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Broadband

MrMonty said:
I guess you're not following me on the whole physical vs. TCP/UDP port thing. TCP/UDP ports cannot be soldered shut, they are software, not part of the phsical layer. You have the potential for thousands of TCP/UDP ports running through your one or two physical Ethernet port. Forget about it, not important.

Your view on security is naive. I thought the same way a few years ago, didn't even have anti-virus. It's different now, it's a must if you're on broadband. I hope you sleep well knowing your PC may be used for all sorts of illegal activities including child porn, phishing, DOSing, SPAM relay, Zombie, and who knows what else. Do a little research, buy a $50 router or run XP sp2 with the firewall turned on at least. It's not that difficult to learn how to let certain programs through the firewall. I really urge you to do these things. I'm sure there are more security conscious people that would demand you do these things and hold you accountable for illegal activities that might take place using your hardware, by proxy.

Monty
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I am not naive you are just paranoid. If anybody messed with my computer I could tell. With your firewall you probably can't and wouldn't. Nothing more to say to you.
 
Vagabond said:
Looks like you just copied that word for word out of a book too.
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I'm not sure if I should be insulted or delighted by this.

Regardless, I'm not known as a plagiarist around these parts, I'll always cite the source of a quoted passage. That there was no citation in this case should lead you to the appropriate conclusion of whose words they are.
 
Sharon I think you got more techie answers than you wanted.

Broadband in the UK, for domestic use, generally means an ADSL line.

If you are paying two line rentals, you can actually get broadband and SAVE MONEY (HOORAY!)

The line will remain BT. You CAN buy ADSL service from BT , or you can contact any of many Internet Providers (IPs) who rent linespace from BT and sublet it to users. Good ones are Demon. Pipex. Nildram. BT itself . There are loads. Google "ADSL UK" for lists.

The install process usually takes about ten days from order.
There is no actual physical work done in your house. (Though you may differ here, since you will probably want your second line removed.)

The change takes place at the exchange. Basically, someone pulls a switch, or swaps a part- I dunno and you don't need to either.
For this, BT charge about 59 QUID (SHOCK! HORROR!)
Some IPs pass this straight to the customer.
Others offer FREE install , but require you to commit to a 12 month contract. If you pull out in less than a year, they charge you the 59 pounds then.

The actual instal you can do yourself. You plug a couple of filters into the existing line to any phones in the house. Two minutes. The rest is a matter of setting up some software. The filters are about 5-10 quid each. You can buy them in a pc shop, or from whichever IP you choose.

The next question is how you actually connect your pc to the ADSL line. This requires an ADSL modem. This is different from the dial up modem in your pc now.

Again, some IPs will provide a modem, either for sale or free. If free, it's usually a basic, year old model.

There's a slightly more complex beast called an ADSL router modem. This does the same as the modem, but also has connections to set up a home network, if you need to use more than one pc. Good ones also have a built in firewall, which can help stave off the kind of junk we can all get from the internet.
I use a router modem. (You may also see them called Gateways, or portals).

A router copnnects the modem to each pc using ethernet cable. Or you can get a wireless router modem and go WiFi. No cables.


Your modem or Router Modem plugs into the ADSL line and then into the pc. There should be some software with it. You install that and it asks for some simple data provided by the IP. You enter that and you're in business. Simple. There should also be another connection in the modem / RM to plug another phone in.

The Modem /RM may have a built in filter. Lots of noise on the ophone means you need another filter.

There have been big changes in the last few weeks in ADSL speed. Till recently, 512kilobit / second was standard. This has jumped to 1megabit, or 2 megabit/ second.

There is also a question of how much you plan to download. The more expensive packages offer either unlimited download per month, or high
Blast. Gotta go.
I'll continue later.


Edit- I'm back. Where was I?
Transfer rates. 512 / 1Mb / 2Mb.
You can now get 2Mb for as little as 16 pounds a month, with some limitations on download capacity.Remember you can still use your phone, while online, so that's less than you are paying in line rental right now.
You have to decide how much you think you will download. If you aim to stream radio and video from the 'net, you may want to pay more (up to about 26 pounds a month) for an unlimited (uncapped) or high download limit account. If you only plan light use, go for a lower limited account.

I have a 512k account with Nildram. This will go up to 2Mb in the summer, with a 60Gigabyte per month download limit. (In office hours).

My mother (aged 80) is running Nildram's 2Mb/sec limited account on her Linux Box. (She's a Nerd Poseur par excellence).
Both are good for the need. Nildram are not the cheapest and DO want the connection charge up front.

BT are OK- and if you are having the second line withdrawn, they might be best for you. Ask around. Also search this forum. there was at least one other thread on this a month or two back.

nb. You will never actually get the speeds quoted, but a 512k account is still 10 x quicker on average than dial up.

A.
Last thoughts- The "Free"install is probably worth it as you are unlikely to switch IP within a year. The free filters and modem probably less so. Better to buy the stuff you actually want from DABS.com or someone. I do suggest a router modem with at least two ethernet ports and a phone port. Zoom or Linksys are reliable makes. Make sure it's got a NAT firewall built in.
You will be online A LOT more than before. This means you need to be more aware of security. Good firewall (NOT XP's) good anti virus, good spyware. And execise caution.

I'm home about June 7th if you are needing someone to yak with on this.
A.
 
Vagabond said:
As far as speed goes if you are getting 500-600 MBS that is good.
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Good? I'd say it was fantastic!!! It seems like only yesterday I could download a 1meg file in about 15 minutes. :D

Is this some kinda super DSL service? Which ISP is it, I wanna sign up!!

RayG
 
Vagabond said:
If anybody messed with my computer I could tell.
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Cause you're psychic?

No, seriously, HOW could you tell? Re-arranged desktop icons? Mouse droppings? The smell of perfume/cologne? What?

If you have no security, you must have a hell of a memory. ;)

RayG
 
Vagabond said:
I am not naive you are just paranoid. If anybody messed with my computer I could tell. With your firewall you probably can't and wouldn't. Nothing more to say to you.
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Okay. I wasn't trying to be hostile. I'll still try to make a few points, even though it doesn't seem like you're listening.

I am an EE whose been using computers for almost 20 years now, I know a little about these things. IMO what you are calling paranoia I call taking simple precautions. It's necessary in this day and age, especially when dealing with always connected broadband.

The attitude you have that you know everything about your computer is what makes me think you're a bit naive. I believe I know my computer inside and out, down to what assembly code the processor is executing and what some of the components and traces are for on the various circuit boards. I still won't sit here and profess that I would know for sure if someone was messing with my computer. I'm not some ultra l33t black hat with mad h4xor sk1llz. You, from your posts, exhibit a small understanding of basic computer and network principals. I'm sorry, just from the whole ports thing that you didn't seem to grasp tells me you just don't get it. I see you're also the one talking about 500-600MBS. That doesn't make sense either.

Sharon: listen to Soapy Sam, sorry about the derailment.

Monty
 
MrMonty said:
Okay. I wasn't trying to be hostile. I'll still try to make a few points, even though it doesn't seem like you're listening.

I am an EE whose been using computers for almost 20 years now, I know a little about these things. IMO what you are calling paranoia I call taking simple precautions. It's necessary in this day and age, especially when dealing with always connected broadband.

The attitude you have that you know everything about your computer is what makes me think you're a bit naive. I believe I know my computer inside and out, down to what assembly code the processor is executing and what some of the components and traces are for on the various circuit boards. I still won't sit here and profess that I would know for sure if someone was messing with my computer. I'm not some ultra l33t black hat with mad h4xor sk1llz. You, from your posts, exhibit a small understanding of basic computer and network principals. I'm sorry, just from the whole ports thing that you didn't seem to grasp tells me you just don't get it. I see you're also the one talking about 500-600MBS. That doesn't make sense either.

Sharon: listen to Soapy Sam, sorry about the derailment.

Monty
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Look, calling me naive because I don't happen to agree with your dire view of the world is being hostile. Assuming you automatically know more about computers than I do is naive. If I am offering somebody some information and trying to help and I make an error that does not mean you need to pounce on the person. You can nicely offer a correction or ignore if it is irrelevent. But, you are not helping when you pounce on the person, or worse like Icon pounce on a mistake he only thought I made. You and he are not looking to help anybody but looking to start arguments or make yourselves look smarter by trying to make others look dumb. I don't need that I got better things to do.

If you go to http://us.mcafee.com/root/speedometer/test_0600.asp and do a speed test what does it say under the DSL as far as speed goes? 500 perhaps? That is what I used to have customers test their speed so that is what I was going by. Most people get megabit, and kilobit, and mega byte and kilobytes confused. Most people will multiply the bits by 10 to determine the bytes when they should by 8. How things are and how they should be is two different things. I am used to talking people through in the most basic way possible. My last job after all if you would have paid attention was doing tech support for SBC DSL. So I think might know something about it. The "ports" you are talking about and what I am talking about aren't the same thing. I have no idea what the hell you even mean, and you know what it's irrelevent and it's not, nor ever was the topic of conversation. You say me not knowing about your "ports" makes you wonder about my computer knowledge. Well you buying two pieces of equipment to do the same thing as one for the same price or less and not even knowing this doesn't make me think a whole lot about yours either.

That said I was getting kilobits and megabits confused. The average speed for DSL is 500 kilobits a second. I just tested my cable modem and it is fast. 1.571 megabits per second or 1571 kilobits per second or 201.07 kilobytes per second. Now that 3 mbps DSL looks much better.
 
Vagabond said:
But, you are not helping when you pounce on the person, or worse like Icon pounce on a mistake he only thought I made.
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I didn't only think you made a mistake, you wrote something that is patently false. A byte is eight bits by definition, and there's no getting around that.

Vagabond said:
Most people get megabit, and kilobit, and mega byte and kilobytes confused. Most people will multiply the bits by 10 to determine the bytes when they should by 8.
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Which most people? Do you have a paper to support this assertion?
 
Hi Soapy Sam

Just what I needed. Thanks for the info. I'll print it off, have a read and no doubt might have a few questions if that's ok?
Thanks again
Sharon;)
 
Re: Re: Broadband

Interesting Ian said:
Not sure if the cable can just come from anywhere, so not sure if you can keep computer in the boxroom.
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I believe that it is the fashion these days to have a Wireless Router/ADSL Modem installed, in which case you can put your computer wherever you like.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, please, because that's what I'm planning to do myself :D
 
Any time. I'm on wierd shifts, so if you get no reply for a day, I don't have you on "ignore". Probably someone else will whime in with the info anyway. :)

Another thought. Most adsl modems (M) or router modems (RM) are external- they sit on top of the PC, not inside. This means you get to watch the blinking lights. Some connect via a USB port, some via the Ethernet (Network) port. Some do both. Go for ethernet connection. Your USB ports are busy enough already.

ps- I'm one of the UK's 0.5% who have no TV, terrestrial, extra-terrestrial or Planet X. It didn't enter my head that you might have cable. If you do, by all means ask your cable company about broadband. I'm totally ignorant about it I'm afraid.
 
Iconoclast said:
I didn't only think you made a mistake, you wrote something that is patently false. A byte is eight bits by definition, and there's no getting around that.

Which most people? Do you have a paper to support this assertion?
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Thanks for reaffirming my point for me.
 
Vagabond said:
Most people get megabit, and kilobit, and mega byte and kilobytes confused. ...My last job after all if you would have paid attention was doing tech support for SBC DSL. So I think might know something about it.
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I would hope most people that do tech support for DSL would know the difference. You've proven that's not the case.

Vagabond said:
The "ports" you are talking about and what I am talking about aren't the same thing. I have no idea what the hell you even mean, and you know what it's irrelevent and it's not, nor ever was the topic of conversation. You say me not knowing about your "ports" makes you wonder about my computer knowledge.
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You're making me wonder what kind of knowledge is required to be a tech support person for SBC DSL. Sounds like no computer experience is necessary.

Vagabond said:
That said I was getting kilobits and megabits confused.
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That doesn't seem to be the only thing yer confused about.

I'm still wondering HOW you know when someone has messed with yer computer.

RayG
 
RayG said:
I would hope most people that do tech support for DSL would know the difference. You've proven that's not the case.



You're making me wonder what kind of knowledge is required to be a tech support person for SBC DSL. Sounds like no computer experience is necessary.



That doesn't seem to be the only thing yer confused about.

I'm still wondering HOW you know when someone has messed with yer computer.

RayG
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Well, it's very complicated but it's very similar to your ability to still hear when the space between your ears is full of diaper filling.
 
RayG said:
Sounds like yer just blowing hot air. Is that a trend with you?

RayG
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It would be far more appropriate for you to ask yourself that question than I. You are the one that didn't offer one single fact to the conversation yet feels justified in taking shots at me for the ones I offered.
 
Vagabond said:
It would be far more appropriate for you to ask yourself that question than I. You are the one that didn't offer one single fact to the conversation yet feels justified in taking shots at me for the ones I offered.
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After your curious claim, I keep asking you a question that you avoid answering.

Could it be that you don't actually know what yer talking about?

RayG
 
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