NBN Discussion

[jb747]

Great introduction to the NBN. Supposedly ported over last Friday. Nice shiny new modem detects an ADSL 1 (!) signal. Doesn't log on. Tech support tells me that they can see a DLink modem at the end of the connection. Sadly mine is a Netcomm, so they managed to disconnect me, but have actually connected someone else to the connection. Plus, as they don't have the log in details, I guess that means they've also lost their internet.

And just to add to the joy, the shiny Netcomm router/modem only behaves when connected to a computer via wifi. Whilst it allocates an address to any ethernet connection, it will not respond to anything via ethernet. So, I guess it's a dud too.

Lotto...how many days until we get all of this to work? My expectation is many.

 

[Pushka]

Managed to connect to NBN a few weeks ago but only after an hour wait on the phone and then doing everything the operator told me to twice after I'd done the same before I made the call. Seems the instructions to connect to port 1 are wrong. Of course I'd tried all the other ports before calling and again with the operator but it was only the third time that it finally connected. He tried to convince me he did nothing at his end and it was my fault but which I didn't buy.

I've not heard of one person who hasn't had issues with NBN esp when it mucks up the land line and burglar alarm.

 

[straitman]

None of this fills me with joy.

We 'supposedly' become NBN available today. (On a public holiday:?: )

 

[moa999]

And just to add to the joy, the shiny Netcomm router/modem only behaves when connected to a computer via wifi. Whilst it allocates an address to any ethernet connection, it will not respond to anything via ethernet. So, I guess it's a dud too.

Lotto...how many days until we get all of this to work? My expectation is many.

Ahh those up to date cabling records. Suspect it will require a tech visit, put a tone generator on the line and go back to the node and trace it.

Modem issues definitely seem strange - have you restarted the cabled PC (some have an issue with IP changes - your new/old modems might be in different ranges)

Does your old ADSL still work?? Presumably the line should still be connected

Also given you seem to be a member of Whirlpool and on FTTN, note the FTTN - Results from improving Home Cabling thread

For others reading this and getting FTTN -- as a result of trying to jamm more an more data down a copper pipe - VDSL is far more susceptible to wiring issues, both outside (on the shortened path to the node) and inside.

In particular inside the house, bad joints, and reflections (from surplus points either wired in serial or parallel) can halve your Max speeds under FTTN. Basically you want a single clean line going to the point where your modem will be.

With a proviso that this needs to be done by a licensed cabler due to Australian rules. Options include
1. Get a new cable run from exterior point (NTD if you have one) to your preferred location, or a new join and new cable
2. If serial wired, cut the wiring at the first point and use this for the modem. If wanting to use other points for analogue phone get a 2-gang plate installed for in/tel
3. If serial wired and wanting to use other points, gel cap join the prior points and put in blank wall plates

 

[TheRealTMA]

Great introduction to the NBN. Supposedly ported over last Friday. Nice shiny new modem detects an ADSL 1 (!) signal. Doesn't log on. Tech support tells me that they can see a DLink modem at the end of the connection. Sadly mine is a Netcomm, so they managed to disconnect me, but have actually connected someone else to the connection. Plus, as they don't have the log in details, I guess that means they've also lost their internet.

And just to add to the joy, the shiny Netcomm router/modem only behaves when connected to a computer via wifi. Whilst it allocates an address to any ethernet connection, it will not respond to anything via ethernet. So, I guess it's a dud too.

Lotto...how many days until we get all of this to work? My expectation is many.

Not sure if this is quite relevant but if you have a Netgear C6300DB Telstra rebranded modem (TELSTRA GATEWAY MAX) then you need to set this to Bridge Mode pass-through if you want to connect this to your previous local router such as Dlink or FritzBox etc. If you want, You can still connect to the Telstra box via WiFi or connect other devices such as security cameras or laptop via a cable to the Telstra box as well on a different subnet.

 

[Quickstatus]

Great introduction to the NBN. Supposedly ported over last Friday. Nice shiny new modem detects an ADSL 1 (!) signal. Doesn't log on. Tech support tells me that they can see a DLink modem at the end of the connection. Sadly mine is a Netcomm, so they managed to disconnect me, but have actually connected someone else to the connection. Plus, as they don't have the log in details, I guess that means they've also lost their internet.

And just to add to the joy, the shiny Netcomm router/modem only behaves when connected to a computer via wifi. Whilst it allocates an address to any ethernet connection, it will not respond to anything via ethernet. So, I guess it's a dud too.

Lotto...how many days until we get all of this to work? My expectation is many.

Did they test from inside your premises? or is it left to the occupant to figure it out with a "quick guide" and an offer to an overseas call centre in case it doesnt work

 

[moa999]

Most FTTN installs are just a technician switching a jumper at the node (which should work fine as long as cabling records are correct).
At the consumer end you just plugin your VDSL modem where the ADSL used to go (although as per above it is recommended you look at the internal wiring if you have more than one point)

 

[jb747]

Ahh those up to date cabling records. Suspect it will require a tech visit, put a tone generator on the line and go back to the node and trace it.

Exactly. Almost tempted to go on a door knock to try to work out who has my connection. Perhaps a sign on the road...Does your net work. Did it stop working on Friday, and do you have a DLink modem? I know that my next door neighbour does, 'cos I installed it. Must ask.

Modem issues definitely seem strange - have you restarted the cabled PC (some have an issue with IP changes - your new/old modems might be in different ranges)

Not really sure where the problem lay. I turned DHCP off on the new modem, and let my old router do the job for a while. When I turned it back on a bit later, it decided to work. I'll leave it until we actually get the NBN working (?), and then I'll decide which one I'll use longer term. Got the choice of the Netcomm, Fritzbox, and a Netgear. I'll test them all on the NBN, looking for any speed differences. Fastest one will get to stay. I was going to use VOIP, but I think I'll give the landline the flick entirely.

Does your old ADSL still work?? Presumably the line should still be connected

No. Tried that...but we took the opportunity to get away from Telstra, so it's gone.

Also given you seem to be a member of Whirlpool and on FTTN, note the FTTN - Results from improving Home Cabling thread

It's a new house. When I was designing it, fibre was still the expected NBN delivery source...and it was originally scheduled to be here before completion. In any event, it's about the perfect wiring setup for this. Single connection. Very short run.

The overall network setup is fairly complex, though not as complex as the first plan. There are currently five routers in use, in various modes!

 

[TheRealTMA]

Not really sure where the problem lay. I turned DHCP off on the new modem, and let my old router do the job for a while. When I turned it back on a bit later, it decided to work. I'll leave it until we actually get the NBN working (?), and then I'll decide which one I'll use longer term. Got the choice of the Netcomm, Fritzbox, and a Netgear. I'll test them all on the NBN, looking for any speed differences. Fastest one will get to stay. I was going to use VOIP, but I think I'll give the landline the flick entirely.

POI - IOE speeds with Telstra Gateway Max (Netcomm) in Bridge mode through Fritzbox is the same as direct through the Telstra. One advantage for us in keeping the Fritzbox was that one can use all the normal Fritzbox features (inc VOIP I believe), keep the same internal LAN settings plus have the safety of being able to plugin a 4G Dongle to overcome outages on the external line if some idiot drives a truck into the wires or the mouse in the pit drowns in the rain.

 

[straitman]

None of this fills me with joy.

We 'supposedly' become NBN available today. (On a public holiday:?: )

Not a good start here.

Yesterday was 'the day' we were going to be NBN enabled. It is still not and we have no idea when it will happen.

We are meant to have FTTN.

For others reading this and getting FTTN -- as a result of trying to jamm more an more data down a copper pipe - VDSL is far more susceptible to wiring issues, both outside (on the shortened path to the node) and inside.

In particular inside the house, bad joints, and reflections (from surplus points either wired in serial or parallel) can halve your Max speeds under FTTN. Basically you want a single clean line going to the point where your modem will be.

moa999, for us tech illiterate people could you clarify this for me please?

We have a remote splitter at the point the line reaches the house. One line from the split goes direct to where the modem plugs in and is used only for internet. The other goes to points various for the telephone. Is this what you are saying is good or bad?

 

[jb747]

We have a remote splitter at the point the line reaches the house. One line from the split goes direct to where the modem plugs in and is used only for internet. The other goes to points various for the telephone. Is this what you are saying is good or bad?

That's the sort of setup that will cause issues. You want one line straight to the modem. No splitters. No extensions.

 

[ajw373]

And just to add to the joy, the shiny Netcomm router/modem only behaves when connected to a computer via wifi. Whilst it allocates an address to any ethernet connection, it will not respond to anything via ethernet. So, I guess it's a dud too.

It is quite possible that some configuration is needed to enable the Ethernet ports. This would normally be done automatically once the router has connected to the network. So don't quite write it off just yet.

Though of course you do have the fraudband version of NBN, so don't hope for too much.

 

[moa999]

Though of course you do have the fraudband version of NBN, so don't hope for too much.

All depends on how close the node is.
Plenty can get 100/40.

Just those who are on long lines to the node that have been sold a definite pup.

Mind you I could get 100/40, but don't see the need to pay for more than 25/5 - can handle multiple TV streams and I'm not a massive downloader and most things can wait.

 

[ajw373]

All depends on how close the node is.
Plenty can get 100/40.

Just those who are on long lines to the node that have been sold a definite pup.

Mind you I could get 100/40, but don't see the need to pay for more than 25/5 - can handle multiple TV streams and I'm not a massive downloader and most things can wait.

All good except NBN was meant to be an infrastructure project for the future. Plus there are other options available on fibre not available to VDSL2 or HFC customers. For example the ability to have multiple providers on the same infrastructure etc. And of course ability to upgrade down the track when more speed WILL be needed for even the most basic things.

 

[jb747]

757 metres to the node via the Telstra pits. So, at best, I'll get about 38 meg/sec. It will feel faster after the cough ADSL1 that we've been on since moving back to the country. I had about 20 meg/sec when I lived in Eltham. If I could actually get it, I'd buy 100/40!

Next street over has ADSL 2, and most are well over 20 meg/sec. And they'll win again, as they're all close enough to the node to get over 80 meg/sec. It seems that if you win in the speed lotto once, you keep on winning.

I wasn't a supporter of the original NBN proposals, but sadly this version is just a waste of money. All those billions to get a result that is marginally better than ADSL2.

 

[ajw373]

I wasn't a supporter of the original NBN proposals, but sadly this version is just a waste of money. All those billions to get a result that is marginally better than ADSL2.

And in some cases worse... and the cost difference between doing it properly and fraudband was bugger all, though of course we now will have technologies in 2/3rds of the country that WILL need to be replaced within the next 10 years at even more cost.

Now if only we were not such pioneers and had others who had been there done that and learnt the costly mistake. Oh sorry, like the UK and NZ who worked it out pretty quickly and before we even started down the FTTN path that just putting in fibre was the better long term solution to the core infrastructure problem.

Rant over...

 

[whatmeworry]

757 metres to the node via the Telstra pits. So, at best, I'll get about 38 meg/sec. It will feel faster after the cough ADSL1 that we've been on since moving back to the country. I had about 20 meg/sec when I lived in Eltham. If I could actually get it, I'd buy 100/40!

Next street over has ADSL 2, and most are well over 20 meg/sec. And they'll win again, as they're all close enough to the node to get over 80 meg/sec. It seems that if you win in the speed lotto once, you keep on winning.

I wasn't a supporter of the original NBN proposals, but sadly this version is just a waste of money. All those billions to get a result that is marginally better than ADSL2.

I can't remember the figure difference (potential) between the two plans (FTTP V MTM) but if IIRC it will only be between 10-20 billion. So the question is, when it in the future it has to be upgraded to FTTP, how many more billions will that cost?

I should be getting FTTC but my friend reckons 4 copper connections will be split off the fibre connection for FTTC. Hopefully having a power pole in front of my home pays off.

 

[ajw373]

I should be getting FTTC but my friend reckons 4 copper connections will be split off the fibre connection for FTTC. Hopefully having a power pole in front of my home pays off.

Fibre already does much the same though. Every house cables into a multiport which shares one fibre back to the network with 4 to 12 homes. It is of course capable of delivering full speed to all those homes though.

But FTTC is just plain silly. If you are running fibre to a pit outside a group of houses (the same as FTTP) why not just be done with it and run the last drop into the house?

 

[moa999]

I can't remember the figure difference (potential) between the two plans (FTTP V MTM) but if IIRC it will only be between 10-20 billion. .

Unfortunately real figures are hard to come by. Labor's FTTP costs were seriously undercooked and blowing out, but the Libs costings have been no better.

Conceptually the last mile (or last 50-100m) into the property by conduit/aerial and interior connections is an expensive component,
So I can understand the rationale behind FTTB/FTTN/HFC and reusing existing last mile infrastructure (all of which have upgrade paths to gigabit speeds via g.fast/xg.fast (for short lines) and Docsis3.1)

But the stupidity of 500+m lines like jb747s which effectively have no upgrade paths astounds me, and that's before you get to areas that just have degraded copper.

Certainly for apartments and medium-density housing FTTB/FTTN is undoubtedly quicker and cheaper, it was just extended way too far for political purposes

At least for jb747 it will hopefully be a 5x improvement (8-40ish) but it certainly isn't a solution that will last for 20+ years.

 

[straitman]

None of this fills me with joy.

We 'supposedly' become NBN available today. (On a public holiday:?: )

WE have a new start date of Friday 17th. (I'll be enroute Fiji so I'll worry about it in a few weeks time.)