New to broadband! Help!

Nic Miller · 28 Mar 2007 at 12:11

Hi guys

Could someone help me get set up correctly with broadband - know nothing about it.

Want the internet principally for general surfing but also to get into online games like WOW. So quick PINGs and good downloads would be good!

Firstly who's recommended? I can get Be at my address - is this worth getting? No cable in our area. Any others worthy?

The website mentions to plug in the modem at the first point the phone line enters the house. Fair enough - it's by the front door.

If I do this I need to go wireless. Is wireless as stable as having it plugged in? Is it as quick ?

If I go wireless what do I need to buy to plug into the PC ?

They talk about plugging in a micro filter into the phone socket - what's this?

Anything else I need/need to know?

The wiring in our house is a little dodgy!

Cheers

Nic

tomwalker · 28 Mar 2007 at 12:33

Nic Miller said:
Hi guys

Could someone help me get set up correctly with broadband - know nothing about it.

Want the internet principally for general surfing but also to get into online games like WOW. So quick PINGs and good downloads would be good!

Firstly who's recommended? I can get Be at my address - is this worth getting? No cable in our area. Any others worthy?

Well if you can get Be then your better off going with them as I recieve brilliant ping speeds which average around the 18ms mark.

The website mentions to plug in the modem at the first point the phone line enters the house. Fair enough - it's by the front door.

If I do this I need to go wireless. Is wireless as stable as having it plugged in? Is it as quick ?

I have my computer connected up via wireless and its extremly smooth and stable when gaming. As for speed I find it adds about 1ms to the ping which is nothing.

If I go wireless what do I need to buy to plug into the PC ?

Just a simple USB wireless dongle is all Im using.

They talk about plugging in a micro filter into the phone socket - what's this?

This splits the phone and adsl connections up to stop the phone from interfering with the broadband signal.

Anything else I need/need to know?

The wiring in our house is a little dodgy!

Cheers

Nic

Hope that helps

Nic Miller · 28 Mar 2007 at 14:29

Cheers that helps - I'm assuming that a PCI WLAN card would be the best way to connect up wirelessly - anyone recommend a nice fast one?

Be have told me that as I am 2.5km from our exchange that I will only be able to get 7meg - is it worth getting their 24meg service? I'm assuming it is to make sure that I actually do get at least 7 ????

If I go with Be - what's the best way to get email - their service or someone else? Can I use outlook? if so how do I get hold of it?

Cheers!

Nic

tomwalker · 28 Mar 2007 at 14:39

The service they offer is upto 24Mb so they just provide you with the highest speed that your line can achieve so do you dont really have a choice about getting the 24Mb service. Do you have any line stats from your current adsl connection like line attenuation and SNR margin?

The email im unsure about but its probably worth checking on their forums about that.

Nic Miller · 28 Mar 2007 at 15:23

Any recommendations on a PCI card anyone?

ps currently on dial up! (actually computer has died so not on anything!)

Trifid · 28 Mar 2007 at 15:34

Are you unable to run a RJ45 cable along the wall to your PC? It would be the best way to connect the PC.

Also, you have to add a filter to every phone line in your hours, including sky if you have that service.

The 7Mbps estimate is exactly that. You may be even further away from the exchange as that and get a worse speed. You may get a better one due to having better quality phone line. What ever happens you will be impressed with the speed compared to 56k.

(I don't know any good PCI wireless cards but I will recommend that you get a antenna on a lead so it is in a better place than up against a wall.)