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Connect to the Internet

Connect to the Internet

The Internet is a large network of computers from all over the world. It contains shared information and technology tools that anyone with an Internet connection can access. Internet Services Providers usually charge a monthly fee, for example, Telstra. Internet access and connection is required to do anything online. You need to be connected to the internet in order to send/receive an email, use Facebook, use Zoom, Shop online and more.

Key terms:

World Wide Web – A huge collection of documents with links to one another.

Web Page – An individual online document

Website – A related group of web pages published by the same person or company

Browser – To navigate your way around and connect you to the internet, you use an application called a browser. Examples of browsers include Safari, Chrome, and Firefox

Connect to the Internet

In Australian we now have 3 options for internet connections:

NBN

NBN is the government supplied internet connection designed for everyone in Australia. Individuals connect to NBN through an internet retailer such as Tesltra, Optus, Spintel, Vodaphone and more. In most cases, there is a fixed monthly fee for this type of internet and provides plenty of data for video streaming and computer games. Although NBN is widely available in Australia, we know that it is still not available everywhere. The first step is to check if your house is ready to connect to the NBN. This can be done at:

https://www.nbnco.com.au/

Other Satellite providers

There are a limited number of new internet providers that are providing Satellite internet to customers in Australia. Satellite internet is a new offering and involves a costly up front fee for the equipment but is very good in remote locations and faster than the NBN in most situations.

https://www.starlink.com

Cellular Data

Cellular data, also known as 4G or 5G, is generally used when you need internet on the run (ie: not at home or in a single location). It is flexible and portable but generally costs more to run than NBN and will not be suitable for streaming large amounts of videos or computer games.

If you don’t use the internet much and find that your phone plan includes enough internet data to suit your needs, this can be a good option.

Connect with Hotspot (via cellular data)

Hotspot (also known as tethering) is a location where people can gain access to the internet by using shared WIFI. Providing a hotspot requires you to have Cellular data, also known as 4G or 5G.

There are public hotspots for example in shopping centres, airports or libraries. This may also be called ‘free WIFI’

Personal hotspots

There are also personal hotspots. You can use your iPhone or many Android smartphones as a WIFI Hotspot. By turning on your hotspot functions, your phone can use cellular data to create WIFI, providing internet access to any device (say your computer) to connect to your hotspot.

*If you connect to a hotspot the owner of that Hotspot is PAYING $ for your internet use.

If people connect to your Hotspot, then YOU are paying for their internet use and it can be expensive, depending on your plan.

Turning on your hotspot

Click on your setting application

Click PERSONAL HOTSPOT
Click the toggle beside ‘Allow Others to Join’. Once the toggle is green, your Hotspot is ON.

To protect your data.. use a hotspot password

Click the arrow next to ‘Wi-Fi Password’ to make your own Hotspot password. Anyone who wants to use your Hotspot will need to enter this password before it will work.

NOTE: While these instructions will look differently on an Android device, the hotspot/tethering can still be found in SETTINGS

Join a Hotspot connection

Go to settings
Click WIFI and look for the name of the Hotspot you are wanting to connect to. For example, Anna’s iPhone
Click on the name and follow the prompts to enter the password and connect