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Thread ID: 43198	2004-03-06 19:21:00	2 Jetstream Questions	somebody (208)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
220598	2004-03-06 19:21:00	We're looking at switching to broadband, and I just have 2 questions for you jetstream experts out there. 1. Monthly Bandwidth. Generally the household will spend about 4-5hours on the internet per day, mostly viewing websites and MSN Messenger. The occasional download of trial/freeware software (approx total 25mb/month). Would Xtra's new 1GB plan be enough bandwidth for us to not go over the limit? 2. Connection sharing. We have 2 computers, both on a LAN. Is it possible to have an ADSL modem in one computer, and share the connection (like we are presently doing with a 56k dialup)? Or do we need an ADSL router?	somebody (208)
220599	2004-03-06 19:39:00	Question 1: We were on a 500MB plan with Xtra and at the end of our month ended up at 670MB - this was being stringent in what was happening, not allowing anything over 2MB through and having a proxy server at our end to help with the cache (I don't know how useful it was though). We're now on the Jetstart Plan (5000MB international traffic) and have been for the past 4mnths - 3 out of the 4 and we're finding we use less than 1000MB /mnth and the other one was me downloading a load of updates after having a far bigger cap to fill. Xtra don't tell us our national usage so I can't help you there, but just remember that the Jetstream 1000MB plan counts national as well as international so you are stung for minor things such as checking emails/etc and it eventually adds up. If you have the choice I would reccomend the Jetstart plan because it's easy enough to find good NZ Mirrors and anything you get off those mirrors doesn't add to your monthly usage. The choice is yours. Question 2: You can share the ADSL modem through Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) which I assume you are currently doing with your 56k modem - bearing in mind that it requires the 'host' computer to be switched on for the connection to be available to the 'client' machine. If you were to go for an ADSL router you just plug it straight into your switch (via crossover cable), or if you are using a crossover cable to connect the 2 machines then you just get 2 patch leads and plug them from each machine into the switch of the router. This means that any machine can get on the internet without depending on any other machine to be switched on.	cyberchuck (173)
220600	2004-03-06 19:40:00	> If you have the choice I would reccomend the Jetstart plan because it's easy enough to find > good NZ Mirrors and anything you get off those mirrors doesn't add to your monthly usage. Should've also added that checking emails on your ISP and other NZ ISP's don't count so your cap doesn't get affected	cyberchuck (173)
220601	2004-03-06 22:04:00	>1. Monthly Bandwidth. Generally the household will spend about 4-5hours on the internet per day, mostly viewing websites and MSN Messenger. The occasional download of trial/freeware software (approx total 25mb/month). Would Xtra's new 1GB plan be enough bandwidth for us to not go over the limit? CyberChuck has covered this well. But remember to include in your allowances the downloaded of MS updates and Antivirus updates for two machines. You will also find with the higher speed connection that you tend to download more because it is so easy compared to dialup. Your general webviewing of pages will speed up, therefore in the same time frame as before, you can do a lot more viewering. Any graphic rich website will also up your data usage. You can always go for the 1000G Jetstream and if you find it hard to stick to the limit, you can always change over to the Jetstart which has a much higher data allowance but a slower speed. That said, if you are only doing general internet usage you may find the 128 KB/s Jetstart perfectly suitably for your needs anyway. >Or do we need an ADSL router? Having a choice, I would go for an external ethernet ADSL modem/router rather than an internal ADSL modem. It gives you so much more freedom and security if it uses NAT. They are a little bit more expensive, but the ones with built-in switches (eg Dynalink RTA300) means you can also use the device to share files with between the computers without having to use a cross-over cable between them and can easily add another (up to 4 in the RTA300 case) computers to the network.	Jen C (20)
220602	2004-03-06 22:51:00	I see you've got approximately the same situation as our household, heres my recommendation: Wait till the 8th March, join then . . . (From that day, there's a whole new package) . Then join the new Xtra's Jetstream 256k plan with 3GB, $50 incl line fee and ISP fee . Our household is still deciding, as we're currently on 128kb Jetstart, but we've become quite heavy users of video/voice conferencing lately . So we may consider that 256kb unlimted plan for the first month, then see how our usage status are, then change back to 3GB if we can . The only point remains, the more speed you have, the more you are going to download over the same time period . With video conferencing, you can't control the usage, only the time . So . . . we're going to test out and see . Our usage: 2 computers usually (with one added sometimes, when the other two are in use), average 4-5 hours altogether per day . We just don't know our "real" usage, because we are not told our national traffic on Jetstream Starter . Good luck,	~~~~~ s y ~~~~~ (2054)
220603	2004-03-07 00:53:00	"New" Jetstream packages are on the Xtra website now. 1 GB, 3 GB and 10 GB. A better deal than Jetstream Starter now, faster download and reasonable caps and pricing in comparison to the old plans.	godfather (25)
220604	2004-03-07 03:12:00	The telecom useage meter will give you you total international/national useage, as compared to the Xtra useage meter, which only displays international traffic (for the jetstream starter 5Gig plan)	wuppo (41)
220605	2004-03-07 04:51:00	Thanks for your suggestions everyone. The plan I was talking about was the new Telecom plan, JetStream Surf 1GB. Thanks for the suggestions regarding router/modem. I had a quick look around a couple of sites, and in some cases routers were actually cheaper than modems, so it looks like a router is the way to go. Nobody in the family is a heavy file sharing user, and we're not heavy on streaming media (probably occasional streaming video etc.), so hopefully we'll be allright. We'll just keep very conservative on internet use for the first month, and see how we go.	somebody (208)
220606	2004-03-07 05:43:00	As far as routers go, do you currently have a hub or not? I'd very strongly and highly and stongly and highly.... ;-) recommend the D-Link DSL500 or 504 (If you don't already have a hub). As a user of the 500 model, I'm more than pleased. The routers that come in cheap, apparently, are not very "good". I have heard stories or random disconnection, etc. So get a decent brand, from a decent manufacture, i.e. D-Link, they've specialised in networking and internet, etc. for more than long enough. Actually, price wise, the DSL504 can be brought from Eden Computer in Auckland for $198incl. GST. Personally, I think that is cheap when you consider the fact that it is a external, it's a router, and it's got a inbuilt hub. I'm sure many user of this model will agree with my opinions in regard to it's greatness, ;-)	~~~~~ s y ~~~~~ (2054)
220607	2004-03-07 07:26:00	> > I'd very strongly and highly and stongly and > highly . . . . ;-) recommend the D-Link DSL500 or > 504 (If you don't already have a hub) . I endorse this comment . We tried a cheap DSE router and I spent a fruitless day trying to make the goddamn thing work . When I took it back, the jerk of a manager at DSE Riccarton gave me a hard time, saying they'd had no probs with that router before (thereby implying I was an idiot) . Anyway, I exchanged it for a DSL 504 (+ $150 extra), came home, plugged it in and everything worked immediately . That was 18 months ago and it's never given a problem . We have 3 PCs connected + an access point and wireless to a laptop .	TideMan (4279)
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