Hardware

UNE requires students to have access to an internet enabled computer for their studies at UNE. Below is information on the recommended minimum technical requirements, a browser check and a internet speed test. Please contact the IT Service Desk if you have any questions.

Step 1: Recommended minimum specifications:

Operating System:

A computer that can run Mac OS10.8 (or higher - we recommend 10.9+. Please note that Sophos antivirus is not supported on OS 10.8) or Windows 7, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10.

To update   Mac   computers: Apple -> About this Mac -> Software Update

To update   Windows   computers

• Windows 7: Start button -> All Programs -> Windows Update
• Windows 8: Settings -> Change PC settings -> Update and recovery
• Windows 10: Start button -> Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update

Peripherals

• Headphones or speakers ( required to listen to lecture and other media provided in units, a USB style headset has proven to to provide superior audio quality to the jack style headset when used for online teaching software)
• Headset, including microphone (highly recommended for participation in virtual classrooms)
• Webcam (may be required for participation in virtual classrooms and/or media presentations)

Software

• Microsoft Office 2013 for Windows or higher / Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 or higher (instructions)
• Adobe Acrobat Reader 11 or higher (download Acrobat Reader)
• Flash Player 21 or higher (download Flash Player)
• Java 8 (download Java)
• Anti-virus software (download UNE's Sophos anti-virus software)
• VLC Media Player - for audio and video files (download VLC Media Player)
• Adobe Connect Add-In (download Adobe Connect Add-in)

Browsers

At least one from the list below (though we recommend that you have a second browser installed as backup)

• Firefox 45 or higher (download Firefox) - Firefox is the recommended browser
• Internet Explorer 11 (download Internet Explorer)
• Google Chrome 48 or higher (download Chrome)
• Safari 9 for Mac. This is already on the Mac. (Windows version discontinued in 2012).

NOTE: Microsoft Edge (on Windows 10) is not currently supported and incompatible with some UNE systems such as Moodle.

Please use Internet Explorer as an alternative on Windows 10 or another compatible browser such as Chrome or Firefox.

Step 2: Browser check:

UNE's browser test will check your browser to make sure that all relevant settings are set to allow make full use of our electronic resources. it will take a few seconds to display the results.

Step 3: Bandwidth check:

Run the bandwidth check at  Speed Test

A connection speed of 256Kbps will only be sufficient for email and basic webpages, but will make downloads of large files (such as electronic readings) slow. (Satellite, ADSL,)

A connection speed of 1.5Mbps or 1500Kbps will give you a reasonably fast connection to the internet and should cause little delay with downloads of large files (such as electronic readings or podcasts) and give you acceptable speeds for low quality audio streams. (Satellite, ADSL, 3G, NBN Fixed Wireless)

Video streaming (such as videoconferencing) or high-quality audio streams require at least 3Mbps. (ADSL 2, ADSL 2+, 3G, 4G, Wireless Broadband, NBN Fibre)

A connection speed of 1.5Mbps or higher should give you sufficient bandwidth for all online teaching tools used at UNE.

If you take part in a 2-way conversation (for example in an Adobe Connect classroom or during a Skype for Business meeting) and have to have your video and well as your audio active to participate, an upload speed of about 400kbps is recommended.