The Broadband Saga Continues
We rang up Telstra again today to see if anything had changed in the last year or so regarding our broadband situation. Cable is nearly impossible to get because they have to install some sort of cable box into the apartment complex, and that requires the consent of most of the residents as well as strata approval. So it comes down to ADSL. Now, the telephone wiring into this apartment is strange. It may be pair gain, but I don’t think pair gain is normally used to hook up 18 units. Anyway, the most we can connect at on dial-up is 28.8k. Back to Telstra. The person on the line informed us that we were probably close enough to the local exchange (which is on Todman Ave), but they would have to do some line testing. She put through a “transposition request” which is supposed to move us onto a suitable copper line at the exchange. It’s not a guaranteed thing. They said they will get back to us in 5 to 6 weeks, but I won’t be holding my breath. Taking bets: it’s about 1000 to 1 odds that we will be able to get ADSL.
5:01pm (GMT +11.00) tomorrow 
Isn’t it frustrating in 2004 that in many many areas of Sydney you still can’t get broadband services or pay TV for one reason or another. So much for all the great predictions of the 21st Century. I of course blame Alston :)
A while ago, I got an ad in the mail (real mail, not email) from telstra bigpond saying they had some great discount on cable if I connect right now. So being in a similar 28.8k dialup/pair gain position, I called them up and asked. Of course, cable can’t be had in Canberra. As for ADSL (my exchange is both ADSL enabled and way less than 3.5km from my house), that can’t be had on a pair gain line either.
Now I asked the lady at their call centre (probably in India somewhere ;p) about getting moved to a real copper line, and the way it works is you put in an application for Telstra Bigpond ADSL (too bad if you want to go with another, cheaper, provider), and they might move you to a real line. “Off the record” she told me she’d personally put in over 100 such applications for clients and not a single one had been approved…. good luck Stu!! ;p
As for Alston … he’s retired now, but nothing’s improved ;p
Telstra call centre operators are renowned for giving incorrect and/or inconsistent information on internet related matters. Plenty of examples on Whirlpool. I blame management.
I really have nothing benficial to add, except to say that i’m pretty sure i’d be using the todman ave exchange too, but our apartment must be wired up right – our ADSL (currently netspace soon to be exetel 1500/C) runs happily.
You’re welcome to drop by for a quick leech any time Stu.
Tel$tras ADSL call centre is in Bathurst of all places. Its funny tho. After being denied ADSL because of Pair Gain I pretty much had to move interstate from Lismore to downtown Brisbane just to get broadband.. Well that wasnt theonly reason but it sounds nerdy and cool…
I blame Alston..
Best of luck..
I hate Telstra.. the arseholes..
My workmate who lives up the road from me has ADSL, but when I recently went to hook up ADSL, my street was just out of the service range. Their excuse?? “Transmission loss too high”
Dickeads..