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What is broadband? |
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Broadband is a quicker way to connect your PC to the
Internet. Most broadband connections are 512 kbps, which put simply
means that your connection is approximately 10 times quicker than a
normal dial-up Internet connection. The other key point to make about
broadband is that it allows both Internet and telephone calls to take
place simultaneously on the same land line. So people trying to ring
you while your on the Internet will never get an engaged tone again. |
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OK, but I keep hearing about ADSL,
what's that? |
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ADSL is the technical term for broadband. ADSL stands
for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. It transforms a twisted copper
pair of wires between a local telephone exchange and a customer's
telephone socket into a high-speed digital line. It is called
"asymmetric" because it moves data more quickly from exchange to
customer than from customer to exchange. This makes it particularly
suitable for applications where customers expect to receive more data
than they transmit, such as use of the Internet. Well, that's the
technical explanation over! |
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Sound interesting, but what does a
quicker Internet connection mean to me? |
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It means that web pages will load a lot quicker than
normal, they will appear almost instantly. It also means that you can
download large files like video clips and MP3's in a much shorter
length of time. Not forgetting the fact that you can send and receive
emails with large attachments quicker too. |
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I keep hearing about connection
speeds, what are these? |
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Your basic standard old-fashioned dial-up connection is
typically 56 kbps (kilobit per second). Most broadband connections are
512 kbps which if you divide 512 by 56 you get 9.1. Therefore a 512
kbps broadband connection is approx. 9.1 times faster than a dial-up
Internet connection. Although most broadband providers round this up
to 10 times faster as it sounds better! |
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Explain how I'll be able to use my
telephone while I'm connected to the Internet. That sounds useful! |
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Broadband enables both telephone calls and your
Internet connection to operate on the same phone line simultaneously.
This is achieved by plugging a filter (sometimes known as a splitter)
into all phone sockets that are to be used allowing voice and Internet
at the same time. A filter separates (or splits) the telephone
signal from the broadband signal, therefore allowing telephone and
Internet connection at the same time. |
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I see, I thought there would be a
catch. So I've got to pay out more money for a filter have I? |
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Not necessarily, most broadband suppliers offer at
least one filter free of charge when you sign up with them. If they
don't you can buy them from places like
www.ebuyer.co.uk
for approx. £2 each. |
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Right, so what other equipment do I
need to connect to broadband Internet? |
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You will need a broadband modem which also comes with a
data cable as part of the package, some filters and that's it! |
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Show me |
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OK, so how do I connect them to my
PC? |
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*The above diagrams are reproduced from
Tiscali Broadband |
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That looks simple enough, now
explain the various costs to me |
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Connection Fee: This is the cost of setting you
up with broadband. Some suppliers don't charge you and some charge up
to £100. |
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Modem: Again some broadband suppliers offer a
modem free whilst some charge from £20 to £100. Make sure you check to
see if filters are included in the price too. |
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Cost per month: This is your subscription fee
that you will have to pay every month. It includes all of your
Internet calls. |
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Are there any other "hidden" costs |
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The only other thing to be aware of is that some
broadband suppliers may charge you a delivery fee for the modem. You
also need to be aware of what the minimum contract is when you sign
up. Most suppliers only work on a minimum 12 month contract but as the
market gets more competitive some companies are offering 1 month
minimum contracts. |
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OK, I know all about broadband now
so where can I go to choose a broadband supplier in the UK? |
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Click here for the latest
broadband deals and special offers. |
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