What is a Modem?
A modem is a device that allows your computer to communicate data over a telephone line. Many computers come with a built-in Dial Up modem.
Is downloading free over a dialup connection?
It depends on the plan that you choose. Some plans have a download limit and if you go over this, you will pay extra on top of your monthly fee. If you think you’ll be using the Internet heavily or downloading a lot of images, files or emails, choose a plan that offers unlimited downloads.
Troubleshooting Dial Up Disconnections
Call Waiting
If call waiting is enabled on your line, a 'beep' tone will be transmitted when you have an incoming call. While this is desirable if you are making a telephone call, the tone can cause problems with your internet connection.
Temporarily disabling call waiting while you are online will solve this problem. To do this, insert *44 in your dialup connection before Clear Network’s dialup number. For example, when you go to connect to Clear Networks, your computer will display our dialup number, which is 0198 333 011. If you wish to temporarily disable call waiting, change this to read *44 0198333011. This will tell your computer to disable call waiting while you are connected to the internet, which will prevent it from disrupting your connection.
Telephone Equipment
Some older telephone handsets can draw unusual amounts of power from the telephone line which may cause your internet connection to be terminated. To find out if this is the cause of your disconnections, simply disconnect your telephone handset(s) from the line when you are connected. If the problem disappears, then it is likely that your telephones are causing your disconnections. If this is the case, you may need to purchase newer handsets. If, like most people, you are renting your handset from your phone provider, you can contact them to have it replaced with a newer unit.
Wiring and Cabling
Damaged, old or low quality cables can cause problems with dialup connections. If the cables you are using do not appear to be in good condition, it is recommended that they be replaced. You should use the shortest cable possible, as increasing the cable length also increases the amount of errors and line quality of the phone line. Extension cords longer than 5 metres may render the connection completely unusable, depending on the quality of the extension cord.
The internal telephone wiring in your house may also be damaged. This problem is more common in older houses, where the wiring may have degraded. Premises in areas which experience extreme weather (tropical or desert areas) may also have problems with internal wiring. If you suspect this to be the case, you should contact an authorized telephone technician. Please do not attempt to repair or modify internal wiring yourself as this may be hazardous.
Line Noise
Audible noise on your phone line will almost definitely cause dialup disconnections. Line noise is static, ticking, whistling, crackling or any other interference while you are making a telephone call. If you have already checked your telephone equipment and cabling, you should contact your telephone provider to request that your line be tested and possibly repaired.
Electric Fences
Certain types of electric fences can cause telephone line interference. Unfortunately, short of turning off the fence, this problem is difficult to resolve. If you can hear a regular 'click' sound on your line, you could be hearing an electric fence. You may be able to contact your telephone provider to have your line tested.
Further Assistance
If these steps do not resolve the problem, or if you require any further advice, please contact our Clear Networks Customer Care Team on 1300 855 215.
IP Sharing Devices & Dial Up
Due to the nature of our Dial Up internet service infrastructure, it is usually necessary to alter the MTU setting within the IP sharing device to a smaller size. Unfortunately, most IP sharing devices do not have an easily accessible setting to alter the MTU size.
Upgrading the firmware of the IP sharing device to the latest version will usually correct this problem. If the IP sharing device already has the latest firmware installed, you can correct the problem by altering the MTU setting of every computer connected to the IP sharing device to 576.
If you require assistance, please contact Clear Networks Customer Care Team on 1300 855 215.
Change of Address or Phone Number with Dial Up
If you are moving house and wish to retain your Dial Up service, or if you are simply wishing to change the telephone line or number that you use to connect to the service, you do not need to change any of your computer settings.
If you have moved, you should update your contact details with Clear Networks as soon as possible.
How much time can I spend online with a Dial Up connection?
Again, it depends on the ISP and the range of plans that they offer. Individual plans are often designed to suit certain user types e.g. 10 hours a month for light users. If a plan limits the number of online hours per month and you go over this, you may pay extra on top of your monthly fee. If you like to spend a lot of time online, choose a plan that offers unlimited hours.
Dial-up System Requirements
To connect to Clear Networks Dial-up, you'll need a 28.8kbps (or faster) modem and a standard telephone line. Please note: Operating systems must be in English language versions.
System Requirements
| Operating System |
CPU |
RAM |
Free Disk space |
Display |
| Win98/2000/ME/XP |
Minimum Pentium, equivalent or higher |
64MB |
65MB |
SVGA (800 x 600 x 256) |
| Windows Vista* |
Minimum 1 GHz 32-bit (x86), equivalent or higher |
512MB |
1GB |
SVGA (800 x 600 x 256) |
| Mac OS 9.0 to 10.4* |
Minimum PowerPC processor |
16MB |
20MB |
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Clear Networks access numbers for use everywhere in Australia.
0198 333 011 Clear Networks
0198 331 608 CanDoNet
The call cost for this access number for Clear Networks telephony customers will be a local call cost.
If you are with a telephone provider other than Clear Networks for local calls, we recommend that you contact that telephone provider to check the call cost for dialing into the new access number. It is the account holder's responsibility to check the call charges prior to using the service.
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