10 top tips for better broadband!

Is your broadband package falling seriously short? Find out how to get the service you're actually paying for.

When it comes to getting a decent broadband deal, speed is a particularly thorny issue. In fact, it’s your number one gripe. And who can blame you given that the connection speed you’re getting doesn’t even come close to the advertised level you’re paying for?

According to research from Consumer Choices, the number of customers who are unhappy with their connection speed has increased for the third year in a row. Now almost one-third (30%) are dissatisfied, while a further 28% are planning to switch providers because the actual speed is falling well short of the advertised speed.

Super-fast broadband

But there is better news. Of customers with superfast broadband of 24Mb or more, over three quarters (76%) are happy with their connection speed. This is way above the average of 55% of users across all broadband packages.

Super-fast broadband looks like it will become increasingly popular in the future with BT and Virgin Media currently battling against each other to corner the fibre optic broadband market. You can find out what they have to offer in The fastest broadband deal ever!

If you want to take advantage of the seemingly more reliable speeds of 24Mb+ packages, here are all the superfast deals which are available today:

10 super fast broadband deals (24Mb+)

Source: BroadbandChoices. *Line rental may be less from a competitor.

Also note that the new BT Infinity deals are capable of speeds of up to 40Mb, but they’re only available in a limited number of areas right now. Option 1 with a 20GB usage limit costs £19.99 a month, while Option 2 with unlimited usage costs £24.99 a month. Both are offered on 18 month contracts. Check this link to find out when BT Infinity will be available where you live.

Is superfast broadband worth it?

Unfortunately, super-fast broadband generally comes with a much higher price tag than packages with standard connection speeds. But is it worth paying the extra? Bear in mind that an 8Mb package with a 10GB usage limit can cost less than £6 a month, so there’s usually a significant premium to pay for a faster connection speed.

Unless you need faster speeds for things like watching internet TV or downloading HD movies regularly, these packages probably have far greater capability than you really need. If you’re not a heavy user, paying the higher monthly cost is a waste of money, frankly.

 If these more expensive deals don’t really provide a viable solution don’t despair because there are plenty of things you can do to improve the service you already have:

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Top 10 tips for maximising your connection speed

Check out these 10 top ways from lovemoney.com partner, BroadbandChoices:

1. Test your speed - Use a speed tester to check the speed you’re actually getting. You can then measure how much it has improved once you’ve tried the following tips.

2. Contact your ISP - If the connection speed is lower than it should be, contact your ISP. They may be able to improve the speed by re-grading the line.

3. Reposition your router - The position of your router can affect your wireless connection. You should avoid obstructions and interference where possible. Don’t place it near appliances which emit wireless signals (e.g. cordless phones) and avoid barriers such as walls and doors between the router and your PC.

4. Clear out your cache - Every time you visit a webpage, your browser will store, or ‘cache’ it. Over time these items take up space, and your cache can get full. To enable it to operate more efficiently, you should clear it out from time to time.

5. Upgrade your browser - Using new browsers can speed up the time it takes to download a webpage. Try www.download.com for free downloads of the latest ones.

6. Monitor your applications - Applications such as RealPlayer or Windows Updates can run in the background whenever you log on. This could slow your connection down. Set these applications so they don’t run automatically.

7. Disable P2P software - It’s a similar story with P2P applications which can continue uploading and downloading even when you think you’ve turned them off. This can slow your connection speed, and use up download allowance. Set the programme to ‘no peer to peer,’ so it won’t run when you’re not using it.

8. Secure your wireless network - If you’re unwittingly sharing your connection with unauthorised users, they’ll be using up valuable bandwidth. This could significantly reduce your speed and use up your download allowance.

9. Use the internet off peak - Connection speeds will slow down when a lot of people are trying to access the internet at the same time. You’ll get faster speeds during off peak times which are generally during the day or late at night.

If you’re still not happy with your connections speed after trying out tips 1 to 9, swiftly move onto tip 10:

10. Switch - If all else fails, it’s time for a new provider. You may be able to find a better package with a faster connection speed than the one you already have at a more competitive price. Use a comparison site like BroadbandChoices to help you find a top deal.

Finally, if you need more help on getting good value broadband, use our excellent Q&A tool to ask the lovemoney.com community what they think.

Compare broadband deals at lovemoney.com partner, BroadbandChoices

More: Super-fast broadband is a rip-off! | Get broadband for £4 a month NOW!