So, Vodafone is wanting to change my broadband to wireless, from my current VDSL. Doing it the stealth way - emailing about "my upcoming change" to wireless broadband... it involves getting a new modem apparently, and just plugging in.
Before I talk with them - just wanting to know if this will be a "compulsory" move - ie. are they phasing VDSL out altogether, so it's either wireless or nothing? I can't see an explanation of this on the site, and would like to know this basic fact before talking with them. Thanks in advance for any info? BTW am happy with vodafone currently, have been with them for years and never had issues - so not looking to change company.

lyl_guy - 2021-07-19 13:23:00

https://www.broadbandcompare.co.nz/n/first-areas-discontinue
-copper-broadband-announced

docpc - 2021-07-19 13:45:00

if corus was smart they would offer the copper broadband to continue but state it can be up to a month to get repairs done and have the price low according To make money from both fiber and copper.
But as we all know . If you have corporations working off numbers on spreadsheets to only do what seems to make maximum profits instantly.
The way it works is you fire almost everyone make the rest work for all the others who got fired Then you can show maximum profits and sell the company for billios . so the next moron can find out what unrecoverable disater it is and they write it off as bancrupt and claim the taxes for the minus on ther other corporations. Onselling the name And then it starts all over.

intrade - 2021-07-19 13:55:00

They should be forcing it, the hardware (not just the wires in your house) is ancient now, and the techs are all trained on fibre not copper. You wouldn't expect "tonys Tyres" to change the shoes on your horse.

bitsnpieces2020 - 2021-07-19 13:59:00

intrade wrote:

if corus was smart they would offer the copper broadband to continue but state it can be up to a month to get repairs done and have the price low according To make money from both fiber and copper.
But as we all know . If you have corporations working off numbers on spreadsheets to only do what seems to make maximum profits instantly.
The way it works is you fire almost everyone make the rest work for all the others who got fired Then you can show maximum profits and sell the company for billios . so the next moron can find out what unrecoverable disater it is and they write it off as bancrupt and claim the taxes for the minus on ther other corporations. Onselling the name And then it starts all over.

Chorus is smart enough to know lines over 100 years old are really beyond economic up keep , with wireless and fiber the future for now its a no brainier. Who wants to wait a month or so to have anything fixed , not me .

docpc - 2021-07-19 14:01:00

docpc wrote:

Chorus is smart enough to know lines over 100 years old are really beyond economic up keep , with wireless and fiber the future for now its a no brainier. Who wants to wait a month or so to have anything fixed , not me .

Well then you pay more easy as The copper lines wile still functional is like crushing cars every 6 years to save the environment ..

intrade - 2021-07-19 14:13:00

lyl_guy wrote:

So, Vodafone is wanting to change my broadband to wireless, from my current VDSL.
Before I talk with them - just wanting to know if this will be a "compulsory" move - ie. are they phasing VDSL out altogether,

VDSL uses copper AND fibre. it's fibre at the other end, usually when fibre hasn't been run along your street yet. It is almost as good as fibre.
Wireless uses the cellphone towers and thus is subject to more congestion. It can be ok in small places...but really, stay as you are until full fibre is available.
I recommend Voyager as a provider.

lythande1 - 2021-07-19 14:31:00

vodafone have been doing that for at least three years - i'd put money on your street is nowhere near being disconnected from copper.

It is far more likely they want to save themselves a few $$$ by provisioning the internet via their own network and not have to wholesale off chorus.

king1 - 2021-07-19 14:42:00

intrade wrote:

Well then you pay more easy as The copper lines wile still functional is like crushing cars every 6 years to save the environment ..

I pay less for fiber than i do copper , easy as , :) .Like crush cars every 6 years what world you on copper is over 100 years old , math's no your strong subject

docpc - 2021-07-19 14:47:00

lyl_guy wrote:

So, Vodafone is wanting to change my broadband to wireless, from my current VDSL. Doing it the stealth way - emailing about "my upcoming change" to wireless broadband... it involves getting a new modem apparently, and just plugging in.
Before I talk with them - just wanting to know if this will be a "compulsory" move - ie. are they phasing VDSL out altogether, so it's either wireless or nothing? I can't see an explanation of this on the site, and would like to know this basic fact before talking with them. Thanks in advance for any info? BTW am happy with vodafone currently, have been with them for years and never had issues - so not looking to change company.

https://www.chorus.co.nz/copper-withdrawal to check your address and not guess or take Vodafone's word for it that you need to change.Keep in mind that Vodafone itself my be phasing out the use of ADSL/VDSL :)

docpc - 2021-07-19 14:54:00

Thanks for all the replies - I'll check out the links given and see what my options are. I'm usually of the 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' type, but will change if I have to.

lyl_guy - 2021-07-19 15:07:00

I changed from Flip ADSL which was plenty fast enough for me to Skinny 4G broadband and it is way faster, especially on the uploads. It is also way cheaper.

The reason I changed is that it stopped working and the tech support department said that there could be a $280 fine if the problem was with my internal wiring. I wasn't able to find a junction box to isolate the internal wiring to test it and I was only able to find a grey torpedo sticking out of the ground near my house. It was full of spiders, moisture and mildew and many mysterious unmarked wires so I gave it up as a bad job.

Am pretty happy with the performance of the 4G internet, the only issue is that we don't have a phone line any more so don't get the scam calls from India, and also I will often lose my cellphone for a couple of days at a time as I can't call it any more to find it.

tygertung - 2021-07-19 15:09:00

From the chorus site:

Wireless broadband currently uses 4G mobile networks. You’ll need a strong 4G signal at your place to get the best experience and connection speeds will vary as they can be impacted by interference from things like the landscape, buildings and the weather.

Unlike ADSL, VDSL and fibre, the signal is shared with everyone using the network, which means performance can diminish at peak times when more people are trying to get online.

Bear in mind that unless you pay extra for a copper line, you’ll be removing yourself from the copper network. You’ll still have a landline if you opt for one, but it will operate off the wireless modem. It would pay to check whether your existing home phones and security alarms will still operate if you go wireless. It’s also worth remembering that all wireless connections come with a data cap so unless you’re a low data user, this may not be the best connection for you.

Wireless may be an option for people who are too far from a cabinet to get a fast fixed connection. It may also be a good stop-gap for those waiting for better fixed broadband, such as fibre or VDSL to become available. But check to see when upgrades are happening at your place before you lock yourself into a contract."
I'm happy with my VDSL speeds and connectivity so it sounds like I should just keep what I have.

lyl_guy - 2021-07-19 15:24:00

tygertung wrote:

I changed from Flip ADSL which was plenty fast enough for me to Skinny 4G broadband and it is way faster, especially on the uploads. It is also way cheaper.

The reason I changed is that it stopped working and the tech support department said that there could be a $280 fine if the problem was with my internal wiring. I wasn't able to find a junction box to isolate the internal wiring to test it and I was only able to find a grey torpedo sticking out of the ground near my house. It was full of spiders, moisture and mildew and many mysterious unmarked wires so I gave it up as a bad job.

Am pretty happy with the performance of the 4G internet, the only issue is that we don't have a phone line any more so don't get the scam calls from India, and also I will often lose my cellphone for a couple of days at a time as I can't call it any more to find it.

So you lose your landline as well? Hmmm don't think I'm liking this idea very much TBH.
Actually no, have just re-read some info and you can plug a phone straight into the wireless modem. But still not sure of the fact that I'd be sharing bandwidth with my neighbours, and the signal could be dodgy!

Edited by lyl_guy at 3:38 pm, Mon 19 Jul

lyl_guy - 2021-07-19 15:25:00

It depends on your location, but we have never had a dodgy signal once.

tygertung - 2021-07-19 16:05:00

tygertung wrote:

...tech support department said that there could be a $280 fine if the problem was with my internal wiring...

This whole "internal wiring thing is a scam. 3 houses ago I complained about disconnections and the guy turned up and said he'd tested at the exchange, he'd tested at the roadside box, he'd tested at the pillbox and tested at the box on the side of my house. Looked inside the house and said it was my internal wiring and I'd have to pay, but he lent me his personal modem to verify overnight.

Next day he came back with his offsider and I said it was still happening, and I let him inside. I'd disconnected all of the internal wiring and his modem was directly connected to the 6 inch wire that passed through the concrete blocks, to a brand new junction box and telephone both with the "Approved by Telecom" stickers. And the phone had noise on the line.

Taken by surprise he 'rang a friend' back at the exchange, and the noise and the disconnections stopped instantly, never a problem again.

If they're inside your house charging you $200 to repair internal wiring, watch for them to 'phone a friend' just before finishing. They'll likely say they're "just updating the job".

Edited by gyrogearloose at 4:27 pm, Mon 19 Jul

gyrogearloose - 2021-07-19 16:25:00

gyrogearloose wrote:

This whole "internal wiring thing is a scam. 3 houses ago I complained about disconnections and the guy turned up and said he'd tested at the exchange, he'd tested at the roadside box, he'd tested at the pillbox and tested at the box on the side of my house. Looked inside the house and said it was my internal wiring and I'd have to pay, but he lent me his personal modem to verify overnight.

Next day he came back with his offsider and I said it was still happening, and I let him inside. I'd disconnected all of the internal wiring and his modem was directly connected to the 6 inch wire that passed through the concrete blocks, to a brand new junction box and telephone both with the "Approved by Telecom" stickers. And the phone had noise on the line.

Taken by surprise he 'rang a friend' back at the exchange, and the noise and the disconnections stopped instantly, never a problem again.

If they're inside your house charging you $200 to repair internal wiring, watch for them to 'phone a friend' just before finishing. They'll likely say they're "just updating the job".

Rings a bell with me, your story does.. But a faint bell, as it's over 13 years ago. I do recall a lot of insisting it's not MY wiring and afterwards NOT being charged for THEIR fault, which also never happened again.

Edited by hazelnut2 at 4:57 pm, Mon 19 Jul

hazelnut2 - 2021-07-19 16:57:00

tygertung wrote:

I changed from Flip ADSL which was plenty fast enough for me to Skinny 4G broadband and it is way faster, especially on the uploads. It is also way cheaper.

The reason I changed is that it stopped working and the tech support department said that there could be a $280 fine if the problem was with my internal wiring. I wasn't able to find a junction box to isolate the internal wiring to test it and I was only able to find a grey torpedo sticking out of the ground near my house. It was full of spiders, moisture and mildew and many mysterious unmarked wires so I gave it up as a bad job.

Am pretty happy with the performance of the 4G internet, the only issue is that we don't have a phone line any more so don't get the scam calls from India, and also I will often lose my cellphone for a couple of days at a time as I can't call it any more to find it.

They can't fine you. Only the Govt can. It's a callout tech charge.

nice_lady - 2021-07-19 17:31:00

More of a tech callout fine.

The problem was I couldn't work out where the wiring entered the house as it came in underground somewhere, so I couldn't break into the wiring and isolate the house.

tygertung - 2021-07-19 21:02:00

Vodafone did the same to me, sent me a wireless modem and phone. The phone cut out sound on some calls, you tube videos had no sound and the cost was the same. I changed to Skinny - no problems and much much cheaper. I sent their useless modem and phone back to vodafone.

retrogold - 2021-07-20 07:39:00

tygertung wrote:

More of a tech callout fine.

Its a fee. Used to be that teleco's charged a 'wiring maintenance fee' of about $4 per month. Then if you had a problem it didn't cost you extra. Some time ago they decided to allow people to not pay that if they wished so that you'd save $48 per year. BUT the other side of that was that if you had a problem you'd be billed for the tech callout time.

nice_lady - 2021-07-20 08:01:00

tygertung wrote:

I changed from Flip ADSL which was plenty fast enough for me to Skinny 4G broadband and it is way faster, especially on the uploads. It is also way cheaper.

But not faster than VDSL

lythande1 - 2021-07-20 08:45:00

lythande1 wrote:

But not faster than VDSL

Wrong. "VDSL can reach speeds of more than 50 Mbps downstream, and 10 Mbps upstream"

My neighbour just hooked up to Spark 'Wireless' and it's running at 137Mbs downstream.

nice_lady - 2021-07-20 08:53:00

tygertung wrote:

It depends on your location, but we have never had a dodgy signal once.

Yes same here Tygertung

ferrit47 - 2021-07-20 11:29:00

Yes easy get +/-100Mbs DL on our Spark 4g BB, we are on the outer edge of reception but the duel MIMO roof top antenna did the trick.

shinedog - 2021-07-20 12:29:00