• Cable modem

How do I get wireless broadband?

By setting up a wireless network you benefit from the freedom of using your PC all around the home, and even the garden! With wireless networking the family can connect their PCs and peripheral devices, such as printers and scanners, together. It is simple to setup with no unsightly and restrictive wires. Your network is kept secure and safe from hackers with features built into most modern wireless routers.

In order to use your broadband wirelessly you will need a wireless router. This is a small box which links your broadband modem and your PC, and transmits the broadband signal using radio waves within a range designed to cover your property. Many broadband modems now come with a wireless router built in.

In order to pick up the signal your PC or laptop will also need to be wireless enabled. Many new laptops already come with 'wireless' built in, often referred to as 'Wi-Fi', '802.11b' or '802.11g'. Apple refer to their wireless technology as 'Airport'. A PC can easily be wireless enabled by buying a USB dongle or wireless network card. USB dongles are available for around a tenner from Dabs. To review a wide selection of wireless routers at a good price, with free delivery and with impartial consumer reviews, try Amazon. Or for a complete wireless broadband package BT offer wireless free on some of their packages, or you can upgrade from £25.

The benefits are clear - you'll have no more ugly wires trailing everywhere, you can take your Internet with you around the house and you can even create your own home network. Isn't it time you let wireless broadband set you free?

How do I make cheap or free calls using my computer?

Vonage works just like a traditional phone line except calls are made over a user’s existing broadband connection. Calls can be made from your home phone to any landline and mobile around the world. Users can even use their existing digital or touch tone telephone which plugs straight into your existing modem / router & Vonage adapter. Users choose from 13 call plans, from unlimited landline calls within the UK or unlimited landline calls to the UK plus a further 44 countries - all for a low, set monthly fee. (Unlimited calls to mobiles are available for some countries (such as USA). Vonage also offer competitive rates to countries outside of these plans. It is also possible to keep your existing phone number when you move to Vonage. Further Vonage can be taken with you abroad and plugged into any broadband connection globally. So why pick Vonage?

Because you want:
- to make unlimited phone calls to UK landlines
- to be free to call many international landlines (and some mobiles) for a low set monthly fee (all kinds of packages available)
- to be able to use your Vonage phone anywhere in the world, just by plugging it into a broadband connection
- to keep your original number, but ditch your existing phone provider
- if you are a cable customer, to get a cheaper phone service (you can cancel your cable phone line and use Vonage over your cable broadband connection)
- a second phone line so the kids don't hog the main phone (and you want to avoid the £124.99 charge to install a second BT phone line, as well as the second high monthly line rental)
- or a second phone line to use when you're working from home
- the flexibility you get 20 great call features, all included in your call package
- to choose an international dialling code/area code rather than be tied to the one for the country you're in
- the call quality of a landline phone
- to be able to use a normal digital home phone - no messy headsets or wires
- to make phone calls just as normal, whether your computer is on or not

enables you to call any landline or mobile phone in the world for the cost of a local call. And if you call another Skype account over the internet then it's free!!

Links

Broadband map - see if you live or work in a broadband enabled area. If you don't then not to worry as 3 Mobile offer broadband coverage via the UK mobile phone network.
Broadband 4 Britain - the UK's Broadband pressure group and information centre.
Student advice - for university with student advice and guidance on a range of issues.
Online Poker Rooms - compare the bonuses available from online poker rooms at Poker Globe.