How not to do business.

[DickyOZ]

We have been a TPG customer for nearly 25 years (they are, or rather were, our internet provider). But we are in the process of moving house (again) and wanted to transfer our account to the new address. At our old address we had taken out an 18month contract for the new NBN service offered by TPG and it still has four months to run. Alas the NBN (National Broadband Network) doesn't roll out to our new address until October so we couldn't do an address change. So will they suspend our contract until then? Not a chance! I must pay it out and start a new contract when the service is available.
So my internet is now running on the Hotspot on my mobile phone.

That's it sat on the printer. It is running the PC on the desk, my Ipad, my wife's Ipad and her computer. We get a download speed of 19Mb/sec and upload at 4Mb/sec. It costs a third of what TPG were charging; OK I haven't got unlimited downloads, but as long as Windows 10 doesn't want to do too many 750MB updates we will survive until the NBN rolls out and I will start a new contract with one of TPG's competitors.

[ST1]

Good luck with with getting settled at your new home and hopefully finding a broadband supplier that meets your requirements Richard.

[John 2]

That's not too shabby Richard. I have never achieved more than 7mps download and 2 in the other direction and that, only after 7 visits by the BT engineer who finally determined that the copper from my house to the exchange was routed via a junction box a mile and 180 degrees in the wrong direction. Also, that the line should have be condemned 4 years ago after the last survey. When they deign to equip the local exchange with fibre, things might get better but I don't know if I can hold my breath that long.

[xpatUSA]

So my internet is now running on the Hotspot on my mobile phone.

We struggled along out in the country with an old Hughes satellite system (350MB/day, about 200Kb/sec down on a good day). One day the modem died and no installers wanted to come out and set up the new one I had gotten on eBay.

So I got another line on our cellular (Verizon) network and bought a Wi-Fi router, et voila, that's our permanent Internet access. The cool thing is being able to take the router along when we travel.

I'm impressed by the speeds mentioned in this thread. Ours is 2Mb/sec down, on average.

[JBW]

Just another great day in a tropical paradise. You've got more speed up and down than we have. We count it good to get 130 KB/sec download and I shudder to think what our upload is.

[rpcrowe]

We have been in an almost similar situation... We live in a semi rural area and could not get reception from any of the standard companies. Our only resort for Internet was via satellite which was (at that time) fairly slow and inconsistent especially during storms.
The phone company finally moved their services out so that we can have DSL. It has been an adventure. It seemed like every month we had the technician out to restore service! We went through six WiFi boxes. Crossing our fingers, it seems like this combination of phone service and box is working.
We get our television through DirecTV and have never experienced and problems. We can't go the cable route because no decent cable company comes out this far...
Our downoad speed is 22.78 mbps and we upload at 15 mbps. I don't really know if that is considered good or bad. All I know is that it is a LOT faster than we had with satellite Internet.
However, as with Brian, there are compensations. When I look out my windows and sliding glass doors, I don't see a neighbors house and some days I can take a nap with the door open and actually hear the acorns fall from the oak trees surrounding my house. I am also situated perfectly for my dog rescue avocation...
Yet I am located only five miles from shopping and the city...

Note: The house with the Spanish tile roof, our nearest neighbor, you see across from my house is facing our garage door. You cannot see their house from inside our house...

[DickyOZ]

Just another great day in a tropical paradise. You've got more speed up and down than we have. We count it good to get 130 KB/sec download and I shudder to think what our upload is.

Paradise doesn't come cheap Brian.

[DickyOZ]

You live in a beautiful part of the world Richard. We too pay a premium for (essential?) services. But our neighbours don't seem to care. Skippy came over to the fence to say hello, but I resisted the urge to feed him - processed food is really bad for them.