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The Truth about Cheap Unlimited Broadband

Sat, 07 Aug 2010 12:27:52 +0000

How much of broadband in the UK is really unlimited, and exactly how can you tell if you’re going to get an unlimited service when you’re looking for a new internet provider? This article takes a look at how many UK providers stretch out the word ‘unlimited’ to mean whatever they want, and what you can do to avoid it.

Fair Usage

A Fair Usage Policy (FUP) can normally be found buried within the terms & conditions on a provider’s website or advertising material. You know the pages and pages of legal text that you just click through? Somewhere in there will be a clause that states that once a customer reaches an unspecified amount of usage that the provider deems unacceptable, that provider can then take action against that user.

Exactly what that action might be can vary. Most ISPs will notify a customer first and ask them to curb their usage, usually by writing. After that, punishment for heavy usage could be anything from applying extra charges to an account or slow down speeds for that customer so they can’t download as much as they did before.

This can be a very tricky situation for a consumer because each provider has their own idea of what ‘fair’ is. Some ISPs are well known for never acting on their fair usage policy at all, while others are likely to start reducing the speed of their customers very quickly. It can be hugely limiting for people who are expecting unlimited broadband to suddenly be told they need to stop downloading or curb their internet habits.

Several consumer groups are calling for FUPs to be more transparent and explain more to the consumer. They are also calling for providers that heavily employ their fair usage policy to be banned from using the word ‘unlimited’ in their adverts altogether.

Traffic Management

Traffic management is the other way providers get around offering unlimited broadband to consumers. It’s not quite the same as an FUP though. Traffic management normally occurs during peak times when a lot of people are connected to the internet at once. In order for a provider to keep up a decent level of service to every subscriber, everybody becomes limited to a certain speed for a short period of time.

While it can be just as frustrating as Fair Usage policy, traffic management is usually on a temporary measure, although it’s often a regular one. For example, many providers will employ traffic shaping every day between about 5pm-10pm in the evening, which are the busiest times for UK providers.

Details about traffic shaping can also be difficult to find, but unlike FUPs when you do find a providers traffic management policy it’s very likely it will have specific details about when it will be slowing the net down and when it will be speeding it back up again. Most providers that use a regular traffic management service turn it off after midnight.

How to Avoid Being Trapped

Giving a list of ‘good’ providers in this article would be useless, as providers change their methods and policies quite often. This means that the only way to avoid being stuck with a provider that reduces your speed is to do your research first. Comparison sites and other blogs and news websites normally have a way for you to find out how much traffic shaping goes on within an ISP, and many sites also have reports from users, as well.

Of course, if you’re only a very light internet user who doesn’t download files often, you may not have to worry so much about traffic shaping or FUPs. Don’t think that being a light user means you won’t be affected at all though – some of the biggest ISPs in the UK throttle the net so much that even using YouTube during peak times can be difficult, so you should always be mindful of these tactics when choosing a new provider.

New broadband Users Urged to Compare Broadband Before Selecting Packages

Andrew — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:16:18 +0000

There’s been plenty of talk as far back as 2006 that the broadband market is now saturated, and that everyone who wants to have a broadband account has now purchased one, give or a take a few stragglers or those only recently connected to an ADSL or cable service. However, a popular online comparison site has found that around 30% of its visitors are still first time broadband buyers who have never had a high speed net connection before.

There’s also news this week that research published by telecommunications regulator Ofcom that around a fifth of all adults who aren’t already online are likely to be signing up in the next six months, either through fixed line ADSL or the ever popular mobile broadband services offered by companies like Vodaphone and 3.

The question is, with so many new users coming online every month, are these new users finding out the right information at the point of sale? Here’s the rundown of three top providers according to the poll:

· Virgin Media state that they are just ‘faster’ than its three biggest competitors, which is true enough but doesn’t describe much of the service as a whole or provide any differences between their cable service and normal ADSL.

· BT let’s visitors compare deals with 4 other providers

· TalkTalk makes selective attacks at some of its rivals who offer specific services that TalkTalk can beat them on.

Considering all the big names are intent on fighting each other over services that many new users don’t even understand it’s no surprise that many people find their first broadband choice confusing and wind up with a contract that’s far from the best value around.

Another problem is that unlike going to the local shop and comparing the prices on a range of products, consumers cant browse through different broadband services easily – especially those who don’t really understand what the internet has to offer.

This is where broadband comparison sites really come in handy. They provide new users with a virtual high street, laying out all the potential deals to customers with no pre-conceived motives of a sale. When users compare broadband they can find out exactly what they’re getting and how it compares to every other deal – not just the deals that the provider thinks they can beat on features.

“One our most important features is our strict independence from online providers. We’re dedicated to bringing the facts of every deal out there – good or bad,” Said Charles Johnson, Marketing Executive of UKCheapBroadband.

“We try to appeal to new users by offering up as much genuine and original information as possible on just about every aspect of the online world, from exactly what providers mean they say ‘high speed broadband’ to how to protect yourself online with security software. Providing transparent and helpful information is our number one priority.”

Free Laptops With Mobile Broadband Popular, But Check Your Facts First!

Kat — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:14:47 +0000

Getting a free laptop with a mobile broadband package may at first seem like an amazing deal, but is it really? Free laptop deals are increasing in popularity, but there are one two things you should think about before signing any contracts.

Firstly, you should be aware of the contract length. Are you happy to sign for 24 months? Think about it, if you signed a 12 or 18 month contract instead then you could renew quicker, and possibly upgrade to a better deal quicker.

Secondly, just how good is the laptop on offer? Will it handle the sort of workload you are planning to throw at it? If you are just surfing the web and checking your emails, then a netbook or cheap laptop may be just the thing for you… however, if you are wanting to play serious games, or edit multimedia files, then perhaps you need something a little more powerful.

If you have thought about the above two points, and you want to know what is a good deal for you, then be sure to shop around before deciding what deal to go with. The net can be a great place for doing this, as it can save you much footwork!

Another final thing to consider, is what about value for money. What would be the cost of a mobile broadband connection without a ‘free’ laptop, the cost of buying the laptop separately. Add these figures up, and also add up the total cost of your broadband package, and see which is cheaper.

Some people use the ‘free’ laptop offers as a form of cheap credit, and if this suits you then there are plenty of offers available for you.

Most of the mobile phone networks provide such offers these days, as well as some of the larger stores (Tesco have an offer we wrote about recently, for example).

Whatever you decide, ukcheapbroadband.com would like to remind it’s readers that it is very important to make sure you full understand the implications of any contracts before you sign, and you should also be aware of any ‘cooling off period’ you are entitled to.

Virgin Broadband & Motorola Team up to Offer Next Gen Faster Broadband Access via DOCSIS 3.0 200mbs

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:11:06 +0000

You might remember a story we ran last month detailing Virgin’s fast broadband (200 Mbps) trials in the town of Ashford, Kent. These were small trials to see how people in the future might take advantage of 200 Mbps speeds with Virgin saying that they didn’t believe there would be any commercial application for the service in the near future.

However, the company announced this week that they have selected German mobile giant Motorola’s solution for ‘next gen’ broadband which could add more powerful packages to the already formidable line-up offered by Virgin, who currently provide the fastest internet connection in the country – providing you live in the right area.

From a technical standpoint, the deal means that new broadband cable standards such as DOCSIS 3.0 will be made available using Motorola’s BSR 64000 Integrated-CMTS solution. Sound complicated? That’s because it is. Luckily, the real world application is a little easier to grasp: It will increase bandwidth to Virgin’s network which means faster speeds, more reliable service and extra security to its customers.

Vice President for Motorola Home and Networks Mobility in Europe, Joe Cozzolino commented: “We are delighted to be selected by Virgin Media as it rolls out DOCSIS 3.0 based services, and we look forward to working closely as we head towards the reality of the 200Mb home.”

Basically, all this technology will be able to provide users with a feasible 200 Mbps broadband connection, four times faster than the fastest connection available in the UK today and – right now – the fastest residential connection available in the world.

Motorola are clearly excited about their involvement of the deal, and the company has recently shipped 1,000 of its TX32 downstream modules that can reduce bandwidth costs for operators by up to 60%. Mr. Cozzolino stated: “Cable operators worldwide are taking steps to optimize bandwidth availability in support of ultra-broadband services and are turning to Motorola because of the deep experience in delivering proven DOCSIS 3.0 solutions into the industry.”

Currently, the fastest broadband package available in the UK is thought to be Virgin Media’s 50mbs broadband deal. More info on the Virgin 50mb package, click here the image below:

18% of UK public don’t understand the term ‘broadband’ or Broadband Deals Clearly

Wed, 13 May 2009 16:27:15 +0000

Most of us take it for granted that people know what we are talking about when we mention terms like ADSL, broadband or cable. However, in a report by ISP Virgin Media, 18% of people questioned didn’t understand exactly what people meant when they used the word ‘broadband’. A much larger 40% didn’t understand ADSL. In fact, nearly half of the people questioned had no idea how broadband speed was measured, despite speed being one of the most promoted parts of most broadband services.

The report also found that 40% of users don’t know what a web browser is, and a small percentage of users believe that the high definition video format Blu-ray is actually a form of internet access. Some of these figures seem incredibly high but it’s no surprise that quite a few people don’t understand technical jargon, especially when you consider the large senior population of the UK who, in general, have not embraced the internet as much as the younger generation.

Virgin Media intend to use this information to create ‘broadband schools’ in areas where it feels education is most needed, including most major cities. The schools will be designed to help people decipher the jargon used in every day ‘tech speak’. The idea of attending a class on the subject does seem a little extreme however; most users can pick up enough information on the terms and technology of broadband from reading a few guides on the net or their local bookstore. If not enough to become technical capable at least enough to make informed consumer decisions.

This is where the idea of schools funded by Virgin Media seems a little worrying. Are they going to educate users that ADSL and cable are both viable options for internet users? Will the education be totally independent, as it should be, or with a strong bias towards the idea of subscribing to a certain fibre optic technology controlled entirely by Virgin Media themselves? We won’t know for a while, as there have been very little details released about the schools themselves.

Executive Director of Broadband at Virgin Media, Jon James commented: “It’s great to see that Brits have a thirst for getting online but there is still scope to improve their broadband experience. We want to help people understand the language of the internet, by cutting through the jargon, using simple and honest terms that everyone can understand and bringing broadband back to basics.”

Cheap Broadband Pitfalls (And how best to avoid them!)

Francis — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:51:57 +0000

Cheap broadband deals are everywhere. In fact, consumers have never had more choice at lower prices than they do right now. But how can you tell the difference between a genuinely good deal and an ISP that offers a cheap up front price and then hits you with charges afterwards? When is an ISP genuinely serving budget consumers, and when is it cutting corners? Take a look at our quick guide and you’ll soon be able to spot the real deal.

Broadband Contracts and Pricing

It’s really important to make sure that you fully understand the ins and outs of the contract with your ISP. Most providers will expect you to sign up for between six and eighteen months. If you’re going to move house or you simply don’t want to be tied down, there are a number of ISPS that can offer you a subscription with no fixed contract. Keep in mind however that you’ll likely to end up paying a premium for these services.

The biggest problem with avoiding contracts altogether is the little advertised ‘exit fee’, a fee that even most ‘no contract’ ISPs will charge if you leave within a certain amount of time in order to recover their installation costs. If you’re happy with a long term contract, make sure you know exactly what your ISPs responsibilities are, and where you stand legally should things go wrong.

Broadband Tech Support; Free, Cheap or Expensive?

The number one ways cheap ISPs make their money back is through charging heavily for technical support. It can be frustrating enough waiting for hours even when you don’t have to pay for the call, so just imagine how much worse it can be when you’re calling a premium rate number. Not all cheap ISPs charge high rates but it’s worth checking before you sign a contract. Keep in mind that although you might be technically minded or have a friend who can help you with setting your broadband up, there’s nothing you can do if there’s a fault with the actual supply. It can take hours on the phone just to prove that there is a problem. Make allowances for calling technical support a few times a year and see if you’re still saving money on the deal.

Broadband Speeds and Capped Broadband

Generally, cheap ISPs won’t try to catch you out on speed, but they will try to sell you the fastest package. Figure out what speed you’ll need first and don’t get drawn in by ‘deals’. 2 Mbps is more than enough for internet browsing and ‘light’ use such as YouTube videos and emails. It’s all up to the individual though – some are happy with 1 Mbps and some wouldn’t settle for less than 10 Mbps. What you do need to watch out for is something known as ‘speed throttling’.

ISPs like to advertise as ‘unlimited’ when actually what they really mean is ‘unlimited, providing you don’t use too much’. Depending on upon the contract when consumers reach this limit a number of things could happen. The ISP could severely slow down your connection speed to prevent you from downloading. This can last for anything from a few hours to an entire month depending on the contract. Some ISPs even charge you per GB for the data you download once you hit their limit, so it’s vital that you check out the policy on usage.

The problem for consumers is that this limit is normally a vague definition rather than an actual number, so it’s hard to tell which ISPs are going to limit you and which are not. It’s safe to assume that cheaper ISPs offering fast speeds are likely to employ some sort usage limit, so the best way to find out exactly how well a certain ISP fares is to ask online. Check out forums and comparison sites to see which ISP users rate the highest and don’t be afraid to ask questions to people who are already on the contract you choose.

Hidden Costs of Broadband

There are number of costs associated with any type of broadband that many consumers don’t consider when they look at the monthly charge. Some of these are advertised but simply not considered by most when choosing a package, but others are harder to spot. Here are a few things that you need to watch out for:

· Hardware Costs – Hardware like modem and routers that are less likely to be provided free on budget ISPs. Even if your ISP offers free hardware, there’s a chance you’ll end up paying for delivery or costs if it breaks down.

· Line Rental – If you’re just using your line for broadband, line rental can seem like a lot of money. Don’t forget to include the cost of a BT line in your budget. There are a few ways around line rental. Using mobile broadband from companies like Orange requires no fixed line at all. A few ISPs also offer reduced price or even free line rental.

· Cancellation – You can be charged heavily if you want to leave a contract early. Many ISPs will require the remaining cost of the contract in full, while some offer a fixed rate ‘cancellation’ fee. This doesn’t apply if you’re not receiving the service you’ve paid for, though. Make sure you read up on your rights if you’re thinking about canceling due to poor service.

It’s always best to look at more than just price when choosing an ISP. Use comparison sites, add up all the extra potential charges you can think of for each ISP, read the small print and find out from other users exactly how well they treat customers. Armed with this information, you are much more likely to find a cheap broadband package that really is a great deal.

Mobile Broadband: Is it time to change over?

Keiran — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:02:48 +0000

When mobile broadband first hit the UK it became an overnight success. People began using the service as a way to finally make their portable devices truly ‘connected’. In recent years as speed and reliability has increased, some people are even deciding to save money and take the plunge into getting rid of their landline net access altogether. With experts warning that Mobile Broadband isn’t a replacement for fixed line connections should you stay with your old provider or can you actually save money swapping over?

How does mobile broadband work?

Mobile broadband connects using a similar wireless data network to your phone. It’s often confused with wireless internet (WiFi) because neither requires cables in order to function. Wireless however is actually just fixed line internet that has been passed through a wireless router, making it accessible to anyone in close vicinity. Although useful in large cities and coffee shops around the world, it’s not strictly a form of consumer broadband by itself.

Mobile Internet providers send out a ‘USB Dongle’ – a modem on a USB stick or data card that allows you to connect to the internet anywhere you are in range of your providers 3G signal. This means that like Wireless you can move around your house and enjoy your connection but unlike Wireless you can visit friends on the other side of the country – even the world – and still be able to access your ISP.

Who can provide Mobile Broadband?

Most major mobile companies that give you access to mobile phones can also supply you with mobile net access. This includes Orange, Vodaphone, T-Mobile, 3 and O2. Not all of them offer a similar service, however. One of the biggest differences between packages is length of the contract. Unlike fixed line ADSL where common contracts last 12 months, you’ll find many mobile providers offering 18 month or even two year contracts. Two years is a very long time to be tied into a deal especially in today’s economic climate, so it’s even more vital to shop around.

The other major difference with providers of mobile broadband is the price of the hardware. Competition has meant that most ADSL providers will send you the hardware needed for free. This isn’t always the case with mobile providers who can sometimes charge up to £80 for the USB dongle itself. It may be worth considering slightly more expensive monthly packages in order to obtain the best long term deal, especially if you can find a shorter, 12 month contract.

How well does Mobile Broadband work?

Speed of the package depends on the provider and your price range but can rarely quite widely from the 7.2 Mbps offered by Videophone’s more expensive packages to the much slower but still respectable 1.8 Mbps of T-Mobile’s budget offerings. Of course, these are the advertised speeds. As with any internet connection there are a number of factors determining how fast your connection will actually go. Most important for mobile broadband is the strength of the 3G network in your area. If it’s quite poor, you’ll get considerably slower speed than what has been advertised. In general, cities and towns should have good coverage but you could run into problems if you live in a valley or another area well known for poor mobile coverage.

The problem for many net users isn’t speed, its bandwidth. Bandwidth describes how much data goes through your connection, usually measured in gigabytes. To put it in context, one gigabyte is around the size of a single downloaded film, or around 10 decent quality music albums. Most ADSL providers offer an ‘unlimited’ service, although ‘fair use’ policies to apply for heavy downloaders. Some have been known to have monthly caps of around 20-40GB in the budget end of the market. This limit is far harsher for anyone on mobile broadband, however.

Some of the budget options provide you with just 1GB of net usage for an entire month. That’s just about enough for a casual user who is on the net for a few hours a day. It’s nowhere near good enough for people who like to stream large amounts of content like iPlayer and other on demand services. The high end of the spectrum allows users around 30GB of data per month which is a far more comfortable limit, although you’ll be paying a premium price of around £30 a month for such a service. Not all services stick rigidly to their limits but check all of your options because some charge a heavy fee for running over.

Should I switch to Mobile Broadband?

Mobile broadband is an amazing technology that’s likely to get even better in the future. Right now however, most users will find it to be a useful addition to the way they use the net as opposed to a viable replacement for their ADSL or cable services. Most fixed lines offer far superior value for money even with the price of line rental simply because you don’t have a limit to how much you can use your connection. A 1GB monthly limit simply isn’t enough for most net users anymore and for a similar price you can find unlimited options from ADSL providers.

That doesn’t mean that everyone needs ADSL however. If you travel a lot or have a business that requires you to be away from home but remain connected, mobile broadband can give you a massive advantage. Students have also been some of the highest users of the service as they often don’t stay in one place for long enough to want to be roped into a long contract at a fixed address.

So the decision lies with your own personal situation. The same advice that applies to ADSL also applies here: Do research, shop around and choose the deal that makes the most sense for you.

How to Compare Broadband to Find The Best Deals

Keiran — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:53:23 +0000

There are hundreds of ISPs currently operating in the UK, and all of them want your money. Luckily for consumers, the price of broadband has been dropping for years thanks to such a competitive market, but that doesn’t mean that you’ve automatically found the best deal available. People that use broadband comparison sites to find a deal that’s tailored to their needs are much more likely to be satisfied with their broadband experience.

The best thing about comparison sites is their ability to filter results based on exactly what you require from your internet connection, but what if you don’t know what you’re looking for? We’ve provided you with a few questions to ask yourself that should help you use these sites to choose a new ISP and hopefully, save a lot of money.

How fast does my broadband connection need to be?

One of the most important factors for many consumers is how fast their connection will be. It affects everything from the speed of web and image loading to how well you can stream multimedia and — of course — how quickly you can download. It’s also one of the biggest factors that affect the price of a connection so before you get drawn in by the bigger and bigger numbers ISPs can offer think about your own personal usage. Not everybody needs the fastest internet available in their area, just like not everybody needs to have the fastest car. If you don’t use the web for anything more than checking the occasional web page and reading emails, you don’t need a 10Mbit connection.

Can I use the net when and how I want?

There’s nothing worse than singing a contract that advertises itself as ‘unlimited’ and then finding out two weeks later that your connection will be slowed down just because you’ve downloaded too much. Even worse, you could even been charged for additional usage after you hit your limits and these charges are usually very expensive. ISPs tend to put this information in the ‘small print’ rather than advertise it with the rest of their services so it’s worth taking a look at their ‘Fair Use Policy’. This should detail how much and when you are allowed to download. As with speed, usage policies are unlikely to affect people who use the web for simple tasks.

How long will I be legally bound to my broadband contract?

The length of your contract is often overlooked by consumers but don’t forget that just like every other market, broadband changes. Longer contracts attract customers with cheaper prices but what looks like a good deal today might not necessarily be the best in six months or twelve months time. Broadband is constantly evolving, both in terms of the size of our bills and how good the technology is. You don’t want to be overcharged and then left behind. Make sure you check out exactly how long your contract is and what the ISPs consider to be a breach of contract. You can end up paying a very large sum to leave a contract early.

Are there any extra costs with broadband?

While installation costs are becoming rarer in today’s market, there are still quite a few companies that charge for you to be connected. They may offer cheaper monthly deals and there isn’t anything ‘underhand’ about paying for installation, but don’t forget to ‘add in’ that additional cost along with the monthly price offered. Similarly, if your ISP doesn’t offer equipment like modems or routers you need to budget for these. If you are going to rely on your old equipment, check that it’s compatible with your new service before you sign.

What if something goes wrong?

ISPs are legally bound to provide you with a service, but that doesn’t mean they are forced to provide you with excellent customer care. Poor technical support is one of the biggest complaints amongst broadband users in the UK. With many companies outsourcing their customer service departments overseas, this is destined to continue. Use user opinion to compare the customer service rating of your ISP so you have an idea of how they react to a problem. You might find that you pay a little extra for good customer service but you might need it one day, and some of the budget providers charge astronomical prices for even the most basic of support.

Comparison websites do all the hard work you. They gather details and lay all the facts out for you to make an informed decision. The only thing they can’t do is make that decision for you. Every net user is different. You need to combine the comparison website with your knowledge of your own personal net usage to find the best deal. Good luck!

ADSL vs. Cable Broadband – Which Broadband Type is Best For me?

Kat — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 21:50:23 +0000

Alright, dial-up may have been slow, unreliable, expensive and impractical – but it was easy. When the Internet ‘caught on’ in the nineties and technology became cheap enough for the average consumer you had only had one option. One piece of hardware, one phone line and one way to connect. These days we can be thankful for all the amazing convenience broadband can offer. However, as technology increases at a faster rate than ever before, it’s easy to get left behind. What is cable, what is ADSL and why does it even matter?

What is ADSL – How does it Work

ADSL is the most popular service in the United Kingdom. It’s also the most widely available and the one with the most competition driving down service prices. ADSL stands for Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line. What that means in English is that the download speed that a user receives is much faster than their upload speed. For example, the speed at which you can view websites or download files is usually at least three times faster than the speed which you can upload files to another net user or website.

Because it essentially uses phone lines to send the data, ADSL is a ‘distance sensitive’ technology. This is one of the biggest flaws with ADSL. As the physical length of the line increases, the speed decreases. When a line reaches a length of around 3.5 miles, the service simply doesn’t work. In practice, this means the further away your house is from the exchange, the slower your speeds. It’s made worse because simply looking on a map is no indication at all of the length and quality of your wire, which could travel in any direction once underground.

It’s not all bad news though. Despite the distance problem around 98% of the UK can receive some form of ADSL, even if it’s nowhere near as fast as advertised. New technologies like ADSL2+ are also increasing the speed of ADSL broadband to up to 24 Mbps, but this is dependent on your area and how many people have requested the service at your local exchange.

What is Cable Broadband – How does it Work

Cable can initially confuse people used to having a BT line, simply because when using cable the same line that runs your TV also runs the internet and phone services. Cable is just that – a fiber optic cable that allows consumers to enjoy telephone, television and internet access using one connection. It sounds good, but unfortunately Cable has far less coverage than ADSL, covering around half of the UK population.

Cable is installed from your street directly into your home. Unlike ADSL, distance has no affect on the speed, so you can be sure that the speed advertised on the ISPs website is roughly what you’ll get whether you live next to a telephone exchange or ten miles from one. Cable speeds still work like ADSL in some ways though. You always get a lot more download than upload speed, for example. Once the cable is run into your house it is generally installed into a set top box or a router. Although you can enjoy all your services on one cable there’s no obligation. You could use it as just an internet service while finding your TV package elsewhere, or vice versa.

ADSL – Who is it good for?

For many people, ADSL isn’t just the best choice – it’s the only choice. If you live in a rural area, chances are it’s the only type of connection you can receive. There are plenty of speed checkers out there that can do simple tests on your phone number and can give you an estimate of how fast your connection will be. Don’t forget, if you live far away you might end up paying the same money for a much slower connection than a friend who lives closer to the exchange.

Even if you can get cable, ADSL shouldn’t be ruled out. ADSL2+ provides speeds that rival everything except the most expensive cable offering and because there’s more competition, there’s more choice. You’ve got a better chance of finding that ‘special’ deal that suits your lifestyle and web usage. You can also change providers if you find your broadband company not living up to its promises.

ADSL technology is slowing improving, especially in populated areas. Access to higher speed ADSL2+ is also increasing. The future of rural broadband might lie in mobile internet rather than ADSL if recent government reports can be believed, but it’s going to be a few years before we see mobile internet technology implemented on a national scale.

Cable Broadband – Who is it good for?

Cable doesn’t offer any consumer choice or freedom except for choosing a predefined package. There’s only one company that provides cable in the UK — Virgin Media. You may see Virgin fighting with Sky for customers, but Sky is a joint satellite and ADSL service and not a cable provider. If you find yourself unhappy with Virign for any reason, you won’t be able to change.

For many people however, cable is an excellent choice. Having one line and one provider sorting the internet, TV and phone can save people both time and money. Virgin has a TV service that can rival Sky for quality, and currently offer the UKs fastest broadband in selected areas at speeds of up to 50 Mbps. They have quite strict limits on how much you can download a day though. Don’t think that you’ll be able to download constantly at the speeds advertised.

Like in any choice as a consumer, research and personal usage is the key. Neighbours, friends, colleagues and websites might all have an opinion on what type of broadband you should get, but it’s up to you to think about what is you need, what you can receive and what’s the best for you and your family. Whilst some people look for cheap broadband, others look for speed or limitless bandwidth.

Optimise Your PC to Speed up your Broadband

Keiran — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:37:11 +0000

The switch from dial-up to broadband is an amazing leap for most computer users, but as newer web pages and services like iPlayer and iTunes demand more and more speed from our broadband connections, it can seem like you’re just not moving fast enough. If you’re lucky enough to be coming towards the end of your contract, it’s worth checking out cheap broadband deals to see if you can find a faster provider. If you’re stuck on with your ISP for now, there are still a few things you can do to sort out your connection.

Cleaning your Cache

Web Browsers like to save pictures and information about websites that you visit on your own hard drive. This is called the ‘cache’ which Windows users might know as ‘Temporary Internet Files’. In the short term this tends to help web pages load faster as you already have some of the information sitting on your hard drive. However, over a long period the cache can build up with images and information that is no longer used, so cleaning it every now and again is a very good idea.

Using IE 8, navigate to Tools > Internet Options > General, and click on the Delete button. There are plenty of options for things to delete, but for now just click Temporary Internet Files. IE8 also allows you to keep images that you are still using often, so it’s the best of both worlds!

Firefox 3 works in much the same way, though it refers to the cache and all other similar settings as ‘private data’. Navigate to Tools > Clear Private Data. Make sure ‘Cache’ is selected then click ‘Clear Private Data Now’.

Checking for Spyware

Even the most careful of PC users is bound to find at least a few pieces of Adware have been installed on their system. For people who don’t take any precautions against it, spyware can be a major cause of slowdown both eating into system memory and broadband speed. Using a free spyware removal tool is the quickest and easiest way to remove these programs and speed up your computer. There are plenty to choose from and many of the best are totally free.

After running a scan, you’ll see a screen like this. Be careful to review everything and make sure the program hasn’t detected something as Spyware when it’s actually a legitimate program. You’ll probably find between 50 and 3,000 objects on your computer and the more you have, the bigger the increase in computer speed will be when you’ve deleted them. If you find Spyware is a constant issue on your machine, considering purchasing a program that will scan for Spyware in real time and remove it as it’s installed.

Keep an Eye on Your Software

Keeping your Software up to date is very important. Windows updates can help fix errors and issues, but updating your browser can make sure that you are using not only the safest method of browsing the web but also the fastest. Many older browsers including IE6, which comes bundled with older copies of Windows XP actually run slower than their newer versions due to the way they load webpages.

Browser add-ons can also increase your speed by loading up links in the background while you are reading the page you are on, decreasing the time it takes to load when you do click on them.

Don’t forget that other programs you may have downloaded might also be taking up bandwidth in the background. Antivirus software, Windows Update and many other programs will all use your connection to download new updates automatically, often without asking. You can use the settings of these programs to change when they download to a time when you won’t be using the net. It’s not recommended that you turn them off completely. Other programs like TV streaming services might not always quit when you close them, so check your system tray and make sure you know what’s running and what isn’t.

Be Aware of Wireless Network Capabilities

Sometimes it’s not actually your net connection that’s slow but your own Wireless network. Upgrading to a faster router is one option, but also consider placing your router or computer in a different position to make sure you get the best signal strength available. Make sure you position your router away from metal objects and walls. Wireless will also travel further if the router is above ground level.

Make sure you’ve set your security settings on your wireless as well. Use WPA or WPA2 where possible. A sudden, dramatic drop in internet speed could well indicate that a neighbour is stealing your connection!

Upgrade Your Broadband Connection or Hardware!

There’s only so much common sense and system tweaking will do. Sometimes, it’s just your connection that’s too slow. Run a speed test and make sure you are getting the speed you’ve been advertised, but be aware that when ISPs advertise speeds of ‘up to 8mbs’, that’s an upper limit, not the speed you should expect all the time.

Find out if you’ve got the best connection you can possibly get in your area, you can find broadband availability checkers online to help you with this. Consider switching ISPs or moving from ADSL to Cable if the service is available in your area, but remember that you’ll normally have to wait until your contract has finished before this is possible.