Introducing a gateway to the connected home
Around Australia connected homes are taking shape. We’ve moved from an era where we huddle around a single home PC to access the net to a sophisticated environment where the internet is available to all members of the family across a fast-growing range of screens and devices in many rooms.
It’s an environment where the internet is no longer tethered to one location — it now moves with us around the home thanks to Wi-Fi enabled tablets, smartphones, gaming devices, smart TVs and laptops.
This means information and entertainment is increasingly available on-demand around the home.
Consider the following:
- The number of Telstra customers using fast ADSL 2+ connections more than doubled in 2011 while the number of consumer customers using fast cable connections almost tripled.
- In the year to June 2011, the volume of data consumed over the average BigPond fixed internet connections more than doubled.
Faster internet speeds and larger data allowances are important enablers to creating connected homes and these figures show just how rapidly our customers are moving to adopt them.
Another important enabler to building a connected home is technology that gets home devices talking to one another. A home where you can share digital content seamlessly among devices is a home that’s truly connected.
To help Telstra customers create their own connected homes and share content around the home, we’ve launched a new ADSL 2+ home network gateway – a device that acts as an ADSL 2+ modem and a Wi-Fi access point.
The new BigPond Premium ADSL Home Network Gateway comes with the latest N-standard Wi-Fi connectivity which provides better in-home wireless coverage at faster speeds. This means our customers can more reliably share the internet around the home at the same time.
Importantly, BigPond Premium Home Network Gateway is DLNA Certified®. DLNA is a technology standard that allows you to send content to DLNA-enabled devices such as home theatre receivers, smart TVs and games consoles.
A USB slot in the back of the home gateway allows you to plug in a memory stick or shared storage drive. Then, thanks to DLNA, you can share your photos, music and video easily to devices around your home network.
For example, say you’ve just returned from a holiday to Europe. You want to share your holiday snaps with the family. You can save your photos to a USB hard drive (or in tech speak a network attached storage device) and connect it to the Premium Home Network Gateway. Now, using the gateway’s in-built DLNA support, you can access these photos on your DLNA-enabled TV.
Similarly, you can store your music collection on an attached storage device and share it with your home DLNA enabled Wi-Fi. It’s a neat way to get content around the home wirelessly.
The BigPond Premium Home Network Gateway also comes with three ethernet ports. This means you can connect up multiple devices such as T-Box®, PCs, MACs, laptops, smart TV’s and game consoles using fixed cables or network extenders.
There’s also a green mode that reduces power consumption by efficiently managing the Wi-Fi network.
Thankfully, there’s no need to be a technical expert when setting up the gateway. Simply run the Telstra installation CD to get your internet connection going. Wi-Fi connections can be added by using WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Set Up) where you can simply push the WPS soft switch (located at the back of the gateway) then push the WPS button on your WPS capable device to add gadgets to your home Wi-Fi network. This means you won’t need to enter in long serial numbers any more.
Availability and pricing
The self install BigPond Premium ADSL Home Network Gateway is now available for RRP $48 from Telstra Stores, or for just $2 a month for 24 months when you take up the BigPond Broadband Offer.
More information online at BigPond.
Specifications
- Supports ADSL/ADSL2+ connections
- Improved Wi-Fi 802.11 n (2 receive x 2 transmit) – Backward compatible to 802.11 b/g
- One 10/100/1000 BASE-T (Gigabit) Ethernet LAN port to provide wired connectivity
- Three 10/100 BASE-T (Fast Ethernet) LAN ports to provide wired connectivity
- Hybrid WPA & WPA2 capability – supporting secure Wi-Fi connections for new and older Wi-Fi devices.
- Wireless Protected Setup (WPS), including a push-button switch to activate WPS for simplified and secure wireless setup.
- Two USB 2.0 port master ports (Type A connector) connects to a USB port on USB storage device, printers & 3G USB dongles.
- IPv6 ready – Gateway will be able to migrate onto the IPv6 environment.
More information:
Thank you Chi, you’re a champ. Much appreciated.
My modem: Bigpond Elite Network Gateway. Dick Smith store personnel recommended the Netgear Universal Range Extender WN3000RP to get better connection into our bedroom for an iPad. Instructions say to press WPS buttons on both ‘Elite’ and extender. I cannot find the WPS button on the Elite??
Hi Joanne,
I just want to check on the ‘Elite Network Gateway’, is that for an ADSL/Cable or Mobile Broadband service?
Depending on what Gateway it is, the WPS button the Telstra Gateways are as follows:
ADSL:
TG587 – Premium ADSL Gateway is at the ‘back’ near the ‘Telstra T logo’
TG797 (or T-Gateway) is at the back on the top
Cable:
CG3100v2 – The WPS button is on the front at the far right hand side and has an icon, that looks like a ‘padlock’ with some Wi-Fi radio waves coming out of both sides.
I was also told by Dick Smith to get this range extender. Once it was finally set up (which I had to ring Netgear and had heaps of trouble getting it set up!), it has chewed through my entire data allowance of 8GB in 2 days!! I don’t know whether this was caused in the set up (I’m always suss about speaking with Indian call centres) but it is highly annoying when things get slowed.
I’ve got a Mac and have been able to setup my HP all-in-one to print wirelessly by connecting to the USB and using 10.0.0.137, but I can’t get the scanner to work. When the all-in-one is connected directly to the Mac, in System Preferences > Print & Scan there is a scan tab when the printer is selected. This doesn’t happen when it’s connected to the gateway.
Kate,
The gateway only has a ‘Print sharing’ capability included and hence is able to support your wireless printing from any networked device.
Network Scanning is not supported.
Regards,
Chi
@Ian
is your question related to “how to make all networked devices, to work with your brother MFC printer” or “how to enable all networked devices to see/interact with each other”?
This will me more to provide you the answers you are seeking.
Chi
Hey Chi,
its seems I have wireless network (Bigpond !@#$%^&*) and then seperately I have the ethernet connected devices, and never the twain shall meet.
i would like all the devices to be able to interact together i.e. watch movies/view photos stored on one computer on the other or my iPad or to able to print from my iPad on my printer.
Any suggestions??
Ian,
If you buy a NAS (Network Attached Storage) server,ad connect that to your gateway/modem/router by ethernet cable, you will be able to read and write to that using anything connected to the network, either witrlessly or wired.
Just don’t get the Netgear Stora – I’ve had one for a couple of years and had problem after problem with it…
Regarding printing from your iDevice, as long as your printer is connected to your gateway/modem/router, you should be right, though you might need an app of some sort… I don’t use an iDevice though, so I can’t help you out there.
@ Ian,
if all your devices are connected directly to the gateway, without any other ‘router’ on the “wired” connection, then by default you are on the same network.
One thing to check is, with your various devices, have you set up any ‘shared’ folders/partitions, that are made visible on your own local area network?
if you are not familiar with that set up, best place to start is for the respective device, search the ‘Help’ category for ‘Sharing’
Or as Gregory mentioned if you are looking at sharing ‘multimedia content’ in your network, you can either purchase a NAS and connect that to the gateway, which then allows all other networked device to access the central content. Alternative you can achieve a similar result with connecting a USB HDD to the USB port on the gateway, which then will transform your USB HDD into a NAS.
Chi
Have just got the new technicolour TG797nv3 and am having troubles connecting my laptop up wirelesly. My laptop is running Vista 7.Any help would be greatly appreciated. Cheers Lisa
Hi Lisa,
Is your PC still using the standard Windows7 settings? Are you able to see the TG797nv3 wireless SSID in the list of networks when you refresh that on your PC?
If it is visible and you are able to select it you should then enter the Wireless Security Key that is printed on either your TG797nv3, or the card that came with it.
If you cannot see the Wi-Fi network then check you have the Wi-Fi turned on for your PC (either a physical switch or function) and that the TG797nv3 Eco light is not blue (which means it’s had the Wi-Fi turned off and you’d need to press it again to turn back on)
If you do still continue to have issues then it might be worth visiting http://crowdsupport.telstra.com.au/ where I’m sure we can assist further.
I purchased a Telstra T-Gateway and when I arrived home there was no Install CD – talk about annoying. When I have tried to ring (5 times) the Telstra store at the Hyperdome (QLD) they don’t answer. Is there something I can download from this website to help install the T-Gateway?
Hi Maree,
I apologise for the inconvenience. The installer can be downloaded from the BigPond help pages. https://bigpond.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/12845/kw/bigpond+install.
You can also call BigPond on 13 7663 for them to send out a CD, or join crowd support and message me (CraigW) with your details and I can arrange a CD to be sent.
@Maree,
We will follow this up internally why your kit didn’t have the installation CD present. In the meantime, you are able to download a digital version of the Installation CD/Wizard here (https://bigpond.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/12845/kw/install%2Bcd).
Furthermore, if you do like to have a physical copy of the Installation CD, I am happy to arrange one to be send to you. If you can go over to ‘CrowdSupport’ and then send me a ‘Private Message’ to ‘Chi’, with your address.
Regards,
Chi
Hi,
Hopefully this thread is still active?
I signed up to Telstra earlier this year (2013) and had just a few hiccups in getting setup and on the net with my current home setup, but once up and running, have not had any issues – until now.
I’ve got the gateway connected to a number of devices around the house via network cable, including my media pc running Windows 8, which was used to set it all up.
I’ve just plugged everything back in after having some work done in my house, and now I have issues with the gateway, and with Windows 8. It appears that the gateway is registering as a public network when multiple cables are plugged in, which prevents the setup from working (detecting the gateway) and thus getting the internet working.
When I take all network cables out bar the one connected to my media pc, then reset the gateway, it all works fine after some fiddling.
Here’s the primary issue:
When I then plug any other network cables into the gateway, the connection drops out, and I’m back to square 1 with my connection setup (i.e. can’t just pull them out and have it working again).
This means that any computer in my house on the cable network won’t get network access. Slightly frustrating, I’m sure you realise.
I don’t expect any assistance with the Windows 8 side of things (because I’m fairly certain I’ve got that down pat), but can anyone please explain what on earth is going on with the gateway and why it drops when I plug a cable in?
Thanks for your help,
Steve
@ Steve,
I will try to get hold off a Windows 8 computer, so I can check if that causes the bizarre situation you have at home.
A few questions:
- Have you tried connecting another wired device to the gateway by itself to see if you get network connectivity?
- Does the Wi-Fi network still work for any devices in your home, when the cabled connections are down?
- Are you able to tell us what Operating systems you are using on the other devices (non media pc)?
Chi
Hi Chi – thank you for your quick reply!
I think separating the issues out helped me work out what was going on – 1. that the windows 8 pc would treat the network as a public network, and that 2. the gateway would cause these issues when I plugged another cable in.
I’ve been thinking about whether the first issue in fact is a result of the second, because I can successfully plug in a different router and it is instantly treated as a private network – so perhaps something is going on with the gateway.
Notwithstanding, some answers to your questions:
1. When I plug a different wired device into the gateway, it will ‘drop’ all its settings, and I need to insert the CD that came with the gateway to set it up again and get the connection going;
2. The wifi is always the first thing to work if the internet connection is working fine, however yes, the wifi also goes when the gateway ‘drops’ its settings once another cable is plugged in;
3. Other devices in the house include a Windows 7 PC, Windows 7 Laptop, and Windows 8 Laptop. Wireless devices (both Windows 7 and Windows 8 (and Windows Phone 8)) all work on the wifi network when everything is working and at a state of Zen.
I haven’t had the time to troubleshoot it more to work out, so I currently only have the one computer (media PC) plugged in at this stage.
If you have any suggestions, recommendations or anything just let me know – I’m happy to work through the issues to get a working device (i.e. not going to be a raving lunatic that thinks Telstra and this gateway are the harbringers of the apocolyps or anything).
Thanks again for your help,
Steve
hi chi i have a telstra prepaid 4g wifi modem with a strict NAT setting that is causing me problems can you tell me how to set it to open please thankyou
I have a TG587n v3 I was hoping some one can tell me how to BLOCKa Mac addresss I have one laptop that keeps popping up in my list of devices and its all ways the same Mac address.. I need to find out how to block this one address
Thankyou in advance
I have just installed wifi modem tg797nv3 i used the card provided for ssid and wpa i would like to use my own user name and password how do i do this?
Hi Cheryl,
You are able to use your own Wi-Fi details by following the steps outlined here:
https://bigpond.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/18631/kw/wifi/session/L3RpbWUvMTM2Njc3MjQxNC9zaWQvSXJ5TWJ1b2w%3D
This FAQ, contains all necessary steps for you to adjust the Wi-Fi details.
Regards,
Chi
Ive been trying to connect a netgear wifi extender via WPS. I have managed to connect it to the modem but for some reason its unable to connect to the net. Unsure if the modem has any settings that is blocking this. Hopefully someone can help.
Hi Tony,
The tech team should be able to give you a hand, you can chat with them here – http://bit.ly/TelstraTeche
Just received the TG797
Can no longer print via wireless on HP C7200 series.
Windows 7
Have tried with and without printer plugged into TG797 via usb. Why cant it pick up the printers wireless signal?
Have removed old printer device in windows, windows will not find the printer on the network when trying to add the printer again.
Have tried manually adding by 10.0.0.137
This works, windows finds the printer, reinstalls existing drivers, printer icon in “devices and printers” says printer online and ready.
Go to print something and the job just spools until it goes to error.
No printing takes place.
I cant believe how complex this is….Why is the TG797 so difficult?
Old Belkin modem picked up the printers wireless signal and then broadcast it on the network which could be picked up by any computer and within minutes be printing.
I have gone into the gateway via webpage 10.0.0.138 and no where is the printer recognised on the network.
Worked it out eventually.
Got into the printer settings and reset to default.
Printer recognised network and asked for TG797 password.
We can now print on wireless.
Hey We just got our internet up and running today and have 3 laptops two of which are windows 7 one which is windows 8. One of the windows 7 is being used as the setup while the windows 8 and other windows 7 isn’t. The problem is the other windows 7 is able to take the connection and get onto the internet but the windows 8 can not can you please try to find a solution.
I have the Premium Home Network. I have speed problems. I did a speed check test and I only have download speed of 56Kbps… Ping was 72ms…
That is really unacceptable.. Can you please assist?
thanks