[LINK] Seeking Advice: Now I'm an Optus Blackspot

[David Lochrin]

On Thursday 29 April 2010 13:29, George Bray wrote:
> So I'm interested in any technological or legal solutions to this.
> 
> Will the ACMA/Ombudsman be able to help my plight, perhaps forcing 
> Optus to release me from the contract for a more reasonable fee? 
> I'm sure I'm not the only one to be in this situation where I must 
> continue paying for a business phone service that has deteriorated 
> to the point of being unusable.

Optus are now only providing wireless services in many areas, including this one (Bowral / Mittagong), and I understand that's their strategic direction.  It seems they only provide wireless to apartment buildings in Sydney (I assume the wireless unit is conected to subscriber lines at the building main distribution frame).  Given that policy on top of the proliferation of iPhones, etc, it's not surprising services might suffer.

However experience here is that complaints, nagging, and general agitation will solve the problem by initiating an equipment upgrade at the base.  My experience is that the Comms. Ombudsman is effective but slow to get tangible results.

> With a bigger antenna I think the service may improve.

You could try a better antenna if you can find something suitable since it should improve the received signal quality (but not congestion, of course).  But I'd recommend first experimenting with the placement of your existing antenna.  Do you live in a thermally insulated building wrapped with foil-covered insulation?  If so. try relocating the antenna outside on the side of the building closest to the base station.

Apologies if this is all stuff you realise....

David