The new EEVblog lab...

[EEVblog]

I guess I can wait for a while for the next installment of the power supply build whilst you assemble the new lab.

Yes, unfortunately it's hard to get new videos out at the moment with xmas stuff, the new lab fitout, the old lab deconstruction, and other things happening all at once.

Dave.

[dcel]

Understood.

Happy Holidays.

Everybody just remember who suggested the 'Dave CAD' wall treatment. I can see it done tastefully as your '555' t-shirt is done. Then again, I as well as the other members probably, like that "Wall of Gear" look. You must have shopping on ebay to do... right? You cant have an empty lab with bare white walls, and a gearless rack, for the video backdrop, can you? 

Enjoy setting up the new lab... don't work too hard over the Holiday's...
Chris

[EEVblog]

Or even better, ranting at something. We miss drive-time rants.

The drive is only a few minutes, I ain't that good at succinctness!

Dave.

[Zad]

I was watching the Christmas special of "Man Lab" on BBC TV this weekend, and noticed that James May has an interesting wall:



It is definitely an artist's interpretation of a PCB, but it would look awesome if Dave got one of his old PCB designs zoomed up at a local print shop.

[ElectroElvis]

Congratulations on a new lab spaces, hope it serves you very well and to us blogers with your vids:D

[EEVblog]

The Internet connection drams's continue.
Got the phone connected with Telstra, and tried to join up with TPG ADSL2+ and got this message:

The service number that you nominated is not compatible for  ADSL2+  due to pair gain system,  however, it is compatible with our Broadband Off-Net plans.

Their "off-net" plans suck (uploads count + Telstra line rental). Might be stuck with Telstra...

Dave.

[djsb]

Is Telstra the incumbent telecoms provider in Australia like BT in the UK? We can choose different ISP providers but they still have to buy the service off BT Wholesale (or Openreach as theyre called now). I get my calls slightly cheaper as my ISP can buy the call allocation in bulk off BT and pass on the savings. Don't know about ADSL+ as I'm not sure my copper line can support it. I live in a rented room so can't get a fibre optic link set up (even if I needed it).

David.

[EEVblog]

Is Telstra the incumbent telecoms provider in Australia like BT in the UK? We can choose different ISP providers but they still have to buy the service off BT Wholesale (or Openreach as theyre called now).

Yep, that's how it works here.
Telstra was government owned and installed and owned all the copper, and still install most basic infrastructure.
The government then passed laws that said you could chose your phone and ISP provider and Testra had to relinquish the line on request.
But I suspect that my office (being so new) does not have any actual copper back the exchange, so likely has a local Telstra fibre and MUX, so there is no actual copper to let the other ISP's use it.
Homes are different, as most are wired back to exchanges where various ISP's install their own ADSL2+ DSLAM's.

Dave.

[GeoffS]

I had a similar 'pair gain' message when I tried to sign up for ADSL2 recently (can;t remember which ISP)
I ended up going with Exetel who had no problem with the same line. I even got my phone line through them as it was a lot cheaper than Telstra. Home installation so may not be applicable for business.

[amspire]

The Internet connection drams's continue.
Got the phone connected with Telstra, and tried to join up with TPG ADSL2+ and got this message:

The service number that you nominated is not compatible for  ADSL2+  due to pair gain system,  however, it is compatible with our Broadband Off-Net plans.

Their "off-net" plans suck (uploads count + Telstra line rental). Might be stuck with Telstra...

Dave.

You could try applying for a line transposition from Telstra and see if anything happens. It is possible that the previous people had one copper line, but when your phone was connected, they picked one of the paia gain lines instead.

If you go to the TPG coverage map  (  http://www.tpg.com.au/maps/ ), you can see what the local exchange has available.  If you are in the adsl2+ region, then you know it is possible to get a connection - it is a matter of whether you can convince Telstra to swap your lines. I wonder whether everyone in the units has pair gain, or whether Telstra added the pair gains specifically for your unit when the previous inhabitants requested all those extra phone lines.

Might also be worth checking with Dodo. I am with Dodo in a regional area as it seems to be the only provider offering good packages (I am on an "unlimited" account) using the Telstra ADSL2+ ports at the local exchange. I don't know if Dodo uses Telstra ADSL2+ ports in Sydney as well. If they do, they may be able to offer better packages then TPG's "Off Line" packages.

Richard.

[baljemmett]

Is Telstra the incumbent telecoms provider in Australia like BT in the UK? We can choose different ISP providers but they still have to buy the service off BT Wholesale (or Openreach as theyre called now).

Not quite -- BT Openreach look after the lines, BT Wholesale provide the services to ISPs on top -- for unbundled lines, BTW aren't involved but the copper will still be BTO's.  It's all good fun when it doesn't work, of course!

[nukie]

TPG great price if you don't need customer service.