ADSL advice please?
Just Binos
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ADSL advice please?
Not aviation related, Woomera, I know, but I ask that you lock it and leave it here. I posted this question in Computer Help a while ago but got no response, since most of the posters are from foreign climes.
What I am after is opinions on the merits of ADSL, especially Telstra's (not even sure there is another kind).
I've heard some pretty bad reports about its down time; opinions from anyone in Oz with experience in this matter woould be appreciated in the Computer Help Forum. Thank you.
What I am after is opinions on the merits of ADSL, especially Telstra's (not even sure there is another kind).
I've heard some pretty bad reports about its down time; opinions from anyone in Oz with experience in this matter woould be appreciated in the Computer Help Forum. Thank you.
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I have been using ADSL for over a year now, it is a lot more reliable now than 12 months ago, but it does have some reliability probs occasionally (once a week) it is capped by Telstra to about 50K/sec download speeds, (Optus is uncapped and can get to 200Kps download speeds.
I use it because there is no cable acess here, and i run a few websites and my own business, so now the fax, phone and Internet are all on one line and dont interfere with each other (you can still make a phone call and be connected on the net at the same time)
It is great for streaming video and radio as well, you can actually watch tv with it!!! download MP3's in about 30 secs.
[ 23 December 2001: Message edited by: Ultralights ]</p>
I use it because there is no cable acess here, and i run a few websites and my own business, so now the fax, phone and Internet are all on one line and dont interfere with each other (you can still make a phone call and be connected on the net at the same time)
It is great for streaming video and radio as well, you can actually watch tv with it!!! download MP3's in about 30 secs.
[ 23 December 2001: Message edited by: Ultralights ]</p>
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Hi there again Binos.
I have had ADSL for almost 12 months now and I can tell you that I am less than impressed with the service.
When it is working, it is lightning fast and efficient. However, the system tends to fall over frequently and when that occurs you have nothing but great frustration.
From about March of this year for a month or two it was constantly down to the stage that I understand a group of businesses in Melbourne had launched a class action against Telstra. Because of the continued disruption, Telstra waived all fees to ADSL customers who were affected, including myself for 3 months. What further annoyed me was that Telstra were pushing the sales pitch and touting it as the best thing since sliced bread whilst all these problems were occurring.
A further downside of which I do not know if it is particular to me, are constant disconnections. In fact, it just disconnected again whilst I am typing here. I have given up on the Telstra tech assist as they cannot pinpoint the problem. One good thing is that this is a 24 hour available service.
Bear in mind that you will be up footing it for the set up cost and also a contract period. You are therefore stuck with it if you do not like it for the contract period. I took the 18 month option.
If you decide to try it do not go for the fastest speed deal such as Business Deluxe. There is jack all difference between this and the lowest plan. Reason being is that even though your send speed may be fast, you have no control of the return speed as this is governed from the opposite end.
My advice to you is to check with others that have it in your area as to their view. It may work better in that part of the world. When it goes down in Victoria it frequently affects the whole network, including other states. Further if you do decide to try it, do not discard your dial up connection as whilst the system is down you will at least have a back up.
If they ever iron out the problems then it probably would be a very good system. I think this is a long way off though. My problem also is that there is no cable laid in my street, otherwise I could try that and I am not too sure about satellite as I heard it is affected by weather.
When my contract expires in 6 months I will seriously consider flicking it if the service does not improve.
Sorry that this has been long winded but I wanted you to armed with as much info as possible.
Good luck and all the best for Christmas & the New Year.
[ 23 December 2001: Message edited by: Hairy Lasso ]</p>
I have had ADSL for almost 12 months now and I can tell you that I am less than impressed with the service.
When it is working, it is lightning fast and efficient. However, the system tends to fall over frequently and when that occurs you have nothing but great frustration.
From about March of this year for a month or two it was constantly down to the stage that I understand a group of businesses in Melbourne had launched a class action against Telstra. Because of the continued disruption, Telstra waived all fees to ADSL customers who were affected, including myself for 3 months. What further annoyed me was that Telstra were pushing the sales pitch and touting it as the best thing since sliced bread whilst all these problems were occurring.
A further downside of which I do not know if it is particular to me, are constant disconnections. In fact, it just disconnected again whilst I am typing here. I have given up on the Telstra tech assist as they cannot pinpoint the problem. One good thing is that this is a 24 hour available service.
Bear in mind that you will be up footing it for the set up cost and also a contract period. You are therefore stuck with it if you do not like it for the contract period. I took the 18 month option.
If you decide to try it do not go for the fastest speed deal such as Business Deluxe. There is jack all difference between this and the lowest plan. Reason being is that even though your send speed may be fast, you have no control of the return speed as this is governed from the opposite end.
My advice to you is to check with others that have it in your area as to their view. It may work better in that part of the world. When it goes down in Victoria it frequently affects the whole network, including other states. Further if you do decide to try it, do not discard your dial up connection as whilst the system is down you will at least have a back up.
If they ever iron out the problems then it probably would be a very good system. I think this is a long way off though. My problem also is that there is no cable laid in my street, otherwise I could try that and I am not too sure about satellite as I heard it is affected by weather.
When my contract expires in 6 months I will seriously consider flicking it if the service does not improve.
Sorry that this has been long winded but I wanted you to armed with as much info as possible.
Good luck and all the best for Christmas & the New Year.
[ 23 December 2001: Message edited by: Hairy Lasso ]</p>
Just Binos
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Thanks guys. Not exactly a ringing endorsement so far. If anybody else has any info especially on reliability now compared to say six months ago I'd appreciate it. Can't ask anybody in my area because it's not available here till next month.
Ultralights, I assume that when you are disconnected, you have no choice but to wait till it comes back on line, whatever that means... how long does that take on average? Are there long dropouts?
I've got the thread up and running again in Computer/Internet Issues forum to avoid arousing Woomera's ire.
[ 23 December 2001: Message edited by: Binoculars ]</p>
Ultralights, I assume that when you are disconnected, you have no choice but to wait till it comes back on line, whatever that means... how long does that take on average? Are there long dropouts?
I've got the thread up and running again in Computer/Internet Issues forum to avoid arousing Woomera's ire.
[ 23 December 2001: Message edited by: Binoculars ]</p>
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Bino, I work at an internet cafe and we use a company called PSI.net for our ADSL, which is generally very reliable. I've seen download speeds of about 800 k/sec. We used to be with Telstra, but had a lot of connectivity problems.
<a href="http://www.au.psi.net/html/products/access/adsl.htm" target="_blank">PSI net ADSL</a>
<a href="http://www.au.psi.net/html/products/access/adsl.htm" target="_blank">PSI net ADSL</a>
This is the Ausforum Broadband dicussion forums.
There is some good info available here.
<a href="http://www.ausforum.com/]" target="_blank">http://www.ausforum.com/]</A>
[ 23 December 2001: Message edited by: Kiwiconehead ]</p>
There is some good info available here.
<a href="http://www.ausforum.com/]" target="_blank">http://www.ausforum.com/]</A>
[ 23 December 2001: Message edited by: Kiwiconehead ]</p>
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Binocs, I work in the industry supplying equipment to the carriers who are rolling out ADSL, HDSL and SHDSL. Yes the Telstra DSL service has given the service a bad name but this was not actually the DSL or copper part of the service but the upstream router device they used. There are other providers such as RequestDSL and Optus who are doing well, I suggest that use look at some of the ISP resellers who will probably sell you a RequestDSL service attached to one or another ISP. We had done this at our own office and we have had very little trouble. My e-mail
is listed if you want further help.
FreakedoutFlyer
[ 23 December 2001: Message edited by: FreakedoutFlyer ]</p>
is listed if you want further help.
FreakedoutFlyer
[ 23 December 2001: Message edited by: FreakedoutFlyer ]</p>
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I have been recently upgrading "old" ISDN links to xDSL for companies that want to take advantage of the higher speed and other benefits. If you are in the ML area, drop me a line on [email protected] and I will tell you who is s$it and who to part money with <img src="smile.gif" border="0">
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Hey Binos mate,
I have avioded ADSL to date due to what I consider excessive costs to get the 500 to 600 mb of data I seem to download each month.
Anyway, have a look at this:
<a href="http://www.whirlpool.net.au/" target="_blank">http://www.whirlpool.net.au/</A>
I have avioded ADSL to date due to what I consider excessive costs to get the 500 to 600 mb of data I seem to download each month.
Anyway, have a look at this:
<a href="http://www.whirlpool.net.au/" target="_blank">http://www.whirlpool.net.au/</A>
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Don't know where you are mate but I'm a very X insider of telstra and as I have been lead to believe the service will only be available to some users for quite some time. You have to be close to a switching node and the cable feeding you has to be in good nick. Yes, its breathtakingly fast sometimes but if you access a lot of O/S sites you could get logjammed by the connections of shore and slowed up more than the cost is worth.
Primary law of anything IT, "Don't buy Rev. 1.0".
Primary law of anything IT, "Don't buy Rev. 1.0".
Just Binos
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Tuner2, PSI seems geared towards businesses with networks rather than home users such as myself.
Feeton old buddy, and Metro Man, the plan I'm looking at is called Freedom Deluxe, or something like that. $89 a month including what seems to me to be a very generous 3GB download allowance. I doubt if I have ever used more than 300Mb in a month, but of course that's mainly because I couldn't be bothered waiting for the things that chew up the bandwidth while I'm on a dialup connection. Having the ability to access these things means my usage would increase significantly, but without having internet radio on 24 hours a day I can't see how I would ever approach 3Gb. At the moment I pay $25 a month for unlimited access with Ozemail, plus an average of $40 a month for the phone line. If I could get genuine broadband speed without too many hassles for $89 a month, I'd jump at it. Hence the query about Telstra's service.
If I'm reading it right, anybody offering ADSL services can only offer it if the Telstra exchanges are properly equipped. My local exchange is due to be converted next month, so anybody else will only be on-selling Telstra's bandwidth. Is that correct?
I agree that a 300mb download limit on broadband access completely defeats the purpose, and TPG's latest whooppee offering of $25 a month, plus 16c per Mb is a joke.
Freakedout Flyer, thanks for your info. If I knew any intelligent questions to ask, I’d email you
Eye in the Sky, err, thanks but I really do come from Mackay as my profile says!
Pharcarnell, Your first sentence sounds as though it could be relevant to me, but I can’t quite work out exactly what it means? Could you give it another go, or email me if necessary?
Again, thanks to all. If I could try it for a month, there wouldn’t be a problem, but the contracts are a bit daunting for something that may or may not turn out to be the dream I have in mind.
Feeton old buddy, and Metro Man, the plan I'm looking at is called Freedom Deluxe, or something like that. $89 a month including what seems to me to be a very generous 3GB download allowance. I doubt if I have ever used more than 300Mb in a month, but of course that's mainly because I couldn't be bothered waiting for the things that chew up the bandwidth while I'm on a dialup connection. Having the ability to access these things means my usage would increase significantly, but without having internet radio on 24 hours a day I can't see how I would ever approach 3Gb. At the moment I pay $25 a month for unlimited access with Ozemail, plus an average of $40 a month for the phone line. If I could get genuine broadband speed without too many hassles for $89 a month, I'd jump at it. Hence the query about Telstra's service.
If I'm reading it right, anybody offering ADSL services can only offer it if the Telstra exchanges are properly equipped. My local exchange is due to be converted next month, so anybody else will only be on-selling Telstra's bandwidth. Is that correct?
I agree that a 300mb download limit on broadband access completely defeats the purpose, and TPG's latest whooppee offering of $25 a month, plus 16c per Mb is a joke.
Freakedout Flyer, thanks for your info. If I knew any intelligent questions to ask, I’d email you
Eye in the Sky, err, thanks but I really do come from Mackay as my profile says!
Pharcarnell, Your first sentence sounds as though it could be relevant to me, but I can’t quite work out exactly what it means? Could you give it another go, or email me if necessary?
Again, thanks to all. If I could try it for a month, there wouldn’t be a problem, but the contracts are a bit daunting for something that may or may not turn out to be the dream I have in mind.
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Err, sorry mate, got a bad habit of talking technical short hand. Your statement about the equipment is the basis of what I was trying to say. If you are within approx 3Km of an exchange and the copper cable that ties you to it is in good candition ADSL will PROBABLY work for you. If anything else, ie you are fed from a RIM or a line concentrator(I know, tech talk again) All bets are off. There are moves afoot to extend ADSL availability but it will take time. The only true prrof is to ask and see if they can do it. A salesman will give you the earth to get your dough but a tech will tell you if it can happen.
