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Yarraman
now has ADSL Broadband! This exchange upgrade was
completed by Telstra on the 17th of August, 2005. This means that everyone within a
4 klms radius of the Yarraman telephone exchange can
now receive Broadband Internet at speeds of up to
1500kbps. Currently, only dial-up Internet has been
available, with speeds of up to 52kbps. Thus ADSL
Broadband presents a significant increase in speed, as
well as other beneficial features.
As
is common with any new technology, we have been
receiving many enquiries about ADSL. Below are some of
the most common questions asked. For a general
overview of ADSL and what it does, click here.
What
is the FREE setup cost all about?
The
FREE setup as advertised by many ADSL providers (eg.
Bigpond) means that your normal setup costs (i.e. your
modem and connection fees) are waived, provided you
sign a plan contract with them for either 12, 18 or 24
continuous months, the length depending on the
provider. Most ADSL providers also offer discounted
prices for modem and connection if you sign up for a
shorter contract, say for 6 continuous months.
What
does ADSL cost?
The
costs associated with ADSL can be separated into two
categories: a) Your initial setup costs, and b) Your
ongoing monthly costs.
Your
initial setup costs involve purchasing your ADSL modem
(usually around $75 - $100), and your ADSL provider
connection fees, which vary depending on the ADSL
provider (anywhere from $49 - $199). As mentioned
above, these connection (and often the modem) costs
are often waived by the ADSL provider, if you sign up
with them for 18 or 24 months.
Your
ongoing monthly costs will vary depending on the type
of ADSL plan you choose. ADSL plans are sold according
to speed, the base plan being 256/64 kbps, and the top
plan usually 1500/1500kbps. There are several
intermediate plans also. For the base plan, these are
often under $20 per month; for the top plan, these can
be as high as $120 per month. Do your homework well,
and you should be able to find a plan that suits your
needs and your budget.
Do
I need to change phone companies?
As long as your home or
business phone line is connected to a Telstra
telephone exchange you will be able to apply for ADSL
connection without changing phone companies. If your
phone bill is from another telephone provider (eg.
AAPT, Optus, etc), you can still access ADSL Internet,
but your provider may have special conditions. Contact
your provider for relative info on setting up ADSL
with your telephone through them.
How long does it
take to get ADSL connected?
This varies between
ADSL providers. Usually it takes from 7 to 21 days
from when you first apply, to when you have your ADSL
connected.
Why does my
connection take such a long time?
ADSL is very
different to your dial-up Internet connection. ADSL
must be enabled at your local exchange for your
individual phone number. This involves getting a
technician to physically visit the exchange. As
Telstra owns and manages all the telephone exchanges,
if you are applying for ADSL through a provider other
than Telstra Bigpond, your ADSL application,
which includes your current phone account details, must
be passed on to Telstra for them to ADSL enable your
phone number. Due to time schedules and other
logistics, this accounts for the longer time frame to
get connected.
Can
I make phone calls when I am surfing the net?
Yes, most definately!
Unlike dial-up internet, you can make and receive
phone calls while you are using the internet.
Am I charged every
time I use ADSL on my phone line?
Definitely not!
Unlike dial-up internet where each connection is
charged a local call rate, ADSL is a permanent
connection, and you can leave your computer connected
24 hours, 7 days a week, if you want to.
How
many computers can I connect to ADSL internet?
Provided you have a
modem and/or network that supports this, you can
connect as many computers as you like.
Can
I use the modem that I already have?
ADSL is very different
from dial-up internet. This means that you cannot use
a modem that is made for dial-up internet to connect
to ADSL. You will have to purchase an ADSL modem,
which are available through us at Michael's Computer
Services. Most ADSL Broadband providers also supply
ADSL modems at attractive prices when you apply for
your ADSL.
What
is the difference between downloads and uploads?
When you are using the
internet, any information you receive on your computer
(emails and web pages you are reading, for eg.) is
called a download. Information that is sent from your
computer (when you send an email, for eg) is called an
upload.
Will
I get charged for uploads?
This depends on the ADSL
Provider. Most do not charge you for uploads, but DO
include your uploads in your total monthly data limit.
Check this out with your provider before you sign
up.
Can
you install the ADSL for me?
Yes, you can either
choose to install the ADSL yourself or we can do it
for you. Most ADSL Broadband connections take only 20
- 30 mins to setup. When this is the case, we can
setup your ADSL connection for $25.00, plus
travelling. Once you receive your installation package
from your Provider, you can contact us here
to arrange your installation.
I
have more than one phone connected, is that a problem?
No, this is not a
problem. You will however need a line filter (a tiny
little box) between the phone line and every piece of
equipment connected to the line. Normally one ADSL
line filter is shipped with your ADSL modem, so you
may have to purchase some additional line filters. We
have these available at $19.50 each.
I
have Foxtel or Austar Digital, is that a problem?
Foxtel and Austar
Digital are connected to your phone line. Like with a
normal phone or fax, you will have to place an ADSL
line filter between your Foxtel/Austar box and the
phone line.
How
many email addresses will I get?
This will vary
considerably between ADSL Providers. Bigpond give only
1 email address with your account, and charge $1.00
per month for every additional email, up to 7 in
total. Dodo give 30 emails with your account; Hypermax
give only 1, with up to 5 available. Check with your
intended ADSL Provider before signing up.
Will
I be under contract?
Yes, nearly all ADSL
Providers require you to sign a contract. You will have a choice between a 12 month,
18 month, or
a 24 month contract period when you apply for your
ADSL connection. Some ADSL Providers also offer phone
packages with their ADSL Plans, and if you apply for
this with your ADSL Internet, you often do not need to
sign any contract. An example is Veridas
Turbo Internet.
Will
I need a credit card?
Some ADSL providers only
accept payment of your account through credit card.
Others prefer to have you pay that way, but do have
other payment methods. Most of the larger ADSL
providers allow you to pay your ADSL
account through direct debit from your nominated bank
account. Check with your intended ADSL provider before
signing up.
Need more information?
We are happy to help
you with your specific ADSL needs. You can contact us here,
and we will reply within 24 hours (business days).
Alternatively, to
search for the best ADSL plan for your budget, click here.
NOTE: When searching for a plan, be sure to
type a phone number from a town already ENABLED with
ADSL (Nanango or Blackbutt, for eg.). Plans for these
towns are suitable for Yarraman also.
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