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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
(Fiber Optic Cable) is the second most common broadband
product. Cable broadband operates over the pay TV fiber
optic networks installed throughout metropolitan
neighborhoods 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
neighborhood. 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 traveling 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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