This section deals with the different types of connections. Technically referred to as Internet Protocol datagrams,

- Dialup

The most common type of connection used in the UK during the 1990s. Depending on your modem, the best connection speed is 56K. A dial-up connection uses a end users telephone line, which an attached modem or router used to establish a link to an ISPs node. The advantage of dial-up is it's simplicity, it requires no infrastructure except an existing telephone network. For this reason it may always have it uses in rural locations, for people who are traveling or in developing nations. The disadvantages of dial-up are it's speed, it stops incoming and outgoing phone calls, and it's speed is effected on line noise.

• Setting up a dialup connection on Windows XP
  • click on the Start Menu
  • then choose Control Panel and double
  • click on the Network Connections icon
  • from the left-hand side bar under Network Tasks choose Create a new connection
  • on the New Connection Wizard choose Connect to the Internet
  • choose Set up my connection manually
  • choose Connect using a dial-up modem
  • in the Connection Name box type a name for the new connection, such as AOL
  • in the Phone number to dial box, enter isp number
  • and enter password
  • finish
• Setting up a dialup connection on Windows 95/98
  • Click the Start button.
    
  • Click Settings.
    
  • Click on the Network icon.
    
  • Click on Dial-up Connections.
  • click on Make New Connection
  • select your modem type and name
  • enter isp phone number and password
  • finish

- Broadband

Most broadband services in the UK use the DSL technology, which is the most widely-available type of broadband service. Landline, fibre optic and wireless broadband signals are the current alternatives. As has been highlighted, broadband is a generic term which can cover a range of technologies, but, as a whole it's benefits can be stated as such,

• Always connected - no need to dial in everytime you want to use the Internet.
• Almost 10 times faster than dial-up if you using a 512 Kbps connection. Some broadband connection are 2000Kbps and increasing rapidly to 50,000Kbps and beyond.
• No need for an extra phone line - with an dsl filter you'll be able to use your telephone while online.
• A flat rate charge per week, month or year.

The access speed is effected by a users proximity to a telephone exchange. In 2009, the average broadband speed is in the region of 700 kbit/s, with a high of 50,000 kbit/s. Many ISPs have come under negative press coverage for selling high speed access packages to people who live in locations which could never achieve that speed.

- Satellite

An option for rural areas, or boats at sea, who are without access to dsl or cable broadband. It obviously requires the installation of a satellite dish. There are two versions of a satellite connection, the cheaper options uses a dial-up connection to upload data demands and downloads the data via the satellite. The more expensive option use the satellite connection to upload and download data. The downside to a satellite connection is it's high latency / slow response time which makes satellite a poor substitution for web applications such as online gaming. Weather can also effect the connection quality.

- ISDN

Integrated services digital network (ISDN), is an international communications standard for sending voice, video, and data over digital telephone lines or normal telephone wires. ISDN is a reliable technology which is heavily used in the broadcast and general business community. With an upload and download speed of 128 kbit/s, it's not a viable alternative for home users with access to broadband. But it's still a high speed alternative to those who only have a dial-up possibility.

- Wireless Internet Connections (Wi-Fi)

Wireless Internet is one the newest types of Internet connection. Instead of using a telephone line or cable, it uses radio frequency bands to connect to the Internet. Wireless Internet will provide an always-on connection and can be accessed from anywhere, as long as you are within the geographical coverage area (hotspot). These tend to be in built up urban centres.

- T-1 Lines

T-1 are lines leased to businesses connecting to the Internet and for Internet Service Providers (ISPs). They offer high usage levels, with a line containing 24 individual channels, which supports 64Kbits per second.

Commonly asked broadband questions,

• DSL Filters

  • A DSL filter is a piece of equipment that plugs into your phone line and allows you to run both a adsl broadband connection and telephone at the same time.

    

• Cable Extensions
  • If the adsl modem is too far away from the phone socket, you may need to use an extension. The maximum reliable distance from the main house socket would be 13 metres for broadband. Plug the extension cable into the filter. Do not plug the extension directly into the phone socket, always go through the filter. Then plug the extension cable directly into the broadband modem

Connection problems with broadband,

• Find a line fault with BT

  • One problem that can effect your broadband connection is a noisy or crackly line. The BT test number 17070 can be used to check the line works. It will do a ring back or quiet line test (allows you to listen for noise).

    If the have found that the line is faulty, then you can contact BT faults on 151 or 154 for business.

• A network cable is unplugged

  • If you are getting disconnected from broadband and getting the error "A network cable is unplugged", it usually means a problem with the BT Voyager 100 usb adsl modem.

    The solution is,

    To turn off your pc and then disconnect you adsl modem from your pc and the phone socket. Then reboot your machine and hopefully your connection will be fine. Otherwise contact your isp.

• Host lookup failure
  • This message is displayed when an error message occurs if the remote PC is not found when you attempt to connect. This is usually because a firewall program such as Zone Alarm or Blackice is blocking the AOL Software. In order to fix this problem, check the firewall blocking list.
• User authentication failed
  • This message / error is displayed when your isp member details have become damaged or corrupt on the isp server, which allows you to gain access to the isp server. To fix this problem, you may need to reinstall your connection software or alter the connection information such as phone numbers, username and password.

My connection is slow. What can I do?

The further you're away from a telephone exchange, then the slower your connection speed will be. Nevermind what your ISP promises, where you live will dictate your speed possibility. If you can discover the maximum speed your address can access, then you may save yourself some money by signing up for a lower speed package. Your speed during peak times (evenings) will also be effected by how many of your neighbours are online and what they are doing (BBC's iplayer is a major bandwidth hog). So, as you can tell, some things are out of your hands when it comes to increasing your connection speed.

Now onto some things which may improve your chances of a speed boost.

If you haven't got the option of broadband, then the only option is to move house (though a little extreme). If enough people in your local area do demand broadband access (I think it's around 300) then BT should install the necessary infrastructure.

Most phone companies are not especially interested in dialup computer connectivity issues these days. If you only have access to dialup then maybe you need to swap companies. The future of Internet connection is cable/broadband, so dialup will become an irrelevance as services on the web become more bandwidth intensive. Broadband overtook dial-up in May 2005, and now makes up over 80% of net connections in the UK.

When it comes to hardware, a quality router using an ethernet port may be worth considering in comparison to a cable modem. A fault with your dsl filter or cables is another factor which may effect your speed. There are also software utilities online which can tweak your hardware for maximum performance.

Finally, if you are a heavy user of bandwidth, then your speed may have been limited by your ISP. If you think that is the case, then moving providers is your only option. ISP's will rarely own up to limiting your connection speed.