Broadband is evolving in all sorts of exciting and significant ways and as always it offers unrivalled access to all of the best content, entertainment, information and services that the internet has to offer. ADSL landline broadband is getting faster all the time, with 20Mbps speeds becoming available in more and more areas. Cable broadband is also doing well, with better speeds than ADSL but constantly playing catch up to improve the level of coverage and entice new customers onboard. Meanwhile mobile broadband is offering the first truly wireless internet at high speeds to a range of customers and without the need for a dedicated landline and with the freedom to travel around and use your connection as you go, it`s a good choice for a variety of consumers.
With so many different technologies on offer and so many providers fighting for your custom, making the right choice can be difficult. The best way to succeed in picking a broadband package is to think about your own needs before you even look at the deals available.
The first consideration is connection speed. Download speed will affect how quickly you can download files, stream videos, play online games or just load web pages. If you`re not a big downloader and you only use the internet for email and web browsing then the higher costs of a faster download package won`t be on your check list.
You`ll also want to consider the extras that are included with a deal, such as equipment. Most providers will offer new customers free wireless routers to help create a wireless network in their homes, but the specifications of routers differ depending on the package and provider you pick. Often it is the contract length which will alter the costs and equipment you receive. The average length is 12 months, though 18 to 24 months is not unusual, particularly if you are combining other services such as digital television or home telephone with your broadband package.
One of the most important considerations is of course which types of broadband are available in your area. ADSL broadband, which uses copper telephone lines, is available in most homes with a telephone connection, but cable broadband has a less extensive level of coverage. Mobile broadband will operate only in regions covered by your chosen provider`s 3G network.
If you are coming to the end of your broadband contract and you want to switch services to a new provider then there are a few things you`ll need to do. First you`ll need to let your current provider know, preferably before the end of the contractual period. Most providers operate a rolling contract which will automatically renew itself for an additional period once the initial minimum date has been reached. You`ll also want to use price comparison online for advice and to find the cheapest broadband in your area. Migrating your service is a simple task, but you should start the ball rolling as soon as possible.
RECOMMENDED BROADBAND SERVICE PROVIDERS
GJ's Computer Services is an authorised agent for Exetel Pty Ltd’s range of Broadband Internet Services as well as bundled voice phone and Internet services.
There are many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) available. These can be checked at Broadband Choice. By typing in your landline number (including the area code) you can find a broadband plan.
Find a broadband plan by entering your landline telephone number:
You can also check what other ISPs customers are using, or search for the most popular plans.
For discussions about broadband services you might want to check out the Whirlpool Forum.
GJ's has found Exetel to be one of the best available in terms of price and reliability, two crucial elements in making the decision on a service provider or changing from your current provider (after your contract has ended).
There are also many other features of Exetel’s services that GJ's finds very useful. These include up to 15 email addresses, a static IP address (see definition below), a spam filter and many other useful services.
Static IP Address: "A static IP address is a number (in the form of a dotted quad, for example 205.245.172.72) that is assigned to a computer by an Internet service provider to be its permanent address on the Internet. Computers use IP addresses to locate and talk to each other on the Internet, much the same way people use phone numbers to locate and talk to one another on the telephone. When you want to visit whatis.com, your computer asks a domain name system (DNS) server (think telephone information operator) for the correct dotted quad number (think phone number) for whatis.com and your computer uses the answer it receives to connect to the whatis.com server.
It would be simple if every computer that connects to the Internet could have its own static IP number, but when the Internet was first conceived, the architects didn’t foresee the need for an unlimited number of IP addresses. Consequently, there are not enough IP numbers to go around. To get around that problem, many Internet service providers limit the number of static IP addresses they allocate, and economize on the remaining number of IP addresses they possess by temporarily assigning an IP address to a requesting Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) computer from a pool of IP addresses. The temporary IP address is called a dynamic IP address." (Taken from SearchWebServices.com Definition.)
As with all other items referred to on this website, GJ's only recommends those services and products that we ourselves use. GJ's has been using Exetel ADSL since 2004, recently switching to the faster ADSL2+ service.
With Exetel Broadband Services, GJ's completes the application online on your behalf, orders the hardware if required and manages the installation. It is typically a very straightforward process.
To find out more about Exetel please visit these websites:
- The Exetel Website is located at http://www.exetel.com.au/
- Click on the Green button for residential, or
- Click on the Purple button for small business.
- About Exetel, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exetel
- Broadband Choice (Exetel): http://bc.whirlpool.net.au/isp.cfm/Exetel/340.html
- Why select Exetel ADSL? (1/2/07):
Exetel believes that there are 4 major reasons why you should consider Exetel as your ADSL provider, and GJ's Computer Services supports these reasons. These are:- You will get an optimally fast ADSL connection all the time.
- You will get as reliable an ADSL connection as it is possible to provide.
- You will pay less for your ADSL connection than with any other ADSL provider.
- You will deal with exceptionally well qualified personnel in every aspect of ADSL provision and problem resolution (Please note that in the majority of cases support is via email).