Broadband Internet

Broadband Internet in general refers to data transmission where multiple pieces of data are sent simultaneously to increase the effective rate of transmission. In network engineering Broadband Internet is used for methods where two or more signals share a medium.

Broadband Internet is a loosely used term which has come to describe higher than normal data transmission rates. As Broadband Internet providers become more advanced, they are able to roll out Broadband Internet services to remote regions using wireless technologies.

What is Broadband?

The term 'Broadband Internet', in simple terms, translates to 'High Speed Internet'. A high speed internet connection is generally anything with a download speed faster than 200kbps. A normal Dialup connection is capable of a maximum of 56kbps and is sometimes referred to as Narrowband accordingly.

Are there different types of Broadband?

Yes, you may have heard of terms such as ADSL, Wireless and Cable?

ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line): The most common broadband product in the Australian Market. ADSL operates over the existing telephone line to your premises without interfering with your normal telephone operation.

CABLE (Fibre Optic Cable) is the second most common broadband product. Cable broadband operates over the pay TV fibre optic networks installed throughout metropolitan neighbourhoods over the last decade. If the cable runs down your street, you are most likely eligible to connect to the internet this way. Cable internet is currently only offered by Bigpond and Optus. For Cable internet you will need to check with the providers, Optus and Bigpond. They will ask for your street address and use this to determine if the optical cable runs down your street.

WIRELESS – A new, but fast growing technology connects you to the internet without any physical (cable or wire) connection. A wireless modem is connected to your computer which communicates via radio signal to a receiver in your neighbourhood. Coverage of these services is growing rapidly throughout the capital cities of Australia. The convenience of not needing to plug your laptop computer in to use broadband is obvious, especially for the travelling person. If you are not eligible for either ADSL or Cable then you should investigate Wireless if you are in a major metropolitan area, or satellite if you are in a rural area.

SATELLITE – 2-Way Satellite Internet doesn't depend on land-based phone lines or cables, it can reach places that are far beyond the range of Broadband ADSL or Cable services.

Satellite services can use the enormous bandwidth and geographical coverage of orbiting satellites. So even if you live in a community far from the nearest city, you'll still be able to surf the net at amazing speeds.

There are two systems: i) the 1-Way system is usually an ideal solution if you're a home or small business user, ii) the 2-Way solution is really a better option if you upload a lot of data - either as a professional or specialist Internet user.

Which Broadband products are available to me?
By entering your telephone number into our search function we are able to check if your local telephone exchange is enabled for ADSL. There are other factors which may inhibit you from being eligible, such as your distance from the exchange and the quality of the line to your residence.

For Cable internet you will need to check with the providers, Optus and Bigpond. They will ask for your street address and use this to determine if the optical cable runs down your street.

If you are not eligible for either ADSL or Cable then you should investigate Wireless if you are in a major metropolitan area or satellite if you are in a rural area.

How is Broadband different from Dialup?

The main obvious difference is the speed of data transfer. A basic Broadband connection is 5 to 6 times faster than your traditional Dialup connection, eg this enables you to do things which simply aren't feasible on a Dialup connection. The first thing most people notice is that they are able to do more than one task at a time on the internet, eg downloading email while browsing the web on a Dialup connection would prove frustrating and slow. With Broadband, you would not notice a significant drop in performance of your connection because it can handle more information at the one time.

Another main difference from Dialup is the 'always on' connection. This means you would no longer have to make a phone call to connect to the internet which ties up your phone line while using the connection. One of the big selling points for Broadband is that you can be on the internet and use the phone at the same time from a single phone line.

What would I use Broadband for?

A high speed internet connection enables you to fully utilise everything that the internet has to offer today. Performing normal internet tasks such as email downloading paying bills, banking, web page viewing and media downloading; will take a fraction of the time they took on a Dialup connection. The experience will be much less frustrating and best of all will save you lots of wasted time waiting for things to happen.

Most people find that they will be able to view content which was not possible with a slower connection such as movie trailers and music downloads. Once you move to a high speed connection you will never go back to using Dialup.

Which Broadband product is right for me?

Before you ask that question it is more important to ask "Which Broadband products are available to me?" Not all types of Broadband are available to all Australians. There are several factors influencing the availability of these products. If you are lucky enough to have a choice then the decision is sometimes based on the costs of the particular product. ADSL and Cable internet offer a comparable service each with pros and cons. Please see below for more detail on the differences between these two services.

Will my computer be compatible with Broadband?
If your computer has been purchased in the last 3 years you will most likely have no trouble at all. If your system is older than this, it is worthwhile checking the minimum system requirements.

Most common system requirements are as follows:

For PC
Pentium II +
Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP
32 MB RAM (for Windows 98)
64 MB RAM (for Windows 2000 and ME)
128 MB RAM (for Windows XP)
Spare USB port and a CD-ROM drive
SVGA display 800x600x256 colours +
150MB hard disk drive space
Internet Explorer version 5.5 +
For Mac
Power PC, Power Book, iMac or iBook (G3 or G4 strongly recommended)
Operating System OS 9.2 to 10.2
12 MB RAM (recommended)
128 MB RAM for OSX
Spare Ethernet Port and CD-ROM drive
SVGA display 800 x 600 x 256 colours +
20 Mb hard disk drive space
Internet Explorer version 5.5+
These are a guide only.

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