Almost a year ago (17/3/06) we received this email from Amnet:

The wait is finally over! Get ready to upgrade your broadband service onto Amcom’s own DSL infrastructure, delivering to you:

<snip>

From 23/05/2006, your service will automatically be upgraded to a plan delivered across our next generation network, which is ADSL 2+ ready!

Then in May 2006 we received this:

The last time we contacted you, we announced our plan to upgrade your service to Amcom’s own DSL infrastructure. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control (capacity within the Telstra exchange) we will be unable to complete the upgrade at this time.

At this stage, we do not have a committed time frame to complete the infrastructure works. We will continually monitor the situation and will keep you fully informed.

Its now March 2007 and we're still stuck on 1500/256 on the Mount Hawthorn exchange.

Does anyone know if this is ever going to get done? I'd switch to iiNet but I believe they don't have ports either.

Any other alternatives?

Hey Paul, I'm also on the Mt Hawth exch and just churned from Wild (got out in time!) on the strength of the same email. To their credit, even without adsl 2 I'm still better off here with the discounted rate while waiting. I went down the iinet path as well (as they're the only other choice for 2+ at the moment). Every couple of days iinet say there is a spot available (which would be great at (upto) 20x the speed and more than double the download for same price), but when you ring up and get a helpful (talkative) person, they say something along the lines of there's only one spot and it will probably be reserved for a current member's upgrade, but you're welcome to apply for it. The problem is it takes a week to process and only at the end of the week do you find out if you've got it or not. On the whole I found the iinet people to be pretty unhelpful and not very interested, unlike amnet, which is why I went the way I did. Hopefully amnet will bring their plans (downloads) in line with iinet. I think Perth people would rather support a Perth company, so for most, it's a choice of these two.

Hi Paul

We are stuck in the queue to get our equipment in the exchange. There is a carrier in front of us and has been there for a long long time. If IInet/Chime don't have ports then I suspect they are behind us in the queue.

We are pushing and escalating as hard as possible to get Mt Hawthorn resolved.

Kind regards

Kelly French
amcom/amnet

There are alot of service vehicles there this morning! OOOOO, maybe something's happening! I'd heard they'd physically run out of space and needed to build a new area.

fwick writes...

they say something along the lines of there's only one spot and it will probably be reserved for a current member's upgrade, but you're welcome to apply for it.

I think someone may have got their wires crossed or has slightly misunderstood some training.

If it says there is a port free, it's free - not reserved.

The problem is it takes a week to process and only at the end of the week do you find out if you've got it or not

Immediately after submitting your application the CSR can check if the port has been reserved for you.

So if you don't get the 2+ port, can you un-apply? or can you say I only want it if I can get 2+?

Adam Wale writes...

misunderstood some training

Being a stickler for standardisation, there doesn't seem to be any on the phones. I have been casually observing the vacancies here for a good while now and have often seen spare ports. But when I ring up I have been told a few times by your CSRs (didn't record names sorry) don't even worry about it, they'd be reserved for a migration for current customers, or, by the time your application goes through it'll be too late. If I'd ever thought i'd be able to find out straight away, I'd have gone to ii long ago, but one of your CSRs even said (about 2 weeks ago), it's all too much trouble at the moment, why don't you leave it until after April, then there should be lots of ports available.

fwick writes...

So if you don't get the 2+ port, can you un-apply? or can you say I only want it if I can get 2+?

If you're offered a broadband2+ plan on the second page of your application and then later get told sorry no ports available, then yes you're given the option of continuing as an adsl1 customer or canceling the application.

they'd be reserved for a migration for current customers

*sigh* I'll try getting a mass email sent around with info about this.

Thanks for your replies Adam.

This relates to my work account as I already use iiNet at home. Seeing as we don't want lose our Internet, we'd just apply on one of our other phone lines so there was no changeover period. Is there any procedure you'd recommend for applying (or timing our application) so that we could be sure of getting a 2+ port?

Ok.. This thread is now off topic for Amnet.

What's the Amnet building in Osborne Park? Call centre? Data centre?

I bet they've got a truckload of bandwidth there. Perhaps they can turn on a wireless AP for me (I'm just down the road) until ADSL2+ happens ;)

Its now been 6 months since I made this post and 15 months since the target switchover date.

Surely it can't take that long to add more ports to an exchange?

Do any of the Amnet reps have any updates on this?

Paul Walker writes...

Surely it can't take that long to add more ports to an exchange?

Part of the problem with Mt Hawthorn exchange is the physical size of the exchange.

I have kept up watching closely to information regarding this exchange. If you hear anything further please post.

Last i heard is the plans are waiting for telstra's approval

Antony N. Lord writes...

What's the Amnet building in Osborne Park? Call centre? Data centre?

If you are talking about the Amcom building on King Edward road then that would be both a data centre and an office for the fibre operations team.

Hello,

At this stage there is no set date for capacity upgrade of the Mt Hawthorn exchange.

Once I have more information I will advise accordingly.

Regards,

- Matthew Murray

Matthew Murray writes...

At this stage there is no set date for capacity upgrade of the Mt Hawthorn exchange.

Could you even give us a broad indication (eg <3 months, 3-6 months etc)? I'm not looking for something to hold you to.

Cheers
Paul

Hello

I am also on the exchange... can one of the amnet reps please ring telstra and say that our customers (amnet customers) are furious and need answers, im not one 2 care about you guys waiting in line, its more who is in there taking so long, because seriously its a joke... (not having a go at amnet because i understand the problem you's are having).

Just a few answers i think would make most of us happy, even if its like they have to build a new wall or what ever then we can understand the main reason of the delay. because this issue has come up several times on the forum.

On a different note, is there a away of just getting more download quota because i dont do much peering in WAIX with out paying an arm and a leg. i do alot of over seas work and sending stuff over. n this is prime time near chrissy ect.

Thanks in advance,
Jason

Hello,

The main issue with the Mt Hawthorn exchange is that it requires a major upgrade to be done by Telstra due to limited copper frame space in the exchange. Until these works are carried out Amcom cannot install extra DSL ports, nor can any other provider.

The next carrier in line is required to carry out these works, but at this stage I believe this has been halted due to the large amount of money involved in the works.

I will try and find out more information about the required works.

No there is other option other then upgrading your plan to increase your download quata limit.

Regards,

- Matthew Murray

Hi Guys

Thank you Matthew Murrey its the type of answer i was looking for, now we have an understanding of the problem that lies behind those walls :P

hope you keep us updated,

Thanks heaps
Jason

Paul's original email suggests to me that the hardware to upgrade the Mt Hawthorn exchange has now been sitting in the store room at Amnet for 2 and a half years...

Is this correct? Surely a better idea would have been to use the hardware in another exchange, improve your customer service, goodwill and GP in that exchange, then when you're finally able to access the Mt Hawthorn exchange, put some nice shiny new gear in there, instead of something thats been collecting dust for several years.

Alternatively... Between Kelley and Matthew's posts on this issue, it appears the following scenario exists

1. There is a queue to access the Mt Hawthorn exchange.
2. Amcom are roughly 2nd in the queue.
3. There is no space to work once you get into the exchange.
4. Convention dictates that the first person who needs to use the space pays for it (sounds like Telstra)
5. The first person in the queue is stalling (and has been for over 2 years) because they don't want to spend the cash on their customers.
6. Amcom and their customers are suffering as a result.

The question I'd be asking is.... Why can't Amcom shove the other carrier out of the way and do the work on the exhange themselves? Surely their customers are worth it?

HighOctanePhotos writes...

The question I'd be asking is.... Why can't Amcom shove the other carrier out of the way and do the work on the exhange themselves? Surely their customers are worth it?

Its a balancing act. It could be hundreds of thousands of dollars to upgrade the exchange.

Imagine it does cost 200k to upgrade the exchange. Over a 3 year period thats an extra 5k per month a company needs to making to cover that cost. Now if that upgrade only gives a company an extra 1000 ports its an extra $5 per month for each of those customers a company might have. And thats assuming you fill all the ports quickly.

Now this happens over multiple exchanges all the time. And its not just MDF space you have to worry about. If equipment increases the load on the aircon or the power pass what is there, you need to pay for the upgrades for that aswell.
So it becomes .. $2 here.. $4 there. $6 over there.

If everybody was willing to pay an extra few $$ per month and stay with a company for a few years then a lot more exchanges would have been done by a lot of carriers but the market is price driven. People jump ship for less than $5 per month.

Also Telstra are allow to say an exchange is full. That is nobody is allow to put more equipment in the exchange. In the case of Mt Hawthorn while there has been plenty of TEBA space there isnt the MDF space.
Why do you think fibre to the node is such a big deal. Telstra wants to move the copper out to nodes so they dont even have to upgrade the exchanges themselves cause if they do then other carriers can play aswell.

Like I said. Its all a balancing act.

Kels

I'm a little over this problem too considering the time period involved. I originally churned from another ISP to Amnet because of the fact that the Mt Hawthorn Exchange was an 'Amnet Enabled' exchange because it said so on their website:

www.amnet.com.au/DSLEnab...s.aspx?MenuID=15

Only to find out after the fact that the faster speeds (one of the main reasons for churning) were not available to me as all the ports were filled. I voiced the concern over the misleading information on the website to Amnet a number of times over the phone and email, even saying that a possible solution would be to say that all ports are full on the page instead of just saying the exchange is enabled. But here we are close to 2yrs after churning, and having a spot in the queue to be moved to a faster port and I'm still sitting on the end of a non-enabled port.

Extremely frustrating to say the least, maybe Matthew can explain why the website is still displaying possibly misleading information.

Cheers
Brendan

VSPEC32 writes...

, and having a spot in the queue to be moved to a faster port and I'm still sitting on the end of a non-enabled port.

You're in a queue? I didn't know they had implemented one. This July post indicated there would be one, but no announcement forthcoming that it had been created.
I applied last November for an enabled Hamersley port - out of luck, they were full (well, Sales said plenty were available, but full according to Provisioning), so they put me on a 1.5Mbps wholesale port. I'm in a similar boat to you, relying on an upgrade to Hamersley that is to happen sometime in 2007 (as stated by provisioning last November) and wait for mass-migration.

Hi guys

There is a lot of people on the mt hawthorn exchange, that want the upgrade, making a partition to get it upgraded would work? or maybe we can all flood telstra with emails saying upgrade the mt hawthorn exchange? because amnet don't give a shit about us having slow internet saying there is nothing that they can do about it should we try and do something?

This isnt amnets fault.. with saying that they didn't really help saying that the exchange is enabled... that was the reason i changed to amnet as well...

Yer i got told there was a queue as well and i have been with amnet for about 2 years now as well.

Thanks
Jason

making a partition to get it upgraded would work? or maybe we can all flood telstra with emails saying upgrade the mt hawthorn exchange?
petition ffs, it's not hard

Saying what? "Hey Telstra, spend $100k so all your competitors can get more customers."?

Hey look, a lead balloon...

enigma2k2 writes...

making a partition to get it upgraded

Maybe if it is a space problem at the exchange, we could all go down there and help them put in the partition! ;)

fwick writes...

Maybe if it is a space problem at the exchange, we could all go down there and help them put in the partition! ;)

There is a little more to an exchange to a partition..

If space is at a premium in the exchange why would Telstra want to fork out the required money to upgrade the exchange so that competitors can make use of the new space (Not that im saying I support this stance)?

If anything I would imagine that Telstra have said to those ISP's who are seeking access to the exchange that if they want to expand the services they have on offer in the exchange then they can pay for the upgrade (Telstra would still own the space naturally).

Now we have the situation where costs have to be divided between each respective party, who gets access to the exchange and you still need to gain a guarentee of some sort from Telstra that you will have use of the extended space and it won't be used for Telstra purposes.

Suffice to say there is a little more to it then just proping up a partition, putting in some unistrut and bolting in a DSLAM :)

Grumpy_Geoff writes...

You're in a queue? I didn't know they had implemented one.

Well it's a queue of sorts in that I've filled out an 'amnet plan upgrade' form, and send it back hoping that it will be put into some sort of file where if (ever) someone leaves the Mt Hawthorn exchange and gives up their 'enabled' port, then they'll pick the next person off the top (or bottom) of the pile and swap them over to it. This of course would all need to be in a vacuum for it to work as it does in the text book *sarcasm*.

It still doesn't get them off the hook for having misleading information on their web site as if they say that an exchange is enabled, one would assume that it means they have them available (of course when you assume, it just makes an 'ass' out of 'u' and 'me').

Cheers
Brendan

VSPEC32 writes...

This of course would all need to be in a vacuum for it to work as it does in the text book.

What text book would that be? I think you're reading a different one to the rest of us...

sonic087 writes...

There is a little more to an exchange to a partition..

*sigh* never mind... it was wasted on you....

I wish I found this thread before.
I moved into the mount hawthorn area in february. I applied to amnet back then because they advertised as adsl2 enabled.
After getting nowhere with them, I dropped them and went with adsl 1500 on internode.
A few weeks back I was called by an amnet rep who told me adsl2 was now available, as I was out of contract with internode I cancelled that service and signed up for a adsl2 connection with anmet, which got rejected.
And only now I find out that they never have and probably never will have adsl2 ports available at the exchange.
FFS I'm pissed off, this cost me a lot of money in setup fees for nothing!

fo3 writes...

A few weeks back I was called by an amnet rep who told me adsl2 was now available,

Sounds like you would have grounds for an official complaint and the right to seek compensation from Amnet.

Yeah, it's annoying that they called me out of the blue eight months later and said they were processing my adsl2 application.
I honestly thought they were calling me because they finally did the upgrade and had available ports. I made no commitment then because I still had a month to go on the internode contract.
When I finally got around to churning and they rejected it, I wasn't that annoyed at them, thinking I left it too long and it was my fault.
But now I find this thread with people saying they've been with amnet at Mt Hawthorn and have been waiting in "queue" for ages, I know I was conned.
There hasn't been an upgrade and they didn't have the sevice they were basically cold calling me to get (I emailed them and said not to bother after getting no ADSL2 connection in february)
Amnet want a 2 year or $200 commitment from people signing up, for a service it sounds like they can't provide.
OK, I get it, it's not their fault they can't provide it, but it's their fault they are promoting it, trying to sign people up for a non existant service.
Right now I'm in dial up purgatory* , using their service to try get some email response from them, no luck so foar, but it's only been the weekend.
What I want to know from them is it ever going to get upgraded?
I have a right to know, because they want a $200 or 2 year commitment from me. It's not fair to sign up for ADSL2 only to get a 1500/256 plan for that price if it's never going to happen. Other adsl 1500 providers charge half that for set up fees.
And does that 2 year/$200 setup contract start at that connection speed, or only when they finally get you on adsl2?
I also want to know if they are going to honour the same download limit that you signed up for adls2 , or if they reserve the right to change that.

* thanks whirlpool for having one of the few sites on the net that actually works at dialup speed, most are so full of google adds and other stuff that they time out before dialup loads :(

Paul Walker writes...

Sounds like you would have grounds for an official complaint and the right to seek compensation from Amnet.

Why? Didn't they tell you they were out of ports, and offered to put you on a Telstra one at a cheaper price until it was upgraded? I also imagine they gave you no firm timeframe for the upgrade. (and no, "In the next month or so" is NOT a firm timeframe.) You took the offer. Yes, maybe it was on the misguided understanding that things happen rapidly in the telecommunications business, but that's the telecommunications business.

In any case, iiNet's probably having capacity problems there as well, for exactly the same reasons, so you'd probably end up on a TW port anyway. You're getting it at a decent price, so why are you complaining about it, again?

lightguard writes...

Why? Didn't they tell you they were out of ports, and offered to put you on a Telstra one at a cheaper price until it was upgraded? I also imagine they gave you no firm timeframe for the upgrade. (and no, "In the next month or so" is NOT a firm timeframe.) You took the offer. Yes, maybe it was on the misguided understanding that things happen rapidly in the telecommunications business, but that's the telecommunications business.

In any case, iiNet's probably having capacity problems there as well, for exactly the same reasons, so you'd probably end up on a TW port anyway. You're getting it at a decent price, so why are you complaining about it, again?
Comprehension isn't your strong point is it?
I have not taken that offer, because I don't know if they still want a $200 set up or two year commitment for that adsl 1500.
I was cold called 8 months after the orignal application saying that they can connect me to adsl2, on that basis I cancelled internode and applied to amnet. They didn't tell my they were out of ports until I cancelled internode, so no matter where I go now I have to pay someone setup fees.
At first I wasn't that pissed off, thinking it was me that left it too late, that I shouldn't have cancelled internode until I got definite adsl2.
But now I am annoyed because there doesn't seem a chance of adsl2 any time in the future, and I was cold called and conned by a sales rep phoning me offering adsl2 in the first place.

lightguard writes...

Yes, maybe it was on the misguided understanding that things happen rapidly in the telecommunications business, but that's the telecommunications business.

Eh?

Two Amnet reps in this thread have stated that they have no ETA for getting ports at Mt Hawthorn, and they said so about 3-4 weeks ago when fo3 said he was called saying ports were available. Internal communication problems are one thing, but this guy's now out of pocket and out of internet because someone flat-out lied to him.

fo3 - I'd be chasing this one as hard as you can. Having your connection fee paid to reconnect to Internode would be suitable, IMO.

Who was the sales person that called you?

I don't know who phoned, but I asked them to email me the application. The email sent was from tim deng

sorry to hear about this fo3. it really isn't acceptable.

And even after speaking to Amnet on the phone (don't ask me to remember who it was) and emailing them, plus this thread, they still have the 'Enabled Exchanges' page saying that ADSL2 is 'Supported entirely by exchange'.

www.amnet.com.au/DSLEnab...s.aspx?MenuID=15

Now this is probably true to an extent, but when you look at their home page and it advertises that ADSL+ is available on amcom exchanges, it's clearly misleading. It would only take a 15min max edit to the page to put something different in there like 'All Ports full until further notice'.

Arghh. I give up...but I have no choice.

It would be nice to get a reply from amnet, I emailed them friday and again miday today, and I have not heard back from them.

edit:
It's pretty ridiculous that they still haven't replied to two emails sent regarding getting adsl. It's now wednesday night, and I sent my first email on friday, my second on tuesday at noon.

Even a reply on this thread would be good, since presumably all the other amnet/mt hawthorn/whirlpool people come here........(that was a hint)......especially all the others who were taken in under the 'promise' of pending 2+...(another hint).....

They're not answering any questions I send regarding any issues. They are definitely getting them though, on thursday they responded to my second email and said they would connect me this week.

Though on saturday they sent me out a invoice for a $199 adsl2 modem. I ordered this modem originally when I thought I was getting adsl2. On my second email after it was clear adsl2 no ports were available, I asked to cancel that modem as I have no need for it then.
Again no response to that request. All i'm getting is pre filled form type email responses and no communication in regards to any questions answered.

Fwick/Fo3,

I have sent you a whim requesting some information so I can chase this up for you.

Regards
Ray

Hi Ray, thanks for that reply, no whim as yet from you. I'm not awfully fussed. On the whole Amnet has been a great connection. It just would be nice to know what is going on, if we should still hold out hope for ADSL2+ or ...... not.

Ray @ Amnet writes...

I have sent you a whim requesting some information so I can chase this up for you.

The optimist in me thinks we have a new rep. The cynical interweb veteran in me sees someone with one post and no rep tag asking for customer information. :)

*prods Ray with a sharp stick*

Paul Dowling writes...

The optimist in me thinks we have a new rep.

May be. I wont exactly put my hand up for the job.

I have just taken over from Kelly and currently I have my hands full coming up to speed with how things work here - not that there are any problems - just want to learn how it is all put together.

I do keep an eye on the Amnet forum however, and will jump in if I think it needs it.

Ray @ Amnet writes...

I have just taken over from Kelly

be careful what you wish for.....

fwick writes...

be careful what you wish for.....

hmm a never ending packet of tim tams?

Paul Dowling writes...

The optimist in me thinks we have a new rep. The cynical interweb veteran in me sees someone with one post and no rep tag asking for customer information. :)

well its better than nothing

*prods Ray with a sharp stick*

You might have to do that a few times to get a reaction. :)

Kels writes...

well its better than nothing

Identity theft vs navigating the minefield of Amnet support....hmm, tough call. :)

they will prolly get their rep status in a few days, Mods do take their time these days :S

Some Good News:

Amcom have progressed to the front of the queue for access to the Mount Hawthorn Exchange.

Investigations are currently underway into the feasability of increasing Amcom's capactity in the exchange.

Unfortunately, at this stage I don’t have any timeframes but will do my best to keep you all informed with any progress which is made.

Ray @ Amnet writes...

Some Good News:

Amcom have progressed to the front of the queue for access to the Mount Hawthorn Exchange.


Cheers for the update Ray.

Does it mean that you now need to investigate the costs involved and determine if its worthwhile or does it mean something else?

Paul Walker writes...

Does it mean that you now need to investigate the costs involved and determine if its worthwhile or does it mean something else?

All of the above and more. :)

Ray @ Amnet writes...

Investigations are currently underway into the feasability of increasing Amcom's capactity in the exchange.

Does that mean you are investigating whether it's worth Amnet keeping their promise to us?

Matthew Murray writes...

The main issue with the Mt Hawthorn exchange is that it requires a major upgrade to be done by Telstra due to limited copper frame space in the exchange. Until these works are carried out Amcom cannot install extra DSL ports, nor can any other provider.

The next carrier in line is required to carry out these works

So does this mean that the works are now done? Or has the carrier who was at the top of the list forfeited their position to Amnet and left without doing anything?

Hi Guys

So is there hope in seeing adsl 2+ in the near future im talking end of the year?? i was just about to ring people telecom to get 8mbit with them with free waix, so if you think you guy are acually going 2 do the upgrade i will stay with amnet, btw thanks ray for giving us some useful information see if u can push 2 get the works done :}

Thanks
En|gMa2k2

Anything after a week (and 18months)?

ray update please :)

Here's your update: Nothing has (probably) happened. Geez, it's been less than two weeks! What the hell do you think has happened?

lightguard writes...

What the hell do you think has happened?

Only what we're told...

The wait is finally over! Get ready to upgrade your broadband service onto Amcom’s own DSL infrastructure

Oh no, wait, that was from 17/03/06, sorry.

</cynicism>

I should at this point say that I am very happy that I decided to churn away from Amnet when the uncertainty over the Mt Hawthorn exchange first surfaced last June. Cruising at 19Mb/s.

sladflob writes...

I should at this point say that I am very happy that I decided to churn away from Amnet when the uncertainty over the Mt Hawthorn exchange first surfaced last June. Cruising at 19Mb/s.

That should be "feel lucky to churn to someone who still had an available ADSL2+ port at Mt Hawthorn"

You don't think Amnet would love to have more ports?

FostWare writes...

You don't think Amnet would love to have more ports?

I'm sure they would and I would have loved to have stayed with them (I'd been with them for years from the Arachnet days) but in the end they couldn't help me or even tell me when/if they could help me. Sure it's not their fault but perhaps if a few more people vote with their feet then they might be more motivated to put pressure on Telstra/other telcos to get things done.

sladflob writes...

I should at this point say that I am very happy that I decided to churn away from Amnet when the uncertainty over the Mt Hawthorn exchange first surfaced last June. Cruising at 19Mb/s.

Show off!

If we did vote with our feet, then there would be no pressure to get more spots, all the whiners would have gone, end of problem for Amnet, actually, end of problem for everyone....Hmmm, not a bad idea......

The silence is deafening from Amnet's end!

sladflob writes...

Sure it's not their fault but perhaps if a few more people vote with their feet then they might be more motivated to put pressure on Telstra/other telcos to get things done.

yeah right.

"Hi Optus/Telstra/Internode/IInet/whoe­ ver. You are stopping us from being able to sell more ADSL 2+ to your customers. Can you please hurry up and finish so we can poach your client base "

Amcom will be putting as much pressure as they can to get things done. If there is no choice but to build a brand new MDF in the exchange we are talking big bucks at the end of the day, its not a split second decision.

Kels

double post

Oooooh. A voice from the other side.
No it's not a split second decision. Well obviously, and they have had a gooooood long while to think about it, I guess the feeling is that maybe they should have thought about it before they offered connections pending the imminent (ish) transfer to 2+.
At least we're getting closer to a comment from Amcom. A bit poor when an ex-amcom has to answer on their behalf (no offence to you Kelly, I guess it just shows how hard it is to fill your shoes...) Thanks for the effort.

fwick writes...

(no offence to you Kelly, I guess it just shows how hard it is to fill your shoes...)

But them only small shoes. Cant be that hard. Didnt do much up there. Paul has already proven that in a different post.

No it's not a split second decision. Well obviously, and they have had a gooooood long while to think about it,

No it doesnt work like that. Lets say you are 5th in the queue. You need to wait sometimes for all the people in front of you to complete the work before you can even go in and plan. You never really do know whats been done until its all completed and its your turn to go in. ie You might find that there was plenty of UPS and air con last time you were in there but if the previous 2 carriers just dropped in 20 racks of equipment each you suddenly find there is none.

I guess the feeling is that maybe they should have thought about it before they offered connections pending the imminent (ish) transfer to 2+.

At the time it was thought it was only going to be a few months before everything was done. You give an ETA and you blow it you get burnt. If you dont tell people anything you get burnt. At the time People wanted ETA's

Kels

Kels writes...

You give an ETA and you blow it you get burnt. If you dont tell people anything you get burnt. At the time People wanted ETA's

That's going to happen in what sounds like a generally f*cked situation. The bottom line seems to be that demand for ADSL2+ ports has outstripped supply, and increasing supply seems incredibly hard, so something has to give. Of course I don't believe you'll be able to hurry up the ISPs ahead of you in the queue by telling them that you're suffering, but as an overall force for change I can't see any better incentive for ISPs than when they start to lose customers. Or to look at it another way, if everyone put up and shut up and stayed with their ISPs through thick and thin (but of course did a fair bit of whinging on Whirlpool in the meantime) then do you think anything would ever improve?

At the time I pressed you and you eventually told me there was no ETA, which reading between the lines sounded like "we don't know exactly how long but it's probably going to be a long time". I appreciated your honesty but ultimately needed to do what was best for me. I took my chances and decided to go elsewhere and I was lucky - this time.

any news amnet?

Hello,

As was stated previously in this thread there is no current ETA when upgrade works will be done or completed for the Mt Hawthorn exchange. At this stage the exchange is at capacity and users are being migrated as ports become available.

Once a date has been confirmed for upgrade works all users who are currently waiting on migration to enabled ports will be notified.

Unfortunately at this stage the MDF in the exchange is full.

Regards,

- Matthew Murray

Finally got ADSL2 + on Mount Hawthorn…… I Moved to Iinet, it’s easy and takes 5 days with no downtime

Just check the IInet BB checker every morning and when it says its available but theres only a few places left, give them a ring and in no more than 5 days you will have ADSL2 and its only costs $39 for the Churn… but do it just before the start of the month so Amnet don’t charge you for the next month :P

Bye Amnet

NeMeSiS writes...

Finally got ADSL2 + on Mount Hawthorn…… I Moved to Iinet, it’s easy and takes 5 days with no downtime

Welcome to the Borg...

Matthew Murray writes...

users are being migrated as ports become available.

which users?

fwick writes...

which users?

That's a really good question. My work has been with Arachnet since August 2003. I hope they prioritise on those that have waited the longest.

I would dearly love to stay with Amnet, but years is too long to wait in this game. Months is too long!
I, like many was lured to Amnet with the promise of 'imminent' ADSL2+ years ago, but who knows where it is? And that is the problem, they won't say. I know, maybe they can't, but even if they said, 6mnths you will have it, then great! At least you know. I don't like ii, but they do say....join up, come over, you can have 2+ right now for the same price as you are paying now on boring ADSL, or now you get 10Gb, we'll give you 20Gb, double, at 2+ speeds, for $4 more per month......

COME ON AMNET!!!! HOW MANY CHANCES DO YOU NEED TO KEEP CUSTOMERS???!!!

I really want to stay, but you just don't get it, do you???? Look at your competition! What you promised me ages ago, I can get better (twice as good) right now with ii.....

Well.....?

Tel me why I should stay.....?

fwick writes...

I really want to stay, but you just don't get it, do you???? Look at your competition! What you promised me ages ago, I can get better (twice as good) right now with ii.....

Seriously, if anyone (this is not just for fwick) wants ADSL2 in Mt Hawthorn, common sense would say you're only going to get it from people who already have infrastructure in the exchange and have the much sort-after spare ports already.

You may need to bite the bullet and signup with iiNet or Netspace (according to adsl2exchanges.com.au) regardless or whether you like them or not... otherwise you'll miss out completely.

Needless to say, if you *don't* move iiNet /Netspace will be in the same position as Amnet come a months times....

FostWare writes...

Needless to say, if you *don't* move iiNet /Netspace will be in the same position as Amnet come a months times...

Bingo. Less drama please fwick. Amnet can't give you a port and can't give you an ETA on when you CAN have a port. You must know this, it's been done to death in here. Stop making out like Amnet's your bestest buddy and MOVE, because your only relationship with them is a business one.

Seems telstra must have been up to something at Mt Hawthorn.. not too long ago (about march this year) i remember them being out of ports with a "no eta" on upgrade themselves.... no eta sure sounds like they had space problems too... but a check this morning shows telstra now has "1156" wholesale ports avaliable... not that this helps Amnet in any way but shows someone has been busy at the exchange..

Yammoky writes...

Seems telstra must have been up to something at Mt Hawthorn.. not too long ago (about march this year) i remember them being out of ports with a "no eta" on upgrade themselves.... no eta sure sounds like they had space problems too... but a check this morning shows telstra now has "1156" wholesale ports avaliable... not that this helps Amnet in any way but shows someone has been busy at the exchange..

Telstra are in the middle of a massive network upgrade, they may have upgraded TW equipment to ISAMS, in turn releasing a whole lot of new ports without upgrading the MDF :)

Rumor has it Mt Hawthorn is physically out of space, Telstra have all the space they need so it's upto the ISPs looking for space to fork out the cash to remodel the exchange.

sonic087 writes...

remodel the exchange.

Yeah... and those designers cost a small fortune to put some curtins and some paint up. :)

I believe the only solution will be when useful wireless/cable broadband supplied by a competitor to telstra is available in Mt Hawthorn, and we all stop using amnet/telstra. Unless they both see a loss of market share, there is no real incentive to listen to us carping. our two years contracts are nearing an end and there is nothing else that I can see to do.

Has anyone seen a promotion of such a service?

Hey this is all pretty cathartic, I feel so much better

oldcrow writes...

Unless they both see a loss of market share, there is no real incentive to listen to us carping.

You do realise that Amnet would make more money if you were on an Amnet DSLAM port, rather than paying DSLAM prices while sitting on a Telstra port? There's your incentive right there.

I believe the only solution will be when useful wireless/cable broadband supplied by a competitor to telstra is available in Mt Hawthorn, and we all stop using amnet/telstra

So cable broadband is the answer to the problems in Mt Hawthorn?. How do you figure that?

Kels writes...

Yeah... and those designers cost a small fortune to put some curtins and some paint up. :)

Should really get into that business.. :)

sonic087 writes...

Should really get into that business.. :)

Hey well.... you do already have a macbook pro, possibly with photoshop installed. So your all set then sonic.. :P

Paul Dowling writes...

Stop making out like Amnet's your bestest buddy and MOVE

I think you give me too much credit, it's not that I want to stay for their sake, I'm just so sick of jumping the sinking ISP every 6-12months (not that I'm suggesting Amnet is having any problems at all).

fwick writes...

I'm just so sick of jumping the sinking ISP every 6-12months

So....you're sick of making choices that aren't right for you? That ain't Amnet's fault. The basic reality is that for various reasons they can't give you what you want.

I really want to stay, but you just don't get it, do you???? Look at your competition! What you promised me ages ago, I can get better (twice as good) right now with ii...

Ahh an irrational consumer, the bane of free market capitalism - your provider isn't making you happy, you know another provider who (you think) will, yet you continue to give the first provider money every month.

da Comrade.

No, I don't think ii would make me happy, or I would have gone there in the first place, I feel much more warm and fuzzy where I am, but I want, I want, I want.
Yes I am a consumer, bend to me.

Ahhhh. Feel better now. (for the moment).

Thanks for the dose of reality Paul.

Something strange happened the other day.... I got a call from Westnet saying that the Mt Hawthorn Exchange now had ports available if I was still interested. Considering they lied to me previously and said that I could get ADSL2+ when I applied through them 6 months ago I said "no thanks" as I am now with Amnet. Anyway, I thought that I would be getting a call from Amnet telling me the same thing. But Alas, the call never came........

Westnet probably had a few cancellations; freeing up a few more ports on those Optus DSLAMs :D

VVVV

That's precisely the point I was getting at.

flashman1207 writes...

Anyway, I thought that I would be getting a call from Amnet telling me the same thing. But Alas, the call never came........

As lightguard stated in the above post Westnet do resell their ADSL2/2+ ports through Optus. It is possible that customers have cancelled their service with Westnet or Optus have given them more ports. You will need to contact them to find out exactly why :-)

and here's the bump I was after, thanks Ray@amnet....re exchg upgrade......

This is on the cards. As are upgrades for many of our existing DSLAMS and possibly even some new ones.
The Mt Hawthorn exchange is a difficult one to install additional capacity so this is going to take some time.
No ETA will be given.

I'm a bit disappointed with the process to get connected with Amcom.
Have been trying for the past few weeks, and have held out for the Jan 31st upgrade date to be told that it's been put back a few more weeks.
I got told yesterday from phone support that an upgrade had taken place, but all available ports had been taken by people in a waiting list... I applied for connection weeks ago, and have asked to see if they can tell me where i am on this list, but they can't see the so called list!
The application is in line with the Hopman Cup special, and have been offered the slower adsl1 plan until the upgrade had taken place, then i would be transferred to the faster adsl2 plan. I said i'd be happy with that, and they told me the hopman cup special isn't applicable in the mt hawthorn exchange, as the adsl2 ports wont be available to me. I have called practically every day since then to check for port availablilty, but to no avail.
I am very frustrated with the situation.

Peteski, wait until you've been on the mystery list for over 12mths...it doesn't get any better.

VSPEC32 writes...

Peteski, wait until you've been on the mystery list for over 12mths...it doesn't get any better.

I'm the OP. We've been waiting since May 2006!

ditto

What's an OP?

VSPEC32 writes...

What's an OP?

Original Poster.

What's a BOFH?

fwick writes...

What's a BOFH?

Bastard Operator From Hell

;)

BTW, do you know what has the most impact on ports in Hawthorn? Gravity, any one figures out why they get a fredo!

N+1 writes...

BTW, do you know what has the most impact on ports in Hawthorn? Gravity, any one figures out why they get a fredo!

I know! I know!

Can I get a Freddo? Ill Whim you my address ;)

OK, a clue on the gravity?

And all these people on Maylands exchange showing off!!!! Now that you have finished the upgrade at Maylands.........how 'bout it, huh? None of us on Mt Hawthorn have winged for a while, we've been good, and you guys are sooooo cleaver to upgrade Maylands sooo well and sooo efficiently. How about you just pop into Mt Hawthorn & work your magic, Hmmm?

Can you link us up to the thread on the upgrade?

Forget I said that. I found it.

Any update yet on getting an upgrade to an adsl2 port to which i am entitled to??

Good Luck,
I have been with amnet since arachnet was purchased almost 3 years ago and am still waiting for a adsl2 port.

Peteski writes...

Any update yet on getting an upgrade to an adsl2 port to which i am entitled to??

Hmmm. I just signed up, got the bad news about the exchange being full. Now waiting for an ADSL2+ port :(

I guess