What if I can’t get fibre?
What if I want to change my ISP? Suffering from poor internet access?
In these days of instant connectivity, social media, online entertainment and working from home or home business a good and reliable link to the Internet is a necessity, for some it is on a par with other utility provisions such as power etc.
In the previous article: https://www.islandtech.nz/post/suffering-from-poor-internet-access we talked about how the local device could affect your experience with some tips on improvement. Today we give a brief overview on how these things fit together and what you can do if you can’t get fibre or to your area.
What’s is involved in Internet connectivity?
There are several aspects, components, that are involved in connecting you to the world. We will discuss here at a very high level just to help with some understanding.
Modem / Router
This is the small device that is supplied by the ISP:
Something like the picture above.
This device is what gives you your WIFI connection and connects you to the ISP. If this device is working you can be connected to it with a full WIFI connection showing full signal but still have no internet access; this could be due to the ISP having a fault.
This device is like a bridge connecting your home WIFI to the ISP, both are separate networks and this device routes your information from you home out to and in from the internet.
This means that you could have connections internally between your home devices but no internet access if the ISP has a problem.
I can’t get fibre, Gulfnet or other fixed internet, what can I do?
A number of places on the island simply have no fixed cable connections available, or if they have then they are old, slow and unreliable ones. Gulfnet has filled this gap but isn’t always available; so what are your options?
Starlink
Starlink is a satellite based ISP which works everywhere and doesn’t require a fixed line in from Chorus, it uses a satellite transceiver, a bit like Sky or free view dishes. It is slightly more expensive than fibre but it does work extremely well and works almost anywhere.
A satellite dish as well as a specific router will be installed via which your devices can connect to the internet at fast speeds.
Although slightly more expensive than the average fibre it does work almost every time, requires no Chorus visit or involvement and gives comparable speeds to fibre.
Mobile Phone 4G Style Connections
In areas where there is no fixed line availability but there is mobile phone coverage one of these can be utilised to provide reasonably priced Internet access with reasonable speed. It requires a special router which uses a standard mobile phone SIM card, same as your own mobile device, but loaded with a data costed towards data usage.
Although cheaper than Starlink, it does provide less speed and supports less devices than Starlink or fibre but does work in most places. The data package will require regular top ups, but there are phone apps than can notify you of this and allow you do it from your phone before the data runs out.
So if you are struggling to get good internet to your property then one of these will most probably suit your needs.
Like always, we really recommend that you talk to us, or other experts, before taking the plunge in order to prevent you from taking an expensive false route.
Thinking of changing your ISP?
In the vast majority of cases this is a simple and painless process, possibly with the exception of on-going contracts, but technically it shouldn’t be much of a problem. However, sometimes there are issues in changing which the ISP probably won’t tell you.
An example of this is where one of our customers uses a specific security method to provide secure access to a healthcare body. They changed ISP but only after having taken the plunge they discovered that their new ISP doesn’t support this type of technology, rendering them with a serious problem in sending data to the health authority.
The outcome here was a rather unnecessary expenditure of testing, alternate methods and site visit, as well as several weeks of loss of functionality until we were able to resolve the problem.
So please always talk to an expert before changing.
We can be reached on Support: support@islandtech.nz
Call: 09 870 5698 Part 3 to come soon..
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