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Better Telecom ADSL FAQ's
What is ADSL?
How does ADSL work?
Why would I choose ADSL over dial-up Internet?
What do I need to access ADSL?
What are the minimum system requirements to use ADSL?
Can I still use my telephone line at the same time as using ADSL?
What other options do I have if I am unable to obtain ADSL in my area?
What is the minimum agreement for an ADSL service?
Can I churn my existing ADSL service across to Better Telecome?
What does the connection speed refer to?
What are the different types of connections available?
What is data?
What is downloading?
What is the difference between an unlimited plan and a plan with a data allocation?
What is shaping?
Can I use my 56K dial up modem to connect to ADSL?
What services are incompatible with ADSL?
Do I have to keep my phone line connected to receive ADSL?
What happens to the ADSL service if I relocate my telephone line to new premises?
Can I still use my line with a fax machine if I have ADSL provisioned?
Can I still use my alarm system which requires back to base telephone line connection?
What is an ADSL Filter used for?
What is a Network Interface Card?
What is a USB connection?
What is an "IP Address"?
What is a "Static IP"?
What is a "Dynamic IP"?
What is ADSL?
ADSL is short for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line is an Internet service that is connected via your telephone line. The service uses an unused high frequency on your telephone line to provide a high speed internet connection.
How does ADSL work?
Your internet service provider has a DSLAM (Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer) located at each telephone exchange around the country. A DSLAM transmits and receives data from the local telephone exchange, across your telephone line to your computers modem.
Why would I choose ADSL over dial-up Internet?
The reasons for choosing ADSL include:
What do I need to access ADSL?
You will need the following to access ADSL:
What are the minimum system requirements to use ADSL?
Can I still use my telephone line at the same time as using ADSL?
Yes you can still use your telephone at the same time as ADSL. ADSL operates at a higher unused frequency to a normal telephone call which will not interrupt your use of the telephone line.
What other options do I have if I am unable to obtain ADSL in my area?
If you are unable to gain access in your area it may be due to one of the following reasons:
What is the minimum agreement for an ADSL service?
The minimum agreement is 12 months for ADSL services.
Can I churn my existing ADSL service across to Better Telecom?
If your service is on the same ADSL backbone as Better Telecom it may be possible to churn the service across to Better Telecom. If a churn is successful you will need to change your modem settings to your new Better Telecom settings.
What does the connection speed refer to?
Connection speed refers to the rate at which data is received via the ADSL connection. It is measured in Kilo Bytes (KB) per second which refers to the maximum amount of data that can be received at a single point in time. When you are checking your ADSL plan options you will see the lowest speed available is 256kb/64kb. 256kb is the first measurement which refers to the download speed for pulling data down to your computer whilst 64kb is the highest speed available for sending data out to the Internet.
What are the different types of connections available?
There are many different speeds available of ADSL services. The most common types include:
What is data?
Data is the information sent and received across your ADSL connection to provide you with your Internet access. If you type in a website address data is sent out to the Internet requesting that site. The website data is sent back and is displayed by your computer.
What is downloading?
Whether you are viewing a website, receiving email or exporting a file off the Internet, this is all counted as downloading off the Internet. Data is received via your ADSL connection and contributes to your monthly data allocation.
What is the difference between an unlimited plan and a plan with a data allocation?
An ADSL service which contains a data allocation is charged with a monthly fee plus any data in excess of your data allocation. An unlimited ADSL service is charged at a monthly with no upper limit of data allocation. All ADSL plans are still subject to the Better Telecom Internet Usage Policy.
What is shaping?
Shaping is the technical term used for slowing the speed of your connection when you reach your total data allowance for the period in which it has been allocated. If you exceed your download limit, your connection speed will be "shaped" to a slower speed. Not all Better Telecom ADSL plans have shaping. Please see your Better Telecom rate sheets for clarification.
Can I use my 56K dial up modem to connect to ADSL?
No you can not use your 56K dial up modem to connect to ADSL. You must use a modem which is designed for ADSL use.
What services are incompatible with ADSL?
Line Hunt - Prime
Messagebank Virtual
Fax Stream Duet - Auxiliary number
ISDN / Analogue NT1
Real Time Metering
Virtual numbers
Do I have to keep my phone line connected to receive ADSL?
Yes you must keep your telephone line connected to receive an ADSL service. If you disconnect your telephone line your ADSL service will be lost and will need to be set up again on a new sew service.
What happens to the ADSL service if I relocate my telephone line to new premises?
If you relocate your telephone line to a new location your ADSL service (also known as an ADSL tail) will be lost. You will need to have your service reconnected to your telephone line again. You will be required to pay for the set-up costs for the services to have this reconnected.
Can I still use my line with a fax machine if I have ADSL provisioned?
Yes you can still use your telephone line with a fax machine when ADSL is connected. It is also recommended you connect a filter to take out any interference.
Can I still use my alarm system which requires back to base telephone line connection?
You should be able to use your alarm system on the telephone line if it requires the use of a standard voice call to connect with alarm monitoring. Please contact your alarm system supplier for clarification.
What is an ADSL Filter used for?
An ADSL Filter is used to remove any interference which can occur due to the ADSL service being on the same telephone line. This is often noticed as an inherent buzzing or hum which can be heard on the telephone line whilst you are talking.
What is a Network Interface Card?
A Network Interface Card is a special card which is found on most PC's and laptops. It contains a socket known as an Ethernet connector which is used to connect your PC to computer networks in an office or to an ADSL modem.
What is a USB connection?
A Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection on your computer is designed to connect extra devices such as printers, scanners, and webcams to your computer. The USB connector can also be used to connect an ADSL modem. If you use the USB connection on your computer to connect a modem you do not need to use a Network Interface Card.
What is an "IP Address"?
Just like your home has an address each computer on the Internet is assigned an address known as an IP address (Internet Protocol). When you connect to the Internet via ADSL, your computer is assigned the IP address.
What is a "Static IP"?
A Static IP address is where your computer is assigned the same IP address each time it logs on to the Internet.
What is a "Dynamic IP"?
A Dynamic IP address is where your computer is assigned a different IP address each time you log on to the Internet. Your Internet Service Provider has a pool of IP addresses from which you are assigned an IP address when you connect to the Internet. When your computer logs off from the Internet the IP address is placed back into the pool of IP addresses.
What is ADSL?
How does ADSL work?
Why would I choose ADSL over dial-up Internet?
What do I need to access ADSL?
What are the minimum system requirements to use ADSL?
Can I still use my telephone line at the same time as using ADSL?
What other options do I have if I am unable to obtain ADSL in my area?
What is the minimum agreement for an ADSL service?
Can I churn my existing ADSL service across to Better Telecome?
What does the connection speed refer to?
What are the different types of connections available?
What is data?
What is downloading?
What is the difference between an unlimited plan and a plan with a data allocation?
What is shaping?
Can I use my 56K dial up modem to connect to ADSL?
What services are incompatible with ADSL?
Do I have to keep my phone line connected to receive ADSL?
What happens to the ADSL service if I relocate my telephone line to new premises?
Can I still use my line with a fax machine if I have ADSL provisioned?
Can I still use my alarm system which requires back to base telephone line connection?
What is an ADSL Filter used for?
What is a Network Interface Card?
What is a USB connection?
What is an "IP Address"?
What is a "Static IP"?
What is a "Dynamic IP"?
What is ADSL?
ADSL is short for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line is an Internet service that is connected via your telephone line. The service uses an unused high frequency on your telephone line to provide a high speed internet connection.
How does ADSL work?
Your internet service provider has a DSLAM (Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer) located at each telephone exchange around the country. A DSLAM transmits and receives data from the local telephone exchange, across your telephone line to your computers modem.
Why would I choose ADSL over dial-up Internet?
The reasons for choosing ADSL include:
- Fast Speed Connection: dialup runs at 56K whilst 256K is the minimum speed available on ADSL
- No Call Costs: ADSL does not require a telephone call to access the service. Therefore you do not pay additional call charges.
- Free up your telephone line for normal voice calls
What do I need to access ADSL?
You will need the following to access ADSL:
- Computer: either a desktop or laptop computer which meets our system requirements
- ADSL Modem: to connect to the telephone line and your computer (available from Better Telecom)
- Telephone Line: must be a copper cable telephone line and not a line which is connected using fibre optics at the exchange
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- Operating System: Windows 98SE, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Macintosh OS9.x, Macintosh OSX.x
- Memory: minimum 64mb
- USB port or Network Interface Card
- ADSL filter: connects on all phone lines in the house to filter out any noise which may be inherent from the ADSL service.
Can I still use my telephone line at the same time as using ADSL?
Yes you can still use your telephone at the same time as ADSL. ADSL operates at a higher unused frequency to a normal telephone call which will not interrupt your use of the telephone line.
What other options do I have if I am unable to obtain ADSL in my area?
If you are unable to gain access in your area it may be due to one of the following reasons:
- Availability: your local exchange does not have any DSLAM's located to provide you with service
- Fibre optics: your service is connected between the exchange via a fibre optic link which is not capable of being used for an ADSL connection. The following is your other options of service available:
- iBurst: wireless internet (see our section on iBurst)
- ISDN connection: ISDN is a digital service which works like dial up except it has a higher data speed than a standard dial up connection. Maximum speed available through an ISDN 2 is 128kb
- Dial Up: one of the oldest forms of Internet connection which is a standard telephone call across a telephone line.
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What is the minimum agreement for an ADSL service?
The minimum agreement is 12 months for ADSL services.
Can I churn my existing ADSL service across to Better Telecom?
If your service is on the same ADSL backbone as Better Telecom it may be possible to churn the service across to Better Telecom. If a churn is successful you will need to change your modem settings to your new Better Telecom settings.
What does the connection speed refer to?
Connection speed refers to the rate at which data is received via the ADSL connection. It is measured in Kilo Bytes (KB) per second which refers to the maximum amount of data that can be received at a single point in time. When you are checking your ADSL plan options you will see the lowest speed available is 256kb/64kb. 256kb is the first measurement which refers to the download speed for pulling data down to your computer whilst 64kb is the highest speed available for sending data out to the Internet.
What are the different types of connections available?
There are many different speeds available of ADSL services. The most common types include:
- 256/64kbps
- 512/128kbps
- 1500/256kbps
- 512/512kbps
| TOP |
Data is the information sent and received across your ADSL connection to provide you with your Internet access. If you type in a website address data is sent out to the Internet requesting that site. The website data is sent back and is displayed by your computer.
What is downloading?
Whether you are viewing a website, receiving email or exporting a file off the Internet, this is all counted as downloading off the Internet. Data is received via your ADSL connection and contributes to your monthly data allocation.
What is the difference between an unlimited plan and a plan with a data allocation?
An ADSL service which contains a data allocation is charged with a monthly fee plus any data in excess of your data allocation. An unlimited ADSL service is charged at a monthly with no upper limit of data allocation. All ADSL plans are still subject to the Better Telecom Internet Usage Policy.
What is shaping?
Shaping is the technical term used for slowing the speed of your connection when you reach your total data allowance for the period in which it has been allocated. If you exceed your download limit, your connection speed will be "shaped" to a slower speed. Not all Better Telecom ADSL plans have shaping. Please see your Better Telecom rate sheets for clarification.
| TOP |
No you can not use your 56K dial up modem to connect to ADSL. You must use a modem which is designed for ADSL use.
What services are incompatible with ADSL?
Line Hunt - Prime
Messagebank Virtual
Fax Stream Duet - Auxiliary number
ISDN / Analogue NT1
Real Time Metering
Virtual numbers
Do I have to keep my phone line connected to receive ADSL?
Yes you must keep your telephone line connected to receive an ADSL service. If you disconnect your telephone line your ADSL service will be lost and will need to be set up again on a new sew service.
What happens to the ADSL service if I relocate my telephone line to new premises?
If you relocate your telephone line to a new location your ADSL service (also known as an ADSL tail) will be lost. You will need to have your service reconnected to your telephone line again. You will be required to pay for the set-up costs for the services to have this reconnected.
| TOP |
Yes you can still use your telephone line with a fax machine when ADSL is connected. It is also recommended you connect a filter to take out any interference.
Can I still use my alarm system which requires back to base telephone line connection?
You should be able to use your alarm system on the telephone line if it requires the use of a standard voice call to connect with alarm monitoring. Please contact your alarm system supplier for clarification.
What is an ADSL Filter used for?
An ADSL Filter is used to remove any interference which can occur due to the ADSL service being on the same telephone line. This is often noticed as an inherent buzzing or hum which can be heard on the telephone line whilst you are talking.
What is a Network Interface Card?
A Network Interface Card is a special card which is found on most PC's and laptops. It contains a socket known as an Ethernet connector which is used to connect your PC to computer networks in an office or to an ADSL modem.
| TOP |
A Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection on your computer is designed to connect extra devices such as printers, scanners, and webcams to your computer. The USB connector can also be used to connect an ADSL modem. If you use the USB connection on your computer to connect a modem you do not need to use a Network Interface Card.
What is an "IP Address"?
Just like your home has an address each computer on the Internet is assigned an address known as an IP address (Internet Protocol). When you connect to the Internet via ADSL, your computer is assigned the IP address.
What is a "Static IP"?
A Static IP address is where your computer is assigned the same IP address each time it logs on to the Internet.
| TOP |
A Dynamic IP address is where your computer is assigned a different IP address each time you log on to the Internet. Your Internet Service Provider has a pool of IP addresses from which you are assigned an IP address when you connect to the Internet. When your computer logs off from the Internet the IP address is placed back into the pool of IP addresses.
