Armidale NBN users armed with big broadband quotas

By Ry Crozier on May 18, 2011 11:51 AM
Filed under Telco/ISP

What NBN first release customers get from their ISPs.

ISPs Telstra, Internode and iiNet have furnished small numbers of existing customers in the NSW regional town of Armidale with the first NBN fibre connections on the mainland - and at least 200 GB of quota to play with.

The service providers represented three-quarters of those participating in a "limited trial phase" for the mainland NBN, running "preliminary tests" involving a "limited number" of existing customers.

A Telstra spokesman told iTnews that it had a "handful" of existing customers connected in the Armidale first release site.

"We expect this to increase to around 40 once the trial is in full swing," the spokesman said.

"We're testing NBN Co's range of speeds (12, 25, 50 and 100 Mbps) and customers will get a 200 GB monthly allowance.

"We'll also be testing how products such as the T-Box and T-Hub operate over the NBN."

An iiNet spokesman told iTnews that it had "two trial customers on 100 Mbps speeds on a Terabyte plan."

The spokesman said the two customers were "previously [only] able to get 1.5Mbps" connections to the internet.

Internode managing director Simon Hackett told iTnews that a "small number of customers had been switched on for testing purposes" in Armidale, some of whom attended today's launch.

"During the mainland trial phase, we will be offering existing ADSL customers a free NBN connection alongside their paid ADSL connection," Hackett said.

"It will be at 100 Megabits [a second] and with a 200 GB quota, to provide a good sense of the practical potential of the NBN."

Hackett said the trial period would run "until NBN Co have completed their wholesale access agreements, set up their billing ... systems, and sorted out migration and related processes."

NBN Co's roadmap, announced last week, indicated that could take place sometime after September.

"After the formal launch, we will be offering trial access to the NBN to all customers of Internode in all First Release sites as soon as NBN Co allow us to do so."

ISP iPrimus was also contacted for comment for this story but a representative could not be reached at the time of publication.

Telstra, Internode, iiNet and iPrimus were just the first four service providers to complete the on-boarding process to provide services on the NBN.

A second round of ISPs and wholesale aggregators was expected to join the first four once the NBN first release sites were ready to support full commercial broadband services later this year.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard "officially" switched on services in Armidale today, although the first trial users had been live for about a month.

"This test phase is a critical step in building the network, working with telecommunications providers and integrating our operating systems as we aim to provide the best possible service throughout the future rollout," an NBN Co spokesman said in a statement.

The Armidale first release site covered 4,882 premises - or 2,900 without counting the University of New England.

Armidale NBN users armed with big broadband quotas

84 comments in this discussion

""people who don't understand what they don't understand." haha, too true. Made my morning."

By Mark D

Tags

armidale, nbn, broadband, first, release, site, launch, trial, download, quota, 200gb, terabyte, iinet, internode, telstra, iprimus

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Comments: 84

deepthroat May 18, 2011 4:24 PM	Anyone there check what the back haul out of Armidale costs? Last look it was around 500k p.a. for a 1 gig. Of course the NBN isn't building back haul capability so the big guys will still get to rape and pillage.......smoke and mirrors.
MerariSchroeder May 18, 2011 4:53 PM	It'll be interesting to see 1) How many choose to connect (after the billing systems etc. are set up), and 2) What plans they connect to (i'm assuming most 12Mbps), and 3) How many will disconnect within 6 months. It remains to be seen.
rik May 18, 2011 5:42 PM	Regarding the "two trial customers on 100 Mbps speeds on a Terabyte plan.", These people are most likely typical pc users and will not be able to trial the service at full speed. (Google and other sites will only open up so fast, then it will depend on your pc hardware). Perhaps give it to a few businesses or some IT professionals to benchmark the reliability and performance of that 100 Mbps connection. Home users dont need 100Mbps. Business do.
HyRax May 18, 2011 7:52 PM	@rik: Speak for yourself - I run servers at home (admittedly one for business, but the rest are for my own personal stuff) and would love my visitors to have faster access. It would also open the door up to creating my own game servers without having to rely on VPS or over-crowded public servers. Faster access would also make it far easier for me to remote access my folks and fix any problems they have with their PC's.
HubertCumberdale May 18, 2011 10:05 PM	rik wrote: Home users dont need 100Mbps. Like HyRax says speak for yourself. Also how much bandwidth people need now and in the future are two different things, bandwidth needs are increasing and will continue to increase. So even if someone says they dont need 100Mbps now they certainly wont be saying that in 5 or 10 years time. Seriously try not to be so shortsighted... it could be argued that home users dont need 20mbps but are you willing to go back to dial-up? Also upload speeds, you ever consider that? Is 1mbps acceptable in 2011? 2015? 2020? 2030?
deepthroat May 19, 2011 8:16 AM	@HyRax - you are in the minority. The NBN is the answer to a question that the vast majority of Australian's have never asked. Would we like higher speed? Sure. At any price? No. This monster will cost over 100billion dollars if it is ever finished. That buys a lot of other stuff that an ageing population is going to need. If you are running a business from home then pay the commercial rates for uncontested bandwidth - I can get you a quote for any speed you like. If your business case stacks up then the price wont be a problem, kind of like the question we are all asking about the NBN.
anonymous May 19, 2011 11:44 AM	Wrong again, deepthroat. The NBN is the answer to the question that most people will be asking (and demanding an answer to) in ten years time, when construction will be completed. And for fifty years after that. The "stuff that an ageing population is going to need" will continue come out of Budget allocations, just as it does now. The eventual cost of commercially financing the NBN does not come out of the Budget.
HubertCumberdale May 19, 2011 12:05 PM	deepthroat wrote: you are in the minority. I think you'll find you are the one in the minority. deepthroat wrote: The NBN is the answer to a question that the vast majority of Australian's have never asked. That's incorrect the question we are asking is why wasn't anything done about this problem when the coalition was in power? deepthroat wrote: Would we like higher speed? Sure. At any price? No. Because anything more than $6 billion is too much? Right? deepthroat wrote: This monster will cost over 100billion dollars if it is ever finished. oh it's a $100 billion now? why just yesterday it was $55 billion, I just assumed the coalition was adding $5 billion a day. Seems I was wrong. deepthroat wrote: That buys a lot of other stuff that an ageing population is going to need. Define "stuff". deepthroat wrote: kind of like the question we are all asking about the NBN. What is "the question"?
deepthroat May 19, 2011 3:09 PM	Anonymous - I notice when reviewing your last ten comments that they are all reactions and critical of others. Why dont you sit down and try pumping out an original idea or two.
deepthroat May 19, 2011 3:25 PM	@hubert - whats up mate? Are you a bit frightened that your national gaming network might not get up? The coalition didnt do anything? Seem to recall a thing called OPEL. Con-Boy killed it. Shame, most remote locations would have services by now.
scooter May 19, 2011 5:14 PM	@deepthroat - Mate the ISP's have had the technology for years to provide fast access but haven't done it and never will because like the cable tv fiasco, it costs too much to duplicate the infrastructure. The NBN is the only way that Oz will compete with nations that actually have the population to support the business model you suggest works. You seem to have your head up a very tight place to think otherwise as you don't seem able to see very far into the future. Were you a fervent supporter of the 64KB statement as well??????
HubertCumberdale May 19, 2011 6:17 PM	deepthroat wrote: @hubert - whats up mate? Are you a bit frightened that your national gaming network might not get up? Frightened? frightened of what? It's going ahead so the real question is what are you frightened of? Does this 'advanced' technology scare you? Also I noticed you avoided the tough questions. Were they too scary as well? deepthroat wrote: The coalition didnt do anything? Seem to recall a thing called OPEL. Con-Boy killed it. Shame, most remote locations would have services by now. LOL thanks for proving you really don't have a clue. OPEL would have been a wireless and ADSL2+ network no better than what we have right now. You should thank the government for killing off as this actually would have been a waste of taxpayers monies. btw, just so you know I dont play video games anymore but that application is just as valid as anyone elses. Edited by HubertCumberdale: 19/5/2011 06:18:53 PM
anonymous May 19, 2011 6:26 PM	@deepthroat: "Why dont you sit down and try pumping out an original idea or two." After you, my unlearned friend. We are all waiting to see you lead by example here instead of constantly repeating your uninformed opposition for the sake of opposing.
deepthroat May 19, 2011 7:38 PM	Scooter, anonymous and Hubert. Or should I call you Larry Curly and Mo? I am going to guess that none of you own or have run your own business, I'll wager that none of you none of you pay anyone elses wages. I am going to suggest that your house isnt mortgaged to protect an over draft. I'll bet that you have not hand your hands in the fire. (I'll bet that Hubert doesnt know what I mean by that) Almost certainly you have never stood at the checkout wondering if you have enough to pay for this weeks food and what you are going to have to put back. Or wondered how the hell you are going to pay for another new pair of school shoes because you boy's feet have grown - again. To blindly support the spending of such a vast sum of public money, without questioning it shows a lack of maturity and judgment. Dont worry boys - the good news is that we all grow eventually - just give it time, I am confident that you will make it.
HubertCumberdale May 19, 2011 10:04 PM	deepthroat wrote: Scooter, anonymous and Hubert. Or should I call you Larry Curly and Mo? I am going to guess blah blah blah Yes just keep avoiding the tough questions and make more baseless assumptions. Face it you have nothing substantial to add to this debate and this latest tirade is proof of that... deepthroat wrote: Almost certainly you have never stood at the checkout wondering if you have enough to pay for this weeks food and what you are going to have to put back. You are right I have never had that problem. You want to know why; I know how to manage money no matter how much or little I have had. Government isn't to blame for your woes… deepthroat wrote: Or wondered how the hell you are going to pay for another new pair of school shoes because you boy's feet have grown - again. Boo hoo? If you think the government not spending that money on the NBN is going to help your situation then you are even more deluded than I originally thought, hey I have an idea how about you ditch your internet and then you'll be able to pay for those shoes! Stop playing online games and drinking! yeah I can make assumptions too yay! deepthroat wrote: To blindly support the spending of such a vast sum of public money Do you really think the amount of money that is going to be spent on the NBN over the course of the build is a ‘vast sum’ for a country like Australia? deepthroat wrote: without questioning it shows a lack of maturity and judgment. Explain what is to question, why would I question it when I am in favour of it? Or Am I supposed to question the amount because you believe it is too much? What is the right amount $5 billion? $6 billion? $26 billion? deepthroat wrote: Dont worry boys - the good news is that we all grow eventually - just give it time, I am confident that you will make it. yes yes, please keep embarrassing yourself too, I'm actually finding this quite entertaining now.
deepthroat May 20, 2011 8:32 AM	Sorry Hubert - I can see now that you lack the ability to understand anything in the abstract or anything other than that has an effect on you. Part of the i-pod generations view of the world I guess. Of course one tiny detail that may have escaped you is that unless you live in a marginal labour seat or a remote location - with a population of more than 1000 souls - you wont see the NBN. The major cities will be the last to get it. If ever. By the way do you need me to explain what "hands in the fire" means?
HubertCumberdale May 20, 2011 11:11 AM	deepthroat wrote: Sorry Hubert - I can see now that you lack the ability to understand anything in the abstract or anything other than that has an effect on you. Part of the i-pod generations view of the world I guess. HubertCumberdale wrote: Yes just keep avoiding the tough questions and make more baseless assumptions. and thanks for stopping by.
deepthroat May 20, 2011 11:32 AM	Hubert - if you pay tax you should understand. All of the money that is being spent by the government is yours. You will pay for this NBN network twice. Once to build it and again to use it. If there is a tough question that you would like to ask me then please do. And my assumptions are not baseless - I know who you are.
HubertCumberdale May 20, 2011 11:45 AM	deepthroat wrote: All of the money that is being spent by the government is yours. You will pay for this NBN network twice. Once to build it and again to use it. So your first complaint is when taxpayers money is used to pay for the network and your second complaint is when that money is payed back to the taxpayer? deepthroat wrote: If there is a tough question that you would like to ask me then please do. You can start with this one: What is the right amount $5 billion? $6 billion? $26 billion? deepthroat wrote: And my assumptions are not baseless - I know who you are. You know who I am? Is this an admission of stalking? Please continue to dig a deeper hole for yourself... should I hit the report button now?
Ace May 20, 2011 12:49 PM	I'm not sure you understand how money works @deepthroat. It doesn't simply appear out of thin air. It has to be generated, usually via production and services. It doesn't matter how a network is built, or who builds it. The end user always pays for it. The difference when a government builds something is that it is not required, or expected, to profit from it. So it's cheaper for the end user. That is clear. The NBN is a pretty much no-risk investment in infrastructure because there is no doubt it will be used to capacity well within it's lifetime. Not building an NBN is not going to help you buy shoes for your kids. In fact, there is almost no saving from not building it. I assume when you say "The major cities will be the last to get it. If ever.", you are expecting the coalition to return to power and scuttle the project before the NBN is complete. That indeed would be a shame. When you refer to 'vast sums', you should check NBN costs versus similar infrastructure costs. You'll be impressed with what good value for money it is. Well OK, maybe not impressed, but at least slight pleased.
deepthroat May 20, 2011 3:00 PM	@Ace - I have clearly have no clue how money works - For some stupid reason I thought that my tax dollars would be spent carefully ensuring that best value was always front of mind. By your own logic why build something that will be full to capacity within its own lifetime? If this is the case then shouldnt we plan ahead and build a bigger better one? Perhaps we should be using the new seaweed discharge nanotech proton plasma quad air squirt technology. Or maybe we should build a fibre backbone that reaches all communities and allow for commercial pressure and inovation to decide how services will reach the home.
Ace May 20, 2011 4:35 PM	Well that's simple @deepthroat. You can't build something where the technology does not exist. You can only build for what is currently available. How do you plan for something that does not yet exist? That would be foolish. I don't really understand why you think Telstra would build the ideal network for free, and then charge a modest sum for access. Hasn't happened in the past, doesn't happen today. Can't imagine why it would happen in the future. In fact, it defies logic.
anonymous May 20, 2011 5:07 PM	@Ace, why feed the trolls. It only encourages them. Must admit they can be amusing though, particularly when they say things like "I have clearly have no clue how money works". Apart from the mangled syntax, which is revealing in itself, the unintended humour comes from somebody who accuses others of being negative while using every post to attack one of the most farsighted infrastructure projects in our history.
deepthroat May 22, 2011 7:37 PM	Amazing that you kids have nothing to say until someone questions your gaming network. Sit back, pop the top on another 2litre bottle of Pepsi Max, order a pizza and download your dreams. Soon you will have the responsibilty of life in your hands - and I dont mean COD IV. Try to learn on the way there. Bye
wjc May 22, 2011 8:41 PM	Battery - Just a question to anyone there in Armidale on the NBN? Did you install the battery in the power backup unit or did NBN Co. do it? What backup time did they give you for conditions under mains power outage ? (The standard for Verizon in the USA is 7 to 8 hours.) Will NBN install the next battery and dispose of the old one? Not much point having 100Mbits/sec and digital voice if there is no power and now, remember, your ordinary phone is totally dependent upon the NBN!!! (Remember our current copper system has power backup and resilience that is the responsibility of Telstra. Here in Queensland all suppliers recommend that you keep a direct connect phone - a corded one, not a cordless one that needs 240V - to plug in when power goes out and you need to make at least some phone calls - even emergency ones. No - a mobile phone is NOT the answer! Their batteries are even worse! Interestingly, during the Brisbane floods, one person reported to me that even though their power was off their phone still worked - even though the phone lines were underwater! Now that is the sort of resilience we need guaranteed from the NBN and Minister Conroy! (I shudder at the thought of disposing of millions of lead-acid or even gell batteries - and they only last a few years - just like you car battery.)
DazzaJ May 23, 2011 8:17 PM	While Mr. ConBoy, Quickfee and Ms. Retard are running the show then we all have to suffer, so the minority can enjoy their porn and games and pirated music. Simply upgrading the basic structure available could give everyone excess of 20 to 30 MBit connection for minimal cost, plently fast enough to download XXXX and pirated music! At the end of the day they can only guarantee a measly 12 MBit/sec. I get 10 MBit now in a country exchange!
Mordd May 23, 2011 9:00 PM	LMAO @ "the kids" reference, id be willing to take a stab in the dark that the majority of ppl commenting here have jobs and are fully aware of the responsibilities of life - and no I don't mean COD IV either (seriously though I can think of better games than that :P). Well deepthroat to use your style of posting - hey grandpa just chill out and let us kids worry about this NBN thing hey, you'll be dead by the time it comes to your house so don't worry us kids have got it all under control ;P
deepthroat May 24, 2011 12:21 PM	@Mordd - my generation invented the computer, networks, and the internet, what's yours going to do?
anonymous May 24, 2011 12:54 PM	@deepthroat, apparently your generation (or some of them) want to keep everything back at v1.0 as a memorial to yourselves. Anyway, your previous post said Bye, so we figured that was one less FUDster to have to deal with.
HubertCumberdale May 24, 2011 1:48 PM	deepthroat wrote: @Mordd - my generation invented the computer, networks, and the internet, what's yours going to do? Really? Isn't that the same generation that thought spraying DDT around the home was a good idea? btw I cant speak for mordds generation but I can speak for mine; We came up with the idea of using fibre optics for communications to improve the internet, invented WDM and Optical amplifiers all technologies that will be used in the NBN... Sorry :-(
HubertCumberdale May 24, 2011 2:13 PM	DazzaJ wrote: I get 10 MBit now in a country exchange! Unless you are using dial-up then you are a pirate.
deepthroat May 24, 2011 2:40 PM	No @hubert - the DDT generation was one or two before mine. BTW the first fibre optic communications device was invented in 1790, Bell patented the optical phone in 1880. Why dont you run down the hill and chase a few cows.
HubertCumberdale May 24, 2011 3:22 PM	deepthroat wrote: No @hubert - the DDT generation was one or two before mine. Regardless it still seems to have affected you... deepthroat wrote: BTW the first fibre optic communications device was invented in 1790, Bell patented the optical phone in 1880. What does this have to do with anything? You realise these were actually both wireless "technologies" and had nothing to do with fibre which is what is being discussed: Quote: Optical communication systems date back two centuries, to the "optical telegraph" that French engineer Claude Chappe invented in the 1790s. His system was a series of semaphores mounted on towers, where human operators relayed messages from one tower to the next. It beat hand-carried messages hands down, but by the mid-19th century was replaced by the electric telegraph, leaving a scattering of "Telegraph Hills" as its most visible legacy. and Quote: Alexander Graham Bell patented an optical telephone system, which he called the Photophone, in 1880, but his earlier invention, the telephone, proved far more practical. He dreamed of sending signals through the air, but the atmosphere didn't transmit light as reliably as wires carried electricity. In the decades that followed, light was used for a few special applications, such as signalling between ships, but otherwise optical communications, like the experimental Photophone Bell donated to the Smithsonian Institution, languished on the shelf. http://www.sff.net/people/Jeff.hecht/history.html There is no fibre involved here in either of these I'm sorry, perhaps you should do some research before using esoteric (and not relevant) examples to prove a point, otherwise it can make you look foolish but in your case more foolish... Quote: First developed in the 1970s, fiber-optic communication systems have revolutionized the telecommunications industry and have played a major role in the advent of the Information Age. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiber-optic_communication Thanks for stopping by!
deepthroat May 24, 2011 3:28 PM	@hoobie - quick! there goes another cow.
HubertCumberdale May 24, 2011 3:35 PM	oh great we have another cry baby, I realise you are still feeling a bit depressed over the whole NBN project going ahead but do you think you could post something that is relevant for once? Old man ramblings really dont fit on tech sites like this.
anonymous May 24, 2011 5:41 PM	@Hubert, we should always be kind and supportive (well, up to a point) of those who come up with the same outdated and inaccurate mantra. Every day. After all, we may eventually finish up at the same point of senility ourselves, so we wouldn't want the grandchildren of the current perpetrators to be slinging off at us then, would we? ;-)
HubertCumberdale May 24, 2011 8:55 PM	Perhaps you have a point anon but I doubt the grandchildren will be complaining, I imagine they'll be thanking us since we had the foresight to build such a stunning network :-)
Ace May 24, 2011 10:50 PM	...or they might look in the IT News archives and notice that 'scientists transfer 700 DVDs in one second', then we went on to build a 1Gbs network. WTF? And it won't be your grandchildren, it'll be your children.
BrissyBoy May 25, 2011 9:29 AM	“We must make a personal attack when there is no argumentative basis for our speech” Marcus Tullius Cicero
deepthroat May 25, 2011 10:29 AM	@Ace - 700 DVD's in one second! WOW!. That's fantastic I am sure that in another few years it will be 14,000 DVD's - but tell me something. How many can you watch or read in the same time frame? You see the weak link in all of your arguments about speed is that we humans are the bottle neck. We cant process this massive amount of data any faster than we did when it was written down. As Hoobie showed it only took him a few seconds to Google up the history of light based comms. How much faster could he have done this if his network was running at 1Gbs? No argument that a faster network is better that a slower one - as I have said all along just not at any price.
Ace May 25, 2011 11:38 AM	When you say "we humans" @deepthroat, I assume you mean you, and some of your elderly friends. Some of us humans work a little quicker. And in any case, you'll be gratified to know that the NBN isn't being built 'at any price', it has been costed out, planned for and budgeted - which is exactly what any decent citizen (like your good self) would hope for.
deepthroat May 25, 2011 12:21 PM	@Ace - thats right you young blokes are quicker. One day you will understand the value of taking your time. You should try it - your girl friend will thank you.
augrunt May 25, 2011 1:57 PM	@deepthroat - Too true mate, we are too quick but it does help me get in-and-out before you get home. Although I do take my time for my enjoyment as well when I get the chance. She's just so demanding, she must be from the "i-pod" generation.
augrunt May 25, 2011 2:03 PM	Now that we've gotten the childishness out of the way, which you so ironically inspired considering your stance about us "kids" maybe you should kindly get the hell off your high horse and have a moment of realisation that the NBN "will" help, and "will" do its intended role for society. Something that the private sector did not give two craps about. I've read your ENTIRE comments from top to bottom and I've noticed a pattern, first you denied it outright because of the costs, then you moved straight to attacking its potential users to customers, after that failed you attacked that the network itself reaching full capacity implies it is not required, why not build a bigger one, to which only moments before you also complained about the '100 billion dollar' cost. Do you seriously expect me to take "you" seriously when you can't hold your own points? You were trumped each time. Sure, it's expensive, i'll give you that. I rather my tax dollars (I get paid a LOT and get TAXED a lot, not bad for a Gen Y) go to something I know will help then to idiots like you who needs me to buy you a digital top-box because you are too stuck in the past. WAKE UP mate... your use of "deepthroat" is also an insult to me considering "deepthroat" was actually an informant with some knowledge into what he was trying to expose, you obviously have nothing and have just exposed your own ignorance. Wake up and welcome to the real world. If it's moving too fast for you, get out of the damn way.
HubertCumberdale May 25, 2011 2:27 PM	deepthroat wrote: We cant process this massive amount of data any faster than we did when it was written down. Newsflash: The internet is not just text (which is what you seem to be implying) there is more to it, more data doesnt mean our brains have to process anymore than we did before it means we can get more DETAILED data, we go from SD to HD to eventually 4k, rather than 500x500 thumbnail sizes images on webpages we can use 2000x2000 images on 4k displays etc. These are just a few examples. deepthroat wrote: it only took him a few seconds to Google up the history of light based comms. It was so simple and yet you couldn't do it... so you've just established that ones ability to use Google is not dependent on internet speeds... so what? deepthroat wrote: How much faster could he have done this if his network was running at 1Gbs? I could have done it on dial-up too, are you still on dial-up? deepthroat wrote: No argument that a faster network is better that a slower one - as I have said all along just not at any price. HubertCumberdale wrote: What is the right amount $5 billion? $6 billion? $26 billion? Well?
HubertCumberdale May 25, 2011 2:44 PM	augrunt wrote: I rather my tax dollars (I get paid a LOT and get TAXED a lot, not bad for a Gen Y) go to something I know will help I'm with you on this one, I mean isn't the reason why we pay taxes so the government can improve infrastructure... wait for the inevitable "they should spend it on roads, hospitals, schools etc" arguments... No the actual reason why they dont want this money spent on the NBN is purely political, they want the coalition to not spend that money because it suits they agenda which is "all talk no action" they did nothing while they were in power all they did was some broadband guarantee plan which was a joke, then at the last election they come up with a patchwork FTTN plan that was an even bigger joke and an insult to all Australians... even if the coalition won the election there is no guarantee they would have done their FTTN plan anyway. We would have been back to square one "she'll be right mate! private sector blah blah blah"
deepthroat May 25, 2011 3:00 PM	Let me guess @augrunt, Gen Y puts you in your 20's? You sound like you know a thing or two - you even pay tax -"LOT's". And thanks for the set top boxes - although you should be a little concerned that the same people that are happy to pay $300 a unit (that would be the current government) could provide exactly the same device for around $160. Is there room in your super fast mind to wonder if maybe the same people might be paying over the odds for the NBN? As for the Deepthroat name - I earn my money, and let me tell you son, its a shed load more than you get, building the NBN. Oh and Hoobie - I hope the number is 50billion + because I get to bank my share every month.
BrissyBoy May 26, 2011 9:11 AM	@Deepthroat - I too am with you on this one. "And thanks for the set top boxes - although you should be a little concerned that the same people that are happy to pay $300 a unit (that would be the current government) could provide exactly the same device for around $160. Is there room in your super fast mind to wonder if maybe the same people might be paying over the odds for the NBN?" Gerry Harvey came when this was announced and said he could buy the STB's for $50 landed in AU, install them with his team of installers for @ $60 a total of $110, the red Minge gives him $300 and he pockets $190. With all these make work schemes Pink Bats, Solar Rebates, Education Revolution, $900 to dead animlas and overseas pensioners, they have turned a $21B surplus into a $51Bn deficit and growing borrowings at $100M a day. These guys really know what they are doing. Labor (bastardised french for tree l'abor), has not delivered a balanced Budget in my life, includeing the Whitlam years. The project is not fully costed as is evidenced by their killing off the build tender because 14 respondents said the job would cot $x to build, which was in excess of the fully costed and budgeted expectations and therefore the respondents are gouging. That is procurement speak for we plucked a number out of or backside. I have 100MB/s and love it, but guess what I hardly notice the difference for offshore data as like all things, a network is as fast as its slowest link. The NBN builds a Freeway from my home directly to the exchange where my bandwidth will be aggregated with everone elses and share a backhaul link to somewhere, where my rbandwidth is aggregated yet again and again until I reach a server. Have you ever wondered why there is no freight terminal in front of your house to deliver that package from Amazon to you? "I am not ashamed to confess I am ignorant of what I do not know” Cicero
Tom Brown May 26, 2011 10:01 AM	Dear BrissyBoy I am happy to see you regurgitating Coalition trash. The allocation for a set is up to $300, see if Gerry will get a Tech to drive to Blackbutt to install one for $60. You effectively lie in your post and if you really took notice of your quote then you would have done your homework! No budget ever balances! If the budget is not all spent then it is not in balance only that some of the projections were over quoted or someone was screwed over better than expected. The willingness to spend when it is needed rather than put the screws on (normally at the cost to lower paid workers, funny, you are probably one of those puts the budget over. PS: Cicero played a critical role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire!
HubertCumberdale May 26, 2011 11:58 AM	Thread summary so far: Page 1 Baseless assumptions, non-facts and posturing courtesy of deepthroat. Apparent baby boomers dont know how to manage money. Apparent baby boomers expect government hand outs to pay for their kids shoes and shopping. Page 2 Yet more baseless assumptions. Gen X and Gen Y are awesome. Someone tries to rewrite history and apparently "human operators" are actually optical fibres. Apparent baby boomers dont know how to use Google. Apparent localised old man ramblings that no one cares about. BrissyBoy chimes in with a "meaningful" quote... Page 3 Gen X and Gen Y are still awesome. Apparent baby boomers avoid the "tough" questions. More ramblings that no one cares about. Now we have a topic switch because talking about the NBN was a bit too much for them... BrissyBoy wrote: Gerry Harvey came when this was announced and said he could buy the STB's for $50 landed in AU, install them with his team of installers for @ $60 a total of $110 blah blah blah Gerry Harvey is a well known tool, he's very good at ripping off customers and this example is no different, do you really think he'd be making such a "great offer" if there wasn't anything in it for him? BrissyBoy wrote: I have 100MB/s and love it, but guess what I hardly notice the difference for offshore data as like all things, a network is as fast as its slowest link. Disregarding the mangled sentence your solution to this is not to build the NBN? You know international links have no need to upgrade now because there is no demand when there IS more demand these links will improve but by your logic where do you start? Shouldn't build a 100mbit network because the international links cant cope? No point improving international links because most people are still on ADSL? So where do you start? Keep in mind how it has worked in the past. BrissyBoy wrote: "I am not ashamed to confess I am ignorant of what I do not know” Cicero "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt." Edited by HubertCumberdale: 26/5/2011 12:05:24 PM
deepthroat May 26, 2011 2:03 PM	@hubris - if you can answer this one question you can get have early mark. What does the term "hands in the fire" mean?
HubertCumberdale May 26, 2011 2:12 PM	deepthroat wrote: @hubris - if you can answer this one question you can get have early mark. What does the term "hands in the fire" mean? oh we are back to page one, you seem to be so eager about this phrase so go ahead and tell us what it means... btw I dont care.
dingo-power May 26, 2011 4:17 PM	Deepthroat - you have a good point. I agree with your overall positiion re this issue. It's a shame all the Conroy fans cant understand the damage that is being done to our economy with this excessive waste of money by NBNco.
deepthroat May 26, 2011 4:38 PM	@hubert - "hands in the fire" - equals the difference between you and me. It represents the knowledge that can only be gained from experience. You generally dont recognize it until after it has happened. It means taking the heat and the ownership of a decision, good bad or otherwise. It means facing the consequences of your actions without laying off the blame. It is easy to be enthusiastic about the gee whizzery of life at your stage of the journey. Enjoy it because things will change. All of us "old fools" that you just dont understand smile and nod for a reason - and it aint always Parkinsons.
grump3 May 26, 2011 4:42 PM	HC, Please go easy on us Old Timers...we're not all stuck in the past using tin cans/string & struggling to use a C-64 like DT. Perhaps he should learn to use EBay to get his Kid's shoes on the cheap? (at the risk of upsetting H. Norman)
deepthroat May 26, 2011 4:44 PM	Dingo - nice to hear from a sensible voice. The X,Y,Z generations dont seem to be capable of understanding that questioning value for money is not always the same thing as questioning the technology. Gets em all fired up, like they have just had a real Pepsi instead of the diet one.
dingo-power May 26, 2011 4:55 PM	It would be nice if this was just a debate about the tech-weenies. But it's really about National value. $40b would be handy about now to help clear up the Swan mess. (Although he would probably waste it by giving every techno-child a free router.) What happened to the Australian value of work and fair-value. It seems that the NBN-web-surfers think the new symbol for Gigabyte is $$. I remember back when the internet didnt need a Government Department to exist - progress was dynamic, quick and the end-user market voted for what it wanted with cash not debt.
grump3 May 26, 2011 5:09 PM	DT & Dingo Let me describe the situation in a way that you might be able to comprehend: Our present National communications infrastructure can be aptly described as a one-lane dirt track Telstra operated tollway, really only suited to horse & wagon. The NBN will turn those tracks into sealed roads & multi-lane highways as applicable. Thus enabling the use of modern transport.
HubertCumberdale May 26, 2011 6:04 PM	deepthroat wrote: @hubert - "hands in the fire" - equals the difference between you and me blah blah blah No. The difference between you and me is you make baseless assumptions and rant like a lunatic. I do not. btw nobody cares about your irrelevant phrases. dingo-power wrote: Deepthroat - you have a good point. I agree with your overall positiion re this issue. It's a shame all the Conroy fans cant understand the damage that is being done to our economy with this excessive waste of money by NBNco. wow, you signed up today just to agree with deepthroat and spout another worn out line from The Australian? btw no one is a fan of Conroy, just because someone is in favor of the NBN does not mean they voted Labor either. grump3 wrote: HC, Please go easy on us Old Timers...we're not all stuck in the past using tin cans/string Yes, I know. Unfortunately people like deepthroat make it look bad for the rest of you. deepthroat wrote: The X,Y,Z generations dont seem to be capable of understanding that questioning value for money HubertCumberdale wrote: What is the right amount $5 billion? $6 billion? $26 billion? Well?
HubertCumberdale May 26, 2011 6:15 PM	grump3 wrote: Let me describe the situation in a way that you might be able to comprehend I think you'd be wasting your time here. You are dealing with people that think significant progress has been made since Telstra was sold despite Australia having some of the slowest internet speeds in the world.
deepthroat May 26, 2011 7:27 PM	@grump3 - Big difference with the NBN vs your road analogy is that once your tax dollars have been used to build the road you can drive on it whenever you like without being charged for every trip. (And @Pubert before you start - toll roads are built with private enterprise dollars so pull your head in)
deepthroat May 26, 2011 7:39 PM	@hoober - I see that "hands in the fire" is a leap too far for your still developing, Pepsi soaked mind to understand. 14 companies bid for the NBN build and none of them could squeeze a price into Connroy's fantasy. Yet you seem to be fixated on the idea that there is a magic number that is the correct one. Look there goes another cow...
HubertCumberdale May 26, 2011 9:13 PM	deepthroat wrote: @hoober - I see that "hands in the fire" is a leap too far for your still developing, Pepsi soaked mind to understand. Yes yes, we heard this all on page one... deepthroat wrote: Yet you seem to be fixated on the idea that there is a magic number that is the correct one. You were the one who said "Sure. At any price? No." So surely you must know what a good price is for broadband network, you dont have to be exact just round it off to the nearest billion. Pretty easy... unless you are a member liberal party in which case you would round it up to the nearest 10. deepthroat wrote: Look there goes another cow... Obsessed with cows and fires, this certainly is concerning... deepthroat wrote: @grump3 - Big difference with the NBN vs your road analogy is that once your tax dollars have been used to build the road you can drive on it whenever you like without being charged for every trip. You are wrong again. Once your tax dollars have payed for the roads you have to pay for a car and the fuel it uses. Do you expect the government to pay for these as well? I dont.
grump3 May 27, 2011 1:48 AM	deepthroat wrote: "you can drive on it whenever you like without being charged for every trip" Not quite! You still pay compulsory annual rego & TPI for each vehicle even when it's sitting in the garage not to mention the tax loading on your fuel. Then if you don't want the Government to spend your tax dollars to construct your "free to drive on" roads perhaps you're happy to let multiple Private Enterprise developers create a system of competing tollways to reach your destinations instead?
deepthroat May 27, 2011 9:27 AM	@grump - You pay annual rego etc if you have a car - that would be the equal of your ISP/data charges (not part of the NBN charges) - fuel is equal to your power bill to run your PC - (not part of the NBN charges). And no I dont want private contractors building more toll roads - I expect my government to wisely build the roads most needed by the community by carefully using our tax dollars.
deepthroat May 27, 2011 9:28 AM	@hooper - ask your dad about the old bull and the young bull - then you will understand the reference to cows.
deepthroat May 27, 2011 9:54 AM	@hoober - said "You are wrong again. Once your tax dollars have payed for the roads you have to pay for a car and the fuel it uses. Do you expect the government to pay for these as well? I dont". Well Hoopie do they pay for your PC, ISP, Content, software and power? - Didnt think so.
grump3 May 27, 2011 10:57 AM	deepthroat wrote: "your ISP/data charges (not part of the NBN charges) Quite incorrect (as usual) You won't be paying the NBN anything, they are wholesalers to your ISP, you will pay you ISP full stop. Also wrote: "I expect my government to wisely build the roads most needed by the community by carefully using our tax dollars" That's exactly what they're presently attempting to do. Instead of wasting those tax dollars patching up our ancient, inadequate & failing copper network. To go back to my previous analogy, there comes a time when you need to cease just running a grader over those corrugations & potholes & replace that dirt track with a proper roadway that can handle the ever increasing traffic volume.
HubertCumberdale May 27, 2011 12:17 PM	deepthroat wrote: @hooper - ask your dad about the old bull and the young bull - then you will understand the reference to cows. Once again. Don't care. deepthroat wrote: Well Hoopie do they pay for your PC, ISP, Content, software and power? - Didnt think so. Thanks for proving my point.
Mark D May 27, 2011 12:54 PM	deepthroat reminds me of another old troll. 0/10
deepthroat May 27, 2011 1:46 PM	@grump - so by your logic because the ISP buys the access from the NBN at a wholesale price and then sells it to you and you dont pay for the NBN access? Let me know how that works. Hoobie - thats right you dont care. Which is why you keep coming back for more. >>>an old bull and young bull are standing on a hill. In the field below there is a herd of cows. The young bull says "quick lets run down the hill and shag some cows!" The old bull says "no son lets walk down and shag all of them" So endith your lesson.
grump3 May 27, 2011 2:05 PM	DT, "the ISP buys the access from the NBN at a wholesale price and then sells it to you and you dont pay for the NBN access?" Duh! You're the one who earlier stated: "ISP/data charges (not part of the NBN charges)" Perhaps English is not your first language/ else perhaps you'd care to share the Village Idiot of the year award with Alan Jones over his comments deriding the NBN when he displayed his total ignorance on this subject in not knowing his "superior laser" was transmitted 50 klm over optical fibre as per the NBN. What a GOOSE! http://www.2gb.com/index2.php?option=com_newsmanager&task=view&id=8977
rycrozier May 27, 2011 2:41 PM	@ Mark D - please don't remind me. That guy tested the ban stick one too many times.
dingo-power May 27, 2011 3:08 PM	I understand now --- you guys are pubic servants. Clearly you don't work for a living given the time you waste stroking each other. Next to hubert's verbal dribble (that was Milton the Monster's brother i think) the NBN is highly productive. Get over it already ! also it seems that hubert and grump3 must share a desk. I must check your IP addresses . . .
deepthroat May 27, 2011 3:12 PM	@grump3 - just explain to me your comment "You won't be paying the NBN anything," - if the ISP is being charged a fee by the NBN and you are paying the ISP - who do you suppose is pay for the NBN service? The Easter Bunny? I'll type this next bit slowly so you can keep up. NBN schedule of costs to the consumer 1. Taxes to build it 2. Taxes to pay the interest on money borrowed to build it 3. Wholesale on-net charge to the ISP 4. ISP places margin on #3 5. ISP charges for value added extra's 6. Content providers charges (optional) 7. In house hardware/cable/some form of gizmo to distribute signal in the home. If you can explain how numbers 1-4 cost you nothing then I have harbour bridge you might want to buy.
HubertCumberdale May 27, 2011 3:57 PM	dingo-power wrote: also it seems that hubert and grump3 must share a desk. I must check your IP addresses . . . Disregarding your inability to follow this thread what would find if we checked your IP address? The Australian or the Liberal Party HQ? deepthroat wrote: The old bull says blah blah blah piffle piffle waffle That's great. Now here's an idea; sign up over at Whingepool and bore someone else with your repetitive idiocy. You dont seem to realise I am your intellectual superior so this site really is out of your league.
deepthroat May 27, 2011 4:13 PM	@herpes - wrote "blah blah blah piffle piffle waffle" and "You dont seem to realise I am your intellectual superior" Sure sounds like.
anonymous May 27, 2011 4:30 PM	@Hubert was right. Just as well he was too polite to give the response that would have been justified. . .
deepthroat May 27, 2011 4:36 PM	@anonymous - your back? When I need your opinion I'll email it to you. Come up with anything original yet?
anonymous May 27, 2011 4:47 PM	My pleasure, oh deep orifice receptacle. Always happy to lift the IQ of the discussion, even with people who don't understand what they don't understand. And since you seem to have run out of apostrophes, here are a few spare ones for you: '''''
dingo-power May 27, 2011 5:21 PM	These threads are VERY easy to follow - they are not masked at all well. REALLY its just a VERY simple hack and bingo it CAN be accessed. You must be a fool using a name like hubert (so easy to trace/follow for anyone who cared). Anyway I am well over this site - too many NBN wankers here. NBN could have been great but not at the price we are getting screwed for. bye to all. Good luck DT [[[itnews - you should mediate this forum to keep it clean and on topic]]]
anonymous May 27, 2011 6:25 PM	Aww, dingo, we're going to miss you, with or without any VERY simple hacks. By the way, if this forum is going to be "clean (!) and on topic", maybe the grand cleanup could start with the one who chooses the name of deepthroat. Just a thought.
rycrozier May 27, 2011 8:57 PM	I do agree. I think this one has run its course.
Mark D Jun 3, 2011 11:11 AM	"people who don't understand what they don't understand." haha, too true. Made my morning.