How To Buy Wireless Broadband Wiresly

So you’re over the complexities of searching for a wireless or mobile broadband plan to suit your profile and you don’t want to get ripped off by a Wireless Internet Service Provider. Yes, I’ve been there before and have been caught out to, however after a few years and several Wireless Broadband Providers later, combined with four years experience of working within the Broadband Industry, I think I’m somewhat qualified to assist you with making an informed choice on wireless or mobile broadband.

Research and Save
No matter which country you live in you just need to do a little homework to benefits the rewards. This can take as little as a few minutes of your time. Sure there are other fundamentals to be aware of, but if you’re lucky enough to live in a country such as Australia which has an abundance of great resources like Broadband comparison websites and Telecommunication news sites, forums and blogs, it can make the whole ordeal so much easier.

Youcompare Broadband (aka BroadbandGuide.com.au) is one such broadband resource, which is ‘free to use’, that can assist you with comparing mobile or wireless broadband plans by bringing together Australia’s best Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and products for you to review. Aside from price, you need to get it right first time around because the chances are you might get locked into a lengthy contract or may have to pay extra for hardware such as a USB Modem or Wireless router. So if you make the wrong decision initially, prematurely breaking a contract can cost you and arm and a leg.

Beware ‘Tricks of Trade’
Australian Broadband Internet Providers are pretty much the same type of typical Telecommunication Operator that you’ll find in most countries – they simply want your money so you need to be aware of their tricks of trade!  Even if you’re not residing in Australia and you’re on the hunt for a new wireless broadband plan, or perhaps you’re seeking the freedom and portability of mobile broadband, then I’ve got a few tips for you. Firstly, forget about all the marketing hype, as any high flying Telco can create a witty advertisement to ensnare you. Call me old fashioned but word of mouth is still just as important nowadays as it always was… Sometime the devil is in the detail, but it’s also the better you know.

You’re going to get both good and bad experiences either way, and funnily enough it’s typically only the bad experiences that you mainly hear about so you might want to take note of that. ISPs that offer lots of free stuff by joining can be net you a ‘good deal’ but also can be cause for concern. Generally speaking though, if it’s just an enticement such as ‘broadband for the first month free’, or being rewarded by receiving a free modem for signing a 24 month contract, that the ISP is offering, the offer should be OK.

The Right Wireless Network
Mobile Broadband Provider networks hold the key to making the right choice. For one, it largely depends on where you’re located in respect to their tower/signal repeaters. Ex. Remote, rural and even urban regions. If you’re in the country, you would most likely want to consider a Telecommunication carrier that has an extensive rural footprint, in other words ‘damn good network coverage with sufficient reception’. Whereas a city slicker need not worry so much as Wirless ISPs usually have their Wireless and WiMAX towers sufficiently positioned and optimised, short of the odd occasional wireless blackspot area that is (location in which reception might not be available or where signal drops occur).

However the strength and quality of a wireless broadband signal in the city can still be an issue so it helps to be close to a tower. Another factor you need to worry about is network congestion. This is largely due to the interference that can occur in peak hour or busy periods. Drop outs and interference can occur when there are many users tapped into the same Wireless hotspot or WiMAX tower. You can also expect to experience slow wireless broadband speeds during these instances.   

Attaching an antenna to your modem/router can result in a significant boost to wireless reception and speed. If you’re still having issues when using a smaller antenna then I’d recommend you try using a Directional Antenna, just be sure to position it correctly. These can be purchased at a reasonable price at a radio spare part outlet and they’re well worth the money once you witness the results. Keep in mind that antenna use is a preferred choice for stationary wireless broadband, although some USB modems have compatibility.

Key Factors
Other factors for you to consider when choosing a wireless broadband provider and plan can include: 

• Network Coverage (or lack thereof)
• Broadband Plan Price (expense of course)
• Download limits or Data Usage Allowance (Peak and Offpeak)
• Contract terms (Early exiting fees and conditions)
• Download speeds
• Excess Usage Options (shaped or charged)
• Compatibility with operating system on my PC
  

Coverage: Aside from choosing the right wireless network, most providers have a network coverage map of some description that can usually be located on their website. If coverage concerns you, you may want to check the Network reach that your prospective provider offers by call one of their customer service representatives. Otherwise if you’re thinking of making a substantially purchase, perhaps you could try their pre-paid mobile broadband or prepaid wireless broadband option if they have one? Try before you buy can save you lot of time and money.

 Price, Download Limits (or Data Usage Limits) and Contract Terms: Price speaks for itself, however cheapest (in my opinion) is very seldom best. Download limits will depend on what you’re appetite is, however the term ‘unlimited’ typically carries a ‘limit’ (in Australia anyway). Read the terms and conditions document as it could bare conditions such as ‘fair use’ or ‘speed limited’ (shaping after a certain limit is reached) applies. Other than this, if a provider displays their data usage allowance without using the reference ‘download’, it’s most likely because they are measuring your data usage for both ‘download’ and ‘upload’ use. Furthermore, what else does you contract entail? Is there any early exiting fees for breaking the contract and how much would it cost you? A typical Provider will charge you by calculating the months remaining on your contract by the monthly fee.

Download Speeds: You might as well forget about any reference to maximum ‘theoretical broadband speeds achievable’, as a true indication of network speeds will vary depending on a variety of factors. ex.   Network type 3G, 4G, WiMAX, LTE (Long Term Evolution) coverage/reception in your area, hardware and network load are just some of the more vital elements that can dictate download speeds. As mention earlier in the article, a device like a directional antenna can boost your speeds significantly. Ask you local radio spare parts retailer for advice.

 Compatibility with operating system on my PC: This largely depends on the wireless hardware and operating system that you’re using. As a rule of thumb most wireless broadband plans are should be compatible with Windows XP, Vista, 7, Mac OS X (10.4) and above. Be sure to make an enquiry with your prospective provider before you make a purchase.

 Excess Usage Options: Can I tell you that I’ve heard some terrible stories over the years in regards to subscribers that have received exorbitant bills for exceeding their monthly quota. Mobile broadband providers, like fixed line broadband providers, typically use two types of excess usage methods. These are: Shaped and Charged. Shaping usually reduces broadband speed dramatically, in some instances to dial up speeds while Charging typically charges you (per megabyte or MB. 1000MB=1GB) once the monthly data allowance quote is reached. It is imperative that you understand what your prospective wireless plans’ excess usage options include or you could be somewhat upset when your monthly bill shows up.

Conclusion
At the end of the day it can be a hit or miss regardless of how much research you do, it’s just one of those things. However, in my Wireless Broadband experiences I’ve generally fared well with those Providers who I feel are continuously trying to improve and innovate their products. You can read about their progressions and announcements on the internet or in the newspaper and aside from this it’s about using common sense. It may not sound like much advise, but if you can try and join as many of the dots (the key factors that i spoke of) together, well I’d like to think you’ll be in a better position that what you were when it comes to choosing a wireless broadband product to suit your profile.

Search and compare ADSL, ADSL2+, Mobile Broadband, Wireless Broadband and Cable Broadband Plans from Australia’s leading Internet Service providers right here at Youcompare Broadband.

Published by Ronnie on June 23, 2010 at 12:17 pm