Today, there are well in excess of 100 hundred different broadband providers competing for your business, so needless to say, selecting a broadband provider can get rather confusing from the off. You will also need to consider an even larger selection of packages which in turn are linked into different pricing options. Cost is important, however you still need to make sure that that the provider you choose is going to suit your own particular data needs.

To try and help you make the right choice the following guide has been out together to both give you an understanding of how broadband can be of benefit and how to opt for the right package with the right provider.

How is broadband delivered?

Broadband Providers can deliver either via a standard telephone line, through a digital satellite service or over a digital TV cable connection. You can also have broadband delivered over a mobile connection however for the purposes of this article; mobile broadband services are being excluded.

Why should you use broadband provider?

Broadband providers are able to provide a much faster internet connection of between 1Mb and 50Mb, (compared to just 56K on a dial up connection) improving the time it takes to browse websites and download files, both of which are becoming larger in file size terms. Broadband providers also charge a flat rate regardless of the time spent downloading information, compared to a dial up service in which you generally must pay for the time you are online.

What speed should I decide upon?

Low to medium users, that is you access the internet daily to web browse and pick up emails, should opt for an entry level broadband provider service at the 1Mb-2Mb download speed as even with today's file sizes this is going to provide you with a service that is perfectly adequate.

High internet bandwidth users or Businesses may use applications including online multiplayer internet gaming, multiple users browsing the internet, high quality audio or voice (allowing multiple telephone conversations) or download large data files. If this sounds more like you then a broadband provider that can provide an 8Mb-50Mb connection speed is required.

Selecting a broadband provider?

The fastest way to choose a broadband provider is by using an online price comparison service. Simply type in "Broadband Provider Comparison" into your search engine and check the results. It is recommended to try a few sites to see if they give you the same or similar results. Once you have your shortlist of two or three potential providers check the small print in there terms and conditions. Look out for download restrictions, sometimes the vendor will limit the amount of information that you are allowed to download on a monthly basis and if you reach that limit extra charges could be levied. Also check the contention ratio of the service offered, a contention ration of greater than 10:1 could result in a limited service at peak internet times. Finally check the agreement length and that the price is not increased after a certain period, many broadband providers offer very low deals to gain extra interest but prices go up after a set time.



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Home IP networks are increasingly equipped with network drives. The Network Attached Storage (NAS) is used to create data libraries as well as backup storage. More and more space in the store is taken by multimedia files - photos, movies, music - so it is logical to connect the network to the stereo, HD television, home theater projector.

There is available home equipment with LAN ports, among other things televisions that can cooperate with other devices compliant with DLNA (The Digital Living Network Alliance) certificate. The standard developed by this international body is being implemented in televisions, digital video recorders (DVRs), cellular phones, NAS drives, stereos, home theaters, PCs, laptops, netbooks, palmtops, network printers.

Connecting the TV set to the home network, the user gets access to the media in the home archive or stored e.g. on his/ her mobile phone. For example, selected photos from the mobile phone can be printed during watching them on TV.

If the devices use different standards, it may cause problems. On the Internet the users can find lists of compatible software, operating systems and types of multimedia, as well as appropriate transcoders.

To avoid such problems, simpler solutions are based on hard drives equipped with USB ports (for recording the files) and HDMI, RCA or optical outputs for connection to a home theater.

An integrated concept of home multimedia system was shown at CeBIT 2009 by NETGEAR Inc.
The solution combines in one network with Internet access a number of devices:

* desktop and mobile computers with wired and wireless cards

* NAS drives

* wireless USB print server

* WiFi SKYPE phones

* powerline Ethernet adapters

* multimedia players (digital entertainers)

The core of the home system is one or more multimedia players. They provide access to the multimedia from the archive, home LAN or the Internet. The signals from the players are available in AV, Component Video, Cinch, S/PDIF (coaxial/optical), S-Video, HDMI connectors. The "digital entertainers" are equipped with both wired and wireless Ethernet interfaces.

For transmitting HD video, the company recommends wired links. The reason is that wireless networks (aside from IEEE802.11n draft 2.0) are not suitable for such transmissions. Typical HD movie requires effective (and stable) throughput at a level of about 20 Mbps (it is close to the practical limits of the devices using IEEE802.11a or EEE802.11g standards).



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Wireless internet connections have changed the way people work, communicate, learn and play. Indeed, the possibilities are endless!

What do i require to have a wireless connection?

1. Data card or USB modem - They is a variety of wireless hardware that is available on the market today. They range from 3G cards to the very popular USB modems. The main differentiators are speed and type of slots they go into.

2. SIM card - You need a SIM card from a network provider of your choice (MTN, Vodacom or Cell C) to be hooked to their 3G/ HSDPA service

3. Data quota - This is the equivalent amount of information you will be able to send and receive via email or through browsing, downloading as well as uploading.

What about coverage?

Local service providers have piggy backed their 3G/ HSDPA services on the existing voice infrastructure and this means that coverage for wireless internet is available where cellphones can work. However, the difference lies in the connection speed as some areas have an excellent signal strength than others.

You can get connected whilst you are:

* At the mall

* In a coffee shop

* At the airport

* Waiting for an appointment

* In a train

* At your house or when you are visiting friends, relatives etc.

What can i do with a wireless internet connection?

1. Internet banking

2. Emails

3. Download music/ videos

4. Browse

5. Access files from your office network and send files to the same

6. School projects

7. Skype & video conferencing

Mobile internet solutions have absolutely turned around the manner in which people work, play and communicate!



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