[AuckLUG] Good ISP for Linux user?

[Vincente Aggrippino]

Hello everyone, and Happy New Year!

I'm new in the area and I'm searching for a decent ISP.  I don't have a
regular phone line yet, so I am not able to go with a regular ADSL
connection.

So far, I've only looked at Vodafone's service with their vodem and Woosh
Wireless.  I don't know anything about Internet service through mobile phone
network, though.  Woosh's device has an optional ethernet adapter, which
should allow me to connect with Linux and I've been looking through some
forums which make it look like it's possible to get the vodem working.

I do have Internet access in my current residence, but it's very
restricted.  Most critical for me is that I have some contract work that I
need to do through a VPN connection with the Cisco VPN client.  This
requires connections to be made through UDP ports 500 and 62514 - 62524,
which are all blocked because they want to prevent BitTorrent, Kazaa,
Gnutella, etc...  I've had the same experience with several net cafes along
Queen Street.

Can anyone offer any advice?

Thank you,
    Vince Aggrippino