| As the popularity of broadband has soared, so | | | | improperly configured firewall can actually |
| has the desire for faster download speeds, | | | | add to your download delays. |
| with consumer expectations ever increasing. | | | | |
| | | | Moving away from the software side of things |
| Although the speed of your connection is | | | | and onto the more physical aspects of your |
| limited by your chosen broadband package and | | | | connection and you will find there are a few |
| the distance from your home to your local | | | | things you can do here that should make a |
| telephone exchange, there are a number of | | | | positive difference. |
| measures you can take if you feel your | | | | |
| broadband is underperforming. | | | | To begin with simply reducing the distance |
| | | | between your main socket (where the broadband |
| Firstly, if it is simply your connections | | | | enters your home) and your broadband router |
| browsing speed you are unhappy with, then | | | | can dramatically increase your connection's |
| chances are you would see the benefit of | | | | speed, with increases of up to 3Mbps |
| using an alternative browser. If for | | | | possible. |
| instance, you are using Microsoft's default | | | | |
| IE, then consider switching to Mozilla's | | | | Although a more costly option, upgrading your |
| Firefox. | | | | router may prove useful, especially if you |
| | | | are currently using out of date hardware, |
| Along the same lines, nearly all of the major | | | | which may be faulty. |
| browsers have settings that can be altered, | | | | |
| which should help to speed up page loading | | | | If you connect to the internet through a |
| times. | | | | wireless connection, then the closer you are |
| | | | to the router the better. If there is no way |
| Background applications can have a dramatic | | | | to get closer then purchasing a larger |
| effect on your connections speed. Such | | | | antenna will boost the signal's strength. |
| applications you may only use once, but from | | | | |
| then on in open every time you start up your | | | | If all else fails then it may be worth |
| computer, adding to your bandwidth overhead. | | | | calling your broadband provider, to see if |
| Not only do such applications slow down your | | | | there is anything they can do to help speed |
| connection, but they are likely to add to | | | | things up. Performing a broadband speed test |
| your monthly usage. | | | | is an excellent way of discovering your |
| | | | actual connection speed, and if this differs |
| As well as keeping out unwanted traffic, | | | | highly from what your ISP states, then it may |
| firewalls are an excellent way to monitor | | | | be time to switch to a different broadband |
| which applications are using your connection. | | | | provider. |
| It's important to note though, that an | | | | |