Wednesday 29 April 2015

The NBN Is Here!

As most of you will be aware Dapto has been lucky enough to be one of the few places to receive the previous Labor Government’s promised “Fibre to the Home” broadband service. Most houses are now being fitted with the NBN boxes even if the resident is only having a telephone service.

Several people have asked “What is the minimum equipment needed for me to connect to the NBN/Internet?” Well, this is all you need:

150429 004 Network Cable

Yep! That is all that is required to connect one computer to the NBN. It’s a Cat 5(or 6) network cable which you can buy from any computer or electronics store (or, for a fraction of the price, from China on Ebay). They come in various lengths but it has to run from your NBN box on the wall to your computer or laptop.

Some initial setting up has to be done on your computer using information supplied by your ISP (Internet Service Provider) but it is only done once.  The club’s Broadband for Seniors Kiosk can help you with how you do that.

If you don’t have a computer pester your kids and/or grandkids for one of their old laptops - as long as it has a network socket then it will do the job –check with them that it has a Vista, Windows 7 or 8 operating system (Windows XP or earlier is no longer safe for use on the Internet).  If you have a desktop computer then it depends on it's age whether it has the necessary network connection, most bought in the last few years will be suitably equipped.

Using the NBN is much cheaper and faster than using the mobile phone network via one of those dongles though, of course, it does lack mobility.

Have Fun…