Thursday, August 07, 2025

DeepThink said this about a few Australian NBN retail service providers (07 August 2025)

Australia's NBN is launching new broadband plans in mid-September 2025, and there's been lots happening on the RSP front during July and August.

I decided to get DeepThink's analysis about several of the contending service providers, simply because I was curious about what DeepThink would generate. I offer no apologies for the list of RSPs being far from exhaustive.

I threw this post together quickly, with minimal editing, and couldn't be bothered doing the same with ChatGPT or other chatbots.

The queries that I put to DeepThink are highlighted in yellow.

 

is exetel a good NBN Australia retail service provider (RSP)

Exetel is a budget-friendly NBN retail service provider (RSP) in Australia, but whether it's "good" depends on your priorities. Here’s a breakdown of its pros and cons to help you decide:

Pros of Exetel:
  1. Affordable Pricing

    • Exetel often offers competitive pricing, especially for lower-tier plans.

    • Frequent promotions (e.g., discounted rates for the first 6–12 months).

  2. No Lock-in Contracts

    • Most plans are month-to-month, allowing flexibility.

  3. Good Performance on Lower Tiers

    • Suitable for light users (browsing, streaming, small households).

  4. Self-Service Options

    • Online account management is straightforward.

  5. No Excess Usage Charges

    • Unlike some budget providers, Exetel doesn’t charge extra if you exceed data limits (plans are unlimited).

Cons of Exetel:
  1. Customer Support Issues

    • Mixed reviews on support responsiveness (long wait times, offshore support).

    • Limited phone support hours compared to larger RSPs like Telstra or Aussie Broadband.

  2. Network Congestion Risk

    • As a budget provider, Exetel may have higher contention ratios during peak times, leading to slower speeds.

  3. Limited Premium Features

    • No free Wi-Fi modem (unlike TPG or Optus).

    • Fewer perks (e.g., no streaming subscriptions bundled).

  4. Speed Variability

    • Some users report inconsistent speeds, especially on cheaper plans.

Who Should Consider Exetel?
  • Budget-conscious users who want a no-frills NBN plan.

  • Light to moderate internet users (not heavy gamers or 4K streamers).

  • Those who don’t need top-tier customer support.

Alternatives to Consider:
  • Aussie Broadband (better support, reliable speeds).

  • Superloop (good performance, competitive pricing).

  • Telstra/Optus (premium support but more expensive).

Verdict:

Exetel is decent if you prioritize price over performance and support. However, if you need consistent speeds, better service, or premium features, consider paying slightly more for a mid-tier provider like Aussie Broadband or Superloop.

 

is spintel a good NBN Australia retail service provider (RSP)

Spintel is a budget-friendly NBN Retail Service Provider (RSP) in Australia, but its quality depends on your needs. Here’s a balanced review:


✅ Pros of Spintel:
  1. Cheap Plans

    • One of the most affordable NBN providers, especially for basic speeds (NBN 12, 25, 50).

    • Often has promotions (e.g., first 6 months discounted).

  2. No Lock-in Contracts

    • Most plans are month-to-month, giving flexibility.

  3. Unlimited Data

    • No excess charges, even on cheaper plans.

  4. Australian-Based Support (During Business Hours)

    • Unlike some budget providers, Spintel has local call centers (9 AM–5 PM AEST).

  5. Self-Service Options

    • Online account management is simple.


❌ Cons of Spintel:
  1. Mixed Customer Support Reviews

    • Some users report slow responses outside business hours.

    • Limited phone support (weekdays only).

  2. Potential Network Congestion

    • As a low-cost provider, Spintel may have higher contention ratios, leading to slower speeds during peak times (7–11 PM).

  3. Limited High-Speed Plan Options

    • Not the best choice for NBN 100 or NBN 250/1000 if you want consistent performance.

  4. No Free Modem

    • You may need to buy or rent a modem (unlike some competitors like TPG).

  5. Slow Fault Resolution

    • Some users report delays in fixing connection issues.


Who Should Consider Spintel?

Budget-focused users who want the cheapest possible NBN.
Light internet users (browsing, emails, occasional streaming).
Those who don’t need premium support or ultra-fast speeds.

Who Should Avoid Spintel?

Gamers or 4K streamers (risk of peak-time slowdowns).
Households with heavy internet usage (better options like Aussie Broadband or Superloop).
People who prioritize customer service (consider Aussie Broadband or Telstra).


Alternatives to Spintel:

Provider
Price Range
Best For

Aussie Broadband
Mid-high
Reliability & support

Superloop
Mid
Speed & value

Exetel
Budget
Cheap but better than Spintel

TPG
Budget-mid
Free modem & decent speeds


Final Verdict:

Spintel is a decent budget option if you want the cheapest NBN and don’t need high performance. However, if you can spend slightly more, Exetel, Superloop, or TPG offer better value with fewer compromise

 

is launtel a good NBN Australia retail service provider (RSP)

Launtel is a premium, high-performance NBN provider with a unique daily billing model, making it ideal for users who prioritize flexibility, speed, and reliability. Here’s a detailed breakdown:


✅ Pros of Launtel

1. ⚡ Best Performance in Australia
  • Consistently ranks #1 for speed and low latency (independent testing by ACCC, WhistleOut).

  • Uses high-quality CVC (backhaul) provisioning, meaning minimal congestion even during peak hours.

  • Excellent for gaming, 4K streaming, and WFH.

2. Unique Daily Billing (Pay-As-You-Go)
  • Change speeds or pause service daily (great for travellers or temporary needs).

  • No lock-in contracts; billed only for the days you use.

3. ️ Premium Support & Transparency
  • Australian-based, highly responsive support (rare for smaller ISPs).

  • Real-time network monitoring (you can see if issues are NBN-wide or Launtel-specific).

4. Gamers & Power Users Love It
  • Lowest latency among Australian ISPs.

  • Static IP included (great for hosting servers, VPNs).

5. Top-Tier Network Infrastructure
  • Uses Aussie Broadband’s high-quality network (but with better configurability).


❌ Cons of Launtel

1. Expensive (Premium Pricing)
  • Most expensive NBN provider (e.g., NBN 1000 costs ~$150/month).

  • Daily billing can add up if you don’t adjust plans frequently.

2. ‍♂️ Not Ideal for Casual Users
  • Overkill if you just browse/email.

  • No bundled extras (e.g., no free modem, no streaming subscriptions).

3. Requires Active Management
  • If you forget to downgrade/pause, you’ll keep paying for a high-tier plan.


Who Should Choose Launtel?

Gamers (lowest ping, no lag).
WFH professionals (Zoom/cloud without drops).
Tech-savvy users who want control over their connection.
Temporary users (e.g., renters, travellers).

Who Should Avoid Launtel?

Budget users (cheaper options like Exetel or TPG).
Casual users (no need for premium speeds).
Those who want "set and forget" plans.


Best Alternatives to Launtel

Provider
Best For
Price Range

Aussie Broadband
Best all-rounder (great support)
$$

Superloop
Speed-focused, good value
$$

Leaptel
Low latency, good pricing
$$

Exetel
Budget-friendly
$


Final Verdict: Is Launtel Worth It?

✅ YES if:

  • You need the fastest, most reliable NBN.

  • You’re a gamer, streamer, or WFH professional.

  • You like flexibility and control over your plan.

❌ NO if:

  • You want the cheapest NBN.

  • You don’t need ultra-low latency.

  • You prefer a simple, fixed monthly plan.

Recommendation: If you can afford it, Launtel is the best-performing NBN provider in Australia. But if you’re on a budget, Aussie Broadband or Superloop are great alternatives.

 

Is Leaptel a Good NBN Provider in Australia?

Leaptel is a highly regarded mid-tier NBN provider known for its excellent performance, low latency, and strong customer support. It’s a great alternative to premium ISPs like Aussie Broadband and Launtel but at a slightly lower price. Here’s a detailed breakdown:


✅ Pros of Leaptel

1. ⚡ Excellent Performance & Low Latency
  • Consistently top-ranked for speed and reliability (similar to Aussie Broadband and Superloop).

  • Great for gaming, 4K streaming, and video calls due to low congestion.

  • Uses high-quality CVC (backhaul) provisioning to avoid peak-time slowdowns.

2. Competitive Pricing (Better Value Than Aussie BB)
  • Slightly cheaper than Aussie Broadband for similar performance.

  • No long-term contracts (month-to-month plans).

3. ️ Reliable Australian-Based Support
  • Local customer service with good responsiveness (better than budget ISPs like Spintel or Exetel).

  • Helpful for troubleshooting connection issues.

4. Gamer-Friendly Features
  • Static IP included for free (useful for hosting servers, VPNs, or gaming).

  • Low ping times, making it a strong choice for competitive gaming.

5. Transparent Network Management
  • Provides real-time usage stats and network status updates.

  • No sneaky throttling or hidden slowdowns.


❌ Cons of Leaptel

1. ❗ Limited Plan Variety
  • Doesn’t offer NBN 250/1000 (Ultrafast) plans in all areas (check availability first).

  • Fewer bundled perks (e.g., no free modem or streaming subscriptions).

2. Less Brand Recognition
  • Smaller provider compared to Telstra, TPG, or Aussie Broadband.

  • Fewer physical stores (online-only support).

3. ⏳ No Short-Term Flexibility (Unlike Launtel)
  • No daily billing option (Launtel offers this).

  • Less suitable for temporary users.


Who Should Choose Leaptel?

Gamers & streamers who want low latency and reliability.
WFH professionals needing a stable connection for Zoom/cloud work.
Tech-savvy users who value transparency and performance.
Those wanting a balance of price and quality (better than budget ISPs but cheaper than Launtel).

Who Should Avoid Leaptel?

Users needing NBN 1000 (Gigabit) speeds (check availability).
Those who want bundled extras (e.g., free modem, Netflix).
Casual users on a tight budget (cheaper options like Exetel exist).


Best Alternatives to Leaptel

Provider
Best For
Price Range

Aussie Broadband
Best all-rounder (premium support)
$$

Superloop
Speed-focused, good value
$$

Launtel
Best performance (but expensive)
$$$

Exetel
Budget-friendly
$


Final Verdict: Is Leaptel Worth It?

✅ YES if:

  • You want high performance without paying premium prices (e.g., Aussie Broadband).

  • You’re a gamer, streamer, or WFH professional.

  • You prefer a no-nonsense, reliable ISP with good support.

❌ NO if:

  • You need NBN 1000 (Gigabit) speeds (check coverage first).

  • You want freebies like a modem or streaming subscriptions.

  • You’re on a very tight budget (consider Exetel or TPG).

Recommendation: If you want better-than-average speeds, low latency, and good support at a fair price, Leaptel is an excellent choice. However, if you need ultra-fast gigabit speeds or more bundled perks, consider Superloop or Aussie Broadband.

 

Is Aussie Broadband a Good NBN Provider in Australia?

Short answer: Yes – Aussie Broadband is one of the best NBN providers in Australia, particularly if you value reliability, customer service, and transparency. Here’s a detailed breakdown:


✅ Pros of Aussie Broadband

1. Excellent Performance & Reliability
  • Consistently ranks among the fastest and most stable NBN providers (ACCC reports, WhistleOut tests).

  • Minimal congestion due to high CVC (backhaul) provisioning (unlike budget ISPs).

  • Great for 4K streaming, gaming, and WFH.

2. Outstanding Australian-Based Support
  • 24/7 phone and chat support with short wait times (unlike many budget ISPs).

  • Helpful, knowledgeable staff (no frustrating offshore call centers).

3. Transparent Network Management
  • Public live network status page (shows outages and maintenance).

  • No hidden throttling or sneaky slowdowns.

4. Gamer & Power-User Friendly
  • Low latency (great for online gaming, video calls).

  • Static IP available (useful for hosting servers/VPNs).

5. No Lock-in Contracts
  • Month-to-month flexibility.


❌ Cons of Aussie Broadband

1. Slightly More Expensive Than Budget ISPs
  • Not the cheapest (e.g., NBN 50 starts at ~$79/month vs. $65–$70 with Exetel/Spintel).

  • No free modem (unlike TPG/Optus).

2. Limited 5G Home Internet Options
  • Focuses on NBN (unlike Telstra/Optus, which offer 5G alternatives).

3. No Major Bundled Extras
  • No free subscriptions (e.g., Netflix, Binge) like some competitors.


Who Should Choose Aussie Broadband?

Gamers (low ping, stable connection).
WFH professionals (Zoom/cloud without drops).
Households with heavy internet usage (4K streaming, multiple devices).
Those who value customer service and reliability over price.

Who Should Avoid Aussie Broadband?

Extreme budget seekers (cheaper options like Exetel exist).
Users who want freebies (modem, streaming bundles).
Those in areas with poor NBN infrastructure (Aussie can’t fix NBN’s physical issues).

Best Alternatives to Aussie Broadband

Provider
Best For
Price Range

Superloop
Similar performance, slightly cheaper
$$

Leaptel
Low latency, good value
$$

Launtel
Best performance (but expensive)
$$$

Exetel/TPG
Budget-friendly
$

Final Verdict: Is Aussie Broadband Worth It?

✅ YES if:

  • You want the best mix of speed, reliability, and support.

  • You’re willing to pay a little extra for quality service.

  • You hate dealing with bad customer support.

❌ NO if:

  • You’re on a very tight budget (consider Exetel or TPG).

  • You want freebies like a modem or streaming subscriptions.

Recommendation: If you can afford it, Aussie Broadband is one of the best choices for NBN in Australia. If you want similar performance for slightly less, try Superloop or Leaptel.


AI-generated, for reference only

Saturday, December 23, 2023

NotesTracker renaissance (December 2023)

NotesTracker was originally developed by Asia/Pacific Computer Services (APCS) and launched initially around the turn of the century.

In 2013, AGE Computer Consultancy (AGECOM) took over the sales and support of NotesTracker, up until 2021 when they ceased operations.

Since NotesTracker offers unique value to the HCL Notes/Domino application development community, APCS has decided to resume sales and support of NotesTracker in order to fill this gap in application design tools. Progress will be careful, and steady in order to maintain our extremely high design, coding and usability standards.

We are working towards making the NotesTracker's unique capabilities available again to the HCL Notes/Domino community.

Watch this blog for news about NotesTracker version 7.

Inquiries:  notestracker7@asiapac.com.au

Saturday, July 29, 2023

Delight over this insight into hindsight and foresight

 

CS168047 - "The boss wants me to create a computer algorithm that converts hindsite into foresight."

Yet another incisive comment by Aaron Bacal 1939-2015 (professionally known as Aaron Bacall).

As shown here a man of many talents.

I especially like that he was a chemistry teacher, since I was one too (in Victoria, Australia, during the 1960s, before I joined IBM in 1970).

Find out more about his work bt doing a web search like this.

Sunday, April 30, 2023

Supposed "New Amazon Browser" deceptive e-mail threat

If you use any of the Amazon services, this may be of value to you.

Today (30 April 2023) I received an unsolicited e-mail as per the following screenshot:

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ImageFromClipboard_525

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Clicking on the top of the two highlighted links doesn't open a page on the offocial amazon.com website, but instead opens the URL shown in the top arrow, which actually opens URL https://www.shorturl.at/adptK  which presents a "Save As" dialog that invites you to download and run the executable AmazonBrowser.exe

Clicking on the second link similarly does not visit a page on the official amazon.com website either, but presents a prompt inviting you to open a spreadsheet file named invoicedue/xlsm

Of course, I didn't take up either of these invitations, because I'm sure they would have caused malware.and/or scamware to get installed and run on my Windows system.

So be on th elookout and avoid what seems to be yet another instance of online threats (which probably won't be restricted to just Amazon).

Thursday, April 20, 2023

TIP - the key misunderstood step needed to rearrange multiple displays in Windows

For years I have been using multiple monitors on my Windows desktop systems, as in the following photo for Windows 7, more than a decade ago, when I used four 1920x1080 (FHD) displays, all in landscape mode:

You have to configure multiple monitors so that Windows knows their relative positions (it has access to their resolutions via device properties of each display).

The animated GIF below shows how you carry out the relative positioning under Windows 10 (Windows 11 is similar, earlier versions of Windows looked slightly different).

These days I use larger 1920x1200 (WUXGA) monitors, with the rightmost monitor in portrait mode (better for long lists and tall documents):

You use the "Identify" button to show the device number that Windows has given to each monitor.

People seem to encounter trouble with using the mouse to drag-and-drop the rectangles during this relative positioning of displays, I can tell you that I did myself early on when I started using multiple monitors It can be a little tricky to get the relative positions to "sticK" (a web search like this reveals the annoyance that it has caused some people).

The key action, as demonstrated above, is to drag each rectangle right across the border of the adjoining rectangle and release the mouse button.

After that the rectangle that was being dragged springs back and leaves a small visual gap between the two rectangles. It seems that his gap causes people to keep trying to get the two rectangles to touch each other, but you just have to get used to the fact that this is not how it works.

The procedure often fails of you merely drag each rectangle near bit not right across the border of the adjacent rectangle.

I hope the above tip resolves this annoying issue for you.

Tuesday, April 06, 2021

Solubag - biodegradable material for the creation of non-polluting bags

From a Chilean company .... https://www.solubag.cl/  which says "The material was created in 2014"

So I'm wondering why we haven't heard about Solubag. Well, before chancing upon it today today I hadn't seen a mention of Solubag anywhere.

This makes mw wonder what are the pros and cons of Solubag. (Comments welcome)

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Solubag

Watch at least this onw:  This Plastic-Free Bag Dissolves In Water Within 5 Minutes
image  


And also watch:  Chinese tech help Chilean company create water soluble plastic bag
image
which demonstrates that the dissolved bags form a potable solution! See the video segments starting at time 0:26, 1:02 and 2:38.

Image result for martini cartoon

So, anyone for a Solubag martini - shaken, or stirred?
image

Wednesday, January 06, 2021

A few simple tips for ordering (and fast delivery) via Amazon Prime

I joined Amazon Prime very soon after it was offered in Australia (a couple of years) ago, and find it a compelling service offering.

There are some wonderful TV series and movies on Prime TV, Kindle Unlimited is an excellent source of e-books, and Amazon customer service is pretty good (for example, easy returns of unsatisfactory/faulty goods), all which lead me to remain a happy customer.

When choosing and ordering items, there are a few things to consider, which I've tried to demonstrate via three screenshots, which are for my account on Amazon Prime AU (Australia), but should be applicable to other Amazon country websites.

(1) Amazon Prime membership should offer you fast delivery

image

 

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(2) Seek out the best purchase/delivery options

 

image

 



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(3) Choose items carefully

DO YOUR RESEARCH … Amazon items can usually be found at great prices, but not always the best. Be sure to compare with other online sources, such as eBay.

Exactly the same item from different Amazon AU web pages (that is, different sellers) will usually be priced differently.

Once you've decided on a particular item, be sure to search for the identical item on different Amazon web pages.

Sometimes it's a matter of only a few cents or a few dollars. but occasionally the price difference can be huge, below being one glaring example:

 

image

Sunday, October 11, 2020

A view of the White House–2020 and 2021

2020 .. "Trump House"
image  

 

2021 (hopefully) … "Peoples' House"
image  

 

See There's one headline about Donald Trump that has not been printed but makes the most sense of all
          (Sydney Morning Herald – 11 October 2020)

"…there is one headline that has not been printed but that makes the most sense of all: "Donald Trump suffers from a dangerous incurable narcissistic disorder which makes him incapable of empathy or reason. He is a grave danger to the US and the world."

"In the space of a single week, Trump has exhibited three of the defining features of narcissistic personality disorder – sociopathy in defence of a “false self”, disordered thinking that renders him incapable of reason, and a constant need for adulation. Every headline on this president has spotlighted one or other aspect of his narcissistically disordered mind."

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Allavsoft video downloader – as easy as A, B, C

Website: https://www.allavsoft.com/

I've written previously about Allavsoft’s excellent Video Downloader and Converter for Windows (and Mac) and would like to repeat my commendation that it's an excellent way to obtain offline copies of a wide range of videos found on the Web.

Today I'd like to emphasize how easy Allavsoft is to use.

STEP A: Once you launch this downloader, you simply go to the Web page for a particular video and copy that page's URL (or copy the link of a video from within that page) to the system's clipboard.

A second or two later the link should appear automatically (or else, just click the "Paste URL" button):

image

Then click the big blue button (with a white arrow) in the bottom right corner of the window.

STEP B: If multiple videos are found on the Web page, you are given the option to download just the first video or all of the videos on that page:

image

This is especially convenient for downloading complete seasons of TV episodes.

STEP C: The videos are downloaded, and you can easily monitor the download status of each video:

image

You can play a video, as shown in screenshot (D), either by right-clicking it and selecting "Play Downloaded File…" or by right-clicking and choosing "Locate Downloaded File…" to go to the download folder on your system and then playing it with some other player such as VLC media player:

image

It couldn't be easier.
image

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
Allavsoft doesn't just download each video as single file, in a long-running single download stream, but does it in a smart and efficient fashion by the parallel downloading of small chunks (segments), followed by a short burst of activity at the end of the download to recombine those chunks into a single video file.

The screenshot on the right of the CPU Usage gadget (in Windows) with all 16 threads on my AMD Ryzen 7 processor close to being maxed out for a couple of seconds while this merging of chunks occurs.

You can use Option > Preference… as shown in screenshot (1) to do things like altering the download directory, and to tinker with things like the number of concurrent downloads, as shown by screenshot (2):

image

A useful tip is that you can hold down the Ctrl key (or the Mac equivalent) to enable access to some additional/expanded settings. For example, normally you cannot choose more that 7 video files being simultaneously down loaded:

image

However, the hidden/extended preferences allow you to choose up to 30 concurrent downloads (screenshot 3):

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My empirical testing indicates that you would have to have an extremely powerful system to even consider going beyond about 10 concurrent downloads, otherwise your system will surely grind to a halt.

Most users will not need to do any such tinkering.

ALLAVSOFT CUSTOMER SUPPORT:
I started in the IT industry when I joined IBM Australia in 1970, and have decades of experience in dealing with software developers/vendors and the degree to which they support (or fail to support) their customers.

I can assure you that, as a paying customer, I have been quite impressed with the responsiveness and thoroughness of Allavsoft's customer support team. They have always replied quickly to any matters that I have raised, often with a few hours, which is a rare thing in the software industry.

In my case they have fixed issues quickly, usually within a day or two (even the same day, in some cases), so you can be sure that they will look after you. Often this may not be any sort of problem with the Allavsoft program itself, but the websites holding videos sometimes change the way that their videos are presented (say, when a video hosting website undergoes a sweeping design change), and Allavsoft have always been able to decipher the website changes and adjust the downloader to handle the changes.