What is BoB™?
BoB™ stands for Broadband in a box... sort of.
BoB™ provides you with 4-port Ethernet and on-board wireless capabilities. Plus, when teamed-up with at least one BoB™ handset (or your existing DECT-compatible handset), BoB™ serves as a base station that allows you to make calls via a standard phone or Netphone service - all this in one, compact package.

What are some specific features of BoB™?
Here's how BoB™ stands out from the rest of the pack:

• Black premium glass look and feel
• Modern design with no external antennae
• Each unit links up to five BoB™ brand handsets or existing DECT model handsets
• BoB™ supports a standard phone line (PSTN) or allows for hassle-free switch to a Netphone service.
• With BoB™ you get four Ethernet ports to connect to a range of devices
• He provides twice the wireless range of 802.11g and much faster speeds of up to 300Mbps
• BoB™ has two high speed USB 2.0 ports - one you can use for plugging in a 3G dongle or external storage device and the other you can use to charge a mobile phone or portable music player.
• He's available with or without the BoB™ phone handset
• If you want more of BoB™, you can simply buy additional handsets (which include their own charging cradles).
• With BoB™ there's no manual setup required, we can log on and manage him remotely
• He even has capability to receive automatic firmware updates to maintain optimum performance.

You mention DECT a lot, what does this mean?
DECT is the standard for cordless home phones and an acronym for Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications. Whether your phone is DECT-compatible will depend on the phone brand and model. Most DECT phones have the words 'DECT' or 'Digital' printed somewhere on the casing. The quickest way to tell if your phone is DECT-compatible is to check your phone's user manual.

How will BoB™ work with my Westnet Broadband, and Netphone services?
BoB™ loves Westnet services. He's the perfect all-in-one smart solution.
BoB™ has four Ethernet ports, allowing you to connect up to four computers. Even though you can't see his antennae, he has in-built wireless capability that allows you to access the net from as many as 16 wireless devices.
On the front of your BoB™, you'll notice two phone lights. Phone 1 simply means BoB™ is using your standard phone line and Phone 2 means he's engaging broadband technology and making cheaper calls over the Internet. You'll notice no difference, except your monthly bill will be smaller. If you're on Netphone2, BoB™ will use Phone2 and you won't be charged anything for your local or national calls.

How do I set BoB™ up?
BoB™ configures himself automatically with your specific Westnet broadband account and settings. Just plug the phone cable into the wall socket and his power cord into a power socket . Configuration and connection to the Internet will occur automatically in 10 minutes. If you lose your way at any stage, the BoB™ Quick Installation Guide illustrates how you should physically connect your BoB™ unit.
BoB™ can also be manually configured. For assistance with manual configuration, refer to the manual located on your User Guide CD.

Can I connect one or more of my own DECT-compatible handsets to the BoB™ router in addition or instead of the BoB™ handset/s?
Yes, BoB™ supports up to 5 DECT-compatible handsets. To find out if your existing handset is a DECT phone refer to the manufacturer's manual.

What wireless protocols does BoB™ support?
If you're up to speed with protocols, BoB™ supports 802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11n wireless standards.

Will BoB™ work with my Apple Mac? Yes. BoB™ works with the majority of networking environments including Mac OS®, Linux® and all Windows platforms.

Tell me about the BoB™ handset...how does it work? The BoB™ handset is cordless and fully DECT-compatible. It works just like a standard cordless home phone. It supports a standard (PSTN) or broadband phone line and has the ability to store telephone contacts using its built-in phone 'address book' feature. You can even make calls internally between your various BoB™ handsets, turning BoB™ into an intercom too!
If you purchase a BoB™ handset separately, it comes with a separate charging dock. If you purchase a BoB™ handset together with your BoB™ router, the charger is built into the unit.

How do I link an additional handset to BoB™?
Here's a handy MyHelp article that guides you through the process of registering additional handsets to BoB™. If the handset you're trying to register is an existing model, you may also need to consult your handset manufacturer's guide to complete this process.

What are the two USB ports on the side of the BoB™ router for?
The port labelled 'storage/3g' is as a USB file storage port which can accept USB hard drives and flash drives. Once connected, files stored on these devices can be shared out to your home network. This same port also includes 3g (mobile broadband) dongle support. Using a broadband wireless adapter, you can access and share out a mobile broadband connection. Please note that 3g functionality is not available at time of launch but will be enabled via future planned firmware upgrades.
The 'charge' USB port simply provides power and allows BoB™ to charge your mobile phones, portable music players, basically anything you would normally charge with a USB cable.

More information on these features is available in the manual located on the User Guide CD supplied with your BoB™ router.

How can I buy BoB™?
BoB™ comes cheaper on a 24 month contract but he's also available for stand alone purchase. He'll save you money each month with cheap phone calls or give you unlimited local and national calls with Netphone2.
You can also rent BoB™ (including one handset) from Westnet for $9.95 per month. You will need to commit to having BoB™ in your life for at least 24 months, but the added bonus for new customers is that adding BoB™ rental to your service also reduces your broadband setup fee to $0.

If I rent BoB™, can I return him early?
Yes, you are able to return BoB™ early however fees will apply depending on how through your contract you are at the time. Contact Westnet for more details.

If I rent BoB™, how long will my warranty be for?
Renting BoB™ means that he stays the property of Westnet, which means that if he breaks down at any time, Westnet will replace him for you. This gives you peace of mind even after the standard 24 month Belkin warranty.

Do I have to switch to Netphone?
No, not at all. If you have a normal PSTN phone line BoB™ works as a normal phone. If you have a Netphone service, BoB™ will use Netphone to make and receive calls so long as your broadband connection stays active. Where you have both a PSTN and Netphone service together, BoB™ will use Netphone by default and failover to PSTN if your broadband connection drops out for any reason.

How long will it take if I switch from my current broadband provider to Westnet?
Most connections take between 5-8 working days depending on your location. During this process, we'll happily give you a back-up dialup account to access the Internet. There's no additional fee for this, you simply pay your dialup connection fees and any quota used gets deducted from your broadband allocation.