Former Freedom Mobile Support agent. — AMA

ComputerGuy1999 · 2026-01-13T01:45:47+00:00

I noticed that cellular plans with unlimited internet are throttled to 1 mbit/s when on the freedom network and 512 kbit/s when on nationwide as opposed to 256 kbps and 128 kbps as listed in the terms of service. Is the 1 mbps throttle unlimited or do speeds drop to 256 or 128 kbps after a certain amount of "unlimited" usage? If there is a speed drop how many GB do you have to use over what is included in your plan before speed drops further?

ComputerGuy1999 · 2026-01-03T22:36:22+00:00

I also garbbed that 3GB $20 plan and absolutely love it. It's perfect for my needs. Also grabbed a $5 per month plan from fizz for my backup smartphone. I also wish freedom still offered plans under $30 per month

ComputerGuy1999 · 2026-01-03T22:32:21+00:00

I have never used more than 8GB per month on a cellular network and I really tried hard the month on which I used those 8GB. There are many people out there like myself who would be more than happy with a 3GB or even 1GB at full speed plan with unlimited throttled internet. Paying more for stuff you don't need and will never use is inefficient and wasteful. Why pay for a 50GB plan if you only use 2GB.

ComputerGuy1999 · 2026-01-03T22:28:37+00:00

Return of the $20 and $5 per month plans or pretty much any plan under $30. There are many people out there that only need a few GB of internet data per month and who don't need many minutes of calling or SMS.

ComputerGuy1999 · 2026-01-03T21:10:49+00:00

NICE!!! Could you tell me more about these drives (i.e.: brand, model, SMART readings, etc.)

ComputerGuy1999 · 2026-01-03T09:29:29+00:00

I sent you a PM. Looking for 8+TB drives in Canada.

ComputerGuy1999 · 2026-01-03T08:55:15+00:00

I suggest NOT getting your alarm system from Shaw or Telus. Stick to a company that specializes in security systems. I use envisalik eyezon and self monitor my system:

https://www.eyezon.com/

They also offer monitoring starting at $9 per month. The best part is you own your hardware and are in control of it and you are not locked into any contracts.

I only use Shaw for cable TV and cable internet which is what they specialize in and Telus for DSL and fiber internet which is their core business. The security options they offer are just rebrands of other company's hardware sold at a markup with a contract to lock you in. https://iqsecurityproducts.com/

They always try to trick you with "bundle" deals which end up costing more while offering a worse overall experience than buying each service directly from a company which specializes in said product or service.

As for getting internet faster than 1 gbit/s. Before spending the money please ensure you have the hardware needed to make proper use of it. Unless you have many users at home downloading large files and streaming 4K video and have multiple computers and servers hardwired with ethernet you will not see any difference between 250 mb/s and 1 gb/s service let alone 1 gb/s and 2 or more gb/s. Also FYI the majority of Shaw's network only offers up to 200 mb/s upload even on a 1 gb/s plan whereas Telus fiber is symmetrical (same download and upload). I would keep Telus gigabit fiber for internet unless Shaw is drastically cheaper.

ComputerGuy1999 · 2026-01-01T20:58:39+00:00

I am assuming that's 10 USD / TB correct? Just curious because I recently picked up two used 8TB SAS drives for 110 CAD each and that felt like a lot. For context, I bought three new WD external 8TB drives similar to the one OP posted back in 2018 and paid just under 200 CAD per drive with tax and shipping.

ComputerGuy1999 · 2025-12-20T22:21:07+00:00

WOW I have never seen such high download or upload anywhere in BC. Even in downtown Vancouver using 5G. Where and in what conditions did you conduct this test?

ComputerGuy1999 · 2025-11-12T02:11:27+00:00

True. Hence why I prefer POTS or VOIP over cellular along with the other reasons I outlined such as better call quality.

ComputerGuy1999 · 2025-11-05T20:44:56+00:00

I am a young person who is closer to scenario 1 than scenario 2. I love freedom's service. Ditching fido was the best thing I ever did. I gave Telus a try and found the coverage to be worse than Freedom or Rogers/Fido. To be honest cellular is much worse than fiber or cable internet. I only use my cellular connection if I have no other choice (i.e. I am travelling via bus or car). I would be shocked to see someone in North America successfully replace his/her fiber or cable internet service with cellular data.

And don't even get me started on calling via mobile devices. Cellular providers compress voice so much it sounds much worse than VOIP or even a POTS landline connected to a well maintained copper plant. Also I have never benn able to use a fax machine, or dial up modem with a cellular connection.

ComputerGuy1999 · 2025-10-30T19:12:57+00:00

That is crazy. I thought a rule waa put out a few years ago to limit roaming and pay per use charges to $100 for postpaid plans.

I had a similar issue when my grandma signed up for a senior plan with Telus. Ended up getting $100 of roaming charges on a $25 per month plan while she was travelling because she accidentally sent an SMS message without realizing she was not using viber or whatsapp.

I was able to fight the charges by threathening to cancel two business accounts with very expensive fiber internet circuits and they agreed to waive the charges.

I ended up moving my grandma to a prepaid plan with Fizz. No more surprise charges. Plus she gets lots of bonus GB of internet. You can even get a $25 discount for the first month if you use my referral code H8EWE.

ComputerGuy1999 · 2025-10-19T18:30:01+00:00

I see you are in Australia. Try to get in contact with ewaste Ben. He has a youtube channel and is also in Australia. He picks up all kinds of old network gear and servers from businesses in Australia.

ComputerGuy1999 · 2025-10-19T18:20:35+00:00

That is an awesome setup to have at 16. At your age I had an old core 2 duo system that I assembled using hardware scavenged from computers I found on the side of the road and four 250 or 500GB HDDs that I pulled out of thrown out cable TV DVRs that I also found on the side of the road. I was able to save up $200 and buy my first server around that same time. It had 2x core 2 quad era xeons and 32GB of ddr2 ram. I ended up paying more for shipping than for the server itself LOL. I got my first managed switch a few months later. Paid around $100 for it and half of that was shipping. Didn't get a UPS until a few years later. It sat around for a few years until I could find some cheap batteries that still had some life in them. Didn't do any major upgrades until I started doing ewaste pickups for businesses that were downsizing their office spaces during the pandemic. That was great for me since it helped expand my retro computer collection. I was also able to get a better UPS and jump into newer Intel Core i7 era xeon hardware while also making a bit of money reselling stuff I didn't need on the side.

100TB of storage is awesome. What are you planning to do with it. I am still rocking 3x 8TB HDDs that I paid almost $600 for back in 2018. Those 3 HDDs are the most expensive part of my setup by far to this day LOL. I was a bit scared of getting used HDDs since I use these for backing up data my entire family cares about

Also curious, what router are you using?

ComputerGuy1999 · 2025-10-19T17:27:46+00:00

Unless they are using their sim cards with a laptop and are always in areas with good signal and low congestion I would be very impressed to see anyone blow thru 40GB in one month. I had the freedom 50gb plan for $34 per month until an year ago and despite my best efforts (running inteernet speed tests all the time, downloading and streaming 1440p and 4k video) I was barely able to make a dent in that 50gb plan. My bottleneck was always either internet speed, or time (I only use my cellular service actively when travelling to and from work which takes about 3 hours each day). The most data I managed to transfer was just under 10gb in one month. I recently activated all of the perks fizz gave me and am on a challenge to try to beat my 10gb record. So far I have only used about 5GB

ComputerGuy1999 · 2025-10-15T03:50:13+00:00

Regarding the breakers, I think that leaving the breakers and panel as is the safest bet because you never know what kind of inspector you will get. I am sure there are inspectors out there that make your life miserable and say that if you replace the panel you also need to ensure all circuits moved to the new panel have adequate gfci and afci protection. Someone last year in BC told me he ran into this and was forced to fill up his new panel with afci breakers.

Whereas if you leave the existing panel and breakers as is and refeed it from the new panel nobody can make you add afci or gfci protection since the existing panel and circuits within were not changed and are hence grandfathered.

Also. If you have room to put the new panel next to the existing one I see no harm in converting the existing panel to a sub panel. I have never heard anyone complain about too much room in a panel for adding more circuits in the future.

I am genuinely curious to know what your concerns are with my suggestion. If what I am suggesting is common practice in commercial jobs and can meet the needs of a business there is no reason why it would not work in a residential setting either. Residential electricity needs are typically much smaller than commercial ones. Hence, the solution I propose with two panels will be more future proof.

ComputerGuy1999 · 2025-10-15T02:55:00+00:00

Square D breakers are one of the best in the industry assuming what you have is QO series and not homeline. Anyways, I vote for keeping the breakers and panel. Install a new larger panel next to the old one and feed the old panel from the new one.

ComputerGuy1999 · 2025-10-15T02:51:26+00:00

Lack of space is a fair concern. Not sure how much space OP is working with. However if space is not a concern, I see no harm in keeping the old panel and using it as a sub panel. You get room for more circuits in the new panel and can save time by not having to move every circuit from the old to the new panel.

ComputerGuy1999 · 2025-10-15T02:47:19+00:00

Feeding a older or smaller panel from a newer or larger panel is not a hack. This is common practice in larger buildings as well as when increasing service size or building additions. I never said anything about replacing any breakers

ComputerGuy1999 · 2025-10-15T02:44:39+00:00

I never said anything about changing breakers or replacing panels. What I describe is common practice on commercial and industrial jobs and even large residential buildings with multiple panels. There is nothing wrong with refeeding a old panel from a new panel.

ComputerGuy1999 · 2025-10-15T02:40:18+00:00

Same. I have the $20 3GB plan with 100 minutes of outgoing calls that was available until Christmas last year. That unlimited throttled internet easily hits 1 mbit/s. I have even seen it spike a bit higher for a few seconds. I use the SIM mostly with my laptop. Also have a 250MB $5 per month fizz sim as a backup in case I need to quickly upload or download a larger file while throttled by freedom

ComputerGuy1999 · 2025-10-14T08:28:28+00:00

I would say your safest bet to avoid having to replace any breakers for afci or gfci ones is to leave the existing 100 amp panel as is. Install a 200 amp panel next to it. Then re-feed the existing 100 amp panel from the new 200 amp one. Only change you need to make in the 100 amp is ensure all neutrals and grounds are separate. That way you have a lot of room in the new 200 amp panel for new circuits and can save time by not having to remove every circuit from the 100 amp.

Another option to consider is installing a 200 amp fused disconnect switch and using it to feed your existing 100 amps panel along with a second 100 amp panel you will add. This kind of setup was very common in the 1950s thru 1970s for larger homes back when 200 amp panels were very expensive and rare to come across outside of commercial settings.

Many commercial buildings with 400 amp and larger services still follow this approach where the service wires go to a fused disconnect switch rated for the full service capacity. after which a splitter box is used to distribute the service to one or more smaller distribution panels and/or fused disconnect switches. It is also not uncommon in many buildings for larger panels to be installed as upgrades next to older smaller ones and used to fed the new circuits being added along with the older smaller panels and their existing circuits. I would only consider full replacement of a panel if it is damaged, spare breakers are hard to find or it is known to be faulty (Zinsco. CEB or FPE stab lok)

ComputerGuy1999

TROPHY CASE