BROADBAND
PCWorkspace will gladly install your broadband connection, extend or fit BT specification standard, Cat 5e/6 or shielded data cable, sockets and/or (Wi-Fi) achieving the best possible bandwidth.
BT, Cable (Virgin) and other provider (E.g. AOL; Orange; Pipex; Plus.Net; Sky; TalkTalk; Tiscali), including Wireless broadband services are currently charged a fixed fee of £30.00 (Internet Security Ready (£25.00 OAP)) subject to precise mandate. Broadband line upgrade/cable works start from £35.00 an hour plus materials. Please enquire for a Free BT Broadband and Vision Health Check, call: 01733 777 878.
If uncertain as to the precise cause of your Broadband or Internet failure, perhaps first check with your Internet Service Provider (ISP) - They may say that your supply is okay - In which case the problem can only then be with, the PC (and/or peripheral device), the internal wiring (bb/telephone cabling), or with the user…
…Cabling and filters can breakdown, and it's also conceivable, unawares to you, that there has always been an issue with the installation, and that it has simply worked to a degree before now. It is also possible that one or a number of factors, e.g. distance from the exchange, aluminium 'underground' cable, internal wiring and/or PC issues have only provided a minimum service and you have perhaps been none the wiser because the supply has been nonetheless much better since dial-up. If your service has been on the cusp, it can take little to impact on the supply to the PC or Laptop…
…PC issues are of course also a probable cause, or a contributary factor to your Internet not working properly or at all, and yes this can happen suddenly. One can lose a connection for any number of reasons, not least because the importance of maintaining and optimising the system to sustain performance is not always appreciated. It is important to develop some understanding and to remember that a PC should be fit for purpose (FFP), and that the computer may well be in need of a service. A PC or broadband problem may in actual fact be a combination of any number of issues - please see: Broadband advice below.
Broadband advice
A DSL (None cable) supply to your Modem/Modem Router will preferably be from the Master BT Socket… All filtering should be at source, e.g. the frequency splitter (ADSL Filter) plugged into the telephone wall socket(s). Where a dedicated filtered broadband master socket has not been installed (BT ADSL V10 or equivalent (No filter required)), all telephone sockets on the dsl/broadband line accommodating equipment must be filtered, e.g. answer machines; facsimile; Sky; telephones etc. No device should pass through more than one ADSL filter.
Hard-wired (consequently non-filtered at source) low frequency telephone extensions, e.g. those typically used to provide a connection for Sky will also potentially impact on the bandwidth before it can reach your computer, and further lead to poor service and interference.
Where necessary, ADSL Broadband (Not separate PSTN (STD)) lines providing additional remote services such as Alarm Systems; Calor Gas must also be filtered. Clients should contact their provider of these services for further advice.
Note that DSL (None cable) Broadband requires BT Specification, Broadband High Tension (HT (FAST)) cable or a Broadband Extension (See also: REN). Where broadband is activated and the Modem/Router switched on and in use, internal wiring and/or wrongly placed filters can massively impact on your broadband and in some cases your telephone service, as can telephone extensions, e.g. comms cable/old telecom and/or telephone extension kits or faulty equipment…
…Unsuitable wiring or extensions may provide a quality of services only, and therefore a client who is in transition to broadband from dial-up, for example, may be none the wiser of a poor service but they will nonetheless almost certainly experience a bandwidth loss ranging from 1 to 8Mbps or higher, and conceivable telephone interference.
Where the high frequency (digital) broadband (not low frequency (analogue) telephone) supply to the master socket, e.g. from a junction box in the attic, is limited through poor cabling, to a now obsolete telecom socket for example, then there may be little point to upgrading or adding an internal extension for broadband use specifically, unless the source (old telecom or comms) cable and socket are also upgraded.
In many cases where the supply to the home or office (master telephone socket) is good but there are conceivable internal wiring issues, a wireless connection, or power-line adapters facilitating the transfer of data on an existing electrical circuit, may prove to be the best solution as long as there is access to an electric point near the master telephone socket/modem and, were applicable, there are no major Wi-Fi obstructions.
Caution:
If opting to use power-line adaptors, ensure where possible to plug directly into a mains wall socket. If you must plug into an extension, first of all, if possible, limit to the one extension, and secondly, ensure that it is not a surge-protector.
A broadband connection will perhaps be as much as 160 times faster (8Mb) or greater and therefore more open (vulnerable) than a dial-up account. A computer base unit (consumer unit (body)) not supporting a Licence and/or a Genuine Operating System Installation, i.e. where the installation (software) does not marry with the Licence affixed to the body, the operating system may not validate and consequently become progressively if not rapidly unstable, i.e. impacting most on systems without a Licence, not least those with a new broadband connection.
Typically, but not necessarily, in the SOHO market place, Windows XP 'Professional' Software installed to a home computer is an indication that the installation may not be Genuine and/or will not marry with the Licence affixed to the body conceivably leading to instability and the likely need to re-instate the original or purchase new Software and Licence.
Note:
New to broadband clients will almost certainly be behind with the all important Windows and Internet Security requirements and/or updates simply because of the time needed to download critical updates, i.e. a down-stream requiring as little as one minute on a good broadband (DSL or Cable) connection may take three or more hours on a 56K (PSTN) modem.
Clients should also be aware that third-party installations may not be fully maintained as a consequence of a mostly off dial-up connection and therefore may well be flawed increasing the likelihood of intrusions, of malicious threats to the system.
The advantages of broadband nonetheless far out way the disadvantages. New to broadband users will perhaps all the same consider this and make some allowance as it may well take some time to a) induct an individual and b) subsequently process updates and ensure pre-requisite Internet Security is in place…
…We do ensure that clients have Internet Security in place, and further do what we can to induct where necessary, however this is not reflected in our pricing and consequently may be subject to time constraint. Please ask us about this, we will of course be more than happy to advise, perhaps arrange a return visit and/or private tuition if required.
A faulty computer does not mean that broadband cannot be installed to premises, as this is typically done on the engineer's laptop, i.e. the broadband profile is configured on the remote server and therefore a working PC at the home or office is not essential, albeit a computer would be checked, and routine maintenance carried out, to ensure that the client has access to the Internet…
…If however the PC doesn't offer a gateway to the newly installed broadband, again this doesn't mean that the broadband hasn't been installed and configured, more simply that the computer may require a service - where a PC, perhaps in need of maintenance, will not support a broadband installation, the unit may need to be returned to the workshop for bench testing, service or repair, which is clearly not included as part of the broadband installation.
Help Setting Up
If you would like someone to install your broadband or vision, or perhaps would like some help with your broadband or telephone cabling, please call: Peterborough (01733) 777 878. For more in-depth advice on broadband frequency, internal wiring or troubleshooting bandwidth problems, see: Broadband advice above.
Please note that the BT Broadband Speed Test at the top of this page is a projected bandwidth relating to the post code entered, not an actual speed test. A simple way to establish an approximate bandwidth, is to enter 'speed test' into google, and utilise any number of software speed test tools available online.
Related or similar topics
Cable Works
Internet Security
Internet Services
Licence
Networking
Tuition
Validation
Wireless
Help Setting Up
If you would like someone to install your broadband or vision, or perhaps would like some help with your broadband or telephone cabling, please don't hesitate to call: Peterborough (01733) 777 878.
For more in-depth advice on broadband frequency, internal wiring or troubleshooting bandwidth problems, see: Broadband advice above.
Please enquire for a Free BT Broadband and Vision Health Check, call PCWorkspace on: Peterborough (01733) 576787.
The following executable download supports the BT Voyager 1055 USB Wi-Fi device for Vista:
Windows Vista Compatibility 1065
The BT Voyager 1065 PCMCIA Laptop Wi-Fi card works with Windows Vista but is detected as a Broadcom device.
| Telephone | Area | Number |
|---|---|---|
| BT Support | ||
| Broadband Helpdesk, Business | 08456 | 007020 |
| Broadband Helpdesk, Residential | 08001 | 114567 |
| Broadband Email Account Support (Order Management) | 08081 | 002992 |
| PAYG Email Account Support/Transfer to Broadband | 08006 | 335335 |
| BT Vision | ||
| Helpdesk | 08456 | 007030 |
| Order Management | 01912 | 184116 |
| Sales | 0800 | 800900 |
| Computer Services | ||
| BT Home IT Call | 0800 | 500232 |
| PC Workspace | 01733 | 576787 |
| PC World | 08702 | 420444 |
| Other | ||
| BT Anywhere | 08000 | 328498 |
| BT Billing | 0800 | 443311 |
| BT Mobile | 08000 | 855426 |
| BT Sales | 0800 | 800800 |
| BT Sales (Other) | 0800 | 800060 |
| BT Technical | 0800 | 800151 |
| Mail Servers | ||
|---|---|---|
| BT Click | ||
| Incoming: | pop3.btclick.com | |
| Outgoing: | mail.btclick.com | Outgoing server requires authentication |
| BT Connect | ||
| Incoming: | pop3.btconnect.com | |
| Outgoing: | mail.btconnect.com | Outgoing server requires authentication |
| BT Yahoo | ||
| Incoming: | mail.btinternet.com | |
| Outgoing: | mail.btinternet.com | Outgoing server requires authentication |
