Best Way to Shift from Optus Cable to NBN HFC

PlasticSpaceman on 01/09/2017 - 15:23

So. Got the horrible news the other day - NBN, like death, taxes and dad jokes, can't be escaped and is coming to my street in two months via the HFC technical abomination. Currently we have the legacy Optus 'unlimited' cable plan that included unlimited data, all local calls, some international, Fetch tv with 33 channels and 30 'free' rubbish movies per month, all for $90. Getting around 30MB down, 1.5MB up (sometimes worse, usually ok).

Now if I move to Optus NBN, as my plan no longer exists, the 'equivalent' plan will cost me $80 per month to get unlimited data, PAYG calls, Fetch tv with a choice of maybe half a dozen channels, all for $80 per month. 25MB up, 5MB down.

So $10 cheaper, faster cloud backups, but slightly slower downloads, will have to pay if use the landline (no great hardship - tends only to be used by my wife to call her mobile when she loses it), and less crap to watch for free. I can opt to jump to "boost max" for an extra $20 per month to get 100/40 put that would bring the total monthly charge to $100. Ouch. I assume "Boost Plus" (50/20) is $10 so could always get that for the same $90 just with fewer Fetch channels and PAYG calls. Hmmm.

I can live with $80 a month, and can put the $10 savings towards Netflix, and I don't care about the 'phone (the only people who call it are our parents), but it's a little galling when I see I can get 100/40 unlimited for around the $69 (or less) mark elsewhere (granted, without Fetch, but whatever).

My current plan is to let Optus shift us over to the NBN (bound to be an unpleasant process no matter who does it, as will need to somehow switch from the physical ex-Optus cable that runs under ground to our house (only have the one cable - hopefully they can simply hook that up at the pole to the ex-Telstra cable rather than having to run new cable). Will go month by month, give them the $200 to shift us, unless they can provide a better 24 month deal to me given I've been on Optus cable since 1999. Once everything is up and running, in particular if Optus don't come to the party with a decent offer, I'll then look at shifting.

Any better suggestions?

Poll Options

  • 1
    Let Optus do everything. Sign up for 24 months. What could possibly go wrong?
  • 0
    Let Optus do everything. Pay 'em $200, then scuttle onto a different ISP asap.
  • 13
    Find the cheapest NBN deal you can and go straight to that. What could possibly go wrong?
  • 3
    Who needs the internet. bonfires on nearby hills worked for my ancestors.
Internet

Comments

  • Richardc on 01/09/2017 - 15:32

    no more optus cable for u?
    http://www.optus.com.au/shop/broadband

    • PlasticSpaceman on 01/09/2017 - 15:37
      +1

      Nope. Once NBN appears, there is a switch over period after which all the old Optus cable will be shut down and pulled out. If you don't switch before then, then you lose both internet and (if you had one) your landline. My only choice will be NBN, or…. I guess a 4G modem. Or the bonfires combined with pigeons. Works fine, except on Total Fire Ban days, or when the pigeons fly into the bonfires……

  • geek001 on 01/09/2017 - 15:49
    +2

    I would stall for as long as possible. Isn't the switch over period 18 months? So you still have about 20 months to think about it, perhaps? :)

    • PlasticSpaceman on 01/09/2017 - 16:06

      Good point. Always been a big fan for procrastination.

      But on the flipside, for those 20 months I'll be paying $90 per month for my (at best) 30/2 cable service when I could be paying $60 per month for 100/40….. $30 difference so 20*$30=$600 more for a slower connection…..

      • geek001 on 01/09/2017 - 16:13

        Maybe have a read about my personal experience.

        https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/324037

        Maybe HFC is different, I don't know. I ended up with a slower connection than when I was on ADSL, so you make the decision. You have been warned! :P

        • PlasticSpaceman on 01/09/2017 - 16:27

          Ouch. I think that further confirms my decision to let Optus do the work to make the switch - when I finally jump - and then look at alternative providers if they don't provide a decent deal.

        • jimbobaus on 02/09/2017 - 08:49

          yeah optus contention ratios are like 500-1
          Hence the slow peak speeds.. i am on Optus cable and wont be staying with them in Oct when NBN arrives

    • unco on 01/09/2017 - 23:11

      I think Optus aren't giving the recommended time to cut off cable customers.

      http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/optus-threa…

    • jimbobaus on 02/09/2017 - 08:46

      Optus have been know to not adhere to the 18 month rule (for cable) it is voluntary and optus have been shown to be only giving customers 30-90 days to switch before losing their service

      http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/optus-threa…

  • whooah1979 on 01/09/2017 - 16:12

    all for $90. Getting around 30MB down, 1.5MB up

    ask them for a discount. we're paying $75 for the same deal. not only us but the whole street has been offered the same price.

    • PlasticSpaceman on 01/09/2017 - 16:29

      Was going to haggle this time around now I'm out of contract, but then NBN appeared (was previously not on the radar until this HFC thing was worked out). But yep, am going to give it a decent go. ;-)

  • JTTheMan on 01/09/2017 - 16:32

    I would love to know too, we are currently on Optus cable at 100.47Mbs down/1.79Mbps up with no word on when NBN is hitting our street.

    We are on the old home big bundle plan which includes a landline, national calls and Fetch TV and I get a bundle discount as I have an Optus mobile plan too. I end up paying about $82/month
    I don't need Fetch TV (it's crap) and sold the box. I just use Apple TV for Netflix and Optus sport.

    • PlasticSpaceman on 01/09/2017 - 17:14

      Will update this thread with my experience when stuff happens. Just got an automated phone call from Optus confirming if I wanted to switch to the NBN and stay with them.

      For those playing at home, can go to http://www.nbnco.com.au/connect-home-or-business/check-your-… to get a date. Mine previously had said there were no plans, but it was going to happen eventually…. then suddenly it changed to "Planned availability: Oct-Dec 2017".

      As an aside, the Fetch was unusable when we first got it - but over time it seemed to fix itself via automatic firmware updates. Works fine now. But yeah, we use an Apple TV as well.

      • JTTheMan on 02/09/2017 - 10:33

        Thanks, I just checked the nbnco link you gave and it says the expected date is Jan-Jun 2019 at my address.

        What exactly is HFC? Does it mean the coaxial cable from the street to my house remains?

        • PlasticSpaceman on 02/09/2017 - 12:57

          HFC = Hybrid Fibre Coax - The coax used for Bigpond cable is repurposed to connect your house to the nearest fibre node. The speed is still ok, although it can't reach the speeds fibre alone can potentially hit, but it saves the time and cost of NBN laying new fibre. Existing Optus cable will eventually be removed.

        • JTTheMan on 03/09/2017 - 09:26

          @PlasticSpaceman: Thanks, do they give any informationtion on where this node is or will be?
          Does that mean this HFC cable joins my house to the node?
          What is the actual speed difference between node->HFC->house (fiber to the node) vs node->optic fiber->house (i.e. fiber to the premises)?

        • PlasticSpaceman on 03/09/2017 - 11:02

          @JTTheMan:

          Node location - no idea. It could be at the end of the street, or could be further away.
          Yes, the coax cable will join your house to the fibre node
          For current (up to 100M/40M) speeds, coax is fine if it's not overloaded or too far away from the node. If gigabit speeds ever become available for homes, then coax may struggle compared to fibre.

        • JTTheMan on 03/09/2017 - 12:07

          @PlasticSpaceman: wow that's unbelievably stupid by the government. A total waste of taxpayer money!
          By the time it gets to my street, in 2019, it's guaranteed to be obsolete.

        • PlasticSpaceman on 03/09/2017 - 14:58

          @JTTheMan: yeah, as soon as the NBN was being talked about I was telling everyone I knew it was an insane waste of money. That the funds should go towards providing high speed links to country towns, schools, hospitals, police, etc…. And leave providing high speed links to city folks to companies like Telstra and Optus etc as high speed wireless networks were coming….. ah well…

    • PVA on 03/09/2017 - 09:14

      I thought they will ask for the fetch box back when you cancel with Optus.

  • giu on 01/09/2017 - 17:23

    Something like this - https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/326422
    $59 a month for the same speed, includes basic home phone and unlimited downloads. No fetch of course, but cheaper and still on HFC.
    I was thinking of Optus cable/HFC but might go with another mob if it delivers the same service for cheaper price.

    • PlasticSpaceman on 01/09/2017 - 17:36

      Yep - https://buzztelco.com.au/nbn-plans/ (ozbargain showing deal expired but currently back down to $59 for 100/40) and https://myrepublic.net/au/personal/nbn/pricing/ (was $60 now back to $70 for 100/40) are on my list. Happy to stick with Optus if they can come close to matching either by price or by bundling in extras. If not, then they are likely to lose a customer. I'm still worried about being caught in limbo during the switch over, hence my thought of staying with them at least initially.

  • serpserpserp on 01/09/2017 - 20:45

    A couple of questions, how do you know that your NBN connection is going to be crap? It could be very dependent on how well the physical rollout/connection to your premises has worked out for you, it could be ok.

    Second, how do you know that the Optus Cable connection won't improve once it rolls into your neighbourhood? Surely all the people being forced off the cable network makes it better for you? (I am hoping for this when NBN hits my Optus Cable neighbourhood 1H18.

    • PlasticSpaceman on 01/09/2017 - 21:07

      Well, never said or implied either of those. Personally I am assuming that the service could be as good if not better. My issue is twofold - sticking with Optus will (at face value) mean I will be paying more for less (slower 25M versus 30M download, PAYG phone, etc), and the actual move from cable to NBN has some technical aspects that are likely to be challenging and mean being off the air for an indeterminate length of time.

      • serpserpserp on 02/09/2017 - 07:45

        So if that is your long winded question. Why stay with Optus if you are getting less and paying more money?

  • BargainKen on 02/09/2017 - 05:39

    I'm on the old $90 unlimited deal with calls, tv and 100mbit. NBN isn't happening here for quite a while

    Planned availability: Jan-Jun 2019*.
    Some premises may require more work before they are ready to connect.

    Planned technology: nbn™ Fibre to the curb (FTTC)*.

    Not sure if that's a good thing as demands on speed increase year on year. By 2019 4k video would be the norm. Already begun to dabble with it myself a little.

  • jimbobaus on 02/09/2017 - 08:48

    be careful Optus contention ratio is like 500 to 1 (means in peak times u will be lucky to get 1mbs down)

    Aussie is 50-1 (which is where u want to be)
    Infinity is 45-1

    Other examples of shocking ratios
    My Republic 300-1
    Amayzim 500-1
    Bendigo Bank teleco 250-1

    A quick look on whirlpool or calling the ISP to ask them their contention ratio will find that sometimes its worth paying more or getting a download limit to ensure you get a decent speed

    • PlasticSpaceman on 02/09/2017 - 13:46

      Do you know where the NBN contention ratio is listed for Optus and the others? Would really like to know. Had a search on Whirlpool and contention issues seemed to be older discussions about Optus cable, but NBN is different. The tier 1 providers (Telstra, Optus, TPG, Vocus) are used by the others. Actually I think AussieBB uses Optus….

      • jimbobaus on 03/09/2017 - 09:01

        That's not how NBN works.

        All providers regardless of tier buy direct from the wholesaler (NBNco)
        It's up to them to determine the level at which they purchase bandwidth.

        Nbn co has gone on the record that many providers are under supplying customers in order to make their packages affordable. They have stated on the record that in the long term $60 for unlimited is not sustainable without a lowered customer experience.

        As for contention ratios the ACCC has a tender out for a company to be responsible for monitoring ratios and speeds etc but this won't launch until early 2018. Currently you can ask a provider their ratio and they are required to tell you.

        I have spoken with Aussie at length and they run at 1:50 and they do not buy from Optus, they buy from NBN. This is why it is $100 for 1TB at 100/40 because that's what it SHOULD cost for a company to be profitable while offering a positive customer soeee experience.

        As for ADSL that's where the tier one situation comes in and yes Aussie adsl is optus

  • PVA on 03/09/2017 - 09:12

    Just hold off for a while and slowly look around.
    You say expected availability is October December, so actually not available yet and may not be that date, you don't want to be caught out with the old service disconnected and the nbn not quite ready ( which I have heard happens a lot)

  • Mrbean007 on 03/09/2017 - 12:18
    +2

    Ring them up and tell them you want same plan depending on who answers might be generous im on same plan currently switched over to hfc nbn
    And got the lot for a extra $5 so paying $95
    With the

    speedpack 100/40 unlimited
    Mobile and house calls free unlimited
    Fetch with same movies and channels
    And premier league
    1300 free

    But i think they got rid of my world saver
    But wasn't using it much anyway

    Also they gave me 3 months free :)

    Pretty much getting my cable speeds at around

    95MB down and 35MB up

    Some night drops down to 50/60 but not as much as what my cable use to do loving it so far especially the uploads

    If they cant give you same deal i would shop around as there are plenty of good deals out there for NBN

    • PlasticSpaceman on 03/09/2017 - 14:40

      Thanks. Will give it a go! Cheers.

    • hluu0111 on 22/09/2017 - 22:32

      Are you on HFC or FTTN or FTTC … ???

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