Activ8me review: Compare NBN, Sky Muster plans & more | Finder
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Activ8me review & plans

Activ8me has a wide range of NBN plans for both metropolitan and regional users.

Sam Baran
Sam Baran

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Compare Activ8me's NBN Satellite plans below

For those forced to rely on satellites for an Internet connection, Activ8me has a whole heap of Sky Muster and Sky Muster Plus plans to choose from. Just be careful that your plan has enough peak data to support your regular use.

Activ8me review: Why should you consider them?

Let's take a look at what key features Activ8me's plans provide:

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Price

$59.95 monthly and up

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Technology type available

NBN, fixed wireless and satellite

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NBN speeds available

Standard, Fast

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Optional extras

Phone line

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Support

Phone until 8pm (5pm weekends)

Activ8me certainly has a wide offering of NBN plans on offer, particularly for those who live in regional or rural Australia. Its satellite plans provide some good value for money in terms of useful peak data for customers, with its Sky Muster Plus plans highly comparable to other satellite providers like Reachnet.

When it comes to fixed-line plans, though, Activ8me's offerings are nothing too special, hitting the Finder averages for their speed tier on unlimited data. Speed-wise, they lag behind (e.g. their Fast typical speed of 73.30Mbps is lower than the ACCC average of 84.5Mbps). Almost all of Activ8me's plans (except satellite) come with set-up fees if you go month-to-month and pretty hefty early cancellation fees if you sign a contract.

It's worth noting that Activ8me does offer high-speed Opticomm plans for eligible customers in housing estates or new developments. However, if you aren't looking for a satellite connection, there isn't much that sets Activ8me apart from its competitors.

Activ8me's extra features

  • Home phone. If you still have access to the old copper telephone network, Activ8me offers home phone line rental for $30 per month. $55 will grant you unlimited calls to Australian landlines and mobiles.
  • Modems. When you purchase your plan, Activ8me offers a choice of three modems costing between $70 and $150, plus $15 shipping. Alternatively, you can provide your own. If you sign up to 6-month contract, the price of any of these modems will drop by $25.
  • VoIP line. For those interested in having a home phone line, you can get a Voice over IP (VoIP) service, which converts your voice into data that can be transmitted through the broadband network. $5 a month gets you pay-as-you-go calls, $10 adds free national landlines and $20 gets you national calls and mobiles, plus some international inclusions.

Is Activ8me right for you?

The good stuff

  • Australia-based customer support.
  • High value satellite plans for rural customers.

The not-so-good stuff

  • Steep set-up fees for month-to-month plans.
  • Limited data plans are still pricey.
  • Huge early cancellation fees on contracts.

The bottom line: While Activ8me offers fantastic plans for regional satellite users, its fixed-line connections are fairly basic when placed beside those of competitors.

Looking for normal NBN? Check out Activ8me's NBN plans here

You can pick between three data limits and two speeds with Activ8me, scaling up to unlimited data at NBN100 speeds. Purchasing a month-to-month plan comes with a steep $98 set-up fee, which is waived with a 6-month contract.

Start comparing Activ8me's fixed wireless plans here

Fixed wireless only comes at one speed from Activ8me, so pick your data cap and go. Month-to-month plans attract a $98 set up fee.

Activ8me FAQs

Do I need a new modem to sign up to Activ8me?

If you haven't connected to the NBN before, you'll probably need a new modem. If you want to purchase one with Activ8me, you'll have a choice between a $70, $110 or $150 router (+$15 shipping), but these prices are reduced by $25 if you sign a 6-month contract.

Be warned that if you cancel your contract early, you'll be faced with a cancellation fee of $150.

Can I cancel my Activ8me NBN plan?

If you're on a month-to-month plan, you can cancel it at any time with no problem. On a 6-month contract, you'll face a steep exit fee of $150 for early cancellation.

Do Activ8me's Internet plans include calls?

Not by default, but you can add a VoIP phone line for $5 monthly that has pay-as-you-go calls, or $30 monthly if you still can/want to connect to the traditional copper network. Your VoIP connection can be upgraded to free national and local landlines for $10 monthly, and you'll get domestic mobiles and some international inclusions for $20 monthly.

What happens if I exceed my data allowance?

When you're on a limited data plan, you won't be charged extra fees but will instead find your connection being slowed down to around 256Kbps. For satellite connections, you'll be slowed down to 128Kbps but this is only applied to the period in which you've exceeded your limit (e.g. if you exceed peak usage, your connection will only be slow during peak hours).
Speeds will be reset during the next billing period.

What is Sky Muster Plus?

Sky Muster Plus operates in exactly the same manner as regular Sky Muster, using the same satellite transmission, but it allows for you to engage in certain online activities without eating into your data cap. These include basic web browsing, text and static images on social media, email and system updates on smartphones and PCs.
You can only get a Sky Muster Plus plan with a Basic II speed connection. For Basic I connections, you are restricted to a normal Sky Muster satellite plan.

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12 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    DerekAugust 7, 2018

    How can I buy some extra gigs to tide me over till next month?

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      JeniAugust 7, 2018Staff

      Hi Derek,

      Thank you for getting in touch with finder.

      Can you log in to Activ8me’s page? If yes, at the left navigation menu you will see Buy Data Block. It lets you buy more data to use with your service.

      I hope this helps.

      Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any other enquiries.

      Thank you and have a wonderful day!

      Cheers,
      Jeni

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    GraemeAugust 4, 2017

    Will fetch TV work with satellite ethernet?

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      RenchAugust 4, 2017Staff

      Hi Graeme,

      Thanks for your inquiry.

      Yes, Fetch TV will work with Satellite ethernet connection. Fetch recommends a minimum broadband connection of 3Mbps for stable viewing across all devices.

      Please feel free to learn more about Fetch TV.

      Cheers,
      Rench

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    SlowOctober 12, 2016

    I have a current service provider and they have rung saying I need to change to the NBN now or I will lose my Internet connection.
    My concern is that it’s going to cost me more money and I seriously doubt that it will improve the service. I currently pay $24.00 per month and only my emails and Facebook. Is there other ways that I can keep the cost down and how long before the current service is turned off?

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      JasonNovember 11, 2016Staff

      Hi Slow user,

      Thank you for your inquiry.

      Typically, you have about 18 months to switch before your home phone and Internet services will be disconnected. It’s important to get switched over to NBN before the cutoff date as you run the risk of losing your home phone number and Internet services if you don’t switch to NBN. Most ISPs will transfer you to an NBN plan free of charge. NBN plans can also offer Internet speeds that are better than ADSL connections. Please click this link for more information about NBN.

      Please get in touch with your Internet service provider and check with them if there will be any changes in you monthly bill if you move to NBN or you can also click this link and check for better NBN plans that can help you save money.

      Cheers,
      Jason

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    MartinMay 3, 2016

    What minimum download/upload speed using your 50/20 Mbps option could I expect?

    Reply
      Default Gravatar
      BrodieMay 6, 2016

      Hi Martin,

      You’ve reached finder.com.au, not Activ8me. Unfortunately, Activ8me (and most broadband providers) do not specify a minimum speed as speed can be impacted by a number of factors including congestion and geography.

      Cheers,
      Brodie

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    JohnOctober 9, 2015

    Must I cancel my satellite service now that I am connected to fixed wireless service? John Gibson

    Reply
      Default Gravatar
      BrodieOctober 12, 2015

      Hi John,

      Typically, your wireless service provider will transfer you from your satellite service. To confirm, you may need to contact the Activ8me customer support centre on 1300 76 02 19 or visit the support section of their website to confirm if you can already cancel your satellite service.

      Cheers,
      Brodie

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    TerryAugust 22, 2015

    As regards the Fixed Wireless Broadband.
    You mention it requires installation of a small antenna. How big is the antenna and does it need to be installed outside or inside the house?

    You also mention Download Speeds of up to 12Mbps and up to 25Mbps Is the speed dependant on which plan is chosen or is there an extra cost for the faster speed?

    Is this service available in Moores Pocket (Suburb of Ipswich) Queensland?

    Thank you

    Reply
      Default Gravatar
      BrodieAugust 25, 2015

      Hi there Terry,

      Unfortunately, NBN Wireless Broadband isn’t yet available in Moore’s Pocket. I’d recommend registering your interest over at the Activ8Me website.

      In regards to your other questions, the small antenna sits on the outside of the house and is about 450 mm tall and speed packs are purchased as add-ons on top of your plan.

      Hope that helps,

      Brodie

      Reply
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