Which Type of Wireless Broadband Should I Get? ADSL Wi-Fi Or Mobile Wireless?
The question is, which type of wireless is the one for you? ADSL Wi-Fi or Mobile Wireless? Below is a guide to wireless broadband to make your choice easier.
The ADSL Wi-Fi option ADSL Wi-Fi is when you have a regular ADSL or ADSL2+ broadband connection coming into your house via a copper telephone landline wire, and you use an ADSL modem with wireless capabilities to create a Wi-Fi signal within the home.
ADSL is the most favourable form of wireless internet one can have at home, and if your area is eligible to receive ADSL broadband, you should go for it.
ADSL broadband is affordable, you get a large amount of download data, and it's a fast connection.
How does the ADSL Wi-Fi connection work? ADSL Wi-Fi connects your PC or laptop via a modem with a built-in antenna.
You plug your phone line into the modem (via a line filter), and you can connect to the internet via the home's internal Wi-Fi signal.
This signal is known as a network.
You'll need to set up a security password so those who are nearby your home don't use your bandwidth.
(They may be nice people, but if they are desperate to download the latest Lady GaGa album, you never know what they might be do).
The Mobile Wireless broadband option Mobile Wireless broadband is where you plug a small USB stick, or as it is regrettably referred to as a 'dongle' into your PC or laptop so you can receive an internet signal via the mobile phone towers.
The mobile wireless connection works much like a mobile phone, and the modem even has a SIM card inside.
If you want to be connected everywhere you go, then mobile broadband is for you.
There are mobile wireless signals all over Australia, helping those who need to travel for business or pleasure to connect on the go.
Some service providers offer more coverage than others.
Mobile Wireless can be a great option if you are a light user, as plans are often prepaid and you don't need to pay for an active landline telephone service.
If your coverage is good, you can get reach relatively sufficient speeds, especially if you're on a 3G, 3.
5G, or NextG service.
Mobile Broadband drawbacks Like a mobile phone, Mobile Wireless can be more temperamental than a reliable ADSL internet connection, as 'dropouts' and 'black spots' can occur.
If you are a heavy user, mobile wireless works out to be more costly than an ADSL connection, as it does not usually include a high amount of download data.
While speeds can change unpredictably, the technology has come a long way, and we may see improvements in the future.
If you are a fair way from a phone exchange and therefore have opted for Mobile Wireless, there may be times when you are too far from the mobile phone tower to receive a decent signal.
In this case, you do have the option to add an antenna that enhances the reception and/or speed of the connection.
Wirelessly networking multiple computers If you have multiple computers at home, it's often suitable to have a wireless router set up so you and your family or housemates can be online at the same time.
For ADSL Wi-Fi connections this is relatively easy to set up, as the modem and router are usually combined in one unit.
You can buy a router separately if your modem does not include one.
This will allow each computer to be able to access the same high-quality ADSL connection.
Mobile Wireless will not be able to provide a comparable network as the USB dongle usually only connects one computer at a time.
Because Mobile Wireless runs at a slower speed than ADSL broadband, a network of two or more computers would probably be fairly unreliable.
The ADSL Wi-Fi option ADSL Wi-Fi is when you have a regular ADSL or ADSL2+ broadband connection coming into your house via a copper telephone landline wire, and you use an ADSL modem with wireless capabilities to create a Wi-Fi signal within the home.
ADSL is the most favourable form of wireless internet one can have at home, and if your area is eligible to receive ADSL broadband, you should go for it.
ADSL broadband is affordable, you get a large amount of download data, and it's a fast connection.
How does the ADSL Wi-Fi connection work? ADSL Wi-Fi connects your PC or laptop via a modem with a built-in antenna.
You plug your phone line into the modem (via a line filter), and you can connect to the internet via the home's internal Wi-Fi signal.
This signal is known as a network.
You'll need to set up a security password so those who are nearby your home don't use your bandwidth.
(They may be nice people, but if they are desperate to download the latest Lady GaGa album, you never know what they might be do).
The Mobile Wireless broadband option Mobile Wireless broadband is where you plug a small USB stick, or as it is regrettably referred to as a 'dongle' into your PC or laptop so you can receive an internet signal via the mobile phone towers.
The mobile wireless connection works much like a mobile phone, and the modem even has a SIM card inside.
If you want to be connected everywhere you go, then mobile broadband is for you.
There are mobile wireless signals all over Australia, helping those who need to travel for business or pleasure to connect on the go.
Some service providers offer more coverage than others.
Mobile Wireless can be a great option if you are a light user, as plans are often prepaid and you don't need to pay for an active landline telephone service.
If your coverage is good, you can get reach relatively sufficient speeds, especially if you're on a 3G, 3.
5G, or NextG service.
Mobile Broadband drawbacks Like a mobile phone, Mobile Wireless can be more temperamental than a reliable ADSL internet connection, as 'dropouts' and 'black spots' can occur.
If you are a heavy user, mobile wireless works out to be more costly than an ADSL connection, as it does not usually include a high amount of download data.
While speeds can change unpredictably, the technology has come a long way, and we may see improvements in the future.
If you are a fair way from a phone exchange and therefore have opted for Mobile Wireless, there may be times when you are too far from the mobile phone tower to receive a decent signal.
In this case, you do have the option to add an antenna that enhances the reception and/or speed of the connection.
Wirelessly networking multiple computers If you have multiple computers at home, it's often suitable to have a wireless router set up so you and your family or housemates can be online at the same time.
For ADSL Wi-Fi connections this is relatively easy to set up, as the modem and router are usually combined in one unit.
You can buy a router separately if your modem does not include one.
This will allow each computer to be able to access the same high-quality ADSL connection.
Mobile Wireless will not be able to provide a comparable network as the USB dongle usually only connects one computer at a time.
Because Mobile Wireless runs at a slower speed than ADSL broadband, a network of two or more computers would probably be fairly unreliable.
