Help Please? IT idiot Needs help !

[amshaw]

G'Day all,
Im wondering if anybody and try and help me please? :angel:

I will try and keep this short because I will confuse myself trying to think about this stuff to much :p.

Im a used car salesman (a good one ie no BS ;)) I work from a small office about 150m from the main dealership office and I need internet service. I cant use wireless from the main office because of the distance and there are other buildings in the way etc, so need stand alone type deal.

I need just a basic phone line setup and Ive been told by Telstra that Im able to use my current line but need filters etc

So Im after some tips on who to use as a server. I just need to be able to search the net for gen research ie redbook for trade price's, car auctions, Vic roads to reg cars, email etc and a good read here too.

Im after a cheaper package so to keep the boss happy, not sure about useage yet but Im guessing about 1GB would a good start........:confused: but I dont want to be charged big $$$ if I go over.

Ive noted that some say they offer you 1GB but 500mb between say middnight and 6am, that to me is stupid....

Ive looked at Bigpond (there my home pc server), Dodo, optus, Westvic Broadband (local & looks sus).........

So can anybody guide me a little please as Ive got really no idea which way to go, happy to get links to servers etc, but of course in the end its up to me but I just know nothing about all the tech stuff......i just need the net to do my job! :)

If you dont want to post there to give me the low down please PM or email ;)

No dought Ive missed something or need to explain in more detail, just let me know :)

Regards & Thanks
Andrew "IT Idiot" Shaw ;)

[waynep]

It'll be ADSL if "filters" are mentioned - they filter out the modem modulation noise from getting to your phone.

I'm not going to offer any advice coz there's others with far more knowledge, but I'll be watching with interest - I'm just coming off a Telstra /Bigpond 24 mth ADSL contract myself. They've been Ok service wise, but seem exxy ( nearly 80 bucks a mth for ADSL1 10GB then slowed )

Been looking at iinet but like you, not sure - there's so many out there :(.

[kaa45]

iinet have a good reputation, optus are problem free, bigpond are improving but still a ways to go. try Whirlpool Broadband News (http://whirlpool.net.au/) to compare deals

[Rad97]

Just dont use dodo I use them and they are a PITA no ends of trouble,

Had to threaten them with the ombudsman a couple of times to get thing fixed.
tried to bill me late fees on a direct debit contract because I signed up at the end of the month and they charge at the start of the month!!!

Never again!!!!

thats the worst grievence but there were others and still are.

JMHO sorry had to get it off my chest.

Ralph.

[waynep]

Just to chirp in here again ...have you exhausted all options with the wireless ? I believe you can get Wi fi cards that will take an external antenna. ( ie one that you can mount outside your little office pointing towards HQ).

[gazk]

I would try to go for an external wireless router connected by ethernet cable to the main office computer and a PCI card in your computer. You can then place the wireless router in a location where you have a clear transmission path to/from your computer. The later generation routers and cards generally offer coverage of a few hundred metres. In the long run it should work out cheaper than an extra ISP account. Get the hardware from somewhere like Oworks that take returns for unsuitable equipment if it turns out to be unsuitable for your environment.

[abaddonxi]

The place for checking out ISPs is-
Whirlpool Broadband News (http://whirlpool.net.au/)
Plug in your phone number and how much you want to download or spend and they'll tell you who.

This is interesting for wireless access-
3 increases allowances on wireless broadband plans | Lifehacker Australia (http://www.lifehacker.com.au/tips/2008/07/29/3_increases_allowances_on_wireless_broadband_plans .html)

Reasonable sounding price if you can do the contract and the office is in the right spot.

Or run an ethernet cable. Ethernet should run 300m and some, then you can print from the office printer and get a decent workout, too.:D

Cheers
Simon

[Bushwanderer]

Just speculating here, but I imagine that your phone is linked through a switchboard. Is this so?

If so, can you use ADSL on your phone extension?