Broadband FAQ
Broadband FAQ
The below information is aimed at residential Auckland urban area users only, may be incomplete, may contain incorrect or outdated information and is subject to change.
Please answer the following questions:-
Are ADSL, VDSL and or Fibre available at my address?
Go to https://www.chorus.co.nz/broadband and enter your address to find out what is available along with estimated speeds.
Is Spark, Skinny and or Vodafone 4G or 5G Mobile Broadband, available at my address?
Go to
https://www.skinny.co.nz/broadband#broadband-address-search
https://www.spark.co.nz/shop/internet/wirelessbroadband
https://www.vodafone.co.nz/broadband/internet-plans/
Then enter your address to find out if 4G or 5G Mobile Broadband is available for each provider.
Do I want or need a landline?
Do I want all my existing phone jacks to work?
Do I want or need a fax line?
Do I have a monitored alarm system?
Do I watch streaming video on demand services (such as Netflix)?
Do I want or need an unlimited data plan?
How many GB of data maximum do I use per month?
Do I use broadband for business purposes?
Is my home single level, two storey or three storey?
Does my home have a patch panel (a central point for phone and network wiring)?
ADSL Broadband about
Uses existing copper lines.
Copper lines are being phased out.
Unlimited data plans available.
Copper lines can have issues with corrosion and water ingress - these can affect broadband performance ongoingly or intermittently. If you pickup handset and there is noise accompanying the dial tone that is an indication of interference on the copper lines.
Some installs have dedicated ADSL phone jack and the modem must be plugged into that phone jack.
Most ADSL installs do not have dedicated ADSL phone jack and modem can be plugged into any working phone jack. Without dedicated ADSL phone jack all phone and fax devices must use an ADSL filter to prevent ADSL and phone lines interfering with each other.
ADSL can run on copper line that has phone number assigned. ADSL can also run on copper line that doesn’t have a phone number assigned - this is referred to as Naked ADSL broadband.
VDSL Broadband about
Similar product to ADSL, but speeds are generally much faster.
Requires a dedicated VDSL phone jack, which modem must be plugged into.
VDSL can run on copper line that has phone number assigned. VDSL can also run on copper line that doesn’t have a phone number assigned - this is referred to as Naked VDSL broadband.
Fibre about
Also referred to as UFB.
Fastest speeds available.
Unlimited plans available.
Uses fibre optic cable.
Installation can be complicated and a lot of hassle.
Installed properly and in the right location increases the resale value of your home.
4G & 5G Mobile Broadband about
Uses cellular mobile network same as used by mobile phones.
Unlimited plans are available with some, but not necessarily all providers.
Installation is easy.
Modem can be moved to any location in your home in reach of a PowerPoint.
Modem is best located near an outside window for strongest 4G signal.
Main providers are Vodafone, Spark and Skinny. Skinny uses the Spark network, 2Degrees do not offer 4G Mobile Broadband plans as such, but you can use a 2Degrees mobile phone SIM with data plan and compatible modem/router.
To get an idea of whether Spark/Skinny, Vodafone or 2Degrees will perform the best you will need to look at the mobile coverage page for 4G/5G on their respective websites.
Spark and Vodafone offer landline option. Skinny doesn’t offer landline option.
You cannot inject phone line into existing phone jacks.
It is recommend you use a multi handset cordless phone set with 4G /5G Mobile Broadband connections. We recommend Uniden and Panasonic branded cordless phones. The base cordless phone must plug into the modem phone jack. The additional cordless phone handsets can be placed anywhere in your home within wireless reach of the base cordless phone. Compatible wireless repeaters can be used to extend the range of the cordless phones if needed.
Fibre Installation Information: -
Fibre in Auckland is installed by Chorus.
Involves running a fibre optic cable from the street to your home.
Fibre optic cable is typically installed one of four ways: -
The fibre optic cable once inside your home is run to an ONT box (optical network terminal). It is important that the ONT box is located in a sensible spot. To move the ONT box at a later date can be difficult, there will usually be a cost and the work can only be carried out by Chorus. An Ethernet cable then runs from the ONT box to the router. The Ethernet cable supplied is typically 1 to 2 metres in length, but an Ethernet cable up to 100 metres can be used to extend the location of the router.
Chorus will usually disconnect your copper wires when installing fibre. This is mandatory if they are injecting new fibre phone line into your existing phone jacks.
Sometimes customers want to retain existing copper lines as well as have fibre connection - this can be achieved but you must agree this with Chorus when they come to assess installation.
Generally speaking Chorus want to install fibre
If you are not happy with installation that Chorus propose then you are under no obligation to proceed. Feel free to negotiate until you are satisfied you understand and are happy with what is being proposed. I have encountered installations where the ONT box and router have been installed in the garage, which
Streaming Video On Demand (SVOD)
This includes services such as Netflix, Neon, Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Disney Plus, TVNZ OnDemand. If you watch a lot of streaming video it is recommended that you have an unlimited data plan to avoid getting excess data charges or experience capped data speeds. As a rule of thumb you want a broadband connection with a download speed of 5 Mbps or better. If the download speed is less than 5 Mbps you may experience performance issues such as buffering.
Fax lines
Traditional fax lines are only available with ADSL and VDSL connections.
VOIP fax lines using ATA adaptors (analog telephone adapter - such as Cisco SPA112 or SPA112) and VOIP service such as 2Talk.
VOIP fax line using email to fax and fax to email service such as 2Talk.
2Talk local 09 fax lines are $10+GST per month, but if you already have another line with 2Talk this will drop to $6+GST per month.
2Talk 028 fax lines are free. However the caller pays for incoming 028 fax calls (rate of a call to a mobile phone). There is a cost for outgoing fax calls. This is a great option if number of fax calls is very low.
Monitored alarms
Older alarms with monitoring used traditional phone lines for sending data to monitoring company. These do not work with 4G Mobile Broadband and Fibre connections. If you want to maintain alarm monitoring and are switching to one of these connections you will need to upgrade the alarm system to use wired internet connection, wireless internet connection or cellular mobile connection.
Landlines
Adding a landline to Fibre or 4G Mobile Broadband plans is typically around $10+GST per month.
Landlines are useful for emergencies - visitors and children can reliably dial 111 and emergency services know your address based on phone number if correctly configured.
Landline phones ring simultaneously in multiple rooms of your home making it easier to hear call and answer (versus mobile phone ringing in another part of your home).
Landline call rates to international numbers are typically cheaper than mobile call rates.
Landline calls to local 09 numbers are typically free, so you can talk as long as you like.
Landlines are a good backup for when your mobile phone is not working - accidentally put on silent, battery ran flat, turned off, damaged, lost or stolen.
Some people prefer to call your landline because they want to speak to you when you are at home (not when you are driving, shopping, at work etc).
Porting numbers
If you are switching phone/internet providers you can normally port your existing phone and fax numbers to the new provider for a fee.
Changing providers
Be sure NOT to cancel your services with the old provider - the new provider will do this for you when they take over. Once services are working with the new provider you can optionally call your old provider to clarify that they are no longer charging you for any services.
The below information is aimed at residential Auckland urban area users only, may be incomplete, may contain incorrect or outdated information and is subject to change.
Please answer the following questions:-
Are ADSL, VDSL and or Fibre available at my address?
Go to https://www.chorus.co.nz/broadband and enter your address to find out what is available along with estimated speeds.
Is Spark, Skinny and or Vodafone 4G or 5G Mobile Broadband, available at my address?
Go to
https://www.skinny.co.nz/broadband#broadband-address-search
https://www.spark.co.nz/shop/internet/wirelessbroadband
https://www.vodafone.co.nz/broadband/internet-plans/
Then enter your address to find out if 4G or 5G Mobile Broadband is available for each provider.
Do I want or need a landline?
Do I want all my existing phone jacks to work?
Do I want or need a fax line?
Do I have a monitored alarm system?
Do I watch streaming video on demand services (such as Netflix)?
Do I want or need an unlimited data plan?
How many GB of data maximum do I use per month?
Do I use broadband for business purposes?
Is my home single level, two storey or three storey?
Does my home have a patch panel (a central point for phone and network wiring)?
ADSL Broadband about
Uses existing copper lines.
Copper lines are being phased out.
Unlimited data plans available.
Copper lines can have issues with corrosion and water ingress - these can affect broadband performance ongoingly or intermittently. If you pickup handset and there is noise accompanying the dial tone that is an indication of interference on the copper lines.
Some installs have dedicated ADSL phone jack and the modem must be plugged into that phone jack.
Most ADSL installs do not have dedicated ADSL phone jack and modem can be plugged into any working phone jack. Without dedicated ADSL phone jack all phone and fax devices must use an ADSL filter to prevent ADSL and phone lines interfering with each other.
ADSL can run on copper line that has phone number assigned. ADSL can also run on copper line that doesn’t have a phone number assigned - this is referred to as Naked ADSL broadband.
VDSL Broadband about
Similar product to ADSL, but speeds are generally much faster.
Requires a dedicated VDSL phone jack, which modem must be plugged into.
VDSL can run on copper line that has phone number assigned. VDSL can also run on copper line that doesn’t have a phone number assigned - this is referred to as Naked VDSL broadband.
Fibre about
Also referred to as UFB.
Fastest speeds available.
Unlimited plans available.
Uses fibre optic cable.
Installation can be complicated and a lot of hassle.
Installed properly and in the right location increases the resale value of your home.
4G & 5G Mobile Broadband about
Uses cellular mobile network same as used by mobile phones.
Unlimited plans are available with some, but not necessarily all providers.
Installation is easy.
Modem can be moved to any location in your home in reach of a PowerPoint.
Modem is best located near an outside window for strongest 4G signal.
Main providers are Vodafone, Spark and Skinny. Skinny uses the Spark network, 2Degrees do not offer 4G Mobile Broadband plans as such, but you can use a 2Degrees mobile phone SIM with data plan and compatible modem/router.
To get an idea of whether Spark/Skinny, Vodafone or 2Degrees will perform the best you will need to look at the mobile coverage page for 4G/5G on their respective websites.
Spark and Vodafone offer landline option. Skinny doesn’t offer landline option.
You cannot inject phone line into existing phone jacks.
It is recommend you use a multi handset cordless phone set with 4G /5G Mobile Broadband connections. We recommend Uniden and Panasonic branded cordless phones. The base cordless phone must plug into the modem phone jack. The additional cordless phone handsets can be placed anywhere in your home within wireless reach of the base cordless phone. Compatible wireless repeaters can be used to extend the range of the cordless phones if needed.
Fibre Installation Information: -
Fibre in Auckland is installed by Chorus.
Involves running a fibre optic cable from the street to your home.
Fibre optic cable is typically installed one of four ways: -
- Overhead using similar path as existing copper lines.
- Underground using existing conduit used by copper lines etc. Older homes (maybe 1970s and earlier) typically don’t have existing conduit.
- Underground by running new channel from street to house.
- Overground by running cable from street to house on walls and or fences etc.
The fibre optic cable once inside your home is run to an ONT box (optical network terminal). It is important that the ONT box is located in a sensible spot. To move the ONT box at a later date can be difficult, there will usually be a cost and the work can only be carried out by Chorus. An Ethernet cable then runs from the ONT box to the router. The Ethernet cable supplied is typically 1 to 2 metres in length, but an Ethernet cable up to 100 metres can be used to extend the location of the router.
Chorus will usually disconnect your copper wires when installing fibre. This is mandatory if they are injecting new fibre phone line into your existing phone jacks.
Sometimes customers want to retain existing copper lines as well as have fibre connection - this can be achieved but you must agree this with Chorus when they come to assess installation.
Generally speaking Chorus want to install fibre
If you are not happy with installation that Chorus propose then you are under no obligation to proceed. Feel free to negotiate until you are satisfied you understand and are happy with what is being proposed. I have encountered installations where the ONT box and router have been installed in the garage, which
Streaming Video On Demand (SVOD)
This includes services such as Netflix, Neon, Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Disney Plus, TVNZ OnDemand. If you watch a lot of streaming video it is recommended that you have an unlimited data plan to avoid getting excess data charges or experience capped data speeds. As a rule of thumb you want a broadband connection with a download speed of 5 Mbps or better. If the download speed is less than 5 Mbps you may experience performance issues such as buffering.
Fax lines
Traditional fax lines are only available with ADSL and VDSL connections.
VOIP fax lines using ATA adaptors (analog telephone adapter - such as Cisco SPA112 or SPA112) and VOIP service such as 2Talk.
VOIP fax line using email to fax and fax to email service such as 2Talk.
2Talk local 09 fax lines are $10+GST per month, but if you already have another line with 2Talk this will drop to $6+GST per month.
2Talk 028 fax lines are free. However the caller pays for incoming 028 fax calls (rate of a call to a mobile phone). There is a cost for outgoing fax calls. This is a great option if number of fax calls is very low.
Monitored alarms
Older alarms with monitoring used traditional phone lines for sending data to monitoring company. These do not work with 4G Mobile Broadband and Fibre connections. If you want to maintain alarm monitoring and are switching to one of these connections you will need to upgrade the alarm system to use wired internet connection, wireless internet connection or cellular mobile connection.
Landlines
Adding a landline to Fibre or 4G Mobile Broadband plans is typically around $10+GST per month.
Landlines are useful for emergencies - visitors and children can reliably dial 111 and emergency services know your address based on phone number if correctly configured.
Landline phones ring simultaneously in multiple rooms of your home making it easier to hear call and answer (versus mobile phone ringing in another part of your home).
Landline call rates to international numbers are typically cheaper than mobile call rates.
Landline calls to local 09 numbers are typically free, so you can talk as long as you like.
Landlines are a good backup for when your mobile phone is not working - accidentally put on silent, battery ran flat, turned off, damaged, lost or stolen.
Some people prefer to call your landline because they want to speak to you when you are at home (not when you are driving, shopping, at work etc).
Porting numbers
If you are switching phone/internet providers you can normally port your existing phone and fax numbers to the new provider for a fee.
Changing providers
Be sure NOT to cancel your services with the old provider - the new provider will do this for you when they take over. Once services are working with the new provider you can optionally call your old provider to clarify that they are no longer charging you for any services.