There's a simple explanation for why it's so hard to get good IP range such as 60.x.x.x

There's just a MUCH BIGGER chunk of 115.x.x.x and 118.x.x.x IPs lying around unused.

Also, depending on your account, you're assigned to what most engineers call a BRAS(pronounced bee-raaaas) - where there's a certain IP pool allocated to you.

So if you have never gotten a certain good IP your friend has gotten before, you can stop trying, that IP group? it's probably not in the list.

I know some friends who work at TM, and hence they got access to certain limited information such as these things I just told you.

But the screwed up routing based on what IP you get.. that's a complete mystery to me as to why it would happen.

There's no 'evidence' that i could provide - this is just based on my experience of working at an ISP myself before this. (no it's not TM hehe)

Edit : you know, sometimes I just wish TM would hire people who are really truly PASSIONATE users of the internet. People who jump on it and rely on it everyday for everything. Instead of the chap who .. you know, who is really knowledgeable and all but gets so busy with actual work that he hardly use the Internet at all - and hence doesn't really know if things work or not. :/ I see this happening a lot of times in ISPs - those really technical staff.. at the end of the day the last thing they would want to do is log on the net lol...