The following is an "email to the editor" in the lastest issue of Australian PC User magazine:
"Broadband Blues
My wife and I recently moved to a new housing estate in Brisbane. I was quite keen to get the PC connected to the Net, but since this is a new house, I had to wait a while to get the phone lines connected.
Two weeks later, the Telstra tech had completed the final connection, and before he left, I asked him what download speeds I might achieve with the new underground wiring. Thinking that I would get high speeds, I was shocked when he told me that speeds may not be that good. I tried it out and sure enough, dialup speeds are in the low 40Kbps range.
Not wanting to put up with this, I enquired about ADSL to my home. The tech again shook his head and explained the connection box out the front used a fibre optic cable back to the exchange and doesn't support ADSL! I asked about broadband cable and Foxtel as well, but I was told no, because Telstra doesn't make enough profit out of the new housing estates to put cable in.
Telstra is pushing broadband Internet so that we can all 'experience the revolution'. I have, and it's called going cheap on its customers! Shame on you Telstra!
Jared"
2004-06-29
No broadband for 6 months (II)
In a previous post, I wrote that for some bizarre reasons, I have no access to ADSL broadband internet service in the apartment unit I am living (cable is also not available).
This is due to the so-called "pair-gain" technology which Telstra has been using for providing phone service. This technology is not compatible with ADSL and a lot of apartment units throughout Australia are affected. For more info on "pair-gain", read Telstra: The Pair Gain and RIMS saga continues.
I have been using broadband in Hong Kong for the past six years or so. Not even in my dreams did I imagine that I would be forced to use the snail-paced dial-up technology again!
This is due to the so-called "pair-gain" technology which Telstra has been using for providing phone service. This technology is not compatible with ADSL and a lot of apartment units throughout Australia are affected. For more info on "pair-gain", read Telstra: The Pair Gain and RIMS saga continues.
I have been using broadband in Hong Kong for the past six years or so. Not even in my dreams did I imagine that I would be forced to use the snail-paced dial-up technology again!
2004-06-28
2004-06-22
Back to normal
After three full days of hard labour dealing with the shipment, life has gradually returned to normal. I have been listening to music, watching Euro 2004, and even started reading again (a novel "Bel Canto" by Ann Patchett).
2004-06-18
2004-06-17
2004-06-16
No broadband for 6 months :-(
For some bizzare reasons (shall try to explain in later posts), my apartment unit has no access to either cable or ADSL broadband Internet service.
That means I shall have to stick with the good old dial-up service over the next 6 months!
A positive side of this frustrating event is that I almost certainly shall be using the Internet less frequently during the period (the snail pace really tests my patience - like when I try to go to graphics-heavy pages or uploading photos to my web site). Who knows whether this might cure my hopeless addiction to web surfing?
That means I shall have to stick with the good old dial-up service over the next 6 months!
A positive side of this frustrating event is that I almost certainly shall be using the Internet less frequently during the period (the snail pace really tests my patience - like when I try to go to graphics-heavy pages or uploading photos to my web site). Who knows whether this might cure my hopeless addiction to web surfing?
No broadband for 6 months :-(
For some bizzare reasons (shall try to explain in later posts), my apartment unit has no access to either cable or ADSL broadband Internet service.
That means I shall have to stick with the good old dial-up service over the next 6 months!
A positive side of this frustrating event is that I almost certainly shall be using the Internet less frequently during the period (the snail pace really tests my patience - like when I try to go to graphics-heavy pages or uploading photos to my web site). Who knows whether this might cure my hopeless addiction to web surfing?
That means I shall have to stick with the good old dial-up service over the next 6 months!
A positive side of this frustrating event is that I almost certainly shall be using the Internet less frequently during the period (the snail pace really tests my patience - like when I try to go to graphics-heavy pages or uploading photos to my web site). Who knows whether this might cure my hopeless addiction to web surfing?
2004-06-12
Close encounter with a silly koala
This morning, while we were out for morning walk, we saw a baby koala which came from nowhere climbing a pine tree at the dining and entertainment area near my apartment! Pine tree is not its usual habitat and provides no food for it. Someone called the authority to "rescue" the baby koala, although we did not stay behind to watch the scene. Hope it stops doing silly things in the future.
2004-06-10
The Anchorage (II)
I moved into the rental property today. Below are 25 photos of the Anchorage, including some pictures of the unit itself which I took this afternoon.
Photos of the Anchorage
Photos of the Anchorage
2004-06-08
The Anchorage
A few photos of the property - "The Anchorage" in Raby Bay - that I shall be living in over the next 6 months. The rented place is a first floor unit, overlooking a canal with lots of yachts and boats.
2004-06-05
Hello Brisbane (II)
Bought a car today - a Toyota Camry, nothing fancy - and got a pre-paid dial-up Internet access account (which I am using now). The Internet connection is slow, but bearable, and it enables me to post these blog entries in the comfort of my hotel room.
Shall try to arrange broadband once I move into the new place.
Failed to get a mobile phone service (a long story). Instead I have purchased a pre-paid service.
If you want my mobile number and/or address, please email me, since it is dangerous to post such information here. :-)
Shall try to arrange broadband once I move into the new place.
Failed to get a mobile phone service (a long story). Instead I have purchased a pre-paid service.
If you want my mobile number and/or address, please email me, since it is dangerous to post such information here. :-)
2004-06-04
Hello Brisbane
This is my second day in Brisbane and I have already paid a deposit for a rental property. I shall be moving there later next week.
Tomorrow I shall get a new car to enable me to go places.
I still need to reactivate medicare, renew driver's licence, get a mobile phone service, ...
Everything's under control.
Tomorrow I shall get a new car to enable me to go places.
I still need to reactivate medicare, renew driver's licence, get a mobile phone service, ...
Everything's under control.
2004-06-02
2004-06-01
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