How To Stop Your Computer’s Internet From Running Slow

January 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

People depend on the Internet for business, school and personal use. There are times when your Internet connection can be really slow and unreliable. While in most cases the problem is because of the Internet provider and could be fixed pretty quickly. There will be times that the Internet could be completely slow for days because of a problem on your end. There are a few ways that you could quickly fix a slow Internet connection.

Issues with the phone line

First make sure your phones, answering machine or anything else that is currently plugged into your phone line at home is disconnected. The only thing that should be plugged in is your computer’s modem. Turn the computer on and open your Internet browser. To check the Internet speed, open multiple windows at a time or turn on a video. If the connection is working properly, plug everything back in. Now go back to check the speed again. This is a great way to see if there are any problems with the Internet.

If needed replace the line connecting your modem to the wall jack. There are times where a small knick in the phone line could cause an issue your Internet speed.

If you’re still having problems, contact your phone company for assistance.

Computer problems

While you’re sleeping, run a security scan with a great anti-virus program on your computer. Try and use a program that is designed to spot any spyware. There are quite a few of these programs available for free on the Internet. Always update your anti-virus program when needed and before running any tests. If your computer finds a few issues, make sure to get rid of them. Restart your computer and check your Internet speed.

If you’re still having problems, consider how old your computer is and the possibility of replacing it.

These are just a few helpful tips on how to stop your computer’s Internet from running slow.

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A Town Without Broadband

November 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

For the majority of people, the Internet is just another thing to take for granted. You can access it on your computer, from your Wi-Fi connection on your laptop, using a browser on your smartphone or by using an iPad or other mobile computing device. As difficult as it may be to believe, some areas still do not have access to broadband.

The unfortunate reality of this is more devastating than not being able to update your Twitter feed. The lack of technology causes other problems. Consider the town of Gap in the French Hautes-Alpes. At 2,400 feet above sea level, this area doesn’t have broadband because the cost is too prohibitive.

The lack of broadband connection also means the town will lose its TV signal when the country finishes converting to digital TV. That would be one more technological setback for Gap. Enter French start-up Bluwan. The company can offer broadband service to Gap at a fraction of the cost by using a technology it calls Fibre Through the Air (FTTA). The process is able to transfer high speed broadband at 100Mbit/second and would be able to carry digital TV signals, too.

FTTA is actually a spin off from research done by the French military to help fighter pilots improve their targeting systems. The design was a real-time video analysis. Using this research, Bluwan was able to create a civil application, which may be just what towns like Gap need. FTTA uses radio frequency to deliver the broadband signal.

The low-cost alternative would need to connect a radio transmitter in the mountains near Gap. Bluwan would be able to connect the transmitter to a TV mast in the area. This transmitter would then connect with the closest fiber connection, which is 22 miles away. Once the transmitter receives the signal, it would broadcast the broadband connection. To access the Internet, people would need have a receiver, similar to the way satellite connection work.

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Wireless Internet and Your Laptop

October 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment
A woman typing on a laptop
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One of the great things about having a laptop is that you can take it anywhere. However, while that’s a great feature, one of the drawbacks is that your laptop isn’t able to access wireless internet wherever it goes. The only place that you will be able to log on to the internet is where wireless internet is offered. These are places such as the library, internet cafes, Starbucks and other remote locations featuring this free service to you, and when the service is free there is always a chance of extra files being downloaded. This can cause your memory to be taken up, so before taking advantage of free WiFi cloud storage might be something to consider.

The fact that laptops can’t access wireless internet everywhere is irritating when you consider that the iPhone has wireless internet service virtually anywhere it goes. Well, the good news is that there are a couple ways you can bring wireless internet to your laptop no matter where you are! You just need to decide which one is the best for you.

Use Your iPhone: If you have an iPhone then you do have the ability to get wireless internet to your laptop. There are several applications out there that will give your iPhone the ability to transform itself into a modem for your laptop. However, keep in mind that to access these apps, you will most likely have to jailbreak your iPhone 3.0 first. But, if you have an iPhone 4.0, internet tethering is supported by AT&T when you purchase the Tethering Plan for an additional $20 a month.

Purchase an Internet Air Card: If you don’t have an iPhone, these little gadgets are great for accessing wireless internet on your laptop. Companies like AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint and Sierra Wireless all have air cards that allow laptops to access wireless internet. However, before you purchase an air card, take the time to analyze how much internet usage you require and how much your budget will allow. For example, some air cards allow you two to five megabytes and others only allow 250 gigabytes. Naturally, the price varies for these air cards too. You may be looking at $40 a month or $80 a month – all depending on how much data usage you need. So, make your decision carefully!

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Understanding the Disadvantages of Satellite Internet

October 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Tooway satellite antenna photo.
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Satellite internet is a great option for those that are unable to get internet through other methods. Usually, these are people that live out in the country where internet providers are unable to go. However, before you decide to get satellite internet, it is important that you understand the disadvantages in advance to save yourself a lot of frustration later on.

Price: First, the price of satellite internet can be considerably more than what other internet providers offer. This is because you have to pay for special equipment to be installed. You are also paying for the actual internet service, which is a special convenience since no other internet provider is able to service you.

Time Delay: While satellite internet is much better than dial-up internet service, there is still a bit of a time delay with it. This is natural because of the distance the satellite waves have to travel in order to bring you the information you’re searching for. Generally, the delay is only a few seconds, which isn’t much at all. However, for those that enjoy playing online games, this can be huge. So, be sure you understand the time delay issue if you expect to play an internet game that requires high-speed internet service.

Interference: While any internet service can experience temporary interference, satellite internet is just a little more susceptible to it. This is because it’s a satellite and the satellite has to send waves of information thousands of miles to the satellite home base and back before the website is viewable on your computer screen. So, understand that when you are experiencing bad weather it is quite possible your internet service may be unavailable.

Fair Access Policy: Satellite internet service is subject to the Fair Access Policy, which means that you are limited to the amount of internet bandwidth you can use a day. This is set up to give each satellite internet user the same amount of time online. Therefore, the satellite company can restrict your internet usage. Just be sure you read and understand the Fair Access Policy before subscribing.

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The University of Vermont Prepare to Improve Internet Access

October 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The great telecommunications race in the United States has led to society equating Internet services to quality. With companies continuing to develop faster Internet connection and better quality graphics and resolution, people continue to leap to the newest product as soon as it hits the market. It’s the same thing with other industries as well. DVDs out-did CDs, which put video cassette tapes out to pasture. Even standard DVDs don’t compare to the newest Blue Ray option.

When people still use older methods of technology, most individuals begin to look at the person as outdated. Why would you want to watch a movie at a friend’s house when the friend only has VHS tapes? The same is true for the Internet. If you’re still using a dial-up Internet connection, you’re on the downhill side of technology. While residents can usually use whatever Internet connection they want, using slower speeds can hurt a business.

That’s one of the main reasons why the University of Vermont is upgrading its Internet system to offer the school higher connection speeds. When students are comparing schools, everything counts, especially technology. Consider what one smaller private university did. A few years ago, Abilene Christian University decided to hand out the latest technological gadget to all incoming freshmen. Of course, the school tacked the cost on to tuition, but the move propelled the school forward on the list of many college students’ choices for advancing their education.

The University of Vermont may see a similar boost by upgrading its Internet system. Current students will benefit too, because the increase will put the university in the same league as other research institutions across the country. Without high speed Internet the school will miss out on opportunities to be at the cutting edge of research, which isn’t exactly the best thing when you want to excel in that area.

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Will Computers Keep Up With the Internet?

October 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Internet has become an invaluable tool for most of society, and there’s little doubt it’s here to stay. Year after year, telecommunications companies continue to debut products that top last year’s models, further increasing people’s dependence on the Internet.

When high speed Internet first hit the world, many people wondered why they needed to upgrade their systems. After all, dial-up connected them to the same network as high speed Internet. Plus, it cost less. But, slowly, people began to see the value of faster connection speeds.

People who sat in front of their computers for twenty minutes waiting for a photo to download soon began drumming their fingers on the desk and grumbling about how long the process was taking. Now, the U.S. considers an area underserved if high speed Internet isn’t an option.

For live video streaming, downloading large documents, opening large files, or using a computer for high-resolution graphics, high speed Internet is handy. However, computers have also matched paced with the Internet to be able to improve the entire online experience. But one may wonder whether there will come a time when connection speeds exceed the capability of computers.

You may wonder how this could happen. Consider high definition TVs. Networks spent large sums of money to convert to a recording system that would provide viewers with a better experience by offering clearer images. People with hi-def TVs get the most benefit out of the new programming. But what about people without these more expensive TVs and programming packages? They still get the network, just not the added benefit of the increased quality.

Could the same thing happen with computers and mobile devices? Will there come a point in time when higher speeds no longer translate into tangible differences because computers no longer keep pace? So far, the computer industry is working hard to keep up, but one day soon, the telecommunications industry may just have to lend them a hand.

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Cellular Companies Enter the Wireless Internet War

August 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

It’s hard to throw a stick these days without hitting something that’s wireless. Whether it’s cellular phones, wireless printers, computers, routers, or one of a thousand other things, the truth is that most Americans own several completely wireless devices. The wireless internet war, thus far, has been fought mostly between hardware companies providing routers, as well as internet service providers trying to prove that they have the best wireless possibilities around. Now, a new competitor has entered the hardware and service arena: cell phone providers.

Cell phone companies initially offered the internet connection for phones through their data network, but realizing the lucrative possibilities, moved into offering it for computers as well. The problem with this move is that the internet that was being provided was as slow as slow – almost as bad as dial-up, even. It has been evolving at a rapid pace over the last few years, progressing to what is known as 3G. 3G, which allows for transfer speeds that are substantially higher than dial-up, but substantially lower than most broadband services, became the first subscription based fully mobile wireless that saw true success. Still, it didn’t make much of a dent in a marketplace that was so fully owned by Broadband companies.

Enter 4G. As of the 2009 release of 4G Sprint wireless access cards, followed by the 2010 release of Sprint’s first 4G phone, titled the Evo, the wireless world is changing yet again. The speeds of cellular wireless access have quintupled, allowing for rates of transfer that are similar to current broadband connections. Wireless access cards or enabled 4G devices allow for computers, phones, and any other connected devices to get in touch with the internet from anywhere that is set up for 4G.

There are still drawbacks within 4G networks. They may be cheaper than Broadband, and just as fast, but they require expensive software, and only work in select areas where 4G cell sites have been installed. While this advance indicates a paradigm shift on the horizon, it will still be several years before cellular access is fully competitive with broadband.

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High-Speed Internet Expands its Horizons

July 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

High-speed Internet, perhaps as longed for in western Kansas as in eastern Africa, will be coming into the homes of thousands of additional people in the U.S. as a multi-billion dollar stimulus package, intended to make access to high-speed Internet more widespread, begins to be spent. With people using the Internet for shopping, conducting business, and even getting payday loans, better Internet access is being relied upon to help stimulate the economy.

Dial-up service is usually the only affordable Internet access available in rural areas in the U.S., where many have to travel to a library to check their e-mail. The new stimulus package awards grants and loans to companies large and small to encourage them to lay more fiber optic lines and erect additional microwave towers. Most improvements in Internet access have and will go to hospitals, libraries, and schools, where companies see more profit from the expense they go to to lay lines in areas that are geographically difficult to access. But lawmakers hope that the money given to Internet providers will encourage them to make high-speed Internet more easily available to homes and businesses as well.

Many small business owners are glad for the change. Better Internet access will increase the amount of business they can conduct online, which in turn can increase their profit margins. Some, however, worry that if their customers get increased Internet access, they won’t frequent local stores as often, hurting the economy of already impoverished rural areas. These customers may even be able to receive federal aid to help them afford their Internet bills, adding insult to injury. But this kind of give-and-take has been the story of stimulus packages in a weak but complex economy. For many business owners, the bottom line is the bottom line: better Internet means better business.

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How Satellite Internet Works

March 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Eutelsat's KA-SAT satellite artist view (launc...
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Satellite internet connections are more and more popular, largely thanks to new technologies that allow for faster connection speeds and lower prices for subscribers. The wireless internet provided by satellite companies is certainly faster than dial-up alternatives, and is far more readily available in rural areas than DSL or Cable internet. So, how exactly is satellite internet able to offer affordable and speedy internet access to such a broad geographic area?

One of the reasons that the price and speed for satellite net connections has improved is the approach known as geostationary connection. Geostationary connection gets your home’s satellite receiver in touch with a satellite that is always in the same direction. Obviously, the satellite is constantly revolving around the world, so it’s not in the same “position.” However, it is revolving on a trajectory that allows it to be in the same position relative to your receiver. This means fewer problems maintaining a stable connection, lower installation costs, and greater overall performance consistency.

In order to cover all these different areas, different satellites are launched. An independent satellite is needed for each area the size of the state of Wyoming, give or take. These satellites themselves function at an incredibly high “rate of transfer,” or in more common terms, speed. Their frequency is 18 ghz or higher – an earth shattering speed so impressive that it would overload your computer. So the transmission of data goes between the satellite and the receiver, and the receiver’s hardware tones down the data before it gets to your computer, or before your information is transmitted up to the satellite, minimizing the amount of data that actually needs to be displayed or sent. This transfer and conversion is what causes the latency often associated with satellite net connect ions.

This conversion also works to minimize the total data that can be transfered. This works to the advantage of all subscribers in the area, since all of the people using the same satellite will take up a portion of that satellite’s resources.

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