All wiki posts in Internet & TV

WHAT CAN I DO TO IMPROVE MY WI-FI?

Optus — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 01:57:15 GMT

If you want the fastest and most reliable internet throughout your home or office Ethernet is the way to go. However in the real world we know that you can’t run cables all over your house and that’s where Wi-Fi will help you get all your devices online.

Wi-Fi uses radio waves to transmit information over a specific area. Because your data is transmitted over radio waves they can be more sensitive to interference and obstacles which means that your internet connection could possibly be slower and less reliable,

Here we have listed a few important things to consider when setting up Wi-Fi in your property, to make sure you get the most out of your Wi-Fi modem.

LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION!

Where you place you Wi-Fi modem in your home is one of the most important things to consider when setting up your home internet connection as the location of your modem can impact the overall quality of your Wi-Fi connection.

WHERE DO I INSTALL MY WI-FI MODEM?

The ideal location of a Wi-Fi modem is as close to the centre of your home as possible, in an open area (so not inside a cupboard) away from other electronics. Also if possible keep your modem as high as possible as Wi-Fi signals spread downwards, if you have your modem on a low shelf or on the floor you won’t have the best experience.

OBSTACLES

There are several things that can reduce, reflect, or even block Wi-Fi signals throughout your home, these include

Fish tanks (and other items filled with a lot of water like a swimming pool or large water features)
Metal fencing, doors, and/or roofing (e.g. tin roofs, sheds, )
Brick, concrete, load bearing, and metal lined walls
Insulated thick glass
Mirrors
Stainless steel / metal Appliances, furniture, and fittings (fridges, dishwashers, steel counters)

If there are any of the above things near where you have installed your Wi-Fi modem they could be causing parts of your home to be missing out on Wi-Fi or slowing down your data connection considerably.

DISTANCE

Wi-Fi can weaken the further it has to travel especially if the signal has to travel through multiple walls. For the best experience with Wi-Fi make sure your modem is installed as close as possible to where you will be using your internet the most.

If it’s not possible to install it in the area you use it the most, take a look at possibly installing a power line adaptor or Wi-Fi Range receiver.

INTERFERENCE

What does your Modem and your Microwave have in common? More than you might think, both devices transmit waves around the frequency of 2.4 Ghz

What does that mean for my internet connection?

It means that if your modem is near your microwave, the microwave which has much stronger waves will cause your Wi-Fi connection to slow down or drop out completely when the microwave is in use.

It’s not just microwaves there are many electrical appliances that can interfere with your modem. Cordless phones, Baby Monitors, TV’s, and speaker systems can also operate on the same frequency.

What can I do to fix this?

If it’s possible make sure your modem is installed as far away from your microwave (or other appliances) as possible, we recommend at least 5 metres.

Also if you live in close proximity to your neighbours make sure your modem is centrally placed within your property to avoid possible interference from your neighbours electrical equipment.

If moving your modem is not possible you might need to look at at alternative solutions to help improve your Wi-Fi experience.

Otherwise make sure you have made your microwave popcorn before you settle in on the couch with Netflix.

CHANGE THE CHANNEL

If you live in close proximity to your neighbours, their Wi-Fi networks may be interfering with yours and causing the signal to weaken. Basically this means if you and your neighbours are on the same Wi-Fi channel this could be slowing down your Wi-Fi experience.

It’s really easy to change the Wi-Fi channels on our Optus Supplied Modems.

Click here for Optus supplied Sagemcomm modem instructions

If you have a BYO modem you will need to refer to the manual that came with your modem or visit your modem manufacturer’s website.

PRESERVE YOUR BANDWIDTH

If you share your internet connection with people who like to make video calls, play online games or stream TV at the same time the quality of your connection may diminish.

Wi-Fi is capable of handling many devices connected at the same time but the quality may decrease if numerous users are using data heavy applications at the same time. Make sure that any devices that are using Wi-Fi are turned off when not in use.

You can check what devices are connected to your network by checking your modem settings

Click here for Optus supplied Sagemcomm modem instructions

If you have a BYO modem you will need to refer to the manual that came with your modem or visit your modem manufacturer’s website.

OTHER WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR WI-FI AT HOME

If you have tried the above things and the Wi-Fi is not reaching all the places in your property you need it to, or it’s not possible to move your modem to another part of your property there are some more technical solutions that can help improve your Wi-Fi network performance.

POWERLINE ADAPTOR

If you have your Wi-Fi modem installed in one part of your home, but the Wi-Fi signal doesn’t reach a particular part of your property, or the Wi-Fi isn’t as strong as you would like it to be. A Powerline adaptor could help improve your connection.

Powerline adapters work by making use of the existing electrical wiring in the walls of your property. You plug in an adapter near where your modem is installed and connect the adapter to the modem via an Ethernet cable. Next you plug in the second adapter in the room or the area where you need coverage.

The powerline adaptor will create a new data connection (both Ethernet and Wi-Fi) for the room/ area where the second adaptor is installed.

Powerline adaptors can be purchased easily from electronic stores and online.

For easy instructions on how to set-up a powerline adaptor click here

Powerline Adaptors will only work on the same electrical circuit as the modem so if you have a large property or multiple electrical circuits it might not be a suitable solution.

WI-FI REPEATERS or WI-FI EXTENDERS

A WiFi repeater or extender can be installed to extend the coverage of your Wi-Fi within your property. Wi-Fi repeaters work by taking your exisiting Wi-Fi, amplifying it and the transmitting the Wi-Fi to the far corners of your home or office, with the right placement you could even extend your signal into your backyard!

Wi-Fi range repeaters or extenders can be purchased from electronic stores and also online.

NEED HELP

Have a question? Ask the crowd.

How to personalise your Optus Supplied Modem connection? Aka What is 192.168.0.1 ?

Optus — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 23:38:55 GMT

You have set up your modem and now you are wondering how to personalise your connection, well you don't need to call in an IT guy or call into technical support all the information you need to get started is right here.

What is 192.168.0.1 ?

192.168.0.1 is your modem's IP address aka. “Your modem configuration page” 192.168.0.1 is the one that we use with the Optus supplied SAGEM F@ST 3864. If your modem is a different make or model you will need to refer to the manual that came with that device to get your modem's IP address

How do I get there?

To get to your modem configuration page after you have set up your modem you just need to open a browser window on your device and in the address bar type in 192.168.0.1 and hit enter you should see something like this.

FYI: if your internet is ADSL you might see a screen asking for a username and password, it's the same ones that are included in your welcome emails or letter that you used to set-up your modem.

Once you are this page you'll see a menu on the left hand side with all the options available to configure your modem.

What can you do on this page?

There are lots of things you can do with your Optus modem, but we wanted to talk about a couple of the most important things you can do on your Optus modem.

Want to change your Wi-Fi password?

Wouldn’t be easier (not to mention more secure) to type in a secure, unique to you and memorable password for your Wi-Fi instead of looking for your magnet every time someone wants to connect to your Wi-Fi?

For how to change your Wi-Fi password click here

Want to change your Wi-Fi network name?

"Optus_234345" doesn't have the same ring as "Dave's Internet" or "Flat White Café Internet" if your internet connection is somewhere where there are multiple Wi-Fi hotspots having a unique network name will make it quicker and easier for you and your friends/ family/ customers to locate and connect to your Wi-Fi.

For how to update your Wi-Fi hotspot name click here

There are many more things you can configure on your Optus modem; if you want to know what else you can do with your Optus Modem visit our Optus modem online device manuals here.

SERVICENET: WHAT IS IT?

Optus — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 00:32:08 GMT

Are you trying to get online and no matter what page you try to visit, you get a webpage that says ServiceNet and looks something like this?

ServiceNet is a restricted Optus site; it’s a gateway between your connection and the internet. ServiceNet will only appear if there is something not quite right about your internet connection.

The main reason ServiceNet page pops up is that there is a mismatch between the username and password in the modem and what we have on the network.

If you see the above screen just enter in your username and password in the fields and click next.

If you are a brand new customer: Your username and password will be in the welcome emails or welcome letter we sent you.

If you are an existing customer: You can get your username from "My Account" if you don't know your password, don’t worry, you can reset your password via My Account too. For instructions click here

Once you have entered in your details into ServiceNet you will need to double check your modem, to make sure it has the right username and password too.

For Optus Supplied modems: instructions can be found here.

For BYO modems: refer to your device guide for how to update your details.

For more information about ServiceNet click here

DSLD - Auto Authentication Assistance

Optus — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 00:25:19 GMT

If you have a DSLD internet connection with Optus your Optus Supplied modem should automatically connect to the DSLD network, however some Optus modems are not automatically self-configuring when connecting to the network for the first time. If this occurs, please follow these steps to resolve the issue:

To login to the modem plug a computer directly in via an Ethernet cable or via WiFi using the SSID and passphrase provided on the card that came with the modem.
Open up and Internet Browser (IE, Chrome, Firefox) and enter a web address e.g. www.optus.com.au

If your browser is correctly connected to your modem, but the modem has not auto-configured, you will see the following screen asking for your OptusNet Email Address and OptusNet Password rather than the website you entered:

The OptusNet Email Address field does not need to be changed, leave it as is or make sure the field is empty.
In the OptusNet Password field type in “Password”.

You do not need to remember the OptusNet Password as it will be changed as soon as your modem completes its setup process.

Press Save and Applyand close the browser.

The modem will now automatically restart and setup with your correct username and password. Please allow a few minutes for the modem to complete this process.

You will now be able to connect to the Optus network and the internet, you can check this by opening a webpage in your browser

Can I use my BYO MODEM on Optus ADSL?

Optus — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 00:21:36 GMT

Want to use your own modem on your Optus DSL connection? These are the things that you might need to consider so you can get the most out of your service.

Limited Support:

For BYO supplied modem users, Optus Broadband Customer Support is limited to assistance with your account; online services (such as email & my account) and your ADSL connection, for specific information and support about the features of your BYO modem please refer to the manual that came with your selected device.

Cannot connect?

You must plug your Optus supplied modem in first to activate your new ADSL connection, as your Modem has your broadband connection details already programmed into it.

Once your service is activated and working, then you can swap the connection over to your own device. However unlike the Optus modem you will need to manually enter in your Optus login details. Refer to your BYO modem manual for how to do this

FYI: your login details are in your welcome email when you signed up and will be an "Optusnet" email address e.g. johncitizen@optusnet.com.au

Can I use my BYO MODEM on the NBN?

Optus — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 00:18:34 GMT

Want to use your own modem on your Optus NBN connection? These are the things that you might need to consider so you can get the most out of your service.

Limited Support:

For BYO modem users, Optus Broadband Customer Support is limited to assistance with your account; online services (such as email & my account) and your Optus NBN connection, for specific information and support about the features of your BYO modem please refer to the manual that came with your BYO device.

Cannot connect?

You must plug your Optus supplied modem in first to activate your new connection, once your service is activated and working, then you can swap the connection over to your own device.

Yes Crowd member "Darrell" has some excellent instructions on how to setup your BYO modem click here

Cannot make or receive phone Calls?

If you have a home phone number with Optus on the NBN, you must use the Optus supplied modem as your main network connection as the modem is specially configured to your phone number.

You can still use your own modem/router but only as a router that is plugged into the Optus modem; have a look at "MattJ's" post Click here on how to set up your BYO device to make phone calls.

Changing the Optus NBN Modem's Default IP Address

nbn — Fri, 11 Nov 2016 02:03:51 GMT

For those who have been supplied with a Sagemcom F@st 3864 v2 NBN Modem/Router by Optus ("the Router"), you may need to change your default IP address (whether it is for privacy or browser compatibility reasons). Here's how to do that:

Check to see whether you are able to access this link from the device you are currently using - if you are unable to, it means you may need to use another device (such as an Android or iPhone) connected to your Router (either wired or wireless is fine) to complete these steps;
Once you are able to access the above link, click on ;
Now click on Advanced Setup;
At this point, you should be able to see the below menu:
Make the suggested changes as highlighted.

At this point, you may want to make a backup of your new configurations. To do this, click on Management, and then click on the Backup Settings button.

You're all done!

Feel free to leave a +Kudos if you think this has helped you today, and/or to review and edit this article for clarity's sake.

-Terry (@nbn).

Free To Air channels not coming up on Yes TV by Fetch box

Nghi — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 03:41:04 GMT

If your Yes TV by Fetch box is having problems tuning into Free to Air channels then it could be two issues, the box itself or reception issues. I have had a Fetch TV box that had faulty tuners in the UHF band, so all channels broadcast in this band would not get picked up while all the VHF channels worked fine. The simple test is to try it via the TV only, except I would run the antenna cable directly from the wall to the TV and do a tune to see if you get all channels, this is your control test. If you do then great, it could be the box or you could have a weak signal. If you can't get all channels it might be the signal.

Before you go any further go to this website (http://myswitch.digitalready.gov.au/) and type in your address. It will show you what the broadcast signal is like around your area and also show you which direction your antenna should be facing. Take some notes and go outside and have a look to see it is set up right. Off the top off my head I think you can go into the Fetch TV settings under channels and see the signal strength so this is another way to see how much signal the box is getting. Your TV might have a similar function so you can check that too.

Now onto signals to explain why sometimes you get channel dropouts. In analogue TV as the signal got weaker you got a fuzzy picture, graininess, ghosting, etc and it got worse the weaker it got. In digital TV you get a perfect picture and it stays that way as the signal gets weaker until such a point that it just fails, you might get digital glitches if it is borderline, but the picture/audio just stops when it is too weak. So it is a case of on or off where as analogue was variable all the way. Where the reception fails as the signal gets weaker varies with each device and the sensitivity of the tuners.

Easy, lets move on. Let's say your antenna has 100% signal strength, if your house has two TV sockets then each socket gets 50% of the signal as it is split. In one of those sockets you plug in the Fetch TV, it has 3 tuners so now each tuners gets 16.66% of the signal, plus it has the bypass port for the TV so in reality it is probably closer to 12.5%, 3 tuners and the TV. Now lets say your aerial is not set up right, you have a dodgy socket on the wall or you live in a low signal area and you only receive a signal strength of 50%. You can see where this is heading.... By the way I should mention that it doesn't usually matter if something is plugged in or switched on at a socket for your signal to be split. So if you have 4 TV sockets in your house and only 1 TV, it still only gets approx 25% of the signal. Now the quality of all the connections from the antenna to the TV matter, the antenna connection, the cable, the socket, any splitters you have, it can all influence the strength of the signal. Bad earthing can also cause interference in the antenna cable so this could account for losing channels on the TV when the box is switched on if you are already getting a not so optimal signal. I hope you are still with me.

A few more things to go. Powered antenna boosters are usually a waste of time and are better installed by a pro who will test the strength and quality of your signal first. Basically the reason is if you have a rubbish signal and you amplify it, you have a amplified rubbish signal. A booster cannot increase the quality of the signal (full stop). If you read forums a lot I have lost count how many people write they went out and bought one and it did nothing. I am not surprised.

Onto antennas, DO NOT listen to the marketing spin about digital antennas. There is no such thing!! The signal is broadcast via radio frequency transmission within the same band limits of VHF and UHF that it always has been broadcast on. Except that before it was broadcast in analogue and now it is broadcast in a digitally compressed signal so you can get more bandwidth (hence higher definition and better picture) within the same frequency. All you need is an antenna that is tuned to receive the full range of bands in VHF/UHF for Australian broadcasts, which is most antenna sold in the last 40+ years. Back in the day before SBS some people had VHF only antennas so in this case you would need an upgrade, but if you received all the channels before digital there is no reason you cannot get them now if your signal quality is good. The only change that was needed between going from analogue broadcast to digital was the requirement of a new decoder to decode the digital broadcast, hence why people needed a set top box for old TV's until all new TV's had it built in. The whole need a "digital ready" antenna was just clever marketing to sell antennas. Though I must add that in some cases new antennas are needed for people as you might have an old antenna with low gain which was fine for analogue, but a new higher gain antenna might be needed to give you sufficient signal to get good digital reception (if you are at that on/off point I mentioned above and live in a poor reception area).

So what to do... go to the website I said above, check the signal for your area, if it is listed as good, take note of the direction, go outside and check your antenna (compare it to every other antenna on your neighbours roofs, make sure it matches, take note if it is sagging or you can see a wire or something lose (DO NOT climb onto your roof if it is wet, they are very slippery), check how many sockets you have in your house, do you need them all? (they must be disconnected at the splitter if to be removed), check the wall socket the device is plugged into (if it is only an aerial socket remove it and check the connection behind it, if there is a power socket on it also do not remove it, leave it to a pro), check you cable (swap it if you have another), unplug the fetch TV and try just the TV directly, if you have an old set top box try that also just to confirm everything. If the device is able to check the signal quality/strength via the device settings, if they are low you may need a pro. If after all this you still cannot get channels, then save the money you'd spend on a booster and put it towards a reputable antenna person to come and check your signal strength and quality, you may need to replace your antenna with one that has a higher gain if you are in a bad reception area.

Using USB printer on Sagem Fast 3864

Andy — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 04:59:06 GMT

I have tried solutions offered by a couple of different sources and none of them worked. After some trial and error, I have combined their advice and this is the solution that worked for me. My thanks to everyone who takes the time to share their knowledge via the web. This solution worked for a Canon MP530 multi-function printer. I'm thinking that if it worked on this old clunker, it should work on just about anything. Good luck. Info below.

This advice is for Windows 10 OS. It should be a very similar process in Windows 7.

ADD A NETWORK PRINTER TO SAGEMCOM FAST 3864 ADSL MODEM

Have the printer driver ready on USB or pre-loaded to a temporary location on the PC

On Sagemcom modem

Go to set-up and 'Multimedia'
Enter your printer's name, brand and model in text boxes. Avoid inserting spaces.
Attach the printer to the rear USB port on the modem

On PC

Go to Control Panel
'Devices and printers'
'Add a printer'
'Add a network printer'
This will launch auto-search. It won’t find the printer you want to install but let it finish before proceeding to the next step.
Click on ‘The printer that I want isn’t listed’ which appears at the bottom of the screen
Click on the ‘Select a shared printer by name’ radio button
In the text box, insert this address: http://192.168.0.1:631/printers/yourprinter'sname

The printer name must be exactly the same name you entered in the Multimedia set-up on the modem, including the use of upper and lower case characters. If there were spaces in the printer name you entered in the modem, try using ‘%20’ - without the inverted commas - ro replace the sames when entering the name into the PC. FYI, 631 in the printer’s network address is the port to use for IPP.
Click on 'Next'
Select the printer manufacturer and model number from the list offered by Windows. If your printer isn’t on the list, Click on 'Browse' to select the driver you previously saved to a location on the PC.

NB: You can’t share an IPP printer, so you will need to repeat this process for every PC that requires access to your newly networked printer.

Content by community member @ oneword

ADSL INSTALLATION PROCESS - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Optus — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 05:47:20 GMT

To help walk you through the installation process and get your new service up and running as smoothly as possible, we’ve put together a guide on what you can expect to happen. During installation, there are some things that we need to do, like arranging an appointment with a technician, and a thing or two you might need to take care of. Don’t worry we’ll always let you know how things are progressing.

Here’s what happens once you have placed your order for a Home/Broadband Service

We will contact you within 3 business days to advise what happens next, including installation date and any technician visits, if required, which may be by a third-party acting on behalf of Optus.

We will deliver any new phones or modems you have ordered.

A day before installation we’ll send you a reminder of your installation date. If a technician visit is required, we’ll also let you know the time when they'll be arriving. You will need to make sure someone over 18 is around on the date of installation if a technician is coming.

Once you are up and running we’ll remind you of what plan you have chosen and your OptusNet login information.

Tracking your Progress

You can track your progress at any stage by logging in at optus.com.au/helpme and entering your Order Number

What happens if I live in a Multi Dwelling Unit such as an apartment block?

For your installation we may be required to make 2 technician appointments. We’ll advise you if it is required.

If you have any questions or concerns before your installation please call us on 1300 760 016

DSLD/RDSL Sagecom modem initial setup guide

Hollie — Mon, 09 May 2016 06:31:14 GMT

1. To login to the modem plug a computer directly in via an ethernet/ network cable or via WiFi using the SSID and passphrase provided on the card that came with the modem.

2. Open up and Internet Browser (IE, Chrome, Firefox) and enter 192.168.0.1 – this should take you to the screen below (this screen can also be found by clicking on setup & configuration under ADSL Login for future reference)

3. In the Optus email address field, delete the details in there and enter your Optus username/ full email address (you should have received this in an email we sent to your alternate email address that you provided when you signed up)

4. Enter the password we also provided in the same email as above (if you don’t have this handy we can reset it for you

5. Click on save & apply

You should then be sent to the screen below:

6. In the address bar try and browse to Google.

You should then be redirected to ServiceNet which should look something like this:

7. You’ll need to enter the same username & password you entered into the modem settings then click Next

8. This will then take you to the Terms & Conditions page, once you have read & agreed to the T&C’s, select I Agree & then click Next.

Congratulations! You should now be able to browse the Internet!

BYO Router with Optus NBN VoIP

MattJ — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 03:40:31 GMT

How to BYO Router with Optus NBN VoIP

Bridging your NBN Modem/Router.

Darrell — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 03:10:14 GMT

You ready to use your new NBN service and you have noticed that the Modem/Router supplied just doesn't have the kick you expected!

You have tried a number of methods to squeeze that last Megabyte out - and it just won't happen. Well here is a rather simple solution to get that extra kick that you were after plus more!

If you went out and purchased a brand new Modem/Router by chance (not sure whether you were going to have one supplied) you’re ready to go.
If you want to purchase a new Modem/Router, there are plenty to choose from. (If you are an internet user that only checks & sends emails and occasionally browses the internet your probably satisfied with how things are running now). If not! An ideal start would be to ask your friends what they think of the new NBN and if they have done anything to improve the performance. Everyone has a different setup for different situations. For example: I have 3 mobiles at any given time accessing the internet via WiFi. I also have 3 PC's which two are running practically all day via Ethernet (LAN Cable). This is a normal situation for my household without any complaints or hiccups.

I have achieved this is by what’s known as "Bridging", it's a process of connecting to Modem/Routers together!

Firstly I did some research into what type of Modem/Router I would need for my situation. If you would like to have the same setup and speeds that are just right for everyone, I'll explain the method used.

I purchased a Netgear D6300 Modem/Router (as I mentioned above - there a plenty to choose from) this one was reasonably priced and suited my needs.
Approximately 1 Hour of your time to set up. Setup: NOTE: Remember to Position both Modem/Routers as close as convenient to the centre of your home and in a high position. (this will allow full advantage of the WiFi signal to reach every room - if this is not possible near your PC will do).
Turn OFF Wi-Fi and remove all "LAN" cables from the back of the existing Modem/Router (leave phone line and fibre connected).
Connect the "LAN" cable from port 1 of the existing Modem/Router to the new Modem/Router Fibre/Internet Port.
Now connect the other "LAN" cables from you PC's to Ports 2,3 & 4.
Connect the Power supply that came with the Modem/Router.
Turn your new Modem/Router ON and let it go through its setup process, which should take a couple of minutes.
Once all LEDs are active and indicating activity, turn ON the Wi-Fi.

NOTE: In order to connect to Wi-Fi, you need to use the NEW password supplied with the new Modem/Router not the old one. Now its only a matter of familiarising yourself with your new toy and enjoying the internet the way it should be. Please remember these speeds are governed by your choice's made when signing up for the new NBN.

How to get the most out of your Available Bandwidth

Optus — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 05:38:40 GMT

Are you having trouble streaming that movie? Or getting that file to download? We've pulled together some information on what will use your bandwidth within your home and how you can reduce or stop some devices usage to allow more for others.

Multiple PC’s/devices connected

Disconnect or turn off all non-essential devices when you're using the internet connection for other purposes (phones, tablets, consoles, etc)

Devices connected to WiFi

Minimise the use of WiFi during peak times
Minimise the number of devices connecting to WiFi during peak times
Disable WiFi whilst you're using the internet connection for other purposes

TV/streaming services (ie. Fetch, Netflix, Stan, Presto)

Lower the video quality the service is using through the settings menu
Minimise the number of these services used during peak times

YouTube/Video Streaming

Minimise YouTube/Video Streaming whilst you're using the internet connection for other purposes
Lower the quality of the service by reducing the video quality

Peer-to-Peer

Minimise or stop Peer-to-Peer services whilst using the internet connection for other purposes
Schedule Peer-to-Peer when no one is home (or the internet is not required for other uses)

Cloud/Backup (ie. Dropbox/Microsoft Onedrive/Google Drive etc.)

Schedule your data to sync when no one is home

Radio/or music streaming

Minimise or Stop streaming

Computer/console gaming

Reduce or stop any computer gaming that uses the internet
Schedule updates when no one is at home

You may also like to take a look at our article on What can influence your home internet speeds?

If you have any other questions don't hesitate to ask the community!

What you need to know prior to your cable internet and phone installation

Andy — Sun, 22 Nov 2015 22:36:12 GMT

You will need to have permission from the home owner/landlord before installation occurs, as the installation may require overhead cables to be run from a pole on the street outside your property to the blind side of the house (where there are other services like your electricity meter box. A small box may be attached to your property, and new phone socket(s) may also be installed inside the home, in order to complete installation.
Your installation appointment window will be either 7.30-12pm or 12-5pm; what does this actually mean? It means a technician is scheduled to arrive at the install address between either 7.30-12pm or 12-5pm.

It means whilst the technician will arrive sometime between either 7.30-12pm or 12-5pm, the work required to complete the installation may extend beyond these times.

Remember a typical installation can take 2-3 hours to complete, so if the technician arrives at 11am (within the appointment window), the install won’t be completed until around 2pm (beyond the appointment window).

Someone over the age of 18 must be present for the duration of the installation.

The technician will call you 30 mins before arriving so it is really important that you are either in attendance at the install address, or are available on the contact number that you provided to reduce the possibility of a reschedule. The technician may be a third party technician acting on behalf of Optus.

If you have any questions or concerns before your installations please call us on 1300 760 016

Slow connection? Here's some things to try!

tyson5ek — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 22:33:45 GMT

We all have these moments. Once in a while, or every now and then we experience technical difficulties where our internet disconnects, drops out or doesn't work as expected and we experience slow speeds. Here are some tips to tackle the snail slowing you down.

1. TRYING A NEW DNS SERVER

If you visit a website, your computer will automatically go through a process called DNS and translate the 'name' into an IP address which your computer can understand. However, at times there may be server-sided issues (such as lag) or more often that not the server goes down completely.

So what can I do about this?

You can try to change your DNS settings and redirect them to other DNS servers. Google have a really good DNS server used by millions of people - and in saying this, so do OpenDNS. Redirecting your DNS can improve speeds and a lot of other things too.

Take a read of this to further troubleshoot DNS issues.

2. KILL BANDWIDTH HOGS

If you have programs running in the background that you believe are consuming data, eliminate their processes and remove them. Especially if they're malware of viruses. Take this as an example: If you're downloading files in uTorrent or BitTorrent, they are consuming your data and chances are your web browsing speed will be a lot slower. You could also try to install AdBlock Plus to hide some of the bandwith hogging ads that load in clients and prevent them from using further data - therefore making your internet faster. They won’t solve all your issues, but they can at least help make a slow connection feel more usable.

3. FIX YOUR WIFI

If you use WiFi a lot but find that your LAN and Internet are fine, then your Wireless may be the culrpit. You could easily fix this by troubleshooting your modem, resetting it or placing it in a better position in your home which can increase wireless frequency. Replacing your modem can also make a difference.

4. TEST YOUR HARDWARE

At times your hardware could be the problem when experiencing slow internet speeds. Check that your wires are securely inserted into your equipment (the wall socket, your modem and computer) and that there are no loose wires hanging around. Ensure that your hardware isn't covered in dust and reguarly clean them to prevent dust from getting inside. If you're hardware is set up properly, then try to perform a reset.

Reset your modem (Simply turn it off for 30 seconds and power it back on)
Factory reset your modem (Access your gateway and perform a factory reset or hold down the 'reset' button located in a pin-size hole in the back or front of your modem).
Restart your PC.
Disconnect your equipment for 60 seconds and reconnect them.

5. CHECK IF YOUR AREA IS UNDER HEAVY LOAD OR CONGESTION

You can check the status of your area by clicking here

Or if you believe your area is under heavy congestion, contact the Optus Service team.

I'll be adding more tips in the near future, I hope I've cleared unwanted doubts and hopefully you've fixed your issues so far. If not, stay tuned and I'll update this post very shortly adding a few more tips and extras.

Ethernet troubleshooting tips

tyson5ek — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 23:26:24 GMT

Hello Community,

Recently I had an issue with my Ethernet settings. I could no longer connect via Ethernet on any of my devices (such as my PC and laptop). I tried a basic networking troubleshoot but it didn't work. I also called Optus but they didn't help. So here's what I did.

Problem: PC/Laptop not connecting via Ethernet (Error: Indentifying Network...Unidentified Network...)

Solution:

**Ensure that your cables are properly connected, are working and none of your ports are damaged**

1. Perform a Factory Reset on your modem. (I have a Netgear modem that was provided with my Cable plan. Model: CG3000v2

2. If the above step doesn't work, or nothing changed since - then disconnect your Modem's power cable for 30 seconds and wait. Once done, hook your modem back up and power it up.

3. Not working? Launch CMD and ensure that you have enabled DHCP settings. You can do this by typing: ipconfig /all - if it is disabled, re-enable them by selecting "Automatically detect DNS" in your IPv4 settings located in your adapter configuration.

4. Perform another Factory Reset (this will hopefully enable the DHCP settings on the modem and wallah, you are now connected via Ethernet again 🙂

I hope this helped. I found that this worked for me, and in saying this, it may or may not work for you. If you have any questions or anything, please feel free to DM me (tyson5ek).

Porting your home phone number to Optus

Andy — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 00:13:28 GMT

What handy tips should I be aware of when transferring my home phone number to Optus?

Have the account number of your current home phone provider handy.
Keep your number active with your current service provider during the transfer.
The current account holder has to submit the request to transfer the service to Optus.
If you have special features including but not limited to Fax Stream Duet, Line Hunt, Customer Loop Metering or PBX Rotary on your line, it may delay the transfer of your number.
To ensure a smooth transition of your service to Optus, please ensure that the details that you have provided are correct and up-to-date.
With these details, we will organise the transfer with your current service provider.

Where can I find my Account number?

It is generally located on the front page of your printed telephone statement. The invoice number may change from statement to statement but your Account Number/ Customer Number/ Customer ID should remain the same.
If you have online billing, it may be located on your online invoice or it could be located next your personal login details.

Different Types of NBN

MiCCAS — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 04:20:29 GMT

What are the different types of NBN?

Is the NBN compulsory?

MiCCAS — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 04:14:36 GMT

Is the NBN compulsory? Find out more information in our WIKI guide.

NBN Availability and Registering Your Interest

MiCCAS — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 04:21:41 GMT

Find out about NBN Availability and Registering Your Interest with Optus.

Using the USB port on the F@ST3864V2 Modem

MattJ — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 23:32:05 GMT

***These instructions were provided by a member of the community and are not officially supported by Optus***

Thanks to craiglaw76 and Mycal, here are some instructions that helped them to enable the use of the USB port on their modem.

1 - In your web browsers address bar, type 192.168.0.1 (or what ever your modems IP address is)

2 - Click advanced on the left

3 - In the advanced page, click on "Multimedia" and then "Storage Device"

4 - Take note of the volume name of the drive connected. In my case this was "usb1_1"

5 - On the left, click "User Accounts"

6 - In the main section of the window, click add.

7 - CREATE a username and password to use to access the USB drive and enter the USB volume name previously noted. Apply and Save once done.

8 - You wil be taken back to the user accounts overview automatically. I enabled "Samba Server" but am not sure if this needs to be done. I have not tested with it disabled.

9 - For Vista/7 and maybe 8/8.1, Click the Windows Start button and immediately type in "\\192.168.0.1" (without quotations) This will load Windows Explorer and prompt you for Username and Password. Alternatively you can use: Start>Run or Windows Key+R or simply open "My Computer" and type in the address bar at the top.

10 - Enter the username and password which you previously created (it helps to tick "remember my credentials" for future use)

You now have access to the USB Drive connected to your modem/router.

You will notice the shared folder will be named the same as your username.

You could even right click on this folder, and choose "Map Network Drive" and assign it a drive letter so that it appears in the regular "My Computer" window.

Re: What can affect your ADSL speeds

heidibidey — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 00:01:40 GMT

test

What kind of internet speed do I need for Netflix and other streaming services?

Andy — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 06:22:26 GMT

What kind of internet speed do I need for Netflix and other streaming services?

How much data usage does Netflix and other streaming services use?

Andy — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 06:50:18 GMT

How much data usage do Netflix and other streaming services use?

What can affect your ADSL speeds

Andy — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 23:39:49 GMT

There are a number of factors that come into play when talking about ADSL(2+) speeds so it’s difficult to pin point what you’ll achieve until you’re actually connected.

How to watch Netflix on your Yes TV with Fetch box

Hollie — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 06:49:37 GMT

How to watch Netflix on your Yes TV with Fetch box.

Fetch TV - Soft Reset

Andy — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 06:49:02 GMT

How to perform a soft reset on your Fetch TV box.

Fetch TV - Hard Reset

Andy — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 06:48:33 GMT

How to perform a hard reset on your Fetch TV box.

How to run an isolation test – ADSL

heidibidey — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 01:34:43 GMT

One of the first things you should do if you’re experiencing slow speeds or drop outs with your ADSL service is to perform an isolation test. This will help identify and resolve a large number of potential problems from within your home.

Unplug all devices that are connected to phone sockets (not just the one the modem is plugged into).
Ensure the modem is powered off for a full 10 minutes and then plug it directly into the first socket in your home (the one that you believe is the first connection from the street) without any filter.
Plug the modem into the power as well and wait for the DSL light to stop flashing.
Once you have a solid green DSL light, connect the modem via Ethernet cable to your computer and run a speed test. If the DSL light doesn’t turn a solid green after a few minutes, you’ll need to contact tech support on 13 13 44 for further assistance.
If your connection has improved then you’ll need to start reconnecting the rest of your devices (home phones, filters, etc) one by one, testing the connection as you reconnect each device until you find what is causing the problem and remove that device.

If the isolation test doesn’t improve your connection please call tech support on 13 13 44.

How to run a traceroute and why

heidibidey — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 23:15:09 GMT

What is a traceroute?
Put simply, a traceroute will display the path from your home connection to the server you’re communicating with as well as the speed between each point on that path. The speed is displayed in milliseconds, and shows how many milliseconds it takes your data to move between each server as it makes its way to the website or server you need to communicate with.

Why would I run a traceroute?
If you’re experiencing difficulty accessing certain sites or playing specific games online, then a traceroute will help identify if there’s a problem in the way your data is being routed and at which point it occurs. This helps our Tech Support teams identify if the issue is something Optus can help you resolve, or if you’ll need to contact the provider of the website or game you’re trying to access.

How to run a trace route in Windows
These instructions should work for versions of Windows from XP and later.

Open the Command Prompt. Access this via start menu > all programs > accessories and select “command prompt” or simply type “cmd” into the search bar.
A black box will open that’ll look like it belongs in a computer from the 80’s or 90’s. Here you’ll want to type “tracert <address to trace>” and then hit enter. In this example we’re running a trace to www.google.com as per the example below:
Once you hit enter the trace will run and the results will be displayed in front of you.

To get it into a text version, right click on the results and click on Select All. Hit CTRL + C to copy and then paste the text where needed.

How to run a trace route on MAC

Go to Applications > Utilities > Terminal or Spotlight > type “Terminal”.
Type “traceroute <address to trace>” (e.g. “traceroute google.com” without the quotation marks) and hit enter.
The results will be displayed once the test completes.

How to run traceroute on Linux

Open a terminal window of some sort - eg xterm
Type “traceroute <address to trace>” (e.g. “traceroute google.com” without the quotation marks) and hit enter.
The results will display immediately.

Note that for both Linux and Mac you use the full command "traceroute" while in windows it is an abreviation - "tracert". Getting them mixed up will cause it to not work.

Understanding the results of a trace route

You’ll notice the term “hop” when your traceroute is running. Each hop in your traceroute is when your data is transferred through a server. By default, a maximum of 30 hops will be traced.
Assuming the trace is able to complete, the last hop listed will be the destination you entered at the beginning.
Each hop will show 3 latency times, measured in milliseconds (ms). The average of these 3 times is the latency for that server.
After the latency times you’ll find the servers domain and/or IP address. Generally you’ll be able to look up a specific IP address online to get a better idea of the location if you’re interested.
You’ll find in some cases instead of a latency time you’ll have a “*” instead with “request timed out” displayed at the end. This is due to that specific server ignoring the data being sent as part of the traceroute but this doesn’t mean the data was dropped - that server just didn’t respond to the traceroute with ping times.

So put simply, each hop in your traceroute represents the time it takes for your data to be sent from one server to another. If you find that on one specific hop the latency spikes and jumps higher, it could mean there’s a specific problem with that server. This is particularly helpful to narrow down the cause of specific problems e.g. high ping times when gaming or difficulty accessing some websites but not others.

What can influence your home internet speeds?

heidibidey — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 03:42:27 GMT

When it comes to broadband in the home, there are a number of factors that can affect the speeds you’re able to achieve. Here are some of the main ones and some tips on how to improve your speed.

Wi-Fi or Ethernet: Most people now use Wi-Fi to connect some or most of their devices in the home. While Wi-Fi technology has significantly improved and continues to do so, the most accurate way to check your speeds is to connect your device directly to your modem/router via an Ethernet cable. You may find your speeds are significantly better via the Ethernet cable but it’s not always practical to connect this way. For devices that use Wi-Fi, you can improve speed by trying some of the below:

Where is your router situated in your house? A Wi-Fi router will project a signal out in all directions that tends to weaken the further it travels. If possible, locate your router in the middle of the house at an elevated level. It’s also best to avoid having it sit directly next to any solid objects (walls, doors, etc) to allow the signal to travel as far as it possibly can without interruption.
How far away is your device from the router? The further away you get from the router, the weaker the signal. Depending on what your house is made out of, the equipment you’re using and other factors, you may want to contemplate using additional hardware to extend your signal. There are many options available. Two great options are Wi-Fi extenders (self-explanatory) and Ethernet Over Power (EAP) adaptors. EAP’s allow you to transmit your internet signal through the electrical wiring in your home. If you’re using an EAP, each device must be connected to a power outlet.
How many people are online at once? The number of Wi-Fi enabled devices in households is growing by the day. We have PC’s, laptops, tablets, set top boxes, smart TV’s and more. The more devices that connect to your internet connection, the slower it’ll be because they’re all sharing the bandwidth. The speed that comes into your home is not necessarily going to be the speed you see on your individual computer if you’re sharing it with the rest of your family or friends. This is particularly relevant if one of the users at home is downloading large amounts of data. While they’re downloading or streaming data, the speed will drop for everybody else. It might be a good idea to reserve big downloads for a quieter time in your family or roommates’ schedules.
Which Wi-Fi channel are you using? Wi-Fi signals have the ability to interfere with each other so if you’re on the same Wi-Fi channel as your neighbours, you may be causing interference for each other. Thankfully, Wi-Fi interference is becoming less of a problem with the latest modems automatically changing the channel if it’s too ‘busy’. If your modem doesn’t automatically change channel, you can manually find the best channel and switch to it by logging in to your modem and changing your settings. Our Netgear CG3000v2 modem can actually show you which channels are most heavily used in your neighbourhood so you can avoid using the same channel as everyone else.

Your Modem and/or Router: The equipment you use and how well it’s maintained can significantly affect your speeds as well. Sometimes a simple reset of your modem/router can improve your overall service if it hasn’t been reset in a while. If you’re using an older modem/router it may also be time to upgrade. Optus supply a modem free of charge to new customers, but if the modem is out of warranty there may be a charge to upgrade it. It’s best to have a chat to our Tech Support team on 13 13 44 about your options.

Your wiring/cables: More often than not, the cause of sluggish speeds are due to the condition of your wires and cables. Over time, cables become faulty - hence the reason why you may experience dropouts and horrible speeds. You can check your wiring and equipment by replacing them and ensuring that they do not get tangled up. In some cases, your hardware may be at fault and require replacements or technical assistance. If you believe that your cables and wires are faulty, then please replace them as this prevents the risks of sparks and overheating your hardware.

Megabytes per second (MBps) or Megabits per second (Mbps): Measures used for speed can be confusing. A common mistake people make is misinterpreting the way their speed is measured. The general rule of thumb is that speed is measured in bits (little b) and storage is measured in bytes (big B) however this convention isn’t followed by all sites so it’s important to understand the difference.

Put simply, there are 8 bits to a byte. So, if a site ever shows your download rate is 2MBps, you’re actually downloading at approximately 16Mbps. Be sure to check this carefully as it can make a significant difference when reading speed test results or looking at how long a file may take to transfer.

Speeds advertised by Optus are always in Megabits per second (Mbps).

How are you measuring your speed?: With some connections now offering maximum download speeds of 100Mbps you may be wondering why you’re never able to achieve that when downloading your latest game, movie, tv show, etc. The reason is that you’re only able to download as fast as the source can upload the content to you. In most cases, it’ll be difficult to find a source that can provide you with 100Mbps speeds from their end. That doesn’t mean you won’t be able to fully utilise the bandwidth allocated to you. Get the full benefit of your speed by downloading from multiple sources simultaneously.

Speeds of those servers you’re accessing can also be affected by how many of their users are online and accessing their data at once. An example of this would be when a new concert or footy game is announced and the ticketing website loads slowly or crashes because too many people are trying to access it at once.

A good way to measure your download speed is to use the Optus speed test. This will give you a good estimation of what you’re able to achieve at any given time. Speeds will fluctuate so be sure to run a few of these tests over a 10 to 20 minute period to get a good understanding of your average speeds at that particular time of day.

How to change your Wi-Fi channel and why

heidibidey — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 00:18:44 GMT

Many things cause problems with the Wi-Fi signal in your home but a common one that’s easy to fix is signal interference. This is caused when there are multiple Wi-Fi networks in the same area all operating on the same channel. Thankfully, Wi-Fi interference is becoming less of a problem with the latest modems automatically changing the channel if it’s too ‘busy’. But if your modem is older, you can easily change the channel yourself and improve your signal.

The process is similar for most modems but will differ slightly depending on the make and model. We’ve listed instructions for two of the most common modem/routers supplied by us.

Sagem F@st 3864 (ADSL and NBN)

Log into your modem admin interface. This is done by entering 192.168.0.1 (this is the default) into your web browser where you’d enter a web address.
You’ll then be presented with the admin console home page. Click on “Advanced Settings” on the left hand side.
Now on the left hand side click on “Wireless” and then “Advanced”.
This interface will show you a number of settings. What you’ll be looking for is the second option “channel” which by default is set to auto. To the right of this you’ll see what channel is currently selected and if there is any interference at present (the above example shows severe interference.
Unless you’re using specific software, changing channels can be a bit of trial and error. To start with, try channels 1, 6 and 11 and test to see if there is any improvement and then change the channel if it doesn’t.

Netgear CG3000 & CG3000V2 (Cable)

Log into your modem admin interface. This is done by entering 192.168.0.1 (this is the default) into your web browser where you’d enter a web address.
You’ll then be presented with the admin console home page. At the top there are two tabs. Select the “Advanced” tab.
On the left hand side select “WPS Wizard” > “Administration” > “Wireless Channel”.
On this screen you’ll see a graph that shows you the number of different networks within range of your router and the channels they’re using. This will help you select the channel that is being used the least.
Once you know which channel you want to use (8 or 9 would be good in the example above) click the “Change Channel” button in the top right and follow the prompts.