Q: What is ADSL?
A: ADSL, which stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line, is a broadband communication technology designed for use on regular phone lines. It has the ability to move data over the phone lines at speeds up to 20 times speedier than the fastest analog modems available today.

Q: What are the benefits?
A: In addition to their very high speed, ADSL modems have many benefits over analog modems. Unlike the dial-up connections required for analog modems, your ADSL connection is always on. That means no more logging on and off, no more waiting for the connection to happen - it's always there. Another benefit is the ability to use the phone at the same time the data connection is on; you don't have to choose between the two.

Q: Do I need a second phone line for DSL?
A: No, a 2nd phone line is not needed, DSL works over your existing line. The circuit to your home is split into 3 channels: voice, and 2 data channels (upload/download). You will still be able to talk on the phone and have high speed Internet access at the same time.

Businesses using a modem connection will typically dial the Internet many times each day, which adds up to a significant monthly phone bill. You can eliminate these charges completely by changing over from a modem connection to DSL. Also, if you had previously dedicated a phone line to your Internet modem, you could cancel this line and then pocket over $30/month savings in line rental!

Q: How can it be so much faster than a modem when it uses the same phone line?
A: Analog modems send their signals through the public switched telephone network, the same one that connects ordinary telephones. ADSL modems "piggyback" their signals on top of the voice signal. On the phone company's premises, the line gets split - the voice calls are sent to the public switched telephone network, and the data transmission goes to the Internet. This method moves data off the phone companies' lines and instead uses connections optimized for carrying Internet traffic.

Q: I don't exactly understand the difference in speed. How much faster is DSL compared to Dial-Up?
A: Maybe a graphical representation of the difference in speed will help.

 

Q: Will it constantly connect near the maximum speed, or will it be like my 56K modem that almost never connects at 56K?
A: At ADSL speeds, the limitations are much more the performance of the Internet server you're trying to reach and the amount of traffic on the Internet. The Internet is a loosely coupled network of computers that are transmitting data by different methods through different computers at different speeds, so the speed you receive data with an ADSL modem is limited by these factors.

Q: Will it work with my computer?
A: Yes, and the newer the computer the better the performance. If your computer is already configured to operate on a local area network (LAN), it will have a network interface that can connect to our external modem. If you do not have a network interface (Ethernet Card), you will need to get one. Ethernet cards cost anywhere between $20 and $60, depending on the quality.

Q: Can I connect more than one computer to the DSL service?
A: Yes, as long as you buy a "Broadband Router" which allows you to share broadband connections among multiple computers and acts as a firewall. We often recommend the Dlink DSL-500  or the Dynalink RTA-100 brands of broadband routers.

Q: How do I order DSL service?
A: Call (03) 9387-0919 and talk to one of our representatives.

Q: How long does it take for DSL to be installed at my location?
A: DSL install provisioning usually takes about 10 working days, depending on your location and current demand.