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| Thread ID: 115269 | 2011-01-10 12:28:00 | Broadband setup requirements | Robin S_ (86) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 1168572 | 2011-01-10 12:28:00 | I am preparing to switch from dial-up to broadband and am in the process of boning up for this. Situation - 1 desktop, 1 laptop, both 1.1GHz, 256 MB RAM; laptop has PCMCIA wireless card; 7 phone sockets (only 3 in use). Plan - Wireless modem/router, cabled to desktop, Wifi to laptop and around the house generally to be available for visiting laptops; house is 2-story wooden, no concrete walls or buried basement. My understanding of requirements - wireless modem/router, ethernet cable, line filter(s), splitter(s), ethernet card (onboard in desktop, but never used it - presume it's the Intel PRO/100 VM Network Connection listed under Network adapters in Device Manager which says that it's working properly but how do I check that in advance?). Questions: (1) Which brands/models of wireless modem/router to (a) aim for, (b) avoid? (2) Splitters and Line filters - Jaycar man says I need 1 splitter/filter combo for phone jack where router will be plugged (1 phone shares same jack) and filters on all other jacks, Iconz website says splitters needed on all phone jacks with filter on router jack; which is right? (c) We use the net for email and moderate web surfing, a few photo uploads to Flickr occasionally, no music or DVD downloads; what size data cap would we need? (4) At least 1 ISP apparently charges a fee for ADSL-enabling the phone line - is this a standard requirement? (5) Another recommends requesting a line test from Telecom to determine if the line is suitable for ADSL (? 2+) - is that correct? (6) I am fairly adept with tools etc - can I fit the line filters/splitters myself, and if so can this be done in advance without upsetting the system in the meantime? Any info on recommendations or pitfalls to avoid etc greatly appreciated. TIA. |
Robin S_ (86) | ||
| 1168573 | 2011-01-10 12:59:00 | You only need filters on your phones, so if you only have 3 phones you can use three filters, it is not necesary to connect the ADSL modem/Router to a filter, it needs to be connected directly to the phone line (unfiltered) to work, and where you find a filter with phone and adsl "holes" the ADSL hole will be unfiltered. Go for a 10GB plan, its fairly cheap and you'll probably never get anywhere near the cap. If you opt for a self install (which is what you will need filters for) your ISP should not charge at all (tell them you want to do a self install) if they charge a "join fee" find another ISP. You can ask for a chorus guy to come out to install a "splitter" which is basically a filter for your whole house and a single unfiltered connection just for the ADSL, generally the splitters will give you a better connection but not worth it unless you are having trouble with your connection. Dn't bother with the line test, if ADSL is available in your area it is fairly unlikely that it won't work. installing the splitters is basically plugging stuff in, no tools required, it won't do any harm to install them early. |
Deimos (5715) | ||
| 1168574 | 2011-01-10 18:35:00 | Plan - Wireless modem/router, cabled to desktop, Wifi to laptop a Questions: (1) Which brands/models of wireless modem/router to (a) aim for, (b) avoid? (2) Splitters and Line filters (c) We use the net for email and moderate web surfing, a few photo uploads to Flickr occasionally, no music or DVD downloads; what size data cap would we need? (4) At least 1 ISP apparently charges a fee for ADSL-enabling the phone line - is this a standard requirement? . Get a Netcomm . All devices using the phone line )except the modem) need a filter . Phones, fax machines, etx . Filters usually have two sockets on them, one marked ADSL and one marked Phone . The ADSL socket is not filtered and is for the modem if you have a jackpoint situation where you have both a phone and modem sharing it . What the filter is for, broadband is high frequency on your line . Phones etc don't work well with high frequency on it - to them it's noise . SO you filter it out . Of course if you filtered it out on the modem - you wouldn't have a broadband connection! Data - 2GB? Probably all you need, you can keep an eye on your usage and change your data cap later if necessary anyway . You might use more than you think once you discover the joys of lovely speed compared with dialup . . . . . Fees - generally if you don't have anything involved at your end, like a PBX system, monitored alarm etc, then all you need to do is plug in a filter to the phone so there is no need for a tech to come out and install anything . So there shouldn't be any fees . Who is your current ISP? I would avoid SLingshot, Vodafone and Telstra . |
pctek (84) | ||
| 1168575 | 2011-01-10 18:41:00 | Don't forget Sky and some monitored burgler alarms need a filter too | gary67 (56) | ||
| 1168576 | 2011-01-10 19:05:00 | ADSL is generally very simple, it seems almost like you're trying to over-complicate it? As has been mentioned, just add: - Filters on every wall socket where there's a phone - A decent NetComm ADSL Modem such as the NB6Plus4Wn Then if your ISP says ADSL is available at your address, just tell them to sign you up, and you're away laughing (for the better part) Simple! :D |
Chilling_Silence (9) | ||
| 1168577 | 2011-01-10 19:11:00 | Don't forget Sky and some monitored burgler alarms need a filter too You don't need a phone line in the sky decoder, just leave it out if one is installed. Most security alarms are hard wired and it is not possible to install filters so in that case you need to have a full install done where they install one filter/splitter and run a dedicated line to one phone jack for your broadband. With this type of installation you don't require filters on any of your phones. When you decide on which ISP you are going to use contact them and they will arrange everything as part of your signup process. If broadband is not available at your location Telecom will not connect you so there is no cost to you or the ISP. Most ISPs will absorb the cost of connecting your phone line to BB, about $99 provided you agree to stay with them for a contract period. |
Safari (3993) | ||
| 1168578 | 2011-01-11 00:32:00 | Good stuff, you guys. Thanks for that. I have 2 more questions. (7) I presume that a 256K download connection is "filtered" to that as max whereas full service can theoretically go faster depending what the line and all the other factors permit. Is that correct? (8) I gather that modem/routers have an inbuilt firewall (s/ware or h/ware?). Is it a good idea to have a firewall app on the computer as well? Such as? And what about radio security - I know it is essential but is that a separate issue also? |
Robin S_ (86) | ||
| 1168579 | 2011-01-11 00:56:00 | Good stuff, you guys. Thanks for that. I have 2 more questions. (7) I presume that a 256K download connection is "filtered" to that as max whereas full service can theoretically go faster depending what the line and all the other factors permit. Is that correct? (8) I gather that modem/routers have an inbuilt firewall (s/ware or h/ware?). Is it a good idea to have a firewall app on the computer as well? Such as? And what about radio security - I know it is essential but is that a separate issue also? 256k is too slow, it is only about 6 times faster than dialup. Go for full speed down and 256k up speed. What operating system are you using, the windows firewall is usually sufficient with a good AV program installed. You ISP will help you setup the wireless security on the modem when they configure it for your BB connection. |
Safari (3993) | ||
| 1168580 | 2011-01-11 01:07:00 | A multi-port modem is pretty much guaranteed to do NAT, which is essentially an inbound firewall for lack of a better description. By and large there's little need for any additional firewall on your home connection, or if you do feel the need for one then use the default Windows one. The NetComm series come with their WiFi security enabled by default, just what you want. Anything WPA2 is ideal. As Safari said, go full-speed :) |
Chilling_Silence (9) | ||
| 1168581 | 2011-01-11 01:27:00 | You don't need a phone line in the sky decoder, just leave it out if one is installed. Most security alarms are hard wired and it is not possible to install filters so in that case you need to have a full install done where they install one filter/splitter and run a dedicated line to one phone jack for your broadband. With this type of installation you don't require filters on any of your phones. When you decide on which ISP you are going to use contact them and they will arrange everything as part of your signup process. If broadband is not available at your location Telecom will not connect you so there is no cost to you or the ISP. Most ISPs will absorb the cost of connecting your phone line to BB, about $99 provided you agree to stay with them for a contract period. Oh I didn't realise that the sky didn't need one I just assumed since it has a phone connection that it did |
gary67 (56) | ||
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