As broadband Internet becomes more accessible throughout Australia, an increasing number of people are looking to make the upgrade. The trouble is they don’t know what it is exactly they need to get them started.

For those who prefer the DIY approach a simple, single computer setup is generally quite easy to do. Your ISP (Internet Services Provider) generally supplies you with a modem, network cable, USB cable, phone cable, splitter - everything you need. From there it is just a case of following the instructions provided.

While this is perfect for some, others require a much more complicated setup and one that is not so easy without a solid understanding of networking. If your network understanding is not so great, it may be wise to seek some professional advice before you start outlaying money.

The First Step

The first step to getting your broadband connection underway is to do some research on the best ISP for you. Telstra Bigpond, OptusNet and iiNet are generally some of the better providers to choose from however it is up to you at the end of the day. Almost all Service Providers offer different connection speeds, monthly download caps and various other incentives.

Availability

Once you have selected your ISP its time to check with them to see if they offer the connection you are looking for. Virtually anyone can have dial-up Internet because all you need is an ordinary phone line to connect, broadband connections are a little different. As a result Cable, ADSL, Wireless and even satellite broadband are not always available to everyone.

Components

Now that you have decided on an ISP and package and checked for availability, its time to start planning how you want it to be setup. There are a lot of options to consider in this step like how many computers you want connected, whether or not you want them all to have printer access, if you want a wireless connection for any laptops that you may have and so on.

For most home networks a 4 port router will cost around $100 and do the job quite well. Of course if you would like wireless capabilities from your network then you will need to spend a little more.

I need some help… how much?

Contrary to popular belief a professional network setup for the average home can be done in under one hour. This can include a wireless network and several computers. Going by Precision PC onsite prices, this should cost you no more than $90. The important thing to remember as far as budget goes is that if you do attempt it yourself and mess something it may end up costing you more money as the tech tries to find this mistake.