Internet-less

Well, its been more than a month since I last wrote something. Partly due to laziness, but I will blame Telstra, and TPG, and all companies related to my internet connection. I have been without it at home for more than two weeks now. It is rather frustrating.

So the story goes:
1. Internet went down.
2. Do isolation tests, try different modem, try different wall socket.
3. Time to call TPG, lodge request.
4. TPG comes and plugs in cable shark, determines there's a problem.
5. TPG calls Telstra to check line.
6. Telstra checks line at Network Boundary Point, gets connection at 5.5Mb. (I usually get around 2Mb)
7. TPG calls to tell me to fix my private line.
8. Call up Telstra to fix line, get told I'm not with Telstra for phone.
9. Find out I'm with ACN, so call them to fix line, they won't.
10. Have to search for a telephone technician now to fix line.

All of this happened in 2 week time period, admittedly, most parties seem to have done what they're supposed to in a reasonable manner, but it begs the question of who really is responsible for this kind of thing. Further, why do we have such slow internet connections in the first place (in Australia)?

I don't think the new Conroy filter is going to help, and the National Broadband Network is just talk. I did read recently that we could just order a few ADSL2+ services, and they will aggregate, this seems like a reasonable way to increase speeds at moderate costs. Internode also just released fibre to the home plans. Hopefully this is the start of true Broadband.

Happy New Year

Well, I haven't written anything for quite some time now. No, I have not abandoned this blog. I have merely been busy with the holiday season and all.

Tasmania trip went fantastically well. In the next few weeks, I'll write up another blog site dedicated to the trip with photos and comments. For some unannotated photos from Tasmania, see here. Other then that, I have also completed the Pre-leaner Stay Upright motorcycle course. So off to a flying start in 2009.