If you are not going to be getting music/movies/TV shows then you would not require a large download limit. I would recommend about 2-5Gb a month. Lots of people may not agree, but if you have kids, they will probably be on sites like utube and stream short video's (streaming=playing them online via the web browser) and that over time does take up download usage.

Glad to hear you are over Telstra I would not recommend them for broadband anyway their service is not good and their prices are way high.

A few companies for you to look at I would suggest, iPrimus (Iprimus.com.au), IInet (iinet.com.au), westnet (westnet.com.au. The list does go one, my father doesn't know much about computers/internet and he is with Westnet and he has never had a trouble with their customer service.

Speeds, I would recommend at least a 256k download speed, 512k would be best though. For just browsing the Internet and doing e-mails 256k would be enough and is a cheaper then 512k as well.

Things to look for is the unlimited plan wording, is it unlimited to a certain amount then they charge you if you go over that limit? Or do they cap you? By 'cap' that means they slow your Internet speed down, for example 256k or 512k would usually be slowed down to a 64k speed.

Also look out for uploads being added/used as your downloads. I know your not sharing files over the Internet as you wont be getting music and movies etc. But still, many ISP (Internet Service Providers) will give you free upload limit that does not contribute to your download limit. For example if you where with Telstra and had a 2Gb a month download limit, say you downloaded 1.4Gb and uploaded 500Mb (1000Mb makes a 1GB to the ISPs math), so for your monthly use that would be a total of 1.9Gb, where as if your uploads were not included as downloads, your monthly usage would be 1.4Gb for that month.

It all many sound confusing and hard to understand, but I've seen so many people sign up with a ISP and hate them.

Posted 2 Oct 2008 by Laced

We have been with Internode now for over six years both at home and business. We have very fast broadband connections at both places because we watch a lot of streaming movies and tv over the internet. If you have Pay TV, it is possible to get rid of the "pay' and access thousands of tv channels and latest movies via the internet and put the money into a fast connection with a good company. Internode have often been voted the number one ISP in the country by the WHIRLPOOL forums and their service is impeccable. If you have contract with any other company and it is running out, think about "churning" to internode. You don't have to do anything at all, they do it all for you quickly and painlessly and you won't even notice. (Except for the fact that suddenly your service is faster, cleaner and much more pleasant.) I have only once experienced a glitch with Internode, and that was actually not the fault of the company, but a fault with a truck vs the local exchange. www.internode.on.net will get you the website, pick your package, you can pay online, and you will be up and running within 24 hours. I can of course sell you a top class modem so before you run off to get a modem, check the price and buy the very best you can. (Preferably a wireless modem so you can have several computers online at the same time.) If you have a big screen in the lounge, and (say) a computer in a home office, or in bedrooms, get the fastest connection you can afford, and use a wireless modem to get the best out of it. You can kick Pay TV and save heaps, and if you then go to sites like www.freetube.us.tc or www.wwitv.com or www.beelinetv.com you will get a feast of movies etc. If you want to watch ABC online you can watch in IVIEW and ABC recently launched six new internet channels. If you need help please phone me on 4725 5882 and I will be happy to talk you through anything you need to know

Posted 2 Oct 2008 by thinktank

Internode hands down! Been with them or ages myself. IF theres ever a problem you get AUSSIE support on the phone. I personally wouldnt go under the 1.5 speed. Give 'thinktank' above a call and he will guide you in the right direction :)

Posted 2 Oct 2008 by xnikx

i recommend u look at tpg as well, their price is pretty competitive and 3rd largest carrier in aus check out whirlpool.net.au for info

Posted 2 Oct 2008 by sillysausage38

TPG uses whats called a 'proxy' and the internet can freeze or give you DNS errors at times. Also if you have you have to ring support most of the time you will get someone whos english is hard to understand, plus wait for a very long time for someone to answer your call. TPG have also sent out warnings to customers who download illegally..ie tv shows and movies. Internode dont bother with warnings or disconnect people for this.

Posted 2 Oct 2008 by xnikx

I don't like to knock, but honestly I wouldn't use TPG. So many errors, billing problems, less than helpful support lines etc. Also, strangely enough although we talk about Australia having no "censorship" I have found a number of ISP's that seem to govern what you watch. Pages you can get with (say) internode, or others, you can't seem to find with some other ISP's. (error 404 not found on this server etc). Also, the "cost" of modems etc can be somewhat elevated and I would not suggest that you purchase your modem through your ISP. For example, Bigpond supply the Speedtouch modem. Usually it is a single port modem (I would recommend at least 2 ports or even four) and I've often heard Telstra people claim that the clients problem is with their modem when in fact it's something the ISP has done and won't admit to. I have to say that I am not in any way involved with any isp and I don't sell any internet services at all. I would always suggest that you do some checking and pick what you think is best for you. I would highly recommend that you visit the Whirlpool Forums, to find your best ISP before you actually commit. Here is the link to Whirlpool, and it is here that you will find ALL the best advice about which ISP to use. It is a forum inhabited by professionals, and very "qualified" amateurs for the very best advice on your internet experience. Go to:
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/ and maybe start there. I'm happy to set you in the right direction at no cost. Oh, and thanks for the rap xnikx.. I appreciate it.

Posted 2 Oct 2008 by thinktank

Before you lot start a ISP flame war, how about try answering the users questions.

Tropicalgirl personally I would advise select 3 ISP's and compare their plans about 2-5Gb a monthly limit on a 256k or 512k plan.

There is no need for you to have a 1.5Mb link to browse the net and do e-mails as you have stated you don't want to download music/movies etc.

Posted 2 Oct 2008 by Laced

I just found a forum link that you might find interesting about the benefits of internode. I would recommend reading it and I hope this will arm you with the right questions to ask when you are ready to sign up with an ISP
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1062868

Posted 2 Oct 2008 by thinktank

Thintank... I'm not having a dig here so please don't take it that way.

But with the questions tropicalgirl has asked, one who knows a bit about computers/Internet would assume she does not.
Sending her to Whirlpool to ask the same question in the forums I don't see why not when it could be answered here like previous post have tried to.

Before she goes to whirlpool she should have some basic knowledge of what she is after. Not a 80Gb a month download limit (which shall I add still isn't enough for me :( ) not a 1.5Mb plus line. I think people are miss reading what she has asked.

Yeah she should go have a look at whirlpool but with no knowledge of what to compare with ISP's at Whirlpool then she is no better off.

Posted 2 Oct 2008 by Laced

No flaming here..just trying to get Tropicalgirl the best ISP first off. God knows I wish I had someone to help me in the beginning..butttt 6 ISP's later and a lot smarter I bit the bullet and went with Internode. I wont leave either unless Internode shuts down.

Also since when did a 256 connection rate so well? I've had it and all it did was buffer youtube videos constantly and some websites took forever to load. Also receiving emails with 4-5MB video attachments and forwarding them is SLOW.

Yes, Tropical girl mentions she doesnt want to download music or movies..but if she enters into a 12 month or more contract and changes her mind with what she wants to download shes stuck. If I had a dollar for everyone that said they only needed 2-5 gig and then were kicking themselves only 3 months down the track I'd be a rich person.

Ring 'thinktank' as he's offering a lot of good advice for nothing..theres not many people around these days that will do that. I dont personally know the man but I know a LOT of people without a lot of computer/internet knowledge he has helped and they are very grateful still.

Posted 2 Oct 2008 by xnikx