Hi everyone!

My wife and I (and bub!) are looking at moving into North Lakes, and noticed a few discussions in the forums here regarding problems with connecting ADSL / ADSL2+. My question is, is this still a problem for alot of people, and what areas are having the most problems (i.e. areas I should avoid buying into). We run a home-based IT business, so a reasonable ADSL / ADSL2+ connection is pretty important. It may be a deciding factor on whether we move in - a shame really, as we really love the family-focused atmosphere of North Lakes.

P.S.: Am specifically looking at a house in Heathcote Ave at the moment, are there any problems there, I wonder?

Thanks for any info guys & gals!

Seb

hi seb

we are having major issues getting any sort of adsl in north lakes. we have had to resort to wireless.

heathcote avenue is a lovely spot, in fact we used to live there, then moved to another part of the estate but it is hopeless for any adsl.

Hi Seb

We moved from Heathcote Ave just over 2 hrs ago and had no problems with ADSL through Telstra Bigpond, were unable to get ADSL 2 and I believe the problem lies with North Lakes and Mango Hill being on the Kallangur Exchange and would you believe it the Kallangur Exchange is classed as a Rural Exchange and there is no funding in place to upgrade or change the status.

Wireless and Mobile Phone coverage are intermittant, hopefully this may be resolved once the new tower is activated at Woodside Park.

Happy Surfing

Thanks anfield & jameal for your comments. Sorry to hear some of you are still having troubles getting broadband / wireless / mobile coverage in the area. I guess it is just luck of the draw whether you have good coverage or not when you move into your new house - unfortunately, this would be too much of a gamble for us given our line of work!

My wife & I are looking at other suburbs around North Lakes as well - if we are still on the lookout for a new house in a few months time, we'll definitely see if things have progressed in North Lakes by that time (maybe Woodside Park tower would make a difference for those who previously could not get wireless).

Thanks again for the comments! Cheers, Seb.

I found out today from a Telstra account rep that developers can work with Telstra to provide better data services in a development - http://www.telstra.com.au/smartcommunity/

Perhaps is time to take the ADSL and telephone issues in North Lakes, Halpine Lake and Mango Hill to the media (ie Redcliffe & Bayside Herald). By contacting the media pressure can be put on Telstra, Optus, the developer and Government (Local and State) to provide the required services in such a large scale development. North Lakes and to a lesser Halpine Lake are the biggest residential developments on Brisbane’s north side. North Lakes in particular is also trying to entice business to set up shop with the idea that you can live and work within the same area.
But in this development less than 30 km form the CBD the only telephone exchange being used is an old rural exchange. Yet a little further up the road, the Rothwell exchange (supplying Kippa-Ring (western part), Rothwell and Deception Bay) is full ADSL2 compliant.

What a joke, we applied for ADSL2+ and pay for this but struggle to even get ADSL, it is very slow and we stay in Bridgehaven. The worst is even our mobile reception is so poor we have to stand on the front lawn to get a signal. When we moved to North Lakes we had Telstra's NextG wireless, we had to end it as the reception was to poor!

Stockland should feel ashamed for allowing development to take place in this estate and the basic telecommunication infrastructure is not here! PLEASE CONSIDER THIS SERIOUSLY BEFORE YOU BUY HERE! It is almost 2010 and we still sit with this problem. The telecommunication in North Lake is not even at the standard of a third world country. I wonder how they got an award for this development?

I was reading this forum over the weekend and on Monday decided to write an email to the federal member of Longman, Jon Sullivan. I suggest that people should email jon.sullivan.mp@aph.gov.au
as well as minister@dbcde.gov.au (the Minister for Broadband and Telecomunication) regarding this issue.

I did receive a reply back from Jon Sullivan's office saying they have had a number of people contact their office regarding the lack of fast broadband availability and even cellular reception.

They are hoping to set up a meeting with a representative from Telstra to talk to the local residents. I was told I would be informed when a date would be set for this meeting.

I think that the more people that contact the local member as well as local media outlets the better the chance something might happen.. If not, it won't kill us trying!

We've just had Naked ADSL2+ with TPG installed in our new place and have been moved to the Kallangur exchange.

Modem Status Connected
DownStream Connection Speed 17754 kbps
UpStream Connection Speed 1020 kbps

Bit of an improvement from our 412kbps down and 52kbps up when we were on the North Lakes exchange.

That's great, PyrotiX. Where about are your new place at North Lakes? I applied for Naked ADSL2+ wth iiNet and get rejected. I am now on Telstra ADSL2+ and don't mind to move to TPG if they can offer Naked ADSL2+.

Thanks kihe for the email address, I've sent emails to both.

Hi PyrotiX, can I ask did you initially have a Telstra landline connected? We just moved into Hilltop Green and connected a Telstra landline and then tried to sign up to TPG's Naked ADSL2+ and they are saying our line isn't showing on the flexstream database. So I rang Telstra back and changed the landline plan we were on and they reckon in 24 hours it should work if we try again with TPG. I'm really hoping we can get it as it's a hell of a lot cheaper than having a landline plus ADSL2+ internet through Telstra!

Hey,

How it works is that you call Telstra, get a landline connected and they provide you with a phone number. You then use that phone number to apply to TPG for Naked, once the internet has been connected TPG disconnect the service on your behalf.

Don't be too concerned if it says your number is not serviceable, if we get forwarded to a specialist at TPG who will liaison with Telstra to double check that it is serviceable or not. They will then contact you to let you know of the final result (is what happened to us).

It's about $200'ish to get phone line connected and no charge for disconnection. Hope this helps?

Hmm I'm still having problems with them - they can now see us on the flexstream database but are now saying there isn't copper wire here so we can only get ADSL but not Naked or ADSL2+
Can I ask are you on the Kallangur exchange?

YES it's still a major issue !!!

We've just moved within the estate from Eastridge where we had ADSL to Woodside where we can't get ADSL and Hellstra can't even give us an estimate on when we can.

I work from home and need good broadband for my work so basically I'm stuffed.

I've spent hours on the phone to Telstra trying to get something, "anything" other than wireless broadband but their attitude is along the lines of "Look some of your neighbors have ADSL and if you wait a few years maybe you can too... We've offered you a very expensive inferior alternative with wireless broadband (which you only need because we can't be bothered upgrading the ADSL in your area) - What more do you want ????"

So if you're talking to Telstra / Bigpond and they say your area / street is ADSL enabled then take that as "You'll be very lucky if you can get ADSL".

You could check out this site if you want graphic proof of the problem...

http://www.adsl2exchanges.com.au

Put your address in, zoom in, then click on "Rim Information" . if you see a red splotch near your house or block of land (and you'll notice that North Lakes is covered in red splotches) then chances are that you're out of luck!

When we moved to North Lakes Christmas 2008 we were really worried about this! We liked the place soo much that we kind of just risked it and thought worse case we would just use wireless. I work from home in IT/T most days of the week so Internet is really important to me but we went with it anyway.

We live in Bridgehaven right at the back nearest to Boundary Road as you can. Apart from a LOT of hassle getting a phone connected by Telstra - we ended up getting ADSL2+ and it's the fastest internet I have ever experienced (kind of feel slack talking about it to fellow North Lakians). I can easily get 2MB/sec download speeds!

I have no idea what exchange I am on and it's bemusing to hear of other people only a street or two away that can't get even ADSL?!

My problem now is that ideally we would like to move to another house within North Lakes because we are paying well over the market rate for rent - but I can't risk losing this beautiful internet?! How stupid is that!

ADSL2+ is still a problem in North Lakes.
I say move out and stop buying in NL.!!

Just letting those who are considering NL, Adsl 2 is available in Hlltop Green.

We moved in just before Xmas and had to Wait 2 months for a phone due to no lines in the street. Telstra put the lines in a month back and at the same time they installed more ports ( adsl 2) in at there mini hub located near the entrance to HIlltop. Our connection happens this week and the tech guy said eveyone in HIlltop should get adsl2.

We moved to Hilltop Green in Oct 2009 and got ADSL2+ connected with Telstra shortly after. Of course Telstra was the only provider we could get wired ADSL2+ with so we're paying a premium, but, it's worth it because the connection is FAST. Maybe things might change as more people move in here but at the moment we're very happy

Yes it actually looks like the new subdivisions might not only get ADSL, but good ADSL (i.e. ADSL 2+). Good luck to you.

The older parts are not so lucky.

So If you're thinking of moving to North Lakes and you want to be sure of getting ADSL then build in one of the new subdivisions, don't buy an existing residence in an older area where you might end up waiting months or even years for ADSL.

Telstra ADSL2+ isn't a premium BTW - "Paying a premium" is Telstra Wireless - $109 a month for only 10GB, low speed, high latency, $200 up front for the modem and all on an unbreakable 24 month contract.

Well it is with MUCH happiness that I am now using ADSL2 with Bigpond in Fairway Chase. Connection speed 20mb ... so fast. We moved here in December and it has taken some time to get things sorted out. What a huge drama it was getting onto their new bundle plan when you also need a landline installed into a new house.

I timed it and it took 2hrs and 24mins on the phone to Telstra but they have finally worked it out. Mind you I had to tell them the RIM our house was connected to which I got off their Telstra Wholesale web site.

The plan is $98 a month for 12 GB of data and unlimited local calls. The other option for the newer areas is WestNet on their Reach ADSL2 (which just uses Telstra). To my knowledge iiNet ADSL2 and TPG ADSL2 etc is not available due to the RIMS in use all through North Lakes. So if you want super fast you need to use Telstra Bigpond.

If you can afford a little more it is worth looking at the Telstra bundles. Not bad value for money. Finally I can get off NextG wireless (which wasn't too bad most of the time).

There is a Telstra NextG tower in Woodside playing fields thanks to an ex-North Lakes resident who works for Telstra ...

Scott :-)

This is my result from Speedtest.net here in North Lakes.

I haven't the foggiest idea how good or bad your results are Scott... but decided to have a shot myself, and got slightly worse results... (don't know how to post the picture)... Download=16.98 Upload=0.78 Ping=673ms, also Telstra.

We pay for ADSL2+ at TPG but hardly get ADSL at home! This is a rip off paying for a service as standard but TPG indicates the problem is the carriers in the areas and will apparently not be updated soon....we just cancelled one of our mobile contracts as people trying to call my wife cannot hear a word, the reception is so poor, it doesn't even show a connection in most instances, we are in Bridgehaven! I can only use my iPhone when leaving the estate! When will this be fixed? Probably a huge banner at the sales office indicating: Very poor mobile reception and sorry, hardly any ADSL service available. This will stop buyers from buying in this estate! NOt to mention the toxic smell we had the last couple of days on Friday morning: 26 March 2010 the toxic smell was so bad when exiting the house your eyes started to burn. Tonight 27 March 2010 at 9h30pm the same thing! How is this allowed? Any idea who I can contact about this, surely this is illegal and the levels far beyond allowable levels?

There was an article on this website via council media release saying all new estate are to provide ADSL to all residents and businesses by July 2010 and I guess if you are in a fairly new street now it MAY be already there even thou the date has not passed