http://it.gen.nz/2008/12/04/changing-your-internet-provider/ Writings on technology and society from Wellington, New Zealand Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:57:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://it.gen.nz/2008/12/04/changing-your-internet-provider/comment-page-1/#comment-1276 Paul Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:05:56 +0000 http://it.gen.nz/?p=400#comment-1276 I use Xnet, and have discovered there's more to all this than just service or price. My ISP offers far cheaper access than Xtra, but can't deliver sufficient internationl bandwidth to stream flash content such as youtube during busy times, whereas customers from these "Big Players" can. This has nothing t do with the speed of my phone line. NZ sites are fast and off-peak international performance is good. Basically the number of subsicribers that the ISP has is not matched by the amount of access to the international gateway that these budget ISPs pay for. If you read geekzone forums you will see others with similar issues, including Slingshot and at times, Orcon as well (rated well by consumer). So do your homework before switching from a big ISP if you want decent performance from overseas links during peak times I use Xnet, and have discovered there’s more to all this than just service or price. My ISP offers far cheaper access than Xtra, but can’t deliver sufficient internationl bandwidth to stream flash content such as youtube during busy times, whereas customers from these “Big Players” can. This has nothing t do with the speed of my phone line. NZ sites are fast and off-peak international performance is good. Basically the number of subsicribers that the ISP has is not matched by the amount of access to the international gateway that these budget ISPs pay for. If you read geekzone forums you will see others with similar issues, including Slingshot and at times, Orcon as well (rated well by consumer). So do your homework before switching from a big ISP if you want decent performance from overseas links during peak times

]]> http://it.gen.nz/2008/12/04/changing-your-internet-provider/comment-page-1/#comment-1274 Brett Roberts Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:07:07 +0000 http://it.gen.nz/?p=400#comment-1274 FWIW, I have used Snap for a couple of years and their service has been exemplary during that time. Sure there has been the occasional glitch along the way but every time I have contacted them I've been able to deal with a knowledgable and efficient support person who was able to quickly remedy the problem. I have no financial or business interest in Snap, I'm just a happy customer who is now a firm believer in the benefits of using a small ISP. FWIW, I have used Snap for a couple of years and their service has been exemplary during that time. Sure there has been the occasional glitch along the way but every time I have contacted them I’ve been able to deal with a knowledgable and efficient support person who was able to quickly remedy the problem. I have no financial or business interest in Snap, I’m just a happy customer who is now a firm believer in the benefits of using a small ISP.

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