Whirlpool

For longer than I can remember now, I have been pestering Telstra to improve the quality of its lines to North Lyneham so that it can receive ADSL services.

For those who are not savvy with Canberra's geography it is about 2km out of Civic (almost a CDB) and 3km from parliament house. And we are unable to get ADSL due to line loses.

Telstra has flatly refused to improve the lines or indicate if there are any plans or timetable to improve the quality of the lines (it is fairly poor for voice as well). They keep sending me literature to sign up for Bigpond ADSL though....Numptys.

They have attempted to sell me on wireless and ISDN - I won't insult anyone in this forum's intelligence by explaining why this is laughable. Suffice to say that I want to use VoIP and probably stream audio from my own server eventually.

What I would like to know is other people who are being flatly now by Telstra. Especially if you are in Lyneham of the ACT.

My address is lyneham.adsl@gmail.com.

Also while we are at it, I am going to insert a poll.

How have you found dealing with Telstra to get ADSL upgraded/installed in your area?

Give Lyneham ADSL writes...

For those who are not savvy with Canberra's geography it is about 2km out of Civic (almost a CDB) and 3km from parliament house. And we are unable to get ADSL due to line loses.

If you're in North Lyneham (the bit north of Ginenderra Drive) then you're about 4K from London Cct and at least 6K and one lake away from parliment house. =)

I'm in the bit of Lyneham opposite Dickson and was on a Telstra ADSL port, now on an Agile/Internode ADSL2 port. I'm happy with the ADSL in Lyneham =)

Do you know if you're on a RIM or other pair gain system? When you put your number into this page, what exchange does it tell you you're on?

I'm in O'Connor, and when I moved into my new house about 3 month ago, I wanted to get Internode ADSL2+ ( On civic exchange ).

I got it all setup with Telstra, had the line activated etc etc... they weren't too bad to deal with, but it turned the line wasn't physically connected to the house, only TransACT cabling was installed.

At that point Telstra became a bit useless, trying to cancel the line etc etc...

But anyway, I'm happy with TransACT, and if you can get it, forget about ADSL and just get the 2MB TransACT connection and go with Velocity. You wont regret it. :)

Grundy writes...

But anyway, I'm happy with TransACT, and if you can get it, forget about ADSL and just get the 2MB TransACT connection and go with Velocity. You wont regret it. :)

I looked closely at doing that 18 months ago when I moved in, but TA wanted $80/mth for the 2MBit link, plus another $X to Velocity for my actual internet connection and data. Internode's ADSL2+ plans worked out both cheaper and faster, even taking into account the $18.50 Telstra line rental. Every time Internode announce something cool (nodephone, premium usenet, annex M) I'm glad I made the choice I did.

Beritknight writes...

but TA wanted $80/mth for the 2MBit link, plus another $X to Velocity for my actual internet connection and data.

Very true, and that's why I was trying to get Internode at my new house, but when it became apparent that the Telstra line wasn't even physically connected, the costs of changing over greatly increased and negated any savings going to ADSL.

I was still in a TransACT contract and would have cancelled, would've needed an ADSL2+ modem, Telstra line setup and rental, ADSL setup and rental... all this easily pushed toward $600+...

So right now I am paying only about $10 more per month than if I was on the Internode plan I wanted, albeit 2Mb instead of 20Mb, but the costs ADSL would have generated just weren't worth it. ;)

Grundy writes...

I was still in a TransACT contract and would have cancelled, would've needed an ADSL2+ modem, Telstra line setup and rental, ADSL setup and rental... all this easily pushed toward $600+...

Yeah, I can see that. I moved with an ADSL modem, so it was just $120-ish for the phone line and $129 for ADSL activation. TA were offering me free setup on a 24 month contract, but I wasn't planning on staying more than 12 months.

My girlfriends home is in the same boat, in North Lyneham on Medworth cr. and constant rejections for ADSL applications.

Would love to get ADSL setup there, as its the best value. owell.

Currently trying to get TransACT setup. Velocity seem to have fairly decent prices.

You need to threaten Telstra with some competition. Something like this might do.

www.onewire.com.au

All you have to do is find some way to threaten them without it being obvious.

I'm in North Lyneham and have been connected to ADSL for many years now. I'm currently on an Agile ADSL2+ port, but because of the distance to the exchange in Braddon, I'm limited to getting about 2mbps down, 700kbps up (using a custom line profile from Internode after experiencing constant dropouts due to a noisy line). I was previously connected to a Telstra port with no problems.

I realise that I'm an exception rather than the norm. I'm using a second phone line which was installed about 10 years ago, which works fine with ADSL. Our primary phone line though has been constantly rejected when applying for ADSL.

12321 writes...

I'm in North Lyneham and have been connected to ADSL for many years now. I'm currently on an Agile ADSL2+ port, but because of the distance to the exchange in Braddon, I'm limited to getting about 2mbps down, 700kbps up

How far are you from Civic Exchange? A friend is almost exactly 5km along the copper from it (in North Lyneham), and has been rejected by a couple of ISPs. Internode wasn't one of them though. By Agile, you mean you have an Internode service?

I realise that I'm an exception rather than the norm. I'm using a second phone line which was installed about 10 years ago, which works fine with ADSL. Our primary phone line though has been constantly rejected when applying for ADSL.

Are you able to explain why this is the case? My friend were thinking about ADSL for a while, but were discouraged by previous rejections and have stuck with dialup. Also, TransACT isn't in their street.

Hey guys.....

Agile do not currently have their own media running out here just yet. I am about to start waging a battle of wills with Telstra.

I am going to start placing signs at the entrances of Cossington Smith Crescent....First step in an attempt to get some recognition of the problem.

Kind regards.

Oh and one other thing. If you are interested in ADSL keep hammering Telstra with phone calls, email capitalsoutheast@countrywide.telstra.com and keep submitting orders through you favourite provider.

I am actually on a continual resubmit with Internode - (not intended to troll here) even though people are bitching about its poor phone times redcently- I have a soft spot for it, will move back to SA eventually and they enable you to resubmit orders easily which get passed automatically through to Telstra.

So cmon North Lyneham join me in my battle of wills......Talk to your neighbours and let them know how shoddy the Telstra service is in our area.

Grrrrrrr writes...

How far are you from Civic Exchange? A friend is almost exactly 5km along the copper from it (in North Lyneham), and has been rejected by a couple of ISPs. Internode wasn't one of them though. By Agile, you mean you have an Internode service?

Yes, I'm with Internode. According to their helpdesk, I'm about 4km from the exchange, but my line is quite noisy.

I can't explain why one phone line in the house is ADSL friendly and the other one isn't - apart from the fact that the ADSL-capable line was installed quite a few years after the other one.

Interesting to hear this.

I am in Watson and when I first applied for ADSL, was told no go, too much line loss (Was connected to the Civic exchange)

Went TransACT for a while (5mb/1mb goodness)

After chatting with those who are in the know, I had my normal Telstra line transposed from the Civic exchange to the Crace exchange, applied for ADSL, succeeded.

I know that parts of Kaleen are also on the Crace exchange.

Might be worth asking to be transposed to another exchange, if possible?

Mosky writes...

After chatting with those who are in the know, I had my normal Telstra line transposed from the Civic exchange to the Crace exchange, applied for ADSL, succeeded.

Who is "in the know" regarding getting a line transposed? IE, who would one ask?

Grrrrrrr writes...

who would one ask

real estate agent?

A further update: I have contacted several local MLA's, as well as the Federal memerbs and senators to bring to their attention the sub standard service telstra provides in this area; quite a few have taken an interest so I would encourage all others who find themselves in an ADSL black spot to do the same.

It is coming up to an election year after all.

Hi,

I am in Hamilton Park off Cossington Smith Cres in NL.
I have been told we are on a Pair Gain System and that ADSL here is never going to happen. Even the caretaker of the complex got Kate Lundy on his side about a year ago but the argument seemed to fall into a black hole. TransACT is also a no go here because the infrastructure couldn't support the cabling.
I am considering trying the old 'order a NPGADSL PSTN line from Telstra' (you can search for various threads on this) to have ADSL delivered over it but until I see some more proof of that working I'm not going to bother forking out the $200 for a new line.
So, yeah I'm up for causing a stir in the neighbourhood, I am always submitting applications through ISPs for ADSL to raise Telstra's awareness of demand in this area.

Grrrrrrr writes...

IE, who would one ask?

Sorry, forgot about this thread.

Ok, I did the ring up Telstra and say "I would like ADSL at my premises and I would like to go on a Telstra plan."

You'll be surprised how far Telstra go to transpose your line if the 'think' they'll get your business!

Seriously, North Lyneham is about the same distance to the Crace exchange then what I am in Watson.

Mosky writes...

Ok, I did the ring up Telstra and say "I would like ADSL at my premises and I would like to go on a Telstra plan."

You just gotta pretend to be really stupid if you try this... Because you gotta be to wanna go on a telstra plan. So if you start talking about transposing your phone line to another exchange they might figure out you're trying to be sneaky.

Walk writes...

Currently trying to get TransACT setup. Velocity seem to have fairly decent prices.

Turns out TransACT is on the street.. but not connected to the townhouses for some reason the teenager who called from TransACT couldn't tell me. So no broadband here. :(

We should all get wireless routers and hook them up and make our own North Lyneham wireless LAN and get some beefy ADSL2 connection from South Lyneham to beam across Ginninderra Dr to get everyone online. *sigh* its a romantic idea but fairly unfeasible.

Hehe...Nice idea Walk.

Watch this space. A mate I work with told me that he heard a politician has released a Press piece about the broadband situation in North Lyneham.

I am still trying to get a swag of correspondence done AND study for my GIAC cert in a fortnight. But I will post back in with a list of legislators who have earnt themselves a big thankyou for stepping up and taking up the casue for us North Lyneham-ites.

Give Lyneham ADSL writes...

Watch this space. A mate I work with told me that he heard a politician has released a Press piece about the broadband situation in North Lyneham.

i think this is what they where referring too.

www.canberraliberals.org...s_detail&ID=6162

Harry

I'm in the same situation.. everyday I walk across Northbourne & _see_ the bloody TransACT building .. & yet I can't get ADSL! WTF?!

I'm really cranky about it. I moved from Gungahlin closer to the city for more amenity. MORE amenity... not less. I'm going to be contacting all these addresses that people have posted up, & 'hassling' Telstra regularly.

Dammit, I'm REALLY cranky about it. I want to start working from home 1 day a week & somehow don't think I can manage that on dial-up. Fools.

BTW, I'm new here... Hi! heheh.. *waves*

<shameless plug>

Can you "see the light" on Mt Ainslie from your house?

If you can, we can probably get you wireless broadband.

If you are interested, please let us know via the link on our home page... the more people who are interested the sooner we can point an antennae in your direction.

</shameless plug>

Kind regards,

Brian Morris
Manager,
NetSpeed.

Hi. I am new here too, and to Canberra; seriously what's with the low(no) tech internet on offer, or am I missing something?

I live DIRECTLY opposite the TransACT building and have been told I *can* get ADSL through them, except they are "full" at the Civic exchange. I was put on a "waiting list" about six weeks ago but when I popped into their shop-front, yesterday, to see how that was progressing I was they don't have a waiting list. I then pointed to the note on their screen (on my phone a/c details) that said something like "would like to be contacted yadda yadda yadda..." and was told: weeeee'll, yeah, we DO take your name and stuff but one here ever looks at it or does anything about it because a) Civic is always 'full' and b) it's a real pain to go through the list to see who might be able to get it because they don't actually list the enquiries by ecxhange (or name) but by date you ring up or something. I found this hard to accept but to his credit the staff member I was talking to showed me the list: 350 enquiries in random order from Phillip to Gunggahlin to Woden etc. (i.e. pointlessly scrambled information).

I REALLY want decent web access at home! So, which ISP should I go with and what will work best, ADSL (or ADSL2+?)? I am in a complex that is not new and "can't have bb" (apparently). I have heard good things about Internode but is their exchange "full" too?

Scarfies writes...

I live DIRECTLY opposite the TransACT building

In which direction? I'm across Northbourne from it (de Burgh st) and I've got ADSL2+ from Internode.

Internode do have available ports in the Civic exchange, so you should be able to get straight on. You might have some trouble if you're on a RIM or other pair gain system, but if your line is direct copper to the exchange then you're all set.

Give Internode a call and discuss it.

Well then, if you're in De Burgh we must be neighbours! I'll give them a call.

Thanks

Hi all. iBurst (Veritel/Bigair) user here. 512/384kpbs 12GB limit @ $64.95/month subscriber. Living in Fernyhough Cres, North Lyneham (NL), just off Cossington Smith Cres (yes... like all NL people).

Firstly, sorry to come late to the party (discussion), but when this thread first started I was undergoing Conveyancing for a new home in NL and was pretty much tied up, so much so as to forgo my senses to consider my Broadband (BB) options in my new home. Unfortunately, based on NL comrades' comment in this thread, it seems that I have fallen into a valley of BB blindspot...!

I'm looking for a faster access than iBurst, but based on the summary of the NL and L(yneham) comrades, it seems that I'm in a hopeless situation...:
Give Lyneham ADSL (lyneham.adsl@gmail.com) - chasing after politicians, any results?
Walk's GF in Medworth Cres - Almost all ADSL application rejected.
Scarfies - Lives near/in De Burgh St, opp to TransACT over NthBourne Ave and yet has woes over ADSL.
Beritknight - Lives in Scarfies neighbourhood yet able to get ADSL2+ from Internode. (what's your speed like?)
Me (Jiv) - 4.85Km from Civic Exchange (based on whereis.com.au) and have been told by Telstra that it can't be done.
Mosky (Watson) - Able to transpose his/her exchange from Civic to Crace (that is one of my wishes! Civic exchange is too far!)

Any progress report, please?

Jiv writes...

- Lives near/in De Burgh St, opp to TransACT over NthBourne Ave and yet has woes over ADSL.

Last I heard from Sarfies he was connected with Internode. The only woes he mentioned above were TransACT being out of ports on their Civic DSLAM. Luckily there are a choice of other ADSL2+ DSLAMs in civic. ADSL1 thru Telstra infrastructure was also a viable option, but when you can get Internode ADSL2+.... =)

Lives in Scarfies neighbourhood yet able to get ADSL2+ from Internode. (what's your speed like?)

I get about 6Mbit.

4.85Km from Civic Exchange (based on whereis.com.au) and have been told by Telstra that it can't be done.

4.5K of copper used to be the old rule of thumb for ADSL1 from Telstra. 4.85K LOS is almost definitely over 6K of copper.

Get a phone line if you don't have one already and apply to Internode. You might not get better than 1500, but it might be better than nothing.

Jiv writes...

Able to transpose his/her exchange from Civic to Crace (that is one of my wishes! Civic exchange is too far!)

Any progress report, please?

Have you asked Telstra for ADSL (without telling them you'll leave straight away for another ISP) and asked them to transpose the line?

I didn't get my friend to ask for transposition (for various reasons) but they may be convinced to try again in a couple of months. In the meanwhile, they have a loan of my iBurst, which gives decent signal strength inside the house.

Jiv,

I'm on Cossington Smith Cres facing the same dilemma.
Can i just ask out of curiosity, what ACTUAL speeds are you getting on your 512k iburst connection as I am considering signing up with them.

Cheers,

Sanjo

Sanjo writes...

Can i just ask out of curiosity, what ACTUAL speeds are you getting on your 512k iburst connection as I am considering signing up with them.

Hi Sanjo.

Firstly, sorry for the late reply. I've been busy with my own ADSL connection, which has come to a DEAD END (this humour is half-intentional in this Crescent suburb).

Telstra has given me the figures (am actually happy with Telstra for offering me the info, and blame the Govts for the slackness in the infrastructure) and have told me that they cannot give me ADSL1. The figure is this: ADSL eligibility is a line with attenuation of 65dB or less. Mine is 69.3dB.

Now, with respect to your question of iBurst (wireless broadbad technology), my top speed is 55KBytes/sec (about 85% of my subscribed 512Kbps). But it all depends on your line of site to the PoP (point of presence) such as the Telstra Tower on Black Mountain, or to Mount Ainslie. I'm in the higher half of Fernyhough Cres, near the Ridge, and I get 80%~100% signal strength (this is important. Sig. strength less than 80% will seriously degrade your downloads).
However, I've been pretty annoyed recently because I can't watch youtube clips in real-time... have to wait for it to download.

More than happy to help a neighbour and lend you my iBurst modem to test speed from your house. Just drop me a WHIM with a number. I'll bring the modem and a laptop to test how well you'll do in your residency.

Still using iBurst on Medworth Cres. here.

bloody sick of it!!!

*cry*