Internet is gold 2

I thought our Internet saga was about to end, but guess what, it was just starting.

Thirteen days after I applied for our Internet line, TPG called to let me know that they cannot get me connected. Turns out, they are just leasing lines from Telstra and Telstra is saying they don't have any ports available on my area's exchange. Tough luck, huh? So I had no choice but hunt for a new provider.

While we were waiting for the TPG line, and when the 10GB vodafone mobile broadband was already running out, we had decided to just tether using our TPG mobile phone lines (Lani uses a $17.99/mo medium plan with 1.5gb data, and I have a 34.99/mo heavy with 3gb per month). We though the TPG line was coming soon so no reason to spend extra on re-charging the vodafone mobile broadband. It proved to be a bad decision because Lani was charged an extra $110 for over-using her data by more than 700MB. Of course, it was mostly Ethan watching Youtube that time.

But despite all the bads, there was one thing good about TPG - the internet speed was fantastic. They ride on Optus' mobile network so the logical next choice was Optus.

Getting a lot of pressure from my dear wife (she works from home and needs internet a lot), I went ahead and called Optus. I explained my situation to the phone support and he promised that they can connect a ADSL+ line to my home. It takes 3-5 days to complete so I happily signed on for their $89/mo 500GB plan.

On the third day, and in the absence of any updates from Optus, I called again to inquire. The guy on the line was surprised that I haven't received a call yet and so he checked on his system. With a sad voice, he apologised and said they couldn't do it. Unfortunately, our home was out of their coverage and they had to rent a line from Telstra, who again said they have no ports available.

Close to 3 weeks in our new home and we still didn't have any decent Internet line. I went ahead to call Telstra - something I was trying to avoid knowing how expensive they are going to be. I explained my situation to the Telstra phone support guy and he said they cannot promise a line (finally, someone tells the truth). I asked about cable and he confirmed that it was indeed doable. I eagerly signed up for $100/mo 200GB plan that comes with a phone line. They gave me a 24 July installation schedule for the cable internet, and 27 July for the phone. It was another 5days wait so I had no choice but spend another $49 on a 4.4GB vodafone recharge.

Came 24 July. I took the day off of work so I can attend to the setup. Was told the technician will arrive between 7am and 12nn so I was up early and had prepared the house. Around 9:30am, the guy came and said, "It rained this morning, I cannot do the job today because I can't go to the roof. I'll come back tomorrow afternoon" and headed off. A wasted leave.

What's another day of wait, you'd ask. Just us luck would strike us, at about 11am of that day, the vodafone mobile broadband had ran out. I have to spend another $29 for a 2.2GB recharge so Lani can continue her work, even if the guy decides not to show up.

Finally at 4pm, the guy came and dropped a cable from the roof that got us connected to the Internet. The speed was great - 60Mbps down, 2.5Mbps up. I wouldn't say it was worth the wait, but it was definitely a great relief.

NBA TV, here I come!!!