Comparing Broadband to Dial-up
Broadband and dial-up connections share connection number of differences, but one of the biggest that the average user will notice right away is speed. When we talk about internet speed, we usually mean how fast 2640t streamyx takes to 'do things' on the web. At the most basic level we talk about how fast web pages load up on best internet service computer and how quickly you can download sms from pc As internet broadband options becomes more common and broadband takes cable modem rental dial-up in terms of popular usage, speed becomes more and more important for download music and movies, using video sites like compare broadband providers and talking to friends over webcam.
Mostly, a dialup connection is only useful for very light net access. It's not unreasonable for people who only use the net to check their emails and read news for a few minutes a day would never really need broadband, but for most of us, this isn't the case. On dial-up, a 3 minute song could take anything from 8-20 minutes. Using even the slowest minimum broadband in the UK, that time is reduced to about 1 minute. The faster broadband connections could download the song - or an entire album - in seconds. Even for people who don't use the internet for downloading will find day-to-day things like web images and email attachments working much faster.
You can think of dial-up like a bike - it's slow, and generally everyone goes the same speed. Broadband is more like a car, you have a lot of different options and generally the more you spend, the faster it will go!
What the Numbers Mean
The numbers that most ISPs advertise can get complicated. They use a system based on the number of 'megabits' a second. This is the speed of which the connection can download in perfect conditions. This is confusing because we measure our actual file sizes in 'Megabytes', a totally different system with a very similar sounding name. That 3 minute song would weigh in at about 4 Megabytes on speed test PC, but it's actually around 32 megabits using the ISP's system.
Confused? We don't blame you. It's often easier for new users to think in terms of dial-up. 1Mbit is about broadband support wireless internet service faster than dialup. 2Mbit is twice that fast, and so on. Most providers will advertise at speeds up to 8Mbit, which is currently fast enough for the majority of internet users.
What ISPS mean when they say 'up to' 8Mbit
ISPs will always advertise the best possible speed. This means that providing your wireless broadband internet connection line can cope, it guarantees that it will provide internet at that speed. Few people in the UK are able to cheapest voip those speeds on regular phone lines, however.
Most ISPs allow you to run 'speed tests' on your line if you already have a telephone number. If they don't, there's one on the BT website that will give you a pretty good indication of what speeds you are likely to get. UK phone lines tend to be quite old and were never originally designed for broadband. Your speed depends on the quality of your line, internet anywhere of your line and most importantly, how far away your house is from your local exchange.
Because so much relies on your phone line, you shouldn't always choose an ISPs fastest offer - what's the point of paying for 8mbit if you can only receive 2mbit? Many ISPs offer reduced rates for slower packages. These days even rural areas are likely to get between 4-6Mbit speeds, but it's worth your time checking what your home is capable of before signing a broadband contract.
http://www.ukcheapbroadband.com helps UK visitors compare broadband services to get the Cheapest Broadband deal for them. The site also has a broadband magazine with lots of information about broadband and related issues.
