However, Virgin also offer an ADSL package for those people unable to receive cable services, which is currently around half of the country. Previously this service hasn’t offered anything special – it’s had the same 8-16 Mbps cap and BT line rental requirements as most other UK ADSL packages, but all that has changed this month.

Customers in range of the companies LLU network will now be able to achieve potential speeds of up to 20 Mbps, putting the maximum available connection in line with the ‘medium’ package on the Cable side. For the first time ever, the company will also be offering ADSL customers the chance to rent their phone line through Virgin rather BT, something that was previously only offered to their cable customers.

Achieving the best speeds is, as always, unlikely unless you live very close to your local exchange, so few people will find the 20 Mbps ADSL service as fast as the 20 Mbps cable service offered by the same company. However, it’s a good move and one that makes Virgin an attractive option even if you can’t get cable in your area. Currently, customers can get the 20 Mbps connections and line rental for £26 a month which is quite a lot cheaper than BT line rental and an equivalent speed connection from many other ADSL companies.

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.

What is Broadband?

Broadband is the vague term for ‘high speed’ internet access. It’s permanently connected to your house and usually allows you to use your phone line at the same time.
 

How is Broadband different to Dial-up?

Broadband is much faster; typically at least ten times quicker than dialup. Dial-up is mostly used for basic browsing and checking emails. Broadband allows you to access radio and TV services like the BBC iPlayer, share your net connection with other computers in your house and play games online. It also speeds up basic browsing so you no longer have to wait for pages or images to ‘load’. Broadband in the UK comes in two main flavours; ADSL and Cable.
 

What‘s the difference between ADSL and Cable?

ADSL is a broadband service that runs through your phone line and can have either a dedicated line or share with your standard phone line. Cable runs through a separate service which is installed into your house by a private company and often also controls your television services. Cable connections can reach much higher speeds than the same price ADSL connections but in the UK, not all homes can receive Cable. Connections are usually limited to towns and cities. Rural areas can almost always access ADSL, however. The speed of ADSL depends on the distance from your local telephone exchange.
 

Should I buy a modem or a router?

If you’re upgrading from dial-up you can’t use your old modem to connect to broadband. Luckily, most companies supply their own hardware as part of your broadband package, so it’s worth checking with them first. Some provide modems, and some provide routers. A modem will connect one computer to the internet where as a router can connect many, so if you have more than one computer, a router is the best choice. You can even buy wireless routers which will transfer your broadband connection to every PC in your house without the need for cables. With a modem, you’ll still have to ‘connect’ every time you turn your PC on, although it’s much faster than connecting using dial up.

What are Firefox and Internet Explorer? Which should I use?

Firefox and Internet Explorer are both ‘browsers’, a program used to access pages and sites on the web. If you use Windows you probably already have Internet Explorer but there are other options available including Mozilla Firefox, Opera and Google Chrome. All of them look and work very similar and which one you use is often a matter of personal preference. New users may find sticking to Internet Explorer the easiest route, but make sure you run Windows Update, as the version you are using may be out of date.

What’s the difference between IM and E-mail?

There are a lot of technical differences, but the main one most users will notice is speed. If you send an email to your friend, they will have to check their email before receiving it, even though it will transfer to them instantly. It’s a bit like going to check your post. Instant Messaging programs will tell you when your friend is online and you allow you to have a conversation over the internet in real time, much like a text message. IM, which stands for Instant Messenger tends to be used for quick conversations while E-mail is used for more in depth communication, like letters. E-mail is the more formal method and is the one used by most companies on the net.
 

What is a Firewall? Do I need one?

A firewall protects your computer from malicious internet users. Firewalls come in software (A program installed on your computer) and hardware (A program installed in your router) flavours. Hardware firewalls are generally considered the best. Windows XP and Vista have Firewalls installed by default, but you can also buy more powerful software such as Norton Internet Security. Most Antivirus companies offer firewall support as part of their package. Firewalls will not protect you against viruses.

What are viruses and Trojans?

Viruses and Trojans – a type of virus that pretends to be a legitimate program – can infect your computer and delete your files and steal information. Simply having your own antivirus and firewall programs will protect you from the majority of viruses. Scanning any downloads will also reduce the chance of getting a virus. It’s also very important to update your operating system and browser regularly as they often include important security updates.