The term ‘Broadband’ commonly refers to high-speed Internet access, in which a wide band of frequencies is available to transmit information. This means that the home computer can do many of the things (which you already have appliances for), but with many advantages, ie. watching TV, listening to the radio and access to a huge selection of music as well as to make phone calls and send videos to others who also have broadband.
With a computer you can keep and manage a collections of things like photos and music. It means you can share things with others - family and friends who are also using the computer. If you missed a TV or radio programme, you can usually get hold of a copy online too, which is more than your radio can do!
How to get a broad band ?
You will need a computer and a phone line in order to get broadband connection into your home. Some cable and satellite TV Companies also provide broadband services, or you can connect to the internet via broadband just by using your landline.
If you want to use your phone line for broadband, you may need to find an Internet Service Provider ( ISP), who provides broadband. There are quite a few providers to choose from, many with different offers, but there are some best things to look out with broadband providers.
The broadband package should be:
(1) A fast connection speed, ie. 8Mbps.
(2) An unlimited download option - These can be more expensive but if you want to watch or download TV programmes an unlimited account means you only pay a fixed price per month. Capped accounts (which might offer 20GB a month) are cheaper to start with but charge you extra if you go over your limit and it can be tricky to know how much you have left.
(3) Free technical support - Always check if you can ring up and ask important questions about broadband service and get their technical support quickly and easily without paying extra.
After signing up for an account, you will be sent a modem through the post or you may have to buy one separately. A modem (a box which plugs into the computer and phone line connecting to the internet). You will have to read the instructions in order to set this up and usually load some software onto your PC which comes with the modem.
Some Internet Service Providers offer an engineer service, that means a technician will call at your house and set everything up for you. |
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