My ADSL Is Terrible

I finally got ADSL recently - woo hoo

I had dial-up, ISDN, then back to dial-up, then along came the ABG days of satellite, and I have been on satellite ever since; even thou I moved to a bush property that had an exchange down the bottom of the hill; fed by 6 strands of fibre when I moved in on April 16 1998. But then the NBN was announced, and I was fvcked, I was all dressed up with no place to go :(

I moved to Tassie 2 years ago and I was told I could get NBN in the house I bought, unseen; but I got here & the nbn was skyMuster - boo. I am sick of satellite. I have tried to get ADSL. iiNET said I could get ADSL, they were useless in the 2 months I was with them in early 2019.

But recently I talked to the General Manager of Telstra Tasmania at the opening of the new mobile tower in our town. He said leave it to me and I will get you ADSL. I said 2+, I want none of that slow stuff, he said again, 'leave it to me'. Famous last words!

I did all the signing up stuff late August and had a connection date of September 1. I checked how things were going on the Telstra site on the Saturday the 29th, and low and behold, I found my application was cancelled! Leave it to me he said. I feel like he can do with his balls removed right now. I could not do anything as it was Saturday, deep breath for me, small snips for him!

So come Monday, I was polite and I signed up again; I got a new date of the 7th

Come Monday the 7th, no-one turned up - insert your own words; I am old, very old; been on a pension for a very long time. BTW, I used to be a motor mechanic and a timber mill worker and the last half of my life was in the bush. So you can guess the sort of language that comes out of my mouth; everyone that knows me has given up on telling me to tone it down, I just turn it up, stuff 'em, no one tells me how to talk. The English teachers had their chance, but they didn't want to teach me, it is the systems fault!

I got another date, the 11th, this is wearing thin this bullshit. I go to leave for my doctors appointment early on the 10th and who rocks up. None other than the local, Helstra arsehole. This is the 3rd time he is meant to connect me. The 1st time he never bother to turn up at all. The 2nd time I saw him in the town over the hill where he said he was just going into the store to buy something and then he was coming over to my place no mater what; he never came over at all. So this is the 3rd time and he has this bad fvcking attitude right from the start, I didn't know weather he was coming over to his van over over to me and give me a thump through my open window; he was a nasty piece of shit. I just took a picture of him and sent it to the General Manager, and he has done nothing about it! I am in my 60's on a disability pension for the last 2 decades. I could not stay around as I had to go to the doctors. An hour later, I get an SMS to say the job was done - woo hoo. or so I thought

I get home and do a speed test 6.6Mb/s down & 250kb/s up WTF! I mean WTF! ADSL2+ I ring up and they put me in the on the phone. I am sure old people have super vision eyes as they get older, useless Helstra a tip for, find someone over 40 to read a mobile from a distance, they can't, it is because their eyes is stuffed like ours, just wait until you hit 40, you will go through the same thing

I was on the new for hours trying solve this problem, I told you it was shaped or something like that. You even took 3 hours to transfer me to a level 3 tech because I had morons keep asking me questions, what is the dial-tone like. Hey Helstra, what happens if I didn't have a T1000C? I will let you work it out what it is, you work in the industry.

BTW, I got a call Monday morning to say they found the fault - woo hoo.
I was signed up to ADSL1 instead of ADSL2+ - boo hoo
The tech put me over to the sales lady who gave me a case number and she said it would be fixed the next day
The next day comes, I get a tech come down for a visit to see what the problem is - WTF! The problem is someone lost their balls or it their chin, I get the 2 confused; or is it both
I checked the speed after they put me onto ADSL2+ 13 down and 1 up maybe I should tell you I live 1100 metres from the exchange
I gave the tech a present for making the trip and I said while he is here, could he check out the line while he is here as it was logged a fault last week (I forgot all about it until then)
The tech did find a crook join and he would come back another day as It was getting late to fix the problem permanently
I'll check the download again now 11.6Mb/s and down of 853kb/s I should also point out that I build and fix computers

How is this from the General Manager, "looking at Crowd support it says TELSTRA's ADSL plans provide download speeds of up to a maximum of 8 Mbps, while our ADSL2+ plans provide download speeds of up to a maximum of 20Mbps, however your actual speed will be lower because of many factors that affect broadband performance." Did I mention I was only 1100 metres from a fairly new microwave exchange? And the town I am in has 150 people and Helstra denied me ADSL the last two years is because they checked up in their ivory tower and it says I have no ports open here. I even bribed a king lad to check for ports in the exchange and report back to me and he said there were open ports, but it was not good enough for the fat fvcks in the ivory towers . Early this year it showed open ports on their website, but it was not enough for the fat fvcks in the ivory tower! I was talking to the Jenny, the Post Office lady who says her ADSL is better now that a lot of people left ADSL & joined NBN in the 2 towns next door; but what is your download speed Jenny? Fvcked if I know and I don't know how to check it! I ask this lady who was waiting in line at the post office, if you can call it a line. She said she has ADSL and it is all over the place but when it it good, it is 30 down; she is near the town centre, 2200 metres from the exchange and she gets 30 down - snap. I asked the bloke that holds down the fort at the local internet cafe. What is your ADSL download speed? I don't have it and I don't know anyone who does have it. I pay $90 per month for 13 down and one up and the General Manager reckons I should be happy with that because I am 1100 metres away from a fairly new microwave exchange (it can't be that slow if all this fibre optic comes off it), I say give me what I pay for you overpriced, outsourced piece of …

closed Comments

  • +4

    Why are your post always so long. ;) I thought my NBN HFC was bad. Don't ever trust anyone that says trust me or leave it to me. You should know that by now if you are that wise.

    You aren't friends with Chris by the way. https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/559798

    • Who is Chris? I have no friends & all my family is dead
      It is in my nature to trust people, I can't help it
      Until they do something wrong, then I don't get mad, I just get even

      • You should get to know our Dan the premier. He's all about telling the truth.

        • I was in Victoria for a long time.
          I grew up in Melbourne but moved to East Gippsland for the bush,
          but that was the useless Nationals they had there

          You reckon move back to Melbourne?
          I don't think the cops would want me there

      • I have no friends

        Can't see why, you seem such a lovely person from your replies.

        • We can all vent. I turn into a grumpy old man occasionally. Some may say most days. I'm in Vic so lockdown is taking its toll. My new saying now for 2020 is 'it is what it is' Trying to avoid the news as it was just starting to piss me off. My sister is going through the same stage I was in weeks ago. All her recent messages have been the rid of Dan.

  • +7

    13 Mbps really isn't that bad for ADSL, the cable distance is probably much longer that the straight line distance from the exchange. Telstra are not going to consider a 13Mbps sync speed a fault so you're probably stuck with what you have.

    ADLS2+ caps out at 24Mbps and falls off pretty quickly as you get further away from the exchange, there's no way someone 2200m away is getting a 30Mbps sync speed. She might have NBN FTTN?

    Do you get decent mobile reception? If so 4G is probably going to be much faster than your ADSL.

    • There is no FTTN in our town, only ADSL or skyMuster
      We just got a new mobile tower in town
      It is within 1 kilometre of me, so it stuffed up my TV reception, didn't it
      I download alot. I have a DAS that is 58TB in size
      I thought the Optus $75 for 500GB would be perfect for me, until the speeds were 5Mb/s & falling & falling & falling & falling & falling

  • +6

    Not sure what speeds you're expecting on ADSL2+ or why you think building/fixing computers has anything to do with it. No offence, but it sounds like something someone who doesn't know anything about tech would say to make it sound like they know about tech. ADSL is slow and you're bound to get much better speeds on a generic 4G phone plan. 13Mbps is around what I was getting years ago on ADSL2+ and I'm right next to the exchange in a metro area.

    The biggest mistake here is believing anything Telstra would tell you. $90 a month for an ADSL2+ plan in 2020? They must love you. Why would you even agree to that?
    Also, why would you choose ADSL2 over Skymuster? You'd get better speeds on satellite, heck you'd get better speeds on a generic 4G phone plan. You should just tether your phone.

    • -3

      OK, what else would you do in my shoes?
      Didn't you read the part where it says I hate satellite because of the ping time?
      You totally missed the point about me building comps so I won't waste more time on you about it
      You try telling Woolworth what is the SMTP settings, I have tried for months and they say it is a computer problem; you go and talk to them

  • TL;DR

    • Is John and Betty more your style?

      • Bit too much excitement for me

  • Tldr for you; My ADSL Is Terrible.

  • +2

    You've convinced me to never move to Tasmania, my condolences in your situation.

    • +1

      Funny, Tassie was the first place in Australia that the NBN FTTP rolled out in! It was the test site:)

      How badly crabott screwed it up.

      • Really? Wonder what happened with OP why is he stuck with ADSL, thought NBN Co said they finished upgrading everyone.
        Yes can't believe Malcom and Onion eater had to screw it up for the future.

        NVM saw his got the SatNBN

        • +3

          Really?

          Yes really…… way way back in 2010 Tassie was the first place in OZ to get connected.

          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_National_Broadband_Network#Trial_rollout_in_Tasmania_(2010)

          I think most people will be shocked if they compared the Labour NBN 1.0 plan to what was rolled out in the end. That was meant to be at least 93% of homes connected to FTTP, we got 90% connected to FTTN/C/P the rest on FW/Sat with a lot of them struggling to get 25mbps.

  • +1

    Shame Christopher Bancroft Shame!

  • +3

    You should have voted for ALP, statistically you'd probably have gigabit fiber by now.

    • I always do, what about you?
      And the rest of everyone here?

  • +5

    To save bandwidth, have you considered writing shorter posts?

  • Holy hell old man, calm down. You're getting 13 Mbps, be happy with that. I used to get that in inner city Melbourne where I could have hit the exchange with a well-aimed rock thrown from my garden, literally.

  • I am sick of satellite
    My ADSL Is Terrible

    Joys of crabott NBN 2.x

    Only choice is get a quote to upgrade to FTTP via the NBN TCP program, but that means opening your bank account

    https://www.nbnco.com.au/learn/technology-choice-program

    or move house

    or live with satellite.

    or look at 4g/5g options.

    or just don't use the internet.

    • -1

      and what do you use and how much did it cost?

      • and what do you use and how much did it cost?

        Looks around house, can't see why that matters as you don't live here.

        the house I bought, unseen
        I moved to a bush property

        Honestly, you purchased a place sight unseen without checking the NBN checker app on what type of NBN you will for a place in the 'bush'. Not sure what you had been expecting? 'Bush' internet has been shocking for decades, NBN 1.0 was meant to level this with FTTP everywhere, but thats to crabott, that dream died.

        I'm looking at places in the city and I even check what NBN they have, as its a mix of FTTN/FTTC/HFC and even FTTP.

        If you inspected the place you would most likely have seen the muster dish on the roof or if you used the NBN checker, you would have seen it was satellite.

        There is NOTHING you can do about that now other than the options listed above.

        Pay for a uplift to FTTP or move place or look at other options like 3g/4g/5g.

        ADSL is DEAD, any connections left active are only short term, ADSL will be turned off in a few years. Its not a IF its a WHEN.

        Hint https://www.nbnco.com.au/ enter address, see what the NBN service is listed before moving/buying again.

        • -3

          So you are just a troll

          I buy a house for than just the NBN
          I was told I could get ADSL on the property
          Any more smart arse questions troll?
          You ask about FTTP, don't you read about there are no such things, that is why you are a troll
          ADSL is dead - really. how come TPG has 400,000 of them as customers troll?
          You don't know what you are talking about
          Hint - stop posting here

          • +2

            @the Unforgiven:

            I buy a house for than just the NBN

            Yes if the internet is such an import task for you while 'building' computers, you should have looked to see what type of NBN service you can get for the place you are buying.

            Anyone who 'builds' computers should be well aware there are many different NBN type connections out there and they are all not equal.

            I was told I could get ADSL on the property

            But you have ADSL on now, so you got what you had been advised, but it is not 'good' enough for you.

            You ask about FTTP, don't you read about there are no such things, that is why you are a troll

            WTF you think FTTP isn't a thing? Well that explains a LOT.

            As I said in the first post that, NBN TCP will give you a quote to upgrade to FTTP. I even gave you a link to the program, but appears that was too hard for you to click on.

            Hint - stop posting here

            Grow up

            You have been given options to your issue. Just because you don't like them, it isn't our problem.

  • -1

    complain to tio and see if you can get a better deal.

    • -1

      why? They have NBN satellite connection at the place. They shouldn't have gotten ADSL in the first place as the place was NBN ready.

      • -1

        You again

        Some towns can co-exist with skyMuster and ADSL, know your facts troll

        hint - leave my post

        • Some towns can co-exist with skyMuster and ADSL,

          Oh yes I must be troll as I'm saying thing your little brain doesn't like to hear.

          But yes, I'm enjoying my 100/40 NBN connection. are you?

          • @JimmyF: Well technically they are correct. https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/internet-landline-services…

            "In fixed wireless areas (unlike other parts of Australia), the copper network is not being switched off and there is no obligation to migrate to the NBN. Even if you decide to migrate to the NBN, there is no obligation to disconnect your voice or ADSL service. If you decide to keep your ADSL service active along with a fixed wireless service, you will need to pay for both."

            https://www.itnews.com.au/news/nbn-co-finally-reveals-satell…

            Most premises in NBN’s fixed wireless and satellite footprints will still have the option of ADSL services, as these do not have to be switched off and migrated to the NBN.

            Basically if you live in nowhere land and there isn't anything else available that is considered a "decent". Then legacy connections can still remain provided there are enough customers bringing in revenue to fix any issues. :)

            • +1

              @penguincat: From my dealings with people with these connections in the past, I think you'll find that only applies to ACTIVE legacy ADSL connections which can be kept. But as the OP didn't have a active legacy connection, so as per my first comment they shouldn't have been able to sign up to ADSL as the property was NBN 'ready'.

              Normally 'new' customers can't sign up to ADSL once the property goes NBN ready, which is why the OP was getting told the exchange was 'full', and why they had so much trouble getting ADSL connected even when the General Manager of Telstra Tasmania was pulling some strings.

              From the article you linked to

              This has seen many towns serviced by ADSL put into NBN's fixed wireless footprint, although the migration rules mean that ADSL remains an option for these users for as long as Telstra keeps this portion of its copper network on.

              How long do you think Telstra will keep this on for?

              If you decide to keep your ADSL service active
              If you choose to stay on an existing ADSL
              there is no obligation to migrate to the NBN

              The ACCC web page talks about if you're a EXISTING customer moving to the NBN…… Nothing about becoming a new customer on ADSL.

              Not going to disagree, some 'areas' have been screwed over by being pushed from ADSL to FW and even Sat, bit like the OP.

  • +1

    low and behold

    FYI it's lo and behold, meaning roughly "look and see".

    It wasn't clear to me whether you ever got the bad join fixed properly. A bad join can definitely knock down your sync speed.

  • She said she has ADSL and it is all over the place but when it it good, it is 30 down; she is near the town centre, 2200 metres from the exchange and she gets 30 down

    WOW pretty impressive speeds considering ADSL2+ speeds max out at 24Mbps….

    • OK, what speed do you have at your place?

  • What does your adsl modem report line stats wise?
    Mainly
    * Line Sync speeds (both maximum and what you sync at.)
    * Signal Attenuation (Measured in dB)
    * SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) (Measured in dB)
    * TX Power Level

    had agents keep asking me questions what is the dial-tone like?

    Did you actually know what they where implying? If a dial tone sounds funny (underwater/echo/static) or in any call it means there is an issue with the line. Which will affect the adsl signal.
    Only you can know what it sounds like. All they can test remotely is upstream (away from your house) not downstream to your house without being in your actual house.
    If you have had a join repaired and it wasn't done correctly then it should make the dial tone sound funny.
    If it sounds normal then it was repaired correctly and there is nothing you or Telstra can do to increase your download speeds.

    https://crowdsupport.telstra.com.au/t5/image/serverpage/imag…
    That shows the max speed and what to expect per distance. That graph is already based on a top quality cables. So that is the absolute max. No so 30Mbit/s at 2200meters as that simply does not exist and never has.

    For the record I have never used adsl2+ as my houses connection. I have used adsl and adsl2+ at 2 houses that where less then 750meters from the exchange. Wasn't my connection so I didn't actually care all that much. One was a 21Mbit/s sync the other nope too long ago.

  • -1

    I don't know how to check all those things you ask, this is the first time I have had ADSL

    The dial tone had an irregular beat for 10 seconds, then stopped; now it is a normal dial tone, but the line is noisy.

    The repairer found a joint needed repairing (I don't know why it wasn't found on the day it was connected last week by the local dude who took an hour to just connect me up at the exchange, or did he do something else?), he did not have time to do a permanent repair, so he is coming back another day. That is why they did a line test and found it noisy. Also the dial tone changed after he did the temporary job on the joint; lucky I gave him a gift before the job :)

    I was thinking if it might be the modem if I can't get past 13 Mb/s, it is just like I as being knobbled, just like when I was on ADSL1 instead of ADSL2+

    I am only relaying what the lady told me, so don't shoot the messenger; shoot the lady

    So by your crowd support graph, I should be getting in the low 20Mb/s download speed, just like I have been saying.
    I kid who took 6 hours to run the line for me early last year told me that it was a good clean line and there was nothing wrong with it, all that needed to be done was connection; but he did not have the paperwork. But that all fell through thanks to Telstra!

    21Mb/s @ 750 metres that is nice speed. what was the upload speed?

    • Upload speed was the typical 1Mbit/s. As adsl upload speed is 1Mbit/s max and drops off slowly over line distance.

      Login page I believe is http://10.0.0.138 for the newer modem or http://192.168.0.1 . Does depend on the modem.
      Normally the logins are Username admin and Password admin or admin and password. Should be on the device itself.

      • I found it under 'http://mymodem/login.htm'
        it is different to the ipconfig days
        I changed the ipv6 settings as it said there was 'no internet connection'
        but I could not access the above URL until I flushed out the DNS, then renewed it

        I could not find the
        '* Line Sync speeds (both maximum and what you sync at.)
        * Signal Attenuation (Measured in dB)
        * SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) (Measured in dB)
        * TX Power Level'
        that you were after in there, sorry
        I even went into advanced settings & had a geek at everything

        I got side tracked with the footy & me buying a 3900XT, then I changed my mind & went for a 3800X

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