ADSL Internet

LB1N CH1CKEN on 01/07/2014 - 19:24
Last edited 02/07/2014 - 12:24

So I've moved into my house for over 3 years now and have been unable to connect to a proper adsl internet service. I first applied with IInet, prior to moving in and they told me that my property was eligible for an adsl service. Two weeks later after settling into the new house, IInet terminated the contract, stating that there were no internet ports available in my area. After countless weeks, months and now years, I have already applied for an internet service with every main service provider (eg. IInet, OPTUS, TELSTRA, TPG…). Each time, their excuses would be that there are no internet ports available or that there my house lies in the 'small exchange' area. Just recently Telstra technicians installed additional ports within the area meaning that no port conundrum will be resolved! After contacting Telstra, they told me that in my area there is a copper wire containing both internet and phone lines that are connected into each property. I have been informed that my house has a phone line but is missing the internet line. Telstra suggests that another homeowner may have taken my internet line…ffs. So now internet ports are no longer an issue for me, it's down to this stupid internet line.

Being an inexperienced internet noob, does anyone know of any option there is in order to get adsl? I am currently using a mobile broadband service with OPTUS which gives me 20GB a month @$75. I have been so frustrated of this situation, I mean, how can anyone live with 20 freaking gigabits a month!!! I've been pondering whether I should sign up for an additional 20GB a month with OPTUS but I am hesitating to. If I do the meth $75+$75+$65(mobile plan)= $215. With the extra 20GB I would be paying $150 for a mere 40GB of data and $65 for my phone bill! If all else fails, I intend on moving houses.

BTW- I have been advised by Telstra that I would NEVER be able to connect to an adsl service EVER.

somone…help..me

*Update: So I called up NBN and they said I'll just have to wait until they roll out in my area. Once they begin construction, the pair gain system will be removed and also new wires will be replaced. The only thing that major construction in my area will commence in 1 year. That's 4 years without ADSL!

Internet

Comments

    • B1N CH1CKEN on 01/07/2014 - 19:36

      Unfortunately cable is unavailable too :(

      • scrimshaw on 01/07/2014 - 19:51

        That's bad…

        BTW- I have been advised by Telstra that I would NEVER be able to connect to an adsl service EVER.

        That's worse.

        they can't even put you on a pair gain system? If that's the case you would only be looking at wireless as your only option. Or move house.

        • B1N CH1CKEN on 01/07/2014 - 20:05

          The pair gain system is also out of the question. They said that my internet line had already been taken by someone else. The previous owner of my property was able to connect to an adsl service before, lucky him.

  • Davo1111 on 01/07/2014 - 19:51
    +2

    All i can think of is making a friend down the street, and running a radio link. or just using mobile internet.

    or ask your neigbour. see if they're willing to "sublease" their service via a cat5 cable over the fence

    • scrimshaw on 01/07/2014 - 19:55
      +1

      or ask your neigbour. see if they're willing to "sublease" their service via a cat5 cable over the fence

      They'd be very nice people if they are willing to do this, but both parties would have to accept that your download speed would be shared with others at peak times. How much that would affect you would depend on what speed you get and what you do with it. You also have to worry about the download quota if they are not on an unlimited plan.

      Plus, issues with the 'appropriate' use of internet, if you decide to torrent and download 'Linux ISO's' with their internet, it becomes their risk and responsibility.

      • B1N CH1CKEN on 01/07/2014 - 19:59
        +5

        I've tried doing this with my next door neighbour, but it didn't go so well. They seemed to be quite uncomfortable with us sharing and plus every time the connection dropped out, I'd have to hassle them to restart their router.

      • Davo1111 on 01/07/2014 - 20:55

        Seedbox yo'

      • [Deactivated] on 02/07/2014 - 22:32

        It is technically illegal to do this, and it's not just cabling standards but even a Wi-Fi link is technically illegal also because it counts as being a "telecommunications carrier" or something like that once you provide access over the property line.

        • [Deactivated] on 03/07/2014 - 21:10

          Those laws seem fair and equitable to everyone, I wonder who made them… COUGH telecoms

  • [Deactivated] on 01/07/2014 - 20:50

    4g Internet is super fast

    • B1N CH1CKEN on 02/07/2014 - 10:13
      +2

      ok, if u say so…

      • sk3iron on 02/07/2014 - 17:09

        I would consider it, I get 14mbit downstream/6mbit upstream off my vividwireless 4g connection

        • scrimshaw on 02/07/2014 - 17:34

          how much are you paying per month, how much do you get in download quota? Is upload counted? Latency in games?

        • sk3iron on 03/07/2014 - 05:17
          -1

          $79 a month, unlimited downloads & uploads. Latency is about 20 ping higher than my previous DSL line.

        • B1N CH1CKEN on 03/07/2014 - 10:34
          +1

          @sk3iron: Well what do you know, vividwireless is unavailable in my area.

        • TheMoDz on 03/07/2014 - 11:52
          +1

          @slong:

          Vivid is hell..
          their 4G is terrible and disconnects constantly,
          you would get good connection around 2am - 10am
          but bad bandwidth, really small

        • lplau on 03/07/2014 - 16:40

          Lol 4G is fast but depends on which area.

          I've gotten speedtest on 4G Telstra with like 80mbps which is 4 times faster than ADSL.

        • IamEzza on 03/07/2014 - 16:55

          According to their own site you must be in the top 0.1% of vivid customers in terms of speed.

          Their own bell curve graph only goes up to 7.4Mbps
          http://www.vividwireless.com.au/4g-wireless-broadband/our-sp…

  • Davo1111 on 01/07/2014 - 20:57

    Any of these companies it's like the new version of "unwired". The latency will be quite shit, but you'll get better value than mobile net

  • Johnny-Kun on 02/07/2014 - 06:46
    +5

    I'm a bit confused about the part where you say "After contacting Telstra, they told me that in my area there is a copper wire containing both internet and phone lines that are connected into each property. I have been informed that my house has a phone line but is missing the internet line. Telstra suggests that another homeowner may have taken my internet line."

    I am a Telstra Technician myself and I do not understand why there should be 4 wires going into your property considering ADSL works with your phone line. Sure, the cable that runs into your property has 4 wires "White/Blue and Red/Black" but you should still be able to get both service on the one pair. All they have to do is connect the ADSL part in the exchange "considering if there's any ADSL ports available". I was going to say that if your copper range had a coil "it extends the voice frequency", then if would cause havoc to ADSL but you say that your neighbor has ADSL so that would eliminate that theory.

    Maybe you spoke to an ISGM Telstra contractor and he gave you some bogus information? Maybe you spoke to back of house that doesn't know what they are on about?

    • B1N CH1CKEN on 02/07/2014 - 10:03

      I'm not sure what I can do. Telstra technicians recently installed new ports but it still hasn't fixed the problem. I have no idea whats wrong… Could there be something wrong the wiring or infrastructure?

      • cryptos on 03/07/2014 - 14:59

        How far from the exchange are you? Are you on a "rim" job?

      • Johnny-Kun on 03/07/2014 - 15:55

        I'm not sure since I don't have a picture of the area you are at, whether you are feeding from an Exchange, Rim/CMUX cabinet. The infrastructure should be fine if you are able to get phone service aka PSTN (Plain Standard Telephone Number).

        You said that your neighbor has ADSL so you should technically be able to get it unless you live on the boundary of your exchange. 7KM would be the furthest distance from an exchange/rim/cmux and anything beyond that Telstra "will" probably not issue ADSL to you since it will cause dropout issues.

        Only thing I could think of is either ADSL port is full, you live too far from the nearest exchange, your copper line leaving from the pillar might have a loaded coil (as I stated earlier which causes issues with adsl) and there's no spare copper cable to move you away from the coil.

        Where about's in Brisbane are you located if you don't mind me asking?

  • thereyougo on 02/07/2014 - 07:51
    +1

    I agree with Johnny-Kun, I'm an ex Telstra tech and if you've got a phone line and there's available ports at the exchange, you can get ADSL service. If you've got Foxtel, Austar or that Optus vision you could get internet via that cable or what about Satellite internet?. Go into a Telstra shop, I'm sure they'll help you.

    • B1N CH1CKEN on 02/07/2014 - 10:08

      I've been to Telstra shops over 100 times no joke. What they keep telling me is that you can't get adsl with just a phone line. There needs to be an internet line as well. I've also tried foxtel to get a connection but that's also unavailble.

      • skinner on 03/07/2014 - 10:44
        +1

        I thought the point of ADSL was that it ran on the same line as the phone? You would just need to use a filter/splitter to split off into phone/internet inside the house.

        I am looking at my setup at the moment and that appears to be how it is done. We also used to have ADSL at my parents house which was built some 40+ years ago. I can't imagine that it would have been built with a specific internet line in those days and no extra lines ever installed.

      • Flyingmoo on 03/07/2014 - 15:49
        +2

        The store staff are full of shit. ADSL uses the same physical cabling as the phone line.
        Try calling and see what the phone sales people say instead, and if you are still getting nowhere maybe try the TIO and tell them you are not getting correct information.

  • tds on 02/07/2014 - 08:28
    +2

    I've been in the same situation as you Op. There not much you can do really apart from sharing with your neighbour. My problem was I lived on the edge of town :( this frustrated me for long time. I ended up fixing my problem by moving house and getting cable, now all is good :)

  • daveozsydney on 02/07/2014 - 08:44
    +1

    We had a similar situation in Sydney CBD when an new phone line that had been installed (just to get ADSL) was a split pair (line shared with someone else). A chat and a case of beer for the Telstra engineer sorted the problem and he came back and assigned us a full copper cable (not shared). My only thought is have a new (second) telstra line installed and make sure you are there for when the engineer comes to connect and speak to the engineer and ask him/her about it. They should be able to give you the right type of connection you need for ADSL.
    You could also get bigair or optus cable if it's available in your area. 'CAT5 over the fence' is a novel idea but could be dangerous if there's lightning. Needs to be installed properly by an electrician with earthed cables if you go that route.

    • B1N CH1CKEN on 02/07/2014 - 09:58

      Well the Telstra people told me that they won't be able to install a new copper cable because, they just won't. They proposed that installing a new phone line in my house may allow me to obtain a adsl connection. Now that they've installed the new phone line, everything is still the same, ADSL still isn't available!

  • mattyman on 02/07/2014 - 09:24
    +3

    You're on a RIM. I built a house in Southern River a few years ago and couldn't get ADSL. I worked at Westnet at the time so I found out a little more info.

    In areas where the exchange is too far away Telstra will run fibre to a box and then run copper from that. These are essentially mini exchanges. Other companies CANNOT install their own hardware into the boxes so you will be limited to resold Telstra services (ie you wont be able to get the cheaper onnet deals that TPG and iiNet provide). That's the first problem.

    The second issue is that Telstra will typically install enough phone ports in the RIM for everybody but will skimp on the ADSL ports.

    The third issue is that when someone disconnects their internet connection the port goes into "quarantine" for six months in case that person wants to reconnect.

    Because I worked at Westnet at the time I had a contact in Provisioning who contacted Telstra Wholesale for me and found out that a port was in quarantine and gave me the date that it should be out. I applied that morning.

    I'd suggest giving iiNet a call during the day (so that you speak to someone in the Aussie call Centre), explain the situation to them and see if they can find out from Telstra Wholesale if a port will become available soon or not.

    Good luck … It took me 9 months to get my ADSL connection.

  • rickxs on 02/07/2014 - 09:36
    +1

    i feel ya pain slong
    I was in this situation as well 2 yrs ago , all ports were taken, so was on wireless ,just hopeless,drop outs slow ,congested etc —anyway —— the next door neighbor moved & I asked the Telstra Tech [who has helped me in other houses] could I nab that open port .He said no as it was policy to leave it for new owners for 90 days
    So how long was it when they moved out & you moved in??? as it should have been open for your use
    btw a TOP HAT has now been installed on our RIM giving some 350 more ports ADSL 2 @ 18mbps
    Good luck m8
    http://crowdsupport.telstra.com.au/t5/image/serverpage/image…

    • B1N CH1CKEN on 02/07/2014 - 09:53

      I'm certain that the ports aren't an issue. Telstra says it's got something to do with the copper wiring.

      • tds on 02/07/2014 - 09:57
        +1

        probably the copper that goes to your house is too far from the exchange they changed their policy for the line noise a few years back
        its probably why your owner had internet

  • rickxs on 02/07/2014 - 10:03

    but didn't you say the previous home owner of your house had copper internet? or they never had ?

    ''Telstra suggests that another homeowner may have taken my internet line…ffs.''

    i'm just making you aware it should not have been nabable —when you bought the house did you inquire was there internet at that house?

    • B1N CH1CKEN on 02/07/2014 - 10:11

      The realtor told me that the previous owner were tenants renting it out. These guys did not have internet. However, the dude who first owned the property had an internet connection, I don't get how it can just vanish like that.

  • IIGnomeII on 02/07/2014 - 10:22

    I work for an ISP so maybe I can shed some light on this.

    The area you are in is most likely a RIM (sub exchange), check out www.tpg.com.au/maps and plug in your address to see where you are compared to the exchange.

    So the ports thing is going to be that the space on the cards was completely taken up, they need to install new cards into the exchange/rim to increase the amount of connections and that can take Telstra forever to action, in some cases I have seen over 6 months.

    Now the question is do you have a standard PSTN line setup at your house? Is it with Telstra? If you have that then it shouldn't be an issue provided that the ports have not all been taken up again. If the neighbour has taken the line then I would say that any unused lines at your house were reclaimed by Telstra to connect your neighbour up.

    • B1N CH1CKEN on 02/07/2014 - 10:38

      I don't think I have a PSTN line. There's an active phone line though. I'm pretty sure my neighbour has taken my line since Telstra have said it's high a possibility.

      • IIGnomeII on 02/07/2014 - 10:40

        Okay, a PSTN line is just a standard phone line. So if you have a phone line at your house that you can call out and in from that is with Telstra then you should be fine.

        • B1N CH1CKEN on 02/07/2014 - 10:42

          The phone line is with Telstra but it still doesn't allow me to connect to adsl. Any ideas why?

  • IIGnomeII on 02/07/2014 - 11:00

    I don't know exactly why but if the line is with Telstra and it is a standard phone plan like the XS plan from Telstra - https://www.telstra.com.au/home-phone/plans-rates/index.htm#… then you should be fine.

    The only reason why you can't get it is if the ports have all be taken up on the card as I mentioned before.

    Did you check your address on that TPG maps website? How far are you from the exchange and are you on a RIM?

    • B1N CH1CKEN on 02/07/2014 - 12:18

      'Line of sight distance: 1224m. Possible cable distance: 3790m'

      • IIGnomeII on 02/07/2014 - 13:14
        +1

        okay so your expected speed should you get ADSL2 is about 3-5mbit download I would say.

        I would place the order on the Telstra website for ADSL2 if you can and then see what the info that they give back is.
        If you have to call them up and they give the spiel that they can't do it ask them to specifically state what the issue is and why you can not put internet down your Telstra phone line and email it to you if they will, if not get them to be really specific and write it all down. Post the info here if you can.

        If they say that there is no internet lines for your house then ask them what they mean by that, does the exchange have enough ports for the ADSL or is there another problem.

        If you can not get ADSL2 then at a minimum you should be able to get ADSL1.
        The ADSL codes are applied to your phone number and they do a connection at the exchange for it to work so I don't believe that there is this voice and internet line separation at your place.

  • mousie on 02/07/2014 - 14:18
    +4

    If I do the meth $75+$75+$65
    - I don't know about you, but Meth is expensive no matter where you are!

  • ITveteran on 02/07/2014 - 16:07
    +1

    My sympathy to OP. I have even worse experience than the OP as I cannot have proper broadband connection since I moved into my house 7 years ago. I am now living on a pathetic 12GB 3g service. The hopeless Telstra is obviously worth to be condemned. I contacted them many times and they were arrogant and careless. My area has several hundreds of houses facing the same situation due to the signal attenuation. All switch ports are already adsl enabled. Telstra's answer to my query and petition of improvement was that there were 20% homes in my area (Central coast) not having broadband service so we deserved not to have it.
    Anyway I am sick of dealing with Telstra so I stopped using any service from them, including ditching away the fixed line telephone service.
    Australia is pathetically an under developed country. The government should be ashamed to call Australia Developed Country. Look at our suburban areas, lack of communication infrastructure, even some houses have no town water and sewage service, and the living people see no future at all.

    • scrimshaw on 02/07/2014 - 17:41
      +5

      12GB on 3G? We are absolutely confident 12GB is going to be enough — more than enough — for the average household.

      ~ Tony Abbott.

      Why did you buy a house where there was no broadband available?

      ~ Malcolm Turnbull.

      yeap, our tech-savvy politicians have said so, if you want better internet you should probably not even be in Australia.

      • ITveteran on 02/07/2014 - 18:02
        +1

        That said, there indeed is some merit there to have limited broadband access - now my kids have to learn to be tight arse on using internet, little FB, no Youtube, spend more time on school work. Thank you Tony! Thank you Mr Turnbull for always saying no to whatever Labour proposed.

  • Extide on 02/07/2014 - 20:30
    +1

    Wow, 3 years without ADSL, that's intense. FWIW, I recently moved into a townhouse December last year, and had to battle with Telstra to get ADSL connected, and it was remarkably similar to your situation. Telstra kept telling me at first that there were ADSL2+ ports in my area so tried to shift me onto ADSL1, to then only tell me a couple of weeks later that there was no ASDL1 ports available and that they couldn't do anything and tried to shift me onto mobile broadband. So I tried again and then they call up to tell me that ADSL would be impossible because we were on a pair gain system - and again they tried to shift me onto mobile. Even after I told them that every single one of my neighbors in the immediate vicinity of our complex (even the damn duplex we were attached to)had ADSL2+ connection (which they did - we asked), they would just try to sound surprised, say that was weird, but still couldn't do anything.
    Tried researching a bit after that and found that our street was connected to a RIM and was ASDL enabled so we just kept applying - as soon as they'd knock it back we applied again. One day - presto - our ADSL was connected. A port must've freed up. Took about 3-4 months, which was torture for me. I absolutely cannot imaging what you'd be going through.

    tl;dr - Telstra are idiots, perhaps just keep applying?

    • B1N CH1CKEN on 02/07/2014 - 22:01
      +1

      You're lucky since in your case it was only a matter of obtaining a free port. There are ample amounts of ports in my area but that still doesn't guarantee me a connection. My house is also connected to RIM - even ADSL1 is unavailble. I guess I'll just have to re-apply for the …000th time.

  • FiDad on 02/07/2014 - 22:18

    Sorry for HighJacking this thread OP but i had a question related to similar situation. We bought a property about 6 months ago and we got told there is a pair gain situation in the apartment complex so we arranged to take over previous owner IINet connection. I really want to move to TPG to a cheaper package now but am afraid that I might loose my port if i change my ISP. Does any one know if this could happen?

    • tds on 03/07/2014 - 08:25
      +2

      Should be able to churn. Talk to the ISP

      • FiDad on 03/07/2014 - 14:33

        Thanks. Will do

  • Cheeper on 02/07/2014 - 22:55
    +2

    Had a similar problem many years ago… months of frustration.
    Was told that I could not get bb where I lived because the lines needed to be upgraded etc. Neighbours in the same street had bb… worked fine.
    Eventually I found someone in Telstra that was not a total zork and they listened…. it turned out they were making the not possible assessment from their line status sheets…. that had not been updated when our street was modified 3 years earlier!!!
    I feel your pain… keep at them.

  • Wallyt99 on 03/07/2014 - 09:10

    Wow…. and I was pissed of just because I am only getting slow speeds

  • fusion17 on 03/07/2014 - 09:36

    Yeah I had no idea this can still happen. Always thought there'd be a way around it.
    Cant you pay for a new physical line? Apologies if I missed something on this thread.
    My line is very poor and I was told that's my only option…which id definitely take if I owned the property. In the end you're spending alot on wireless for so much less.

    Your situation sounds unimaginable. The fact that you checked before hand makes it worse.

    • B1N CH1CKEN on 03/07/2014 - 10:31

      I would pay for a new line if I could, but Telstra won't allow it. The only line they were willing to install was a new phone line to replace my existing one. I ended up getting this installation and it turned out to be a useless waste of time.

  • [Deactivated] on 03/07/2014 - 13:45
    +1

    This may sound bad… but I think the best option is to move elsewhere.

  • ESEMCE on 03/07/2014 - 14:36
    +3

    The reason HAS to be ports at the RIM!
    There is no such thing as an Internet Line and a Phone line, both Internet and telephone service run through the same physical piece of copper, ie if you have a phone line, you also (potentially) have an internet line.
    The only difference between a phone line and Internet line is how it connects into the network at the exchange (or RIM).
    Which comes back to it HAS to be a ports issue!
    What makes you think that ports are not an issue?

    Ultimately, you need to work out what the roadblock actually is, so you can target someone who can investigate and remove the roadblock (if possible).
    Your alternatives are 3G/4G or possibly WIMAX or a friendly neighbor.

    • Benicio on 03/07/2014 - 15:47
      +1

      I agree. OP is completely confused as to the actual issue preventing their ADSL connection.

    • B1N CH1CKEN on 03/07/2014 - 16:09

      Thanks for the info. I'll never trust the call-centre employees again!

  • frewer on 03/07/2014 - 16:13
    +1

    Poor bugger i hope something will works out for you.

  • [Deactivated] on 03/07/2014 - 21:25

    Good thing we didn't waste money at that silly FTTH thing ey!

  • coolsteps on 04/07/2014 - 03:32

    im a contractor tech. i think you all missed the main point. adsl wont work through a pair gains system or loading coils only POTS. the infracture in your area seems to be the problem. if telstra told you cant ever get adsl than that is true unless they lay new cable which probably wont happen for a very long time if ever because of the cost. btw for all new connections i would recommend to go with telstra first it will be less frustration and time wasted. ive incompleted many wholesaler install jobs because of missing lead ins and other problems etc and the wholesaler never wants nor agrees to pay for the initial costs of the new installs.

    • B1N CH1CKEN on 04/07/2014 - 09:09

      Thank you for the advice.

  • [Deactivated] on 04/07/2014 - 06:40
    +1

    I've been in the same boat as you at my previous house. I was on a RIM so this wouldn't let me get ADSL. It was like this for 7 years had to get wireless I pretty much gave up at this stage. But one day I managed to get ADSL 1 by constantly putting ADSL applications through to telstra and tpg.

    Tpg was able to finally give me an ADSL service but the speed and drop outs were huge. I then churned over to Internode which fixed my speeds up.

    My advice keep applying for ADSL. With every ISP company. Dodo, tpg, Telstra, internode, etc etc.

    • ESEMCE on 04/07/2014 - 07:57

      And the reason for the above issue (and solution) is port availability.. especially if you're on a RIM.

      I'm guessing the OP is connected to a RIM, but lives on the border to be connected directly to the exchange, hence the "there's plenty of ports" mentality.. and it's showing up in some systems that you ARE connected to the exchange, even though you're not.
      Sure, there might be plenty of ports at the exchange, but if the RIM you're connected to has no ports or isn't even ADSL enabled it doesn't matter how many ports are available at the exchange.

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