Broadband

Broadband - aka ADSL - is available in a variety of flavours ranging from 128Kbps up to 2Mbps or more. Personally I don't class anything less than 512Mbps as true Broadband though all are faster when compared with the modem speed of 56Kbps or even ISDN at 64/128Kbps. When buying read the small print very carefully, the bargain may not actually be a bargain especially if your download capacity is limited. Some ISPs now allow you to increase your download bandwidth when needed and then revert back to your normal speed - , the ISP we use and recommend, call this Flexing.

You will also be offered either a 20:1 or 50:1 contention ratio which in effect means that you will be sharing your connection with another 20 or 50 people. In most cases this shouldn't be a problem except at peak times when you may notice slightly longer download times. If you are worried then pay for the lower contention ratio.

Broadband is delivered over your normal phone line and almost everyone should now be able to get it provided BT have upgraded your local exchange. In the past you had to be within 2 miles or so of the exchange that has now been almost doubled. All the conversion is done at the exchange, there is no need for an engineer to visit you. All you need is a 'filter' which plugs into your normal BT socket, this provides a phone socket and a RJ11 socket for the broadband connection.

To connect your computer to the broadband you will need a router - sometimes called a modem. There are two sorts - the first connects to your computer via a USB port and the other connects using Ethernet. We would strongly recommend that you DO NOT get the USB sort. They are for single users only so you can't easily share an internet connection, there can be a delay whilst it connects and since it needs its own drivers within the computer problems can occur when the OS is upgraded. For choice go for an ethernet connected one which has an embedded web server. Most will also have a 4 port ethernet switch built in and some even offer an integrated basestation/access point at very little additional cost.

These routers are not difficult to set up since all the entries are made via a web page, in most cases all you have to do is to enter your username and password. They also come with a built in Firewall which is designed to protect you from the nasty internet world.

Needless to say we use broadband here for our internal network and have set up systems for a large number of clients.