Whirlpool

Hi guys,

Good news about the peak/off peak times for the Big Kahuna 200GB Plan.

Website will be updated shortly.

IPRIMUS ENHANCES BIG KAHUNA

Following great success of trial launch of Big Kahuna, iPRIMUS has changed the Peak-Off Peak times for Big Kahuna in accordance with customer feedback, particularly Whirlpool community.

The off peak period has been extended to be from 12midnight to 12noon. As a result, iPRIMUS Big Kahuna further strengthens its position as the best value plan for serious broadband users. iPRIMUS is one of the largest broadband players in Australia and Primus Telecom, its parent is on of the top three facilities based fixed line carriers.

I think this is a good move. Good on you guys. Now, can we please have some high-quota ADSL1 plans?

Great News Mick !!

Time to change those schedulers.

Mr Worthless writes...

I think this is a good move. Good on you guys. Now, can we please have some high-quota ADSL1 plans?

yep, can we in the backwaters have some decent highquota plans, that don't require my arm or leg.

So when does this start?

Kings Over Aces writes...

So when does this start?

Good question: Immediately! No point waiting, is there?

Good news, looking forward to the website update. Perhaps something can be done about the network congestion at peak times too?

Sol Rosenberg writes...

Good news, looking forward to the website update. Perhaps something can be done about the network congestion at peak times too?

Hi Sol,

We are not aware of any network congestion issues from our 24/7 surveillance systems. Are you facing this in a specific exchange? Please advise and we would investigate right away.

Preest writes...

Time to change those schedulers.

Indeed! way to go iprimus

Hi there

We would love to be able to do these types of plans on DSL1. Unfortunately, when we have to resell the ADSL1 service, we have MUCH higher costs compared to when we provide the service off our own network.

Thats why we're spending so much money investing in our own DSLAMs and increasing our ADSL2+ footprint – its the only way we can push out these high quota plans for everybody.

Andy R writes...

we have MUCH higher costs

So does everybody else like Internode and TPG. But their quotas are significantly higher than ours. Why? Also, great to see more Primus reps around here :)

Mr Worthless writes...

So does everybody else like Internode and TPG. But their quotas are significantly higher than ours. Why?

Is this for their on-net plans or their Telstra Wholesale plans??

I looked at the 512 and 1500 plans from the mentioned ISP's and their rebill plans are not that much different than our current ones.

default writes...

I know a previous poster said 'immediately'

And said previous poster is actually CEO of primus australia as well. Which is nice to see.

Mіck writes...

not that much different

Don't make me laugh.

Primus – Intense 5 – 5GB – $64.95/m
TPG – Medium 1500 – 18GB – $49.95/m
Internode – Home 1500 Power15 – 15GB – $59.95/m

Both have more quota for less money. Same speed as well. Not to mention both of them have static IPs and other benefits like unmetered. Which Primus has neither. Also not to mention that Primus kicks you off every 24 hours for absolutely no reason. I rest my case.

All prices taken from each ISP website at time of writing.

Mr Worthless writes...

Primus – Intense 5 – 5GB – $64.95/m

Actually that plan costs $40 a month, might be $50/mo if there's no bundling.

But you are correct, Primus' lower plans are becoming increasingly poor value for money due to lower download quotas – but do not forget that Primus is still the only major ISP offering totally unmetered uploads.

Nukkels writes...

Actually that plan costs $40 a month

Source?

but do not forget that Primus is still the only major ISP offering totally unmetered uploads.

I do very much appreciate that because I use uploads quite a bit but that is the only thing they have going for them. It's not enough to put them above everyone else I am afraid. Now, I am not going to jump up and go to any other ISP because I have been with Primus since 2004 and so far they have been great. I am just saying that I don't like seeing Primus having lower value than everyone else in the market.

I would happily trade in free uploads for a static IP, unmetered content, no 24hr disconnects and more quota. Wouldn't you?

Sol Rosenberg writes...

I am pretty sure I am on the Tally Ho exchange. Drop outs are shocking at the moment. I counted over 120 drop outs on Sat alone.

Tally Ho has some pretty bad copper in the ground, I've heard of a lot of people who've had bad lines, but like anywhere, as we find faults, we investigate, gather evidence of the fault and send out Technicians, try different settings on the DSLAM, whatever it takes to get the service working properly.

Mr Worthless writes...

I would happily trade in free uploads for a static IP, unmetered content, no 24hr disconnects and more quota. Wouldn't you?

Personally I was a bit shocked when counting uploads started to become more common, especially with ISP's like iiNet jumping on the upload boat, but now the idea has kinda grown on me, especially in the case of a ratio and you only pay for whatever is larger, to me that seems quite fair.

Unmetered content shouldn't be far off, and the scrapping of 24 hour disconnects should all be part of the new usage system which isn't far off now.

In regards to static IP's though, as I've said on here before, IMHO it is irresponsible for an internet provider to give static IP's to residential customers, as they are a limited quantity and will run out soon. We can however give static IP's on business plans of course, and you can get ADSL2+ plans with generous quotas, and its not really that much more than residential, but there is no rate limiting with static IP plans, so you pay for excess usage (because rate limiting could negatively impact a business who runs servers off their business DSL services)

Mr Worthless writes...

Don't make me laugh.

Primus – Intense 5 – 5GB – $64.95/m
TPG – Medium 1500 – 18GB – $49.95/m
Internode – Home 1500 Power15 – 15GB – $59.95/m

Both have more quota for less money. Same speed as well. Not to mention both of them have static IPs and other benefits like unmetered. Which Primus has neither. Also not to mention that Primus kicks you off every 24 hours for absolutely no reason. I rest my case.

I never said iPrimus was the cheapest I said... much the same...

Looking at bundled prices:

TPG: $49.95 – 8gig+10gig — 10gig off peak only between 4am-9am (thats only 5hours)
iiNet: $59.90 – 4gig+8gig — 8gig off peak between 2am -12noon.
iPrimus $59.95 – 12gig – used anytime no peak/off peak, downloads only.
Internode $59.95 – 15gig use anytime.
AAPT: $59.95 – 15gig use anytime – Uploads Included.
BigPond $69.95 – 12gig Liberty anytime – Uploads Included.

This is just off those companies websites using the Intense 12 as a base... Yes i agree you get more with TPG, but can only use that extra 10gig between 4am – 9am.

iPrimus sits about the middle if not cheaper in terms of rebilled plans with our main competitors, but bare in mind these are Rebilled plans... so a massive chunk of this all goes to Telstra...
We can only provide Rebill plans as cheap as the Wholesaler will allow, and Primus is not about to provide these plans below cost and commit business suicide, and we have seen first hand on Whirlpool what happens to ISPs that do so.

Our ADSL2+ plans on the other hand are on our own network and plans we have like the PrimusMAX are awesome in terms of value and what it offers customer on it... and not to mention the value of BigKahuna...

Rory McMahon writes...

and you can get ADSL2+ plans with generous quotas

I am really impressed especially since me and at least 50% of other Australians cannot even get it.

soon

This word is a bit overused by Primus reps. I'd prefer estimates rather than just "soon". I don't care if you go over the estimate at least we have an idea of when it may be coming.

I want either a static IP or 24 hour disconnects scrapped, at least then I could have a pseudo-static IP.

irresponsible for an internet provider to give static IP's to residential customers

Come on, most customers have their modem on 24/7 so you would be using a great deal of the IPs in your possession at any given time. I bet Primus has more IPs than they need anyway in case of a burst of new customers anyway. How is that responsible? Trust me, you are not going to make much of a difference especially if what I said above is true. Dynamic IPs are stupid because it means that customers share around website IP bans and gaming server bans.

In response to Mick, keep in mind not everyone can even get ADSL2+. No, you can't really do much about that but you could at least provide some competitive solutions for ADSL1 for us. Also, I and many other customers are more than happy to set schedulers on our torrent and downloading applications to take advantage of off-peak.

I understand that most of the stuff that I want from Primus is coming "soon". But we have been in the dark for at least 6 months and at the moment the only thing we are getting from Primus is more promises of "soon".

I think a solution to this would be cutting back our quota by say 2gb and then giving us 5gb of off-peak or something. I would be happy with that. Everyone wins, your lines are balanced out in the AM and we get more quota.

Mr Worthless writes...

This word is a bit overused by Primus reps. I'd prefer estimates rather than just "soon".

I know I know, if someone gave me an eta, I'd give you an eta.

Come on, most customers have their modem on 24/7 so you would be using a great deal of the IPs in your possession at any given time.

Good point I guess.

I bet Primus has more IPs than they need anyway in case of a burst of new customers anyway.

Yeah and for static IP's we reserve blocks which can be allocated in framed routes.

Dynamic IPs are stupid because it means that customers share around website IP bans and gaming server bans.

I don't think banning someone's IP address is a sensible way of blocking an abuser from anything, anyone who has malicious intent can easily evade such a method using any one of millions of open proxies around the world, or just getting a new IP allocated to them.

Out of curiosity, and I know we are getting hugely off topic here, but why do you specifically want a static IP?

I thought that generally people would want anonymity online, if you have a static IP, someone only needs to associate your identity with your IP address, and anything you do online could be easily tracked back to you.

With a dynamic IP, the only ways someone could tie your online presence together over any length of time is with a cookie (which you could easily remove) or in the case of criminal activity, through the proper legal channels.

Rory McMahon writes...

why do you specifically want a static IP

A lot of reasons. I don't want to get other peoples bans and I like to use VNC to show people what I am working on. It gets difficult when I don't have the same IP all the time.

someone only needs to associate your identity with your IP address

That could be a good thing though. I know it is for me. Especially if you don't do anything bad online.

I don't think banning someone's IP address is a sensible way of blocking an abuser from anything

I agree. Well, me and every single other web developer out there would like to hear another way. I mean, it is not like we can just ban their MAC address, is it?

I know it is off topic. I was originally pointing out that maybe Primus should pay more attention to its ADSL1 customers instead of just paying attention to the ADSL2+ ones. If you guys want more profits on ADSL1, why don't you do a global roll out of your equipment to each exchange?

Rory McMahon writes...

Out of curiosity, and I know we are getting hugely off topic here, but why do you specifically want a static IP?

For me it's so that I don't get disconnected from a bunch of sites when the IP changes (some browser based games, other client based games, FTP, MS downloads...). How will a dynamic IP be affected with a lack of 24 hourly disconnects? Does that mean we'll keep the same IP for a week until Windows crashes and we have to reboot?

It is a shame that IPrimus count uploads on the Big Kahuna plan.

Nukkels writes...

How will a dynamic IP be affected with a lack of 24 hourly disconnects? Does that mean we'll keep the same IP for a week until Windows crashes and we have to reboot?

Windows has nothing to do with how you get your IP. You're Router or Modem will handle that. So as long as you don't turn that off you will have a pseudo-static IP until you do.

Spero D. writes...

It is a shame that IPrimus count uploads on the Big Kahuna plan.

For 200gb I would be happy with them counting it 5 times.

Nukkels writes...

For me it's so that I don't get disconnected from a bunch of sites when the IP changes (some browser based games, other client based games, FTP, MS downloads...

The IP address isn't related to that, if you disconnected and re-connected with the same IP it would disrupt the connection equality as if you disconnected and re-connect with a new IP.

But yeah getting rid of 24 hour disconnects would help with that, assuming your connection is stable.

Cool, looks like a happy ending if this ever gets going.

I know the answer is going to be 'soon', so I'll get around that by saying that I've seen somewhere that the on/off peak is already operational, and other places that it's 'soon'. Which one is right?

Nukkels writes...

Which one is right?

It is physically impossible for a Primus rep to respond to a status request without "soon", "in the near future" or similar in it. Believe me, I have tried.

Mr Worthless writes...

Believe me, I have tried.

So have I for over 2 years now... Just wondering if it's implemented already on some plans or if it's actually 'soon'.

Also, will the on/off peak and 'the other exciting stuff' that Rory's all jazzed about happen at the same time?

Nukkels writes...

Also, will the on/off peak and 'the other exciting stuff' that Rory's all jazzed about happen at the same time?

I'm guessing it will all happen in a burst of activity across a week or so. When will it happen? Soon.

:P

So have I for over 2 years now... Just wondering if it's implemented already on some plans or if it's actually 'soon'.

The constant "soon" about SA became September 2008 :-)

Also, will the on/off peak and 'the other exciting stuff' that Rory's all jazzed about happen at the same time?

Yeah they are dependent on eachother... peak/off peak needs the usage to be changed. At the moment the shaping is in effect, once the usage is done then the unmeatered can be done.

I have seen the test sites for IPGN and they look great... also a site made by Primus that i dont know if i can give the name of as i need to wait for a press release, but will one of the sites for unmeatered content which basically finished.

Do you have any idea whats on it? Or have you got that far yet?

Mr Worthless writes...

Do you have any idea whats on it? Or have you got that far yet?

When the press release goes out we'll start talking about that particular service, but basically the last 6 Months or so I've been spending most of my time setting up stuff to go with unmetered traffic.

Still a lot of work left to do though.

Rory McMahon writes...

Still a lot of work left to do though.

Now all we need is a 500GB/unlimited off peak plan to match TPG's offering if/when they release one :)

Mr Worthless writes...

A lot of reasons. I don't want to get other peoples bans and I like to use VNC to show people what I am working on. It gets difficult when I don't have the same IP all the time.

chances of getting someone elses ban in the same game you play are pretty slim. even if u do, wont you get a new ip on reconnect?

as for static ip, use free dyndns service (which if you have a decent modem, will be supported by it). been using it for ages to vnc/rdp into home pcs, almost forgot im using it given its a set and forget thing

Mr Worthless writes...

A lot of reasons. I don't want to get other peoples bans and I like to use VNC to show people what I am working on. It gets difficult when I don't have the same IP all the time.

then try a free service such as dynDNS or even logmein.com – it's how I access my home servers externally.

Spero D. writes...

It is a shame that IPrimus count uploads on the Big Kahuna plan.

torrenting isn't worth it imo, usenet is faster, easier and only uses your quota for downloads.

Spero D. writes...

It is a shame that IPrimus count uploads on the Big Kahuna plan.

Just as an aside, going by the fine print on this week's advertising of the 3GB plan, the Big Kahuna is now not the only iPrimus plan where uploads are counted.

Is IPRIMUS ADSL2+ available at the Tarneit exchange?

Yes.

/forum-replies.cfm?t=812482
http://www.adsl2exchanges.com.au/viewexchange.php?Exchange=TNIT

Hmm.. getting mixed reactions on the Rockingham exchange. Can i get adsl2? iPrimus site says yes, other things say no.

Are uploads counted on this kahuna thing?

If i get a 1 port modem from them can i still connect wirelesly to my stuff?

Are people generally happy with iPrimus and would they recommend?

Syncope writes...

getting mixed reactions on the Rockingham exchange. Can i get adsl2?

Yes, Rockingham WA (RKHM) is ADSL2+ enabled.

Are uploads counted on this kahuna thing?

Both uploads and downloads contribute to your data allowance on the Big Kahuna plan (this kahuna thing..).

If i get a 1 port modem from them can i still connect wirelesly to my stuff?

Do you already have a wireless modem? If you do, what brand/model is it? You'll probably be able to use the one you already have. The 1-port modem from us can't be used as wirelessly unless you get a wireless router as well. You're better off getting the 4-port wireless modem from Primus, it's only $89 if you get Big Kahuna ADSL2+.

Are people generally happy with iPrimus and would they recommend?

I am! But I'll let some other people answer this one :-)

Generally very happy with the uptime and service in general.

... But if you ever hear the word 'soon', you can translate it is "we don't consider it a high enough priority, so don't hold your breath"

I'm impressed by the not needing to count uploads in a plan, but with the Big Kahuna plan this doesn't happen.

Are torrents impeded in any way on this plan?

Mcd writes...

Are torrents impeded in any way on this plan?

Nope, the only shaping is if you exceed the download limit.

Tim Love writes...

Nope, the only shaping is if you exceed the download limit.

Thanks just signed up, I must say so far the service has been great.

You mean the download AND upload limit yeah?

Also another thing, if i use my 40 gig during the peak time, do i get shaped for both peak and off peak or just the one thats over the limit?

Thanks for the reply Tim Love, just looking at churning over to something else as i'm approaching the end of my contract.

What I don't understand is why people get so hung up (please excuse the telecommunications pun) on dynamic IP addresses.

Surely people that have the ability and knowledge to reap the benefits of such services, also posses the half a brain required to setup DynamicDns's... I mean come on people, I'm a programmer and I figured it out

As for the Upload being counted debate, unless you are hosting some sort of service e.g. vpn, website, ftp (for which you should probably get a business type plan any how), why do you really NEED it?

Sure Linux get released on torrents along with a few other legit things, but the remainder is stuff that you are technically getting for free that you may or may not be entitled to anyway.

Dont get me wrong I was one of the many that spat chips when I first heard about Aussie ISP's discussing it.

However:

I honestly believe that metering of uploads is the ISP's way of quietly allowing us as customers the befit of the doubt. Think of the alternatives that the studios are pressuring, shaping to 30kb/s or complete blocking.

/end rant

Sorry been waiting for blizzard customer support to directly answer my questions, damn the person who gave them macros!

Phew that was a lot of typing! I am going to go have a lie down.

-J

I was told some time ago that peak and off peak usage would be shown in the account tools. STILL I am unable to differentiate the two and thus have NO IDEA if I am going over my peak limit.

Can someone convince me that this is not down to dodgy telco decision-making?

We have yet to begin enforcing peak / offpeak, thus your entire allowance is available at anytime.

This is how it will work until either the Toolbox is updated to enable showing of peak and offpeak data or we announce differently.

We advertise plans with peak / offpeak as it will happen, just not yet.