l have bought a smart TV, need connection for internet use.
George.
04/10/2011
Hi George,
TV manufacturers are starting to wake up to the fact that many of us now access our entertainment from the internet through iView, YouTube, FetchTV and other sources. Smart TVs feature internet connectivity, which means online entertainment straight to your television, without a set-top box or media player.
If you have bought a Samsung Smart TV or an LG TV with NetCast, you can also access BigPond's TV and Movies on Demand service. You won't need to use BigPond as your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to access these services.
Your smart TV probably has an Ethernet port, which can be connected to your modem via an Ethernet cable. Alternatively, your TV may be wireless, which means you can connect it to a home Wi-Fi network.
Either way, you will need a fast, stable internet connection and a modem in order to start enjoying your smart TV.
I would recommend a cable, ADSL2+ or ADSL connection, depending on what is available in your area. Cable plans can be faster than ADSL, but are also more expensive. If you want to find out if cable is an option for you, call Optus on 1300 137 897.
ADSL2+ is a broadband connection through the copper phone line. With speeds up to 24Mbps, this is high-speed internet for a reasonable price and would be fast enough for your smart TV.
If ADSL2+ is not available in your area, you should look at a fast ADSL plan instead, with an 8,000kbps speed.
Data is another important consideration. If you only intend to use the internet connection for surfing websites and watching the occasional YouTube video, you will only need around 10GB in the peak times.
On the other hand, if you want to download movies and music on a regular basis, a larger plan will be necessary.
A standard definition movie bought from BigPond's rental service is around 2 to 3GB in size, while a high definition movie is around 4 to 5GB.
I will suggest a few plans, but it's best to call all the ISPs first, in order to make sure these plans are actually available in your area.
TPG ADSL2+ 100GB broadband plan plus home phone: This plan is $19.99 a month plus $30 for the line rental, giving you 50GB on peak and 50GB off peak for $49.99 a month. Calls are extra but TPG phone rates are very reasonable. If you find you need a bigger plan, TPG will allow you to upgrade for free. Call us on 1300 106 571 to find out if this plan is available in your area.
Club Telco Unlimited ADSL2+ plan: If you are already paying line rental to Telstra or a Telstra reseller, you might prefer not to bundle your home phone and broadband. In which case, Club Telco is offering unlimited broadband for just $50 a month. There are no set-up fees, and no long contracts. Club Telco does charge an annual $50 membership fee, but members do receive discounts at a number of retailers.
Give Club Telco a call on 1300 138 155 for more details on this plan.
If you are interested in subscribing to an IPTV service such as FetchTV, you should give iiNet a call on 1300 106 571. iiNet has some great broadband and home phone plans, as well as Naked broadband, which can be bundled with FetchTV.
iiNet offers 200GB on an ADSL2+ home phone and broadband plan for $49.95 a month plus $29.95 line rental. This includes 100GB in the peak times and 100GB in the off peak.
Any of these ADSL2+ providers can offer a good-value broadband plan with plenty of data for you to make the most of your smart TV. If you have any more questions, you can always call us at Compare Broadband on 1300 106 571.
Sarah
Compare Broadband
