CNET editors pick the products and services we write about. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Standard networking equipment and wireless broadband modems rarely share the same design or feature set.
Wireless modems tend to be tiny, like USB flash drives, but the Bigpond Elite Wireless BroadBand Network Gateway a mouthful of a title is almost unrecognisable as a wireless modem, short of the prominent Telstra branding, with a large form Wi-Fi router appearance. This change in appearance indicates the main difference between the BigPond Gateway and almost every other broadband wireless modem available; this modem is made for sharing.
Its larger size accommodates a range of features we don't usually see in 3G broadband modems, namely the Gateway's four Ethernet ports and two USB ports. This allows for four wired PC connections while saving the two USB ports for connecting an external harddrive or a shared printer. In terms of sheer connection speeds, the BigPond Gateway met Telstra's promised downlink speeds with an average of just over 2Mbps link speed and an average download speed of about kbps.
The range of the wireless signal is decent, thanks to the Wireless Gateway supporting the We tested the Gateway in the CNET offices, amongst other places, and found we could set the router up at one end and connect with a laptop at the other, with numerous physical obstacles between. This isn't the same as connecting across a multi-storey home with brick or concrete walls, but it does suggest the BigPond gateway should provide connectivity in a standard home for several members of your family.
Ross Catanzariti. However the expensive initial outlay and ongoing monthly costs are hard to swallow. Gone are the protruding antennas and the flat, box-shaped design. The new Elite Wireless Network Gateway is sleek, slim and sits upright thanks to a small silver stand.
This means its ideal for those with limited desk space. The modem feels a little flimsy; the plastic creaks when pressed and the rear cover awkwardly clips in and out of place. The USB ports allow printers or hard drives to be shared over a network, while the four Ethernet ports can connect directly to a PC or other network-capable device. The USB ports are conveniently located on the side of the device, so there's no need to remove the rear cover.
You'll need to use these defaults to set up the network initially, but you can change them using either the software or the Web-based interface. You'll also need to enter your BigPond account details. The device must be paired with a new or existing BigPond broadband account and will not work with prepaid accounts, nor will it accept regular Telstra mobile phone SIM cards even if they have a data allowance. We installed the connection software on both a PC and a Mac and were up and running in a matter of minutes.
The unit supports the latest These theoretical speeds are normally only available using Telstra's Turbo 21 modem ; Telstra's other USB modems and similar devices from the likes of Optus, Vodafone and 3 are generally capable of 7. It's important to note that these speeds will rarely be seen during normal use — Telstra claims an average speed of 8Mbps for downloads. The speeds will also depend on a number of external factors including your location and hardware.
We performed the majority of our testing with the device at our North Sydney offices, using both a PC and a Mac. We achieved average download speeds of 3Mbps and upload speeds of 1. There are no charges for exceeding monthly quotas, though Telstra will throttle speeds to 64Kbps once the limit is reached. Stay up to date with the latest reviews.
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