What do people think of the new ADSL 2+ plans? They have introduced peak/offpeak but have given you more download limit for a lower price. Still don't count uploads and give a 200% allowance for peerage still.
I like it - I was on ADSL2 20Gb, but for the same price I can get 2+ with 25Gb (10 peak + 15 offpeak).

Irrelevant to me, but...yuck. One of the reasons I always liked Amnet was the lack of peak/off-peak crap - you had 20Gb (or whatever) to use whenever you felt like it, not when the strain was off their network. 10 + 15 is effectively a cut from 20Gb, unless you're a) organised, b) an insomniac or c) a leecher.

Incidentally, I can't find their peak/off-peak times...?
www.amcom.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=44
Someone find a web dev and slap them. It'd be useful if they worked for Amnet, but any web dev will do in an emergency.

Paul Dowling writes...

One of the reasons I always liked Amnet was the lack of peak/off-peak crap - you had 20Gb (or whatever) to use whenever you felt like it, not when the strain was off their network. 10 + 15 is effectively a cut from 20Gb, unless you're a) organised, b) an insomniac or c) a leecher.

I agree, as this penalises all the business users and makes choosing a plan for our customers quite convoluted.

Can a business plan be able to choose the existing ADSL2 & ADSL2+ plans?

EDIT: See www.amcom.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=141 for times
Peak times are from 6:01am – 12:00am Midnight; Off-Peak times are from 12:00am Morning – 6:00am.

I don't like the new plans! I will stick with what I have, thank you.

Off peak is 12 Midnight to 06:00, everything else is Peak.

ALL of my usage is peak, never off peak.
Currently for $49 I get ADSL2 with 10Gb at any time. With the new plans I would get no appreciable speed improvement but my quota is now reduced to 5Gb peak, and 7.5Gb off peak, which is useless to me.

It looks like Amnet is trying to load balance and force more off-peak usage, either that or you have to go up a plan to get the same peak allowance which is a defacto price increase.

Peak times are from 6:01am – 12:00am Midnight; Off-Peak times are from 12:00am Morning – 6:00am

I can see your point, but I reckon I would be organised enough to use the extra Gb's with the help of uTorrent's scheduler.

Will everyone be automatically migrated to the new plans, or can we stay on our existing plan if we wish?

I only joined Amnet ADSL2 last week and will not be happy that the terms of my contract have changed so soon if I am forced to go up a plan which defeats the whole point of churning from Internode, who are improving their plan quotas "early" in April.

I don't like them.

When I signed up it was $79 for 40GB.

Same would now be: $119 !! $40 increase.

Yes, I could get more via off peak usage, but I would then have to schedule downloads etc.

The low usage plans are even worse. Most people who buy low usage plans are the Ma + Pa gang and they wouldn't know a scheduled download from a ATM.
They also go to bed after the 7.30 Report finishes on ABC so miss out on all that usage.

Also unhappy, just transferred my existing plan to another address and the price has gone up. (Seems to be same plan but $6 extra a month I think).

Not feeling the love for the new plans! I wonder, now that iiNet is Telstra 2, looks like Amnet is becoming iiNet 2

OldTech writes...

Will everyone be automatically migrated to the new plans, or can we stay on our existing plan if we wish?

I called them and asked - they arent forcing anyone on to the new plans which is good news.

sssputnik writes...

The low usage plans are even worse. Most people who buy low usage plans are the Ma + Pa gang and they wouldn't know a scheduled download from a ATM.

Looks like they have a new entry level 2+ plan for $29. I think before it was around the $50 mark.

The one good thing about amnet though is they dont charge for excess downloads - i dont think we will see them being complained about on today tonight like bidpond anytime soon. thats usually what hits the ma and pa sign ups the most.

MoabBoy writes...

I wonder, now that iiNet is Telstra 2, looks like Amnet is becoming iiNet 2

now thats harsh! they change there plans and suddenly they are turning into the iiborg???

save us all if that happens though ! lol

FostWare writes...

Peak times are from 6:01am – 12:00am Midnight; Off-Peak times are from 12:00am Morning – 6:00am.

Eww. 60% of your quota in 25% of the time. I rest my case about it being an effective downgrade.

how is it a downgrade if you arent forced into a new plan? The sales girl I spoke to said that it is only for new signups as I said earlier.

It's still a downgrade on their previous value - new customers, anyone moving house etc.

maybe for some - not for me. I'm on an old plan: 60Gb 2+ at $125/mth.

Looks like I can now change to a $119 per month plan with 40Gb onpeak and 60Gb off peak. I also get that double that for WAIX.

Definitely an upgrade for me. The only thing is when I spoke to the sales girl about it she told me that if I change my plan online through the my account pages that I will be charged a downgrade fee because my price for the month will decrease and they deem that a downgrade (which makes sense when you think about it).

It will cost me 19 bucks but I will make that back over 4 months and be able to download more.

so in actual fact for me its a upgrade

Eww. 60% of your quota in 25% of the time. I rest my case about it being an effective downgrade.

Yes, unless you are really good at scheduling, this is a downgrade. Now if they considered the entire weekend as off-peak, that might be different, but alas they don't

So what the hell does 200% mean? 200gb of WAIX?

Also does this affect my plan? I am on the old 10gb + 20gb ADSL2+ for $55

Well all I can say is that I am glad that I am on the plan that I am on as they SUCK.

It also looks like they have gotten rid of the ADSL2 plans.

What will happen to those that cannot get ADSL2 due to there exchange is not enabled.

Will they be charged at the higher amount because it is not there fault.

And if that is the case I don't think I will be referring anyone to Amnet.

You need to be on an ADSL2+ enabled exchange to get ADSL 2 anyway.

However the ADSL2 plans were attractive to those a reasonable distance from the exchange as they couldn't get higher ADSL2+ synch speeds anyway. Shame they're gone.

time that we get like Europe and America unlimeted downloads

i hate peak and offpeak, I was thinking of churn over from internode, I am not going to now peak and offpeak ...... yuck!.

sssputnik writes...

the ADSL2 plans were attractive to those a reasonable distance from the exchange

If you look at the pricing of the new plans they are the same as the old DSL2 plans but with more data allowance. The exception is the newly introduced $29 plan.

Eg.
Old plan:

ADSL2 (ie speeds upto 12Mb) with 2 Gig download was $39 per month.

New plan:

ADSL2+ (speeds upto 24Mb) with 2 Gig Peak, 3 Gig off Peak plus 4 Gig Waix Peak, 6 Gig WAIX off Peak is $39 per month.

The old equivilant ADSL2+ plan with 2 gig download was $45

Sex Cabbage writes...

So what the hell does 200% mean? 200gb of WAIX?

I will need to confirm this, but my understanding of 200% WAIX is:

If you have a 2 Gig Peak and 3 Gig Off Peak download allowance then you also have a 4 Gig Peak, 6 Gig Off Peak WAIX allowance.

Also does this affect my plan?

No, you will be able to stay with this plan, however, if you decide to upgrade/downgrade your plan you will only be allowed to select from the current offerings and will not be able to move back to an old plan.

Hrm OK.

I still prefer the older ADSL2+ plans however.
Not enough of a change to make me want to move, (which marketing probably realise) but not a step in the right direction.

Ray @ Amnet writes...

If you look at the pricing of the new plans they are the same as the old DSL2 plans but with more data allowance.

Ray, with respect, that is treating the facts carelessly.

The fact of the matter is that peak quota is now half what it previously was for the same money, yet peak time now runs for 18 hours of the day when the majority of people want to use it. Specifically I refer to the ADSL2 $49 and $59 plans previously available until yesterday.

Off peak only suits those who want P2P and are prepared to leave their computers running overnight.

OldTech,

I am only the messenger and was simply attempting to clear some things up.

Regards
Ray

edit: spelling - thanks cybercrash - why doesn't the whirlpool spell checking work!

OldTech writes...

Off peak only suits those who want P2P and are prepared to leave their computers running overnight.

What a crazy statement! back when i was at uni i would be up all night on the net (sad I know).

Even now that i work full time I still find myself up late at night working or browsing the net.

Also given that the amnet peak time starts at midnight i can get some decent use out of my off peak alllowance.

Ray @ Amnet writes...

I am only the messanger and was simply attempting to clear some things up.

It's spelt messenger Ray, messenger. Firefox dictionary to the rescue!

Anyway back on subject it seems like that the Marketing team at amcom doesn't know its user base well enough to know that 95% of people both existing and new do NOT like the new plans, and that in most cases some of the customers from other ISP's have simply Moved away due to the Stupid Peak and off peak plans. Now why on earth would amnet be wanting to create these stupid plans, my guess is that they are working on the "bang for your buck" Mentality, which in all hindsight is a good mentality but creating plans that have a peak allowance that is Small ie 5G, and is used 18hrs of the day.

Hell I can go through 5 G in the space of 3 hrs (Orangebox) during the peak times, and after that i would be shaped until the next month, also looking at the times in which you can use your larger off peak quota in only 6 hours, 6 hours is only a very small window to use the other 2/3rds of your quota. hell i would rather goto iinet and use their plans ( as they have a better bang for your buck mentality) in using the Off peak quota from 2am-12pm thats 10hrs to use the 2/3rds of the allocated quota given by iinet.

And im by no means an iinet Fanboi (Stupid irish character), but amnet have done a really stupid thing in releasing these plans with out asking the general population, and they obviously didn't do their research into what the other ISP's are doing with their Peak and off peak times and allowances..

Ray @ Amnet writes...

If you look at the pricing of the new plans they are the same as the old DSL2 plans but with more data allowance. The exception is the newly introduced $29 plan.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the $39 plan is actually the exception.

$29 plan: New.
$39 plan: was 2Gb, now 2+3Gb
$49 plan: was 10Gb, now 5 + 7.5
$59 plan: was 20Gb, now 10 + 15
$89 plan: was 40Gb, now 20 + 30
$119 plan: was 60Gb, now 40 + 60

Of course you now get ADSL2+ instead of 2 for that price, but let's face it - who was on ADSL2 to save $6/mo, and who was on it because their line was too crap break 12Mb anyway?

CyberCrash writes...

95% of people both existing and new do NOT like the new plans

would love to know where you got that info from.

Hell I can go through 5 G in the space of 3 hrs

congrats - perhaps that plan might not be for you then. lucky you can stay on your existing plan and not be affected huh?

you can use your larger off peak quota in only 6 hours

good point but i like how the off peak starts at midnight personally - i can still get plenty of use out of it then.

but amnet have done a really stupid thing in releasing these plans with out asking the general population

opinions are like...

As stated in one of my earlier post one of the amnet sales people told me that all of us existing customers arent forced to change to the new plans.

i have looked at these a little more since pauls post above

the $29 plan is pretty good for an entry level customer. someone looking at that type of plan will probably only want to download emails and given that this is classed as internal traffic is pretty damn good.

i think amnet are probably going more for these entry level customers with these new plans.

what do you think ?

I said
Off peak only suits those who want P2P and are prepared to leave their computers running overnight.

User 154249 writes...

What a crazy statement! back when i was at uni i would be up all night on the net (sad I know).

Nothing crazy about it! Think about it - you can surf and P2P between 12:00midnight and 06:00 with your computer switched off?

Very good - let me know how it is done!
:-)

User 154249 writes...

i think amnet are probably going more for these entry level customers with these new plans.

Everyone loves entry-level customers - they use a lower %age of their cap than the leechwhores who break it on the last day of the month every single month. :)

Having said that, it's interesting that the 60Gb plan got the biggest relative boost in cap.

Frankly, I like these plans. You can't avoid the off/on-peak systems, as they make sense; directing heavy traffic to the portion of the day that the network isn't under heavy load.

They're a step in the right direction, increasing the amount of download quota available to users for their money. The only valid critisism that I can think of is that the 12-6 off-peak time is a little tight, i mean iiNet has 2-12. However, I imagine that Amcom researched the load of their network, and this is the best period they could come up with.

Yes, this *isn't* particularly good value for businesses, but they should *ideally* be on business plans to begin with. These plans aren't designed for them. Leechers with schedulers shouldn't have any problem with these plans. The only people who might have a problem with these plans are people who work from home or have heavy daytime traffic, for some unspecified reason.

Face it, for the residential user, your choice is always going to be a plan that is geared towards the lightweight home user. And no, we're never going to get unlimited internet quota. Well, not until they perfect quantum tunnelling or something.

Hopefully i dont repeat what anyone has said, but at some point, this means existing customers will have to choose one of these plans when their current plan expires...
My current plan gives me 20gb and 40gb peering for 59 a month yet the new plan gives me 10/15 which is shite, i get 10gb to download during the day and 15 at night, this is clearly not benefiting existing customers.
I am not happy with this for one.

lightguard writes...

You can't avoid the off/on-peak systems, as they make sense;

They don't make sense to the vast majority customers, they make sense to the ISP.

However, I imagine that Amcom researched the load of their network, and this is the best period they could come up with.

Of course they did - someone looked at the load graphs and said "well shit, our links are totally underutilised between midnight and 6am, let's shove half of everyone's quota to that timeframe even though the same graph says noone WANTS any quota in that timeframe." It's exactly the same reasoning that iiNet used except that Amnet has a higher %age of business customers on fibre, and they can't afford to piss them off with flooded upstream links every morning.

The only people who might have a problem with these plans are people who work from home or have heavy daytime traffic, for some unspecified reason.

I have a fast internet connection because when I want to download something, I want it now - not tomorrow morning when my scheduled leeching period ends. If a required patch for my game is 500mb (as some of BF2's were), I either lose a night's gaming or suck it up and put it on peak. Either way, my internet is now less useful, and that's the key argument against peak/offpeak splitting.

Face it, for the residential user, your choice is always going to be a plan that is geared towards the lightweight home user.

Bollocks. You think Amnet's 40+60 plan is geared towards a light user? How about iiNet's 60+60? Or TPG's 40+110?

And no, we're never going to get unlimited internet quota.

Aaaaaand....noone's asking for it?

Paul Dowling writes...

I want it now

did you miss the bit where i already stated a couple of times that amnet CONFIRMED to me that we wont be forced onto these new plans?

User 154249 writes...

amnet CONFIRMED to me that we wont be forced onto these new plans?

straight from the horse's mouth...... now it has been confirmed by amnet

User 154249 writes...

did you miss the bit where i already stated a couple of times that amnet CONFIRMED to me that we wont be forced onto these new plans?

Did you miss the part where I'm not even an Amnet customer at the moment? If I came back (which I'd like to, in the unlikely event that they enabled my exchange) I'm on these new plans. Regardless of whether they affect me directly or not, I reckon I'm still entitled to voice my opinion.

Ray @ Amnet writes...

I am only the messenger and was simply attempting to clear some things up.

Haven't you seen 300 ??

Paul Dowling writes...

I'm not even an Amnet customer at the moment

Regardless of whether they affect me directly or not, I reckon I'm still entitled to voice my opinion.

sometimes i --really really-- hate the internet.

User 154249 writes...

sometimes i --really really-- hate the internet.

Even when it's all fine on Pier?

Nice of you to avoid quoting the part where I said "I'd like to come back", thereby trying to paint me as an interweb warrior.

User 154249 writes...

sometimes i --really really-- hate the internet.

Wow that's like a baker saying "sometimes I hate bread" working for an ISP and all

Paul Dowling writes...

Aaaaaand....noone's asking for it?

...

johnmarj writes...

time that we get like Europe and America unlimeted downloads
----------------------------------­ ---

Paul Dowling writes...

They don't make sense to the vast majority customers, they make sense to the ISP.

Okay, I'll agree with you there. But you at least understand the reasoning behind it, right? The way I see on and off peak plans is a type of social engineering; getting us to change the way we use the internet.

Yes, in an ideal world, we would be able to download whatever we want, whenever we want, right bloody now. However, we don't live in an ideal world. Will this change? Maybe, but that's not the question we're asking.

What's the solution? The ISP wants to load-balance the network, make better use of it during traditionally low-usage time, and reduce load to improve the network during high-usage times. The user wants freedom. Who wins?

Bollocks. You think Amnet's 40+60 plan is geared towards a light user? How about iiNet's 60+60? Or TPG's 40+110?

Ugh. I knew I worded that wrong. What I was trying to say was that the larger quota plans were merely an extension of the lower plans, rather than a plan specifically designed for the power user. All it effectively does is increase the quota and the price, without any consideration in regards to how the user actually works.

Hrm... maybe the high quota user loses the off/on peak style? Like, when the quota goes over 40gb, it reverts to the "anything goes" style plan? (With pricing to match)

Or, offer on the higher quota plans, the option to either go on/off peak with increased quota or non-peak with reduced?

lightguard writes...

...

I don't count 1-post randoms with no sentence structure as an intelligent request for something. He's in Brisbane, ffs! :)

Okay, I'll agree with you there. But you at least understand the reasoning behind it, right?

Oh, I get the reasons behind it. What I have a problem with is the massive drop in value, along with the big-stick approach to this 'social engineering', if that's what it is.

Also I have a problem with presenting these plans as a huge step forward. Ray's first post in this thread was downright deceptive - sorry Ray, I know you're only the messenger but you're also the Amnet rep. :/

The total Gb allowance of the plans may have risen, but the usability has gone through the floor. Same with iiNet's naked plans - they make it look like their caps are huge, but the upload counting decreases their usability.

The ISP wants to load-balance the network, make better use of it during traditionally low-usage time, and reduce load to improve the network during high-usage times. The user wants freedom. Who wins?

Free market theory says the user always wins - if they don't like it, they'll leave (or not join in the first place.) But when it's the best of a bad lot, what real choice do you have? I took an iiNet naked plan because the only other options to get a decent speed were a) paying ridiculous prices for a TW 8/384 line, or b) god help us...signing up to Bigpond itself.

Amnet wants to move users' usage from peak to offpeak times - but is that because it will encourage better utilisation of their fixed-price upstream links, or because they don't want to upgrade those links, which they would have to if they kept offering untimed accounts?

Agreed, not happy Jan!

Paul Dowling writes...

What I have a problem with is the massive drop in value

Okay, so what you view as value and what I view as value are two different things. That's okay, you obviously want different things from your internet service. I still don't think it's a *MASSIVE* drop in value, though, any which way you look at it. I mean, they increased the overall quota, didn't they? Yeah the off-peak time could be a little longer, but it's not like they removed the 2xWAIX, or the static IP address.

Also I have a problem with presenting these plans as a huge step forward.

I just see this as marketing hyperbole. I don't have a problem with it. I mean, Telstra markets Bigpond as value for money, right?

but the usability has gone through the floor.

Hrm... again, depends on how you use it. As a whole? Maybe I'd agree with you, but iiNet's had on/off for years, and I don't really have a problem with it.

Amnet wants to move users' usage from peak to offpeak times - but is that because it will encourage better utilisation of their fixed-price upstream links, or because they don't want to upgrade those links, which they would have to if they kept offering untimed accounts?

Well, if *you* had to make that decision, what would you do? It's probably a mixture of both, and several other reasons which I don't care to speculate about.

Sounds to me like amnet's links are becoming saturated again and this is just a counter measure to avoid what happened in previous times.

How long are the customers on the old plans going to be allowed to stay on the old plans before they are forced to change. I remember when i was with ii numberous years back they said i was able to stay on my current plan however 12months down the track i was forced off it.

In saying all that if it was 400% waix i would consider moving up. Waix quota... what does it cost them?

As far as I'm aware, they haven't forced users off plans back from 2006... the only forced plan change was when they removed all the old Arachnet plans.

What; 200% WAIX isn't enough for you? WAIX costs more than you'd think, why'd you think iiNet removed WAIX quota altogether?

No comment on the saturation of the links; it's pure conjecture at this stage that it was even a part of the consideration that went into these plans.

I believe iinet removed their waix quota because it was costing them too much on the backhaul through telstra. However if amnet are running their dslams on their infastructure i dont see the problem.

Digitalwicked writes...

I believe iinet removed their waix quota because it was costing them too much on the backhaul through telstra. However if amnet are running their dslams on their infastructure i dont see the problem.

No, they removed it basically because of the sheer amount people would of downloaded for nothing on ADSL2+.

lightguard writes...

No, they removed it basically because of the sheer amount people would of downloaded for nothing on ADSL2+.

400% is in no way unlimited?
Perhaps they could increase the percentage on the higher peak and off peak plans.

Digitalwicked writes...

400% is in no way unlimited?

It's still a heck of a lot. Frankly, these days, even 100% is excellent, and 200% is unprecendented.

lightguard writes...

I just see this as marketing hyperbole.

Marketing hyperbole it is indeed. But oh look, what's this in my inbox? Amnet would like to tell me about their new plans, offering "greater download flexibility." How the hell is chopping my cap in half for 18 hours of the day offering more flexibility?

Hrm... again, depends on how you use it.

I realise that for you, being presumably a reasonably net-savvy interweb geek who understands scheduling torrents etc, it's a bit of a win because you can get more cap for the same $. But for the average Joe it's somewhere between 'meh' and 'eww.'

Well, if *you* had to make that decision, what would you do?

Get more upstream bandwidth (because you're going to have to anyway) bring in peak/offpeak scheduling where the users are offered the SAME peak cap as they currently have, with 2x that in off-peak (since it's unused bandwidth anyway). Then pimp the hell out of it as the greatest increase in value this side of the black stump. :)

lightguard writes...

It's still a heck of a lot. Frankly, these days, even 100% is excellent, and 200% is unprecendented.

100% excellent with who iinet? maybe. The reason i was with amnet in the first place was their waix allowences and before that their free waix on adsl.

Instead of making a stereotypical view of what every internet users 'needs' they should adjust and cater their plans around the different needs of internet users.
For example in my case all my traffic is based within local peering as well as my work connections which i frequently use therefore more waix traffic and less international would be ideal.

But maybe thats just me... however i can understand why gamers would want more local peering traffic after all, local servers have lower latency and faster gaming.

oh well, i'm still on my 80GB $89 plan...

Paul Dowling writes...

Get more upstream bandwidth (because you're going to have to anyway) bring in peak/offpeak scheduling where the users are offered the SAME peak cap as they currently have, with 2x that in off-peak (since it's unused bandwidth anyway). Then pimp the hell out of it as the greatest increase in value this side of the black stump. :)

I meant without spending anymore money, and you're essentially suggesting a 3xquota increase, in a period when ISPs are tending towards reducing quotas. Nothing is "unused", either, just less used.

And then you'd still get the same on/off peak argument, as people would *still* want to use the entire quota whenever they wanted to, regardless of how much they actually got!

lightguard writes...

I meant without spending anymore money

They're going to have upgrade their links at some stage. :)

you're essentially suggesting a 3xquota increase, in a period when ISPs are tending towards reducing quotas.

Damn straight. Buck the trend and get noticed. In a year or so when the new PIPE cable comes into play and the ISPs' margins relax a bit (note: I'm not saying customers will see better value, but the ISPs won't be in this penny-pinching mode) then Amnet's got a bigger customer base to enjoy it with.

Disclaimer: I suck at running ISPs.

And then you'd still get the same on/off peak argument

Yes, but at least then it would be a bonus instead of this "flexibility" bullshit. Amnet's not trying to better utilise their bandwidth, they're trying to avoid upgrading that bandwidth as much/as often. IMO that's bad business tactics in a tight market.

im thinking about joining amcom on there nameless adsl2+ 5+7.5gb plan for 50 bucks a month... u also got 2 remember, that amcom are offering 100 gift voucher to westfield, and a 40 dollar free churn fee or something... quite intising...

btw can someone shed light on this.. if i choose to go non contract, does that mean that when they introduce new plans, i have to change plans? or can i choose or what? soz im a bit confused...

and btw, what can u peer on the pipe/wiax peering network, cos they look kinda strange.. can anyone help me here?

sh4dow writes...

if i choose to go non contract, does that mean that when they introduce new plans, i have to change plans?

Nah, it just means you don't have to pay a cancellation fee when you leave. Amnet, AFAIK, have only forced plan changes once, and that was to clear old Arachnet plans out of the system.

and btw, what can u peer on the pipe/wiax peering network, cos they look kinda strange.. can anyone help me here?

Mr Whirlpool can help you here - forum-replies.cfm?t=119525

sh4dow writes...

btw can someone shed light on this.. if i choose to go non contract, does that mean that when they introduce new plans, i have to change plans? or can i choose or what? soz im a bit confused...

...oops, beaten by Lightguard.

lightguard writes...

Nah, it just means you don't have to pay a cancellation fee when you leave.

so... no cancellation fee... sounds great, but wheres the catch? ;) talking in references to the new amcon adsl2+ plans?

sh4dow writes...

but wheres the catch?

its in the fairly hefty setup fee, which i believe is $150. *now thats redunk!*

Michael Hunt writes...

its in the fairly hefty setup fee, which i believe is $150. *now thats redunk!*

meh..

for not having to be in contract, it's worth every penny!

So all traffic between 6:00am and 6:01 am is neither onpeak or offpeak? Free traffic anyone?

I like the sound of the 40GB/60GB plan, particularly as I'm currently on the $125 60GB plan (shared with my house mate).

I wonder if there's any chance of having the $19 "downgrade" fee waived considering that it's only a $6 difference per month?

Kels writes...

So all traffic between 6:00am and 6:01 am is neither onpeak or offpeak? Free traffic anyone?

You could theoretically get about 2.5mb/s - over 60 seconds, that is 150mb a minute. In a 31 day month, that is 4.6gb!

Unfortunately, I just loaded up uTorrent, and it took about a minute and a half to check my torrents.

Exploit status: fail.

(Now I'm off to make free phone calls in the 11 second window iiNet don't track VOIP calls)

wow one min of free quota.

Suck it up Amnet!!

All your bases belong to US!!

Michael Hunt writes...

its in the fairly hefty setup fee, which i believe is $150.

Minus $40 if you can churn :D
iiNet and Internode don't even *have* a no contract option.

Uisceoz writes...

I wonder if there's any chance of having the $19 "downgrade" fee waived considering that it's only a $6 difference per month?

There should be a window to allow people to change without any penalities to the new plans. Its not like there is a huge amount of work to change the plans in the billing system.

I am curious as to what would happen if either offpeak or onpeak quotas are exceeded. I can't see how they could shape an individual user at only onpeak or offpeak times without dropping the connection at the DSLAM or rebooting the user modem.

I think the answer is it is that the account is shaped if either onpeak or offpeak quotas are exceeded. Can't say I am tempted if this is the case.

Edit: As highlighted by Lightguard below - I was wrong.

Access denied writes...

I think the answer is it is that the account is shaped if either onpeak or offpeak quotas are exceeded. Can't say I am tempted if this is the case.

would say thats probally the case too

Access denied writes...

I think the answer is it is that the account is shaped if either onpeak or offpeak quotas are exceeded.

From www.amcom.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=53

How does Amnet Peak + Off-Peak shaping work?

To help you make the most your Peak+Off-Peak allowance, Amnet seperates the shaping (ie. slow down your connection speed) of your Peak + Off-Peak allowances. Meaning that if you exceed either your Peak or Off-Peak allowance only one will be shaped.

For instance say you exceed your 10GB Peak allowance but you have not exceeded your 15GB Off-Peak allowance, your connection will be slowed in Peak times but not during Off-Peak times.

Cheers for the correction. I browsed the amcom site and failed miserably to find that information.

The new plans are now worth considering for what I need :)

Access denied writes...

I browsed the amcom site and failed miserably to find that information.

Um dude it's been there the entire time!

www.amcom.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=53

Shaping only applies to the allowance you have exceeded.

I quote - "For instance say you exceed your 10GB Peak allowance but you have not exceeded your 15GB Off-Peak allowance, your connection will be slowed in Peak times but not during Off-Peak times. "

Anyone here still on the christmas 2006 special plan? I don't think I'll ever a find an ISP with a better plan than this...

200% Waix is pretty amazing, only I wonder if going over your waix limit will shape your nonwaix (actually, I don't. Who the hell is going to go over 120gig of waix? But the question still applies vice versa)

Edit: Amnet should bring back the 12am to 8am free for all quota. There's nothing more exciting than watching your internet turn to sheit right on midnight :)

vanja-b writes...

200% Waix is pretty amazing, only I wonder if going over your waix limit will shape your nonwaix (actually, I don't. Who the hell is going to go over 120gig of waix? But the question still applies vice versa)

On that plan if you hit either quota you were rate limited completely.

Sorry should have been more clear, i was celebrating the plan I'm on, but questioning the new plans. I reread the email and it seems that there are four separate quotas which are independently shaped (waix peak, waix offpeak, normal peak, normal offpeak)

Ye it would seem that if you exceed Peak International or Peak Peering you are shaped during peak times and visa versa for Off-Peak International or Off-Peak peering

I'm not the pubic enemy writes...

it would seem that if you exceed Peak International or Peak Peering you are shaped during peak times and visa versa for Off-Peak International or Off-Peak peering

It would have been nice that the system rate would rate limit the seperate "international"/peering traffic but the fact that the traffic accounting system has been upgraded to be able to do off/on peak is a good thing.

Maybe for the next upgrade it will rate limit seperately.

the 20+30 for $89 is one step up from current plan, 10+15 is $59.

Im on 20 + 40 Waix for $65.

A no brainer what im doing lol.

rhysxanthis writes...

A no brainer what im doing lol.

Switching to the $59 plan to save $6 and get an extra 5 gig? :)

Kels writes...

Maybe for the next upgrade it will rate limit seperately.

So its confirmed that it doesn't work right? I know arachnet never had waix separation, iinet doesn't have it either, so I kind of doubt this is coming.

vanja-b writes...

So its confirmed that it doesn't work right?

vanja-b

Correct, the shaping is not seperated between International and Peering Traffic. So if you were to exceed your download limit for either the International or Peering allowance the entire period will be rate limited.

Hope this has cleared up any questions on the matter.

Regards
Jamie Gray
Amnet/Amcom

Hey Jamie

I just upgraded my Amnet from old ADSL2+ 60gb to the new ADSL2+ 40/60 peak/offpeak $119 Plan.

Must say the upgrade was fast as I only applied last night

but i went into the traffic usage page and it startes that i am on the new ADSL2+ 40/60 $119 plan

but the basica allowance says 40GB
and the peering allowance says 60GB ???

is the basic allowance for the peak traffic and the peering allowance for the off peak traffic

or have i upgraded ( and pay extra) and somehow ended up with a smalled download plan?

or have the traffic usage page not yet upgraded to cater for the new plans?

My Amnet username is : mokpeter

Regards
Peter

vanja-b writes...

Anyone here still on the christmas 2006 special plan? I don't think I'll ever a find an ISP with a better plan than this...

Agreed... It's actually the "XMAS 2006 Special", I'm not intending to move anytime soon ^_^

Fosa writes...

is the basic allowance for the peak traffic and the peering allowance for the off peak traffic

Peter

Hrmmm that is weird. Your plan is correct, you are on Broadband 2+ 40GB/60GB which entitles you to the following;
Peak Usage 40GB International & 80 GB Peering
Off Peak 60GB International & 120GB Peering

I will have to investigate further tomorrow as to why your Member Tools is not showing the correct data.

I will give you a call tomorrow with an update.

Regards
Jamie Gray
Amnet/Amcom

Thanks Jamie

Regards

Peter

Hey Jamie Gray,

I am looking to trasnfer from ADSL1 iiNet to amcon's $49 5gb/7.5gb ADSL2+ plan, with no contract. it all looks good and cant wait to transfer to amcom, but i heavily rely on my voip (naked is not an option: fax). i was just wondering how long (downtime) it typically took an ex ADSL2 customer on iiNet to transfer over to the amcom plan (my exchange is batemen)

thanks

James

someone commented that if you moved you'd have to shift to the new plans. I think that depends on where you move. From what i read in the email if you don't move exchanges or phone numbers you can keep your current plan. Hope this is correct. We are currently in the early stages of building a new house and will be moving in about 12 months. I certainly don't like the look of the new plans. So unless something new planwise comes along in the next 12 months I have no interest in switching over.
Can someone confirm that you can keep your plan if you move house but stay with same number, same exchange ?

Yeah I am on the same special...No way that I will give that up :-)

sh4dow

The churn process takes ~ 2 - 3 business days. There will be up to a 4 hour downtime while the service is migrated.

If you have any further queries feel free to contact our Sales Team on 13 37 30.

Regards
Jamie Gray
Amnet/Amcom

tansy writes...

Can someone confirm that you can keep your plan if you move house but stay with same number, same exchange ?

AFAIK, all relocations force a plan change, regardless of what that relocation involves.

lightguard if the plan is a current one I've been told before that you can continue it. I'd assume you'd be expected to play the relocation fee however. But as these new plans are replacing older ones and the old plan would no longer be on offer I'm not sure. That's why I'm asking.

From the email I received:
"The introduction of these new plans will not affect your existing plan.
FAQ's
Will Amnet be moving my plan to a new plan?
No. Existing Amnet customers will not be moved to the new plans, these plans are for new customers

Are there any other situations where I will have to change to the new plans?
If you relocate your service to a new number you will need to select one of our new plans."
..................................­ ..........................
Given my phone number and exchange will not change just my physical location...

Any Amnet rep able to confirm this?

Jamie...

thanks for that... are u sure that it is still 2-3 business days EVEN if i want to get ADSL 2+ on my current iiNet ADSL service??

soz, just that i need to have minimum downtime

thanks

Hi Jamie

Any news?

Regards

Peter

tansy writes...

lightguard if the plan is a current one I've been told before that you can continue it. I'd assume you'd be expected to play the relocation fee however. But as these new plans are replacing older ones and the old plan would no longer be on offer I'm not sure. That's why I'm asking.

Okay, I think you're getting a little confused. As I understand it, Amnet will not force you to change from your existing plan, if you don't make any changes. However, if you need to change your plan, you can only select from the current plans being offered, and not any grandfathered plans.

If you need to relocate, that counts as a plan change, and you need to select one of the new plans. A relocation counts as either a physical location change or a phone number change, it doesn't matter which, either or both.

sh4dow writes...

are u sure that it is still 2-3 business days EVEN if i want to get ADSL 2+ on my current iiNet ADSL service??

That's what the man said. Basically it sounds like a switch from TW to SSS infrastructure, so three days with four hours downtime? Is pretty damn good no matter how you slice it.

Don't be surprised if Telstra half-completes the move, though, and leaves you hanging :P

Fosa writes...

Hi Jamie

Any news?

Regards

Peter

It's probably going to take longer than 24 hours to make a change to how the website works, as it sounds like some sort of coding issue.

Peter

The Member Tools section has not been completed yet to reflect on the new plans. This should 'hopefully' be completed by the end of next week depending on testing and so forth.

Regards
Jamie Gray
Amnet/Amcom

sh4dow writes...

are u sure that it is still 2-3 business days

sh4dow

Yes it takes ~2-3 business days for the migration to be completed. As i stated there may be a downtime period of up to 4 hours if everything goes to plan.

Regards
Jamie Gray
Amnet/Amcom

tansy writes...

Any Amnet rep able to confirm this?

tansy

If you relocate your service you will have to select one of our new plans. Relocating includes moving physical locations and changing switch numbers (FNN).

The only exception I have ever seen is if you report nuisance phone calls to Telstra and they change your FNN. But all of the service relocation is completed by Telstra and not Amnet.

Regards
Jamie Gray
Amnet/Amcom

Jamie Gray writes...

The Member Tools section has not been completed yet to reflect on the new plans. This should 'hopefully' be completed by the end of next week depending on testing and so forth.


thanks jamie

Now i can go back leeching linux distros in peace :)

Regards

Peter

hmm thats a shame then because I'm not sure that the new plans would be of any use to us. one of the 2 main reasons we switched to amnet from iinet was that there was not a peak/off peak time. Since pretty much over 1/2 of of our current non waix allowance is used between 3.30 om and 9.30 pm at night and the timing can't be changed for most of it it's going to mean that the new plans may be no good.hmm so we get penalised i assume for breaking a 24 month contract 15 months in? oh well can't be helped if it leads to that. here's hoping that something better will be on offer in 12 months time

tansy writes...

hmm so we get penalised i assume for breaking a 24 month contract 15 months in?

You're not forced to change plans, tansy. As long as you don't move house you're all good. :)

it's a rental. not a lot of choice. I'll live with the associated $ fees. it gets treated as one of the costs of moving locations. :) I expected to pay fees to move house anyway , Just a shame that if amnet don't come up with plans to suit by the time we've built i'll be forced to look at ot