Thread: Help with Bigpond internet cable and Foxtel cable issue

You need a splitter on the incoming cable to provide two connections points.
Not sure if you can easily buy these. One used to be provided in the Bigpond Cable self install kits.
If you already have two connection points then there will be a splitter somewhere - probably in the gray box outside or as it was in my case when I had cable, a separate box under the floor.

I don't have bigpond internet (too many bad experiences with Telstra) but I do have foxtel, which runs from a dish on my roof to my TV. Perhaps your situations is different but the cables for the foxtel (coaxial cable) and internet (telephone line to the modem, then ethernet cable to the computer) are not in any way compatible. So in my case, it is a definite 'no' to Q1 and 2. But as I said, your situation may be different. Do you get your foxtel through telstra? or direct from Foxtel?

I think you have a few ways to resolve your problem.
1. get telstra/bigpond to come and move your modem connection point
2. get a electrician or TV installer to run an ethernet connection (ie hardwire connection) from your current modem to the new study. This would be a cable from your modem to a new plug in the wall, then another cable from the new plug in your study to your computer. I recently had this done (ironically to connect my foxtel and tv to the internet) and it cost $130. It
3. do it on the cheap by buying a long ethernet cable (make sure to get cat 5e or cat 6) from your modem to yuor study (perhaps under the floor?)
4. get a wifi router or wifi modem. The difference between the two is that the modem will replace your existing modem, but add wifi capability, while the router will connect after your modem (ie you will have two boxes). Expect to pay around $100-200 for a good wifi router or modem.

If you are not a heavy internet user (ie don't really stream movies etc) then wifi will be fine and it will make things much easier in the future if you want to get an ipad, laptop or similar. But you need to be a little tech savvy to set it up. It's not hard, but you want to make sure you set up the WPA security (ie password protect your network).

I am unashamedly an apple fan, so would recommend you get a apple airport extreme wifi router.

Hope this is helpful. Let me know if you have more questions.

Trav

Geoff and Trav.

Thanks for the info.

I will get a Bigpond technician to either put in a cable to the new study or install a wifi modem somewhere, whichever is the most economical (without affecting if at all the quality of Foxtel and internet service).

When the technician is here, I’ll able to get a better understanding of the issues than was possible over the support line.

Thanks for your help.

We have two cables one for TV the other for Bigpond,not sure if both can run off the same cable,that came about as years ago we had two points put in and never used one that went upstairs so Tec used the spare saying that will give us the best service.
Would like to know if one can be used.
Cheers

Avoid telstra wifi at all costs. If you have any problems with the wifi reception telstra will blame every thing but the poor quality modems they supply and you cannot purchase a cable modem or wifi modem router from anyone except the service provider, they are not available from retail outlets in Australia.
I would suggest the splitter option and then ethernet cables from modem to your computers. Any other option with Telstra as a service provider will only give you migrains.
Just saying
Cheers Rumnut

If you have a desktop, pay the money to have an outlet installed in the same room as the computer will live i.e. your planned study. Depending on the status of your contract you could possibly end up with the "free" newer router or wifi router too.

Having the cable modem near the foxtel stu/iq via a splitter is viable but only recommended for wifi. Buying a longish utp/cat5 cable and running it under carpets or along the floor can be problematic. If the cable is twisted, bent, crushed or generally mistreated (and it will be), you will eventually get transmission errors and regret not paying to put cables in wall. Runnng cat5 from one room to another will cost money anyway, is potentially as complicated as running an additional coax for bigpond anyway plus it's another point of failure which just happens to be foxtel/bigpond and so you have now involved a third party (the guy who ran the cable for you - not foxtel or bigpond).

If you want to cable your residence - lots of people do - do so because it gives you multiple data points not because it might be cheaper. If you do, use a certified data installer not just someone who knows wires.

If you go wireless check to make sure you are not using the same channel as your neighbour. Many wifi issues are caused by this (too many people using the same channel). Find a wifi scanner and pick a channel well away from anyone else. It pays to check every so often.

If you use a splitter and your internal foxtel/bigpond cabling is up to spec it will not degrade either service. All the coax goes back to a big splitter on the side of the house (the grey box) and typically enters the property as a single coax feed anyway. They is a limit to the number of sockets allowed before you need a booster too (3 from memory).

I've rambled a bit so ask away if I've confused you. Key message is to pay for cabling, consider it part of the refurb and keep it under your service contract so you can still "complain" to a single entity.

Thanks for your responses which have been very helpful.

After looking through them I have decided to avoid wifi and I will now get cable installed to the new study.

Thanks for your help.

Another option for you I have never tried but have heard it works well. That is ethernet over power cable. Essentially what you would do is leave your current internet modem in place, and hook it up to a device that plugs into a nearby power socket. You have a similar device plugged into a power socket wherever you want the computer, and the network cable plugs into your computer. Supposed to be faster and more reliable than wireless, but easier to set up than cabling though the wall. Hopefully somebody with actual experience will be able to comment.

Originally Posted by petersemple

Another option for you I have never tried but have heard it works well. That is ethernet over power cable. Essentially what you would do is leave your current internet modem in place, and hook it up to a device that plugs into a nearby power socket. You have a similar device plugged into a power socket wherever you want the computer, and the network cable plugs into your computer. Supposed to be faster and more reliable than wireless, but easier to set up than cabling though the wall. Hopefully somebody with actual experience will be able to comment.

This is the system I use so that my Foxtel set top box can access the internet to download from their movie library. Works very well. I bought the 'devices' from Foxtel. They had a special on at the time for $90?

I have heard that this system works best if both power points are on the same supply circuit.

I had the Foxtel cable in for some time and when I also went with Bigpond cable, after the demise of my previous service provider, I had the Bigpond cable modem installed in the room I was going to use as an office.

The Bigpond installer was just going to hook their wireless modem/router up to the Foxtel cable next to the TV but could not get it to work,, As he did not have a spare one, he ran the cable under the floor from the outside gray box to the room and installed a non-wirelessd cable modem.

I have the Bigpond cable modem hooked into a D-Link DIR-300 wireless router. this give me wireless access all through the house.