Back after a short hiatus

[JDNSW]

Back at AULRO again this morning. Lunchtime yesterday my ISP apparently had some sort of a meltdown - got cut off and attempts to dial in got a busy signal. After about an hour on the phone, they gave me an alternative (STD) number - this got a message saying that owing to congestion the service to this area was not available - I suspect others were given the same number!

The interesting feature was that if I dialled the number on my mobile, I got a modem not a busy signal, and when I got my son in Yass to try the number, he did too. As per normal, their website 'service status' says no problems reported in the last 24hours, despite their escalating it two levels while I was on the phone! Still out at 10.30 last night, but working again this morning.

This is the same problem I had six weeks ago, which they said was a Telstra problem and both them and Telstra refused to do anything about it, both claiming it was the other's problem. I referred it to the TIO, who said it was the ISP's problem to fix it - they have failed to even get back to me in the time allowed, let alone fixing it. Personally, I think it is a problem with the local Telstra exchange not liking the 'National" dial in number for some reason. I'd change ISPs if I had anything to suggest any of the rest were any better. I am looking at satellite broadband anyway, and my current ISP does not do satellite, so I'll probably change ISPs anyway.

John

[rick130]

have a few friends on satellite and it works OK, except obviously in heavy rain or a storm. A friend who is only about 2.5km as the crow flies from here does all her business over the www, including using skype (or some sort of voice over www) as she is a business coach and satellite works for her.
I would have had to jump that way, too, until we moved closer in. It actually looks like I can get ADSL here....just.
Will more than likely be putting an order in next week to a new ISP.

[Slunnie]

Rick, how far out of town are you?

[rick130]

I would think we're 8km as the crow flies from the exchange, and I found out from a neighbour yesterday that 1500kbs works here. :cool:

[JDNSW]

I would think we're 8km as the crow flies from the exchange, and I found out from a neighbour yesterday that 1500kbs works here. :cool:

I'm nine km from the exchange and are advised that there is no hope here. But it needs pointing out that distance is not the only criterion; it also depends on the type of cable used for the connection - apparently cables laid since the mid nineties give a longer distance, and the condition of the cable (i.e. how many sections have been spliced in and strung along a fence).

John

[rick130]

When we were 30km out we were only 5km from the mini exchange, and we may have been able to get ISDN, (pretty iffy) but there was no way we could get ADSL as the line from Murrurundi exchange (about 28km) was too poor.

We are only a couple of km off the Highway now, and there is always the main north-south fibre optic cable running through the bottom part of this block :twisted:

Bugger fibre to the node, we could go one better :D

[JDNSW]

When we were 30km out we were only 5km from the mini exchange, and we may have been able to get ISDN, (pretty iffy) but there was no way we could get ADSL as the line from Murrurundi exchange (about 28km) was too poor.

We are only a couple of km off the Highway now, and there is always the main north-south fibre optic cable running through the bottom part of this block :twisted:

Bugger fibre to the node, we could go one better :D

Telstra announced the end of ISDN Home in February. They are shutting it off by the end of the year. Of course, you will still be able to get ISDN - at business rates.

Sounds to me as if you need to do some deep chisel ploughing next time you have problems with Telstra?

John

[Scallops]

Back at AULRO again this morning. John

Glad to hear you haven't spend the last period of time stuck in that creek again. :p

[JDNSW]

No internet again this morning. Got onto the ISP when I got home after a trip to town this afternoon. Internet is back, but customer service isn't. Call to their service representative got nowhere, eventually put me on hold for twenty minutes and then hung up on me. An attempt to get through their switchboard got the information that all lines to their complaints department were engaged, but she would ensure somebody called me back - I don't believe her, but what can you do? (The case was referred to the TIO a month ago, does not seem to have helped any - my ISP just ignores what they say).

I am convinced that the actual problem is with Telstra equipment (probably a software bug), but Telstra refuses to accept a fault from me, insists that it has to come through my ISP.

John

[incisor]

the TIO has a few good powers but its biggest power is in the way it charges.

each complaint ensures the isp pays a somewhat higher percentage fee in annual charges that the tio spend and recoupes from member isps.

the isp in your case is stuck be between a rock and a hard place it would seem to me.

and the isp cant go telstra as the tio doesnt do wholesale issues, oh and did i mention telsra has a big say in the makeup and running of the board ...

the whole thing is a rort imho

thats no excuse for poor customer service tho from the isp ... i imagine they are being swamped ....

[JDNSW]

the TIO has a few good powers but its biggest power is in the way it charges.

each complaint ensures the isp pays a somewhat higher percentage fee in annual charges that the tio spend and recoupes from member isps.

the isp in your case is stuck be between a rock and a hard place it would seem to me.

and the isp cant go telstra as the tio doesnt do wholesale issues, oh and did i mention telsra has a big say in the makeup and running of the board ...

the whole thing is a rort imho

thats no excuse for poor customer service tho from the isp ... i imagine they are being swamped ....

Thanks for your enlightening explanation. If, as I suspect, the problem is a Telstra issue (my reason for thinking this is that it is a national dial-in number - presumably the local exchange must have some way of recognising this - and when it has been not working from either of my landlines (engaged signal), it does work (get a modem sound) from either my mobile or when my son in Yass dials it), then my ISP is, as you say, between a rock and a hard place - they can't fix it themselves, because it is a Telstra problem, but they are getting penalised for not fixing it.

John