Internet Connections - Part 1

Hi
So i'm looking at changing my internet connection. We have been with Optus for as long as I can remember and OH YAY my life is a joy......... COME ON I MEAN $100 for 30GB. So I want to change provider to TPG. I was going to get the 160GB for $70 plan. AWESOME VALUE:):) 130GB more for $30 less than my current plan. So I said I WAS going to do that. I cant do this anymore because they have changed their plans. Now you probably think I will say now the $70 plan only gives you 100GB or something. NO !! Now the $70 plan gives you 200GB! 40GB extra for nothing. Thats more than my current plan.

So you may be asking " what is the big issue with that. All good:) just change and have 170GB more internet". You see the problem is I am also on Optus for home phone. Because it is ADSL 2+ it runs through a phone line. Its sort of like we have gone backwards to the dialup days.....except 1000 times faster. Now because we are have such a largely spread population, only Optus and Telstra have hard line infrastructure and Optus does not have very much. This means that most companies that provide either telephone service or ADSL internet service use Telstras infrastructure. People that are with Optus for home phone just have to change provider if they want ADSL. No other option.

Next time wil be all those pesky hidden costs of installing ADSL and everything around it.
Till next time
AndrewCow

Logitech vs. RTI - Part 2

Hi
So most of you probably haven't heard of RTI. They actually make pretty awesome remotes. There is two problems with them though. Firstly, they only sell to dealers and only sell the software to dealers. I MEAN COME ON. YOU PAY ALL THIS MONEY FOR A REMOTE YOU CANT EVEN PROGRAM YOURSELF. THATS JUST WRONG. The second thing is they are reeeeeely expensive. Their main one ( R2-Cs ), which can do almost the same stuff as the logitech harmony 1100 and 900 remotes, IS OVER $1500.

I have had a chance to use this remote. It can do a hell of a lot of stuff, but it is a little jerky. For example, it can be hard wired into home automation systems where the logitech can only use infra-red. Well....im pretty sure the logitech cant hard wire. Anyway, it has all these templates and trillions of customisation features the logitech doesn't. It also has in-built RF where the logitech doesn't.

The remote I really want is the T4. It is like a touch panel you can carry around, like the harmony 1100. Unlike the 1100, it can connect to ethernet at its base and stream internet to the device. This means you can do things like have weather gagets and stream video. It would be like a little panel you could carry around your house, it could do everything you want to (if you have a home automation system such as C-Bus or Dynalite). This little, home companion sort of divice comes at a hefty price though, being well over $2000 for just the remote(the thing to hard wire in the home automation costs extra). Also since you cant get it your self like the logitech.....:(:(:(.

So in long, that is why i have chosen the Logitech over the RTI. Although, if I had infinite money and could program it my self would much rather the RTI...I don't....logitech it is:):):)

Boy this was a long one:)
AndrewCow

p.s. I presume no one has a Logitech remote hard wired into a home automation system but if you do (aka. if its possible) please leave a comment:)

Harmony Remotes - Part 1

Well...the first post. I have been looking into buying a Logitech Harmony 1100. UNFORTUNATLY!!!! I live in the land of the Aus where we only sell the 1100i. Just a little innocent i. What difference does it make you may ask. ALL THE DIFFERENCE!!!!

This little i means there is no RF meaning it can not connect to the RF extender. MAKING IT A FLIPPING $800 IR universal remote. You still need an ir extender or an to have the doors open!

So i was looking at buying it off amazon or ebay. Its much cheaper here where you can get the US RF version for only $280(US). I think the shipping is around $30. So if you can buy the Remote from amazon and the extender from ebay, why can you buy it is AUSTRALIA. It makes no sence. I even emailed customs and they said no problem. So it just seems like you cant but it in the country, but using it here is fine!!! SO STUPID!

Next Post - RTI vs. Logitech and Lighting on the remote:)
Bye for now
AndrewCow