Dreamtilt

NBN in Gladstone - A while yet

2011-05-18T09:52:00.001+10:00

The NBN is coming to town! The NBN is coming to town! Well don’t hold your breath ….

Whilst I am a supporter of the NBN, a few people in Gladstone believe that the NBN will be built in the next year or so and solve all our problems. Not so.

The sheer logistics of the NBN build is staggering. Imagine all the houses that need to be connected to the fibre network in Australia. Imagine the labour and skills required to do this. Imagine that your old system has to be disconnected and then you have to have either overhead fibre or underground fibre cable run to your house with specialised equipment installed, tested, and connected. Just in Gladstone alone you are talking years.

So it concerns me when Gladstone at the moment is in an ever increasing boom where many new developments are occurring with little regards to how broadband will be supplied to them. Already in existing areas there is ADSL port issues with no ports available and waiting lists for them to get on. Sure they get a 3G connection – but how good is that? Not very, from the discussions I have I had with people in town. And do you think large Internet and Phone companies are going to jump to the rescue and install expensive equipment in this area knowing it will be replaced by the NBN in future years – hardly. Maybe in a capital city where they can get a return on investment – but for the people here in Gladstone – abandon all ye hope.

So what is Gladstone doing about the situation – should we petition the Government to get the NBN here first. Yes, yes you cry – well….. – being first is not always good either. At the moment the NBN is still very much undergoing development. There are a lot of kinks to work out – as with any project of this scale – so being the first to have all other forms of communication ripped out for fibre is not always best.

Then there is the competition factor. There has been a lot stated that the NBN will bring sooo much competition and let regional providers – like Dreamtilt – compete on equal ground. Sounds fabulous. Just one problem. Connecting to the fibre network is costly – especially for a regional provider only covering one particular area – for us the connection point will be in Rockhampton. Yes, we need to connect in Rockhampton to service Gladstone. Not only do we need to factor in connection to the NBN – but backhaul of data from Brisbane, up the coast, and connection into Rockhampton also needs to be considered. Then there are a host of other issues and requirements to have us connect.

But there is a solution. Apparently. We will be able to buy wholesale from a much larger provider like Optus and Telstra. Wow – what a change from where we are now – just re-selling another providers service. Oh – and another point – no wholesaler is actually doing this - yet.

So if we are the first to have NBN put in – there is a limit of service providers who actually sell on the NBN – and that’s not to say they will actually sell in the area anyway as they also need to connect to the Rockhampton connection as well – and it is likely only the top four would do this. Not exactly competition now is it ….

Whilst we support the NBN – we will continue to grow and improve our wireless network for now. Wireless is not the only and ultimate answer (that some government officials would have you believe) – but should be considered to work in conjunction with the NBN. We are continuing to look for ways to increase the coverage area in Gladstone and provide a damn decent Internet connection – without the need for a phone line or phone line rental.

We also are looking at ways we could introduce fibre into the region before the NBN. Gladstone already has a lot of fibre networks in the town owned by industries and the Council. What we need is ‘Open Networks’ and ‘Open Infrastructure’ where redundant capacity in the fibre could be utilised to backhaul data around town and into new developments and infrastructure (such as water towers, large buildings, etc) could be utilised to provide increased wireless coverage in the area.

Broadband today is as much a necessity as electricity. People will start to make decisions on where they will live based on how ‘connected’ they are. If other areas are becoming ‘connected’ to high speed broadband and an Industrial and Tourist hub like us where we need development and families to live to survive and grow – what are we going to do to make it attractive for them to live here.

We already have many great reasons for people to stay – lets work on the whole package now and not wait for the NBN. To sit back and state NBN is the solution means a long wait before we get to that point.

2011-04-13T21:32:00.001+10:00

Dreamtilt displays at the Gladstone Business Technology Expo

On Wednesday, Dreamtilt attended the Business Expo at the Central Queensland University in Gladstone. The day was a great success. Dreamtilt assisted helping numerous people at the event and encouraged business to take advantage of the great cost savings presented by using VoIP technology, and in some cases cut their phone bills to a 1/4 of their current costs using voip.

"Dreamtilt is glad to be a part of this great Business Expo event and also be a part of the GAPDL Project Grow" stated Adrian Robertson, Director of Dreamtilt.

For more on the event visit the Gladstone Observer article here.

Special Offer for 25 people connecting to Dreamtilt Wireless Broadband

2011-03-19T19:23:00.002+10:00

You can connect to Dreamtilt's high speed wireless broadband network in Gladstone for only $250! And that includes Dreamtilt wireless reciever for the roof, all required cabling, a wireless router for inside your home, a VoIP connection to make cheap phone calls, and setup of all computers, laptops and gaming consoles on your own secure wireless network.

What a deal!

You can sign up to any of our wireless broadband plans and enjoy no ongoing contracts. You can change your plan at any time, enjoy unmetered data between 12am to 6am, and no penlty for going over your limit (your connection is slowed down - not charged extra). Also you do not need a phone line - so you can save on phone line rental costs!

This amazing offer is strictly limited to the first 25 people to sign up. Dreamtilt wireless broadband does not cover all areas in Gladstone and is dependent on your location and we will do a free inspection to check you can get the best possible signal.

So call us on 1300 306 126 today or contact us online now. This offer will not last!

Dreamtilt Sponsors Friends of RSPCA Gladstone

2010-10-17T15:20:00.002+10:00

Dreamtilt is happy to announce its new sponsorship of the (Friends of RSPCA Gladstone.

As a fond lover of animals myself, I often have a soft spot for rescued animals and those who take the time and effort to look out for those who perhaps did not deserve the life they were given. The Friends of RSPCA Gladstone volunteers spend a large amount of their time helping find homes to those animals and ensuring that they have a happy life with their newly adopted families.

They (and the number of foster families that they have that look after the animals) need support like any charity, and we as a local business are happy to support them.

That is why we now provide them with no cost Wireless Broadband Internet to their shelter opposite NRG Power Station on Hanson Road, no cost for Dreamtilt web hosting services, and also are giving their website (www.adoptioncentregladstone.com) an upgrade to a website that will allow them to update and display the animals looking for loving homes.

Hopefully, in a small way, Dreamtilt will have helped save a few furry animal lives and also bring joy to a family in Gladstone with a newly found member for their family.

Great Day at the Gladstone Home Show

2010-08-14T12:07:00.008+10:00

We had a great day catching up with everyone at the Gladstone Home Show and being able to show everyone our fixed wireless broadband products that allow high speed interenet without the need for a phone line by using voip.

It was also good to showcase our Business VoIP PBX systems that allow businesses to reduce call costs and line rental costs. We had some interest from a number of people - and many positive comments about our Dreamtilt Marquee that we provide to non-profit charties and events and supply free wireless broadband at the event.

It was also a good day for one of our Dreamtilt Facebook followers - Andy - who won two Gold Room Movie passes on the day.

All in all a good day and a good event. And we were opposite our favorite group - Friends of RSPCA Gladstone - who we are designing a new website for to allow them to show all their lovely animals online in the hope of providing them a good home. Keep an eye out for the new site launch shortly.

Dreamtilt at Gladstone Home Expo

2010-08-05T13:15:00.000+10:00

Imagine if you could have a super-fast broadband wireless internet connection and make local, interstate and international phone calls without even having a phone line!

Thanks to Dreamtilt, you no longer have to imagine. Come to the Home Expo and see Dreamtilt’s marquee display. During the Expo Dreamtilt will be running a special offer where you can receive 3 months free Internet if you sign up at the Expo for a broadband connection (depending on if you are within the serviced area) or 3 months free rental on a Business PBX VoIP system for business. The Business VoIP PBX can be used on any broadband connection and reduces business phone call costs and equipment hardware costs. You can save up to a 3/4 of your normal phone bill!

Local Internet service provider (ISP) Dreamtilt are leading the communications revolution in Gladstone by providing technology which lets you run a secure fixed wireless broadband internet and telephone connection from your home or business – without the need for a phone line. So how does it work? It works by having a fixed wireless receiver installed on your roof, the system removes the need for a phone line. Combine the competitively priced wireless broadband with Dreamtilt’s VoIP service and you can save on your monthly Internet and phone costs.

Currently servicing areas of Gladstone, Dreamtilt are looking to areas previously under-serviced by larger ISP companies. With a range of broadband plans to cater from small to high usage as well unmetered content from 12am to 6am, Dreamtilt is offering great value to its local customers.

Dreamtilt offers home, business and industry high speed broadband packages available for viewing on their website. Their services also include web-design and web-hosting. For more information, visit www.dreamtilt.com.au or call 1300 306 126.

Dreamtilt Increases Wireless Data Limits

2010-08-03T21:38:00.003+10:00

Dreamtilt has dramatically increased the data limits on its high end high speed wirless broadband residential plans.

Data limits have now been increased from 15Gb to 25Gb and from 30Gb to 50Gb. Combine the increased limits with Dreamtilt's unmetered data from 12am to 6am on high speed broadband plans and it all points to greater value on Dreamtilt's wireless broadband plans.

For more information on Dreamtilt's wireless broadband plans and pricing please click here.

Relay for Life in Gladstone Enjoys Free Wi-fi from Dreamtilt

2010-08-02T18:38:00.003+10:00

Relay for Life 2010 was another succes with many people turning out for the event and much support from locals and local businesses.

At Chanel College on Saturday afternoon the relay kicked off with the opening ceremony featuring the municipal band and the survivors walk. There was plenty of entertainment for all those at the event - and included free wi-fi provided by local Internet Provider Dreamtilt - via its wireless broadband network.

Director Adrian Robertson stated "It's a great event and this is the first year for Dreamtilt to be involved in the event. We will certainly be back next year in 2011 bigger and better with the Dreamtilt Marquee and free high speed broadband wi-fi Internet for all those at the event."

For more information on Relay for Life and how you can become involved to help support the Cancer Council go to www.relayforlife.org.au.

Dreamtilt Residential Customers Now Have Unmetered Data

2010-06-28T21:12:00.003+10:00

Dreamtilt is always looking for ways to improve value for our customers. So recently we looked at implementing a way to offer unmetered data between 12am and 6am. We are happy to announce that this is now standard on all our residential wireless plans. Unlike an on peak, off peak plan that some ISP's offer - or those so called 'unlimited' plans that are not really 'unlimited', Dreamtilt is offering an unmetered time.

What is unmetered? Well we simply turn our data meters of and anything done between 12am and 6am does not count in any way for the users data limit - upload or download. (To tell the truth we are tired and have gone to bed ........) So this is a great opportunity for users to do computer updates, automatic downloads, or even watch online videos or high data applications.

As stated this is now standard on all residential plans. So next time you are weighing up the cost of your ISP plans - consider we have unmetered data between 12am and 6am on all our residential plans - how much or how little you use is up to you!

For more information visit our website here about unmetered Dreamtilt residential wireless plans.

Dreamtilt and Project GROW

2010-06-22T23:43:00.005+10:00

So last night was Dreamtilt's first presentation for Project GROW as part of the Gladstone Area and Promotional Developments Project Grow - Online Webolution. The project aims to assist small businesses, including home based businesses, to significantly enhance web presence, increase web usage and grow e-business capabilities; ultimately reducing your operating costs and improving marketing opportunities.

It is a wonderful opportunity to provide information and assistance to small businesses in the area to help them increase their knowledge of the Internet, its uses and advantages for their businesses.

The first session I presented to the small business people at the session went very well. Many commented on the fact they took away a better understanding of how to use the Internet for their business more effectively. The comments and feedback was very positive and we will be presenting further sessions again for Project GROW. It really is a great way to provide further information to business to help them understand how to use the Internet to their advantage.

For more information on Project GROW visit - http://www.gladstoneregion.info/pages/o1-projects2010-projectsgrowmembers-and-registrationsregistration-form-workshop-1pdf/

For Dreamtilt's presentation session for Project GROW, visit - http://www.dreamtilt.com.au/index.php/news/186-dreamtilt-project-grow.html

Wonderful times on the Internet

2010-04-09T21:24:00.002+10:00

The last week at Dreamtilt has been a challenge. It began with the failure of our main dns server, progressed onto someone hacking our voip server and then a brute force attack on our sip router which slowed our entire system to a crawl. All good fun. We have a painted target on us for one reason or another for this week. No doubt next week it will be someone elses turn for fun!

As a result we have looked at 2 new dns servers with increased security, applied new security measures to our voip, and restrictions on external traffic into our network, This week has made us realise just how nasty the Internet can be. However, as always there is a silver lining and that is we have certainly learned how to identify these attacks better, respond to them quicker, and hopefully with the assistance of our upstream provider block such attacks. It has also made us rethink our understanding of the network and improve critical parts. It still amazes me that there are people out there who seem to have nothing better to do than totally ruin businesses that run on the Internet and waste precious bandwidth on futile attempts to hack systems. If only these people spent more time improving the net rather than trying to dismantle every part of it illegally – just imagine the good that could be achieved.

Instead they turn their efforts to trying to break small local Internet Service Providers with way less technical and bandwidth budgets that the larger companies have. Well thanks to you unknown attackers for making us stronger and more aware. A valuable lesson was learnt!

Interesting times ahead

2010-03-24T12:34:00.001+10:00

It has been a while since I had a bit of a blog... So I guess I had better put online some news.

This year has started well for Dreamtilt. The wireless broadband is picking up speed and peoples interest in the product is picking up. The big seller is the fact you can be online, make cheap voip calls, all without a phoneline (see www.dreamtilt.com.au for more information).

We have been working hard on improving the network and hired a Mikrotik expert to put in place some new systems that will improve the traffic flow and end users experience online. So far it is going well and has improved. Also we are working on improving some issues that were raised through a power outage and server failure. These are now in place and ensure that previous issues will not become a problem in the future.

Our new website is very close to coming online. This will be a huge improvement over our old site and give our wireless users some great new features, like setting alert levels that can be sent via email or SMS or both. Looking forward to the new site coming online......

Plus there is the GAPDL GROW program that we will be involved in. It is a great idea on giving small business ideas and tools on how to use the Internet and get online. More about this in a later post......

But for now it's full steam ahead. So far 2010 has had a range of challenges - but the good news is we are improving and moving on the right direction!

2010 Has Begun!

2010-01-22T20:32:00.002+10:00

Well no rest for us here .... The new year is surging along and there is lots for us to do.

Already we are working hard at getting the new website up and running. The new site will be a major overhaul and add some great new features that our customers have been asking for. We are pretty excited and can not wait for it to go live.

We have also been working on our voip service. Our billing system is working well and users will soon be able to login and see in real time their calls and costs.

In 2010 we will also be promoting our wireless broadband more. We plan on getting out to the markets and community events in Gladstone with our new marquee that will also offer free voip calls and free wireless broadband. The marquee will be available for free for community groups, schools and other non-profit organisations.

Plus we will be increasing our local support and community presence. We believe that as we are a local Internet company we need to do as much as we can to assist and help the local community.

So keep an eye out for Dreamtilt in 2010. We think it's going to be a great year.

New ways for small business

2009-11-06T10:45:00.001+10:00

We are connecting an engineering firm in Gladstone this weekend after discussing with them options for wireless broadband and voip.

They are a new firm, just starting out, and were interested in getting up and running quickly at a reasonable price.

We discussed with them a number of ideas and they were very keen to proceed based on our lower costs, running costs and very quick installation time. They will be installing a voip PABX as well with a number of great features that allows them to do so much more than a standard phone and at a cost much cheaper than a standard PABX system. They are very happy that they will have a system that allows them to communicate as effective as their bigger competition - at a price that saves them money.

It's this thinking that separates some business. When we discuss options like this with some businesses they simply do not want to change .... 'its been this way for years' is a common response. Or the technology scares them. Truth is if they don't change or adapt they will be left further behind.... and it's not that scary. When we install the equipment we set it up so it is easy to use.

So hopefully we will start to see more businesses start to take up our wireless broadband and voip as the good word spreads about how easy and how cost effective it really is!

Reaching New Speeds in Gladstone

2009-10-20T22:07:00.004+10:00

Imagine if you could have a super-fast wireless internet connection and make local, interstate and international phone calls without even having a phone line.

Thanks to Dreamtilt, you no longer have to imagine.

Local internet service provider (ISP) Dreamtilt are leading the communications revolution in Gladstone by providing technology which lets you run a secure wireless broadband internet and telephone connection from your home or business – without the need for a phone line.

So how does it work? Company director Adrian Robertson explains;
"We offer high-speed wireless broadband with a fixed wireless program," he said.
"We’re not the same as other ISPs in that the fixed wireless program removes the need for a phone line in the house."
"It works by having a fixed wireless receiver installed on your roof, providing twice the internet speed than any other service provider or ADSL."

By combining your internet and phone connections with the fixed wireless program and losing the traditional phone line for good, it can also save you money.

"Once installed, there are no contract fees, no excess data charges, you simply pay your monthly plan, with broadband plans starting from as little as $25 a month," said Mr Robertson.
"The biggest thing is your internet connection can be operated without the need for a phone line, therefore automatically saving you money on your monthly phone line rental."

You can make phone calls from your wireless connection as well.

"Voice calls can be made on the internet, which is actually cheaper than any of the competitors," he said.
"Call costs start at fifteen cents for local calls, twenty cents for national calls. These calls are also un-timed, so you don’t pay for how long you speak, it’s just the one-off call cost. You can also call overseas from just 2c a minute"
"Most people’s and businesses phone bills are reduced to a quarter of what they were before they switched to us."

Starting up in 1999 with dial-up internet and later progressing to wireless, Dreamtilt is a small business that is continuing to grow.

Currently servicing all areas of Gladstone, Dreamtilt are looking to expand into the Boyne/ Tannum and Curtis Island regions as well as reaching out to rural and regional areas such as Benaraby, Calliope and Yarwun, areas previously under-serviced by larger ISP companies.

"For people on Curtis Island who may currently be relying on satellite communications, we can service these areas and we are definitely a cheaper option," said Mr Robertson.
"It’s also a great option for construction companies with huts and dongers in areas around Gladstone as we can provide short or long term telecommunications direct into their hut."

Dreamtilt install and service locally and installation normally takes a couple of hours. Once contacted Dreamtilt can complete the connection within a week.

"We have connected some business the next day due to issues they were having with previous providers."
"We come in and set up and secure the wireless system in the house or business and by the time we leave, customers can jump straight on line and use it," he said.

Dreamtilt have home, business and industry communication packages available for viewing on their website. They also offer web-design and hosting. For more information, visit www.dreamtilt.com.au or call 1300 306 126.

Never too old to learn!

2009-09-06T16:27:00.003+10:00

Well today was a good day in many ways. I always enjoy adding new customers but our latest customer was something special. He was 80 years old and just having our fixed wireless broadband installed.

He has been a dial up customer of our for some time now, and since his children (and grandchildren!) have moved away they spend more time keeping in contact on the Internet and the old dial up connection was simply not cutting the mustard.

His children (living in the cities) had contacted a few of the larger broadband providers ( yes - guess who they may be ...) and stated they could provide the best deals and lock them into 2 - 3 year plans. Then they stated they would send all the required paperwork, equipment, etc for this 80 year old to connect up himself.

Now he is not too bad - he can turn on a computer, surf the Internet, send emails - but setting up equipment and being bamboosled by sales people from the larger ISP's was not his thing.

So he gave us a call and we spent 2 hours setting up his high speed fixed wireless connection, running through how to use it, and installing a wireless card in his computer so he can use it pretty much anywhere in the house. We also sat down and fixed all his annoying problems - like how to organise emails, making Google his homepage and a few tips and tricks along the way.

He also told us some very interesting stories from the past, going through the war, how he came to be in Gladstone, and some of the differences between today and the way it was. And after a while it made me realise just how rushed we are these days and how different things used to be. It also highlighted that treating people as people - and not just another sale - makes all the difference. Sure he could have went with the bigger guys - but there's something to be said for local service - and an ear to listen to.

All in all it was a good afternoon - he is now enjoying his fixed wireless broadband, we have a new customer - and a new perspective on life in general! Not a bad swap.

Ironing out the bugs .....

2009-07-12T16:30:00.007+10:00

Whilst we do our best here to ensure everything runs smoothly, we admit that at times we have had our issues where faults can cause services to be offline for the customer.

We have had a few - email servers falling over, web hosting services offline, radius authentication not working - even down to the small issues like a customers router failing and then having no replacement available for them under warranty .... yep we have had our fair share of issues.

The thing about faults and problems is that no matter how hard or how much you try there will always be issues. The ability to learn from these issues and then put in place systems to prevent (or at least minimise) the problems is what makes the difference between a good business and a bad business.

We do our best to learn from our faults and use them to make our business better for the customer. It makes good business sense to ensure that the same fault does not happen again for the end user (although some problems may all look the same from the customers view!).

As Dreamtilt (www.dreamtilt.com.au) grew from just a few dial up customers to a local wireless broadband company, our experience grew. And one thing we learned was whilst a customer may forgive you once, don't make the same mistake twice .... and that's what we try very hard to do now.

As part of our business, we now try to antcipate issues - and eliminate them before they become large problems! It takes a bit of brainstorming and often it helps to have a person outside the business (and Internet background) ask questions. At first some of these questions may seem a bit silly - but every now and then there is one that makes you think - 'Hmmm, yes that could be a bit of a problem ... nice one ..'

We will probably never stop learning here. That's what makes our business so interesting......

Busy, Busy, Busy

2009-06-20T09:59:00.004+10:00

Well, we have been busy here at Dreamtilt. It seems that interest in our wireless broadband and VoIP has sparked the interest of a number of people that have caught on to the fact that installing wireless broadband with VoIP will save them money. Cheaper Internet, cheaper calls and no phone line rental costs - hard to argue it isn't worth the money having it installed.

We also introduced a special offer for Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) employees which has been running well. A number of our new customers are with QAL and are taking up the special offer published in their Alumina News on site.

We have also been updating our website. It has been a while since we updated our site www.dreamtilt.com.au - it is a number of years old now and we have a number of new products and services that needs to be included into the site. We are overhauling the customers login section also to accomodate for viewing all details online and offer improved support to the user.

The reseller section is also undergoing a makeover, making it easier for our resellers to add customers and view their details.

All in all it has been very busy - with still more planned. Dreamtilt is looking at installing further hotspots in areas around Gladstone. These hotspots will allow Dreamtilt customers free access. We are also working on setting up customers phones that are wifi enabled with SIP programs that allow the mobiles to make VoIP calls using the wifi hotspot network that link back to their VoIP number - much cheaper calls than mobile!

So yes, a little bit on for us here at Dreamtilt - but exciting times ahead.... for both us and our customers.

Copyright Infringement Issues

2009-05-24T15:55:00.003+10:00

As you may have heard, AFACT (Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft) is currently suing iiNet for supposed infringements of its customers. The case is still to go through the courts, however the implications on ISP's like Dreamtilt could be huge.

AFACT is stating that iiNet had a responsibility to follow up on allegations that they sent to the ISP of particular customers that were infringing on copyright (by using the ISP's connection to download movies / music via peer-to-peer software) and that the customers should have been disconnected.

What is worrying is that the allegations by AFACT have not been followed up in court. They have demanded that persons be disconnected and it is the ISP's responsibility.

Now whilst I am not advocating peer-to-peer transfer of copyright material, I do not believe that all peer-to-peer traffic is illegal. In fact peer-to-peer can be an effective way of transferring files to the public.

The argument that the ISP is responsible for the disconnection of customers without first proving they did anything wrong is a concern. Firstly there is the issue of disruption of revenue to the ISP - is AFACT going to assist the ISP in lost revenue? Unlikely.

The second issue is that the way they track it is with an IP address. So whilst the ISP do log the IP address of a user when they connect, how can AFACT prove it was not just someone coming over to use your wireless connection, someone else using your logon, or worse - another person using an unsecured wireless network to do their downloading leaving the unsuspecting user in the hot seat?

What also is a concern is that if the iiNet loses its case, more pressure will be on ISP's to then monitor its users traffic and block P2P traffic. The problem with this is, like I have previously stated, not all P2P traffic is bad. It also increases the cost of equipment and resources needed by the ISP to 'police' all this 'supposed' illegal activity.

And this means higher costs to the end users. Now this should really worry AFACT. After all, if the people out there have less money to spend - who is going to actually purchase movie tickets, dvd's, and cd's anyway?

When we do well.....

2009-05-07T20:58:00.003+10:00

Every now and then I have to ask our wireless customers how things are going.

Why?

Well thankfully we very rarely actually hear from them! It is a good indication as to how well our wireless is performing. There is nothing better than getting through the day without having one help call.

The benefit of having Dreamtilt install the wireless system is that we ensure it is installed correctly with good signal, correct security and all computers are setup and tested. We then go through the details with the customer and show them some basic fault finding skills to check if the wireless is not working (like the old check the power is on and leds flashing before calling ....)

We performed a wireless install a short time ago and the customer was very pleased with the speed of the connection. Previously they had been on Dodo and decided to take the plunge with a wireless local company. Once installed they could not believe the speed improvement - and the reduction in price per month!

Although the upfront cost was a bit more (which we broke over 3 months), they could see the savings they would make in a year - plus they have a much faster connection compared to their old ADSL provider.

And how happy were their children! They loved it! Finally they could play their Playstation online with a decent connection speed.

Dreamtilt is always ready to help our customers at any time - but it sure is nice not to have to help at all!

Web Page for Small Businesses - Not All That Simple ...

2009-04-28T17:05:00.007+10:00

Every now and then we have a few people who would like us to setup hosting for them so that they can create a new business web page - which we are more than happy to do. (Our web hosting offers cPanel like most other web hosting companies which makes it easier for users to manage their own account - see www.dreamtilt.com.au for more information).

When we have such customers, we often ask them what knowledge they have on designing a web site - very few have any experience and most have a single page that they want displayed hoping that it will bring them much exposure and riches beyond their dreams. Every now and then they ask how much we would charge to do a website for them and they scoff when we mention the price and gruff about "how ridiculous is that" and "I can do it all myself - its not that hard!"

It's only a few days after this that I start getting emails - "Oh, I was just wondering how to do this...", and then "Thanks for your help but can you tell me how to do that...". Of course we offer our help where we can - most of the time these people expect us to basically design their pages by email assistance.

As time goes on, we then get more emails - "Why isn't my web page number 1 in Google or other search engines - whats wrong with your hosting service, etc, etc ...."

These people fail to realise there is a whole lot more to getting a business online than just putting up a simple web page. When we start describing ways to raise their rankings, how they should re-design their website keeping keywords and phrases in mind, ideas to improve the customers experience, email newsletters, and other ways to improve traffic such as link aquisiton, web blogs, and even social media websites, they start to realise how much work is actually involved in putting a business online.

So yes, it may be cheaper to start a simple one page site for your business yourself, but be realistic with your goals. Just slapping up a page on the Internet and sitting back waiting for it all to roll in is not going to happen. There's some work that needs to be put into it.

If you want your business to succeed on the Internet and you have limited / no knowledge or skills be prepared to pay a little more - and gain more.

The Amazing World of VoIP

2009-04-24T15:10:00.004+10:00

Residents and businesses in Gladstone are fairly new to the VoIP. VoIP (or Voice over Internet Protocol) has been around for quite some time and while there have been a few in town that have discovered the benefits, many are still confused and wondering what it is all about and how it works. When we install wireless connections, many people are surprised that you can make calls to anyone, anywhere using the service on our Dreamtilt VoIP plans. Most believe they still need to be paying for that phone line rental.

Not so. Even more are surprised on the quality of the call (since we control the network, ensuring Quality of Service for us makes it allot easier!).

What really gets them smiling is the savings. Most customers on average are paying about a 1/4 to a 1/3 of their normal phone bill costs, plus they are saving again by not having any phone line rentals.

Whilst our initial wireless install cost (at time of writing was $600) is a little bit up more up front, the savings on both Internet and VoIP easily ensure it has paid for itself over a few months.

What’s even more exciting is that businesses can have a fully installed PABX system by us that runs over the wireless Internet and users can make calls directly from their computer with software integrated into Outlook. The potential for this is that you need no business line rental, no ongoing PABX hardware costs (setting up a new line is as easy as setting up a new computer), and a set of features that are seen only in high end PABX systems.

We have a number of businesses already using the system now - and they just simply smile when I ask them how their phone bills and systems are going - and ask me why every other business has not caught on to this yet........

What is the total cost of your Internet connection?

2009-04-13T19:40:00.007+10:00

A number of times people call up and ask how much it costs for wireless broadband. Most are very happy with the lower monthly costs (check out our plans at www.dreamtilt.com.au), but then are put off by the initial installation cost of the wireless system (at time of writing was $600). This cost can be broken down over 3 months reducing it to $200 a month for the first 3 months.

Of course this seems a quite a bit when intitially installing, and many state that ADSL or NEXTG mobile wireless does not cost as much to connect up..... which is true ...... but you have to look at the overall picture. There is a reason why companies give you a free router or free install - because you, the consumer, end up paying for it in the long run anyway!

For instance, lets look at ADSL. Some companies give you a free ADSL router - but not a decent wireless one; for that you need to pay extra - say $100. Then they send it to you and you can spend a number of hours getting it setup right (not to mention security issues that may occur). Then you start paying higher prices per month - whilst you are locked into a 24 or 36 month contract!! Sure you can break the contract if a better deal comes along - but that will cost anywhere between $350 - $500! Suddenly the costs are starting to add up .... and add the cost of phone line rental per month as well.... which is really annoying if you only need the phone line connected for the Internet .....(our wireless does not need a phone line connected).

When we do the install, we also spend the time to secure the wireless, setup the home network, and setup emails on all computers - basically it is ready to go when we leave - all included in the setup cost as well....

We have no additional fees, no fees to change plans, no excess download fees, and no lock in contracts.

So yes, we may cost a little more to setup initially .... but just make sure when you compare Internet plans, you look at the full cost to you - and not just the "upfront" cost.

Get Wireless Broadband and turn $900 into $1350!

2009-04-08T21:02:00.002+10:00

Did you know that parents and independent students can claim back 50% on home internet connections - combine with your $900 stimulus and you turn $900 into $1275 or $1350!

You can turn your $900 into $1350 if you have a child in secondary school or $1275 if you have a child in primary school by buying eligible items and claiming 50% back through the Education Tax Refund.
From 1 July 2009 eligible parents and independent students will be able to claim back 50% on eligible education expenses incurred between 1 July 2008 and 30 June 2009 up to a maximum claimable amount:

$1,500 for each secondary school child – that’s a maximum refund of $750 for each secondary school child you have, and
$750 for each primary school child - that’s a maximum refund of $375 for each primary school child.

Home Internet qualifies as an eligible item.

So, by using your $900 stimulus payment, connect to Dreamtilt wireless, get rid of your phone line, give your kids broadband Internet, never pay again until next year, PLUS get more money back from the Government - which means you can then pay off the next years Internet as well!!
For detailed information on the Education Tax Refund please see www.educationtaxrefund.gov.au

NBN Announced - What Changes, well not much for a while ....

2009-04-07T16:48:00.004+10:00

Today the Governement announced that they will be spending up to $43 Billion dollars in an effort to solve the issues of high speed broadband access to people in Australia. Unfortunately it looks like it may take anywhere between 6 - 8 years to do so.

Whilst I think the broadband service in Australia will benefit, I am keen to see the details of the project. I am hoping that the Government will first target the issues of the backhaul across Australia. So what is the backhaul you ask? Well the backhaul is the main backbone - it is what will drive the price to you up or down. Currently to Gladstone there is a Telstra fibre and then the Optus fibre. Unfortunately Telstra is impossible to get access to and the Optus fibre (which has agreements with Qld Rail for running the cable in their area), is much more expensive than in the metro areas. The way the pricing works is the further you are away from a metro area - the more expensive it is. This is why it is so hard to have cheaper Internet in regional areas.

What would be great is if we could have data costs on this backbone the same price for all - no matter the distance from metro areas. What this would then mean is local companies like Dreamtilt can be even more competetive and offer services alot cheaper than we do already - and allow us to invest in our own area and improve broadband services alot faster.

As for fibre to the home ... we will wait and see. Wireless compared to fibre is alot cheaper to install and gives speeds that are acceptable to most homes ... yes we may not reach 100Mb ... but with wireless you are not paying extra for speed you do not use. Some people will no doubt want and use the high speed - but be ready to pay for it!