Anyone recently moved from ADSL2+ to CABLE Internet?

GLO on 31/01/2016 - 12:16

Hi,

Ive been with ADSL2+ and sync at 14Mbps and see speedtests regularly show 11Mbps speeds.

Its been pretty reliable over the past 6 months, but with 4 kids in the house and lots of Netflix,Hulu Plus and Youtube running everynight (and day in school holidays) I tend to get the occasional buffering due to the bandwidth.

My question is, for those who have in the past 6 months moved to Bigpond Cable, Foxtel Internet or Optus Cable have you seen a genuine and significant improvement during peak periods?

My sister in law has Optus Cable and i saw 40Mbps speeds at their place on Australia Day, but im keen to see what fellow OzBargainers experience is?

Im currently paying $55 for 1Tb with Exetel, and in January peaked at 530gb. Previously it was 230-250gb/month. I'd expect this to drop well below 500Gb during school months.

Anyways, keen to get your thoughts. Understanding that Cable pricing is around $70- $80/month.

Thanks in advance.

Internet

Comments

  • kathmandu-jeff on 31/01/2016 - 12:33

    I'm currently on Optus' $90 Unlimited cable with the speed pack thrown in for free. I get ~70-80 mbps download and ~1.5 mbps uploads during off peak times. However during peak times it slows down to around 10 mbps down and 0.5 mbps up. This has been happening since early last year.
    Keep in mind that this may be different in your area.

  • aussiepuck on 31/01/2016 - 12:46
    +1

    Yep, just recently moved from ADSL to cable and the difference is night and day. I'm now on the Optus Unlimited 100Mbps plan and my usual connection is around the 80-90Mbps and download speed is around 2 Mb/s which is insane coming from ADSL. As the other poster mentioned, just like with all network activity it slows down in peak times but i've only had it go to 40-50 which is still significantly faster than ADSL!

    FYI - to the best of my knowledge Foxtel do not do cable. Only Telstra and Optus.

    • GLO on 31/01/2016 - 13:03

      This is the Foxtel offering:
      https://www.foxtel.com.au/get/broadband-bundles.html?

      I already have foxtel iQ but have stripped my package down so I only pay $10 for the Free to Air channels, (basically a rental on the iQ box)

      • PVA on 31/01/2016 - 13:11
        +1

        their broadband is ADSL, even if the Foxtel service is on Cable.
        Cable is only Telstra or Optus.

      • emibel19 on 31/01/2016 - 21:03

        So you have Foxtel without the basic Entertainment package ($25 per month)? How did you manage that? I thought that was the minimum. I currently have that, plus Sport ($25) plus HD ($10).

        • GLO on 31/01/2016 - 21:30

          I have had Foxtel for 15 years at my current address.
          And renewed contract terms over and over, and finally called to cancel when I got onto US Netflix a few years ago. I simply asked to lease the IQ2 but at $10/ month for only free to air channels.

          The minimum spend would be for new and in contract services.

          If your out of contract p, just ask to cancel then say you will keep the box at $10/month.

        • emibel19 on 31/01/2016 - 21:45

          @GLO:
          OK, thanks. I have a separate PVR for recording free to air channels over the air anyway, and mainly keep Foxtel for the sport (and occasionally the Entertainment package channels, such as Sky News).

  • PVA on 31/01/2016 - 13:10

    can you get cable at your address, type in on Telstra site (including unit number) and see. It may not be available.

    If it is though it is a mile better than adsl.

    • GLO on 31/01/2016 - 13:23

      I have Foxtel at my place, and that uses the same link.

      Is that the same as Foxtel by Optus?

  • kipps on 31/01/2016 - 13:43

    Been on Telstra cable for many years after coming from ADSL. Will never go back to ADSL if I can help it. Difference is night and day. Frequently getting easily 90mbps, even in peak.

    • GLO on 31/01/2016 - 18:50

      Thats encouraging!

      Are you finding that you are actually able to take advantage of that complete line speed given that it also depends on the speed of the server supplying that data?

      Speedtests back to the ISP generally only show the link back to them, but what are the links like from the carrier?

      • emibel19 on 31/01/2016 - 20:02

        I'm with Telstra cable (with Speed Boost) and I can consistently get 14 MB/s (over 100 Mbps) with Internet Download Manager from uploaded.net. It used to slow down during peak periods, but they recently upgraded the network in my area.

  • jenkemjunkie on 31/01/2016 - 18:24

    Just went on Telstra Cable. I could never go back to ADSL. I based my house purchase mainly on internet infrastructure and water pressure. It's great being able to download a whole series in 10-15 minutes, and stream 1080P without buffering

    • GLO on 31/01/2016 - 18:54

      Internet infrustructure YES
      Drive way Access YES (have a lowered car)

      Water Pressure: I'll have to add that to my list next time. How do you check this for a new site?

      My household is all about streaming. I have read that some cable internet providers have a BOOST or faster link, but if the basic is 40+Mbps then realistically, when are you going to take advantage of 100Mbps (if its limited by the server link on the other end)?

      • jenkemjunkie on 31/01/2016 - 19:17
        +1

        Decent driveway yes, awesome shed and garage strictly for wrenching YES! For water pressure (even when I looked at rentals): Walked straight to the bathrooms, turned on the showers. If water pressure was shocking. I'd walk away, it's a deal breaker. If you have a dodgy plumber mate sometimes they put water limiters on the main piping and you can take them off but the pressure in the area may still be shit when they do it. Just go turning the water on everywhere.

        I rented a nice house once in a new area. Looked good, but could only get ADSL 1 (shit pair gained lines) and had water pressure like a garden watering can. It was still shit when I got the limiters taken off. My girlfriend didn't like showering at my house because she couldn't even wash the shampoo out of her hair! That's why when buying, focus on the older established areas, where you see a lot of brick houses. Atleast you know corners weren't cut so some dodgy developer could maximise profit (pair gain phone lines, no cable laid, water limiters). I have a few tradie mates that send me the dodgiest photos showing me some new apartment rentals they are working on (and definitely not their doing).

        I know Telstra offer a speed boost, I don't need it but my mate down the road (literally) somehow negotiated the speed boost with 1000GB telstra cable for something like $110 a month. I might try and get the speed boost for free and report back but my speeds are pretty damn fast atm.

        Good luck with your future househunt and streaming endeavours! Do not compromise!

  • dmgdx on 31/01/2016 - 18:45

    http://www.speedtest.net/result/5044394914.png optus cable 100mbps

    • GLO on 31/01/2016 - 18:48

      Nice, does this fluctuate in peak periods 6pm-midnight?

  • conan2000 on 01/02/2016 - 08:21

    Telstra with speedboost here. 80Mb/s generally. Drops to 60Mb/s in peak periods. So destroys the 6-8Mb/s the ADSL gave us at the same property. 2Mb up seems to sustain in all periods.

  • [Deactivated] on 01/02/2016 - 08:24

    I moved from iiNet to Telstra cable last May and believe it is much better

    Prob due to my location but I'm getting 33-35mbps down and 1.15mbps up. What that doesn't say is quality of connection… I can also download a 1gb movie in less than 30mins but I'm used to walking away and coming back in hours to check but have been surprised how quick I can download

    Our usage has gone up with Netflix, YouTube etc so it's not uncommon for me to maintain a strong Call of Duty game session while others are watching a movie. Often 4 concurrent sessions

    I also wouldn't move back to adsl.

  • JavaJoe on 01/02/2016 - 09:09

    I've had Telstra cable with speedboost for years. Speedtest.net regularly shows 113Mbs and 2.4Mbs upload. I will switch from Telstra when cable is taken over by NBN and hopefully better deals around.

    • GLO on 01/02/2016 - 21:33

      Speeds are similar to nbn but do you anticipate improved pricing by comparison?

  • kaos on 01/02/2016 - 12:30

    same here- regularly get 112mbps and would never move into a place without cable or nbn

  • rsmart on 01/02/2016 - 13:31

    Moved from ADSL (too far from exchange and getting .9 to 3.1mbs) to Telstra cable ($80 for phone & 100gb internet + extra 100gb (total 200gb) for a period). There is nothing in Telstra modem to check speed but internet sites which seems to vary. iiNet tell me the download speed is 36mps and upload 1.02mbs - another site tells me the line speed is 35.5mbs but my download speed is 4.4mbs. I really don't notice much difference between this and the best ADSL I was getting. The Telstra modem is pretty simple (netgear but altered by Telstra so no support from netgear). There is no manual so if you want any help other than basic setup, they charge you $120+ (pretty rough I say and the source of a few confrontations with Telstra). All in all, not impressed.

  • fredblogs on 01/02/2016 - 14:44
    +2

    I also moved from iiNet ADSL to Telstra cable and would never go back if I can help it.

    Currently a Tesltra rep is doing a deal for $79/month: 400GB, free install, $50 welcome credit, phone line with free national calls, Gateway Max modem. PM me if you want to get in touch with him.

    • rgc on 03/02/2016 - 15:43

      Is this for a cable?

      • fredblogs on 03/02/2016 - 16:44

        Cable, ADSL, or NBN.

        • rgc on 03/02/2016 - 16:51

          I'd like his details please

        • fredblogs on 03/02/2016 - 16:58

          @rgc: Unfortunately can't give his details out in public. Can you PM me or leave a way to get in touch with you.

  • Powershopz on 04/02/2016 - 14:49

    If you can get cable in your location - do it. It's a lot better than ADSL.

  • anntip on 06/02/2016 - 12:28

    I recently moved from Telstra ADSL 2+ to Cable due to the buffering problem with the former when I am on utube.com. I have never been happier ever since. I was stuffed up by telstra techies and it took a more than 6 goes at Telstra before they finally did the switch for me professionally. Once this is set up, I noticed the difference in the speed and buffering issue is gone when on utube. I highly recommend the switch if you use your PC a lot for watching movies and utube.

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