N.B. - It is important to ensure you have either a software or hardware firewall in place when connecting to the internet, especially so if you have a broadband connection. The Internet Security section may be worth a visit. This is also the time to check the status of your antivirus software.
Broadband can now be had for less than $30 a month. Now's the time to say 'Good-bye!' to dial-up if you haven't already.
Broadband just means a fast internet connection (i.e. - faster than the 56k dial-up modem). There are a few different types of broadband, including ADSL, cable, DSL, ISDN and satellite. ADSL speeds start at 256k, and can get as quick as 24,000k; cable speeds are around 1,000k up to 30,000k.
| An ADSL or cable modem is required, usually your broadband service provider will supply this. |
| A router is a good idea (if you're modem doesn't already have one built-in). A router hides your computers from the internet, and performs firewall duties. Many allow multiple computers to be connected, making this an easy way to share one broadband connection amongst computers. |
ADSL - Asymmetric Digital Subscriber
Line. Asymmetric DSL shares the same line as the telephone, because it
uses higher frequencies than the voice band. However, a line filter / POTS splitter must be
installed on the customer's premises to separate the line between voice and
ADSL. A line filter costs less than $20; your modem may even come with one
included. You need 1 filter for each phone device (eg, phone, fax or fax modem)
connected to the number to which you have ADSL installed. Good info here:
An Overview of
Wiring Requirements to Support Residential DSL Service
Cable - Cable internet uses the high-capacity pay TV
infrastructures to deliver fast, two-way internet access to areas covered by the
rollout. BigPond Broadband uses the
Foxtel cable, whilst
OptusNet Cable uses the
Optus pay television cable. The OptusNet
Cable service is only available to selected residential homes in Sydney,
Brisbane and Melbourne, and is not available to units and townhouses, whilst
BigPond Broadband is available to both businesses and residential clients
(though BigPond Cable is also not available to units and townhouses).
ISDN - Integrated Services Digital Network. An international telecommunications standard for providing a digital service from the customer's premises to the dial-up telephone network. ISDN turns one existing wire pair into two channels and four wire pairs into 23 channels for the delivery of voice, data or video. Unlike an analogue modem, which converts digital signals into an equivalency in audio frequencies, ISDN deals only with digital transmission. Analogue telephones and fax machines are used over ISDN lines, but their signals are converted into digital by the ISDN modem.
Satellite - More of an option for those in the bush; see the Whirlpool Australian Broadband FAQ for more information.
Whirlpool's Australian Broadband FAQ - answers all the common questions about broadband.
Swift ADSL Troubleshooting information - lists step-by-step procedure to help pinpoint what the problem is.
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