Okay, let’s get one thing clear first. If you’re using Dial-Up for your internet connection, then upgrade now: get Broadband.

Broadband is essential if you plan to surf the web and enjoy the experience. Okay, if you plan to get a few emails, or check a site once a week that is text based, then okay, stick with dial-up. But, for using the internet properly at even half it’s potential, then invest in a Broadband package.

And for those that don’t, it’s only going to get worse. Websites are now built with Broadband users in mind; they are not built considering the sensibilities of dial-up users. Websites are big, complicated chunks of data that offer all manner of goodies, from video-streaming, to real-time communication packages. Even when you access your online bank account, the latest crop of financial institutional websites are stuffed full of ads, guides, interaction and demonstrations. With a slow link, they take an age to load and have a tendency to get stuck as they do.

People need to think of their internet supply as a pipeline to their computer. The wider the pipeline, the more that can come down it. The narrower the pipeline, the less that can get shoved down it. And if you have a 56k modem (dial-up), then very little is coming down your pipeline. Switch to Broadband, and the least you’re likely to get is 256k, which is four times as fast, and as its Broadband, so it’s an ‘always-on’ service. In other words, no more dial-up.

The main problem is of course, and what the marketing men don’t like to admit, is that the U.K. system is creaking under the strain of modern communications demands. Not all of the U.K. can get Broadband and because the carrier system relies mostly on copper wires that were installed after the second world war, then Broadband speeds are not going to reach sub-sonic. Only a few years ago, 1Mb was considered lightening. Now it’s run of the mill, as providers boast of 8Mb and even 16Mb packages. But these, and anything higher, are only really achievable via fibre optic cabling. So, if you live in a City in a modern property, then you might have such a cable passing you, but anyone living outside in the suburbs, Broadband speed comes down to how close you live to a telephone exchange and the actual state of your phone line.

Telephone engineers love recounting horror stories about how in the 1970s aluminum wire was used to replace the original and aging copper cabling. And Broadband signals don’t like aluminum, so if you’re betting always on a good speed, then don’t. And with many Asian cities such as Singapore, now enjoying speeds of plus 20Mb, the U.K. is now looking distinctly backward. Only if the Government bites the bullet and funds a major fibre optic telecommunications system, will Broadband speeds get to where most people want them.

But lets get back to your system.
If you have dial-up, then you can tweak the system to squeeze a little more out of your lowly 56k’s. But, what you should do is get Broadband.

Now, once you have Broadband, what can be done to check it’s performance and tweak it so it flies (well, at least a bit quicker)?

First thing you can do is find out the actual speed of your line. That’s not the same thing as what your Internet Service Provider (ISP) says you’re getting, but your actual speed.

People quite rightly believe that when they pay for a 8Mb link, they will get a glorious 8Mb coming down the pipeline. Wrong, a whole host of factors (some mentioned above), all contribute to dictate your speed. By the way, the average speed today is around 4Mb and climbing.

So, search for one of the many Speed Testers on the internet and they will tell you, quite accurately, the actual speed of your link. And especially if you have had your ISP contract for a while, give them a poke now and again, ask them if there’s anything from their end that they can do to speed up your link.

Next, ensure you are using the best browser package. Many are still using Internet Explorer 6. Now this downloads web page files in sequential order, meaning it’s not the quickest way to build a web page on your computer. Internet Explorer 7, or Mozilla Firefox, builds the pages differently and more efficiently, meaning that it will download quicker than before.

Open up your router manual and have a play with its settings. You can often optimize it’s performance, meaning you can often get more out of it than you think.

Another good tip is to check to see what applications are whirling away in the background, draining bandwidth. Have a quick look at your taskbar – usually bottom far right – and see what’s running. Things like BBC iPlayer, Skype and MSN, could all be running in the background, happily draining bandwidth as they communicate with base.

Also, if you live close to other people surfing (say in a block of flats), just make sure that no-one is using your connection and some of your bandwidth. You should always have a WEP password to stop people nicking some of your pipeline. You could also go one step further and set up a WPA encryption, but at the very least, use a WEP key.

If you’re using Wi-Fi, just make sure you’re getting the best speed by ensuring, in an ideal world of course, that your computer and router have a clear path between them. If they’re going through thick walls, or through other electrical devices, then shift things around a bit. Also, consider a longer router aerial, or get a wireless access point which is in effect a second router, boosting the signal to your computer and helping it get around the difficult spots.

But if your Wi-Fi link is slow, it might be best to jack it in and use an ethernet cable instead (which is more efficient than a USB cable). It may be a technological step backwards, but if the Wi-Fi is struggling, don’t delay.

Have a quick think about your telephone line. It may still incorporate the bell wire that used to cause old telephones to ring. It’s now redundant of course, but it still sits there, a beacon for any electrical interference that the house has to offer, including from old light fittings. A device called an iPlate can be purchased and this will get rid of this line, meaning that with some connections, a 60% improvement can be experienced.

Okay, that’s the simple way to improve a Broadband link. It’s basically about tweaking what you have, rather than looking for a dramatic improvement, but remember, keep on at your ISP to see if they can help improve you speed.

Speed Up Your Internet Connection – Recap

• ditch dial-up, get Broadband;
• speeds increasing all the time; 8Mb common;
• ultra-fast speeds held back by ageing infra-structure;
• test your speed;
• use up-to-date browser;
• tune router;
• turn off background applications;
• check no-one is ear-wigging;
• is Wi-Fi up to scratch;
• consider your telephone line.