Wireless Broadband:

“Do you guys have wi-fi?” has to be one of the most commonly asked questions of the 21st century. Thankfully, a lot of us now have our own wi-fi at home. So we don’t have to enter in that 16 letter password before we can surf the web. But there are still a few things which are helpful to know before signing up to 4G wireless broadband.

What is home wireless broadband?

Wireless broadband, wireless internet, or more commonly known as wi-fi, is what gets us online watching our favourite shows, jamming to music and laughing at the latest TikTok video. And as the name suggests, it’s wireless. So there are no cables to trip over. It’s almost as easy as connecting to the internet on your mobile. In fact, you actually do connect to the 4G network, but you do it through a modem.

What’s the difference between home wireless broadband and the NBN?

NBN fibre is typically a ‘fixed-line service’, connecting your home to the internet through cables underneath your street. However, NBN also has satellite and wireless services, such as NBN sky muster, and fixed wireless. On the other hand, home wireless broadband is a ‘mobile service’, so it connects you to the internet via a 4G/5G tower, similar to your mobile.

If you’re looking to set up the internet in your home, you may have the choice of either. So it may be beneficial to work out which option best suits you. If you’re having a hard time with the NBN or it hasn’t yet made it to your suburb, then home wireless broadband could be a safer bet. You can set it up wherever and be on the web in a matter of seconds, as long as you’ve got a decent signal.

What equipment do I need to set up home wireless broadband?

To set up your home wireless broadband you’ll typically require three things:

• A wireless broadband plan: Easy peasy. This is something iSelect can help you with!
• A modem: This connects to the internet (which can also act as a router)

How does it work?

Once you have your equipment (see question above), all you need to do is plug in your modem and get online. On the back or bottom of your modem you’ll generally find a wi-fi-network name and password which you use to connect your devices. Super easy. Then your wi-fi-network will work its magic and use radio signals to send information through your wireless-connected devices to the internet.

What are some potential considerations when choosing a provider and a plan?

Here’s a list of things you should consider when deciding on a plan and provider:

• What’s the signal like? Just like your mobile, coverage can vary depending on the provider and your location. So make sure you check whether the signal reaches you before locking into a contract.
• Does the plan come with a modem? Some plans include the modem, others don’t.
• How much data will you need per month? A number of plans come with around 200GB, but if you’re an excessive streamer, you might want to look at a plan with a little more data.
• What's the cost per month? The cost for home wireless broadband is usually a tad more expensive compared to fixed-line contracts.
• How long is the contract? Home wireless broadband still comes with contracts, however there are some great month to month options.

What if I’m a renter?

If you’re currently renting, there may be different wireless broadband plans that appeal to you more than say home owners. These can include plans with features like:

• Short-term or no lock in contracts
• Easy relocation options
• Low or sometimes even no set-up fees

It can be hard finding a provider that’ll tick all the boxes, but aim high. If you’d like a little help comparing products from a range of providers, feel free to reach out to our friendly team! You can call us on 13 19 20 and someone from our team will be happy to assist.

How much data could I opt for per month?

Many plans come with at least 200GB a month. This could be sufficient for general browsing on the web and maintaining your daily dose of Netflix. But if you’re a big time streamer it might be worth getting a larger data package.

What are the advantages of wireless broadband?

If you’re still deciding whether or not wireless broadband is for you, here are some other advantages to consider:

• It’s generally easy to set up. So you don’t need to stress about getting a technician involved.
• You can take your modem and router with you and set up wherever there is a signal.
• It generally works as soon as you plug it in.
• Modems come with antenna ports, so you generally get a solid connection.
• Modems also have Ethernet ports, so you can even hook up your device to get a stronger connection.

What are the disadvantages of wireless broadband?

Before you lock in, you may also want to consider the disadvantages:

• Wireless broadband relies on a strong mobile signal to connect your modem to the internet. So you may sometimes find yourself without any signal, like you do with your mobile phone.
• The price of data is sometimes more expensive than fixed-line plans (ie. NBN).
• Some providers limit the speed of their connections to ensure everyone gets access. On one hand that’s quite nice of them...on the other, it’s a little annoying.

Who could wireless broadband be suited for?

Overall, wireless is a quick and easy way to get on the web. But a few groups in particular may get a lot out of it.

Singles or Couples: home wireless broadband works well in smaller houses, where there aren’t as many walls blocking the signal and people hogging the Netflix account. So it’s pretty spot-on for singles and couples.

Students: it’s probably safe to say students are the demographic more likely to jump from share-house to share-house. So they definitely want to avoid being bogged down by a lock-in contract. In this case, a wireless plan could be ideal.

Should I get wireless broadband?

To determine if wireless broadband is a good fit for you, ask yourself the following questions:

• Am I struggling with ADSL or NBN?
• Does my internet constantly drop-out?
• Is my internet really slow?
• Am I likely to move in the next 12 months?
• Do I want to avoid lock-in contracts?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then home wireless broadband might be a good fit. But before you lock-in to a plan make sure you check your network coverage and compare wireless broadband providers. If you’d like to learn more about finding an internet plan that works for you, feel free to call our friendly team on 13 19 20.

Last updated: 10/09/2020