Wireless home working – how to choose a broadband package Part 2

Yesterday’s guest post by MoneySupermarket.com was the first part of a comprehensive guide to choosing a broadband package for your home business. Today the guide looks at the other vital factors:

Connection Speeds

The speed of your broadband connection will affect how quickly you can get things done, because faster download and upload rates will generally improve your experience of the internet. You will usually pay more for a faster connection, but sometimes your decision will be affected by the types of services that are available in your area.

ADSL broadband, delivered via a standard copper telephone wire, is the most common and widely available, although speeds decrease the further you are away from your nearest exchange branch. For this reason, maximum ADSL speeds are usually 24Mbps (megabits per second), with real-world performance usually being much lower than the advertised peak.

Cable broadband, which uses fibre-optic technology for high-speed connectivity of up to and beyond 100Mbps, is a good option for those who need the fastest possible internet service. However, cable is still available in fewer areas than ADSL, so you may have to stick to one or the other based on your location.

In general, a faster broadband connection will be desirable for home workers, although if this comes at too great an expense then there are staged bundles with lower speeds and costs.

Equipment Set-up

While getting online at high speeds was somewhat challenging a decade ago, things have really become much more user friendly in recent years. Internet service providers (ISPs) will generally outfit new customers with the equipment they need to get online at home as soon as their line has been activated for broadband.

This equipment usually consists of an all-in-one modem and router, although sometimes you may have a modem and a separate router, with both set-ups operating in essentially the same way. The modem deals with the broadband signal, sending data to and from the main network infrastructure, while the router lets you distribute your connection to multiple devices throughout your home.

Most routers offer both wired and wireless connectivity, so while you can plug in a PC or laptop directly using an Ethernet cable, you can also use Wi-Fi devices to get online anywhere within the range of your router’s signal. Each router will have its own settings, often accessible via the web browser of any PC that is connected to it, although you should consult the manual or your ISP if you need additional help.

Wireless Connectivity

With Wi-Fi in your home you will be able to achieve all sorts of things, although it is mainly about allowing you to connect to your broadband service without having to trail wires all over the place. You can set up shop on your kitchen table, take your laptop into the garden or get some late-night work done in your bedroom if you have a wireless router and a Wi-Fi-ready computing device.

Wi-Fi is also a feature of all modern smartphones and tablet devices, so you can use and share your broadband connection with ease. Wi-Fi printers, scanners, photocopiers and a whole host of other office accoutrements will also come in handy for those who work from home.

Interconnectivity and cross-platform compatibility is generally assured if you use products from major brands, although some research prior to purchase will always put you in the best position.