Whirlpool

I ordered iiNet's Naked DSL yesterday ($70/month for 10gb+20gn, uploads counted, included VoIP with free calls in Australia) but have then read on here that iiNet is considered overpriced and the VoIP service not that good.

So I was wondering whether to cancel and go Exetel, which seems cheaper with more data allowance and no upload counting, and use Exetel or a third party VoIP provider.

Anyone have any comments/advice on this choice? I know iiNet is the only provider that can retain your Telstra landline phone number, but I could live without that.

Is Exetel's ADSL2+ comparable to iiNet in speed and reliability? I have seen some comments from Exetel users about disappointing speeds. My local exchange (about 1.5k away) is ADSL2+ equipped for both iiNet and Exetel, so I'd have thought that I'd get similar speeds with either as the cabling/distance are the same. Is that the case?

What is Exetel's VoIP like?

Cheers for any pointers - I'd have to cancel iiNet quickly, so I need to make my mind up today.

I think if you cancel now that you will be deemed to have cancelled your contract early which you will incur charges.

Nah, there's just a $20 charge to cancel as long as they haven't started the physical provisioning yet, which they haven't as I just found out that it failed due to Telstra not releasing my service (for no reason that I can see).

Been a couple of years since I've been with iinet, so can't really comment on what their services are like today.

But I do know they don't have usenet binaries anymore, that was why I left.

smithmick writes...

But I do know they don't have usenet binaries anymore, that was why I left.

Interesting - does Exetel though?

I'm tossing up between the two at the moment as well..

Years of good service from iiNet (9+ years) or saving $20 a month, static ip, no uploads.

Hard to pick.

I'm on exetel, a mate's on iinet. IInet definitely get better performance overall but exetel's still good. You need to tell what you use your internet connection for most. If it is P2P then definitely exetel as the uploads will eat big chunks out of your allowance. If it is something else that doesn't involve large uploads and performance really matters then maybe iinet.

By the way both iinet and exetel use powertel for there naked DSL

Evil Santa writes...

I'm on exetel, a mate's on iinet.

That in itself is nothing to go by unless you are both enjoy the same attenuation figures, then you could compare speeds properly. Even then you would have to do tests at around the same time. There are many other variables too, the line sync can vary tremendously b/w modems for starters.

At the end of the day, you need to weigh up the value of each plan properly. The Internet connection itself shouldn't be substantially different.

Could you use the 'unliminted' calls with fair use from iiNet? Or would the 100 calls from Exetel be sufficient? The static IP as standard from Exetel is a big plus if you want to run servers of any kind or you have another need for a static IP. Exetel also offers the 20 free SMS per month with additional ones at 5c and the use of SMS is very flexible.

There are benefits on both sides of the coin, but only you can decide what you value most if cost isn't a factor -- if cost is a factor then the value that Exetel offers is quite significant.

im on exetel adsl2 hurstville exchange, and im gonna go iiNet, as soon as i can be bothered, because i work nightshift and i get home every morning about 6 am and surf utube for few hours and its so slow i have to cue any video before i can watch it, im unlucky cause my time to surf the net is in the morning time only and its so slowwwwwwwwwww. but im sure it would suit most leechers downloding what ya want all month during those 12 hour off peak slowwer period.

online gaming rocks on exetel just like any isp, thanks to pri-oritisation of gaming packets but video content on utube stuff is slow for 12 hours of the day

so im keen to pay 10, 20 or even 30 for a price/speed comprimise, i only ever download about 20GB month total max avg so im one of those customers whos wants unshaped speeeed when i dam well want it, cant wait to churn soon as i decide to leave my contract

peace out

^Get away from OPT G certainly as soon as possible, but at the same time consider;

Exetel Net Profit - some few hundred K each year

iiNet - haven't checked but hundreds of Ks of shareholders (implications)

Think carefully before moving up the ladder of provider

Re: Usenet binaries

Yes I beleive Exetel do...read somewhere peeps discussing DL speed of binaries.

But to get the best answer you could go here - > forum.exetel.com.au

or

Enter "Live Support" at the bottom of that forum for a quick answer over irc.

post deleted

Evil Santa writes...

By the way both iinet and exetel use powertel for there naked DSL

I think Exetel also now use Optus now for their Naked ADSL2 service.

To be honest I've never used any of the 100 free calls from my Exetel VoIP number on my naked DSL2 plan as yet, but my Engin plan is one month away from contract expiry, and I signed up to a MNF $5 Whirlpool plan, and no issues with VoIP with either VSP. Hard to say given that I've never been with iiNet, but their plans are definitely attractive, I think they also let you port across your existing Telstra number...

That being said, I'm happy with my Naked DSL2 service with Exetel.

Evil Santa writes...

By the way both iinet and exetel use powertel for there naked DSL

Just thought i'd clear this up.

I have no idea who Exetel use ( assuming Optus like most other providers ) , but iiNet's Naked DSL is provided off our own DSLAMS in the 301 exchanges we have enabled.

While Powertel have a wholesale agreement to acquire ports on the iiNetwork, we don't currently provision any services on Powertel's own DSLAMS.

On a related note:

Does anyone know if Exetel has plans in the near future (ie by start of 2009) of being able to port PSTN numbers across from an existing landline for their naked DSL plans?

This is the ONLY reason why I haven't joined Exetel yet as by far they have the best value for money plans.

cheers

Go iiNet, i have a friend in Randwick with naked adsl2+ with Exetel, slows to a crawl occasionally, lots of threads around about the poor naked adsl speeds.

EDIT: Haha, just realized how old this thread is, i guess the user has most likely decided by now :|

Hehe I dug this old thread up, I realised that iinet counted uploads towards total quota after I had signed up. I cancelled yesterday and am looking to lodge an application with Exetel.

I just called Tesltra to have a line activated, and they can't do it today because there is a "pending cancellation" notice (the iinet service which i cancelled) and therefore I won't be able to lodge an application with Exetel until the 20th...

let me know how you go. I am planning to churn out from optus to exetel