How do I manage usage on my wireless hourly plan?

It's important to disconnect your wireless broadband hourly plan the right way when you've finished your session.

If you're a BigPond Wireless Broadband member on an hourly plan, you need to ensure you disconnect using the BigPond connection manager software when you've finished using the internet. If you don't disconnect the right way, you may end up using up your plan allowance faster than you're expecting to, and incurring additional usage charges.

What's the right way to disconnect?

If you're on an hourly plan, we strongly recommend that you disconnect using the Disconnect button in the Connection Manager as soon as you've finished using the internet.

The Connection Manager will briefly say Disconnecting…, before telling you that you are Not connected.

That's it!


Can't I just unplug the device from my computer?

We strongly recommend that you do one of the following before you unplug your wireless device from your computer.

Once the Connection Manager has closed, you can then unplug your wireless device.

Can't I just turn my computer off?

We strongly recommend that you disconnect using the 'Disconnect' button in the Connection Manager before you turn off your power (or hibernate, if you're a laptop user).

The Connection Manager is designed to automatically disconnect your session if you use the 'shut down' or 'hibernate' features of your computer, but this can be affected by your computer's configuration and power settings. So we always recommend using the 'Disconnect' button before turning off your computer to be safe.

What happens if I unplug my device or turn my computer off without disconnecting using the connection manager?

If you don't disconnect using the connection manager, you may continue to accrue usage against your hourly allowance until the network 'times out' your session.

Like all mobile networks, the Next G™ network has a time out period to enable you to seamlessly roam between mobile cells. This will mean that if you don't disconnect via the connection manager, your session remains open until the network times out - even if you've stopped using the internet and even if you've unplugged your wireless device from your computer.

Some examples of when this can occur:

If you're not sure whether you've disconnected correctly, you should try to reconnect to BigPond, and disconnect again. This will start a new session and terminate any session that remains open.

Or, if you are unable to reconnect, you can contact BigPond on 13POND to check whether you still have a session opened, and close it off if needed.

Using the 'Disconnect if idle' feature

Sometimes you can simply just forget to disconnect your session when you've finished with the internet. If you're on an hourly plan, this will mean you remain connected and the time continues to be counted towards your monthly allowance.

We recommend all wireless members on hourly plans use the 'disconnect if idle' option in the BigPond Wireless Broadband Connection Manager:

This will disconnect your session if you leave your wireless broadband service connected, but there is no data activity detected for the period you have set.

Idle time means a period where no data is sent between your computer and the internet. But be aware that the 'Disconnect if idle' feature will not disconnect you if you have programs running in the background - like: