How can I check for broadband access on my street?
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How can I check for broadband access on my street?
Broadband provided here on the Sunshine Coast in two or three different technologies. Copper (ADSL & ADSL2) or wireless (3G and WiMax) are the most common options for residential and small business uses. We cover information on both in this article.
Copper (ADSL & ADSL2)
If you have a home phone already, then you can use the following tools to assess your availability. Many other Internet Service Providers offer this service:
· ADSL2 Exchanges
http://www.adsl2exchanges.com.au/ Use the phone number search and press go. The result should be a map of your locality with the exchange location and the service providers listed below. You will need to research the best pricing and product range to suit your own needs.
Some of the larger Telco providers on the Sunshine Coast are listed below:
· Telstra Bigpond:
· Optus broadband:
· iinet:
There are a number of things that affect the availability and speed of connection. The key ones are:
- The distance from the exchange (over 4.5klms and the signal quality drops outside of the accepted serviceable range)
- the quality of the copper wire (age, damage, interference),
- any limiting technologies (pair gain - where one pair of copper wires is shared by two residential allotments - is common in new developments) and;
- the availability of ADSL ports in the exchange
If you are having difficulty getting broadband in your street we encourage you to Get Involved with the Connecting the Coast project and give us your details. We protect your privacy and use the collated interest in broadband to encourage investment by the carriers and ISP’s.
Wireless Broadband
On the Sunshine Coast many people are using wireless broadband for two reasons:
· The upside - Its flexibility – you can use the same connection wile you are on the move and at home or work.
· The downside – because they can’t get ADSL or other high speed broadband products - where their home or business is.
There are two types of wireless – fixed wireless and mobile wireless. As the name suggests, fixed wireless is like a TV antenna, locked to one location on the building you occupy. The mobile wireless on the other hand can go anywhere – so long as you can get a signal.
That takes us to the next matter with wireless – how to achieve improved signal strength. If you are close to a wireless tower, and the building does not reduce the signal strength, the simple USB dongle style will work for you.
If distance or interference (often non line of sight and or vegetation) are affecting your connection, you could try the following:
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Telco
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Website/wireless availability
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Allegro Networks
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Optus Wireless Broadband
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Skymesh
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Telstra Bigpond
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Vodafone
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