High Speed Internet in Somers
Resident Views
Listed below are some of the opinions expressed by Somers residents on the current level of service provided by Internet Service Providers.
If you would like to add your views, please click here to send us an email or write to us at PO Box 294, Somers VIC. 3927.
Let me first declare my interest in this campaign to secure a broadband internet service for Somers Residents that is universal and at a speed that most Australians already enjoy.
I am the secretary of the Somers Residents Association.
Over the last 10 years I have contacted many service providers seeking access to an ADSL broadband service. While some websites claim that the whole of Somers is covered by ADSL this is simply untrue.
It seems that if you are further than 4Km from our nearest exchange (in Balnarring) it is unlikely that you will get an acceptable ADSL service.
In spite of this basic benchmark there are a number of residents who are enjoying a reasonable ADSL service up to 6.7 Km from the Balnarring exchange. It seems that ADSL reception also depends on the specifications of the cables linking your home to the exchange.
I have been forced onto Telstra’s wireless 3G network to access what is called ‘Broadband” but am frustrated by a very slow service.
I have accessed the website that that is highlighted on the SRA website that will test the performance of your current ISP and have found that the best download speed that I can expect on my wireless 3G connection is 187 KB/s.
This is way short of what most Australians would call a broadband service. If you are able to do so please make your own tests using this site and have your say in support of this important service to all residents of Somers.
Ray McCutcheon
SRA Secretary
I was advised by Telstra that I could not get their best “Bundle” of services because I was not connected to ADSL. They estimated that I could save about $100 per month if I was able access their best “Bundle.” I have has endless problems with accessing the internet and have tried many different options including satellite and wireless modums. The current service is slow and expensive. I fully support any measure to give Somers residents access to ADSL.
Ron Deane
We live in Kennedy Rd Somers and have had problems with our broadband since we attempted to set it up here. We are unable to get ADSL2+ and have followed up numerous options such as satellite broadband which is also inconsistent, dial up which is extremely slow and we are now currently on wireless broadband which has intermittent reception. Our provider is DODO who uses the OPTUS network. We have a Yagi directional antenna attached to our dongle and although it has improved our reception it is still very slow compared to ADSL2+. We are currently changing to OPTUS in the hope that the speed will improve. Our mobile phone reception with any network is also poor. We have been told various times that we are in a poor reception corridor. We haven’t signed up with Telstra because we have had such appalling service over many years. Telstra is also very expensive and cannot guarantee to provide the service you pay for.
Karin and Peter Cooper
Thank you, SRA, for raising this issue.
Speedy connection to the internet is essential and why I support the national rollout of the high speed broadband network. It is also why I support the supply of universal high speed broadband services throughout Somers.
Sandra Marks
My name is Pat Taylor my husband Ken and I live on Tasman Road Somers. We live between Somers and Melbourne as we are retired but have had our house at Somers for 27 years. When we are at Somers we use a laptop computer which we have just upgraded as we were having trouble with our internet connection on wireless 3G. When we went to this service we were told ADSL was not available at our address. Our problem is the service keeps dropping out which can become very frustrating even with the new computer which is more powerful.
Also our mobile phone reception is poor and we sometimes need to go to the back of the block to receive calls.
Thank you for your commitment to the Somers Community.
Pat and Ken Taylor
We Peter and Patricia Clarke have a home on Beachhill Ave and must maintain a land line to have any connection with the outside world. Mobile phones DO NOT WORK.
Our computer connection is dialup only and we have been told by Telstra that our exchange will not support broad band to our house. Anything you can do on our behalf would be much appreciated.
Peter Clarke
I have been a longtime resident/property owner in Somers. I wish to register my strong support for an improved and universal broadband service at Somers.
At present the service is almost non-existent. It is extremely difficult to maintain proper communication - I am thinking about investing in carrier pigeons, a set of tom tom drums and learning to use smoke signals.
Marek Petrovs