Newbie needs advice on wifi

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jarada

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#29068 21-Dec-2008 21:18

Hi everyone,

I'm moving to a new house and I'd like to have wireless internet connection. I have been looking around and realized that the main options that I have are either Vodafone or Telecom. Honestly, I don't fancy any of them but we have more than one laptop at home and would like to be able to have more than one person connected at the same time.

The options that I get from both intenet suppliers are either too expensive (which I consider more than $100 for phone and internet) or give only a few GB (less than 8GB) which quite limits everything. I don't know if it would be possible to buy a wireless router myself and change it for the one that they give you when you sign up for a broadband contract, assuming that I don't have a clue on compatibility or connections. Or maybe it would be possible to sign up for a broadband contract, which I belive that would be faster, cheaper and have more GB, and ask the supplier to install two connection points, one in the office room and another one in the living room which would also work for me.

I would really appreciate If you could give me any advice on internet residential suppliers or what can I do to have more than one person connected at the same time.

Thanks in advance to everyone!

nate

6473 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#185568 21-Dec-2008 22:54

I think you are confusing two separate technologies.

WiFi is when you have a wireless broadband router in your home with Xtra/ihug/TelstraClear etc. You pay a monthly access fee for 20Gb for example which you can share among as many PCs as you want. The limitation on accessing this internet is you must either be plugged into the router, or within the range of the wireless (you can't be at work and access your home broadband).

The Vodafone/Telecom options you mention are mobile data - you have a small card plugged into your laptop and with this you can access the internet wherever there is cellular reception (the speed you connect at is dependent on your location). You can be at home, work, out at a cafe, and still be on the internet. However, this option is more expensive as you pay for the convenience of having internet wherever you are. I pay around $50 (I think) for 1Gb a month (for comparison, on Xtra, I would get 10Gb a month).

I think you are looking at the first option, in that case, signup with whichever provider suits you best (NZConnections gives you some good information) and buy a wireless broadband router. When you get the device make sure you enable the security features, otherwise you'll find your neighbours also enjoying your new wireless internet.

Hope this helps, if you need any further information just ask.

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dets00b

60 posts

Master Geek

#185569 21-Dec-2008 22:55

Most internet providers provide you with a free Broadband modem when you sign up, i know telstra and telecom do. Most broadband plans greater that 8gb per month along with the phone will cost around $90. If you want wireless Broadband, you could buy a wireless router ( just the router by itself not a adsl router) and plug it into your free modem from the provider you choose. And then you would have wireless internet.

jarada

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#185662 22-Dec-2008 12:04

Hi everyone,

Thank you so much for your replies.

I am really interested in the option of signing up with any provider and getting a free modem. That was the kind of option that I was looking for and if I can plug a wifi router into it, then that's what I want to do.

But some questions have emerged... Do I need any specific kind of router to do that and can you recommend any? How does the whole process go...is it easy to set up?

Any advice will be more than welcome.
Thanks again to everyone!