The Interweb
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@Crucial said in The Interweb:
Just before leaving the UK I purchased a WiFi mesh set up for our house in NZ and it arrived with the movers last week.
Sooooo much better than using an extender.
Used to have to switch networks between lounge and bedroom with devices automatically deciding to use a stronger (but slower) 2.4 over the 5. Just irritating to have to manually change.
Now with only two mesh units the whole property runs on a strong fast 5 subnet with devices automatically moving between units as needed.
Really recommend if you have dead spots or are setting up smart house stuff like lights/plugs/locks etc
Had to solve the puzzle of getting Sonos controllers working but worked out that as Sonos creates its own subnet I needed to have either one of each connected by Ethernet or cable one Sonos speaker direct to a mesh unit. Apart from that it’s brilliant and cheaper than a high powered router.What brand did you go for. I’m using an extender at the moment, but it’s creaking under the weight of all the devices we use.
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@Kirwan said in The Interweb:
@Crucial said in The Interweb:
Just before leaving the UK I purchased a WiFi mesh set up for our house in NZ and it arrived with the movers last week.
Sooooo much better than using an extender.
Used to have to switch networks between lounge and bedroom with devices automatically deciding to use a stronger (but slower) 2.4 over the 5. Just irritating to have to manually change.
Now with only two mesh units the whole property runs on a strong fast 5 subnet with devices automatically moving between units as needed.
Really recommend if you have dead spots or are setting up smart house stuff like lights/plugs/locks etc
Had to solve the puzzle of getting Sonos controllers working but worked out that as Sonos creates its own subnet I needed to have either one of each connected by Ethernet or cable one Sonos speaker direct to a mesh unit. Apart from that it’s brilliant and cheaper than a high powered router.What brand did you go for. I’m using an extender at the moment, but it’s creaking under the weight of all the devices we use.
tp-link deco
Got just this two pack to try and it is ample for my needs. Our house has a bit of an l shape and I am jumping across the angle. I didn’t know if that plan would work so went for the deco as they have plenty of different repeaters that all work together. If I needed more I could have just ordered whatever was best price back here and added it on.
Apparently they “copy” the concept that companies like Sonos came up with whereby every unit in the subnet talks to each other. -
@chris-b said in Black Caps tour to England:
@crucial Actually, I recently got quite a detailed map from udig - I daren't put in a few fence posts lest I put a shovel through the South Island's fibre optic cable. But as you suggested there is no duct - I talked to a Chorus guy who was at the gate inspecting stuff a couple of months ago.
I actually sent Spark that advice you gave me last time about VDSL quoting you as "a former Chorus Engineer told me...".
They emailed back saying "we will look into it" - and that was the last I heard.
I went through a Chorus online process and they emailed me - Sorry fibre isn't available, but good news - VDSL is available at your address - contact your IP. I sent that to Spark and still nothing!
I'll see if I can work out a way to order VDSL directly. Most times on Spark's website you just run up against a brick wall of sorry it's not available at your place, but you can have wireless.
@nzzp Unfortunately - even though I'm not actually in the sticks - we're in a hill shadow from the nearby cellphone tower, so you have to stand in the right spot to get (not good) phone coverage. My neighbour tried wireless, but it's no better than ADSL.
Maybe Starlink will solve the problem!
I had a hunt back and remembered where you were. You are correct in saying that the Chorus map and the 'NZ Broadband Map' don't show exactly the same reach.
When you have time try some different providers online. Most have an automated provisioning system that in theory should read the same as the Chorus map. If one comes up with a positive then you should be able to place an order which will tell you one way or another.
I went to find the old rural layer maps but a website update has removed them.Chorus actually now take a far more open approach to rural fibre in that they actively promote the option on their site and will work with you to establish possibilities, cost etc.
Even back last year there were hurdles that made it less obvious.I know because I looked into it for friends down south. They have the fibre feed going from the main rd to Arrowtown School going past the gate. That feed will be connected to the cabinets through Atown this year. (this is different to your situation where you have the equivalent of the main transmission Power Lines going past with no substation.). Anyway, they get VDSL at an OK speed but distance from the cabinet once you go across the paddock means that it gets unstable at times.
I'm going to get them a costing on hooking in to the fibre line. They can do the trenching themselves which should cut the cost a lot.
Starlink is an option but at an extra $100 per month it's pretty easy to weigh up. -
@nzzp said in Black Caps tour to England:
@crucial said in Black Caps tour to England:
From memory @Chris-B is in a bit of a black hole regarding connectivity
@chris-b If you can hang on for a few months, Starlink could seriously be an option for you.
It's a thousand bucks to get the gear, and $160/month after that. Then you can expect to get 80-150MB download, 30ish upload and unlimited data. For rural users, it's a godsend - goes with you to any house, anywhere with a view of the sky. Musk says speeds may go up as well - but who knows
Starlink already comes up with NZ addresses. Do you mean the delivery time for equipment?
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@crucial said in The Interweb:
@nzzp said in Black Caps tour to England:
@crucial said in Black Caps tour to England:
From memory @Chris-B is in a bit of a black hole regarding connectivity
@chris-b If you can hang on for a few months, Starlink could seriously be an option for you.
It's a thousand bucks to get the gear, and $160/month after that. Then you can expect to get 80-150MB download, 30ish upload and unlimited data. For rural users, it's a godsend - goes with you to any house, anywhere with a view of the sky. Musk says speeds may go up as well - but who knows
Starlink already comes up with NZ addresses. Do you mean the delivery time for equipment?
I thought it said mid to late 2021?
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@nzzp said in The Interweb:
@crucial said in The Interweb:
@nzzp said in Black Caps tour to England:
@crucial said in Black Caps tour to England:
From memory @Chris-B is in a bit of a black hole regarding connectivity
@chris-b If you can hang on for a few months, Starlink could seriously be an option for you.
It's a thousand bucks to get the gear, and $160/month after that. Then you can expect to get 80-150MB download, 30ish upload and unlimited data. For rural users, it's a godsend - goes with you to any house, anywhere with a view of the sky. Musk says speeds may go up as well - but who knows
Starlink already comes up with NZ addresses. Do you mean the delivery time for equipment?
I thought it said mid to late 2021?
That website is not encouraging. I can't find costs anywhere except if I start to place an order. Then it comes up wit the kit cost but nothing about ongoing subs. The FAQ doesn't say a thing.It looks like I could order now (under Beta) and receive kit in 2-4 weeks.
$913 (presumably USD) for kit and shipping.
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@bayimports said in The Interweb:
@Chris-B I am surpised you havent asked your rugby union team just to have a dedicated Ta$man cable (fk the rest of the South island) , we all know they have the deepest pockets?
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@bayimports said in The Interweb:
@Chris-B I am surpised you havent asked your rugby union team just to have a dedicated Ta$man cable (fk the rest of the South island) , we all know they have the deepest pockets?
Ta$man will have bought Elon and put him on the board by now so Chris should be sorted be able to deal direct.
Gotta say Starlink does look really good for me, cost aside. I'd actually save that much in petrol not driving to the office (until I get my EV) because our home internet is so slow and unreliable Xero becomes almost unusable and linking to my office computer is a nightmare. There is the downside for you guys though, I will have more time on here.
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@crucial A complicating factor is that 20 years ago I foolishly started using an xtra email address for most things, including in more recent times for work. (I didn't realise at the time how this cunningly locks you in with all sorts of internet accounts.
There's a significant rigamarole involved in changing providers - so my preference is to get Spark to sort things (much as I dislike them).
Yeah - I've noticed some progress in the responses I get from testing my address with Chorus. And since they've adopted a slogan of "Fibre, it's how we internet now" I'd think they're improving all the time.
I try not to read the WE in that slogan as mockery!
TBH If I could get weak VDSL at say 25 mbps, that would be sufficient - something fast enough to watch the cricket and stabilize zoom calls (though there are some advantages to having a crap zoom link)! Those are the main annoyances.
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@bayimports said in The Interweb:
@Chris-B I am surpised you havent asked your rugby union team just to have a dedicated Ta$man cable (fk the rest of the South island) , we all know they have the deepest pockets?
You've got to get your priorities right.
Look at the stories coming out of Auckland rugby this week.
What can be concluded? Great internet - but, no trophies!
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@chris-b said in The Interweb:
There's a significant rigamarole involved in changing providers - so my preference is to get Spark to sort things (much as I dislike them).
You know you can get a gmail account to connect to your xtra account right, and slowly filter out all the junk? I think you can keep the xtra account for a few dollars a month while yuo transition.
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@nzzp said in The Interweb:
@chris-b said in The Interweb:
There's a significant rigamarole involved in changing providers - so my preference is to get Spark to sort things (much as I dislike them).
You know you can get a gmail account to connect to your xtra account right, and slowly filter out all the junk? I think you can keep the xtra account for a few dollars a month while yuo transition.
I know the first bit, but not the second about keeping the xtra account - I didn't think they'd let you do that.
That's kind of my plan, to slowly transition to gmail and change everything and then give Spark the boot - except there's no solution to the cricket problem. I'd still have to deal with them!
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@chris-b said in The Interweb:
I know the first bit, but not the second about keeping the xtra account - I didn't think they'd let you do that.
check the FAQ:
Six bucks a month for an email address. It's a massive ripoff, but would help the transition
Unlike Spark, I'm not charging you for this advice of course