FAQ
What is ADSL?
ADSL stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line, but that
probably won’t mean anything to most people. What you
need to know is that it is simply a fancy method of delivering
high speed internet access over a standard copper phone line.
It is Asymmetrical in that your Download speed (data travelling
to your computer) is faster than your Upload speed (data travelling
from your computer). From a user’s point of view, it’s
just a much faster internet connection than a normal modem,
and it is always on.
Can I get ADSL?
You must meet certain criteria in order for us to be able
to provide you with ADSL:-
- The Telstra exchange that provides your phone service
needs to be "enabled" – most of them are.
- You need to live within a certain distance of this exchange,
normally about 3 Kms – most of you do.
- You need to have a suitable copper phone line – some phone
services are delivered by other means.
If you can satisfy all of these requirements, the chances
are you can get ADSL installed. And we do all the checking
for you, so you don’t have to get the tape measure out
just yet.
Is home ADSL for everyone?
While there is no doubt ADSL is a great product, the truth
is that it is not suitable for everyone. It just depends upon
how you and your family use the internet. The easiest way
for you to find out if it’s worthwhile is to ring one
of our staff to discuss your personal usage patterns and look
at the pros and cons. Each case is unique, and our advice
is free. And rest assured, if we don’t think you’ll
benefit from ADSL, we’ll tell you.
Why should I choose MaxiNet?
Maxinet is different to most other internet providers. We
look after you on a personal level in that we treat you like
a person, not a number. Our staff are committed and friendly,
and we don’t use those automated answering services
that seem to keep you in an endless loop. We also don’t
believe in hidden fees or small print, so there won’t
be any surprises.
Do I require a new telephone line?
No, ADSL technology enables us to provide the service over
an existing line, such your phone or fax line. The line is
"split" so that you can be on the phone (or fax)
and on the internet at the same time. So if you currently
have a line dedicated to your internet connection, you can
probably cancel it and save some money.
What does "always on" mean?
ADSL is a permanent connection to the internet. If you have
a normal dial up account, you have to dial up and connect
every time you want to browse or send mail, and that costs
you a phone call charge. Your ADSL modem is just on, so there
are no call charges. And if you are disconnected because of
an outage (yes, they do happen from time to time), there is
no reconnection fee when the outage is resolved.
Can I share my ADSL connection?
Yes – if you have more than one computer at home you
can "network" them together so they are all using
the internet at the same time. It is relatively easy to do,
and we can do it for you if you don’t like to meddle
with this sort of thing. You may need to purchase some additional
equipment, such as Network Cards, and a different type of
modem to make it all work, so it’s best you talk to
us to find out if there will be any additional costs in your
particular case.
Are the flat rate plans the same quality as the other
plans?
The simple answer is Yes, it is. We do not give your data
a lower priority to make sure you can’t download too much
data. However, you should read the following section as well,
as it is relevant to this question.
Are the Flat Plans really Fixed Cost?
Yes they are. These plans are designed for people who want
to be sure that the cost won’t vary from month to month. So
if you reach your allocated download limit, the speed of the
service is slowed, but you are not charged any excess fees.
You can still use the internet. If you want to be able to
download at the full speed, even after you reach your limit,
then a higher limit Flat Rate Plan or one of our Usage plans
might be more appropriate.
Is this service available Australia-Wide?
Yes, Maxinet is able to offer ADSL to everyone in Australia,
provided of course, you meet the normal requirements, as mentioned
above. However, due to certain restrictions placed on us,
pricing is different depending upon your location, and distance
from the State Capital City. You should see our pricing page,
or call us directly for clarification of these levels.
Do I need a firewall?
Absolutely. A Firewall is a security program that acts as
a barrier between you and the internet. The purpose of a Firewall
is to stop malicious traffic from reaching your computer.
ADSL is an always on connection, which means Cyber-criminals
can try to gain access at any time of the day or night, so
it is imperative that you guard against these vandals. Maxinet
strongly recommends you have a Firewall. Depending upon your
requirements, you can either use a Free, simple Firewall that
is installed directly on your computer, or you can opt for
an advanced Firewall that is combined with your Router/Modem.
Please feel free to discuss the options with our staff.
Back to Base Alarm Systems
If you have an alarm system that relies on your telephone
line to send a signal, then we strongly recommend you check
with your alarm provider to see whether this service will
be affected if ADSL is installed on the same line. In some
cases, your alarm system will need to use a different phone
line to that which has ADSL installed.
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