Gold Coast Internet Options – Slim Pickings!
It’s time I started a bit of a ‘rant’ about the very slim pickings available on the Gold Coast in terms of reliable Internet services in the Molendinar (Work) and Gilston (Home) areas. When I first moved into the Gilston area 3 years ago, one of the first services I tried to establish was a reliable internet connection. I contacted Telstra, Bigpond, Optus & iiNet who each told me that due to the distance my house was from the nearest exchange, I was not able to connect with an ADSL connection due to signal loss over distance. Having just moved to Gilston from Main Beach where I had lightning fast Cable internet with Bigpond, I was very disappointed to hear this news. After making enquiries, I was told about the ‘wireless’ internet option which would be one of my only alternatives. Initially I signed up with Optus using one of the portable USB modems they were offering at the time. At first, it seem like a viable alternative and it also came with the bonus that it was portable and I could use the device for internet on my laptop wherever I was at the time. That was until I realised the ‘snail speed’ I was getting just wasn’t worth the high price I was expected to pay!
As soon as I possibly could, I ended my contract with Optus and purchased a new device with Bigpond – which used the Telstra Next G network. This option was a massive improvement on the one offered by Optus and I immediately noticed the superior network coverage, connection stability and the increased speed of the connection. I was quite happy with this solution to my internet woes until I realised that the Next G network data usage is calculated by adding both the ‘upload’ and ‘download’ data in order to calculate the overall usage. As far as I know, other internet options such as ADSL and Cable only bill based on downloads, so in order to compensate for this, I needed to increase my data allowance per month which in turn increased my monthly spend! At that point I was paying around $117 per month for 10GB of data under the Bigpond Plan – a price which in my opinion was heavily inflated and unnecessary – particularly when wireless internet was my only option due to the lack of ADSL service being offered by the major carriers.
Why should I be charged more for a service I have to use just because it is my only option?
I stuck with Bigpond for my home internet provider and in the meantime I often checked back with the major carrier’s websites to see whether any of them had upgraded their infrastructure to enable me to have an ADSL internet connection. Unfortunately, this is STILL (almost 3 years later) not an option for me. I recently heard of a new device being offered by Bigpond called the Bigpond Ultimate USB Modem which uses ‘dual-channel’ technology to achieve even faster speeds for it’s wireless customers. This was obviously music to my ears so I upgraded my device to the newer technology. I was told at the time of purchase that the Bigpond Ultimate device was capable of up to 42Mbps for download speeds, however (here we go again) the Next G network could currently only offer speeds of up to half that – 21Mbps for downloads. I was informed that the network would be upgraded to allow the full potential of the device over time. Even with this limitation placed on the device, I was jumping for joy that I could potentially achieve faster speeds that I was getting with my old device (maximum of 7.2Mbps for downloads). On top of this, Bigpond had at that point introduced a whole new array of Internet plans (thanks for not saying anything sooner) which also allowed me to save some money on my monthly spend. I am now paying $79 per month for my 12Gb plan with them – a saving of $38 per month AND an increase of 2Gb in data! Not that I am complaining for receiving the new benefits, but it does illustrate that internet carriers have been ripping us off by making us pay more for less over the past few years!
One of the downsides I have found with this device is that although 3G wireless routers are available on the market, there is nothing that can cope with this particular modem to it’s full potential. Download speeds are severely decreased when connected to a router even when the device is listed in the compatibility list on the manufacturer’s websites. If I connect the device to a USB port on my laptop, I can achieve incredibly fast speeds but at home I am not the only person who requires an internet connection and it isn’t always convenient to share the USB stick – particularly when more than one person need an internet connection at the same time. Sharing is not one of my strong points 
This is the reason for my need to find a reliable wireless router which the device can be connected to which will effectively share the super-fast internet connection that I now have. Any suggestions?
At work I have also been experiencing some similar frustrations with regards to finding a fast and reliable internet connection. We recently purchased an LG iPECS 50B phone system which was sold to us with the potential for remote connection to the system using a Softphone application over the internet. This would allow users to log in when working remotely (eg. business trips or when overseas) via their internet connection and calls could be routed to them as if they were sitting at the desk in the office – a very cool option. I immediately tested this functionality from home and found that the clarity of the call was terrible. I had reports of echoing, static noise and the occasional call drop out which I pin-pointed to being an issue with the internet connection speed (or lack their of). At the time, the phone system was sitting as part of our office network consisting of 4 PCs, 2 x network printers and 1 x network hard drive. What wasn’t explained to us at the time of purchase was that really for this to work well, the phone system needed to have it’s own dedicated internet connection and not one shared by other internet users in our office.
I began running internet speed tests on our connection and I was horrified when the results started coming back.
Our download speed was averaging 2 Mbps and the upload speed (which the phone system relied upon heavily when connecting remote users) was a mere 0.32 Mbps. Our internet service provider at that point was Telstra Business Broadband and we had an ADSL1 connection. After several frustrating calls to Telstra Business we initiated line tests to rule out any physical problems with the connection. The results of this test showed that there were no problems with the lines in place. I then insisted on having a technician visit our site to investigate the infrastructure we were connecting to (out on the street) and he determined that although there was a box which hosted ADSL2+ connections within reach only 300m away, our physical office wasn’t attached to and couldn’t be attached to this box, only the one right next to it which could host ADSL1 connections. So I was told that we were currently on the fastest possible option for ADSL internet services in our area – a BIG disappointment yet again.
In order to improve our internet speed, I visited my local Telstra Shop to ask for advice on options available to me. I was told about the new Telstra Ultimate USB Modem (Telstra’s equivalent of the new Bigpond device I recently purchased for home use). I decided to try it at work and immediately noticed a much faster internet connection than we were previously getting. I cancelled our ADSL1 connection and reconfigured our work network to use the new USB modem connected to a Dlink 3G router. All of our devices internally were working very well and I was impressed with the new purchase overall. The speed of our internet was slightly improved and we were now consistently achieving (through a wireless router) download speeds of around 5Mbps – more than double the speed we were getting with our useless ADSL1 connection. Even though this speed was considered slow for the actual device (capable of up to 21Mbps when connected to a USB port on a PC), it was still a big improvement, so I couldn’t really complain. On top of this, our upload speed had also significantly increased to around 3Mbps – almost 10 times faster than before. I was extremely satisfied with the new configuration and was excited to try it out with remote connections to our phone system.
This is where I have now hit yet another brick wall. Following about a million unsuccessful attempts to connect to the office phone system from home, I contacted Telstra Business Wireless Data Support team who advised me that I am unable to connect remotely to our office using this new device! Although our internet speed has now significantly improved from an internal point of view, we have lost the ability to use our phone system in the way it was designed unless we re-connect a useless ADSL1 connection once again – something I am obviously not keen on doing. My hands are now tied, I’m all out of options apart from us installing a direct Ethernet connection into our office or signing up for Satellite internet which I believe are both more costly options than they are worth! I am very disappointed to say the least. If you have experienced the same or similar hurdles in relation to getting a reliable internet connection, then I’d love to hear from you! That’s my beef and I’m sticking to it!
Kev
Quitting Smoking is No Easy Task!!
If you have ever tried to quit smoking, then I’m sure you will be able to relate to a lot of what I am about to type. I decided on Sunday that it was time for me to give up after having been a smoker for 14 years – smoking the better part of a packet per day for most of that time. Initially, when the idea came to me (that light-bulb moment) it didn’t really seem to be such a difficult thing to do. I must draw your attention to the fact that at that stage I still had a packet of ciggis with more than enough to get me through my last day as a smoker.
When you are in that ‘comfort zone’ with a packet of ciggis in hand, the stresses of having made the decision to quit just don’t yet seem to come to the surface…….until the time comes when it’s the day of quitting – for me, Monday morning.
I woke up, knowing full well that I had made my decision and that I was no longer going to be smoking anymore. Every day as a smoker, I would wake up and head straight outside for my first smoke for the day – before my eyes had even fully opened yet. It seemed to be the first thing I would think of at the start of every day. It became habit so naturally, when I woke up on Monday, the first thing I thought of was having my first ciggi in order to wake up and start my day. That’s when it dawned on me that I had created the enormous personal challenge that quitting smoking really is! I reminded myself that it was to be my first day without smoking in 14 years (minus a few previous failed quit attempts), so I diverted my attention to other things and started to get ready for the day ahead at work. Initially I seemed to be ok – I had been awake for an hour, and had managed not to kill anyone yet, so I took that as a positive sign and got in the car to drive to work.
As soon as I got in the car, I was again finding myself feeling very lost without my ciggis and I found that the drive to work that day just seemed to take forever. I had always smoked in my car wherever i went, so this particular drive in to work was probably the most boring and frustrating drive I’ve had to do in a very long time! At each red light, give way or stop sign I came to, I found myself looking around and observing the other people walking and driving around me. That’s when I noticed that everyone I saw seemed to have a ciggi in their hand – even the people out for their healthy morning walk. Before that morning, i can’t recall ever noticing that many people smoking on my way in to work, but then again I’d probably never even taken the time to notice. I was completely deflated and it was then that my first craving hit me. I cranked up the radio in an attempt to distract myself but thanks to good old radio advertising, I was again reminded of smoking by an Ad that came on air. It was the one that tells you that within 8 hours of quitting, there is limited nicotine left in your body’s system, and a whole list of other facts and figures about the benefits of quitting. I would’ve thought that hearing this would’ve made me feel better having made the decision to quit, but in fact, it was just another reminder that I really wanted a smoke! I turned off the radio and continued on my way and made it to work safely.
I work in an Office environment based in a Warehouse where smoking is second nature to me, even when I am at my desk (classy I know). I made a coffee and then turned to reach for my packet to spark up a smoke when I realised what I was doing. I have to admit at this point, I did manage a bit of a giggle because i was unconsciously moving things around looking for my packet when it dawned on me again – I no longer smoke. Once I got started with work, I was able to keep myself distracted and I must say – I didn’t think about a single ciggi until lunch time.
I am very lucky to have supportive staff at my work place who paid me the courtesy of taking their smoking outside because they knew I was giving up – something i am very grateful for!!
I got through the rest of the afternoon and then went home. I was feeling very drained by this stage (nicotine withdrawal I guess) so i decided to have a nap for an hour or so and felt that it was also the easy way to pass time on the first day of quitting. When I woke up, I was really craving a smoke and at that point I took myself outside and smoked a ciggi for the first time that day. I must say, the taste of it was really disgusting and the head-spin I got from it wasn’t fun at all. I did manage to finish it though, all the way down to the butt!! Haha. I felt pretty guilty after it but instead of beating myself up, I reminded myself that I had been smoking a packet per day up until the day before, so i let myself off the hook for having one. I had dinner and then went to bed fairly early that night.
Tuesday morning came around, and again I craved that first morning ciggi. I avoided temptation and got ready for work and drove the boring drive in yet again. It was a lot easier on day 2, and I didn’t notice near as many smokers on the road so I was glad about that. My day at work was ok, and again my workmates refrained from smoking inside in support of my decision to quit. I noticed that day at work I was very quiet and was not in the mood for too much conversation with anyone and I found myself at times biting my nails and tensing up from time to time. Each time I noticed this, I tried to take some deep breaths and just relax a bit but I found this happening several times throughout the day. After work, i came home, sat down and thought immediately how nice it would be to just have one. I distracted myself with Facebook (thank God for Facebook) for a while until the craving passed and by that time Andy (my partner) had cooked dinner – Lamb chops and veggies which is usually a real favourite of mine. Not that day though, I just couldn’t eat the lamb at all, my taste buds had changed and the meat tasted very different. You know that smell / taste you get when you walk into a butcher? That’s how the lamb chops tasted, a kind of raw meaty taste that is really hard to describe in words. The lamb was completely cooked through and looked delicious, but my stomach and taste buds just weren’t up for it that night. I didn’t eat much dinner and then I caved in and had my first smoke for that day. If you can see a pattern forming here then you should be a detective! Again, I felt guilty for having one and breaking the deal I had made with myself, but I did get over it and moved on.
Today is Wednesday – Day 3 of my quitting smoking journey and it has just gone from bad to worse! When I arrived home, the power was out so I was stuck outside for about 2 hours until Andy came home from work. I only carry a remote control for the garage door which obviously requires power in order to work. I phoned Andy straight away and asked what time he would be home because i was stuck outside. He said he would get there as soon as he could so I assumed that he had a key so we could get in. I waited for an hour and still no sign of him, so I decided I needed a ciggi. I went out and bought a packet (for Andy of course) and I smoked 2 in a row. That was not such a good idea at all. My head was spinning, and then I got a headache which pounded for the next hour until Andy came home and let us into the house where I got straight into some Panadol. I decided that after the stress of sitting outside for 2 hours, it would be ok to give myself a day off quitting (stupid, I know) but in my moment of weakness I went through with it. This evening I have smoked more ciggis than i would like to admit to, but you get the picture – I fell off my band wagon and I am very disappointed with myself for doing so. I guess this is the reason why I am still awake now at 2:30am typing this blog!!
Tomorrow (or should I say Today) is another day though and I will get back on the horse and continue with my pledge to give up smoking. I am not going to let this get the better of me after the start to the week that I have had – I am still determined to kick this habit however difficult it might be!!
I’d better get going now, my eyes are starting to close by themselves without me doing it consciously so there’s a good chance that I will finally be able to get some sleep tonight. I hope you’ve enjoyed my rambling and I will do my best to keep you posted with the latest as it unfolds. Wish me luck – I’m gonna need it!
Kev