Saturday, May 12, 2007

How To Choose Between Cheap Broadband Internet UK Providers


Wireless routers, ADSL filters, unlimited bandwidth ... what does it all mean? There are a myriad of cheap broadband internet UK operations on the market and with most packages providing you with very similar features which selection criteria should you be using when attempting to choose?

Forget the terminology for a second. My top consideration would have to be good old customer service. Make sure the provider has a good record on customer service by searching google for phrases like "(company name) broadband review" and suchlike. Look for broadband forums and search the forums for mentions of the provider in question. Often this is enough research to help you thin down your list substantially.

Make sure you are totally clear in your mind as to the contract length which you will be signing up for. Many providers these days will require you to sign up for a 18 month contract or at the very least a 12 month contract. It can be a challenge to find cheap broadband Internet UK companies offering a month by month contract. However, even if you have to sign up for a 12 month contract you can often transfer your contract to another property should you move house.

Should you use cable or ADSL? Many properties in the UK are now served by a cable provider. On balance a broadband cable connection is a much more reliable and stable experience. Broadband ADSL connections utilise the existing phone line network and can be subject to outages and speed reductions. Having said that most people will have no trouble whatsoever with an ADSL connection.

When we are talking about ADSL don't pay too much attention to the maximum download speeds which many companies make a big deal of. The maximum download rate which you will be able to achieve in your property is dependent on many things, the distance from your nearest telephone exchange being a big factor. You should also make sure you do not have an overly long telephone extension lead inside your property for the ADSL modem.

As we have already mentioned, cheap broadband internet UK providers are two a penny these days and you can even find some free broadband deals on the market. To take advantage of free broadband with up to as much as 8Mb download rates you will usually need to take your phone service from the same provider. However this need not cost you more than you currently pay for your phone so it can be a very good idea to switch to a free broadband provider.

Hopefully this article has helped you navigate the minefield which is high-speed Internet access in the UK. Good luck in your quest to find a cheap reliable broadband service provider.

Friday, April 20, 2007

Choosing a Home Phone and Broadband Package UK Provider


With the current convergence of media into an ever more on-line environment, so the companies and industries which provide our media are beginning to converge as well. For a company to survive in today's highly competitive trading environment it has to be flexible and bringing related services together under one roof is one way in which the company of today is adapting.

So rather than getting your phone service and your internet service from two different providers you can now find many home phone and broadband package UK providers battling it out for your business. Better yet, because the industry is so competitive you can find some really good deals.

It wasn't so many years ago that an unfeasibly slow dial-up Internet connection would cost you the best part of �20 a month. Back then I can remember the boffins saying you would never get a standard telephone line to receive faster than 56k. How wrong they were. ADSL Broadband technology came along and you can now receive the Internet at breakneck speeds for a similar price.

With the proliferation of broadband comes the ability to stream voice and video. Something which has the media companies shaking in their boots. This is another factor driving the convergence which I talked about. In a reaction to the threat from free communication over the Internet many UK companies are now offering great deals on your landline home phone and broadband package.

Believe it or not there is even a provider offering a free 8 Meg broadband connection conditional on the fact that you will also take your home phone service from them. This is standard practice. The deal has been very popular in the marketplace and this company have experienced a massive take up of their free broadband service.

The great thing about the Internet is that it takes no prisoners when it comes to business. We the consumers benefit because our various media providers have to work harder to earn our loyalty. If you've been wanting to switch your phone provider but couldn't face all the hassle then now could be good time to bite the bullet. For less than the cost of a Friday night out you can now enjoy lightning fast Internet and unlimited phone calls to any landline in the UK. Doesn't get much better.

Friday, April 13, 2007

Here Comes The Fastest Broadband in the UK


There was a time when I was happy with my 2mb broadband but now we have broadband suppliers offering us up to 24mb broadband here in the UK it's starting to feel like I'm in the slow lane. What today may be the fastest broadband in the UK, tomorrow is being pushed down the list. There seems to be no end in sight as the fastest speed just gets speedier.

The number of broadband providers has mushroomed in the past couple of years and we now see a very competitive market with many broadband deals and broadband packages jostling for position in the google results. For the uninitiated it can be a total nightmare trying to choose between all the different broadband ISPs.

The broadband provider claiming to give us the fastest broadband in the UK may not be the best choice for you as far as customer service, uptime and pricing is concerned. When you are considering the broadband speed you wish to use, unless you are an extremely heavy user you'll probably never need more than 1mb broadband. So if you go for 2mb that gives you a healthy safety net.

When choosing your broadband ISP always always read the small print. If you don't like contracts make sure you are not signing up for twelve months. Some companies don't make a big deal of the requirement to commit to contract. They are quite rare but you can find no contract broadband providers. Just make sure you find some third party reviews before you sign on the dotted line. A particular broadband offer may look fantastic on the front page of the web site but when you read the small print you may find undesirable penalties for cancelling early and such like.

If you have the luxury of choosing between cable broadband or DSL broadband I would recommend going for cable every time. Whilst DSL or ADSL broadband is an adequate solution, nine times out of ten you'll find the cable connection much more stable and reliable.

If you are speed freak and nothing will stop you going for the fastest broadband in the UK then at the time of writing the fastest we could find for residential properties was 24mb broadband. This is lightning fast high-speed Internet but you may find that broadband availability for this speed is extremely limited.

For some of the best deals around try Demon broadband, Freeserve broadband and a newly emerging player by the name of Plusnet broadband. The first two companies have been around for a good while and they have earned the respect of many UK customers.

If you're not completely obsessed with the fastest broadband in the UK and you just want a good reliable cheap deal then you can get an 8mb connection for free if you live in the UK and you switch your phone over too.

Sunday, March 18, 2007

The Advantages of Integrated Connector Modules


A MagJack, or Integrated Connector Module (ICM for short) is a combination of up to 10 discrete components. They include: The RJ45 connector, the impedance matching transformers, 2 LED’s, 4 termination resistors, 1 high voltage capacitor, and often common modes chokes as well.

Today’s ethernet or LAN hardware engineers have two ways to lay these components out on their boards. First, they can do it “discretely.” That is, they can lay out each of the parts I mentioned individually on the board, and this is the way it was typically done up until the late 1990’s. The second, and I believe the better way, to attack this problem, is to use a MagJack, or Integrated Connector Module, from BEL.

The advantages to using a MagJack in an ethernet design are numerous, but I will outline what I believe to be the top reasons to consider this approach.

1. Maximize Avaliable Space. By combining up to 10 components into one housing, you can literally cut the real estate used on a PCB by more than 50%.

2. Maximize Efficiency…in engineering, purchasing, inventory management, and manufacturing. By using 1 component instead of 10, you can turn designs faster, simplify the purchasing process, streamline inventory management, and reduce manufacturing time.

3. Reliability. Most people don’t realize that magnetics are often the least reliable component on a PCB. That is because the fine copper wire used to produce today’s impedance matching transformers is very fragile. By keeping the magnetics, as well as the other 9 components, inside the RJ45 housing, they are protected from heat and other environmental exposure which can accelerate untimely and unexpected field failures.

4. Noise Reduction. Today’s designers are faced with increased system “noise” manifesting itself in any number of forms, such as EMI, RFI, cross talk and jitter. As communication speeds increase, so do the problems brought on by noise. Using MagJacks is a simple way to reduce system noise. You see, by taking all 10 components, including the noise countermeasures like common mode chokes, and housing them within the RJ45, you reduce the number of exposed components, reduce the number of exposed traces, and reduce the overall signal path, all of which significantly reduces system noise. In addition, by using shielded MagJacks, you can reduce system noise even further.

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Comcast Provides The Best In TelecommunicationsThere are certain things that have become necessities of life. These include phone service, cable TV, and high speed Internet access. Given that all of these things are now necessary in day to day life, wouldn't it be great if you could deal with only one company in order to get them all? Wouldn't it also be convenient if your could have all three of those services combined into a single monthly bill? And, wouldn't it be nice if the company that provided you with all three services gave you a break on the cost because you were good enough to get all of the services together?

If all of that sounds too good to be true, then you should think again. Comcast already offers phone service, high speed Internet service and cable TV. Not only that, but Comcast Cable will also bill you for all three services all at once so you only have to write one check. And as if that's not enough, you'll also save money by getting all three of those services from Comcast .

You would think that saving money by having the services bundled together would be enough, but Comcast in also wants to save you even more money. A great example of this can be seen with Comcast's phone service. This phone service is all digital which not only means that you'll get excellent sound quality while using it, but you'll also get plenty money saving bonus features. These features include call forwarding, voice mail, caller ID - pretty much all of the features that the normal phone company charges extra for. The difference is that all of these features - twelve of them in all- are included in every calling plan at no extra charge! The way you'll really save money though is with the fact that Comcast also includes unlimited long distance and local calling to any phone number in North America! You can call as many times as you want and talk as long as you want to each time, and never be charged extra on your phone bill!

Comcast high speed Internet access will also provide you with plenty of ways to save money. Being able to easily access the Internet will open up the possibility of saving money by making it more convenient to manage your money online. You'll also be able to shop around online for the best deals for all of the things that you'd probably pay too much for if you were shopping for them in real stores. A high speed Internet connection from Comcast can also help you access tons of great entertainment. This includes everything from amateur online movies to the best interactive virtual reality video games! You'll be able to download new software to your own computer and start using it right away and even download movies that you can watch on your computer or on your TV if you have the right hardware.

Of course when it comes to watching movies and TV, no other service beats Comcast digital cable TV programming packages. These programming packages vary in size and price so that everyone can find one that fits their tastes and budget, and every one comes with local TV channels, digital audio channels and access to a new type of pay per view service based on video on demand technology for the ultimate in viewer control and convenience.

Now it is possible to have the best of everything for your home with Comcast . Switch to the best home entertainment and telecommunications provider in . Start today. To order, click Special Comcast Offer.

Comcast Can Meet All Your Telecommunications NeedsTechnology now offers the ability to access incredible communications, entertainment, and information from the convenience of home. For all these needs, getting the right service provider is imperative because the wrong provider can make it difficult to take full advantage of these technologies. Comcast is the perfect choice for a provider for all your telecommunications needs because it offers a wide array of services, including cable television, telephone, and Internet access, and it provides an unbeatable level of quality.

Digital phone service is one of the newest services to be offered and is proving to be very impressive. Comcast's telephone service offers features that normally cost a lot extra for one low base price. This enables you to get more convenient and flexible telephone service without spending extra money. Among the features included with every plan are caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding, and voice mail. What is especially impressive about this phone service is that fact that it includes all local and long distance calls. Whether you are calling your home town friend or your parents who live across the country, you will not have to shell out any more than the normal monthly rate. Comcast 's phone service is a great way to save money and to eliminate the annoyance of excessive phone bills.

Comcast's high speed Internet access is as impressive as its phone service. If you have been using slow dial up to access the Internet, you will find the speed and ease of use of cable-based Internet especially attractive. With its incredible speed of over 8 megabytes per second, Comcast's broadband Internet is a much better option for accessing the wealth of information and entertainment available online. These days, every online site runs slowly or sometimes not at all with dial up. A higher speed connection is a must, especially if you want to be able to access online social sites like Second Life, news clips and audio files from sites like CNN or NPR, or video content from YouTube. A high speed Internet connection also gives you the ability to download songs or movies to keep you entertained for hours.

Along with its broadband Internet service, Comcast offers the necessary hardware to get you connected. This includes a cable modem and a wireless router. If you want to access the Internet from computers throughout your house or from gadgets like Smart Phones, you will find the convenience of a wireless router hard to beat.

Though Comcast in now offers great phone and Internet services, it still gives its customers the best cable television. With fully digital service and over 275 channels, the selection is hard to beat. Plus, Comcast offers additional features like High Definition (HDTV) channels, sports programming, digital music, and premium movie channels. Every packages also gives its users access to Comcast's ON DEMAND programming, which gives the user the utmost level of control when watching new release movies. And, of course, it is always possible to get a digital video recorder to make watching regular television more convenient. The DVR is a great way to take full control over your television viewing by being able to easily record programming and even being able to pause and replay live television.

With the ability that modern technology has given us to be able to receive a wide variety of entertainment and information without ever leaving home, it would be a shame not to take advantage of it. Comcast in gives you all the tools you need to meet all your telecommunications needs and to get the best possible entertainment and communications services. Switch to the best. Join all the other happy Comcast customers now. To start the order process, click Comcast Cable Special Promotions.