How to increase mobile network signal in home or office

Do you have to step outside your house or office before you can make or receive mobile phone calls? This is a common problem in geographical areas where mobile phone signal is weak, often referred to as a mobile-black-spot If your mobile signal is weak whilst standing in the garden or driveway, then it may decrease to nothing once inside the house. Living in a house with a metal roof, thick walls or with lots of reinforced concrete can stop the mobile phone signal reaching your mobile phone. Now before complaining or changing mobile phone providers, there is a solution. Something you can do yourself to fix the issue. There are three solutions. Switch on VoWiFi / Wi-Fi Calling (FREE), Change Mobile Phone providers (inconvenient) or install a Mobile phone booster (expensive) There is a FREE solution in Australia, its called VoWiFi (Wi-Fi Calling) The solution uses your home or office wi-fi network to make phone calls when the phone cannot access the mobile phone tower. What is Wi-Fi Calling (VoWiFi)? Wi-Fi Calling enables you to make voice calls using a Fixed Broadband Wi-Fi connection from your compatible mobile when you can’t connect to the mobile network. Your mobile simply uses your W-Fi network instead of the mobile network. So you can make and receive calls as you normally would. Is my phone set up for Wi-Fi Calling? To use Wi-Fi calling, you need to: 1.Have a Wi-Fi Calling compatible smartphone or tablet Apple iPhone 6 onwards, Apple Watch 3 onwards Samsung Galaxy devices, S7 onwards, Note 5 onwards Google Pixel 2 devices onwards LG devices G6 onwards 2. Have 4G Voice Calls enabled 3. Have up to date software 4. Turn on Wi-Fi Calling in ‘Settings’. How do I turn on Wi-Fi Calling? For Android devices: Go to your phones calling app Select ‘More’ or the three dots in the top right corner Select ‘Settings’ Turn on ‘Wi-Fi Calling‘ For iPhone: Go to Settings Select ‘Phone’ Turn on ‘Wi-Fi calling’ Full details available by clicking this link Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling Is this service available from ALL Australian Mobile Phone Companies? According to the Apple Website this feature works on SmartPhones connected to these Mobile Phone Networks (3G, 4G, 5G) Optus Telstra Vodafone Your Internet ISP is not important as long as your Mobile Phone carrier is one of the above. What if my Wi-Fi does not reach through the house? Does your Wi-Fi reach all corners of your house? :jk:

How to test your Internet Speed

How do you know if the Internet speed your receive in your home or office is good, bad or simply what you are paying for?   Depending on the internet plan you are paying for download and upload speeds of 5 mbps (ADSL) to 250 or 500 mbps (Fixed Wireless) even 1,000 mbps (Fibre) can be expected. In Australia, in many ways you get what you pay for, but what happens when you are not getting what you pay for? How can you tell? How can you test? How can you improve the situation? How to test what internet speed I am currently getting? What Internet speeds should I be getting? What can I do to get what I am paying or pay to improve that service? 1.How to test what Internet speeds I am currently getting? Most Internet connections require a small box called a “modem” or “modem-router” that converts the outside signal to an internet signal. If the technology being used is HFC, then you will also have an NBN Connection box If you use ” mobile-broadband” the broadband routers pick the signal up via radio waves from mobile phone towers and are referred to as 3G, 4G or 5G networks. The wireless broadband modem may look like the above. To get a true picture of the Internet speed being received, your computer needs to be connected to the modem or modem-router using an “ethernet-cable” as follows. Connecting to the modem via Wi-Fi will not give a true indication as to the modem or the internets true performance. Only run the test via Wi-Fi if you have no other alternative and make sure the test device is as close to the modem as possible. or using a Laptop/Notebook   Once you have a computer connected to the modem via an ethernet cable, open up any internet browser and navigate to https://www.speedtest.net and click “GO” The speed-test will begin and will return three results as shown below. PING DOWNLOAD SPEED  and UPLOAD SPEED The PING speed test also know as “Latency” is a measure of the quality of the internet connection and in general the lower the PING speed, the better the quality of the line. This can be tested further a http://www.pingtest.com WHY SHOULD I NOT RUN THE TEST IF CONNECTED VIA WI-FI? When connected to a modem via an ethernet cable, the true Internet Speed can be tested. Connecting to a modem via Wi-Fi can reduce the speed by up to 90% depending on the distance between modem and computer, electrical interference from appliances, and objects such as walls and floors. Most ISP modems also have poor Wi-Fi capabilities but work flawlessly when connected via ethernet cable. Even when standing right next to the modem, the drop in speed can be significant compared to a “hard-wired” ethernet cable connection. 2.What Internet speeds should I be getting? If you live in Australia there are a number of ways you can receive Internet all are via an ISP (Internet Service Provider) or Telecom company. In urban areas you can normally access internet via copper cables, coaxial cables and fibre connections from the NBN Co or Independent Telecom companies using technologies such as FTTP, FTTN, NBN, Fibre or ADSL. Internet is also available wirelessly through mobile phone towers or Fixed-Wireless connections. In country areas the only choices available maybe via Fixed-Wireless, Satellite or Mobile Broadband with some far-flung properties still having to resort to ADSL connections over the old copper-telephone lines. NBN/FIBRE, HFC, FTTP, FTTC, FTTN, FTTB, NBN Fixed Wireless If you are an NBN customer, you can expect speeds as per the following article. According to NBN Company, at peak times the download speed should be no lower than 15mbps See the following article for more details Confused by NBN Plans? What are the alternatives to NBN? Non-NBN customers should refer to the plan you subscribed to to determine if you are paying for what you get but generally Download speeds differ greatly depending on the type of internet-connection you have and your distance from the telephone exchange or mobile tower. The following is a list of connection types and their typical connection speeds. ADSL Maximum speed of 22 mbps can be expected but most connections would be 10 mbps or less MOBILE BROADBAND Mobile Broadband is what your smart-phone uses to connect to the Internet when you are not in the house or work connected to Wi-Fi. It is commonly referred to as 3G or 4G or soon 5G. Although your phone has the facility built-in, on a laptop or PC you will need a “dongle” or “mobile-broadband modem“. Very good download speeds of 30 – 70 mbps can be achieved. FIXED WIRELESS There are a number of companies in Australia offering Fixed Wireless Internet Services and the Internet speeds they offer often surpasses those offered by other NBN technologies.   SATELLITE In country areas your only Internet options maybe Fixed Wireless or Satellite Australian Satellite Internet is called Sky Muster™ or Sky Muster™ Plus and available from ISPs such as SkyMesh 3. What can I do to get what I am paying for or how do I pay to improve that service? REMEDIES TO FIX SLOW INTERNET SPEEDS 1) Replace your modem if more than 3 years old Technology marches on pretty quickly these days. It’s cost efficient to replace your modem to a new one every few years. We recommend DrayTek Modems and Networking Equipment. How to test my modem. Does it need replacing? 2) Reboot your Modem/Router/NBN Box at least once per week It’s the stock advice, but it solves an astonishing number of problems. And if you have an NBN Connection box also restart that at the same time as restarting your modem 3) Check for Modem Firmware Upgrades Regularly Manufactures often have newer firmware or drivers for modems than what comes with the device. Ensuring you are using the latest firmware can often improve both the stability and speeds of your modem. 4) Upgrade to a faster Internet […]

Beat the boredom. How to watch BBC, ITV, Netflix USA in Australia during lockdown

Run out of things to watch on Australian Netflix, Prime, Foxtel, ABC, SBS, 7,9 & 10? Even before my coronavirus-self-isolation it was increasingly difficult to find new programs to watch in Australia (especially if your looking for something humorous and light-hearted) Yet the content does exist…. if you live in the UK or Ireland, even the US. There is an endless supply of TV content you can watch from the UK and the US, as long as you can get past the geo-restrictions. “What are geo-restictions?” – Due to international copyright laws, some TV content is only allowed to be viewed in certain countries. It is “geo-restricted“. If it is detected that you are trying to view content from a country outside of a geo-restriction … ie an Australian user trying to view British Programs, your attempts will be blocked. This is done because each computer has an invisible “IP Address” which gives out the country and sometimes the city that you or your ISP (Internet-Service-Provider ie Telstra, iiNet, Optus etc.) are located, making it easy to geo-restrict access. A ludicrous law in this day of global-consumption but until the entertainment industries gets over itself, Australia will continue to be a backwater in terms of what-we-get-to-see and when-we-get-to-see-it because of geo-restrictions. You may have experienced such censorship yourself while trying to access SBS or ABC iView from your hotel in Bali, Hong Kong or Thailand with images such as these. Access to overseas TV content (or Australian content while overseas) is available by using a VPN (Virtual-Private-Network) A VPN, or virtual private network, is a secure tunnel between your device and the internet. VPNs are used to protect your online traffic from snooping, interference, and censorship. A typical use of a VPN is to provide secure internet access between company servers and home computers using Microsoft RDC (Remote Desktop Connection) VPN’s can also act as a proxy, allowing you to mask or change your location and surf the web anonymously from wherever you want. In this way it is used to fool the source of a website or content streamer into believing the source user is from another IP address, one already located close-by or at least in the same country. In this way, content that would normally be inaccessible to users outside of that country becomes available because the source website believes it is being accessed from within that country. Effective VPN clients are NOT Free but not that expensive either. There are a number of companies that advertise FREE VPN’s and some work for a limited time, but they are all trying to sell you their paid VPN service. Rather than struggle with Free VPN services and browser add-ins such a Hola, we recommend purchasing a tried-and-test VPN client VPN Guru lists it’s top 6 VPN clients as Express VPN, NordVPN, UltraVPN, SurfShark, Cyber Ghost, SafeVPN and Privacy Web Going with #1 choice, We tried and tested Express VPN One Express VPN licence allows you to install the client on up to 5 devices be that Windows, MacOS, iOS. We installed on an iPad and a Mac computer and both worked very well, with one or two caveats Downloading the ExpressVPN desktop app To get started, go to ExpressVPN.com and select the Get Started option at the top. A single ExpressVPN subscription comes with easy-to-use apps for every device you own. Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, Linux, routers etc Pick the plan you want, add your email, and enter payment details. Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money back satisfaction guarantee. If applying via the Apple App store or Google Play, you may also get a 7 day free-trial. Click Join Now. Next, choose a password or accept the one generated for you. (Be sure your password includes a few extra characters, numbers, and plenty of characters in upper and lowercase.) You will then receive an activation code. Keep this in a secret place – meaning, not on a sticky note on your desktop. Installing ExpressVPN on desktop Installing ExpressVPN is easy on a desktop or laptop – although there are a few extra steps compared to the mobile client. For the desktop, download the client and install it. The good thing about a client like ExpressVPN is that it is remarkably easy to install and configure. You’ve actually already done the hardest steps – choosing your plan and adding payment details. With the client, sign-in using the account you just created. Enter your activation code. Decide if you want to launch a startup and if you want to send a crash report and other data to improve the product. Your next step is the most important one of all – selecting the location of the server. If you wish to access TV channels in the UK, choose a UK server, if US channels, choose a US server etc. Click the big power icon to connect. This will make your Internet connection secure. Once you connect with ExpressVPN, the app will run in the background and there’s nothing more to do to use the VPN, although you can configure features and change settings. You may notice a decrease in Internet speed while the VPN is switched on, so it maybe recommended to only have it switched on while requiring it. However, if you are using the VPN simply to make your connections secure, choose the home location closest to you. Downloading the ExpressVPN mobile app Like any good service, ExpressVPN is available both on Apple iOS and Android – in fact, it tops our list of the best Android VPN apps – and the client works like any other app. With the mobile app, you have the choice to start a seven-day trial. You can find it at the App Store or Play Store, or you can simply visit the ExpressVPN website to look for the mobile install. Once you find the app, verify that the logo matches what you see on the ExpressVPN site (a V logo with wings). This is important […]

Top 6 issues encountered by Australian’s when moving to NBN

NBN Issues Solved – Top 6 issues encountered upon moving to NBN The transition to NBN from copper (traditional) telephone lines including ADSL Internet and Fax Services, is a major life-changing issue for many Australian seniors.   The older we get, the harder we find it is to change. Having grown up with ADSL internet and copper-line (land-line) phones, senior Australians are struggling with the changeover to NBN services.   Unfortunately, nobody has a choice in the matter, copper-line (Telstra) technology is being phased out and NBN, just like death and Taxes, is an inevitability. However, just because the old copper-line based system is being disonnected, it does NOT mean you have to move to NBN. There are alternatives. If you DO NOT need a telephone handset (land-line) , you can consider the following non-NBN alternatives: Telephone and Internet Connections offered via the Mobile Phone NetworksTelephone and Internet Connections offered via Independent Telecomm Companies Having supported and fixed hundreds of issues regarding NBN and Senior Australian’s, we have come up with a “what-to-expect” guide, that many people encounter during and immediately after moving to NBN. The Top 6 issues encountered by Senior Australian’s when moving to NBN NBN Modem Required for Internet and/or Phone calls NBN-Compatible handset required to make calls Internal telephone sockets now redundant NBN internal connection location may not be same as current New modem means changing Wi-fi password on all devices NBN service maybe slower than current ADSL   1. You will need a new NBN compatible modem to receive Internet and Telephone Calls There are different NBN technologies being used across Australia, you dodnt have a choice in which one you have, this has already been pre-determined by NBN. The Possible Technologies you may have are as follows: Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) Fibre to the Building/Node (FTTB & FTTN) Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) NBN™ Wireless NBN™ HFC NBN™ Satellite Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) FTTP – The best solution on offer with NBN-Fibre directly to your premises. Sadly only a very small percentage of Australian users have this type of connection as it was deemed too expensive and time consuming to rollout across the country by the Government of the day. Some users can apply to have their technology upgraded to FTTP but the cost is generally around $7 to $10,000. Fibre to the Building/Node (FTTB & FTTN) Most Australian residences will be connected directly to the existing telephone socket using FTTN, and a new NBN compatible modem. This technology uses the existing copper telephone lines in a building, building complex or in the street to connect to fibre which can be up to 1 klm from your location. Some users can apply to have their technology upgraded to FTTP but the cost is generally around $7 to $10,000. Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) Fibre to the curb is a recent technological improvement on FTTN. It still uses the existing copper telephone lines but then connects to a “Node” or “NBN junction-box” within a few hundred meters of your location/building. Some users can apply to have their technology upgraded to FTTP but the cost is generally around $7 to $10,000. NBN™ HFC Australian suburbs connected to the Pay-TV (Foxtel) Network in the 90s will be connected to NBN using the existing HFC (coaxial) network as follows. HFC is regarded as the 2nd best technology available after FTTP. NBN™ Wireless and NBN™ Satellite In country and rural areas the use of Wireless or Satellite technology (using an external antenna or satellite dish) as follows. Australian Satellite Internet is called Sky Muster™ or Sky Muster™ Plus and available from ISPs such as SkyMesh Even if you did not need a modem before (because you did not have the internet) you will need one now and if you currently have one, it will probably need replacing for an NBN compatible one. 2. If you want to keep your “Land-Line” and receive telephone calls, you will need a new NBN-Compatible handset. Existing telephone handsets cannot be used in any of the NBN technologies. If you still require a traditional telephone “handset”, you will need to purchase an NBN compatible handsets that plugs into the NBN modem. 3. If you currently have telephone points in various rooms, these are now useless and cannot be used.Companies such as “Uniden” supply “wireless” handsets that can be used anywhere in your house as long as they are within range of the “base-station” which plugs into the NBN Modem.Use these instead of traditional handsets. 4. NBN Co may install your new connection in a different location to your existing modem. The incoming NBN connection will enter your house by either: a) One of your current telephone points or b) In the case of HFC connected areas, they use existing pay-TV/Foxtel point, that connects to an “NBN Connection Box” If an existing point does not exists, the NBN technician will install a new one, usually at a convenient location for them but not always for you. NBN Co, have to make an effort to locate your incoming NBN connection in a location that is convenient for you, so if you want the connection to be where your modem is, insist on it and do not let the technician install it in an inconvenient location. 5. A new modem, means a new Wi-Fi signal, so printers, scanners, iPads, iPhones, TV’s, tablets and laptops will need to be connected to the new network Wi-Fi may not now reach into areas that you could previously receive Wi-Fi If the new incoming connection is not near where your old modem was located, you may find this inconvenient. It maybe that devices such as TV’s, iPads, Printers, Scanners, Computers and Laptops, may no longer be in range of the new modem.Because of the new modem, each device will need to be reconnected to the new wifi network, so you may find you are suddenly unable to connect to the printer or the internet.If you connect your modem to […]

High-Definition IP Video Surveillance System

The UniFi® Video Cameras G3 represent the next generation of cameras designed for use in the UniFi Video surveillance management system. These cameras offer 1080p Full HD resolution for day or night use and are integrated with the UniFi Video software for powerful and flexible, integrated IP video management. The cameras are easy to operate and manage using the UniFi Video® software, which is pre-installed on the optional UniFi Application Server and the UniFi NVR appliance, or can be downloaded free of charge. 5 camera models are available, in different sizes and formats with features such as 1080p Full-HD, microphones, 2-way audio, infrared LED, wide-angle lenses which can be located on desktops, poles, celings and walls, indoors and outdoors. Cameras include UVC-G3-Bullet (UVC-G3-AF), UVC-G3-PRO, UVC-G3-DOME, UVC-G3-MICRO, UVC-G3-FLEX The UniFi NVR is a plug-and-play NVR appliance with pre-installed UniFi Video software to configure and manage the UniFi Video Cameras G3. Its 2 TB hard drive provides up to 4800* recording hours at 480p, 1600* recording hours at 720p, or 700* recording hours at 1080p. in Western Australia, installers of this equipment need a “Security Installer Licence – Class 3” please check with your installer. If you are looking for a qualified installer, we can recommend Cablenet. Wi-fi Problems? Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for extra large sized homes with multiple floors Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for medium sized homes Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for small houses, units or apartment Wi-Fi Internet Extenders Smart wiring – Is it really necessary? WAP’s v Network Range Extenders/Boosters High-Definition IP Video Surveillance System Building or Renovating? Make yours a Smart-Wired Wi-Fi enabled Home Sonos Installation and Troubleshooting Networking and Internet Solutions Internet Service Provider Perth :jk:    

TV Streaming Alternatives in Australia

Confused about the abundance of TV streaming services available in Australia in 2022? You are not alone…. much has changed since we published the original article back in 2016 Some companies have folded while others have emerged, TV services such as streaming, now come in a variety of choices, some Free and others paid. Some services requiring a special “box” for recording programs (Foxtel IQ, FetchTV) but with the majority of services are available to “stream” using an “App” on most Smart-TV’s or Desktop-Box units. Quick FAQ Confused by the “jargon” regarding “streaming”, “on-demand” TV etc. here is a quick idiots-guide or FAQ (Frequently-Asked-Questions) Free-To-Air (Terrestrial) TV – Australia There are more than two-dozen Free to Air channels in Australia (also known as Free View) including the five major channels presented below, ABC, SBS, Seven, Nine and Ten and are often referred to a “Terrestrial” channels and in all cases still need a TV Aerial to receive. Gone are the days of only 5 Terrestrial channels to choose from, there are now more than twenty four including ABC HD, ABC Comedy, SBS HD, SBS World Movies, Seven HD, Seven 2, Seven Mate, 10 HD, 10 Bold, 9 HD, 9 Go, 9 Gem to name but a few. All Free-To-Air and all available on older traditional and newer Smart-TV’s Being Free-to-air you have to watch each program when it is being aired, unless you have a recording-device such as Foxtel IQ or FetchTV. Very useful if you want to watch sports that are only available on Free-to-air TV but of little use otherwise considering the options and choices. Smart-TV v Dumb-TV What is a Smart-TV? (AKA a “Connected TV“) All newer TV’s (no more than 10 years old) are usually classified as Smart-TV‘s. A Smart TV is a television that has built-in Internet access, either by a direct, wired Ethernet connection or built-in Wi-Fi and can: Stream media from your computer to your TV over your home network. Connect wirelessly using Wi-Fi Direct, where the device makes a one-to-one network connection so you can watch whatever is playing on your smartphone while it remains in your pocket. Use apps like Netflix, Stan, ABC iView etc to download to your smart TV, so you can watch online content without purchasing an additional device such as Apple TV, a games console or Blu-ray player. If you’re a Netflix watcher, check to see if there’s a dedicated Netflix button on the remote as this will allow you to jump straight to your saved shows. Automatically apply security and system updates to improve the TV’s features and performance. Buy new Smart-TV’s here  from Samsung, A dumb-TV, has none of the above but can often be turned into a Smart-TV by purchasing an additional external device such as Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Telstra TV/Roku , Fetch TV, Foxtel Now Box, Amazon Fire TV Stick or gaming consoles such as Xbox and PlayStation. Streaming v Catchup v On-Demand With Free to Air TV, you have to watch TV programs and movies when they are being broadcast, or you can record them for future viewing with a recording device (see above) but if a particular movie or TV program isn’t showing or available on Free to Air TV you have a number of choices to find and watch that show or movie, some also FREE but the majority are PAID services. What is a “Streaming Service”? “Streaming” a TV program or Movie means you are watching the program as it is being downloaded to your TV or device from the Internet in real-time. As long as your Internet Service is quick enough, you should not see any delay, freezing (or lagging) of the picture. This means you do not have to wait for something to completely download before you watch it and your TV is not going to fill up or run out of storage space. Streaming is used by services such as ABC iView, SBS Catchup, Netflix, Hulu, Binge, Disney, Apple, Stan, Amazon Prime Video etc. All you need is a Smart TV or set-top box with an Internet connection with a download speed of 3mbps or better. What are “Catchup” or “On-Demand” Programs “Catchup” is a phrase used by Foxtel where programs and movies not currently being shown on Foxtel, can be downloaded using a Foxtel IQ box with an Internet Connection. Older iQ boxes were not internet-enabled and if you wish to utilise this Foxtel feature, you may have to upgrade your IQ box. This is essentially the same as “streaming” Set-Top boxes such as Telstra TV and Apple TV may offer “on-demand” services where movies and TV shows can be purchased individually, on-demand. Telstra offer Telstra TV Box Office (formerly Bigpond Movies) where the latest movies can be purchased or rented and charged to a Telstra account. Apple TV and Apple devices similarly allow the purchase or rental of shows using an Apple iTunes account. Using a Chromecast media streamer you can also purchase programs through Google Play Movies & TV in a similar fashion to Apple TV and Telstra TV What is a Smart-TV App? In addition to viewing Free to Air Programs on a Smart-TV, they also come with built in “Apps” or “Programs” that allow access to streaming and on-demand services as detailed above. Popular Apps such as “Netflix” and Amazon “Prime-TV” may also have their own dedicated buttons on the TV remote control but by going through the “Apps” section of your TV you will also find Apps for ABC iView, SBS On-demand, Stan, Apple TV, Telstra movies etc. Because your Smart TV is connected to the Internet, it should be constantly “upgrading” itself with the latest Apps, so over time you may see the available Apps increase as new services (such as Disney+) are introduced. How do I connect my TV to the Internet? A smart-TV depends on an Internet Connection. Most Smart-TV’s and Set-Top Boxes can connect via a “wired” (Ethernet cable) or wire-less (Wi-Fi) connection. A wired connection […]

Fixed Wireless Internet & Telephone Services

Besides Australian NBN and Mobile Broadband services, Fibre and Fixed Wireless Internet Services are also available from Independent companies. Many fibre and wireless networks such as those owned by Telstra and Optus, were purchased by NBN to form part of the NBN Network some years back. However, many independent communications networks still remain offering fibre and fixed wireless internet to commercial and residential customers. Fibre Networks Commercial Fibre Networks in Australia have existed for many years, especially in the CBD areas of state and federal capitals. These private fibre networks also extend down major highways and into commercial and industrial areas in competition with existing Telstra and NBN. Dedicated High-Speed Fibre networks to commercial customers are offered by companies such as Vocus and TPG with speeds of 100/100, 500/500 or 1000/1000 available. However, there are also many “resellers” of Telstra, Vocus or TPG networks, so when speaking to a potential ISP, be sure to ask them if the network is their own or if they are reselling or onselling on behalf of one of the above. Fixed Wireless Internet Networks Fixed-Wireless Internet requires an aerial, antenna or dish on your roof to point to another dish or tower some distance away. It is only available if there is a line-of-sight connection. In Perth, Bunbury and Geraldton in Western Australia two companies Pentanet and Node1 offer independent fixed-wireless internet services as described in the following video. If you are looking for an Internet-Only service (no telephone calls) and do not require a land-line telephone Pentanet Fixed Wireless may be for you. Perth’s fastest internet/Wi-Fi service partnership This should NOT be confused with NBN-Fixed-Wireless. Check the websites of Fixed-Wireless-ISPs such as these to find out if there is coverage in your area and the cost of equipment required to access the service. Summit Internet provide Fixed Wireless Internet Services in Victoria and Countrytell do the same in NSW, Kern WIFI and Superloop in South Australia, RocketNetworks service Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. Fixed-Wireless Internet uses a modem connected to the roof aerial, antenna or dish. Your current modem maybe sufficient or your Fixed-Wireless ISP may provide one. If you connect your modem to other computers and devices using hard-wired Ethernet cables, those devices should receive the same download-speed as at the modem with little drop-off. However, when using Wi-Fi to connect to the Internet via the modem, a drastic drop off occurs depending on the quality of the ISP modem, your distance from the modem, the amount of devices accessing the modem and walls and floors between you and the modem. Generally the modems supplied by ISPs are very poor Wi-Fi devices and you should consider the following if you wish to receive high-speed Internet throughout your house and on multiple devices at the same time. Wi-fi Problems? Other Internet Solutions Telephone and Internet Connections offered by NBN Telephone and Internet Connections offered via the Mobile Phone See also, by clicking on the links below. Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for small unit or apartment Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for small homes Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for medium sized homes Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for large sized homes Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for extra large sized homes with multiple floors Network and Internet Connection between Buildings Wi-Fi Troubleshooting Having Problems getting Internet and Wi-Fi throughout your home or office? Home Networking Network Support Services Network Design & Consulting services :jk:

Telephone and Internet Connections offered via Mobile Phone Networks

Mobile Broadband If you use a smart-phone you are already using mobile-broadband to receive emails, messages and browse websites. Mobile-Broadband is similar to NBN-Wireless Internet in the fact that Internet and Telephone services are transmitted over radio-waves from the nearest mobile tower. A big advantage of using mobile-broadband is the fact that access is immediate (once you have purchased a mobile internet post-paid or pre-paid service from a Telecomm provide). No need to wait for a technician to install cables or dig up the road. Mobile-Broadband can also be described as Wi-Fi Internet, Cellular Internet, Mi-Fi, 3G/4G/5G Internet which are all terms that describe accessing the Internet on a Computer, Phone or device using the same radio waves that mobile phones use. Connecting to the Internet via Mobile-Broadband  is widely available and offered bt Telecom companies such as Telstra, Optus, Dodo etc. 3G is an older (slower) technology mostly now superseded by 4G and soon to be superseded by 5G technology which is many times faster again. Mobile Internet (Mobile-Broadband) is available as a pre-paid or post-paid service but unlike NBN or Fixed Wireless, it is generally charged by the data used. It is rare to find an “Unlimited-data” Mobile-Broadband Plan. There are 4 ways you can use Mobile-Broadband in Australia Using a USB-Dongle connected to the USB port of a computer Using a “MI-FI” device or “Mobile Router” Some iPads, Laptops, Surface, Notebooks have a removable “SIM” card that allows them to receive Mobile-Broadband directly without the need for 1 or 2 above.This is also known as Long-Term Evolution (LTE) technology. By “tethering” using your mobile smart-phone as a mi-fi device and connecting to it by Wi-Fi Mobile-Broadband is easily and quickly available in most urban and country areas and adequate if you are an occasional user and/or there is no other alternative in your area. Using Mobile-Broadband for heavier usage such as streaming-video (Netflix, Stan, Foxtel, iView etc.) is more expensive than using an NBN service and should be considered carefully before you start receiving hefty bills. Telephone and Internet Connections offered by NBN Telephone and Internet Connections offered via the Mobile Phone NetworksTelephone and Internet Connections offered via Independent Telecomm Companies See also, by clicking on the links below. Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for small unit or apartment Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for small homes Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for medium sized homes Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for large sized homes Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for extra large sized homes with multiple floors Network and Internet Connection between Buildings Wi-Fi Troubleshooting Having Problems getting Internet and Wi-Fi throughout your home or office? Home Networking Network Support Services Network Design & Consulting services Telephone and Internet Connections offered by NBN Telephone and Internet Connections offered via the Mobile Phone NetworksTelephone and Internet Connections offered via Independent Telecomm Companies :jk:

Telephone and Internet Connections offered by NBN

NBN (National Broadband Network) Telephone and Internet Services Every Australian residence and business should be able to access Telephone and Data (Internet) services using an NBN service depending on your location. To find out what is available at your location, enter your address into the following web page: https://www.nbnco.com.au/ Existing telephone handsets cannot be used in any of the NBN technologies. If you still require a traditional telephone “handset”, you will need to purchase an NBN compatible handsets that plugs into the NBN modem. If you DO NOT need a telephone handset, you can consider the following non-NBN alternatives: Telephone and Internet Connections offered via the Mobile Phone NetworksTelephone and Internet Connections offered via Independent Telecomm Companies Technologies offered by the NBN are as follows Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) Fibre to the Building/Node (FTTB & FTTN) Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) NBN™ Wireless NBN™ HFC NBN™ Satellite Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) FTTP – The best solution on offer with NBN-Fibre directly to your premises. Sadly only a very small percentage of Australian users have this type of connection as it was deemed too expensive and time consuming to rollout across the country by the Government of the day. Some users can apply to have their technology upgraded to FTTP but the cost is generally around $7 to $10,000. Fibre to the Building/Node (FTTB & FTTN) Most Australian residences will be connected directly to the existing telephone socket using FTTN, and a new NBN compatible modem. This technology uses the existing copper telephone lines in a building, building complex or in the street to connect to fibre which can be up to 1 klm from your location. Some users can apply to have their technology upgraded to FTTP but the cost is generally around $7 to $10,000. Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) Fibre to the curb is a recent technological improvement on FTTN. It still uses the existing copper telephone lines but then connects to a “Node” or “NBN junction-box” within a few hundred meters of your location/building. Some users can apply to have their technology upgraded to FTTP but the cost is generally around $7 to $10,000. NBN™ HFC Australian suburbs connected to the Pay-TV (Foxtel) Network in the 90s will be connected to NBN using the existing HFC (coaxial) network as follows. HFC is regarded as the 2nd best technology available after FTTP. NBN™ Wireless and NBN™ Satellite In country and rural areas the use of Wireless or Satellite technology (using an external antenna or satellite dish) as follows. Australian Satellite Internet is called Sky Muster™ or Sky Muster™ Plus and available from ISPs such as SkyMesh   Confused by NBN Plans? What are the alternatives to NBN? If you connect your modem to other computers and devices using hard-wired Ethernet cables, those devices should receive the same download-speed as at the NBN modem with little drop-off. However, when using Wi-Fi to connect to the Internet via the modem, a drastic drop off occurs depending on the quality of the ISP modem, your distance from the modem, the amount of devices accessing the modem and walls and floors between you and the modem. Generally the modems supplied by ISPs are very poor Wi-Fi devices and you should consider the following if you wish to receive high-speed Internet throughout your house and on multiple devices at the same time. Wi-fi Problems?   See also, by clicking on the links below. Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for small unit or apartment Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for small homes Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for medium sized homes Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for large sized homes Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for extra large sized homes with multiple floors Network and Internet Connection between Buildings Wi-Fi Troubleshooting Having Problems getting Internet and Wi-Fi throughout your home or office? Home Networking Network Support Services Network Design & Consulting services Telephone and Internet Connections offered by NBN Telephone and Internet Connections offered via the Mobile Phone NetworksTelephone and Internet Connections offered via Independent Telecomm Companies :jk:

Telephone & Internet

Telephone and Internet options in Australia By 2021 most residential customers in Australia will have been moved off the traditional copper-line based ADSL internet services and onto wired or wire-less internet and telephone technologies. As an NBN Accredited Adviser, The IT Guys WA and Hybrid ICT can make that transition easier.   New Solutions for receiving Internet and Telephone calls in Australia There are now 3 main ways to receive Internet and Telephone calls in Australia via: The NBN Network (National Broadband Network) Mobile Phone Network (3G, 4G, 5G) offered by major Telecomm’s companies such as Telstra, Optus, Vodaphone, TPG etc. Independent Telecomm companies (Fibre and Fixed Wireless) See also, by clicking on the links below. Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for small unit or apartment Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for small homes Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for medium sized homes Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for large sized homes Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for extra large sized homes with multiple floors Network and Internet Connection between Buildings Wi-Fi Troubleshooting Having Problems getting Internet and Wi-Fi throughout your home or office? Home Networking Network Support Services Network Design & Consulting services Telephone and Internet Connections offered by NBN Telephone and Internet Connections offered via the Mobile Phone NetworksTelephone and Internet Connections offered via Independent Telecomm Companies Telephone and Internet Connections offered by NBN Telephone and Internet Connections offered via Mobile Phone Networks Home Networking :jk:

Network and Internet Connection between Buildings

How to get Internet, Wi-Fi and Network traffic between buildings without cabling Need to get Internet, Wi-Fi and Network connectivity to buildings without the need for cabling? Create a PTP/Ubiquiti airMax PtP or PtMP Network is the answer. Point to Point (PTP) Point to point wireless network links connect two locations together through line of sight (LOS), operating in unlicensed/licensed radio frequencies or through free space optics. By employing Ubiquiti Nanobeam equipment, your home/office network can be connected to other buildings up to 15klms away at speeds up to 450 mbps You can also replace older microwave dishes with Ubiquiti airFiber Antenna Ubiquiti Solutions Provider – Perth & Western Australia Network Design & Consulting services If you would like us to quote you on this or other networking solutions, please contact us as detailed below. :jk:

How to check if iPhone/iPad is backing up to iCloud

iPhone and iPads automatically backup your essential data to your iCloud account in case of an emergency. Is your iPhone or iPad doing so? No matter what iPhone or iPad you have, when you create a iCloud or iTunes account, Apple automatically provide you with 5GB of FREE iCloud Drive storage. The allowance is for backing up the iPhone/iPad essential data to allow for setting up or recovering a device, such as contacts, SMS, iMessages, Ringtones and where space allows, your Photos and Videos. However, if you exceed your iCloud allowance, your iPhone/iPad ceases to backup that data until you purchase a larger allowance or free up some space. If you see any of the following messages, you could be in big trouble if you lose or damage your iPhone/iPad How to check when your iPhone/iPad was last backed up On an iPhone or iPad Settings -> iCloud > Backup or Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup   If you don’t have a recent backup, plug your phone into power, make sure your connect to Wi-Fi and click on “Back Up Now” Hopefully the backup will start and you have enough available iCloud storage to complete the operation. If not you have a number of options. Purchase more iCloud Storage Free up space on your iPhone/iPad Free up Cloud Storage Space Backup to a Computer using a lightening cable (see below) If none of these options are suitable, The IT Guys (WA) can free up space and have your data transferred to an External Hard Disk Drive I have plenty of iCloud space available, why is my iPhone/iPad still not backing up to iCloud? You are not logged into an iCloud account (you may have changed or lost your password) Your iPhone/iPad does not regularly connect to a home or work Wi-Fi network when on charge. iCloud account is damaged or corrupt The operating system (iOS) on iPhone or iPad needs updating. If you have issues such as the above, bring your iPhone/iPad to The IT Guys (WA) and we can sort out the issues for you. Other Resources Backing up iPhone or iPad using iCloud How to backup an iPad How to backup an iPhone Backing up iPhone or iPad using iTunes on a Mac or a PC   :jk:  

How to backup an iPhone

Backing up the data on your iPhone on a regular basis is essential to ensure you do not lose any information should the device become damaged, lost or corrupted.   There are a number of options, listed and detailed below on how to achieve this listed in the order of ease and simplicity iCloud Backup using Mobile Data or Wi-Fi Backing up using iTunes and a Mac or Windows Computer   iCloud Backup using Mobile Data or Wi-Fi Backing up iPhone or iPad using iCloud Backing up using iTunes and a Mac or Windows Computer Backing up iPhone or iPad using iTunes on a Mac or a PC :jk:

How to Backup an iPad

Backing up the data on your iPad on a regular basis is essential to ensure you do not lose any information should the device become damaged, lost or corrupted. There are a number of options, listed and detailed below on how to achieve this listed in the order of ease and simplicity iCloud Backup using Mobile Data or Wi-Fi Backing up using iTunes and a Mac or Windows Computer   iCloud Backup using Mobile Data or Wi-Fi Backing up iPhone or iPad using iCloud Backing up using iTunes and a Mac or Windows Computer Backing up iPhone or iPad using iTunes on a Mac or a PC :jk: