Re: [tlug] Transition to Hikari

[John Blesener <jblesener@example.com>]

> On Sep 22, 2014, at 10:56 PM, Stefan Angrick <stefan.a@example.com> wrote:
> 
> We have recently been informed by our provider (au) that they will
> terminate ADSL in our area, so we finally decided to upgrade to Hikari
> and are now going through the pains of talking to clueless service
> agents who have given us some contradicting information, so I was
> hoping for some good old TLUG advice on how to best handle the
> transition.
> 
> To give some background first: We're currently on a contract with NTT
> for landline and one with au for ADSL/VoIP. We have a splitter connected
> to our phone line with cables for "phone" and "modem", both of which go
> into the same ADSL modem from which one cable connects to our
> phone/fax. We use this phone with both the landline (NTT) number and
> the VoIP (au) number, the latter of which is especially useful as it
> allows for cheap international calling and free calls between mobile
> and home. However, the service agent tells us that when transferring to
> Hikari we (a) need to get a new VoIP number, (b) we'll lose the free
> calls between mobile and home, and (c) we will need to get a second
> phone if we intend on keeping the landline number as well.
> 
> 1. Since au apparently decided to make their new plan less attractive,
> we're also considering alternative ISPs, but Flet's NTT and Yahoo BB
> seem more expensive. What is your recommended ISP at the moment?
> 2. Does it make sense to keep NTT's landline connection? From what I
> remember landlines have their own power and continue working during
> blackouts, which would be a definite plus.
> 3. If that's the case, is there a way to use both lines/numbers on a
> single phone? (i.e. VoIP coming from the Hikari modem and landline
> coming from NTT's wall socket)
> 4. Finally, since I noticed that some providers charge extra for
> enabling WiFi on their modem/router combos, I was wondering whether
> you are aware of any restrictions in terms of what hardware can be
> hooked up to their modems, e.g. routers etc.
> 
> Thank you for your help!
> 
> -- 
> Stefan Angrick <stefan.a@example.com>


We had the voip service activated the first 2 years since it was free but never used it. 

You can hook up whatever you want behind the router they give you but I believe you have to use that router to connect to their network. It's pretty capable since I have been able to get 700+ Mbps up/down through it. For wireless I just have a wifi router in AP mode attached to it. 

- John