Every Internet Service Provider (ISP) will only let you download and upload a certain amount of data each month. Exactly how much you can download, and upload, is called your data allowance (or quota for some ISP's but it means exactly the same thing).

There are certain ISP's, like Engin Broadband, that do not count your uploads towards your data limit. Uploads traditionally do not take up a big percentage of your data allowance however new uses for the internet, like VoIP and uploading YouTube videos, have caused the average amount of uploading done to go up.

Every time you look at a website, play a game or check your emails you download. Downloading is when internet servers send data to your computer. How much you can download, and upload, is called your data allowance.

See Modems

A Modem is a piece of hardware that allows you to connect to the internet. It is actually short for Modulator/Demodulator, ( a little fun fact for your friends). It allows you to access the internet by sending information over your phone line.

There are actually many different types of modems, each specifically designed for the different ways in which you can get the internet. There are:

ADSL/ADSL2+ Modems

ADSL/ADSL2+ Modems are the most common modem in use today. Most people now have broadband, from the relatively slow 256 Kbps to the fast 20 Mbps, all ADSL and ADSL2+ plans will have a modem. The majority of the modems servicing ADSL/ADSL2+ plans are external. Thats why you need that little box on the corner of you desk, that gives internet to the whole house.

Cable Modems

Cable Modems do exactly the same thing as ADSL Modems, except it works for cable broadband plans.

Wireless Modems

A Wireless Modem is a modem that has the ability to create a wireless network within your home or business. It is basically a ADSL or Cable modem with wireless broadcasting capabilities. This means that you can access your home internet from anywhere in your house, with no need for Ethernet cables.

Please not that this kind of wireless modem does not pick up a wireless signal, it creates one for you computers to pick up.

Mobile USB Modems/Internet Key

An Internet Key is a wireless modem that allows you to surf the web while out and about. Most providers will either call it an internet key or a USB modem. Either way they do exactly the same thing and neither one is better than the other.

If you have a Mobile Broadband plan then you need to have an Mobile USB Modem/Internet Key in order to use it.

This type of mobile wireless modem picks up a internet signal (from your ISP), but does not create one. It needs to be physically plugged in to the computer in order for it to get internet.

Dial Up Modems

Dial Up modems are the extremely basic modems that used to supply old computers with slow dial up internet. Most computers still have dial up modems built into them. Just in case you need to use dial up, but the dial up modem has now become redundant. Even though almost every person that has a computer has one.

Mobile WiFi Modems

Mobile WiFi Modems are a relatively new type of modem. They pick up the signal from a Mobile Broadband plan and create a "mini" wireless network. This means that up to three computers can use the one mobile internet plan at the same time anywhere that has coverage.

This modem both picks up mobile wireless signals (from your ISP), and creates a wireless network for your computer to use

Each Internet Service Provider (ISP) will give you a certain amount of data allowance each month. Once you reach this limit, the ISP will then do one of three things; 1. Cut of your internet completely, 2. Charge you per MB at an inflated rate (aka excess usage charges) or 3. Throttle/shape your internet.

Shaping/throttling means that you will still get to use your internet however your ISP will slow the speed of your internet instead of charging you more. ISP's will commonly slow your internet down to 64 Kbps (dial up speed) however there are ADSL2+ plans, like the Optus 100 GB Unlimited Naked Broadband Plan, that will only slow your speed to 256 Kbps (slowest broadband speed).

Uploading is the exact opposite of downloading. An upload is when you send a file, or a command, over the internet. Every time you send an email you upload it.

People generally do a lot more downloading than uploading. This is because most files (including websites, games, etc.) are located on internet servers. As a result upload transfer speeds are always slower than download transfer speeds.

Put simply, VoIP services allow you to make phone calls over the internet. In a majority of cases VoIP Plans will greatly reduce your call rates, thus saving you money and negating the need for a home phone plan.

You can still use your home phone when on a VoIP service, all you need to do is plug it into your modem (that little box that gives you internet) instead of your telephone line. Broadband companies like Engin, iiNet and Westnet all offer VoIP services with there broadband plans.