Independently contributed article: A Guide to Broadband Speeds
There`s always been a bit of controversy and confusion about the relative merits and potential speeds achievable using different broadband solutions. The most common form of broadband, ADSL, which uses existing copper telephone wiring to facilitate the connection, is usually advertised with a maximum potential download speed. However, this speed is dependent on the distance your property is from the local telephone exchange and most people will never achieve anywhere near their advertised maximum. The same goes for mobile broadband, the speeds of which are dependent on the performance of your provider`s 3G networks, the level of network coverage in your area and the capabilities of your mobile broadband dongle. Cable broadband, which uses fibre optic technology, provides a much more consistent level of speed and is capable of higher speeds, up to 50Mbps. However, cabled areas are limited and the costs for the fastest connections are considerable.
So what`s the significance of having a fast, stable connection? In these modern times many people are taking advantage of VoIP telephony services which allow voice and video calls to be made between two or more PCs with broadband access. One of the many advantages of VoIP calls is that they won`t cost you a penny on top of your monthly broadband bill and you can talk for as long as you want. However, as VoIP requires that voice and potentially video data is both sent and received over your broadband connection you`ll have to consider both the download and the upload speeds your service is capable of. ADSL broadband takes its name from the fact that a majority of the line is dedicated to an inbound stream of data, which is good for downloading files and streaming video. However, as a result the upload speeds are significantly lower to cope. The upload speeds vary, whether you choose ADSL, Cable or mobile broadband and you can pick and choose services which offer the best speeds to suit your needs, whether VoIP related or otherwise. Checking the potential upload speed is essential for those who like the sound of free voice chat and you should let family know.
In order to assess the current real-life speed that your connection is capable of you might consider using a broadband speed test website. These simple to use yet powerful tests will work in two key ways. First they`ll analyse the download speed your line is operating at by sending a small file to your PC from their servers and recording the speed, then a small file will be uploaded from your PC back to them and the upload speed will be shown onscreen. Since most providers are rarely truthful about the capabilities of the services they offer, particularly in relation to upload speeds which are usually sidelined in advertising, a broadband speed test will help you check up on your service, decide whether VoIP is feasible and help you choose a new provider should you be dissatisfied with your current lot.
Thanks to Top 10 Broadband for contributing this article.
