musings of a geek - Latest Comments

Re: NBN: Me First! Me First!

Michael Wyres — Sat, 12 May 2012 23:37:16 -0000

Thanks for your comments Brett.

While it would be nice/desirable for all the factors you suggest to have an influence, I think you'll find that if it was done that way, almost all communities would fall under the "really needs the NBN now" category, so critical a piece of infrastructure the NBN is and will be.

This wouldn't alleviate the "everyone wants it first" argument, because an assessment that everyone needs it straight away leads back to the same problem - there aren't enough resources for everyone to get it first.

The problem is, the communities - (big and small) - who are upset - (rightly or wrongly) - that they are not included in the initial three-year rollout plan, do not understand the complexities of how a communications network of this kind is designed and built.

There are MANY prerequisite conditions that have to be in place before an area can be rolled out. In many cases, certain areas cannot be rolled out until neighbouring areas are completed.

It's like deciding to build a 60 kilometre road between two locations. All of the communities along that 60 kilometre road stand to gain from the existence of that road, but you don't build the middle 20km section first, because the supporting infrastructure to make it work - (the other 20km at each end) - isn't in place.

It makes that middle section largely useless.

Any area getting it's NBN fibre rolled out also needs Telstra to have completed the appropriate remediation work in the local exchanges. A major component of the Telstra Definitive Agreements, contractually requires Telstra to ensure that the local exchanges are ready to the standards NBN Co requires.

Ready in terms of power requirements, telecommunications rack space, and other factors. If that's not ready, NBN Co are not able to touch it, under the contractual terms.

Much of Telstra's infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, is run down and has barely been touched in 50 or 60 years.

Given that surrounding areas are more than likely required to be completed - (at least at the transit network level) - before Moe could join the network, Telstra are going to prioritise work in those areas, before handing the sites over to NBN Co.

While I appreciate this doesn't lessen your disappointment or frustration, the simple "we should be first" argument is simply a far more complicated scenario than most people understand.

Re: NBN: Me First! Me First!

BrettHerben — Sat, 12 May 2012 21:33:31 -0000

Was there any considatation given the positive and negative impacts on the actual communities when rolling out the NBN?
Seems to be no consultation with the local community and business.
No thought on how previous government programs have affected the area.
No appeals process or anyone to listen and understand the real problem.
This is not a one of issue! (This type of comment means that there is not a good understanding)
Needs to look at what has occurred to Moe/New borough over the past 20 years and the Valley as a whole.
Both sides of politics have made big errors in the area.
Compounding effect!

Small Business Owner - Moe

Re: NBN: Me First! Me First!

Hubert Cumberdale — Sat, 12 May 2012 06:49:41 -0000

Wow, these people are idiots. Look at it this way; this town is in an electorate that has consistently voted for the coalition for the past what 500 years? Now everyone bar 7% is in the rollout plan for FTTH, just not the 3 year rollout plan. So they just have to be patient and it will come... that is of course assuming the coalition don’t cancel which is a possibility, so everyone who ISN’T in the 3 year plan starts to panic "I hope it rolls out in my town before it gets cancelled" or the more expectant "They SHOULD roll it out in my town before it gets cancelled because X, Y and Z"

So message for Moe residents: You are [offensive term removed], you have the power to ensure that you get FTTH not matter what but your town along with the rest of Gippsland insist on voting for a party that will screw not only your electorate and every town in it but ALL of Australia too.

And a message for coalition clowns: You insist on calling the NBN a "white elephant" that no one wants, meanwhile all of Australia is demanding that they be first for the FTTH roll out. Even in electorates that you represent people are demanding it and sometimes your very own elected members are the ones making the loudest noise. What does that tell you? Time to put your selfish interests aside and do what is best for Australia.

(Comment has been edited with respect to the terms listed at http://michaelwyres.com/site-t... )

Re: NBN: Me First! Me First!

Wolf Cocklin — Thu, 10 May 2012 21:53:06 -0000

I don't want Moe to get it... I want it before them :-)

Re: Mulder Has No Interest In Where The Buck Stops

Marcus — Mon, 07 May 2012 22:50:35 -0000

Another explanation for the stuffups is the changes to the signal box at Newport. The Vicsig website has full details:http://www.vicsig.net/index.ph...

The date that sticks out is Monday, 30th August 2010, when the new interlocking (railway signal control system) was commissioned to control Newport, Newport South, Altona Junction, Westona, Laverton, Williamstown and Newport Stabling Sidings.

Westinghouse Rail Systems Australia was responsible for the delivery of the new system, which replaced the older mish-mash of systems:
http://www.wrsa.com.au/dept/ma...

Re: Andrew Laming: No Criticism Please

Hubert Cumberdale — Wed, 02 May 2012 04:57:55 -0000

-1 Andrew Laming. What a cry baby coward. Politicians like this are the worst kind, if it all gets a bit too much they go into sulk mode and start hiding. More to the point it's good to see yet another Liberal party member in favor of the NBN. Some people keep saying most people are against the NBN but if the politicians representing us are anything to go by I'd say the vast majority are in favor of it. +1 Andrew Laming.

Re: NBN: End User Services Taking Shape

Michael Wyres — Tue, 01 May 2012 21:04:02 -0000

The NTU contains enough intelligence to report its basic configuration. The NBN Co NOC can actually interrogate the NTU to confirm current configuration.

In that way, when an ISP uses the OSS/BSS gateway between themselves and NBN Co, it will most likely not allow one ISP to configure a port in use by another ISP.

Each port would have a MAC address, being a Layer 2 service - (data link layer).

As for the customer, I would imagine when ISP X configures your NTU, they'll simply tell you that their service is bound to port UNI-D1, or UNI-D2, etc, since they'll be aware which port they are setting up via their interface to NBN Co.

Re: NBN: End User Services Taking Shape

Shane Bryan — Tue, 01 May 2012 19:59:08 -0000

Sorry technical question. When a new service is provisioned via the NBN and to your NTU, how is it decided which port is used for it and how is that then recognised? Does each port in the NTU already have a IP6 / MAC address and is the service then bound from the provider to that? (I assume this is the case, as I can't see the point of these 'digital' services being assigned old fashioned PSTN numbers - as copper lines are handled now). Of course I'm not aware how many network addresses the NTU has, either a single one - or one for each port so hopefully someone can answer that.

What I'm also curious about is how will things then be communicated to the customer? That after Foxtel come out, install their STU, that it can ONLY remain plugged into that one port or it won't work. Most people will think that the NBN connection 'is all internets' and wonder why they can't move their Foxtel to another room by themselves.
Most people ARE going to want to rewire their houses for this I feel, if only so everything is labelled clearly for them! :-)

Re: Coalition NBN Propaganda Allegations Blasted

Victoria Collins — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 03:44:36 -0000

It appears that tying the Gillard government up in knots is the modus operandi of the Coalition.

Re: Woolworths Meat Fail

Andrew Tobin — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:17:10 -0000

For the record, Woolies doesn't usually do the labelling of product like that, its suppliers would - they may or may not have.

But yeah, stuff happens :)

Re: Can We Have A Little Truth Please?

Michael Wyres — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:46:12 -0000

Thanks for the feedback - I'm working on a new theme for the site when I get the chance. I hadn't considered a major change to the colour scheme, but I'll keep it in mind...

Re: Can We Have A Little Truth Please?

Stephen C — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:12:54 -0000

Great piece... could I add a petty comment though with your indulgence? The small white type on black background is bloody awful to read. Maye experiment with a couple of differently contrasting colours?

Re: Can We Have A Little Truth Please?

SimonReidy — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:53:02 -0000

Excellent piece Michael. Obviously I'm in full agreement. Turnbull is at the centre of this fiasco and its so disappointing to see him blatantly lie or support misleading anti-NBN propaganda that right wing media spews out on a daily basis. And of course offer no credible or costed alternative broadband plan whatsoever.

The NBN has been a massive discussion point in Tasmania amongst friends and colleagues lately. We feel like we're entitled to this network, just as every other Australia should. Perhaps more so, because of our disconnection from the mainland, and the fact that we're always thought of last with everything else. This is the first time Tasmania has ever got *anything* first and it has the potential to bridge a digital divide giving regional customers speeds as fast as capital cities currently enjoy with dying technology like ADSL2 (which much of Tas still cannot access).

Its a very scary time given the current political climate, with so much uncertainty now surrounding the NBN's future. Let's hope as the NBN grows and becomes more entrenched, that the Coalition start to come round, and support it at least at some level. We can't afford another mess with Telstra, and for a Coalition government to sit on their hands arguing about a new broadband plan while the rest of the world migrates to fibre.

Re: Herald Sun Too Weak To Admit Screw Up

Andy Blume — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 10:18:35 -0000

It just saddens me that there are no real consequences to be suffered by the Herald Sun for their cockup. I really want to see those pricks go down.

Re: Bob Baldwin: Respect Is A Load Of Rubbish

Bev Caddy — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 21:51:54 -0000

I am in Paterson and so Baldwin is my MP. I have contacted him on Facebook asking if he would canvass his electorate in regards to same sex marriage. He simply said "No." When I pressed further he said he "already knew what the electorate thought on the issue" Someone outside the electorate also asked him about it on Facebook and Baldwin deleted his question. I asked again on Twitter along with others in our electorate but Baldwin shot me down. I then told him that I voted for him last time but I wont vote for him again and his response was "Well, don't" He is very arrogant. I am a long time Liberal voter but I wont be voting for Liberal as long as Baldwin is the standing for office in my electorate.

Re: Bob Baldwin: Respect Is A Load Of Rubbish

nomadtales — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 18:56:57 -0000

Baldwin used to my MP when I was growing up. We called him, quite disrespectfully I might add, Fatty Baldwin. But he does have form and I personally have felt he has not served his electorate with honour.

(Funnily enough after 10 years away I now have moved back to the area but live just across the Hunter river in Maitland (the electoral boundary with Paterson), and by chance am in a safe Labour seat, held by Joel Fitzgibbon.)

Re: Dear Websites: Don’t Do This!

Anthony Agius — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 23:14:28 -0000

That does look like a cock.

Re: Best. Spoonerism. Ever.

Michael Wyres — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 04:51:41 -0000

Mankyou thery vuch!

Re: Best. Spoonerism. Ever.

Cameron Price — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 04:21:59 -0000

That is fo sunny

Re: And The Media Think Journalism Is Doing Okay?

Renai LeMay — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 08:51:10 -0000

'Don't complain about the media, become the media' ;)

Re: Updated NBN Rollout Information Released

Norman Partington — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 03:44:50 -0000

I want my #nbn now - i want speed, speed to burn!

Re: Updated NBN Rollout Information Released

Michael Wyres — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:18:42 -0000

I believe it to be days, rather than weeks away.

Re: Updated NBN Rollout Information Released

Dylan Xavier — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:01:39 -0000

Thanks Michael. I know that the Telstra deal is imminent. dont see any reason for the ACCC to have any issues. And telstra's shareholders seemed very happy too. Did you have some sort of time frame for the release date for the three year rollout plan?

Re: Updated NBN Rollout Information Released

Michael Wyres — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:53:02 -0000

Expect the Telstra deal to get through the ACCC shortly, and the three-year rollout plan very soon.

Re: Updated NBN Rollout Information Released

Dylan Xavier — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:48:47 -0000

So buckle up Folks, it gets a lot faster from here. Well for metro areas the only time it gets faster is when the NBN gets its hands on Telstra ducts. The NBN rollout is painfully slow while the rest of the developed world is already enjoying fiber to some degree.

I think the 'rollin' as opposed to rollout is stupid. The reason why you start from metro to country is that there is more demand in the metro areas, the revenue that can then be used to fund the country roll out. Having 2 country independents just makes the NBN 'Rollin' a waste of money