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A recent poll by a UK price
comparison website revealed that customer satisfaction with
broadband speeds had fallen by 10 per cent in 12 months.
Consumer Choices found that whilst users were happier with
the reliability of their connection, they felt performance
was on the wane.
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Our Internet needs are
constantly changing with increasing numbers watching
TV online, downloading music and using other
bandwidth-hungry applications such as
video-conferencing.
So with this in
mind, we bring you some practical tips and advice
that we hope can boost your own online performance: |
Like most things in life, you get what you pay for
when it comes to broadband. Contention ratios are
usually the difference between a fast and a slow
connection and the lower the ratio, the higher the
monthly cost. |
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Test your speed.
Use a speed tester like
www.speedtest.net
to confirm the speed you’re actually getting. Do a
‘before and after’ comparison to see whether any
of the
following tips improve your performance. |
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Secure your wireless network.
If you’re unwittingly sharing your connection
with unauthorised users, they’ll be using up
valuable bandwidth. This could significantly
reduce your speed and eat into your download
allowance. |
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Check with your ISP.
If the connection speed is lower than expected,
your ISP may be able to improve the speed with a
re-grade of the line. |
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Clear out your cache.
When you visit a webpage, your browser
stores information that can help speed up the
loading of the pages the next time you visit.
But over time, these files can fill up your
‘cache’ and affect the overall performance of your PC. |
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Upgrade your browser.
Using an alternative browser can speed up the time it
takes to download a webpage. Whether you prefer
Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari or
one of the others, try to ensure you are using the latest
version. |
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Reposition your wireless router.
The position of your router can affect your
wireless connection. Avoid obstructions such as
doors and walls wherever possible and be aware
of interference from other appliances that emit
wireless signals (e.g. cordless phones). |
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Monitor your applications.
Applications like RealPlayer and Windows Updates
can run in the background whenever you log on.
This could be slowing down your connection.
Set these applications so they don’t run
automatically. |
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Disable P2P (peer-to-peer) software.
As with the applications above, P2P applications
can continue uploading and downloading even when
they appear to be switched off. Always check your
settings. |
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Use the Web off-peak.
Connection speeds slow down considerably during peak
times. Refer to the comments surrounding ‘contention’
in our conclusion below. |
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Switch providers.
If all else fails, maybe it’s time for a new
provider. Talk to our experts about a package
that might better suit your business needs. |
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Conclusion - the clue is in the contention
Superfast broadband is
now available in certain areas and is being delivered in a couple of
ways. The speed of DSL products (referred to as LLU or ADSL+) still
depends on your distance from the local exchange, so just how much
of that 24MB you will actually see remains uncertain (current
average being around 5.9MB). The other product is fibre-based
broadband which is provided by Virgin or BT. Virgin’s fibre network
has been around for a number of years although they have recently
started an expansion program and new technology has seen them able
to increase the headline speed to up to 50MB. These connections are
only available in franchised areas and are still subject to
contention. BT is just beginning to roll out its own fibre network
called Infinity. This will offer gradually higher speeds as the
technology matures with 40MB to start with. Infinity will be resold
by many providers and BT has recently announced an extra £1bn
investment to get this technology to 66% of the UK by 2015.
Like most things in life, you get what you pay for when it comes to
broadband. Contention ratios are usually the difference between a
fast and a slow connection and the lower the ratio, the higher the
monthly cost. Here at Delta Comtech we understand the critical
nature of your Internet connection and are ready to advise you on
the most appropriate service including backup connections with auto
failover.
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Visit our website |
Back to main e-zine |
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Delta Comtech Ltd
Artillery House, Heapy Street
Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 7JB |
Tel:
0844 412 8102
info@delta-comtech.co.uk |
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