OT(for aus.cars)Ping anyone who knows aboutTG782T modem

[F Murtz]

Thompson TG782T Modem
Is there a distributor or service agency (other than telstra)for this modem.
Or where would I get repair manual?
My modem has only one hub socket working,I don't know if this is a hardware
problem or can be controlled by software.
there seems to be nowhere to get technical advice (telstra is useless)( and
seems to not want anybody to know who makes them)



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[Bob Milutinovic]

"F Murtz" <haggisz@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:534ca345$0$2840$c3e8da3$66d3cc2f@news.astraweb.com...

Thompson TG782T Modem
Is there a distributor or service agency (other than telstra)for this
modem.
Or where would I get repair manual?
My modem has only one hub socket working,I don't know if this is a
hardware problem or can be controlled by software.
there seems to be nowhere to get technical advice (telstra is useless)(
and seems to not want anybody to know who makes them)

The correct spelling is "Thomson," and they're the ones who make it - it's a
French company. They also market their products under the "Technicolor"
brand (which is rather apt, as their lack of quality is enough to evoke a
"technicolour yawn"). The TG782T is a Telstra-branded version of the TG782,
and the only functional difference is that the Telstra version prevents you
from connecting it to a different ISP (it has Telstra hard-coded as the
ISP).

I haven't worked with this particular model, but I've been exposed to no
shortage of problems with Thomson modems in general - they're made down to a
price point rather than up to a specification level.

This search reveals a lot of assorted problems with that particular modem;
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=thomson+tg782t+problems

Mind if I suggest you save yourself a lot of time and anguish, and replace
it with something that actually works?

TP-Link TL-WR743ND - $29
<http://www.tp-link.com.au/products/details/?model=TL-WR743ND>

TP-Link TD-W8960N - $45
<http://www.tp-link.com.au/products/details/?model=TD-W8960N>

Billion BIPAC7700N - $58
<http://au.billion.com/products/wireless/bipac7700nr2.html>

Prices quoted are from ARC Computers (http://www.arc.com.au/) but shouldn't
be very different from other sources.

When you compare the cost of a replacement modem to the cost of your time
and frustration (with no guarantee of success), replacement becomes the far
more attractive option.

If you were actually using the VoIP facilities of the Thomson, there're
decent replacement modems which serve that purpose also;

TP-Link TD-VG3631 - $84
<http://www.tp-link.com.au/products/details/?model=TD-VG3631>

Netcomm NB16WV - $150 (overkill)
<http://www.netcommwireless.com/product/3g/nb16wv>

Billion BIPAC7800VDPX - $205 (severe overkill)
<http://au.billion.com/products/voip/bipac7800vdpx.html>


As for diagnosing your existing modem...

You can start by looking through the troubleshooting section of the manual;
http://setuprouter.com/router/thomson/tg782/manual-1277.pdf

--
Bob Milutinovic
Cognicom

 

[F Murtz]

"Bob Milutinovic" <cognicom@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:liiv16$d5v$1@cognicom.eternal-september.org...

"F Murtz" <haggisz@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:534ca345$0$2840$c3e8da3$66d3cc2f@news.astraweb.com...
Thompson TG782T Modem
Is there a distributor or service agency (other than telstra)for this
modem.
Or where would I get repair manual?
My modem has only one hub socket working,I don't know if this is a
hardware problem or can be controlled by software.
there seems to be nowhere to get technical advice (telstra is useless)(
and seems to not want anybody to know who makes them)

The correct spelling is "Thomson," and they're the ones who make it - it's
a French company. They also market their products under the "Technicolor"
brand (which is rather apt, as their lack of quality is enough to evoke a
"technicolour yawn"). The TG782T is a Telstra-branded version of the
TG782, and the only functional difference is that the Telstra version
prevents you from connecting it to a different ISP (it has Telstra
hard-coded as the ISP).

I haven't worked with this particular model, but I've been exposed to no
shortage of problems with Thomson modems in general - they're made down to
a price point rather than up to a specification level.

This search reveals a lot of assorted problems with that particular modem;
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=thomson+tg782t+problems

Mind if I suggest you save yourself a lot of time and anguish, and replace
it with something that actually works?

TP-Link TL-WR743ND - $29
http://www.tp-link.com.au/products/details/?model=TL-WR743ND

TP-Link TD-W8960N - $45
http://www.tp-link.com.au/products/details/?model=TD-W8960N

Billion BIPAC7700N - $58
http://au.billion.com/products/wireless/bipac7700nr2.html

Prices quoted are from ARC Computers (http://www.arc.com.au/) but
shouldn't be very different from other sources.

When you compare the cost of a replacement modem to the cost of your time
and frustration (with no guarantee of success), replacement becomes the
far more attractive option.

If you were actually using the VoIP facilities of the Thomson, there're
decent replacement modems which serve that purpose also;

TP-Link TD-VG3631 - $84
http://www.tp-link.com.au/products/details/?model=TD-VG3631

Netcomm NB16WV - $150 (overkill)
http://www.netcommwireless.com/product/3g/nb16wv

Billion BIPAC7800VDPX - $205 (severe overkill)
http://au.billion.com/products/voip/bipac7800vdpx.html


As for diagnosing your existing modem...

You can start by looking through the troubleshooting section of the
manual;
http://setuprouter.com/router/thomson/tg782/manual-1277.pdf

--
Bob Milutinovic
Cognicom

Thanks,I have had nothing but trouble with telstra and these modems I have
two both cost nothing, from telstra
I have only one working ethernet ports left on one and none on the other not
sure what has been blowing them.

This is part of a discussion I have been having on whirlpool.
I suspect you have a bad ethernet card on the network or device that is
shorted to power somewhere. That will blow the tiny transformers in the
ethernet circuits.

The problem here is that at the point in time that the problem occurred I
only had two computers connected, both of which still work on the only port
left (if I swap the cables)(without blowing the remaining port.
So unless the short is intermittent something else is causing it, I do live
out of the city where lots of lightning and intermittent power blips and
dropouts occur.
I do live out of the city where lots of lightning and intermittent power
blips and dropouts occur.
on my other modem no ports work.I do not know whether spikes are the cause
of my problems but I have had problems ever since I started. I have two
modems because telstra on one occasion said modem was faulty (I got both
free) the next time something went wrong I put the one they said was faulty
back in and it worked,
I am not sure with the swapping back and forth whether they were losing a
port each time because I just plugged the cat 5 into whichever worked

I have what is supposed to be adsl 2+ telstra has put some coding or
throttling on line because,they say,of bad line.
When it was first installed it was fast, they will not remove the
restriction even temporally to see if I am happy with it.
There is no alternative to telstra here, Couridjah NSW
other ISPs just use the telstra equipment and charge similar rates



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[F Murtz]

"F Murtz" <haggisz@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:534d32c7$0$8098$c3e8da3$3304c218@news.astraweb.com...

"Bob Milutinovic" <cognicom@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:liiv16$d5v$1@cognicom.eternal-september.org...
"F Murtz" <haggisz@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:534ca345$0$2840$c3e8da3$66d3cc2f@news.astraweb.com...
Thompson TG782T Modem
Is there a distributor or service agency (other than telstra)for this
modem.
Or where would I get repair manual?
My modem has only one hub socket working,I don't know if this is a
hardware problem or can be controlled by software.
there seems to be nowhere to get technical advice (telstra is
useless)( and seems to not want anybody to know who makes them)

The correct spelling is "Thomson," and they're the ones who make it -
it's a French company. They also market their products under the
"Technicolor" brand (which is rather apt, as their lack of quality is
enough to evoke a "technicolour yawn"). The TG782T is a Telstra-branded
version of the TG782, and the only functional difference is that the
Telstra version prevents you from connecting it to a different ISP (it
has Telstra hard-coded as the ISP).

I haven't worked with this particular model, but I've been exposed to no
shortage of problems with Thomson modems in general - they're made down
to a price point rather than up to a specification level.

This search reveals a lot of assorted problems with that particular
modem;
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=thomson+tg782t+problems

Mind if I suggest you save yourself a lot of time and anguish, and
replace it with something that actually works?

TP-Link TL-WR743ND - $29
http://www.tp-link.com.au/products/details/?model=TL-WR743ND

TP-Link TD-W8960N - $45
http://www.tp-link.com.au/products/details/?model=TD-W8960N

Billion BIPAC7700N - $58
http://au.billion.com/products/wireless/bipac7700nr2.html

Prices quoted are from ARC Computers (http://www.arc.com.au/) but
shouldn't be very different from other sources.

When you compare the cost of a replacement modem to the cost of your time
and frustration (with no guarantee of success), replacement becomes the
far more attractive option.

If you were actually using the VoIP facilities of the Thomson, there're
decent replacement modems which serve that purpose also;

TP-Link TD-VG3631 - $84
http://www.tp-link.com.au/products/details/?model=TD-VG3631

Netcomm NB16WV - $150 (overkill)
http://www.netcommwireless.com/product/3g/nb16wv

Billion BIPAC7800VDPX - $205 (severe overkill)
http://au.billion.com/products/voip/bipac7800vdpx.html


As for diagnosing your existing modem...

You can start by looking through the troubleshooting section of the
manual;
http://setuprouter.com/router/thomson/tg782/manual-1277.pdf

--
Bob Milutinovic
Cognicom

Thanks,I have had nothing but trouble with telstra and these modems I have
two both cost nothing, from telstra
I have only one working ethernet ports left on one and none on the other
not sure what has been blowing them.

This is part of a discussion I have been having on whirlpool.
I suspect you have a bad ethernet card on the network or device that is
shorted to power somewhere. That will blow the tiny transformers in the
ethernet circuits.

The problem here is that at the point in time that the problem occurred I
only had two computers connected, both of which still work on the only
port left (if I swap the cables)(without blowing the remaining port.
So unless the short is intermittent something else is causing it, I do
live out of the city where lots of lightning and intermittent power blips
and dropouts occur.
I do live out of the city where lots of lightning and intermittent power
blips and dropouts occur.
on my other modem no ports work.I do not know whether spikes are the cause
of my problems but I have had problems ever since I started. I have two
modems because telstra on one occasion said modem was faulty (I got both
free) the next time something went wrong I put the one they said was
faulty back in and it worked,
I am not sure with the swapping back and forth whether they were losing a
port each time because I just plugged the cat 5 into whichever worked

I have what is supposed to be adsl 2+ telstra has put some coding or
throttling on line because,they say,of bad line.
When it was first installed it was fast, they will not remove the
restriction even temporally to see if I am happy with it.
There is no alternative to telstra here, Couridjah NSW
other ISPs just use the telstra equipment and charge similar rates

I have an old netgear DG834G that I used to use with TPG
when I used to live at Strathfield,Would that work with telstra?



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[XR8 Sprintless]

On 16/04/2014 1:30 AM, F Murtz wrote:

I have an old netgear DG834G that I used to use with TPG
when I used to live at Strathfield,Would that work with telstra?

It should do providing it is still working.

Just log into the admin page and put in your bigpond details then click
apply.

The normal page is 192.168.0.1 however some isp's change this.

 

[F Murtz]

"XR8 Sprintless" <xr8_sprint@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:lik4k1$akq$1@speranza.aioe.org...

On 16/04/2014 1:30 AM, F Murtz wrote:


I have an old netgear DG834G that I used to use with TPG
when I used to live at Strathfield,Would that work with telstra?

It should do providing it is still working.

Just log into the admin page and put in your bigpond details then click
apply.

The normal page is 192.168.0.1 however some isp's change this.



Thanks I will try it as soon as I find where I have put the power supply.

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[Jacko]

"F Murtz" wrote in message
news:534db673$0$8088$c3e8da3$3304c218@news.astraweb.com...


"XR8 Sprintless" <xr8_sprint@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:lik4k1$akq$1@speranza.aioe.org...

On 16/04/2014 1:30 AM, F Murtz wrote:


I have an old netgear DG834G that I used to use with TPG
when I used to live at Strathfield,Would that work with telstra?
Snip

Any joy with your Toyota keys?
Regards,
Jacko.

 

[F Murtz]

Bob Milutinovic wrote:

"Jasen Betts" <jasen@xnet.co.nz> wrote in message
news:liok50$nef$2@gonzo.reversiblemaps.ath.cx...
On 2014-04-17, Bob Milutinovic <cognicom@gmail.com> wrote:

Under normal circumstances, the only thing that could kill the ports
would
be a highy voltage spike on the connected network cable - but if this
was
the case, you'd also have a dead network card in the computer at the
other
end.

if they're gigabit ports connecting them to a phone line will kill them.

Mr. Murtz might not be a computer geek, but I doubt he'd have plugged
the 'phone line into multiple network ports.

I say "under normal circumstances" because there's no guarantee that
Thomson
haven't cut corners by not using requisite opto-couplers,

transformers are the usual way to couple ethernet ports. I don't
think I've ever seen an optocoupler used.

I don't make a habit of dismantling functional equipment, but the two
most recent gigabit switches I've had to open have both used
opto-couplers. Admittedly they were from the same manufacturer, so it
might not be standard across the board. All of the 10Mbps and 100Mbps
equipment I've opened in the past have used transformers.

And now the memories start flooding in... Trying to diagnose a network
fault through a maze of coax - 1Mbps ArcNet connected through 50 ohm
coaxial cable which wasn't allowed to be less than three metres long
(per segment), and which needed to be terminated at each end. And
LANtastic with its "bleep of death" resonating from all thirteen
workstations... Ah, those were the days!

Offending article.

http://tinypic.com/r/xf866w/8

http://tinypic.com/r/wcg114/8

 

[Bob Milutinovic]

"F Murtz" <haggisz@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:53538a1f$0$9159$c3e8da3$9f400e27@news.astraweb.com...

Bob Milutinovic wrote:
"Jasen Betts" <jasen@xnet.co.nz> wrote in message
news:liok50$nef$2@gonzo.reversiblemaps.ath.cx...
On 2014-04-17, Bob Milutinovic <cognicom@gmail.com> wrote:

Under normal circumstances, the only thing that could kill the ports
would
be a highy voltage spike on the connected network cable - but if this
was
the case, you'd also have a dead network card in the computer at the
other
end.

if they're gigabit ports connecting them to a phone line will kill them.

Mr. Murtz might not be a computer geek, but I doubt he'd have plugged
the 'phone line into multiple network ports.

I say "under normal circumstances" because there's no guarantee that
Thomson
haven't cut corners by not using requisite opto-couplers,

transformers are the usual way to couple ethernet ports. I don't
think I've ever seen an optocoupler used.

I don't make a habit of dismantling functional equipment, but the two
most recent gigabit switches I've had to open have both used
opto-couplers. Admittedly they were from the same manufacturer, so it
might not be standard across the board. All of the 10Mbps and 100Mbps
equipment I've opened in the past have used transformers.

And now the memories start flooding in... Trying to diagnose a network
fault through a maze of coax - 1Mbps ArcNet connected through 50 ohm
coaxial cable which wasn't allowed to be less than three metres long
(per segment), and which needed to be terminated at each end. And
LANtastic with its "bleep of death" resonating from all thirteen
workstations... Ah, those were the days!

Offending article.

http://tinypic.com/r/xf866w/8

http://tinypic.com/r/wcg114/8

Well they're definitely transformers;
http://www.bothhandusa.com/products/filter-transformer/10-100-dual-dip.html

If you fancy replacing two 20-pin DIP packages in the hopes that they're the
culprits, you can get ten of them for about $15 including postage from
China;
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/s/1740156254.html

How good are your soldering skills?

I'm a little hesitant to decisively point the finger at these though, as
they have a habit of going tits-up as a complete package rather than
individual ports.

Alternatively, you can get a replacement unit for about $50 including
postage;
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/s/724815095.html

As mentioned previously though, a non-Thomson one would be a better idea for
longer-term sanity.

--
Bob Milutinovic
Cognicom

 

[F Murtz]

Bob Milutinovic wrote:

"F Murtz" <haggisz@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:53538a1f$0$9159$c3e8da3$9f400e27@news.astraweb.com...
Bob Milutinovic wrote:
"Jasen Betts" <jasen@xnet.co.nz> wrote in message
news:liok50$nef$2@gonzo.reversiblemaps.ath.cx...
On 2014-04-17, Bob Milutinovic <cognicom@gmail.com> wrote:

Under normal circumstances, the only thing that could kill the ports
would
be a highy voltage spike on the connected network cable - but if this
was
the case, you'd also have a dead network card in the computer at the
other
end.

if they're gigabit ports connecting them to a phone line will kill
them.

Mr. Murtz might not be a computer geek, but I doubt he'd have plugged
the 'phone line into multiple network ports.

I say "under normal circumstances" because there's no guarantee that
Thomson
haven't cut corners by not using requisite opto-couplers,

transformers are the usual way to couple ethernet ports. I don't
think I've ever seen an optocoupler used.

I don't make a habit of dismantling functional equipment, but the two
most recent gigabit switches I've had to open have both used
opto-couplers. Admittedly they were from the same manufacturer, so it
might not be standard across the board. All of the 10Mbps and 100Mbps
equipment I've opened in the past have used transformers.

And now the memories start flooding in... Trying to diagnose a network
fault through a maze of coax - 1Mbps ArcNet connected through 50 ohm
coaxial cable which wasn't allowed to be less than three metres long
(per segment), and which needed to be terminated at each end. And
LANtastic with its "bleep of death" resonating from all thirteen
workstations... Ah, those were the days!

Offending article.

http://tinypic.com/r/xf866w/8

http://tinypic.com/r/wcg114/8

Well they're definitely transformers;
http://www.bothhandusa.com/products/filter-transformer/10-100-dual-dip.html

If you fancy replacing two 20-pin DIP packages in the hopes that they're
the culprits, you can get ten of them for about $15 including postage
from China;
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/s/1740156254.html

How good are your soldering skills?

I'm a little hesitant to decisively point the finger at these though, as
they have a habit of going tits-up as a complete package rather than
individual ports.

I can not imagine what would blow them individually either unless an
intermittent short in a bit of cat five cable or termination would do it
as I swapped it to different sockets testing them.

Alternatively, you can get a replacement unit for about $50 including
postage;
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/s/724815095.html

As mentioned previously though, a non-Thomson one would be a better idea
for longer-term sanity.

I have the DG834G but am having trouble configuring it for bigpond, when
the holidays are over I might have another marathon with the telstra techs .

 

[F Murtz]

Bob Milutinovic wrote:

"F Murtz" <haggisz@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:53538a1f$0$9159$c3e8da3$9f400e27@news.astraweb.com...
Bob Milutinovic wrote:
"Jasen Betts" <jasen@xnet.co.nz> wrote in message
news:liok50$nef$2@gonzo.reversiblemaps.ath.cx...
On 2014-04-17, Bob Milutinovic <cognicom@gmail.com> wrote:

Under normal circumstances, the only thing that could kill the ports
would
be a highy voltage spike on the connected network cable - but if this
was
the case, you'd also have a dead network card in the computer at the
other
end.

if they're gigabit ports connecting them to a phone line will kill
them.

Mr. Murtz might not be a computer geek, but I doubt he'd have plugged
the 'phone line into multiple network ports.

I say "under normal circumstances" because there's no guarantee that
Thomson
haven't cut corners by not using requisite opto-couplers,

transformers are the usual way to couple ethernet ports. I don't
think I've ever seen an optocoupler used.

I don't make a habit of dismantling functional equipment, but the two
most recent gigabit switches I've had to open have both used
opto-couplers. Admittedly they were from the same manufacturer, so it
might not be standard across the board. All of the 10Mbps and 100Mbps
equipment I've opened in the past have used transformers.

And now the memories start flooding in... Trying to diagnose a network
fault through a maze of coax - 1Mbps ArcNet connected through 50 ohm
coaxial cable which wasn't allowed to be less than three metres long
(per segment), and which needed to be terminated at each end. And
LANtastic with its "bleep of death" resonating from all thirteen
workstations... Ah, those were the days!

Offending article.

http://tinypic.com/r/xf866w/8

http://tinypic.com/r/wcg114/8

Well they're definitely transformers;
http://www.bothhandusa.com/products/filter-transformer/10-100-dual-dip.html

If you fancy replacing two 20-pin DIP packages in the hopes that they're
the culprits, you can get ten of them for about $15 including postage
from China;
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/s/1740156254.html

How good are your soldering skills?

soldering skills makes no difference, tried to order and they say can't
be shipped to Australia.
Might try wes or rs

I'm a little hesitant to decisively point the finger at these though, as
they have a habit of going tits-up as a complete package rather than
individual ports.

Alternatively, you can get a replacement unit for about $50 including
postage;
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/s/724815095.html

As mentioned previously though, a non-Thomson one would be a better idea
for longer-term sanity.

 

[Bob Milutinovic]

"F Murtz" <haggisz@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:5356573b$0$7174$c3e8da3$76a7c58f@news.astraweb.com...

Bob Milutinovic wrote:
"F Murtz" <haggisz@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:53538a1f$0$9159$c3e8da3$9f400e27@news.astraweb.com...
Bob Milutinovic wrote:
"Jasen Betts" <jasen@xnet.co.nz> wrote in message
news:liok50$nef$2@gonzo.reversiblemaps.ath.cx...
On 2014-04-17, Bob Milutinovic <cognicom@gmail.com> wrote:

Under normal circumstances, the only thing that could kill the ports
would
be a highy voltage spike on the connected network cable - but if this
was
the case, you'd also have a dead network card in the computer at the
other
end.

if they're gigabit ports connecting them to a phone line will kill
them.

Mr. Murtz might not be a computer geek, but I doubt he'd have plugged
the 'phone line into multiple network ports.

I say "under normal circumstances" because there's no guarantee that
Thomson
haven't cut corners by not using requisite opto-couplers,

transformers are the usual way to couple ethernet ports. I don't
think I've ever seen an optocoupler used.

I don't make a habit of dismantling functional equipment, but the two
most recent gigabit switches I've had to open have both used
opto-couplers. Admittedly they were from the same manufacturer, so it
might not be standard across the board. All of the 10Mbps and 100Mbps
equipment I've opened in the past have used transformers.

And now the memories start flooding in... Trying to diagnose a network
fault through a maze of coax - 1Mbps ArcNet connected through 50 ohm
coaxial cable which wasn't allowed to be less than three metres long
(per segment), and which needed to be terminated at each end. And
LANtastic with its "bleep of death" resonating from all thirteen
workstations... Ah, those were the days!

Offending article.

http://tinypic.com/r/xf866w/8

http://tinypic.com/r/wcg114/8

Well they're definitely transformers;
http://www.bothhandusa.com/products/filter-transformer/10-100-dual-dip.html

If you fancy replacing two 20-pin DIP packages in the hopes that they're
the culprits, you can get ten of them for about $15 including postage
from China;
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/s/1740156254.html

How good are your soldering skills?

soldering skills makes no difference, tried to order and they say can't be
shipped to Australia.
Might try wes or rs

Did the vendor say that after you placed the order?

Just looking at the postage options, they're all available for postage to
Australia;
http://yak.net.au/i/axp1740156254.jpg

If that vendor falls through, there're plenty of others;
http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?SearchText=20PT1024SX

--
Bob Milutinovic
Cognicom

 

[F Murtz]

Bob Milutinovic wrote:

"F Murtz" <haggisz@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:5356573b$0$7174$c3e8da3$76a7c58f@news.astraweb.com...
Bob Milutinovic wrote:
"F Murtz" <haggisz@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:53538a1f$0$9159$c3e8da3$9f400e27@news.astraweb.com...
Bob Milutinovic wrote:
"Jasen Betts" <jasen@xnet.co.nz> wrote in message
news:liok50$nef$2@gonzo.reversiblemaps.ath.cx...
On 2014-04-17, Bob Milutinovic <cognicom@gmail.com> wrote:

Under normal circumstances, the only thing that could kill the ports
would
be a highy voltage spike on the connected network cable - but if
this
was
the case, you'd also have a dead network card in the computer at the
other
end.

if they're gigabit ports connecting them to a phone line will kill
them.

Mr. Murtz might not be a computer geek, but I doubt he'd have plugged
the 'phone line into multiple network ports.

I say "under normal circumstances" because there's no guarantee that
Thomson
haven't cut corners by not using requisite opto-couplers,

transformers are the usual way to couple ethernet ports. I don't
think I've ever seen an optocoupler used.

I don't make a habit of dismantling functional equipment, but the two
most recent gigabit switches I've had to open have both used
opto-couplers. Admittedly they were from the same manufacturer, so it
might not be standard across the board. All of the 10Mbps and 100Mbps
equipment I've opened in the past have used transformers.

And now the memories start flooding in... Trying to diagnose a network
fault through a maze of coax - 1Mbps ArcNet connected through 50 ohm
coaxial cable which wasn't allowed to be less than three metres long
(per segment), and which needed to be terminated at each end. And
LANtastic with its "bleep of death" resonating from all thirteen
workstations... Ah, those were the days!

Offending article.

http://tinypic.com/r/xf866w/8

http://tinypic.com/r/wcg114/8

Well they're definitely transformers;
http://www.bothhandusa.com/products/filter-transformer/10-100-dual-dip.html


If you fancy replacing two 20-pin DIP packages in the hopes that they're
the culprits, you can get ten of them for about $15 including postage
from China;
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/s/1740156254.html

How good are your soldering skills?

soldering skills makes no difference, tried to order and they say
can't be shipped to Australia.
Might try wes or rs

Did the vendor say that after you placed the order?

before the payment page after filling a form with name address etc.

Just looking at the postage options, they're all available for postage
to Australia;
http://yak.net.au/i/axp1740156254.jpg

If that vendor falls through, there're plenty of others;
http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?SearchText=20PT1024SX