[plug] ADSL issue

[Richard]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jon Miller [mailto:jlmiller at mmtnetworks.com.au]
> Sent: Sunday, 28 July 2002 4:48 PM
> To: plug at plug.linux.org.au
> Subject: [plug] ADSL issue
> 
> This is a question for those that either live or have businesses out
of
> the
> CBD area. Lask week I was told that there was ADSL available in a area
> south of the city, when in fact it is not because of Telstra's damn
"pair
> gain" infrastructure. Does anyone know or can recommend any other
> technolgoy other than dial-up that a client can use. We are looking at
> ISDN
> but this can get to be very expensive for what we need to do. Also the
> speed isn't there. I'm told there is some kind of fibre-optic
component in
> place. Also, I'm told that the client is currently using ISDN for
their
> phone system now. I'm just curious, but surely there are other options
> available for their phone system to use. Or is this the Telstra upsell
> memo
> the memo states: "If a customer requires a better quality service then
> this
> should be taken as an opportunity to sell enhancement services."?
> I see there are some issues regarding this infrastructure is in the
ACCC.
> Anyone have any updates on what is being done?
> 
> 
> Jon L. Miller
> MMT Networks Pty Ltd

We had exactly the same problem, and it took a lot of phone calls to
Telstra before we finally found a person with a brain between their
ears, who organised a crew to come out and check to see if there was a
spare line in our area that could be swapped for our existing pair-gain
line. As it turned out there was, and they did the swap at a cost of
$190, plus $60 for some re-wiring we needed in the house. A little steep
for something that should not have needed doing in the first place, but
after having had broadband on now for a few months, I'd have to say well
worth it. The lesson here is, if the brainless nincompoop you get when
ringing Telstra says "it can't be done" they are almost always wrong.
Just try ringing another number/time and you may get a completely
different answer. They can, and do, swap pair-gain lines for full
bandwidth lines, for a price.
Good luck.

Richard