Streamyx Streamyx Dsl

Broadband and the Mystery of the Hidden Charges

Our story begins with the dawn of the Golden Age of Free Broadband. Providers offer free, unlimited, always-on fast internet access with your phone line. But there is more to this than meets the eye...

First of all, if you think your broadband is truly unlimited, you may have been misled by your provider. By definition, the word 'unlimited' conjures up images of being able to download what you want, when you want, with no extra costs.

But in the real world, this isn't necessarily the case. Most of the companies who claim to give unlimited connection do actually impose a limit on your downloading in the form of a Fair Usage Policy. This means that your internet usage is monitored and if you are seen to be using more than your share of bandwidth, you are asked to curb it. If you don't, you may find you're charged for your extra usage.

Our second suspect is the call charges. If something goes wrong with your broadband, what do you do? Not everybody knows enough about internet technology to be able to sort out any problems, so a glitch in your connection may require a marathon phone call to a service desk somewhere in the world, and this can work out extremely expensive. Some broadband providers offer free calls to their helplines, but not all, so check the small print.

The third culprit is hardware and repair charges. Usually you aren't charged for a standard modem, but if you require a wireless router or a more top-range modem, you could end up spending much more than you bargained for. And if your modem breaks, will you be charged for a replacement?

If you have broadband, a good security system on your PC is essential. The bare minimum needed is anti-virus software, and firewalls never hurt anybody except the fraudsters they stop. Security comes at a price however, and if your broadband package doesn't include protection, you could end up paying minimum 40 for a basic package.

The hidden charge that trips most people up is the cancellation fee. If you have a good service and no problems this won't be an issue, but if you want to switch providers before your minimum contract is up, you could be slapped with a hefty charge. And beware of providers that claim 'no minimum contract', many of them still charge you if you leave within 12 months. You may even be charged if you move house but want to stay with the same provider. Again, check the small print.

The moral of our story is that cheap broadband isn't always best broadband. Go for a package that suits you, based on your needs as a user. If your tech knowledge is minimal, look for cheap or free tech support. If you're a heavy downloader, go for a higher download limit. Shop around and eventually, you and your modem will live happily ever after.

Want broadband? Find cheap broadband by comparing broadband providers online.

J Tillotson is a UK author specialising in technology and communications.

posted by streamyx-speedtest37082 @ 11:27 PM 0 comments

Broadband - Usage & Technology

According to statistics released by the BBC during the summer of last year, nine out of ten users connect to the internet using a broadband connection.

The simple reason for this is that over the year's broadband has gotten cheaper and faster. Exactly how fast and how cheap your broadband package will be is influenced by a number of factors.

Availability and how exactly the broadband reaches your home will play a large role, with ADSL and cable being the most established methods of connection within the UK.

ADSL has proven considerably popular for home users and small businesses as it allows for far faster download speeds when compared to traditional dial-up services; ADSL is also "always on", meaning users don't need to dial in.

As its popularity has grown, so has the demand for faster download speeds, in response to this various new technologies are emerging such as ADSL2 and ADSL2+. These technological advancements will allow providers to offer download speeds of up to 24Mbps.

The other gripe users have with ADSL is the slow uploading speed, which is where SDSL comes in; as this allows for much faster upload speeds. This is particularly useful for businesses or those hosting websites; however, it does require a separate line.

The second major broadband technology is cable, with an estimated 45% of broadband users connecting to the internet this way. Its popularity is likely to be linked with its convenience, as providers often bundle broadband, TV and telephone services into one package.

The difference with cable is that it does not make use of your telephone line, but a cable and modem that is provided as part of package. Also, availability depends on whether or not a provider has cabled your street.

For the more remote user requiring broadband access, there is satellite broadband This broadband technology however, often works out considerably more expensive than ADSL and cable.

posted by streamyx-speedtest37082 @ 3:18 AM 0 comments