Guide to Broadband

Thinking of buying broadband, but not sure what's right for you? Then look no further, our Guide to Broadband tells you everything you need to know as well as providing some helpful tips to getting the most from your connection, in terms of speed and usage.

No Limit?

With so many unlimited broadband products in the market it may seem surprising (and perhaps confusing) that some ISPs are offering usage based products.

The truth is that the majority of broadband packages still have a download limit - even those that are advertised as unlimited, through a Fair Usage Policy (FUP). FUPs are put in place to prevent people over-using their service, and instead staying within a limit that is considered fair for their package. The rules of a FUP will differ between providers; some may be in operation 24 hours a day and others at peak times.  By assessing your needs you can work out if an unlimited or usage based service is right for you.

What is usage?

Your usage is made up of downloads (data from the internet transferred to your computer) and uploads (data from your computer uploaded to the internet). Some providers include both downloads and uploads in their usage allowance, others just include downloads. It's worth checking this out when you're comparing ISP's as it could make quite a difference.

Usage is normally measured in gigabytes (GB). 1GB is made up of 1024MB (megabytes). It's made up of the data that's transferred between your computer and the internet that's included in your allowance, not the actual time you spend online.

What this means for you:

Knowing the difference between a GB and MB won't mean much to most of us, the table below sets out some examples on common online activities and their usage consumption.

Many ISP's now offer free calculator tools for you to work out your monthly usage and pick the most suitable package for you. Our calculator can certainly help with your usage decision.

Get the most from your usage allowance

We've put together 10 tips to help you get the most from your broadband allowance.

1. Secure your wireless network - if you've got a wireless network in your home make sure you secure it to stop anyone else tapping into it and using your connection for their web browsing.

2. Look at your online habits - do you really need to watch a programme using an online 'catch up' or 'on demand' service or is the programme repeated on another date? Remember - there's no usage allowance on your TV!

3. Schedule downloads - look to see if your package comes with unlimited downloads in off peak times (e.g. overnight). If it does, maybe schedule large downloads for these times so they don't contribute to your allowance.

4. Know your account - If your provider gives you an online account, use it. Check what your usage is, if you're at your limit at the end of the month it might be worth waiting to use a data hungry application until the beginning of the next month to avoid incurring extra charges.

5. Understand usage - by using the guidance above you can assess your habits and understand how much you're likely to use.

6. Consider different formats - look at getting information in other formats. Downloading a podcast/video cast might work out better than streaming a 'listen again' service.

7. Spring clean your computer - delete any unnecessary applications you have on your computer. If they regularly dowload updates you'll be using your allowance without realising.

8. Change your email settings - you could consider changing your email settings, so they don't automatically download images and attachments, giving you the choice to download only where needed.

9. View online - when you receive files or photos in emails check to see whether your email software allows you to view them online rather than downloading.

10. Assess your needs - assessing your needs before purchasing a usage based product will ensure you pick the right level package for you. Buying a slightly larger package may work out more cost-effective than buying the smallest and paying for additional usage.

Top tips for top speed

The broadband speed you can get may not be the same as advertised by a provider. The main factor impacting the speed you get is the distance you are from your exchange. The closer you are the better speed you get.

Unfortunately this isn't something that can be changed, short of locating your nearest exchange and moving house to be close to it! Our list below explains a few simple things you can do to maximise the speed your line can achieve.

1. Plug your router into the main socket not an extension lead.

2. Try not to share the line with other devices such as a fax machine.

3. Secure your network - if you're using a wireless network make sure you secure it to avoid anyone outside your household accessing it.

4. Don't use your wireless connection unless needed. If you're out in the garden, fine. If you're sat at your computer desk, plug it in. A wireless network can slow your speeds.

5. Install microfilters on each socket. These will split the combined telephone/ADSL signal into two seperate signals to avoid interference.

6. Invest in decent hardware. If your modem, router or PC are out of date it could be slowing down your speed.

7. Use latest version browser software - these may run faster than legacy versions.

8. Limit the number of people online at any one time. If you've got a multi-user household consider staggering usage times so you're not all online at once.

9. Check for a Fair Usage Policy - if you have a Fair Usage Policy, look at the details. You may be exceeding it without knowing and having your speed throttled. Scheduling large downloads for off peak times may help you stay within the limits and at normal speed.

10. Keep your modem away from other electrical devices as they may cause interference - Christmas lights are commonly known to cause this problem!

11. Think about installing an I-Plate. This reduces interference in your wiring that may be slowing you down - possibly increasing speed by up to 60 per cent. It also means you won't need to fit a microfilter.

12. Consider running a TCP/IP optimiser, a free easy-to-use windows programme that tunes and optimises your connection.