I need to vent!

[SkyWarp91]

As horrible as that sounds, I use a netgear modem/router and a hooked up through TPG on a Telstra line. I had a bunch of issues but it turned out to be crappy old wiring in the place we're renting.I put down some fresh cable, which is pretty cheap for 10 metres from anywhere and 've not had a problem since. if you can stomach it I suggest talking to bigpond again and getting them to test your lines. also try your connection without the phone or any splitters attached, see how that goes. add one thing to the circuit at a time and see what effect it has.

best of luck.

Guess what, Bigpond called me at 9AM this morning and they said all the dropouts were actually on their end - I told them about 50 times to change my ADSL associated number (as my home phone number had changed recently) and despite telling them so many times ; they never got around to it. The dud that calls me tells me he'll put me through to a Bigpond Consultant, after 16 minutes of waiting - he comes back and instead of putting me through to the consultant, he disconnects the line...

Wow, it's like they want their customers to hate them and they're not even trying anymore.

[Hursticon]

Nothing more satisfying than family IT supprt...

I know, after the 50th time you'd think they'd learn but...
Well it's up and running, and beautifully I might add , I've also managed to retrieve about 90% of their documents and other misc data as well as all the email!

I would like to know what brand of modems you guys are using for your internet connections and how good are they? And how much did they cost you?

I have a Netgear DM111P and it is HORRIBLE, it drops out every couple of hours. Do not recommend.

I've been experiencing about 20 dropouts within the last 48 hours.

At first I thought it was a line problem with Bigpond and after calling them they had assured me that the connection was fine and suggested that I should buy new Telstra phone splitters of the same brand with ADSL 2+ support because they think that is why the connection is dropping out.

I go to a Telstra shop, they don't sell it. So I go to a Dick Smith, a store in which Bigpond themselves recommended. The so called 'expert' behind the counter tells me that the Telstra brand splitters are crap and should get other brands other than theirs so I do, I get 2 D-link splitters and guess what happens after I plug those in? I experience about a dozen dropouts - meaning that it's this piece of crap modem that's causing these dropouts (and my warranty, not surprisingly does not allow refunds only a replacement of the exact same dud modem). And guess who sold me my modem after Telstra wouldn't replace mine because I was no longer entitled? DICK SMITH.

Another Dick Smith experience, I go in there in hoping of buying cheap video games on a Sunday. THere's 8 workers in on a sunday and I grab a copy of Age of Empires 3 and Warhammer Dawn of War. The seal on the Age of Empires 3 game has been ripped open so I go to the counter asking the girl what has happened with the discs and she says they've been stolen. STOLEN. When you have 8 people working on a Sunday at Dick Smiths how can you not see someone tearing up a game and taking out the discs? Oh maybe because they're trying to tend to the 20 customers that all looked pissed-off that they've been sold by products by a bunch of airheads. So the girl apologises and goes into the back to get the discs for Dawn of War - and guess what? She's gone for about 15 minutes to which I said to my friend - 'F*CK THIS. F*CK DICK SMITH. THEY ARE WORSE THAN A DOG'S PILE OF SH*T' and leave.

I'm usually forgiving when it comes to retail shops but this is it - Dick Smith can rot. I'm going JB Hi-Fi. And f*ck Netgear too for making crap modems. And f*ck Bigpond too, after my contract is over with them I'm going Adam.

Actually, I use that exact modem - albeit v2 in combination with a Netgear N600 model WNDR3700 router and it works like a charm.

We get dropouts too, no where as often though but I know why we get them and it is purely due to Telstra's Archaic Copper Phone Lines in my area - Which just so happen to be the original lines laid way back in the 50s-60s.
We also have a TAFE hooked up to our exchange, which I rant over in detail above, and when it rains?...

Also, I wouldn't take the word of a Telstra 'Technical Support' staff member or a Dicksmith employee even if you paid me and why?:

Telstra don't care, wont care, know nothing and only want your money. (In my experience)
Dicksmith is a Woolworths owned shell with Sales Drones they call 'Techsperts', oh they spurt something but it isn't accurate information. (In my experience)

As horrible as that sounds, I use a netgear modem/router and a hooked up through TPG on a Telstra line. I had a bunch of issues but it turned out to be crappy old wiring in the place we're renting.I put down some fresh cable, which is pretty cheap for 10 metres from anywhere and 've not had a problem since. if you can stomach it I suggest talking to bigpond again and getting them to test your lines. also try your connection without the phone or any splitters attached, see how that goes. add one thing to the circuit at a time and see what effect it has.

best of luck.

Ha!
I've the exact same setup dude - Netgear everything, Internet provided by TPG on Telstra lines and I agree, 90% of most dropout problems are with the poorly serviced and non-maintained lines of Telstra.

What you say is dead right, use the process of elimination method as that's the best approach.

Guess what, Bigpond called me at 9AM this morning and they said all the dropouts were actually on their end - I told them about 50 times to change my ADSL associated number (as my home phone number had changed recently) and despite telling them so many times ; they never got around to it. The dud that calls me tells me he'll put me through to a Bigpond Consultant, after 16 minutes of waiting - he comes back and instead of putting me through to the consultant, he disconnects the line...

Wow, it's like they want their customers to hate them and they're not even trying anymore.

Why am I not surprised?...

I'd say man, get away from Telstra and Bigpond as soon as you can as you'll save buckets of cash and headaches, but also I generally find that most splitters are exactly the same so stick with what you had and get the new ones refunded.

Telstra tied?

[UltraMarginal]

Ha!
I've the exact same setup dude - Netgear everything, Internet provided by TPG on Telstra lines and I agree, 90% of most dropout problems are with the poorly serviced and non-maintained lines of Telstra.

the crappy lines were actually in our flat. I now have my own line running from the lounge room socket, around the back of the couch up a corner along the ceiling and into the study with the computer... the lines to the building seem fine.

[Hursticon]

the crappy lines were actually in our flat. I now have my own line running from the lounge room socket, around the back of the couch up a corner along the ceiling and into the study with the computer... the lines to the building seem fine.

Ah!
I too run cables for my network, but from my modem to my local exchange are some rather degraded copper phone lines owned by Telstra.

[Autocon]

It took almost 2 bloody days to get the Internet back after the bloody storms we copped down here, of course, I have to be connected to the same 1950's exchange that the TAFE campus is connected to.
Of which just so happens to be the campus that hosts/administrates/maintains the largest network in the Southern Hemisphere - Every State Primary, Secondary and TAFE school south of (and including) Helensburgh, down to the Victorian border and west to Griffith!

Then, my parents PC decided to literally conk out, so I've spent the last 2-3 days building that from the ground up - Which I actually like doing, but I wish I was getting paid to do it!

is it easy to build ur own? and is it cheaper? i thought about doing it but is nervous

also u want to avoid tandy as it is same compnay to dick smith

[Hursticon]

is it easy to build ur own? and is it cheaper? i thought about doing it but is nervous

also u want to avoid tandy as it is same compnay to dick smith

If you do your research, have a proper understanding and are confident in what you're about to do? -
Building your own computer saves you a mass amount of money and you can tailor it to your specific needs.
If something goes wrong though you've only your self to blame and warranty might only be offered on specific parts as opposed to the entire computer.

I've been building my own PCs since I was 12, so I've got a bit of experience but trust me - You can never do enough research, if in doubt? seek out an experienced friend or family member.

P.S. - Indeed, Tandy and Dick Smith are now the same shell cast from an evil overmind.

[kup]

This morning at around 6am while sleeping in bed I felt something touch my foot, upon feeling it, I immediately woke up and kicked it which was followed by a small 'thump' sound hitting the carpet. I immediately jumped out of bed and hit the lights but could not see anything and since I am the type who likes to have a lot of space, I could see most of my floor.

At first I thought that I had dreamed but decided to look around further in the direction where I had heard it hit the carpet, at this point I was beginning to convince myself that it was a dream. I moved my desk a little bit and suddenly this brown thing came out from right behind it at top speed so fast that I couldn't even make out what it was, it was just a brown flash of light. I noticed that it darted to the living room in the direction of the corner book case. I was fast enough to follow it so I knew that it had not come out through the other side and must be behind the book case. I was still unsure on what the hell this thing was, it was too fast and heavy to be a roach and it seems smart enough to know when to hide so I figured it was something in the order of Rodentia but not 100% sure since i never got a good look at it.

Anyways, I moved the book case a tiny bit and a brown blurr darted into the kitchen and I saw it go behind the stove. At first I moved the stove forward to check - nothing. Then I lifted it and wedged something under so that I could see underneath - nothing. I thought that whatever it was must have gone inside the stove so I decided to turn it on and force it out - Nothing. It had simply vanished.

I was beginning to get really frustrated while at the same time becoming aware of the humor of my situation but it still bothered me a lot to have a mouse in my unit, specially when I am the type who doesn't tolerate any pests whatsoever. I begun to check cupboards, behind the fridge, everywhere I could think of and found nothing. Then I realized that it was already 8:15 and I was very late for work

I quickly McGyvered a mouse trap as my manic need to leave things 'right' would not allow me to leave my unit with a mouse on the loose but I have serious doubts that it would work.

Now I have to get some mouse traps on my way back from work and see if I have any luck getting rid of this super speed creature and I know that it will drive me crazy until i find it.

More scary is how did this thing get in? I live in a top floor unit and I had all windows closed so I have no idea how it got in, specially in my room.

I caught the mouse! It must have come back last night and it tripped one of the traps!

...I can't help but feel sorry for it though...

[1AZRAEL1]

It is sad, but at least you got it now.

[Hursticon]

I caught the mouse! It must have come back last night and it tripped one of the traps!

...I can't help but feel sorry for it though...

Ah man, don't be sad - It's an introduced pest that spreads disease and aids in the extinction of native species!
I'm glad you caught him dude, but keep you're eye out though as where there is one there is often another.

I too caught a mouse on the weekend!

Due to the recent heavy rains and flooding that occurred in my area last week, a mouse had decided to take up residence in my house, so, with a method that I had developed with my last war against mice (Yes mice not mouse ), I superglued a piece of Dog food to the trap on Saturday and by Monday morning I had caught the little bastard!

Though, I didn't so much as catch it...
As the piece of dog food reduced the amount of space for the mouse's head to be when the arm came down, it ended up smashing it's face and allowing it to crawl off and die behind the freezer!

[Sky Shadow]

Ah man, don't be sad - It's an introduced pest that spreads disease and aids in the extinction of native species!

Hmm... the same goes for dogs and cats... therefore...

Hey everybody, Hursticon says it's okay to kill dogs and cats!