NBN Basics everyone should know
At Stressless Communications We do NOT sell NBN plans, We do NOT work for telstra, iiNet or any other company that sells NBN plans. We build phone stuff, fix internet stuff and quite often have to rescue someone from the telco people that do not supply what they have sold. We have got quite good at this over the years so I thought I would like to give out some free advice on changing over to the NBN as is quite baffling to the people that work inside the industry some days and much worse for most people!
I will expand on some of these points in later posts but if you want more info email me
I should start by saying I have no love for any of the companies involved in this rollout and feelings somewhere between contempt and disgust for most. Which is far better than the middleground between inconsequential and extraenous their customers are too often consigned to.
Therefore I have no recommendation to give you about which Internet Service Provider (ISP) you should sign up with. However we must move to the NBN network if we want phone or internet as the existing network will be cut off soon, NBN states you have 18 months from your area going ‘live’
I would recommend you just pick a provider or three and give them a call and they will happily try to sell you a plan.
The things I would ask them about in your situation are;
What type of NBN will we get ( you may get one of 3 so far but there are more confusing acronyms on the horizon) So far they are rolling out FTTP, FTTN and FTTB.
These all stand for “Fibre to the” , Premises, Node and Basement. You will be designated one of these and are all slightly different.
FTTP has an NBN box in your premises that looks like this
FTTN is where you still plug into the old phone socket you used to use, currently most common for recent NBN connections in houses or small apartment blocks in and around Freo/Hilton etc
FTTB is generally for apartment blocks or similar where the NBN “node” is in the MDF (telstra cupboard) and the NBN contractors will have to make an appointment to cut your service over (they should do this for FTTN as well but I hear they are not anymore) and you still plug into the previously existing socket
You will not get a choice (unfortunately) but it makes a fair bit of difference later
Can I get my phone line through the “v” port or must it be VOIP (The v port is on the NBN box and is better for fax (ie it willl work then) and your phone will work in a power outage but can only be used with an FTTP connection and only certain providers provide this). If you can get this option then consider having them install the battery back up (free!) to give you service during a power outage
IMPORTANT NOTE: ONLY AN ORDINARY TELEPHONE WILL WORK WITHOUT MAINS POWER!!
CORDLESS PHONES REQUIRE MAINS POWER TO OPERATE
VOIP TELEPHONE SERVICES WILL NOT WORK DURING A POWER OUTAGE WITHOUT A UPS
NBN BATTERY BACKUP WILL SUPPORT THE V PORT ONLY ( sometimes called NETPHONE)
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) can be purchased privately to power your cordless or modem but is not NBN supplied
Will my existing equipment work on the NBN ? Consider things like MEDIALERTS, Fax, telephone/pbx systems, existing modems and especially ALARMs.
I would get responses about particular equipment working in writing for obvious reasons
Can I port my existing number to the new service
Is there a charge to change over (NBN do not charge to port an existing service, however there are providers that do, or will try, and many that do not)
Will my “Customer Service Guarantees” still apply to the new service?
These are rights that apply to the time it can take to repair faults or connect a service etc
Many providers are insisting customers waive their rights to CSGs, this means there is possibly no penalty if a fault is not repaired in a timely fashion and therefore no reason for the provider to ensure faults are repaired quickly.
There are allowances made in the legislation for a customer to waive their right to CSGs so a service may be supplied, among other things, at a lower cost. The customer may decline to waive these rights. Consider whether a cheaper monthly rate is worth trading away quick resolution of fault conditions before agreeing to this. Sometimes it may be..
Do you have plans without a lock in contract?
Will I have a download limit per month?
What happens if I exceed this?
There is a long history of some providers penalising customers ridiculous amounts (read THOUSAND$$) for exceeding the monthly quota and while this is happening less it needs to be checked. More common is a $10 fee to upgrade you to the next plan for the month
Will my speed be limited for any reason below the speed stated on the contract?
Will I be able to get the speed I am signing up for at all times?
What do you mean when you state “speed up to?”
What if I just want my phone as I do not require internet?
Please read earlier regarding NBN battery back up for power outages
What length of time will my service(s) be disconnected for during the change over?
If for some reason the NBN service does not activate correctly can I get my existing service back until it can be correctly installed?
Will the cable in my house need to be replaced or reconfigured for NBN? If so, at whose cost?
Most Importantly!! Don’t get pushed into anything!! You have time, it is your choice
DO NOT TAKE A DEAL YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH
DO NOT AGREE TO ANYTHING WITHOUT ALL THE FACTS
IF YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND THEM, HANG UP! More on that one next time..
Be Stressless
