ADSL in our local area: Cashmere - AUS-CITY Message Forums

I hope someone can help me as I see the Administrator of this forum lives in the same suburb as I do and I hope someone can shed some light on this. I have applied for ADSL from Optus and in simple terms, they tell us that the exchange is full or we cannot have it. Could this be possible? as friends told us that the exchange was updated only 2 months ago and how could it be already full considering Cashmere is only a very small suburb, mainly acreage and how can this happen? What could stop us getting ADSL? as I don't understand all this technical jargon. I have a friend not far from me who has connected to Telstra Bigpond with no problems, why the difference? We live in a new estate, surely the wires would have been updated to suit the new estate. Can someone please help? Paul

Well mate with Telstra/bigpond anything is possible. I wonder if you join telstra/bigpuddle will they connect you then? There are some rumours around saying that Telstra is keeping ports for themselves and stiff shit for the other companies but I would find this hard to believe as if it was me 1/ I would be contacting the Industry Ombudsmen 2/ the ACCC would be my next call then I would be putting an official complaint. Especially if you both come from the same exchange. I know Phil is switching over to ADSL very soon and Phil doesn't pull any punches because if he thinks he is getting screwed just sit back and watch the Fireworks. Talk about upsetting a company that does the wrong thing. musicman

I have a friend who lives in the northern suburbs of Sydney. He applied to Telstra/littlepuddle for ADSL and was told that the exchange and telephone lines could not handle it. Same answer from Optus and Primus. He applied on-line to Swiftel (now People Telecom) and the connection was set up in one and a half weeks, using the same infrastructure that the other "providers" said could not be used. Whose is pulling whose pud, eh??

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by bill_eric: I have a friend who lives in the northern suburbs of Sydney. He applied to Telstra/littlepuddle for ADSL and was told that the exchange and telephone lines could not handle it. Same answer from Optus and Primus. He applied on-line to Swiftel (now People Telecom) and the connection was set up in one and a half weeks, using the same infrastructure that the other "providers" said could not be used. Whose is pulling whose pud, eh?? <hr /></blockquote>Thats strange you would think its the other way around, Telstra, Bigpond should know whats going on not People 's telecom. I wonder how long the Delay was between the Application for Bigpond to People's Telecom, he could have been unlucky and asked Bigpond one day early before completion of the upgrade. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/default/smile.gif" />

Help Good to hear a local and there are a few of us here on the forum from Eatons Hill/Albany Creek/Samford etc. Yes, what a coincidence. I disconnected from ISDN Bigpond today and I am going back to dial up for a brief period, then to an ADSL plan to a company of my choice. I would like to stay with Bigpond but they are outrageously too expensive and don't be conned by their new plans. They give you a discount for the first 6 months and screw you for the remaining 18. What I can't work out is, if Telstra/Bigpond had fairly priced plans, people would stay with them, but they are not fairly priced eg Unlimited 512/128 with Bigpond, stand alone is $79.00, just about 90% of the companies in Australia will give you the same for under $50.00 and with more download. There are many companies that can give you speeds from 1500/256 20 gig downloads, 6-12 months contract for $49.95. Telstra Bigpond are just too expensive and you cannot justify staying with them. If they charged an average of around $10.00 a month more than any other company, I would stay with them, but not for another 40 more. Regarding why you can't get access on the Cashmere exchange, I find that very odd as I personally know there are plenty of ports available in that exchange. Remember, Telstra, we're not all blind you know or stupid. If its not the port situation at Cashmere exchange, which it is DEFINITELY NOT...You must have another reason why you cannot get ADSL, maybe the RIM in your area needs to be updated, as I cannot see Telstra Bigpond giving other companies too much of a hard time telling them that ports are not available, when they really are available for easy use for Bigpond. For me if this happened to me, like I have done before, I would get my facts correct, then I would do again what I have done before. In this case Like said above, I would immediately put a written complaint to the industry ombudsmen and pass this matter to the ACCC. Again, I cannot see Bigpond doing this, because in this case it is not competition and the ACCC would love to see this and by the way I do know that Telstra does own the infrastructure including all the ports, but thats not an excuse. Don't worry, I will keep you all informed as next Tuesday, I disconnect from ISDN (technician comes out), takes my ISDN box away, goes back to the Cashmere exchange, jumps me back to PSDN, then I will ring Bigpond and it only takes 2 minutes to revert back to dial up. Then I will make a decision what company I will choose and what excuses if any to stop me getting ADSL with another company. By the way, we're lucky to have all upgraded cables in our area, they go from my house to a pillar, then straight to the exchange, that simple. Phil

Found on another forum. http://www.austech.info/showthread.php?t=112227

Found on Whirlpool.net.au Telstra has been accused of trying to intimidate its smaller rivals by forcing the competition watchdog to hand over complaints it has received about the telco giant. A Senate committee heard yesterday Telstra had lodged a Freedom of Information request with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for it to hand over complaints from its rivals about access to Telstra's exchanges. The request was lodged after ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel recently claimed the watchdog had been deluged by complaints from Telstra's rivals about problems they had accessing Telstra's exchanges so that they could install broadband equipment. Some had claimed that Telstra had delayed providing access for days or weeks, sometimes arguing it had lost the keys to a particular exchange. The complaints sparked the ACCC to begin asking Telstra's rivals to write to them about their problems. ACCC chief executive Brian Cassidy confirmed the watchdog had received the FOI request but said no decision had been made on whether to hand over the documents. "We as a matter of practice are very loath (to hand over such material) and will defend information ... provided to us in the course of market inquiries," he told the committee. The ACCC has written to the telco companies which have complained about access to Telstra's exchanges to seek their thoughts on the watchdog revealing their complaints. Labor senator Stephen Conroy branded Telstra's FOI request a "try-on". "It just seems to me like it's an act of intimidation by Telstra to try and warn off people from even making complaints to you," he said. Cassidy said Telstra was within its rights to seek the information, as were other companies. "There does seem to be a bit of a developing practice for parties to seek to use the FOI legislation ... in conjunction with other legislative activities in order to if you like gain more access to what information we have." Under FOI laws, people can refuse to hand over documents if there is a public interest issue at stake or if it could inhibit the supply of future information to the government or ACCC. A Telstra spokesman said the request was made out of frustration because the telco believed the ACCC had exaggerated complaints it had received. "The reason we lodged the FOI is because we take such complaints seriously, but can't investigate them without facts and the ACCC has been unable or unwilling to provide facts to back the chairman's claims," the spokesman said. "We have entered into almost 1,000 agreements for exchange access since 2000. Of those, there's only been seven instances where there have been difficulties." Competitive Carriers' Coalition executive director David Foreman said many smaller telcos would be reluctant to provide the ACCC with any future information about problems in the industry if their complaints were handed over to Telstra. "They should not be putting smaller carriers in a situation where they are intimidated," he said.

Please all if you are interested in Broadband/ADSL look at this site. http://bc.whirlpool.net.au/

I spent an hour today and checked all the Providers in QLD ( Via whirlpool site) and to my surprise I found a few more expensive then Bigpond. C'mon Bigpond DROP you prices and match your closest competitors and I will stay with you, I'm willing to pay $60 and a slower service (512/128) but how do you expect me to Stay with you when,,,, 1/ Bigpond $79 for Unlimited 512/128 after 8 gig you get the slow to crawl treatment. 2/TPG $49 for 1500/256 after 20 gig you get the slow to crawl treatment. There is NO COMPARISON BETWEEN THESE TWO so how do you justify the extra $30 for a lot slower service? But I will say it again, some internet Providers are actually dearer then Bigpond PLEASE ALL READ THE FINE PRINT 30 TIMES UNTIL IT SINKS IN YOUR HEAD, PLENTY OF RIP OFF MERCHANTS that will catch a unwary person <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/default/smile.gif" /> Phil [ 09. June 2005, 07:56 PM: Message edited by: P Debono ]

Thanks for the advise you sent me a month ago, all has gone to plan we are finally on broadband and enjoying it. Yes you need to do your homework otherwise you will be cursing when you go with the wrong company with the wrong plan. whirlpool is a great site.

I don't mean to advertise... but I'm with Aanet, have been for nearly a year, and it is awesome.. on 1500/256 4GB $65 a month so yeh... there are many other great providers... I felt really bad actually the other day. My mate down the road, not good with computers, got the bigpond 29.95 plan.... downloaded a lot, left it downloading for three weeks while on holiday.... $3000 bill... very sad. But anyway back to what I was going to say... At least you don't have pair gain.. i only got ADSL after about 4 months, which i spent waiting for telstra to do a line transposition... 7-9 working days my ass... I had to call them many a time before they acted.

Mick!!! That is so true I tell people all the time if you're not good with computers DON'T GET ADSL BECAUSE IF YOU STUFF UP OR GET HIJACKED YOU ARE IN A WORLD OF HURT $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ My mate has AAnnet and he is very happy but he is switching to TPG to get the 1500/256 at 20GB, for $49.95 I have 4 friends on this plan and it won't be long before its 5. Pair gain is the Devil in Telstra. Not enough lines and its a major job to replace a cables two Klms long.

The TPG doesnt seem to be the same price for me, as I am not in a metro area, but a Regional One area, so therefore the Aanet is cheaper for me.

Yes Regional is the Problem with TPG. Well i'm on dial-up now after disconnecting from ISDN this morning and Waiting for TPG to do their stuff. In the next few days I will find out if there is any Problems stopping me from getting ADSL. Like I said Plenty of Ports available, My house to the exchange goes directly Via ONE PILLAR !!! to the exchange.

Well Today I was contacted by TPG and I was told My Port at the exchange was reserved. Also they send me out all my personal details, email address etc, user names and passwords and hope to be connected in the next 5 to 8 working days. A slight delay exists because I choosed direct debit to a account just for them with the correct amount to be withdrawn monthly. Phil

thats good to hear phil so u will be off snail speed soon and back on to broadband <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/default/wink.gif" />

Yes Maybe Telstra read this post, Hello telstra how are you and maybe they felt pitty on me and decided to give me a port at the exchange. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/default/grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/default/grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/default/grin.gif" />

Maybe its case that you are a good shit stirrer and trouble maker if you want to be. You saved a few around our way with botched roof restoration jobs by giving us all the info on how some of these roof restorer are ripping the customers off <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/default/smile.gif" /> . Just to let you all know Phil has had his face on the front page of the local rag twice in the last 6 years, once about his Satellite farm, the other he challenges a local paper on the war in Iraq. See Phil had the Footage that others denied ever happened So he challenged them to his place to view a recorded tape on the Massacre of the KURDS which editors in the paper denied ever happened. He must of got it from one of his many Arabic channels. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/default/smile.gif" />

Well, I received a good email this morning and I am going to be connected to ADSL very soon. Maybe they do read this forum and I see that Phil has been allocated his port yesterday and now mine today. Thanks for the help all and thanks for that email Phil, we never know, that might have done the trick.

HaHaHa, Good on you mate. I hope you enjoy the speed when you get it because I will. Yes you are right you would be surprised who reads these forums today, I have also had two emails from the Sydney morning Herald regarding Al-Manar Arabic channel, I've had emails from Local members about Men and the raw deals they get when getting divorced, I had emails of Abuse from womens action groups abusing me as I have said it should be compulsary for DNA test to be made before a Woman can claim $$$$ from her EX, OOOOOOH this is a nerve that Women today don't like and I will push it, TRUCK em. I believe if you are correct you must stand up for yourself and fight as most Australians bend down and do nothing and Cop it up the A.R.S.E. My Next WAR!!! will be JOHN HOWARDS Industral Madness because this is what it will be, I will post around the 1st of July the things to do to find DIRT, yes, MUD in case if you ever get sacked by your boss and you clearly know in your own mind that you were right. Stay tuned for Pay Back time!!! My Maltese Arab blood boils when I see a good honest faithful worker getting used, abused, Blackmailed, then sacked 2 weeks before his probation period is up to only be replaced by another worker who has the same done to him or her.

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by George H: Maybe its case that you are a good shit stirrer and trouble maker if you want to be. You saved a few around our way with botched roof restoration jobs by giving us all the info on how some of these roof restorer are ripping the customers off <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/default/smile.gif" /> . Just to let you all know Phil has had his face on the front page of the local rag twice in the last 6 years, once about his Satellite farm, the other he challenges a local paper on the war in Iraq. See Phil had the Footage that others denied ever happened So he challenged them to his place to view a recorded tape on the Massacre of the KURDS which editors in the paper denied ever happened. He must of got it from one of his many Arabic channels. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/default/smile.gif" /> <hr /></blockquote>Yes the roof restoration!! that was a croc. By the way my roof is still 100% perfect.

Received an email from TPG and all is a go, all I have to do know is wait for Telstra to connect me at the Exchange. Mind you that can take 5 days for them to do it.

BIGPOND SUX'S See their latest adds for half price broadband for the first 6 months but you are tied to a 24 month contract for the remanding 18 months. So people must be stupid, add the 24 months up and you are being ripped off. this is another case of a conn, and a big one at that.

Yes they are deceiving. On another note looks like I will be connected to ADSL on either tuesday or wednesday. shit shoveling sometimes works, Thanks for the direction Phil otherwise I would have waited another year.

Almost as bad as DODO..... Dodo is THE worst broadband provider out there.... Like on their ad.. they say 9.90 per month for the first three months or something like that... however it is a 24mnth contract.. and something like minimum cost over 24mnths = $1077.... Ridiculous... I'm not 100% sure about it, I just know it is a little suss.... I'll do a little investigating and be back later to verify it... Edit: Actually, for the first three months, it is in fact $9.90, unlimited data. HOWEVER, after those three months it instantly switches to their Cost = $49.90 Speed = 256Kbps/64Kbps Included Data = Unlimited Now what about that big step? On the Ad it says nothing of the switch, in visible writing anyway.... They are like bigpond with the little plan aiming for the user that doesn't know the market. [ 25. June 2005, 03:50 PM: Message edited by: M Williamson ]

Yes Mick you MUST read the fine print. I expect to be connected by the end of the week the delay for me was opening a special account for Direct debit ( I keep $200 max in it) Also when they would have done a credit check on me they would have found NOTHING, I'm a BLOT, I don't exist!! I haven't borrowed money for over 35 Years, Not a Trucking cent.

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Help: Yes they are deceiving. On another note looks like I will be connected to ADSL on either tuesday or wednesday. shit shoveling sometimes works, Thanks for the direction Phil otherwise I would have waited another year. <hr /></blockquote>Help Sometimes in life you have to shovel shit otherwise you get treated like shit. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/default/grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/default/grin.gif" />

Well, as of 4 o'clock this afternoon TPG have connected to me to the 1500/256 ADSL, two days faster than what I expected. Thank you TPG and thanks Telstra for the ports at the exchange. Just think Telstra, you saved me all the ranting and raving I was about to do. The amount of people that are leaving Telstra/Bigpond is astronomical and if you guys could compete with the other companies instead of worrying about your shareholders all the time, I might even consider coming back to you. Once again, thanks to all that were involved. Phil

And I can tell you, this 1500/256 is outrageously ridiculously fast compared to ISDN and heaven forbid dial up.

1500/256 is excellent , I couldnt go back to 256 or 512.

good on you phil <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/default/wink.gif" /> back up and running again now <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/default/smile.gif" />

Yes we are connected as of today and its great thanks again for help from members of this forum and again Phil thanks for your special help. Now we have speed to burn.

Yes I will say that. Whats faster than 1500/256,,,, ADSL2

OOOHHHHHHHHHHHHhhh I love this speed (1500/256) like Boring said you could never go back to anything under this.

Its been nearly 2 weeks since I have had my ADSL connection and its the best thing I have ever done. Definitely works very well. Forget the 512/128, forget the 512/256, go straight for the 1500/256. Half the time I click on the page, I sneeze and its up already and half the time I think it hasn't even updated, its that quick. Phil

same here mate same here. Although I haven't got 1500/256 like you have but its a welcome from dialup. i let you know a funny thing i was talking to a neighbour just around the corner in the next street they are still waiting, I said waiting for what?, they said its not available at the exchange, I said whats not available at the exchange? he said its all taken thats all i know. strange

it good to see you guys to get adsl most around our area still have have nothing

Yes and the funny thing is my neighbour accross the road, yes his gate is oppersite mine can't get ADSL Hello Gary!!! Join the forum you could be lucky.

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Help: same here mate same here. Although I haven't got 1500/256 like you have but its a welcome from dialup. i let you know a funny thing i was talking to a neighbour just around the corner in the next street they are still waiting, I said waiting for what?, they said its not available at the exchange, I said whats not available at the exchange? he said its all taken thats all i know. strange <hr /></blockquote>On another forum you said another person in the same area had the same problem getting it . How did he go, has he got it yet? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/default/smile.gif" />

Jaremt If its the person that member Help was talking about that i'm thinking about I only spoke to him on Wednesday and he now has it. He got it about the same day or so as Help got it. I wonder how the other neighbours are going with pair gain.

Yes still no ADSL for them So that other guy in our area has got it to, is he on the forum or just another hanger on picking up the scraps

Well you can't help Bad luck. You can't help all these days. Come to think of it most people today you should not help them. why? they're just pigs!! not the way I was brought up to be so anti-social. The World is turning this way, snobs, snobs.

G'Day People, I am in the process of getting ADSL at Cashmere and anticipate no problems, since two other people in my street already have it. However, like any large organisation, Telstra managed to get it wrong in converting my ISDN back to a standard line. I had two lines before I got ISDN because I have a life threatening ilness and can not afford to be crawling around the floor swapping over internet and telephone lines in an emergency. Telstra obviously believes that the only reason people have two lines is so that they can have 128K ISDN and therefore disconnect the second line as naturally as the sun comes up in the morning. So they did not bother to ask me or tell me that they would do so, I only found out when I got home and went to plug in my old dial up modem. When I contacted Telstra, I was told that it would take four days to reconnect the line, even with a medical priority. I explained to them that there was an escalation process they could follow to get it connected the next day, which worried them that I knew about it, and they undertook to do so. Despite dealing with several different people on different days,each of whom gave the same comitments, it took the full four days to get the line re-connected (to the outside of the house), even with medical priority. However, it still wasn't connected at the socket, so it took an after hours callout as well, because the tech who disconnected the line did so inside the wall behind the socket. As a result, I have had a an official complaint raised in QUESTUS (Telstra's regulatory imposed complaint recording process that replaces CICERO) I can only hope TPG do their bit better. Gazza

Gazza, How are you? You know the funny thing? On Friday at 10.00am I was going out and I found these two contractors pacing up and down out the front of my place looking at the poles. The guy was climbing the pole so I chucked a U-turn and spoke to the guy and asked what he was doing as they weren't Telstra guys. I said please don't disconnect my lines by mistake as I am downloading. Did it make any difference? No, I found my modem flashing when I got home. Is there a saying? F.u.c.k. you Jack, I am alright. I am very happy with TPG and I find the speeds incredible, so should you. I downloaded a 185 Mb file the other day. It downloaded at 152Kb a second and took 22 minutes to download that. I have no complaints. I don't think you should have any trouble as a few around this area have now connected with TPG and they also have had no trouble. Phil

Are TPG new price increases going to effect you Phil?

I spoke to them and they said NO!! but if anything changes you all will know about it, TRUST ME!!!

If they increase my monthly fee I'm off to another company a extra 20 bucks is a bit rich.

Yes any luck it will stay at $49, But I smell Telstra is behind this!!.