> There have been some traumatic changes around the Brown family recently.
We
> moved. Just a few suburbs but that is enough. I have since vowed that
the
> next move I make will be into the ground. Even using removalists there is
> so much work. We have now been here two weeks and have pretty much
> unpacked. For the first time in 10 years I have no stuff in boxes. I was
> amazed at what I found :-)
Bill Smyth told me years ago (when he built his house in Monetta, SC)
that the next place he'd live would be a pine box. Bill, if I remember
right, that was about seventy-eight or seventy-nine, wasn't it? He's still
there. In fact, I was at his house and fixed a problem with using his DSL
on a ham radio related service. He's definitely still there.
I have so much junk stored in my storage room up in NC. I have no room
for it in the rooming house I am living in here in GA. So it will have to
wait for a while.
> The house is nice and comfy and everything works. Well, almost
everything.
Glad to hear it.
> Telecom Australia (Telstra), the monopoly supplier of the local phone loop
> has screwed me over. I had ADSL/2 and it provided pretty respectable
> response. My ISP was not Telstra but they did provide my local phone
> service. Most of my calls were on Skype though so I did not give them
much
> money.
In the U.S., phone and cable companies often 'do not have things
together'. I've gone round and round with them about different issues.
There is one issue I'm still not happy with them about but I don't see them
getting off their backside to fix it.
> I range them a week or so before we moved to arrange a new phone. I
> mentioned ADSL/2 and they offered me their service. I thanked them but I
am
> happy with my ISP. I was then told to speak to my ISP about the service.
I assume that you are with the cable company, then?
> My phone was duly installed and I contacted my ISP. I learned that
Telstra
> had connected me to Rim Node so no ADSL/2. I then learned that they had
put
> me on a pair gain so I only have two of the normal four wires, so no ADSL
> either. I am reduced to dial up at 48 Kbps. It is not nice after 8 Mb.
As long as you are not too far from the telephone company's (telco)
switch, they should be able to get you rewired for it. Often, you can find
out about it on the telco Web site.
> I believe they punished me. I have written to just about everyone
> complaining. I am now just sitting and waiting.
Maybe you are too far from the C.O.. Do you have a cable company where
you live? If so, do they provide cablemodem? If not, satellite Internet
access might be an alternative. You have to tolerate the 240 millisecond
delay from the earth to the satellite to the earth again (each way). As
long as you are not running anything that is two way real time, there is no
problem with it. But if you try to run a VOIP line or voice or audio
conferencing, it can be noticeable. It would be like being on an
International call via satellite (have you ever spoken to someone on an
international call and 'collided' with the party on the other end?). They
start speaking because they didn't hear you speaking until nearly a half
second later. At that point, you both stop speaking. And it can happen
over and over again.
We have a satellite company here in the U.S. that can provide high speed
satellite Internet access almost anywhere in the U.S.. But I don't
recommend it if you can get DSL or cablemodem access. It is 'HueghesNet'.
It is a bit costly, but not overly so considering the equipment involved and
the work for them to install it for you.. You can usually work out a
financing arrangement to get the satellite equipment installed and working.
There is an Internet company in Franklin, NC that provides Internet
access to homes via a local radio system. You might find out if they offer
something like it in your area.
There is a good Website for finding high speed Internet services in your
area in the U.S.. It also tries (often successfully) to get you a special
introductory offer for the service. It is 'http://www.buytelco.com'. I've
used it several times for myself and to help others get service.
> But wait. There is more.
There always is, isn't there?
> Anna and I have decided to marry. We will wed in Krakow on 8 July. We
> wanted 07/07/07 but so did a million others and we could not find a
> celebrant. The 8th is fine. We leave Australia for Denmark on 14 June,
> travel via Berlin to Krakow. After touring around, we fly to Rome for a
> cruise around the Mediterranean returning to Oz some time late August. I
> cant wait.
Congratulations. Hope it all works out.
> If you feel keen you can see the new house at
> http://users.tpg.com.au/djbrown/ It is a semi and ours is the left half.
Looks great. Hope you enjoy it.
> Cheers
To you, too.
> David
Fred