Broadband Install and Repair | Telecoms | Wireless Broadband

PCWorkspace is an established broadband repair and computer specialist offering PC repair and IT support for domestic and commercial, home and small business in Peterborough. We will gladly install your broadband, extend or fit BT specification standard, Cat 5e/6 or shielded data cable, sockets and/or WiFi achieving the best conceivable bandwidth. BT, Cable (Virgin) and other provider (Mobile; AOL; o2, Orange; Plus.Net; Sky; TalkTalk…), including Wireless broadband services are currently charged a fixed fee of £30.00 (Inc. Security Essentials (£25.00 OAP)) subject to precise mandate. Broadband line upgrade/cable works start from £35.00 (£30.00 OAP) an hour plus materials.

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Free Broadband Assessment

PCWorkspace can help… selecting another provider or the right deal may not be as difficult as you perhaps thought. We are happy to freely advise, and will almost certainly save you money – please call: (01733) 777878 for further details.

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Broadband and/or Internet Failure

If uncertain as to the precise cause of your broadband failure, consider first checking with your Internet Service Provider (ISP). They will perhaps confirm that your supply is okay – in which case the problem will then likely be with, the PC (and/or peripheral device, modem, wireless adapter), the internal wiring (broadband/telephone cabling), or with the user. Cabling and filters can of course breakdown, and it's also conceivable, unawares to you, that there has always been an issue with the installation, and that it may have simply worked to an extent before now.

It is 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 quality of service, and maybe also that the end-user is none the wiser because the supply has been much better since dial-up. If the service has by chance been on the cusp, it can of course then take little to impact on the end supply to the computer.

Of course PC issues are also a probable cause, or a contributory factor to your Internet not working properly or at all. 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 consider that a computer should be fit for purpose or that it may simply be in need of a service. A computer or broadband problem might in actual fact be a combination of any number of issues – please see below.

Broadband and Telecoms Advice

A (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 adsl/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 and, where necessary, ADSL Broadband (not separate PSTN (STD)) lines providing additional remote services such as Alarm Systems; Calor Gas must also be filtered at source, and clients should contact their provider of these services for further advice.

Note that ADSL 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 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, 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 building 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 WiFi obstructions.

Caution

Hard-wired (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.

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 at all 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.

Where a computer base unit (consumer unit (body)) does not support a Licence and/or a Genuine Operating System installation, i.e. where the installation does not marry with the licence affixed to the body, the operating system may not validate and consequently become progressively if not rapidly unstable – impacting most on systems without a Licence, not least those with a new broadband connection.

Often 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 (ADSL 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 outweigh 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 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.

Note

Albeit a computer is always checked and routine maintenance carried out to ensure that the client has access to the Internet – a faulty computer does not mean that broadband cannot be installed to premises, as this is typically carried out on the engineer's laptop, i.e. the broadband profile is configured on the remote server and therefore a working computer at the home or office is not essential…

…If the home/office 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 computer, 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 installation.

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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) 777878. For more in-depth advice on broadband frequency, internal wiring or troubleshooting bandwidth problems, see 'Broadband and Telecoms Advice' above.

Wireless

Internet is reinstated as standard, and a pre-configured WiFi connection qualifies for re-configuration free of charge where a system has been returned to a client following repair or upgrade. Otherwise, Broadband and Wireless (WiFi) services are fixed at £30.00 (£25.00 OAP (includes complimentary maintenance)).

Typically, a wireless broadband modem/router provided by the Internet Service Provider (ISP) will be secured by default, and therefore the Internet cannot generally be accessed through the device other than by the client who is further provided with a wireless modem/router specific WEP or WPA key to unlock the encryption.

Those with an unsecured wireless network have conceivably purchased a third-party modem/wireless router, one that has not been provided by their ISP, which has possibly not then been configured correctly, if at all – possibly because the third-party device is not supported by the provider and/or one is simply unaware that it is unsecured, unmindful that it will not have a unique SSID and, unless it is configured to the broadband profile, their Internet may be accessed (in breach of the law) by anyone in the immediate area who has a system fitted with a WiFi adapter.

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