Aussie Telcos - Website to compare ?

[daamon]

G'Day... ("Hi" for anyone else ),

I'm moving soon and think it's a good opportunity to take a look at my Telco provider and the plan I'm on. I'm looking for a website that provides comparisons and, ideally, one where I can tick boxes describing my typical usage and then be advised of what my options are for best price.

I used this site: http://bc.whirlpool.net.au/bc-plan.cfm to help me pick the best deal for my ISP - I want something similar for my Telco. Any suggestions?

Cheers.

[guns1inger]

I don't know of anything that compares to whirlpool/broadbandchoice for telcos.

Choice magazine has looked into the mobile plans of the majors - might help

http://www.choice.com.au/viewArticle.aspx?id=101626&catId=100517&tid=100008&p=1&title=...le+phone+plans

[daamon]

Cheers guns1inger - that looks useful, I'll take a look. I'll also take a look for landlines.

Do you know of anything else for landlines? That's what I'm after for the moment, I just didn't make it clear in my original post... Sorry.

Also, call me tight, but is there anything (for either) that's free? AUS$16.95 for three months is OK, but free is better...

[guns1inger]

Lot of people are ditching landlines in favour of mabiles, as some of the capped plans, especially the vodphone and 3 plans, make it much more practical. Line rental can often make up more than half the cost of a landline.

Just found this - http://www.phonedog.com/

[daamon]

Lot of people are ditching landlines in favour of mabiles, as some of the capped plans, especially the vodphone and 3 plans, make it much more practical. Line rental can often make up more than half the cost of a landline.

An interesting point - I hadn't thought of having no landline. However, don't I need one to allow me to use broadband? I'm pretty sure I do... I don't know that I can sell "no landline" to my girlfriend either...

Just found this - http://www.phonedog.com/

Cool - Looks good. I'll check it out...

[offline]

A lot are going to VOIP. Check out the VOIP forum at whirlpool.

[daamon]

A lot are going to VOIP. Check out the VOIP forum at whirlpool.

Cheers offline - I've had a quick look at VOIP with TPG (my current ISP) and there's something like a $60 set up fee, and a similar amount for the VOIP modem. I'll need to look closer at the call costs to figure out if it's cost effective and how long to break even.

I'll check out others at Whirlpool.

[offline]

Don't use TGP VOIP or buy a VOIP modem unless you plan on buyng a new modem anyway. Check out services like www.sipme.com.au & look at buying an ATA (analog telephone adaptor). If you need a DID, there are other great service providers as well.


What many people do

1 - run ADSL but change Telstra home telelphone to Budget $18.50 per month
2 - use sipme or similar to run voip calls out (9.9 cents flat rate, any Aussie Land line)
3 - use astrael or similar to run a vopi calls in (ie a local phone number)

Only worth it if you average over $40 per month (inc. service charges) with your current telephone.

[daamon]

Don't use TGP VOIP or buy a VOIP modem unless you plan on buyng a new modem anyway. Check out www.sipme.com.au & look at buying an ATA (analog telephone adaptor)

Wow! Now that looks really interesting!!! Nice one offline!!! Any idea where I can get an ATA and what kind of price they are?

[guns1inger]

I have been put off VOIP by the constant stream of annoying phone calls from India trying to sell me mobile phones or time share holidays. I can tell when I am getting one - there is a 20 - 30 second pause at the beginning of the call as things negotiate their way across the globe, they voice quality is pooor, and they invariably cut out before I get a chance to tell them to piss off.

Not a great advert for the technology.

[offline]

If you shop around they start at $79 but that is just for outgoing. If you want incoming calls you are looking at starting around $150 if you shop around.

Things to consider: Price is not everything, call quality can be an issue. Your broadband internet has to have enough speed and data download space to handle calls. TPG, like other ISPs, don't count the data used if you use their voip. You also need QoS (Quality of Service) support over your modem so VOIP calls get through ok when you are downloading data. Special telphone ports are needed on your voip modem/ATA if you want to use mutiple lines and if you ever need to swich back to your POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) in case of internet failure, a power outage or you need to call emergncy services on a VOIP service which does not support 000 (which most don't)

You have some reading/research to do - I'd start with the FAQ at whirlpool.

@ guns1linger

That is because those Indians use near zero cost products like www.voipbusters.com and skype type headsets which are sh*t. You are correct, however, in that many VOIP products do have problems- hence you need to put in some research to get the quality/price that suits you.

Telstra and Optus use VOIP - but they don't pass the savings on to you

[daamon]

@ guns1inger:

Cheers mate, you just made my day a lot better...

[daamon]

And "thank you" offline for the heads on up on what's out there and the pitfalls. Cheers.

[bigmicka]

whats the point on going voip, unless you are connected to optus cable or bigpond cable?

if your using dsl with a voip adapter your still paying line rental in some way. some isp's are hiding it in normal costs if your not a normal telstra user.

my actual call costs on average is 1/3 the price of the line rental and it sucks....

mic

[offline]

@bigmicka

You can switch to Telstra Budget at $18.50 a month for your home line, run a DSL and then phone out via pre or post paid VOIP at 9 cents flat (no flagfall) anywhere in Oz. You just have the one off cost of the ATA or modem; which can be as low as $80.

I'm on bigpond cable but switching to ADSL2+ because $100 a month only gets me 20gig downloads with uploads counted as well - also the speeds are gettng slower. I use a supra3000 ATA and I'm saving $000's each year.

[Sifaga]

interesting thread this

[daamon]

My broadband is currently T1 1.5Gb (down) and 512Mb (up) costing me AUS$59.99 per month, capped to 10Gb.

My ISP are bringing in ADSL2+ (currently available in some areas), with 24Gb (down) and 1Gb (up) with an 18Gb cap for AUS$49.99 per month. Neither caps include uploads.

Surely either should be more than enough to support VOIP with an ATA? I currently use Skype to video and audio conference and it's clearer than a phone line with excellent picture quality.

[offline]

I bet when you are video skyping ( is that a real term now? ) you are not downloading the latest linux distro from planet mirror or doing any <cough> p2p'ing of family videos. This is where QoS comes into play - it ramps down the bandwidth for all other data packets, ensuring enough bandwidth is available for your call.

[daamon]

I bet when you are video skyping ( is that a real term now? ) you are not downloading the latest linux distro from planet mirror or doing any <cough> p2p'ing of family videos. This is where QoS comes into play - it ramps down the bandwidth for all other data packets, ensuring enough bandwidth is available for your call.

Yep - Skype only, and maybe a bit of surfing too. But nothing heavy.

[daamon]

Update: I rang Optus to cancel my current phone and to set up a new number / line at the new house. Luckily, right at the end of the conversation, I mentioned I've got DSL broadband with another supplier.

It turns out that the new place has Optus cable already hooked up, and they're offering cable broadband (24000 download) for $60 per month (capped at 7Gb off peak, and 14 Gb peak).

Here's what I'm thinking:

* Switch to Optus cable broadband coz it's comparable to the ADLS2+ in terms of speed and price.

* Optus cable doesn't require a copper phone line, whereas ADSL2+ does - and hence I'll be removing the monthly line rental costs.

* Use the savings from the line rental costs to pay for a two-way VOIP modem, and an ATA, so that I can use my existing telephone over my broadband connection.

* Sign up with somebody like www.sipme.com.au to get a "landline" number but at much cheaper rates.

The result? Faster broadband, no line rental, still get a normal telephone number and cheaper telephone calls. And, fairly quickly (around 6 months), I'll end up better off financially per month.

My questions: Are there any flaws in this plan? What are they?

Cheers.

[daamon]

gunslinger? offline? Anyone...?

Pleeeeeeaaaase... I'm convinced that my plan is somewhere near correct, but I need to know I'm going in the right direction and any corrections to my logic. My girlfriend's chewing my ear coz I haven't got the phone sorted out for the new house yet...

[Lucifers_Ghost]

I personally dont have a lan line. Its just not sensical.

I have my dsl service on a dry loop (dsl with no phone service). Then I have my cellular which is unlimited nights after 6pm and weekends free for $30 a month. I get home from work at 6:15. At that point my phone is free .. so why bother spending the extra 30 - 60 a month on a lan line? For long distance, I just buy LD cards. With the one that I usually buy, I get a $10 card and I get about 360 minutes. That may not be a lot of minutes, but my long distance is very sporadic. My current $10 card I bought 2.5 months ago and I still have about 80 minutes left on it.


LG

[jimmalenko]

gunslinger? offline? Anyone...?

Pleeeeeeaaaase... I'm convinced that my plan is somewhere near correct, but I need to know I'm going in the right direction and any corrections to my logic. My girlfriend's chewing my ear coz I haven't got the phone sorted out for the new house yet...

G'Day mate,


I like the plan !


I currently get Cable Internet, Foxtel TV and "ChatPhone" (VoIP) through Neighborhood Cable, a company that services Ballarat, Geelong and Mildura. I have an ATA which hooks into my router, which hooks into my cable modem.

* Switch to Optus cable broadband coz it's comparable to the ADLS2+ in terms of speed and price.

* Optus cable doesn't require a copper phone line, whereas ADSL2+ does - and hence I'll be removing the monthly line rental costs.

You'll remove line rental costs from Telstra or other providers on the phone line, but will still pay line rental for a VoIP landline.

* Use the savings from the line rental costs to pay for a two-way VOIP modem, and an ATA, so that I can use my existing telephone over my broadband connection.

I believe that if you get a VoIP-capable modem then you don't need an ATA, and vice-versa.

* Sign up with somebody like www.sipme.com.au to get a "landline" number but at much cheaper rates.

See Q2 above.

The result? Faster broadband, no line rental, still get a normal telephone number and cheaper telephone calls. And, fairly quickly (around 6 months), I'll end up better off financially per month.

Change the word "no" to "cheaper" and you're on the right track.

Apart from that it looks good ...... as does that light violet velvet shirt you're wearing - what's up with that ?????

[daamon]

Hey Jimmalenko,

Cheers for the replies - very encouraging info. Much appreciated!!!

That's spawned a few, more focussed, questions:

1) Where, in Melbourne, (or shipped nationally) can I get a VoIP-capable modem? What are good brands, average prices etc.?

2) Who else, particularly for Melbourne and close-in suburbs (Ascot Vale), is there as well as www.sipme.com.au ? Are all providers comparable? What is there to look for to differentiate them?

Looks like you may well prevent from my arse being kicked... Cheers

Oh, and why did you leave it until this morning to query my violet shirt? I was wearing it last night at "that club" you recommended. You know - the one where you said "I love it here coz people don't judge me - we're all the same...". Were you there... again?

[jimmalenko]

Hey,


Can't help you with any of those questions I'm afraid - I got my ATA from my provider.

All I can recommend is the usual places - Centrecom, Glenferrie Computer Services, MSY etc etc.

Oh, and why did you leave it until this morning to query my violet shirt? I was wearing it last night at "that club" you recommended. You know - the one where you said "I love it here coz people don't judge me - we're all the same...". Were you there... again?

Well ... I was going to tell you earlier this morning, but .....errr ...... I had an early start


Plus I had to call in to see offline at Three Faces in Prahan ......

[daamon]

Can't help you with any of those questions I'm afraid - I got my ATA from my provider.

Oh well - there's enough there to go on. I'll do some legwork too, of course, but it's always good to have recommendations.

All I can recommend is the usual places - Centrecom, Glenferrie Computer Services, MSY etc etc.

Thanks.

Well ... I was going to tell you earlier this morning, but .....errr ...... I had an early start

Plus I had to call in to see offline at Three Faces in Prahan ......

Good place is it? The Three Faces...? I might have to check it out...

[jimmalenko]

Plus I had to call in to see offline at Three Faces in Prahan ......

Good place is it? The Three Faces...? I might have to check it out...

That's the idea we had the night we stumbled upon it ...... but unfortunately our attire of shirt and ties weren't classed as being "dressed for the occasion"

[offline]

Sorry mate, sick as a dog at the moment. Cable modem supplied by optus. no landline needed in this case. VOIP quality info can be found at the voip forum at whirlpool or austech forums.

You'll remove line rental costs from Telstra or other providers on the phone line, but will still pay line rental for a VoIP landline.

bzzzt. wrong. With cable, no land line required if using ATA for voip calls. VOIP info see faq's at the VOIP forum at whirlpool or the voip thread at austech.com forum.

..now back to my sick bed.

@jimmalenko

You still on for Crystal T's on Sat night, bigboy? :P

btw 3 Faces is now called "The Market"

[jimmalenko]

You'll remove line rental costs from Telstra or other providers on the phone line, but will still pay line rental for a VoIP landline.

bzzzt. wrong. With cable, no land line required if using ATA for voip calls.

Correct (I have an ATA at home thru cable) but you would still need to pay somebody to be provided with a number, no ?

You still on for Crystal T's on Sat night, bigboy? :P

Only if you'll give me the grand tour

btw 3 Faces is now called "The Market"

So you KNOW the place I'm talking about then ?

[daamon]

@ offline: Cheers for the additional info. My main drivers are speed of broadband being retained (or better), and cost (net and landline).

My current setup:

* Broadband: ADSL $60 per month. 1,500 download, 18Gb limit.
* Phone: $30 per month.
* Total: $90 per month.

I've been on to Optus and found that the new house is on the Optus network. Im signing up for:

* Broadband: Cable $50 per month. 9,900 download, 7 + 14Gb limits (peak + off-peak).
* Phone: $13 per month, going to $19 per month after 6 months.
* Free modem, free connection - because of getting landline with them. Sorted mobiles on to a monthly plan too.
* Total: Max $69 per month.

Result: Save $21 per month, get faster broadband. Sweet

That said, VoIP is still well and truly on the agenda - I'll wait for my landline commitments to expire and then review it. The one-off expense for kit was OK, but I didn't have time to look into where to get stuff.

One downside of www.sipme.com.au is that they don't give out normal phone numbers (03 9xxx xxxx), except in Sydney - but that's changing in the future... I didn't get a chance to look at other SIP providers.

Nonetheless, this was a very interesting thread and I've learnt alot. Thank you guys!!!