Subscribing and Accessing the Service
Using the Service
Finding Wireless Hotspots
Technology and Security
Subscribing and Accessing the Service
How do customers access the service and login?
Once you have a Primus Hotspot Wireless account, your first step is to find a location that has Primus Hotspot Wireless coverage. Areas that are covered are listed here. Once you have identified you are within a coverage area, you will need to initiate a wireless connection. Detailed instructions on how to do this can be found in our support section.
What computer hardware will a customer need to access the service?
Click here for a list of the hardware the customer will require in order to use the service.
Will the customer need any special software?
To login to the Primus Hotspot Wireless service, the customer will require some standard software that may already be on their Laptop or PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). The customer will require the software that came with the Wireless Network card in order to configure the computer for the service. Click here for a checklist of software required.If the customer is travelling or visiting from overseas and wishes to use the Primus Hotspot Wireless service, the customer may also require Primus' Global Roaming software available from here.
How do I signup for the Primus Hotspot Wireless service?
| New Customers |
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If the customer does not have an existing Primus Dial-Up or Broadband account, you can;
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Signup to the Primus Hotspot Wireless Flex account.
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Signup to a Primus Internet Dial-Up account (Excluding Prepaid Products) and add the Primus Hotspot Wireless service as an additional service to your account.
New customers will need to meet the following criteria:Residential CustomersPay for the service via Credit Card.Or
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Have an existing Primus account.
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Have a Primus service usage and payment history of at least three months. (Telephony or Internet).
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Have no unresolved billing issues. Have no billing issues in the last 3 months.
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Have no record of Fraud / Abuse incidents.
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Have an appropriate reason for requesting the service.
Business CustomersProvide Primus with details of their company (Business name, ABN etc) for billing purposes.Click here to view the Primus Hotspot Wireless Plans and Pricing.To signup for the Primus Hotspot Wireless service, please contact our Sales department on 1300 85 11 85
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How much does it cost?
The Primus Hotspot Wireless service is available with plans ranging from a Casual ‘Pay-Per-Hour’ plan right through to plans which have up to 50 hours included.
Click here to view the Primus Hotspot Wireless Plans and Pricing and select a plan that’s right for you.
What increments are my Excess Hours charged at?
Excess Hours are charged at a 'Per Minute' rate (eg: $12.50 per hour = $0.21 per minute), so you only get charged for what you use. There are no minimum session lengths or flag-fall charges with the Primus Hotspot Wireless Service. For more information please view the pricing and plans.
Using the Service
What are the benefits of using the Primus Hotspot Wireless service?
Primus Hotspot Wireless gives you the advantage to connect to the Internet even when you are away from home or the office. You can surf the web, e-mail clients, co-workers and friends and connect to your corporate network via a VPN (Virtual Private Network)* - all at speeds faster than a 56k Dial-Up connection!
Can a customer use my VPN (Virtual Private Network) software to connect to my corporate network?
Yes, the Primus Wireless service will allow customers to use VPN software in order to connect to their corporate network, however, Primus cannot support customers who choose to use this feature as there are many VPN clients available and makes it difficult to provide support for.
What data transfer speeds can a customer get / expect?
The Primus Hotspot Wireless service is currently capable of supporting data throughput of up to 11Mbps. For an individual user the actual data download speed achieved will be less than this, however it will be considerably faster than a 56k Dial-Up connection.
What applications can I run over the Primus Hotspot Wireless Service?
The Primus Hotspot Wireless service is a full-featured Internet service, which means you'll have access to the same Internet facilities if you were using a Dial-Up or DSL Broadband connection.
As the network is upgraded to support higher speeds over time, users will be able to use applications, which feature Voice Over IP and Video Conference at a fraction of the cost of a regular mobile phone call.
Recommended Wireless Network Cards
Primus have tested and recommend the following PCMCIA 802.11b Wireless Network Cards:
- D-Link DWL-650 / DWL-650+
- Intel Pro/Wireless 2011 LAN PC Card
- Enterasys RoamAbout 802.11b
More cards will be added to this list over the coming weeks. Vendors and Manufacturers wishing to have their cards added to this list please email: wireless@iprimus.com.au with this request.
Finding Wireless Hotspots
Where can a customer access the Primus Hotspot Wireless service?
A list of locations where the Primus Broadband service can be accessed is available from our Hotspot locations page.
How can I keep updated about new wireless hotspots?
The best way to keep up to date on new wireless hotspots is to regularly check the Hotspot locations page.
Can I set up a hotspot in my venue?
Depending on your venue and what type of business you run, your venue might make a good hotspot location - for further information, please contact the Primus Sales department on 1300 85 11 85.
Technology and Security
What is 802.11 technology?
802.11 is the name given to the family of Wireless LAN technologies, 802.11b is the Wireless LAN technology which provides speeds of up to 11Mbps. The 802.11b technology is the standard that is being deployed in venues around Australia to provide you with the Primus Hotspot Wireless service.
How does the 802.11b technology compare against other wireless technologies?
There are a number of 'Wireless' technologies available in the market today, these include 802.11b Wireless LAN, GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), Bluetooth, WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) and 3G (3rd Generation Mobile).The table below shows how the 802.11b Hotspot Wireless technology compares to other Wireless technologies:
| Technology |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
| 802.11b Wireless LAN |
Cost - Low cost compared to other Wireless offerings. Bandwidth – 11Mbps compared to 9.6kbps – 720kbps. Ease of use – Simple to install 802.11b PCMCIA cards and simple to connect. Utilises your existing Primus account – Wireless usage will appear on the same bill as your Dial-up and Telephone accounts*. |
Distance – Access the service from up to 150m from the access point. |
| GPRS |
Distance – Access the service from up to 20km from the access point. |
Bandwidth – 115kbps compared to 11Mbps with 802.11b. Cost – Expensive data costs, $17.60 per/mb^. |
| Bluetooth |
Less Power – draws less power from the battery of your mobile device (Laptop/PDA). Ease of use – Simple to establish peer-to-peer networks (PAN – Personal Area Networks). |
Bandwidth – 720kbps compared to 11Mbps with 802.11b. Internet Access – Difficult to set-up access to the Internet. Cost – Expensive data costs when connecting devices to the Internet. |
| WAP |
Distance – Access the service from up to 20km from the access point. |
Bandwidth – 9.6kbps compared to 11Mbps with 802.11b. Cost – Expensive data costs, $27.70 per/mb^. |
| 3G |
Distance – Access the service from up to 20km from the access point. |
Bandwidth – Current maximum of 384kbps compared to 11Mbps with 802.11b#. Devices – Client devices not easily enabled. |
What security does Primus provide?
There have been a number of security features enabled at each hotspot location, they are:
- The Primus registration process is protected by 128bit SSL encryption so your personal information and credit card details are safe during the process.
- The Wireless Hotspot networks are configured to disable peer-to-peer communication. This means laptops and PDA’s cannot talk directly to each other, they only have access to talk directly to the Hotspot and No network traffic is relayed within a Hotspot thus preventing any hacking from one computer to another. Primus still recommends that users disable or password protect all shared drives for additional security.
- Customers can also use their VPN software enabling users to establish their own encrypted tunnel from their computer to their corporate VPN server
What other steps can the customer take to ensure maximum security?
Primus understands that information on a customer's personal or work computer is important. Here are a few security points which Primus recommends to it's customers:
- Customers should ensure they have an up-to-date version of both Anti-Virus and Firewall Software installed on their computer.
- Customers should also password any folders or directories they may have shared on their computer. It is recommended these shared folders and directories be disabled for maximum security.
- Do not disclose your username and password to anyone and ensure when you are at a public Hotspot location that no one is watching you enter your username and password..
If someone sees my username and password, could they access the service at my expense?
Yes. Just like your banking PIN, it is your responsibility to ensure the confidentiality of your Username and Password.