subject: How To Find The Fastest Broadband [print this page] The fastest broadband deal is the internet access holy grail but how do you find it?
There are four easy steps to finding your way and getting the fastest broadband deal you can: location, broadband deal, hardware and home check.
Location is the single biggest issue.
There are a number of different aspects of location that can affect the fastest broadband that you'll be able to receive. These include the distance the house is from the exchange and the quality and type of cables in the area.
For example, the vast majority of houses in the UK are served by BT lines (other wise known as a copper phone lines) and these can carry a signal by splitting the phone and broadband signals on a single line into two distinct forms of waves that can arrive simultaneously.
For this reason, it's known as an asymmetrical digital subscriber line or ADSL.
ADSL is one of the slower forms of broadband connection since the line is subject to a lot of interference while fibre cable is one of the fastest connections you can get hold of.
You'll be able to see the details of what's available in your area with any broadband postcode search service but you'll need to get a more specific speed estimate from a broadband provider before you sign up.
Under OFCOM rules, your provider has to tell you this information.
Even so, the broadband deals available in your area will tell you whether you are being served by ADSL or fibre.
At this point you can sign up to the broadband deal that has the fastest possible speed and with the provider that has the best reviews.
For example, some providers have less users on one line (known as a lower contention ratio) which can increase speeds in itself.
It's also worth noting that some providers have different traffic management policies which can help you to choose between otherwise similar providers such as Sky or Virgin.
Hardware is also important when it comes to the fastest broadband.
This is true in a few ways. First, in terms of wireless routers - not all of them are created equal and a decent one can greatly increase your broadband speeds so take at look at what the provider is offering before you sign up.
Second, it's true for your computer - if you empty out your hard drive and internet history (in other words, make your computer run faster in general) you'll notice the difference in your broadband usage.
Lastly, there's the home check.
An unused wire in the front of your property known as the bell wire can increase broadband speeds when it's hooked up to an iplate - also known as a BT accelerator.
If you're a BT customer you should be able to get one of these for free.
