this post was submitted on 24 Aug 2023
11 points (100.0% liked)

Aotearoa / New Zealand

1653 readers
14 users here now

Kia ora and welcome to !newzealand, a place to share and discuss anything about Aotearoa in general

Rules:

FAQ ~ NZ Community List ~ Join Matrix chatroom

 

Banner image by Bernard Spragg

Got an idea for next month's banner?

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

Welcome to today’s daily kōrero!

Anyone can make the thread, first in first served. If you are here on a day and there’s no daily thread, feel free to create it!

Anyway, it’s just a chance to talk about your day, what you have planned, what you have done, etc.

So, how’s it going?

all 27 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] MadMonkey@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Vodafone just let us know our fibre bill will be going up by 6$ a month, citing their costs changing.

Shouldn't fibre costs decrease overtime as it gets more users and achieves economies of scale?

[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Because the government funded the network I'm not sure normal rules apply. But probably thier "costs" are unrelated to the fibre itself. It's probably a lot to do with higher IT salaries, and higher salaries in general.

ISPs pay a fee to chorus for the usage, and I've never heard of chorus putting their prices down.

We also got $5 a month added to our bill with skinny (I think that brings it to $80 for 300 down/100 up unlimited).

[–] NoRamyunForYou@lemmy.nz 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Was thinking of getting my parents onto Skinny Fibre. I've got a Skinny modem from a couple of years ago, so we should get the $5 BYO Modem Discount for a year, and I was thinking of getting one of them onto a Skinny Number so that we get the $10 Discount as well, bringing it in at $65/month for 300 Fibre. They're currently paying $80 something with Vodafone, and that's due to go up another $6.

[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The $10 discount is only on their higher plans. I'm on a $17/month plan so don't qualify. But I still haven't been able to find any better deal, at least not one worth switching for.

I feel like the golden age of ISP bribes is over 🙁. When we signed up to Skinny, it was 6 months free on a 12 month contract. Couldn't believe it. That was at least a couple of years ago now.

[–] NoRamyunForYou@lemmy.nz 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah, only on $27 and up. Heard from Mum that Dads always running out of data, so need to do some shopping around to see if upgrading to more data via Skinny will be worth it compared to other providers.

Haha, yeah they're now down to only 2 months :( though in saying that, while driving the other day, I did see a glimpse of a bus stop ad showing 4 o(or 6) months free when signing up - but can't quite remember who that was.

[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

There are lots that have like 3 months half price, then $100/m after that. That's not a good deal.

Also with Skinny's 2 months free, I asked them about it and they said they only do 1 month free for fibre, the 2 months free was adsl only.

[–] NoRamyunForYou@lemmy.nz 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Oh shoot, just re-checked and you're right! Only 1 month for Fibre. I was sort of set on getting my parents onto Skinny, but will need to re-shop to see if there's anything better out there at the moment.

I should also check with my partner whether we only got 1 month, because we signed up with Skinny for their Fibre recently in our new place (though we still have an ongoing debacle with fibre install but that's another story).

[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah I've been looking for a while now, and haven't seen anything that is worth me moving. Any good deals all have high monthly payments after the initial deal.

[–] NoRamyunForYou@lemmy.nz 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Confirmed with the partner - Only 1 month for us as well 😢

[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It sucks, but to be honest it's probably still one of the best deals out there. There just aren't good deals at the moment.

[–] NoRamyunForYou@lemmy.nz 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah, oh well - atleast their monthly prices are cheaper than what my parents currently pay with Vodafone, so that's an automatic win anyways :)

[–] MadMonkey@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

How much IT maintenance is required once the connection is set up? I thought fibre was an initial large investment, but required little upkeep.

If it does take man power its a given that the price will continue to climb.

[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 1 points 1 year ago

I would think the same. My comment wasn't very clear about what I meant, but I was getting at the staff cost of the ISP. So they pay chorus X amount each month for your connection, and maybe that hasn't changed. But your ISP also has support staff to answer emails and phones, for billing and HR and everything else companies have. Those staff will be costing more over time.

[–] Floofah@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

It’s a finish off the mowing day for me. Did 75% yesterday, so a short burst’’ll get it done today. It’s sunny today, so in an hour it’ll be dry enough to start.

Need to buy a replacement brush cutter, the old one has expired and the grass edges need a serious trim. Will take a look at Mitre-10 to see what they have.

[–] eagleeyedtiger@lemmy.nz 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Planning on an electric one or is your area too large for it to be convenient?

[–] Floofah@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

We have quite a large area, so petrol with a blade, which is what I had before, will be what I get. The electric one’s do seem useful, especially not needing ear plugs when in use, however our place is too much imo.

[–] eagleeyedtiger@lemmy.nz 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Makes sense. I think the commercial electric stuff is getting there. I'm one of those weirdos who watches those lawncare and landscaping videos on youtube. Starting to see more of them supplementing their gas gear with electric tools

[–] Floofah@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It’s the same with other tools, drills, sanders, saws etc. The downside is keeping the batteries charged. Most serious users need multiple batteries, and to keep the spares on charge while working. The cost of the batteries is quite high, but then again, our electric, although it’s a high price, is nearly all hydro, so a lot of environmental impact saving in going all electric.

[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It was sunny yesterday and our lawn was still wet in the afternoon. It's not even very long. Might be mowable in a week or two if the fine weather sticks around.

[–] Floofah@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Got ours done, not too wet, and actually not too long either. Got to tidy up the edges though.

[–] SamC@lemmy.nz 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

It hasn't really been one of the more productive days today... (so far)

[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 3 points 1 year ago

That's surprising, considering Friday is traditionally the most productive day of the week.

[–] NoRamyunForYou@lemmy.nz 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Same here. Though for me it's been a bit of an unproductive week.

Had a couple of pieces of work that were tying up a lot of my time recently, and I've sort of been chugging along for the last week, slowly trying to clear my backlog.

[–] SamC@lemmy.nz 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I've had a pretty productive week so far... but feeling a bit tired today.

Getting thru stuff, it's just a bit of a grind!

[–] NoRamyunForYou@lemmy.nz 1 points 1 year ago

The grindy days are the worst :( especially when they come earlier in the week.