Incase you’d missed it, I moved house over the Christmas/New Year period. That’s why I’ve been so
quiet.
As it turns out I’ve moved to an area where getting the level of internet access I require, the same
as I had previously – 40Gb/month for ~$80/month at ADSL2+ speed – is impossible. This besides my
calling my then ISP, Adam Internet, as well as the one I was looking at moving to, Internode, and
asking that I would be able to get a connection at my new house.
As it turns out I am on a Telstra RIM Exchange. Evidently this means I can oly get ADSL1 service.
This would be okay by me, however I can’t even get that due to there being NO PORTS AVAILABLE. Now,
no other ISP has equipment at my exchange, so that’s out, and anyone wanting to sell me an ADSL
connection has to use the Telstra infrastructure – that’s right, the one with NO PORTS AVAILABLE! I’ve tried. And all the ISP can do is submit a request for a connection, and be refused.
Turning to Twitter, I contacted @Bigpondteam who, while attentive, just confirmed there is actually NO PORTS AVAILABLE.
Before you ask, no I didn’t move to the country, I moved to a Northern Suburb of Adelaide.
So, I called the Telecommunications Ombudsman (TIO), who was sympathetic, took my details, and informed me that there’s nothing they could do. They have no power to control infrastructure, and there’s no priority list or semblence of order or system to getting onto any port if or when one becomes available. They did suggest I should talk to the Broadand Guarantee people at the Department for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (DCITA). DCITA were very helpful, but ineffective.
As it turns out anyone, regardless of location, is eligible for a Govt. grant to install a Satellite connection if they are unable to get what is termed a “metro-comparable broadband service”. Quoting from the letter received from DCITA:
“A metro-comparable broadband service is defined as any service that offers a minimum 512kbps download and 128kbps upload data speed, 3GB per month data usage at a total cost of $2,500 (GST inclusive) over three years (including installation and connection fees)”.
Well aside of entering into any argument about how ludicrous it is to call that “broadband” – I;’m still left seeking a viable, long term connection. I am able to use wireless from a myriad of providers, however none offer the data allowance I require at anything like the cost of a fixed line.
Telstra wireless offer me 10Gb for $130/mnth – 1/4 data of what I had at 1/3 speed for 150% more cost.
I can actually get the 40Gb/mnth I want from Broadband Anywhere – at 50% more cost and only 1024kps download speed; with a ~$800 setup cost if I don’t want a 3 year contract.
I did actually come up with a plan to circumvent all this. It involves installing a ADSL service at a friend’s place, 5km away, who’s on a different exchange, and erecting two 14m high towers with high gain directional antennas, one at my mate’s place, one at mine, and beam the service to me. I’d consider it a better use of ~$800 setup fee – but while others have had similar links do 10km range, there’s no telling it’d work for me. Meanwhile I’ve contacted the air-stream wireless network community to see if I can get any help with wireless from that direction, and am awaiting a reply.
So, here I am, stuck, not quite knowing to take the rock or the hard place, using a Vodafone wireless connection device borrowed from a workmate, costing $40 for my 5Gb / month….connecting and disconnecting….and counting every Byte.
Dave
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