ADSL FAQs

Can I get ADSL in my area?

Not all phone exchanges support ADSL. Fortunately, you can easily check if your telephone line and exchange can support ADSL. Simply go to our checking service and enter your phone number.

What does ADSL mean and how does it work?

ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) uses your existing telephone line by splitting the signal into two channels, one used for voice communications and the other used for the high-speed data connection. It delivers Internet access at much higher speeds than a conventional 56k modem—between 5 and 25 times faster. And while online, you can still use your phone.

What this means to you is that Voice ADSL broadband Internet access gives you lightning-quick Internet access without the need for a separate phone line.

What is the difference between ADSL and DSL?

DSL is a generic name for all Digital Subscriber Line technologies. ADSL is a type of DSL. Other DSL types include XDSL, HDSL, and SDSL.

The main difference between ADSL and DSL is the speeds offered in each direction of the circuit. ADSL, is asynchronous, which means that the upload and download speeds differ. Since you usually download much more that you upload, ADSL download speeds are generally faster that the upload (for example 256k down and 64k up). DSL upload and download speeds are the same, ie the same in both directions.

What can I do with my Voice ADSL connection?

The short answer is anything you can already do with a 56K dial-up connection, only much, much faster! However, because of this speed, you can do some additional things that aren't feasible with a dial-up connection. For example:

You can play online games with greater speed (and maybe WIN for once!)
Perform online multi-tasking - surf the net, check your email, and download MP3s or other large files, all at the same time.
Enjoy streaming video media - just as easily as you previously enjoyed streaming audio media. Watch movie trailers, online concerts, online TV shows or music videos.
Download video media - such as video files.
Leave your internet connection running - so that you can receive email immediately or access your computer remotely.
And lots more! You will discover new and exciting uses for the internet as you use your Voice Broadband internet access.

I have a Mac computer - Can I use ADSL?

Yes. You will need an ADSL modem that specifically supports your Mac system.

Am I charged for a local call each time I connect to the internet using ASDL?

No you don't get charged as you actually never make a call to establish the connection. The ADSL service is always on. It is connected through your copper phone line to the Voice infrastucture and then out to the internet. The only time that you really need to connect is in the rare event that there is an outage. The easiest way to connect or reconnect is to simply power-cycle your modem, and the connection will re-establish itself automatically.

Do I have to buy an ADSL modem from Voice, or can I use the one I already own?

As long as your ADSL modem is compatible with the Voice system and is compatible with Australian standards, you should be able to use it. Contact us first to determine suitability.

How is my Monthly Usage Allowance calculated?

Your usage allowance is calculated based on the greater of your uploads or downloads in any given month. In most cases, this means that it is calculated based on uploads since most people download more than they upload.

Be aware however, file sharing programs, such as Morpheus, Limewire, and Kaaza allow others to download files from your computer (even without your knowledge), which adds to your upload usage. Accordingly you should set your file sharing upload limits to a minimum within those programs, and always close file sharing programs when you are finished using them.

Am I charged for Uploads?

Generally not. This is because your monthly usage allowance is calculated based on the greater of uploads and downloads for the month. In most cases, people download far more than they upload. However, in the event that your uploads exceed your downloads, you would be charged for the uploads (because they are greater) but not the downloads.

You will never be charged for both uploads plus downloads, we only charge for whichever is the greater of them in any given month.

How can I manage my Monthly Usage Allowance?

Because ADSL is so fast, you may find it easy to exceed your monthly download/upload allowance and incur additional charges. However remember the reason to have ADSL broadband is to access the internet at a fast speed and alwyas be on-line, so don't forget to enjoy the service. Excess data only costs a few cents per Megabyte so keep this in perspective. Enjoy it.

Voice provides a facility on the website in the members area where you can view your usage. We can also send you an email with your usage information if required.

Keeping your download (and uploads) within your monthly usage allowance is mostly a matter of controlling how much you download. However, to ensure that you get the most out of your monthly allowance, you should ensure that you are not wasting any of your download limit with unnecessary uploads and downloads. This means that you should be aware of some of the common bandwidth wasters, including the following:

After you have finished using your web browser, you should always shut it down. Many web pages will reload content on a regular basis, as often as every minute, depending on the page. This happens even more on web pages where there is an active ad banner that reloads constantly.
As you probably already know, file sharing programs, such as Morpheus, Limewire, and Kaaza can consume a lot of your download limit. But at least when that happens, you are gaining something in return - your favorite MP3 files. What you need to remember though, is that those same programs allow others to download files from your computer (even without your knowledge), which adds to your upload usage. Accordingly you should set your file sharing upload limits to a minimum within those programs, and always close file sharing programs when you are finished using them.
Computer viruses can sometime result in bandwidth usage, especially email viruses that send out email messages to everyone on your contact list. Always ensure that you have good virus protection. The good news is that Voice can provide you with excelled server level virus protection to ensure that this doesn't happen to you.
SPAM can eat a lot of your bandwidth, especially if you receiving a lot of it. If this is the case, look into programs like Mailwasher, which is an excellent program that allows you to review email messages and delete them if necessary before you download your email.
If you are viewing video or listening to audio online through streaming, make sure you shut it down when you are not around. Streaming is a high bandwidth usage, and it is all too easy when listening to internet radio stations to walk away and forget that it is using your monthly download limit allowance while even while you are away.
Be aware that because ADSL is typically left on all of the time, you are at a greater risk of hackers gaining access and uploading your personal files. Whilst this may have an effect on your usage allowance, security is an ever greater issue. Accordingly, it is very important that in particular when running ADSL, you should install a personal firewall, such as Zonealarm.

Refer to the following chart to help you understand the download size of common internet activities:

Activity	Size in MB (approximation)
Email message with no (or small) attachment	0.025
Standard Web page	0.05
Full screen image 800 x 600 (gif)	0.05
Two-page word document	0.02
Typical shareware application	1.5
Typical MP3	3 - 6
One hour online gaming	up to 15
One hour streaming content	15-25
Five minute movie trailer	30

Should I install a firewall?

Why do I need a firewall?
Would you leave your house unlocked while you are on vacation, or your car unlocked while it contains valuables? Of course not. But many people leave their computer unprotected and open to hackers. These days, hackers are breaking into internet connected computers on an ever-increasing basis. Once in, they can access your sensitive details - your passwords, banking and credit cares details, address, phone number, personal documents, or simply damage your computer and data. This happens far more often than most people are willing to believe.

A good firewall prevents unauthorised access to your computer by examining each packet (piece of data) that goes into and out of your computer. It compares the information in each packet against a database and blocks any potentially dangerous packets. Many also ask you before any application accesses the internet, ensuring that you are aware of which of your programs are accessing the internet.

But isn't a firewall complicated and expensive?
The good news is that most of the modems that we recommend and sell have a basic firewall included at no extra charge. These work automatically when the modem is in use and there is generally no need to configure them when you take delivery unless you have very specialised requirements. There are many personal firewalls available that are simple to install and inexpensive, some even free. For example ZoneAlarm is a popular personal firewall that is simple to use and install. Best of all, it is free for home users.

If your modem does not have a basic firewall, or if you have chosen to bypass the firewall function for a specialised requirement then it is advisable to install a firewall in the next device within your network and immediately behind the modem. There are many firewall devices and specialty routers available on the market and we recommend to contact us should you have any concerns or questions regarding this.