michaelwyres.com » Michael Wyres

Coalition Now Saying Fibre A Good Idea?

Michael Wyres — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:10:47 +0000

A curious tweet just now from opposition communications spokesperson, Malcolm Turnbull, in regards to “ultrafast” internet being launched by British Telecom.

Malcolm suggests in his tweet that this solution – (FTTC for most people, and FTTP for those who want it) – is better than the full FTTP network currently under construction by NBN Co.

Huh? What is FTTC?

“FTTC is subtly distinct from FTTN or FTTP (all are versions of Fiber in the Loop). The main difference is the placement of the cabinet. FTTC will be placed near the “curb” which differs from FTTN which is placed far from the customer and FTTP which is placed right at the serving location.”

So he’s praising a solution that runs fibre down every street, while bagging the NBN FTTP network, which runs fibre down every street?

Yes, it’s not exactly the same as an FTTP rollout, but given his love for his FTTN solution, why praise a solution that is almost exactly what he is normally against?

Non sequitur.

How Telcos Will Win on Building Towers

Michael Wyres — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:24:48 +0000

Almost immediately after posting my previous article in regards to the erection of communications towers for the National Broadband Network (NBN) or for mobile telephone and data communications through the major telcos, I remembered something that I’ve been meaning to write about for a long time.

Innovation – or more directly – innovation in how these towers are deployed.

Looking beyond the health risk purported by some – (which have been largely ruled out by numerous studies, including those conducted by the World Health Organisations (WHO)) – the main issue for most objectors has been their visual impact.

For some years, there has been a communications tower in the grounds of the Harvest Bible College, in Dandenong North, Victoria, alongside the Monash Freeway. Here is a picture of the tower, courtesy of Google StreetView – (click for a larger view):

Not exactly unsightly, right?

It is an example of the innovative outcomes that can be found if each side of the debate puts their brains together and comes up with an actual solution.

Food for thought in what will become an increasingly common argument as the wireless segments of the NBN rollout in coming years.

Some Common Sense in Telco Tower Debate

Michael Wyres — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:15:41 +0000

With rural areas around the Victorian city of Ballarat being included in the trials of the wireless component of the National Broadband Network, there has been much said about the erection of telecommunications towers around the region.

There’s even been uneven responses from within the same local governments.

Well, at least there has been some sanity in the region about the towers:

“A TELECOMMUNICATIONS tower will be erected in Learmonth, despite six objections.”

“Councillors argued Learmonth was currently a communications black spot and needed the 35-metre tower to improve its mobile and wireless broadband coverage.”

I do understand that some people do object to these towers, and in a democratic society that right to object is fundamental.

But if you want to improve rural outcomes – (and Learmonth is a lovely little town) – you do have to improve services of all kinds in those rural localities. Including telecommunications.

Most of all, the comments from the locals are telling – (mind the spelling errors, these were copied verbatim):

“This is excellent news and we couldn’t be happier here in Learmouth. The Mobile, and other receptions here at Learmonth, are fairly ordinary. I knew of quite a few residents, who can’t get a Mobile phone reception at all. I know a few of the ones that are objecting to it we are quite amused, that the tower will be no where near their property.. Get with the times Crs Mcintosh, and Phillips, we are fed up with poor quality internet wei would prefer this any day than what was proposed, a couple of years a go the stinking Saleyards and Abattoirs.”

“Being a local to the lovely and historically significant Learmonth area, I fully support the erecting of the tower. ‘Serial complainers’ need to get a life!”

“Thank goodness common sense prevailed. Learmonth has very poor mobile phone signals, if any at all, and our internet is very slow at peek times. This will be our one shot at catching up with the rest of the world, so let’s take it. To those that complain about these towers being erected, perhaps you were unlucky you weren’t born in the stone age. Perhaps in the next lifetime you will be more lucky. Councillors McIntosh and Philips should do their home work as the tower will not be near any homes. I can’t bloody wait.”

While this tower in Learmonth doesn’t seem to be an NBN tower, with the noise being made around the region about them, perhaps looking at the Learmonth example – where common sense seems to be prevailing – would be more productive.

One does hope so.

There is nothing wrong with leading the world, and modern telecommunications is a key factor.

Do it for your children and grand children – they are the ones who’ll suffer in a broadband backwater if we don’t do it right.

When Your Music Really Blows!

Michael Wyres — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:36:39 +0000

I was wandering around Bunnings this afternoon, after finding a price on a new mixer tap to replace a seriously stuffed tap in our kitchen, when I happened upon this little gem of tackiness:

A tower fan. With an “MP3 Input” – more likely, just a 3.5mm audio input jack.

And speakers. And a clock. Probably has alarms too!

Who would buy such a thing?

Too. Damn. Funny.

So, Julia’s Shoe To Go On eBay?

Michael Wyres — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:41:35 +0000

So Julia Gillard’s now famous lost shoe is apparently to be put on eBay to raise money for the Aboriginal Tent Embassy?

They should think twice.

eBay – as one would presume – has a quite clear policy on the listing of stolen goods on their auction site:

“eBay strictly forbids the sale of stolen property. eBay strongly supports law enforcement efforts to recover stolen property that is listed on its Web site, and urges the prosecution of those who knowingly attempt to sell such items on eBay.”

The more respectful thing would be to return the shoe – since yesterday's debacle is ultimately more about respect than anything else.

Right?

Accelerometers: Ribbed or Studded?

Michael Wyres — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:31:07 +0000

Some accelerometers arrived on my desk this morning for the project I’m currently working on – and I had to laugh at the packaging:

Ribbed or studded for your accelerometering pleasure?

National News Program Spreading Racist Jokes?

Michael Wyres — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:30:51 +0000

The Project, the lighter news program broadcast six nights a week on Network Ten in Australia has gone through a number of changes of format and timeslot since its inception.

It has defied this instability – (usually a recipe for alienating fans) – and continues to improve its ratings position.

But it isn’t all improvement, it would appear, after the brace of racist jokes on Twitter this evening:

Really? Not really necessary. In fact, not necessary at all – particularly for a program trying to position itself as an alternative to the traditional news bulletins on Nine and Seven.

The three tweets – (here, here, and here) – have no place on such a program, or a Twitter account promoting it.

Or anywhere else.

NBN: Want A Clue As To When Your Area Comes Online?

Michael Wyres — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:26:11 +0000

While we patiently await the first three-year rollout plan for the National Broadband Network (NBN) to be released in coming weeks, I have stumbled across a document on the NBN website that has apparently been around since October, but which I haven’t seen before.

Maybe I wasn’t looking hard enough?

Doesn’t matter.

It is an interesting document that details the rollout plan for the NBN’s Points of Interconnect (POIs).

Not the fibre – just the infrastructure the fibre ultimately connects to. It makes interesting reading, particularly if you understand a bit about networking and project planning.

It details approximate dates that access seekers – (ie: Retail Service Providers (RSPs)) – will be given access to almost complete POIs, so they can be ready to switch customers on when the POI is commissioned, seemingly only a few weeks later.

Obviously, POIs to service the already announced fibre rollout sites are high on the list – (as these need to be completed first) – however the interesting part is the POIs that are listed that are not associated with announced fibre rollout sites.

Now, don’t get too excited just yet if you are dying to have your slice of NBN action, as I must point out that POIs will have to be ready for fibre rollouts in greenfields estates that are not built by NBN Co, but become owned by NBN Co after commissioning in those estates.

Logically however, if a POI is built in an area on a schedule primarily for greenfields estates in that area, the mere existence of the POI in that area must make it far more likely that NBN Co will look at those areas favourably when planning schedules for the brownfields rollout in those areas.

Again – don’t forget – just because your area is high up on this list, doesn’t mean mass brownfields rollout in your area is imminent.

However, if your area is not high up on this list, I don’t think it is unreasonable to suggest you will probably be waiting a little longer than the areas higher on the list.

As for what it means for your area, you can make of this what you will.

(UPDATE 20/01/2012 10:23): For those who have asked – (and there’s been a few of you) – the double asterisk against some POI sites listed in this document indicate POIs that will be built as brand new facilities by NBN Co, rather than inside an existing Telstra exchange. Also, despite Queanbeyan being in NSW but the POI there being listed as serving the ACT, it will primarily be serving the ACT, so this is not an error. Thanks to Brad Sprigg for the information via the ACCC website.