Telstra Cable + Home phone bundle - Can I add an ADSL connection?

LGenga on 05/09/2017 - 08:18

Hi all -

My family (husband + 2yo) have moved in with my parents for 3months before we head overseas for 5 months.

At the moment, my folks have a Telstra cable + home phone bundle - 25GB / $60mth (plus foxtel, billed separately i think). It's not great value, but they are in contract until Jan 2018. NBN will supposedly be available in Jan-Mar 2018.

Husband and I previously had TPG unlimited ADSL in our previous place. No idea how much data we actually used, but 2-3 hrs of browsing per night, netflix 3-4 hours per day, some football streaming online and other tv streaming (SBS On demand, iview etc) -maybe 5-6 hours per week.

Looking for a short term solution for the next couple of months while we are with my folks as their 25GB is only just enough for them at the moment, never mind our additional usage.

I'm going around in circles trying to figure out what would be best, so hoping someone could help?

I think our options are:

  • Get mobile broadband on a month-month basis - possibly a $70month Optus 100G plan
  • Not sure if it's possible, but get an additional ADSL fixed line month-month unlimited plan. Is this even possible on top of an existing cable connection? I know they are different technologies, but considering the existing home phone is bundled with the Telstra cable, what kind of ADSL connection would I have to look for in order to not mess with the phone line? I know we probably dont really need unlimited, but it's nice not having to worry and i was happy paying our $59/month TPG plan.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

Internet

Comments

  • Diji1 on 05/09/2017 - 08:53

    Wow. This has left me flabbergasted. New Telstra ripoff champion right here. $60 for 25GB. Let me guess: 2 year contract as well?

    You're parents would be better off buying prepaid mobile SIMs. I just paid $20 for 12GB Vodafone data.

    Your parents seriously need to wake the hell up and realise that Telstra is a business that charges whatever it can. It specialises in ripping off people who don't know anything. Their sales process is a roundabout of lies and misinformation.

    For example my Telstra cable bill is $109 for 100Mbit with 1000GB.

    Probably your best option is to see if you can get fixed wireless since ADSL does not work anymore. One provider is Vivid and there is at least one other.

  • Randxyz123 on 05/09/2017 - 09:40
    +2

    Call telstra and explain the situation. You should be able to go up a plan size without reconnecting and then your folks can recontract when the nbn arrives

    • [Deactivated] on 08/09/2017 - 15:11

      ^^ Correct answer

      Telstra have "Right Fit Guarantee" allowing you to go up and down in quotas at no charge, no need to dick around with another connection. Telstra Cable is really good, compared to ADSL

  • scrimshaw on 05/09/2017 - 09:56
    +3

    Having Cable doesn't mean you can't have ADSL. Since they are two different types of connections that use two different cable types and they don't route through the same hardware.

    If it was Fiber then it would be different — once you have go with FTTN, your ADSL connection stops working and you are jumpered over to the fiber exchanges.

    my folks have a Telstra cable + home phone bundle - 25GB / $60mth

    This plan must be the Senior's Starter Bundle. It doesn't sound like particularly good value this as 25GB is such a tiny amount.

    I would be asking Telstra to change up the plan to a bigger 500GB "M" plan, but that might cost you $80 a month. However, when you look at the cost of getting a new mobile plan, paying $80 a month is actually not so bad.

    Telstra may ask you to recontract. Firmly state no and that you want the keep the plan only for a few months otherwise threaten to leave when the original contract expires.

    • Beanvee on 05/09/2017 - 11:46

      From a technical standpoint you're right. But Telstra forces the phone line to be bundled in with their cable service and under their plan. You can't separate them, and they will close any ADSL connection on the line.

      • garetz on 05/09/2017 - 13:32

        Telstra scamming at its best.

  • Genga on 05/09/2017 - 10:18

    Thanks all. I understand that their current plan is awful value - @scrimshaw is correct that it's the Senior's Start Bundle, which tbh has actually been fine data wise, it's only now that they have an ipad are they starting to max out the 25GB.

    The challenge is that we will really only need an increased allowance until we leave in three months time, after which the 25gb will suit them fine, so I was trying to avoid upping their plan and being locked into another contract, but @scrimshaw, I think I will take your advice and ask Telstra to increase their plan for now, and not agree to be re-contracted. $20 a month until the NBN comes along and they can look to switch providers entirely isn't too bad.

    Thanks again

    • ESEMCE on 05/09/2017 - 10:49

      Telstra allows you to "top up" your data allowance 3 times per year or something too…
      I have no idea what this entails!

      • Genga on 05/09/2017 - 11:33

        Thanks - I'll look into this!

        • [Deactivated] on 06/09/2017 - 15:12

          you do it on the page that shows your internet usage when you login to your telstra account on their website

          You can top up your broadband data allowance for free - the top up amount will be the same as your normal allowance and can be used for the remainder of your current billing period. What's more, you can top up multiple times during a single billing period as long as you don't use more than 3 top ups for the year.

  • boomramada on 05/09/2017 - 11:42

    Talk to Telstra, my oldies on
    https://www.telstra.com.au/content/dam/tcom/personal/help/pd… plan, plus they got 50GB bonus - promotion (total 100GB). for $70 without foxtel.

    Their service is good.

    • Genga on 05/09/2017 - 12:23

      Thanks very much - I'll have this to hand when I talk to Telstra - that seems like a good option, especially with the extra 50GB thrown in.

  • Beanvee on 05/09/2017 - 11:45

    I have Telstra cable. They gave me no choice but to remove my ADSL connection I had with iiNet when getting cable because they will not allow you to have cable without the phone line being bundled in, I asked for it in case cable sucked so I had ADSL to fall back on, but they said can't be done.

    You might be able to get them to provide a second ADSL plan on the same line, but I think you've got no chance of another ISP.

  • PVA on 05/09/2017 - 12:27

    Just contact Telstra and increase the plan to more data for the time you need.
    My dad used to do this all the time over Christmas when the family came to visit, then dropped it down again after we all left.

  • Genga on 11/09/2017 - 09:50

    Hi all - I'm in the middle of trying to negotiating an increase to our plan until the end of our current contract (Jan 2018) but they're not budging.

    Insisting that I have to pay an early termination fee ($50) for changing plans, and then recontract for another 24mth period (which I'm not willing to do). Any tips? They are so infuriating!!

    Would be willing to pay the $50 if it gets them over the line, but not recontracting or paying a $120 casual plan fee either.

    • [Deactivated] on 13/09/2017 - 13:00

      Ask them about "Right Fit Guarantee". should be able to change plans to one in the same group of offers available at the time you contracted

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