Top Secret Great Plan For How To Connect Naked DSL

YOUR MISSION: To ditch monthly line rental, get fast ADSL2+ internet speeds, get all the data allowance you need and get it all for a great price.

WARNING: This secret plan is intended only for those who are serious about never having to pay line rental again. If you harbour sympathies for line rental, and enjoy paying $30 every month, then Naked DSL is not for you. We don’t need you on our side. Go and join the enemy. Sign up for Telstra HomeLine Plus rental at $29.95 per month and enjoy your 39 cent flagfall on calls.  Maybe you should also join Bigpond ADSL2+ for $59.95 per month too. And get…wait for it…a measley 600MB of uploads and downloads. Oh what a rip off!

But if you are serious about getting Naked DSL, then read on. This Top Secret Great Plan is for you.

Step 1: Check You Can Get Naked DSL At Your Local Phone Exchange

This is pretty easy to do. Simply go to the Naked DSL checker on the home page of this site. (It will open in a new window so you can refer to this document as well as the results of the check). If you have a Telstra based landline phone number you can enter your phone number. You can also enter your address or phone exchange to see if you can get Naked DSL. If something isn’t working or isn’t making sense you can contact us for help.

Step 2: Determine The Next Step Based on Availability

If Naked DSL is available at your exchange then move straight to Step 3. If there are no Naked DSL providers available to you, then you can Register for Updates and we’ll keep you in touch with any new developments in your exchange. You can always contact us for some advice if you are unsure what other broadband options would be good for you.

Step 3: Do You Have A Phone Line Or Will You Need To Connect One?

This is a really important step when connecting to Naked DSL and one that is fraught with much confusion. This Top Secret Plan will be your guide. If you already have a Telstra based copper phone line then skip to Step 6.

If you live in a unit or apartment complex, then you will need to have a landline connected before applying for Naked DSL. This is because of the complexity of cabling between your unit and the MDF (Main Distribution Frame – the central connection point for telecommunications in your building).  Move to Step 4.

If you live in a house there are several possibilities. If a Telstra based phone line has at some time previously been connected at the house, then skip to Step 5. If a Telstra line has never been connected there because the house is brand new or only an Optus connection has existed there, you’ll need to connect a Telstra line, so move to move to Step 4.

Step 4: You Need To Connect a Telstra Landline

If a Telstra line has previously been connected at your apartment and it was only disconnected fairly recently, then it should just be $59 to reconnect. If Telstra needs to send out a technician it will be $125 to reconnect it. This usually only applies when a line has not been active for a long time – usually over 12 months.

If there has never been a Telstra phone connection at your house or apartment then it will be a $299 connection fee. But without the line connected you will never be able to get Naked DSL, ADSL2+ or ADSL.

Whether you need a $59 or a $299 phone line connection, I would recommend not calling Telstra to connect this line. They recently introduced a nasty fee for disconnecting a phone line within 3 months. This was no doubt introduced as a direct retaliation in their war against Naked DSL. I suggest getting iinet’s Phone 1 if iinet has Naked DSL in your area or Internode NodeLine. iinet and Internode can connect the Telstra line for you at the same price as Telstra charges, but there will not be any early disconnection fees!

Step 5: A Telstra Line Was Connected At Your House But Is Currently Not Active

Many Naked DSL providers can connect Naked DSL on an inactive Telstra line. But some will not – most notably TPG and Exetel. If you get to the end of your Naked DSL mission and want to connect with TPG or Exetel, then you’re going to have to go back to Step 4 and connect a landline first.

If you end up choosing iinet, Internode or Netspace then you will be able to apply for Naked DSL at your address, without reactivating the phone line first. This will save you at least a $59 reconnection fee and perhaps even more.

Step 6: How Much Do You Want To Spend Each Month?

Deciding on your monthly budget for Naked DSL is a good place to start. You’ll find out soon enough whether it’s a realistic budget for what you need! Move on to Step 7.

Step 7: How Much Data Do You Want Each Month?

In case you’re unfamiliar with what data is, it is the amount of information you download and upload by using the internet. If you’re downloading a lot of music and movies then you’re going to need more data allowance than someone who likes to check their email a few times a week and surf the web occassionally. Here is a general guide:

• Light users of the internet will need between 1GB and 10GB per month.
• If you have several people sharing your connection and you like some movies, music or gaming, then you may need between 10GB and 25GB per month
• If you eat through data then 25GB and higher is going to be a necessity. There are some high level Naked DSL plans that offer in excess of 100GB per month!

Once you have a monthly budget and desired data allowance in mind, move on to Step 8.

Step 8: Do You Want a VoIP Phone Service To Make Calls?

A VoIP phone service means you can make and receive phone calls through your internet connection. A good VoIP solution is one where you get a local phone number so people can call you. Only iinet, Internode, Exetel and TPG  currently provide a VoIP service with a local phone number. iinet and Exetel are the only options if you want to keep your existing phone number.

VoIP is easy to set up if you have a VoIP enabled modem. You simply plug your standard home phone into the modem! You don’t need to buy special handsets or adapters.

The benefit of VoIP is the incredible cost saving compared to traditional rates. iinet has unlimited free local and national calls to landlines with Naked DSL VoIP! Internode includes $10 of free credit each month. Try comparing that to Telstra HomeLine Plus

If you want VoIP from your Naked DSL provider, then you’ll need to narrow your choice down to iinet, Internode or TPG.

Step 9: Compare And Pick The Best Plans Plans At Your Exchange

Now you need to go back to the results of the Naked DSL availability check that you did in Step 1. Look at plans that fit within your monthly budget. Can you get enough data allowance for the money you want to spend? Make adjustments to your budget or data allowance expectations when necessary.

If you have only one or two Naked DSL options at your exchange, this step could be very easy. If you have lots of available options then it may prove more challenging. Here is a brief review of each provider:

• iinet – can install Naked DSL on an inactive Telstra line. iinet has a great VoIP service with free unlimited calls to landlines in Australia. iinet allows you to move your existing phone number to VoIP. iinet has peak and (generous) off peak periods for the data allowance. Uploads are counted by iinet as well as downloads.
• Internode – can install Naked DSL on an inactive Telstra line. Internode has a great VoIP service with $10 of free credit each month. Internode doesn’t have any off peak period, just use your data when you want to. They only count downloads in the data allowance which is a benefit.
• Netspace – can install Naked DSL on an inactive Telstra line. Netspace doesn’t currently have a quality VoIP service with a local phone number. Some Netspace plans have off peak periods, some don’t. They only count downloads in the data allowance which is a benefit.
• TPG – you must have an active phone line to apply for TPG Naked DSL. TPG has a VoIP service which includes a certain amount of free minutes each month to landlines in capital cities. The TPG Naked DSL with VoIP plans are their only ones which count uploads as part of the data allowance.
• Exetel - you must have an active phone service to apply for Exetel Naked DSL. Exetel has a VoIP service and can transfer your existing phone number to the VoIP service. Exetel only counts downloads in the data allowance.
• Dodo – can install Naked DSL on an inactive Telstra line. Dodo doesn’t have a VoIP bundle currently with Naked DSL, but they do have a Mobile Phone bundle. Dodo plans have peak and off peak periods and some plans have excess fees for exceeding the data allowance. Uploads and downloads are counted.

Step 10: Final Considerations

Set Up Fee – There is a fairly standard set up fee with Naked DSL that is usually $79 to about $150 depending on your contract length. The notable exceptions are Netspace with free set up on a 24 month contract with BYO modem or a standard modem and Exetel with a $60 set up fee. We also like the iinet 24 month contract with the Fair Contract Guarantee – if you leave early there are no exit fees, you simply pay back any discounts you received at the time of connection.

Modems – In most cases you will be able to use your existing modem with your new Naked DSL supplier. Just make sure it is ADSL2+ enabled to get maximum speed. If you want a new modem it is easy and convenient to buy one from the ISP when you sign up. They will usually come pre-configured, to make the set up easier for you. The iinet BoB modem is proving to be very popular. If you want an alternate ADSL2+, 4 port, wireless modem we also like Open Networks, Billion and most of the well-known brands.

Set Up Time – Naked DSL usually takes 2 to 4 weeks to set up, so it’s slightly longer than just getting ADSL2+. But how much better is it not having that line rental any more! If you are moving from ADSL2+ to Naked DSL you may not have an internet connection for 1 to 2 weeks. You will need to disconnect your current ADSL2+ service, but put in your application for Naked DSL first. You new provider will let you know when you should disconnect your current service. We look forward to when “fast churn” is available. If you are transferring from ADSL to Naked DSL, some providers may have very minimal downtime and others are not quite so quick. If you have any questions about downtime or the connection process, then please contact us.

Step 11: It’s Time To Sign Up

After you decide on the plan and provider you like the best simply click the ‘Sign Up’ button on the page which summarises all options at your exchange. It will take you directly to the provider’s site for you to sign up.

Otherwise for some quick sign up links, here you go:

• Sign Up with iinet
• Sign Up with Internode
• Sign Up with TPG
• Sign Up with Netspace
• Sign Up with Exetel
• Sign Up with Dodo

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: Well Done! You will now get fast internet at a great price, with no more line rental. Having accomplished your mission to connect Naked DSL, you now join our prestigious and honourable band of merry men and women.

Thanks to Karen (@kbeilz) for the idea for this “Top Secret Great Plan” document.