Most Internet users still connect to the Internet using a dialup modem. These will typically connect at speeds of 28k to 56k. These figures are often confusing and difficult to relate to practical terms, and so below is a illustration of how long it takes to download a typical page (www.bbc.co.uk/news) at these speeds.

Speed	Description	D/L Time*
28k	Old modem and/or bad telephone line	19 seconds
56k	Modern modem and good telephone connection	12 seconds

All that Broadband means is a much faster Internet connection. All of the big companies have had faster connections for years and have typically spent tens of thousands of pounds per year to achieve this. There are a number of ways of getting Broadband connections but the two that are currently affordable for homes and small businesses are cable connections and ADSL.

Cable connections are only available where your street is wired to the Cable TV companies. ADSL is only available where your telephone exchange has been 'converted' by BT - currently 80% of the country.

Speed	Description	D/L Time*
512Kbps	Cable	4 seconds

ADSL operates at different speeds depending upon whether you are uploading (e.g. sending email) or downloading (e.g. viewing web pages) data. The download speeds that are available are:

Speed	Description	D/L Time*
512Kbps	ADSL Basic - 512 / 256	4 seconds
1Mbps	ADSL 1 Megabit - 1,024 / 256	2 seconds
2Mbps	ADSL 2 Megabit - 2,048 / 256	1 seconds

In the future we are likely to see more wireless Internet connections and connections using third generation mobile phones.

* These timings are indicative only. Actual speeds depend on caching and website loading, as well as the speed of your computer.

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ADSL uses an ordinary BT telephone connection to a BT telephone exchange. If you have a telephone connection from a cable TV company and no BT line you will not be able to use ADSL.

The ADSL data is sent up and down your existing BT line using a high frequency signal. It does not interfere with your normal use of the telephone line. It is quite possible to use the ADSL connection and the telephone line at the same time. If you find that your telephone is being tied up by a dial-up Internet connection then ADSL will free up your telephone for normal usage as well as giving you a much quicker 'always on' Internet connection.

To stop the high frequency signal from interfering with your telephone you will be supplied with 2 micro-filters. A micro-filter is a little connector that plugs into your existing BT sockets. Your phone in turn plugs into this connector. The micro-filter removes the ADSL signal and allows your phone to operate normally. If you have any other devices such as fax machines, burglar alarms which connect into a BT socket then you will need a micro-filter for each device. You will need one micro-filter for each phone extension or device that you have connected to the telephone line that will be used for ADSL.

If you have several lines or ISDN lines then you have a number of options - give our Helpdesk a call to discuss what you can do.

The micro-filters also have a network socket. Once you have installed the micro-filters choose the one that is nearest to your computer and use the network socket on that micro-filter to connect to your ADSL modem or router.

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As well as providing ADSL services directly to customers, BT also act as a wholesaler of the ADSL service. They supply blocks of connections to independent Internet Service Providers such as Intech.

Intech's role is to provide the final connection to the Internet and to liase with the customer to provide a fast and trouble free installation.

Our aim is to set our prices to be lower than BT's.

As a much smaller company than BT our aim is to provide a much more personal service. Using these web pages and our helpdesk we aim to explain all about ADSL so that you can choose the connection and equipment that is right for your needs. We will then help you through the ordering and installation processes.

Think of it as using a corner shop rather than a supermarket - except that we are cheaper!

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The 'A' in ADSL means asymmetric. This means that ADSL supplies a different connection speed in each direction. The cheapest ADSL connection supplies 512Kbtyes per second download speed and 256Kbytes per second upload speed. When you are surfing the Internet all of the pages that you see are being downloaded and it is consequently download speed that most people require. Upload speed is only required for sending emails with large file attachments, sending or sharing large data, video or audio files, and for running you own web server.

If you wish to use your connection to run your own web server then please read 'Using ADSL for my Webserver'.

Our cheapest product offers 512Kbps/256Kbps speeds and a contention ratio of 50:1. For most homes and small businesses running a single computer this should be acceptable. If you can afford more for a faster connection or if the link will be shared by several computers then you may wish to consider the other products:-

Speed	Contention
512Kbps / 256Kbps	20:1
1,024Kbps / 256Kbps	20:1
2,048Kbps / 256Kbps	20:1

The contention ratio refers to the way in which the connections share bandwidth on BT's internal network. When ADSL was first introduced the concern was that the high contention ratios would mean far lower speeds than the ones quoted. This has not proved to be the case and speed tests nearly always show our 512Kbps connections performing at speed greater than 450Kps. There is, however, no absolute guarantee as it depends on what your fellow Internet users are doing. Once the connections leaves BT's network there is no further contention on our networks.

To see what difference the speed makes see our question 'What is Broadband and ADSL?'

If you require a connection for a business please read 'ADSL for Business'

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If you need someone to install ADSL it is expensive and typically costs over £100. The service we offer is known as 'wires only' which means that we will supply all the necessary equipment and you will need to install it yourself.

But do not panic. Our aim is to guide you through the process of selecting and ordering your ADSL connection. When it is time to install it these web pages and our helpdesk will guide you through the process. You do not need to be an expert.

Very roughly the process involves:-

1. Plugging micro-filters into each telephone socket
2. Plugging the ADSL modem into one micro-socket.
3. Plugging the ADSL modem into your computer
4. Changing some settings on your computer.

If some of these steps do not work then first of all read our instructions again and if it still does not work contact our Helpdesk, during normal business hours. You can email your query if it is out of hours. We will continue to help you until you have your high speed Internet connection.

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The ADSL data travels down your telephone line in the form of a high frequency signal. It needs a device to convert this signal into normal computer data. This device is known as an 'ADSL Modem' It normally is an external box that plugs into your micro-filter at one end and into your computer at the other. If you only need to connect a single computer then just read the next section about USB Modems. These modems do not contain any firewall so please read 'What is a Firewall and do I Need One?'

These are the simplest and cheapest form of connection. They connect a single computer to the Internet via ADSL. Your computer will need a spare USB socket. Most computers built within the last 8 years will have a USB socket. However you should check - the socket is a small rectangular hole. There are no obvious pins as there was with the older and larger serial and printer sockets. When you order your ADSL connection using our ordering pages be sure to order a USB modem. The modem that Intech supply is an EA900 ADSL modem, priced at £38.99. When it arrives and the time comes to install it you will need to follow our simple Installation Instructions on this website. This involves using a CD that comes with the USB modem and entering your new user name and password. A USB modem does not contain any firewall or virus scanning features. Please read 'What is a Firewall and do I Need One?'

When two or more computers or computer devices are connected together over an Ethernet network the connection uses network cables. This form of connection was originally known as 10Base T because the connection speed of the devices was 10Mbits per second. Modern devices connect at 100Mbits per second and this connection is known as 100Base T. Both 10base T and 100Base T connections use the same cables and sockets.

To connect several computers or devices together a 10 / 100 base T cable from each device is plugged into a hub. The devices can then all communicate over the network. If some devices are 10Base T and some are 100base T or if you require a more efficient connection then use a SWITCH instead of a hub. These are now nearly the same price as a hub and most people use them in preference to a hub.

A Switch or a Hub will only connect devices on the same network. If you need to connect several devices to the Internet you are effectively connecting your own network to the world wide network known as the Internet. To do this you will need a ROUTER. A Hub or a Switch or a Router all look very similar and are simply boxes that have a number of network sockets. If you need to connect several computers to the Internet then the easiest way is to network them together and use a combined ADSL modem / router to connect them to the Internet. If this is what you wish to do, then, when you order your ADSL connection using our ordering pages, order an ADSL modem / router. Intech supply a Netgear 4-port ethernet router, which includes an ADSL modem, priced at £84.99. When it arrives and the time comes to install it you will need to follow our simple Installation Instructions on this web site. The ADSL Modem / Router does contain a simple but effective firewall. However, it will not protect you against email viruses. Please read 'What is a Firewall and do I Need One?'

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We offer 4 ADSL products. To use each product you will need to pay a one-off connection charge, and a monthly charge. You will also need to pay for the equipment - ADSL modem or ADSL modem / router.

Product	Speed	Contention	Connection Fee	Monthly Charge
Home 500	512/256	50:1	£57.00	£25.95
Office 500	512/256	20:1	£57.00	£38.95
Office 1000	1,024/256	20:1	£57.00	£57.95
Office 2000	2,048/256	20:1	£57.00	£78.95

The ADSL modem costs £38.99, or if you wish to connect more than one computer, the ADSL modem / router costs £84.99.

When you register on this website you will be asked to give your credit card details. You will need to pay the connection fee, two months line rental, and for your selected equipment. The monthly fee will then be taken from your credit card. If you ever wish to discontinue the service simply stop paying and when the time that you have paid for expires you will be disconnected.

If you are a business and wish to pay by standing order or by invoice (quarterly in advance) please contact our Helpdesk on 01204 675699.

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A small business with a single computer will only need the cheapest ADSL connection and the cheapest ADSL / USB modem.

A small business with a few computers networked together will need the ADSL modem /router. This comes with 4 network ports which can connect to computers with either the new 100Mbits/second network cards or the older 10Mbits/second network cards. Unless there is constant demand for the Internet connection several computers will be able to share a basic 512 / 256 ADSL connection. For more than 5 computers you should probably be looking at a faster connection. Please read 'Which ADSL product should I buy?'

The ADSL modem router that can be purchased from our order taking pages contains a NAT firewall and will protect most small networks. Please see our question 'What is a Firewall and Do I Need One?'. The ADSL modem / router can act as a gateway to your existing office network and can connect perhaps up to 30 computers to the Internet - depending upon the usage. For larger networks a higher performance router and faster Internet connections may be required.

Larger companies will probably have some idea of what they require but please ring our helpdesk for advice. If you need some assistance with your network or Internet connection Intech can offer consultancy services and can help you implement your chosen solution. With a more sophisticated router it is possible to aggregate several ADSL connections together to give up to 8Mb/s access.

For companies that currently use a number of leased lines Intech can offer private ADSL networks. Please ask for more details.

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ADSL means Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. The Asymmetric means that it is faster in one direction than the other.

The entry level product Home 500, for example, gives a speed of 512Kbps from the Internet to your premises, but only 256Kbps from your premises to the Internet. For a typical web user that speed combination is fine. A webserver, however, sends out much more data than it receives (typically) - this speed combination is not ideal if this is what you want to use your ADSL connection for.

For a personal website, however, or a small business website, a speed of 256Kbps is probably most acceptable. With this speed you may be able to accommodate several thousand visitors per day on a typical 'shopping site'.

If you connect a webserver to the Internet then you need to 'open up' your connection to allow outsiders to come in. This means that you will need to know a little about firewalls and you will need to keep your webserver software up-to-date.

In the near future there will be more availability of DSL which will offer the same higher speeds, in both directions.

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There are many kinds of threats to and actions that may be taken against your computer(s) and data. They range from computer viruses and worms through to determined hackers who will try to gain access to your computer.

Whatever protection you put in place there is no absolute guarantee that you will be protected. If, however, you follow the established procedures you are likely to be okay.

You will need two kinds of protection - a firewall and an anti-virus product.

A firewall prevents outside users from gaining access to your system. The best and simplest form is to use a NAT router. This is a router that allows a number of users on an internal network to use a single Internet connection. In order to do this it changes the tcp/ip address on the traffic as it leaves your system and restores the original address when the answer arrives back. The mechanism means that it does not recognise any data arriving from the Internet unless it is a response to an outgoing request. In this way it acts as a kind of one-way street, and effectively protects you against outside intrusion.

One problem with firewalls is that if you want the outside world to have access to your system then you need to open the barriers a little. If you want to run your own webserver or mailserver, for example, you will need to allow access through the firewall to these services, and that will make you more vulnerable.

Another problem with firewalls is that some services do not work well through firewalls. Typically Microsoft's Netmeeting and Internet telephone calls are the type of services that have problems.

If you use a USB modem for ADSL connection then this does not contain any kind of firewall. You will need to get some form of program to act as a firewall. The Norton Anti-Virus / Personal Firewall is one such product. You may find a free product such as Kerio Personal Firewall at www.kerio.com. If, however, you are using the Windows XP then there is a pre-installed option available with this operating system. Click here for more details.

Even if you have a good firewall you will probably choose to allow incoming emails and other kinds of data, in which case you will need some form of virus protection. These are available from Symantec, Sophos and others or from your local computer shop. It is important that these are kept up-to-date and they usually come with a year's subscription.

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