Pair Gain Victims

Go to www.gcc.asn.au for the latest atempt to survey for broadband problems in Gungahlin, ACT.

Sending me an email  senator.lundy@aph.gov.au about your problems provides me with an insight into the level of impairment Telstra’s extensive use of ‘pair gains’ have on blocking broadband or limiting dial-up internet connection speeds.

Thankyou to everyone supporting this campaign.  The support has been inspiring. I am hoping that continuing pressure on Telstra will force them to be honest with their customers about the capacity of their network and the internet connection speeds customers can expect.  The ABC’s current affairs show, ‘7.30 Report’ investigated this issue on May 29, 2002. Click here for the transcript.

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7 Comments

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  1. Terry Brown
    Posted May 22, 2009 at 6:20 pm | Permalink | Reply

    Hi there Kate, are you still dealling with Telstra pair gain issue?? I got elected to the local council last year and asked telstra for a second line to operate the council computer on ADSL, they installed the line within a few weeks and oh my it was pair gain, when I complained they said no worries they gave me another number and said it would be changed the following week. but the technician told me there were no copper lines left (only pair gainsleft) I had to cancel my isp and change to the council isp on the one copper line that I have had for several years.
    Now I have a friend in the area that wants ADSL but has been told there are no lines available.
    This is several years after your report. Can anything be done???
    Thanks Terry Brown

    • Posted May 24, 2009 at 5:13 pm | Permalink | Reply

      Hi Terry
      RE: Pair Gain systems are unfortunately still rife and I still emails every few days or so about them. I am astounded to hear that Telstra recently installed a pair gain to facilitate on your request for another line, particularly if you requested another line for ADSL! Am I interpreting your situation correctly? I would take the issue as high as you can with Telstra locally. Let me know how you go.
      Kate

    • Posted June 1, 2009 at 9:52 am | Permalink | Reply

      Telstra seem to be still generally refusing to install new copper to get around the problem of pair gains. The fact that there are so many pair gain systems in the network still underpins the need for a new FTTP network altogether, hence the nbn. You are fortunate in a way to have a least one copper pair that can carry ADSL. I have had complaints from people that are only serviced by pair gains systems. Can I suggest also that as a council you request from Telstra the following information as you may find it quite insightful for your area: How many services (dial tones) are provided from the local (or any given) enchange? How many ADSL services are provided by Tesltra? How many Telstra ADSL ports are actually available in the exchange right now(possible new services for new Telstra ADSL customers)? How many more are scheduled to be available in the future? When?
      How many ADSL services are provided by other carriers? etc.
      As a council you may be interested to find this out.
      Also ask how many people are on the waiting list for ADSL (if any)
      And finally, how many services (dial-tones) on the exchange are servided via pair gains systems. Aks them to detail the type of pair gain systems for you. Note that some large pair gain systems (RIMS) can support a limited number of ADSL services.
      Good luck and let me know.

  2. Geoff Sams
    Posted June 2, 2009 at 2:56 pm | Permalink | Reply

    I have recently moved into a new house in a new subdivision. I contacted Telstra about a new phone service and specifically asked if ADSL was available. the response from Telstra” Once the line is activated you can get your ISP to check”.

    Well gues what? No ADSL because of pair gain and further, according to one of the many Telstra consultants ” Telstra aren’t interested in pair gain so you will never get ADSL. You will have to go wireless”
    Unfortuantely wireless does not give me a stable enough connection for working from home.

    here we are in a supposed first world country only to be shacked by a conglomerate like Telstra. So much for privatisation

  3. Posted June 26, 2009 at 12:40 am | Permalink | Reply

    If you stipulated that the line was for the purpose of ADSL, you might have a case with the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman or even the ACCC & Office of Fair Trading – depending on how much time you’d like to waste chasing a rabbit down a hole.

    I have lived and worked (IT) in many countries around the world and have never come across as many clients with pair gains issues as I have here in Australia. In fact (on a tangent), I am very disgusted in general at the pricing, availability and limitations of internet plans in Australia.

    Anyway, get your ISP to try and request a transposition test from Telstra, as there may be another viable route for you to take in order to get some form of ADSL – I say some form as you will most likely never be guaranteed a 100% working connection.

    Don’t give up and push your ISP or another ISP into trying to find a solution.

  4. Travis
    Posted July 1, 2009 at 3:38 pm | Permalink | Reply

    Hi,
    I am having the same issue with Telstra, I want to get ADSL 2 with another provider other than Big pond, I am currently on Bigpond ADSL 2, but when I called up Telstra with regards to this they said I need to contact TPG to get them to fix it, but apprently it is Telstra Lines and Telstra are not fixing the problem, and currently I am on a Pair gain line as well.

    arrrghhh soo F*&( annoying.

  5. Posted July 3, 2009 at 8:07 am | Permalink | Reply

    Travis, out of all of the service providers I have dealt with on this issue, TPG is by far the pick of the bunch. If one of our clients ever has an ADSL2 rejection advice while attempting to connect with another ISP, we will quickly advise them to try TPG, as they’re very proficient and helpful in trying to rectify the problem.

    Ask TPG to remove the pair gains and you might be able to sign up for ADSL 1, which is a little more costly due to its redundancy, but still very fast! Just note that Telstra can take their time in fixing the line – up to 6 weeks in some instances that I’ve seen.

    So stick with TPG until you get the final answer on your ADSL option/s, by then you should be well versed in the plight of Australia’s internet issues.

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