Frequently Asked Questions
Setting up Your Unwired Modem
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Unwired uses wireless technology, not a phone line or cable outlet, to connect your modem to the one of the Unwired towers covering Sydney. This means that you do not require a phone line or cable outlet to access broadband with Unwired.
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The wireless modem connects to your computer via a USB or Ethernet Port. You need to check which of these you have free on your computer before you order your Unwired modem. These ports are usually located at the back of the computer. You can find pictures of these on the System Requirements section of the Unwired website. Your computer's USB port allows you to connect external devices (such as printers, digital cameras, etc) to your computer. They are usually located at the back of you computer however on some newer computers they are also at the front. The Ethernet port is specifically for connecting your computer to a network such as a home/office network or directly to the Unwired network. The Ethernet port is located at the back of your computer.
You should choose between an Ethernet or a USB modem based on what ports you have available on your computer. If you have both types of ports we recommend that you select the Ethernet modem. Note, the Unwired USB Modem is not compatible with Macintosh computers, and therefore Macintosh users should only purchase an Ethernet modem. The Ethernet modem gives you more flexibility if you later decide to set up a home/office network in order to share your Internet connection.
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The outer sleeve will have a sticker that indicates the connection type. The USB port will be to the right of the power jack on the back of the Unwired modem. The Ethernet port will be diagonally across from the power jack.
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You can improve the reliability of your service by improving the strength of the signal received by your modem. The signal strength indicator light which is the top light on the front of your modem shows the strength of the signal received by the modem. Solid Green = Excellent; Solid Yellow = Very Good; Solid Red = Good; Flashing Red = No Signal.
To improve your signal you should place the modem parallel to a window or somewhere up high away from obstructions. You should also make sure that it is not placed near other radio transmitting devices such as cordless phones. You may also be able to improve your signal by rotating the modem to face a different direction.
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The modem connects to your desktop computer or laptop via an Ethernet or USB cable. The type of cable depends upon which modem you purchased.
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Once you have received and connected your modem, you will need to open a web browser and go to the Unwired sign-up page. Your browser should automatically take you to the sign-up page. If it does not, you should type the following address into the address bar - https://joinup.unwired.com.au. Here you will be required to select an access plan and activation option as well as a username and password. You will also be requested to provide credit card details for future payments.
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Unwired provides technical support for Customers with operating systems Windows® 98 and above, Mac® OS 9 and above.
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System Requirements: Windows® 98 and above, Mac® OS 9 and above; Pentium® II or higher processor, Power PC® or higher; 32MB of RAM or higher; 10MB of available Hard Disk Space; Available Ethernet or USB port; CD drive. Note, the Unwired USB Modem is not compatible with Macintosh computers, and therefore Macintosh users should only purchase an Ethernet modem.
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Setting up the Unwired modem is very simple. The Ethernet modem is plug and play, however we recommend you insert the CD you receive in the box and follow the prompts. The CD will check your computer's networking settings to make sure you are able to connect to internet using the Unwired modem. If you are connecting a USB modem Windows will auto-detect the modem and automatically start the 'Add New Hardware Wizard' when you first plug the modem in. The software required to use the modem is on the CD provided with your modem. You will need to direct the hardware wizard to use the software on the CD. Once the driver is installed, follow our simple setup instructions to get up and running.
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Once you insert the CD that came with your modem into your CD ROM, a series of step-by-step instructions will take you through the set-up process of connecting your modem. If there are any network or proxy settings set on your PC that are not compatible with the Unwired service you will be asked if they can be removed. The CD will also install some handy tools to help you with common tasks and provide you easy access to Unwired services.
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When you turn the modem on the bottom light will light up to a solid green. The top light will flash red initially but will then change to a solid green, orange or red once the modem connects to the network. This may take up to 60 seconds. After this you should be able to connect to the Unwired signup page.
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The top light indicates signal strength, it must be a solid colour to obtain a connection. Green indicates an excellent signal strength, Orange indicates a very good strength and Red a good signal strength. The middle light is the battery indicator light. This light will be off if the battery is fully charged or not in use. Otherwise it may be solid yellow (battery charging), solid red (< 20% charged) or flashing red (< 10% charged). The bottom light is the power indicator which must be lit for the modem to be used. If it is not lit you must press the power button below this indicator.
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Firstly check that the connection cable is in place, that the power button has been pressed and the power light is on. Ensure that the aerial at the front of the modem has been rotated upwards to reveal the three indicator lights. If the bottom light is not lit there is no power and you will need to connect a power cord or charged battery. The top light must show a solid colour, otherwise the signal strength is not strong enough to establish a connection. If this is the case you should rotate the modems position, wait 60 seconds and observe the signal strength indicator lights to see if there is any change. You may wish to place the modem near a window for optimum strength.
Your Modem and other Equipment
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You can purchase your Unwired modem online or via the Unwired Call Centre on 1300 761 881. You will need a valid credit card and you must be over 18 years of age. Your modem will be delivered by courier the next business day in most instances and you can nominate the most convenient delivery address.
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The Unwired Modem is different from standard DSL or Cable modems traditionally used to connect to Broadband today. The modem utilises wireless technology and connects to Unwired Base Stations (towers) located around Sydney. Because it does not rely on a phone line or cable connection you do not have to wait to activate your service. Also, once you have signed up for your Unwired service you can use it from anywhere within the Unwired coverage area.
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The Ethernet modem does not require any software to be installed on your computer and therefore should work with any operating system. All that you need to do is to set up your Ethernet adapter to support DHCP. For Windows 98 and above and Mac OS 9 and above the Connection Assistant provided on the CD can do this for you. USB modems require software to be installed on your computer, which is provided on the Quick Start CD. This software is only available for Windows 98 and above.
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Yes, although if you cancel your contract early you will need to pay a cancellation fee.
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Your modem is covered by a 12 month warranty from the date of purchase. If you think that your modem is faulty you should contact Unwired customer support to arrange for a replacement modem to be delivered.
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If the connection light on your modem is blinking red, this means the signal is not strong enough to connect to an Unwired base station. To improve the reception of your modem, you should try the following:
- place the modem parallel to a window;
- place the modem up high away from any obstructions; and
- make sure the modem is not near a cordless phone.
You can also try rotating the modem in its current position or moving it small distances (60mm) in certain directions. This may better orientate its internal antennae towards the signal from the base station. If you still cannot get a signal, you should contact the Unwired helpdesk and ask about our 7 Day Money Back Guarantee.
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A fully charged battery should allow basic web surfing for about an hour by the end user before a recharge is necessary. More intensive activities such as continuous streaming or ftp downloads etc will shorten the time before a re-charge is required
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If you completely discharge the battery it may require a 'double charge' to fully restore the battery. After charging the battery for 6 hours you should unplug the power adapter from the modem and then plug it back in to restart a new charge cycle.
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Yes, a rechargeable internal battery is available for purchase. Batteries are sold separately via the Unwired website, or through the Unwired sales desk on 1300 761 881
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Standard Pack includes a modem (Ethernet or USB), cable (Ethernet or USB), power adaptor; quick start guide and Quick Start CD
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We will deliver the modem by courier. This is next working day delivery in most cases, however you will be notified if it is otherwise. You or your nominated representative will be asked to sign a Proof of Delivery (POD) to confirm acceptance.
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You may change the time or date of your modem delivery if the timing is more than 2 days away. If you have been informed of a next day delivery you cannot change these times.
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You can choose to backorder an item, that is you give us your payment and delivery details and we process this payment only when the item becomes available.
Technical Information
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No, line-of-sight is not required to receive the Unwired service, only sufficient signal strength. The modem should be positioned in the most convenient location where the strongest signal can be received as indicated by the signal lamp on the modem.
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The Unwired Service is portable, not mobile. This means that a connection may not remain when you move between different towers within our network, nor when you are travelling at very fast speeds. We recommend that the Unwired modem is best used by taking it to your chosen destination within our coverage area and turning the power on to obtain a connection.
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An Unwired modem does emit some electromagnetic energy, this is to ensure that a connection to the Unwired base station is made. Emissions from an Unwired modem are well below Australian emission standards, especially if the modem is kept away from the body. Unwired recommends that modems be placed a minimum of 20cm from the body
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Unwired works within its own proprietary spectrum. This means that there is no interference with other devices as is sometimes the case with other WiFi connections, when they are operating within the same spectrum.
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The Unwired Modem has only one port. However you can connect a multi port router to the Modem and share the connection amongst a number of users. This network can be wired or wireless depending on the type of router you are connecting the modem to.
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Yes. Macs can be connected using the ethernet Unwired modem and will work correctly.
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As with other broadband technologies, the plans offered by Unwired vary in connection speeds as well as monthly usage allowances. Generally speaking you can obtain similar speeds to all other broadband technologies.
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Fast internet is up to more than twice as fast as standard dialup products, offers up to five times as much mailbox space and has an always on connection which means you don't have to worry about the per minute charges or the local call costs you used to pay with dialup.
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No, Unwired is a wireless broadband/fast internet connection to your modem. As with most standard modems you must still attach your modem to your computer via an Ethernet or USB cable. You can attach a wireless router to your Unwired modem if your computer has a WiFi card or adaptor and you wish to connect it to your modem without cables.
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Your Unwired modem connects to your home network in the same way that an ADSL or Cable modem would connect. This normally occurs via an Ethernet or USB cable attaching your modem to a networking device, such as a router. You should follow the instructions provided with your networking device as Unwired does not provide networking support.
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The indicator lights on the front of the modem provide information on signal strength
- Green - indicates an excellent signal strength
- Orange - indicates a very good signal strength
- Red - indicates a good signal strength
We recommend that for optimum strength of signal you place the modem near a window if possible and ensure that there are no obvious impediments to the signal such as large buildings. If you move the modem to check signal strength you must wait 30-60 seconds after each rotation and check the indicator lights.
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Yes, you can move your modem to any location within the Unwired network and obtain a connection. For updated coverage maps please refer to Unwired website.
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Unwired will work inside most buildings including flats. However if the building contains a lot of steel or thick cement walls you may experience difficulty receiving and sending a signal. In this case, we recommend you place the modem near a window. This will give you a better signal and assist you to obtain a better service.
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Although it is possible to use external antennas with the Unwired service we do not support or endorse such use. If you are experiencing any difficulty receiving an optimum signal, we recommend that you use the Unwired reception assistant, or contact Unwired technical support.