National Broadband Network (NBN) What do you know?

**JDNSW** · 1st November 2016, 02:58 PM

Was in town this morning - went to a bookshop to check on the status of a book I had ordered. Can't do it! NBN installed yesterday, and nothing works (Telstra). They had a non-Telstra expert in while I was there, and the internet was working before I left, but their PABX was still doing strange things. The owner was complaining that he got it at home last week, and his phone has not worked since, and Telstra wants hundreds of dollars to even look at the problem.

John

**incisor** · 3rd November 2016, 08:16 AM

There are known software issues with the latest updates for some of telstra pro modems

Latest update makes VoIP on the analogue ports useless and they have to roll back the update to fix it....

Ask me how I know 😈

**workingonit** · 3rd November 2016, 02:32 PM

Just to relate my elderly mother in laws experience getting NBN, if of value to anyone. Its second hand from my wife who tried to act as intermediary with Telstra.

When lightning takes out the mains power the phone on the old copper system continues to work due to Telstra having backup power. You can make emergency calls.

Although it took some months the NBN was connected to the mother in laws dwelling. The NBN modem hangs off the wall. The phone was then connected to the modem. Phone and internet worked fine.

Advice from a friend says a backup power supply should be considered, particularly with regard to the mother in laws poor health. Friend says without power backup the NBN routed phone will not work when mains power goes down. Why didn't Telstra say this at the time the modem was installed?

Telstra is contacted and install the power backup unit.

With power pack installed the phone is still connected to the modem and works for another 3 days. Then stops altogether.

Wife makes numerous calls to Telstra who cannot say exactly what is happening. At one stage put on hold for two hours.

Complaint centre makes a booking for a technician to visit premises. Techo doesn't turn up. Seems even though the complaint centre booked the techo, someone else in the system has to find a techo, and that didn't happen. More calls and more days of delay finally a techo turns up. Fixes the phone issue in a few seconds by unplugging the phone from the modem and reconnecting it to the power backup!

The mo in law has a failing heart and was without phone for about 5 days and stressed to the max. No amount of discussion on this issue made Telstra respond with urgency. The old dear is now in hospital emergency unit to be seen by cardiac today.

Mobile phone back up for mo in law?! We tried, but in her condition it was all too hard. There is a market for a simple mobile phone for the elderly.

**vnx205** · 3rd November 2016, 03:17 PM

They do exist.
This one is aimed at that market.

http://southernphone.com.au/mobile/p...asytouse-phone

**workingonit** · 3rd November 2016, 03:37 PM

Still too complicated

. Needs to be closer to two cans joined by string to suit my mother in law.

One piece unit, large buttons, topped by small horizontal black and white screen (to match their tv) with magnifying lens.

Options:- punch in a number and press 'call' button, press 'end call' button to end call. Otherwise press 'list of contacts' button, press 'scroll' to find a family member who will talk to them or local CLP member with same views press 'call' button etc.

Special buttons for carer to punch in further list of contacts etc. These could be hidden under a pull out cover.

No texting, no torch, no wifi, no 5 way dongles, no touch screens etc.

Oh, and one red button with a siren they can press when they fall over on the way to McDonalds for the pensioner specials (happened) so someone can appreciate their predicament and alerts ambulance.

Ear speaker component of the phone moulded to fit ear so they are confident that the voice pickup is near mouth and they get it the right way up.

Back to NBN.

I live semi rural Darwin and believe will have a choice of staying on ADSL or going to wireless NBN. Taken us years to get the ADSL working properly. Our neighbour, contractor to Telstra at times, is not sure if he'll move to wireless as he has gone through the long process of getting ADSL to work. He's not glowing about aspects of NBN.

Anyone with experience with wireless ie how is it in storms, cloud, undulating terrain, trees blocking line of site, echo etc.

**vnx205** · 3rd November 2016, 04:16 PM

How about this one then?

http://www.kisaphone.com.au/seniors....FY9hfgodib4O9g
I'm not trying to sell you one. Just trying to be helpful.

**vnx205** · 3rd November 2016, 04:19 PM

Any good ideas here?
https://www.choice.com.au/electronic...es-for-seniors

**workingonit** · 3rd November 2016, 04:50 PM

Thanks vnx205. That KISA phone looks quite interesting. Will tell my wife.

**bee utey** · 3rd November 2016, 05:31 PM

I bought this one

Aspera F24 (3G/Next G, Flip Phone) - Black Gold - Unlocked | eBay

which is so simple to use I can even get my wife to drive it.

**workingonit** · 3rd November 2016, 06:15 PM

Thanks bee uty. Still too complicated. She'd forget its a flip phone and wonder where the numbers have gone.

She could drive a manual vehicle when she was younger. So I argued that if modern kids are skilled with phones but have trouble driving manual vehicles then she should adapt to a phone no problems. Argument didn't work.

Thread: National Broadband Network (NBN) What do you know?

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