month. So I didn’t really go much further then
 look and dream. lol.
 So as mentioned without knowing “exact” details, that would be my
 take on it anyway.
 The best place I find to see what you’re able to get is the actual
 NBNCo website. As they’re the ones who do or change the
 infrastructure. So normally their information is most up to date.
 If you go to [3]https://www.nbnco.com.au - then put in your address
 to check. It will advise you what you can get on your premises.
 I also think some of the companies are wearing the cost of the “$0
 upgrade cost to upgrade to fibre” - in the hope of perhaps getting
 new customers and building their customer base. And perhaps
 iinet/Westnet didn’t want to wear the extra cost of it. But I’m only
 guessing there - I could be completely wrong.
 Hope something there helps.
 Kind regards
 Daneil
 ---
 Daniel Kerr
 MacWizardry
 p : 0414 795 960
 e : 
 w : <[5]http://www.macwizardry.com.au>
 **For everything Apple**
 NOTE: Any information provided in this email may be my personal
 opinion and as such should be taken accordingly, and may not be the
 views of MacWizardry. Any information provided does not offer or
 warrant any form of warranty or accept liability. It would be
 appreciated that if any information in this email is to be
 disseminated, distributed or copied, that permission by the author
 be requested.
 > On 12 Jul 2023, at 6:33 pm, Rosemary Spark via WAMUG
 <[6]wa...@lists.wamug.org.au> wrote:
 >
 >   Hi there,
 >
 >   I received a glossy flyer in the mail saying that FTTP fibre to
 >   premises is available in my area, listing various isp to contact
 about
 >   the upgrade. I checked on the nbnco website and it

Re: [WAMUG] FTTP and ISPs…not Apple

[Daniel Kerr via WAMUG]

Hi Rosemary

Without know exact details, but if it’s similar to mine situation (which it 
sounds like it), technically neither side are actually “telling lies”.
When NBNCo have been going through certain areas and doing the FTTP upgrades, 
they only have “some” ISP’s that seem to have early access to this “faster 
NBN”. Whereas iinet/Westnet dont seem to be one of the ISP’s with access to 
these upgrades. So when they look it up, in the iinet/Westnet/TPG system, your 
area probably isn’t available to go faster on their network.
And NBNCo who do say the upgrade is available, in the “small print” - it’s only 
with some ISPs.

This is the same sort of thing I’ve found. Because I’m signed up to NBNCo 
newsletter and info for my area, I got an email from saying “faster internet is 
available” But iinet tell me,..no I can’t get faster internet. So they’re both 
actually correct. As far as iinet are concerned for their “access”,..they can’t 
offer anything faster. But if I go with a different ISP,…then I can actually 
get faster.

I just found the email from them,..which says,..
"Hi Daniel, 
As you have registered for updates, we’d like to let you know that your 
location may be able to upgrade to nbn® Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) if you 
order an nbn powered plan based on nbnHome Fast or higher◊."

Then a button I click that says “Check out the list of participating providers” 
- which loads this page
https://www.nbnco.com.au/residential/upgrades/more-fibre/find-a-participating-provider

And Westnet and iinet (for whatever reason) aren’t listed as a participating 
provider.

For the time being I’ve stuck with iinet and use their NBN100 plan,….as I’ve 
always felt a bit loyal to them to stay.
But with some of the newer ISP’s nothing offering better plans (and sometimes 
better pricing), I’ve been weighing it up to change as well.

I was looking at the Aussie Broadband plans, as they tend to get good reviews 
and always seem to be ranked quite high for reliability, cost, service etc.
(I wouldn’t touch dodo with a barge pole for another example,…lol. Had some 
many customers been with them that had issues and left).

The one downside to moving obviously is losing your email address. But I 
believe iinet and Westnet still offer an “email only” service. (I know they 
previously had this service,..so I assume they still do. Haven’t checked for a 
while). You used to be able to pay $25 a year to keep your email address. So 
you then don’t have to go round and tell everyone your new address and lose 
access to your email address.
(I don’t actually really use my @iinet address a lot, but I’d still like to 
keep it if I did change.

I had considered going to the Aussie Broadband NBN1000 plan,. But it’s another 
$50 a month. So I didn’t really go much further then look and dream. lol. 

So as mentioned without knowing “exact” details, that would be my take on it 
anyway.
The best place I find to see what you’re able to get is the actual NBNCo 
website. As they’re the ones who do or change the infrastructure. So normally 
their information is most up to date.
If you go to https://www.nbnco.com.au - then put in your address to check. It 
will advise you what you can get on your premises.

I also think some of the companies are wearing the cost of the “$0 upgrade cost 
to upgrade to fibre” - in the hope of perhaps getting new customers and 
building their customer base. And perhaps iinet/Westnet didn’t want to wear the 
extra cost of it. But I’m only guessing there - I could be completely wrong.

Hope something there helps. 

Kind regards
Daneil

---
Daniel Kerr
MacWizardry

p : 0414 795 960
e : 
w : 


**For everything Apple**

NOTE: Any information provided in this email may be my personal opinion and as 
such should be taken accordingly, and may not be the views of MacWizardry. Any 
information provided does not offer or warrant any form of warranty or accept 
liability. It would be appreciated that if any information in this email is to 
be disseminated, distributed or copied, that permission by the author be 
requested. 

> On 12 Jul 2023, at 6:33 pm, Rosemary Spark via WAMUG 
>  wrote:
> 
>  Hi there,
> 
>  I received a glossy flyer in the mail saying that FTTP fibre to
>  premises is available in my area, listing various isp to contact about
>  the upgrade. I checked on the nbnco website and it indicated my address
>  was able to be upgraded.
> 
>  We’re with Westnet (taken over by iiNet, taken over by TPG) and have
>  been for many (20) years. Home page for accounts and email is still
>  Westnet. Anyway no indication that TPG was included in the upgrade.
> 
>  I rang Westnet ( got a woman obviously based somewhere else) saying
>  FTTP was not available at my address, after keeping me on hold for
>  several minutes. I checked the only upgrade available on the website is
>  for 5G…not the best fit.
> 
>  So who is telling lies?  Do I go with another ISP?
> 
>  What is other people’s experi

Re: [WAMUG] FTTP and ISPs…not Apple

[Daniel Kerr via WAMUG]

Hi Rosemary

Without know exact details, but if it’s similar to mine situation (which it 
sounds like it), technically neither side are actually “telling lies”.
When NBNCo have been going through certain areas and doing the FTTP upgrades, 
they only have “some” ISP’s that seem to have early access to this “faster 
NBN”. Whereas iinet/Westnet dont seem to be one of the ISP’s with access to 
these upgrades. So when they look it up, in the iinet/Westnet/TPG system, your 
area probably isn’t available to go faster on their network.
And NBNCo who do say the upgrade is available, in the “small print” - it’s only 
with some ISPs.

This is the same sort of thing I’ve found. Because I’m signed up to NBNCo 
newsletter and info for my area, I got an email from saying “faster internet is 
available” But iinet tell me,..no I can’t get faster internet. So they’re both 
actually correct. As far as iinet are concerned for their “access”,..they can’t 
offer anything faster. But if I go with a different ISP,…then I can actually 
get faster.

I just found the email from them,..which says,..
"Hi Daniel, 
As you have registered for updates, we’d like to let you know that your 
location may be able to upgrade to nbn® Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) if you 
order an nbn powered plan based on nbnHome Fast or higher◊."

Then a button I click that says “Check out the list of participating providers” 
- which loads this page
https://www.nbnco.com.au/residential/upgrades/more-fibre/find-a-participating-provider

And Westnet and iinet (for whatever reason) aren’t listed as a participating 
provider.

For the time being I’ve stuck with iinet and use their NBN100 plan,….as I’ve 
always felt a bit loyal to them to stay.
But with some of the newer ISP’s nothing offering better plans (and sometimes 
better pricing), I’ve been weighing it up to change as well.

I was looking at the Aussie Broadband plans, as they tend to get good reviews 
and always seem to be ranked quite high for reliability, cost, service etc.
(I wouldn’t touch dodo with a barge pole for another example,…lol. Had some 
many customers been with them that had issues and left).

The one downside to moving obviously is losing your email address. But I 
believe iinet and Westnet still offer an “email only” service. (I know they 
previously had this service,..so I assume they still do. Haven’t checked for a 
while). You used to be able to pay $25 a year to keep your email address. So 
you then don’t have to go round and tell everyone your new address and lose 
access to your email address.
(I don’t actually really use my @iinet address a lot, but I’d still like to 
keep it if I did change.

I had considered going to the Aussie Broadband NBN1000 plan,. But it’s another 
$50 a month. So I didn’t really go much further then look and dream. lol. 

So as mentioned without knowing “exact” details, that would be my take on it 
anyway.
The best place I find to see what you’re able to get is the actual NBNCo 
website. As they’re the ones who do or change the infrastructure. So normally 
their information is most up to date.
If you go to https://www.nbnco.com.au - then put in your address to check. It 
will advise you what you can get on your premises.

I also think some of the companies are wearing the cost of the “$0 upgrade cost 
to upgrade to fibre” - in the hope of perhaps getting new customers and 
building their customer base. And perhaps iinet/Westnet didn’t want to wear the 
extra cost of it. But I’m only guessing there - I could be completely wrong.

Hope something there helps. 

Kind regards
Daneil

---
Daniel Kerr
MacWizardry

p : 0414 795 960
e : 
w : 


**For everything Apple**

NOTE: Any information provided in this email may be my personal opinion and as 
such should be taken accordingly, and may not be the views of MacWizardry. Any 
information provided does not offer or warrant any form of warranty or accept 
liability. It would be appreciated that if any information in this email is to 
be disseminated, distributed or copied, that permission by the author be 
requested. 

> On 12 Jul 2023, at 6:33 pm, Rosemary Spark via WAMUG 
>  wrote:
> 
>   Hi there,
> 
>   I received a glossy flyer in the mail saying that FTTP fibre to
>   premises is available in my area, listing various isp to contact about
>   the upgrade. I checked on the nbnco website and it indicated my address
>   was able to be upgraded.
> 
>   We’re with Westnet (taken over by iiNet, taken over by TPG) and have
>   been for many (20) years. Home page for accounts and email is still
>   Westnet. Anyway no indication that TPG was included in the upgrade.
> 
>   I rang Westnet ( got a woman obviously based somewhere else) saying
>   FTTP was not available at my address, after keeping me on hold for
>   several minutes. I checked the only upgrade available on the website is
>   for 5G…not the best fit.
> 
>   So who is telling lies?  Do I go with another ISP?
> 
>   What is other p