Telstra 'snot boxes' challenge Turnbull's FTTN plan

4 reasons to outsource your DNS

Rain has been a problem for my fixed line for years.

There have been other exciting ventures in broadband fail over the years, such as when a contractor set fire to a large Telstra pit and cut off 20 homes for three weeks, but rain has been the constant niggle.

It most recently came to a head last weekend March 1 when instead of dipping below 1 Mbps, the line died entirely, including dialtone.

After the usual calls to Telstra, I arranged an appointment time for a tech. He arrived at 8:00AM after a promise he'd appear in an 8:00AM to Noon window (well done, Telstra), told me there was an issue in the street that he'd fixed, and asked where the lead-in terminated. I pointed to where the landline and broadband modem were connected, and he said That's not the termination. We'll need to get someone else to help find it.

I spent much of yesterday finding and eliminating the possibilities, and when a more experienced tech arrived today again punctually, which does surprise me we went from room to room together, so he could confirm for himself that there wasn't a single place on any skirting board that showed a black cable.

Finally, the tech opened the old PMG (Post-Master General) pit that feeds my house and the house next door, and fished out two snot-boxes (so called because they're filled with yellow grease to protect the terminations). One belongs to the neighbour, one to me. After a little cable clipping, he concluded that both lines are suffering a short to Earth; mine is more severe, so the neighbour's line is still working.

The pre-1970s Post-Master General logo hints at the age of the installation

Then he examined the pit, and looked towards the neighbour's garage. When do you think that was built?

My guess is sometime in the 1970s, and I said so, and he looked somewhat downcast.

Read more from the original source:
Telstra 'snot boxes' challenge Turnbull's FTTN plan