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Thread ID: 22265	2002-07-15 22:09:00	xtra versus telstraclear	MaryH (1067)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
62871	2002-07-15 22:09:00	My internet connection is with xtra on their value pack. Telstraclear are advertising a new scheme Home 150 at $14.95 a month. Is this likely to be as good (or better) than xtra's scheme and are there any hidden catches in it?	MaryH (1067)
62872	2002-07-15 22:30:00	Well, I've been using ClearNet for yonks and service has been variable. Right now it isn't the fastest, and sometimes it can take a few tries to connect, but in general it has been adequate. I have heard others complaining of a decrease in service since the Telstra-Clear merger, and with the number of layoffs resulting from the merger, and general common teething problems involved in such mergers a degree of variability in the service wouldn't be unexpected. Would TelstraClear be better than Xtra? I'd doubt it. Both Clear and Xtra have gone through periods where service drops off, but I've never bothered changing ISPs because I could never see that one or the other would be consistantly better. And that is especially true at the value end of the market. When the ISPs cut the costs and go into price wars at the low end, it really is a gamble as to how good the service for those packages is going to be. Especially if they are using it to drive up subscriber numbers. Personally, unless a number of people told you that one or the other package was really great, I wouldn't think it worth the hassle of switching.	Biggles (121)
62873	2002-07-15 22:47:00	I think you are better off staying with xtra. We were on paradise but still had a $5 conection with xtra. Paradise seemed to get worse and took ages to connect and we were being booted all the time. We changed to xtra value pack and the problems seemed to dry out over night. The connection was faster and we have had no problems with being disconnected. As you know paradise is part of telstraclear and probably shares the same servers	Warren (875)
62874	2002-07-16 00:21:00	We are with Home 150 through Telstra/Clear, and have no problems logging in, and staying logged on. We don't get discontinued, and even though sometimes it seems a little slow, it is only during really busy peak periods. Can't compare to Xtra, as I won't give telecom anymore money, as they get enough out of us as it is, since we don't live in a City. :-(	supergran (108)
62875	2002-07-16 00:48:00	There's been an awful lot written here on the subject of ISP's, whose the best, whose the worst, so on, and so forth. The one thing that remains consistent is that many ISP's seem to be have bad periods. One week it will seem like paradise has gone to the pack, another week Xtra.. you get the idea. One Dial-up ISP that no-one seems to be giving a hard time is IHUG. I haven't been using them as my main ISP for over a year as now, as i choose to be on Telstra-cable. IHUG do seem to give consistent service, and i am yet to hear otherwise. They have a policy of kicking people off after 3 hours IF the need the lines, this has the effect of annoying those who think flatrate + 2nd phone line = permanent connection, but keeps the service quality high for others. HUGE downloads at peak times are therefore unadvisable. If you just want the cheapest deal, your probably on the right track. Keep in mind, you get what you pay for, although Telstra and Xtra certainly have the bandwidth to back the connections, cheap dial up will mean some kind of compromise somewhere. It's only a matter of time before the service is consistently flaky on all cheap dial up ISP's, so as long as your able to except that the connection will fail or slow down occasionally, particularly during peaktime, go for the cheapest, or stick with the devil you know.	Chris Wilson (431)
62876	2002-07-16 01:41:00	> They have a policy of kicking people off after 3 hours IF the > need the lines, this has the effect of annoying those who think flatrate > + 2nd phone line = permanent connection, but keeps the service > quality high for others . What sort of statement is that Chris . . . . . . . . . I have dial-up + 2 phonelines, and EXPECT to be able to stay online 24/7 if I bloody well want to . . . . . I am with Xtra, and NEVER get booted BALDY	Baldy (26)
62877	2002-07-16 02:01:00	OK, Baldly, When i was with IHUG, as my fulltime ISP, i ran the flatrate + 2nd phone line = permanent connection option, i ran a small network for a large household without problems . However IHUG state that they are not there to be used 24/7, and they have had a boot after 3(?) hours policy, i very rarely got booted . Perhaps Xtra are happy to be used 24/7, although i seem to remember seeing something on the xtra website to the contrary . Personally i think those wanting permanent connection should consider cable/DSL . Flatrate + 2nd phone = same price as cable, which is why i have it . I assume the same applies with DSL aka Jetscream . Shoot me down in flames if you like, but i think dial up is there for the more casual users, or for those who have no other option . OF course weather any of this applies to MaryH is another issue altogether	Chris Wilson (431)
62878	2002-07-16 04:08:00	Fair enough Chris, I live about 3km from the exchange, yet Jetstream isn't available. I am shifting house in a few months to an area wher I CAN get Jetstream. BALDY	Baldy (26)
62879	2002-07-16 06:17:00	Someone said IHUG are have a good service. NOT when it comes to satellite. My dish came adrift ONE MONTH ago in the gales. E-mails and phones calls say it will be fixed in 24hrs or similar -- perhaps they keep Jupiter time !!!!!!!!!!!	Crunn (1068)
62880	2002-07-16 06:37:00	I'm with TelstaClear 150 too. Earlier this year I was having real problems dialling up, but when I (eventually) contacted their help desk, I was given 2 more local numbers that I could use. Since changing, there has only been once that I haven't been able to dial up straight away - that is, in about 4 months. :)	R.M. (561)
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