| Welcome to the Anet Broadband ADSL
Guide. The Guide is designed to help clarify any issues or
questions you have regarding ADSL. To help you find the information
you want we have separated the Guide into three main sections: |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
For further
information please call us on Monday to Friday between 9:30am and
5:30pm on 01622 200045. Alternatively you can email us at sales@anet.co.uk
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| What
is ADSL? |
| |
ADSL means Asymmetric Digital
Subscriber Line.
ADSL (also known as broadband) is a service that offers connections
to the Internet up to 40 times faster than a standard dial-up modem. |
|
| |
| How
does it work? |
| |
ADSL enables your normal BT phone line
to operate as though there were two cables. You can receive
phonecalls whilst surfing the net at the same time. Your BT line is
converted to ADSL by sending two different frequencies down the
line. One frequency is for voice calls the other for the computer.
A splitter/microfilter is added to the phone socket of the ADSL
enabled phone line. The splitter/microfilter has two sockets, one
for the phone cable connection and one for the cable that connects
to the ADSL modem or router that you would need to use for this
service.
If you have more than one phone socket connected to the ADSL enabled
phone line then you will need a microfilter for each one. The extra
phones can be plugged into the correct socket of the microfilter,
the other socket of the extra microfilters, where you would normally
attach the modem/router cable, can remain empty. If you run an
extension cable from the microfilter that is attached to the master
socket to another phone then you do not need a microfilter at the
end of this extension. |
|
| |
| How
long does it take to Install? |
| |
| Approximately 10 working days from the
date of order. The actual activation of the equipment can take from
a few minutes to a few hours depending on your ability to configure
the equipment and whether any extra cabling is required. |
|
| |
| Does
an engineer visit my house/premises? |
| |
| No. All the Pure IP Wires Only
products are self-install options which require you to purchase your
own hardware. You will need either an ADSL modem or an ADSL Router.
The modem is normally for a single PC where as the Router allows you
to connect more than one PC. |
|
| |
| Once
I have placed an order how will I know when my line is converted to
ADSL? |
| |
Once you have placed an order you will
receive an acknowledgement via email. We will then contact you
within five working days to inform you of the progress with your
order. Your telephone line must be connected to an ADSL enabled BT
exchange, it must also be of suitable quality to carry the ADSL
frequencies and no more than 5.5km from the exchange for 512k
connections or 3.5km from the exchange for the 1024k and 2048k
connections.
Once we have received your order a line test is carried out to see
if your line has all the necessary requirements and has a reading of
no more than 55 decibels. This is how the quality of your line is
measured. Once your line has passed all the tests we will contact
you with an activation date. |
|
| |
| What
do I have to do once you have confirmed an activation date? |
| |
You will need to purchase an ADSL
modem or ADSL Router, plus microfilters (these may be purchased from
Anet, please check this selection when purchasing your ADSL
service). You will then need to configure the equipment on the day
of activation (if there is a delay in receiving your hardware then
just connect the equipment when you are ready as your telephone line
will continue to operate as normal until you have connected your
ADSL hardware). Once configured you will be able to see if you have
a successful connection. If you experience problems then you will
need to contact the support team.
Once your equipment has been set up, one final test is carried out.
An engineer at the BT exchange will test your connection to see if
the decibel reading is below 60 decibels. If the reading is too high
then your line is unsuitable for the ADSL service and your order
will be cancelled, you will not be charged any fee. Line failure at
this stage is very rare but it is worth checking with your hardware
supplier before you purchase the equipment, that should this
scenario occur, you may return your equipment. If the reading is
below 60 decibels then everything should be OK and you can surf away
and use your telephone at the same time. |
|
| |
| How
long is my contract? |
| |
| All the Wires Only ADSL Products are
one month contracts which are automatically renewed each month
unless you email, fax or contact us by post expressing a wish to
discontinue with the service. We require two weeks prior to the
commencement of your next term/monthly contract. |
|
| |
| How
do I pay for the service? |
| |
| We require a credit or debit card. You
will be billed in advance for the term selected, this can be
monthly, quarterly or yearly. Your card will be debited
automatically each term (this is the term you have chosen when
purchasing the ADSL service) unless you wish to discontinue with the
ADSL service. You may pay by cheque but we only accept annual
payment in advance with this method. |
|
| |
| When
will the first payment be due? |
| |
| Your card will be authorised on the
day of order but will not be debited until the day of activation. If
your line cannot be ADSL enabled then your order will be cancelled
and you will not be charged for this service. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
| What
is the difference between the 50:1, 80:1 and the 20:1 contention
ratio? |
| |
| Anet only use the lower contention
ratios, which are better for business. Some companies are now
offering 80:1 contention ratios. Anet offer 20:1 contention. The
lower the number, the better the service. Currently Anet are
offering the best contention ratio on the market.
The contention ratio is the potential
number of other users that could be sharing your connection to the
ISP's network. So, if everyone was online at the same time and all
using their maximum bandwidth then the speed would slow down either
50 or 20 times respectively (this would be a rare scenario).
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| What
is a static IP address? |
| |
| A static IP address is a number that
is assigned to your computer. When you log on to the Internet your
IP address is like your home address or telephone number. It
identifies who you are. Having ADSL means you are always on line. It
is important to run a firewall to prevent hackers getting into your
system, particularly if you have a fixed IP address. A Static IP
address also allows you to run a server which could be used to host
your email. See VPN and Email Solutions for
more information. |
|
| |
| What
is a dynamic IP address? |
| |
| This differs to a static IP address in
that it is not a permanently assigned address and can change at any
time. These are not suitable if you wanted to run a server or did
not want to run the NAT option on your router. |
|
| |
| Can
I have more than one Static IP address? |
| |
| Yes. This allows you to assign an IP
address to as many PC's as you like that are connected to your LAN.
You may also want to run a hardware firewall and so will need an
extra IP address for this set up. Contact us for further
information. |
|
| |
| How
can I run a LAN set up with only one Static IP address? |
| |
| Many people prefer to use this set up
as it offers a basic protection from hackers. Your router would be
assigned the static IP and you would run the Standard NAT option on
the router. This is a piece of software that assigns Internal IP
addresses to each PC. These Internal addresses are not recognised in
the outside world of the Internet. What the NAT software does is to
assign any data received with an Internal IP address so that it
arrives at the correct destination. Standard NAT only allows
recognised correspondence to be delivered so any hackers will find
it harder to abuse the LAN, particularly as there is no External IP
addresses assigned to any one PC. |
|
| |
| What
is a firewall? |
| |
| This is either a piece of hardware or
software that prevents hackers from abusing your system. It is
strongly recommended that all ADSL customers have a firewall. You
can keep the cost of a firewall down by using a managed solution
from Anet. See VPN and Email Solutions for
more information |
|
| |
| What
is a Virus Checker? |
| |
| This is not the same as a firewall.
This is a piece of software that monitors any data received to see
if it recognises any known viruses. It is important to update your
virus checker regularly as there are new viruses developed all the
time. |
|
| |
| What
hardware do you recommend for your Pure IP service? |
| |
| You will need to purchase a
microfilter for each telephone extension on the enabled line, and an
ADSL modem/router to UK specification. This can be any type of
device eg USB, ethernet, PCI board etc. We place no restrictions on
your choice to allow you to implement the design that works best in
your situation. Although we do not recommend any particular
equipment, two websites which have been recommended to us are
www.dslsource.co.uk and www.solwise.co.uk. You can also purchase
equipment from places like PC World. We do supply a USB modem with 2
microfilters for £85.00 +VAT (this includes p&p) - extra
microfilters can be supplied at £8.00 each +VAT each (please make
sure you request the correct amount of microfilters at the same time
you place your ADSL order). |
|
| |
| What
is a Microfilter/Splitter for? |
| |
| The microfilter/splitter seperates
ADSL (high frequency) signals from the analogue phone (low
frequency) signals. These devices are known as both microfilter and
spliter but are one and the same thing. |
|
| |
| Can
I be online and use the phone at the same time? |
| |
| Yes you can. Although the ADSL and
phone services physically use the same line, they function as two
separate lines. Therefore you should expect to receive bills from BT
for rental and voice calls as usual. |
|
| |
| How
difficult is 'self install'? |
| |
| About as difficult as installing a
printer. Simply plug your modem/router into your microfilter and
install the drivers. If you experience any problems our support team
are on hand to help. |
|
| |
| What
restrictions do you place on your service? |
| |
| None, except of course that we require
no illegal use! We block no ports, we do not restrict bandwidth or
traffic, we do not practice transparent caching, we do not specify
what hardware you use, or how many machines you connect to our
service. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| Are
there any additional or hidden costs? |
| |
| No. There is the setup fee, the
ongoing monthly cost, and the cost of the hardware. Other optional
costs would be if you require more than one IP address, or if you
require top level domain name services or managed server solutions. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
| Will
there be any call charges? |
| |
| There will be no call charges for your
Internet use. You should expect to receive bills from BT for your
line rental and voice calls as usual. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| When
should I buy my hardware/When will you deliver my hardware? |
| |
| If possible we would recommend you
wait until we contact you with the results of your line test. If you
have purchased the hardware from Anet we will dispatch your modem or
router after we have received confirmation of your line test
results. We use recorded delivery and it will be necessary for
someone to sign on the day your modem or router is delivered. If
there is nobody available to sign for the parcel a card will be left
indicating how you may collect your parcel. They are normally left
at the nearest post office collection point. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| Can
I convert an ISDN line to ADSL? |
| |
| Not with the Pure IP Wires Only
Service. You will need to contact BT and arrange for your line to be
converted back to a normal BT phone line and then place your order
for ADSL. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
| What
about Security? |
| |
| You should consider installing a
firewall to protect your systems from any potential hackers. You can
either buy a software or hardware firewall. As your computer will be
permanently online your system is open to abuse. We strongly
recommend installing a managed firewall solution. This keeps the
cost down to a monthly fee and provides you with a host of other
options/services. Take a look at our VPN/Email
server solutions. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
| Reasons
why ADSL may not be available to you |
| |
Some users may not be able to access
ADSL services because their local telephone exchange has not yet
been enabled to provide this service.
Sometimes although you have an ADSL enabled exchange your phone line
may be of too low quality to enable ADSL to run effectively. This is
either due to the length of your cable from the exchange (which must
be 5.5km for 512k connections and 3.5km for the 1024k and 2048k
connections) or it may be that there is interference from
surrounding cables that lay with your cable underground. Sometimes
your cable will be part fibre-optic and ADSL cannot run on a fibre-optic
cable.
The line quality of your BT cable that runs from your house to the
exchange is paramount. A line test is carried out and a reading is
taken in decibels. The first test must read under 55 decibels. Once
this test has been passed a test must be carried out directly from
your property. The reading here must be under 60 decibels. This
second test is carried out once you have connected your equipment -
an engineer at the exchange will send signals down the line to take
a reading.
These are just some of the reasons ADSL may not be able to run on
your phone line. All these reasons will give high decibel readings
that inhibit the ADSL service from working at the optimum level. |
|
| |
| What
do I need to get connected? |
| |
You will need a PC with a spare USB
port or with an Ethernet port, a credit card (to pay for the
service) and a BT Telephone line. You will also need either:
An ADSL ethernet Router + a Microfilter for each phone socket
connected to the enabled ADSL phone line.
OR
An ADSL USB Modem + a Microfilter for each phone socket connected to
the enabled ADSL phone line.
Routers are usually used where you have more than one computer
connected to the Internet; for example in an office setting. A USB
modem is the option you generally use if you have one computer only
accessing the Internet connection.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| How
do I cancel the service? |
| |
| You will need to fax or send a letter
to Anet confirming that you wish to cancel this service. We require
two weeks notice prior to the commencement of your next term/monthly
contract. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Activation
Fee
In order to activate ADSL your telephone
line needs to be connected to ADSL equipment at the exchange. This
is completed by a BT engineer and the fee covers the engineering and
adminstrative costs required to ensure your ADSL service is
activated promptly and to the correct specification.
Activation
Lead Time
Once you place an order for ADSL there
are a number of stages which need to complete before it can be
activated for you. Perhaps the biggest stage is the line quality
test. This usually takes between 2 and 4 days and ensures that your
phone line is suitable for the ADSL service requested. If you are
ordering a wires only service you should wait until we have
confirmed the line quality tests before purchasing your ADSL
equipment. The next stages involve confirming sufficient capacity at
the exchange and perhaps removing any DACS units currently installed
on your line. The whole process usually takes about 10 working days.
Contention
Ratio
ADSL is a shared service. How much it is
shared is defined by the contention ratio. The lower the contention
ratio the better. ADSL is currently available with contention ratios
of either 20:1 or 50:1. So, if you choose the 512Kb, 50:1 service
then every 100 Mbits of Internet bandwidth is shared with 10,000
subscribers. Anet only offer ADSL to businesses to keep the
contention ratio low and keep the service speed high.
Contract
Length
An ADSL service has a minimum contract
length. If you wish to cancel your ADSL service then the remainder
of the contract term will become due. It is not possible to move an
ADSL service to a different address or to a different telephone
line, although you may change your phone number if it is on the same
physical line as your current ADSL service. So, if you move address
then you will need to cancel your ADSL service and re-register at
your new address. Please note, as well as a minimum contract length
there is also a minimum notice period as mentioned in 'How do I
cancel the service.'
Download
Speed
The download speed is the speed at which
you can retrieve information from the Internet. This tends to be the
most important speed measurement as most Internet access is
downloading content. ADSL is an asynchronous service and has been
optimised so that download speeds are faster than upload speeds.
ADSL is currently available in three download speeds of:
512Kbits/sec, 1Mbit/sec and 2 Mbits/sec. These are approximately 10
to 40 times faster than a standard dialup modem.
IP Address
Every device on the Internet has an
Internet Protocol (IP) Address. It can be thought of as similar to a
postal address but for the Internet. Sometimes people talk about a
static or dynamic IP address. This relates to the IP address given
to you when you connect to the Internet. A static address usually
means you always have the same IP address which is unique globally
and will always be you. A dynamic address usually means your IP
address will change over time and that it may not be possible to
connect directly to you from the Internet.
Macintosh
When purchasing your equipment and or
software you should ensure that it supports your exact operating
system details. For Apple Macs there are many variants which
include: MacOS 8, MacOS 9 and MacOS X.
Maximum
Download Speed
When buying ADSL equipment it can be
worthwhile considering its maximum performance rating. ADSL is
currently provided using a standard called G.DMT. This standard
provides scope for faster speeds than currently available to
purchase today, however, tomorrow may bring faster services so if
your equipment can support faster speeds from now this may prove
beneficial. Today's ADSL equipment can typically reach download
speeds of up to 8 Mbits/sec.
Maximum
Upload Speed
When buying ADSL equipment it can be
worthwhile considering its maximum performance rating. ADSL is
currently provided using a standard called G.DMT. This standard
provides scope for faster speeds than currently available to
purchase today, however, tomorrow may bring faster services so if
your equipment can support faster speeds from now this may prove
beneficial. Today's ADSL equipment can typically reach upload speeds
of up to 1 Mbit/sec.
Microfilters
To plugin ADSL equipment into your
telephone line you will need a microfilter for each of your
telephone extensions. Most microfilters tend to do two jobs: a) act
as a splitter to convert a single phone line into an ADSL socket and
a telephone socket, b) filter out the high frequency signals used by
the ADSL equipment so that the telephone service can be used as
normal whilst your ADSL service is connected. When purchasing ADSL
equipment you should check how many microfilters are included as
standard (many packages include 2) and order additional microfilters
if necessary.
Microsoft
Windows Support
When purchasing your equipment and or
software you should ensure that it supports your exact operating
system details. For Microsoft Windows there are many variants which
include: Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 98 SE, Windows 2000,
Windows ME, Windows CE, Windows XP and Windows XP Pro.
Monthly/Quarterly/Yearly
Price
The price indicates the recurring amount
for the service. This will be billed at roughly the same time each
month/quarter/year from your activation date. So, if you are
activated on the 10th of the month then the monthly/quarterly/yearly
amount will be billed to you every 10th of the month/quarter/year.
Payment
Terms
Payments are made at regular intervals.
Depending on the service chosen you can select between either:
monthly, quarterly or annual payment options. So, if you choose to
pay quarterly then each payment is due at quarterly intervals from
your activation date and will be charged to your credit/debit card.
Presentation
ADSL can be supplied in different
physical configurations. It can be supplied with USB presentation in
the form of an ADSL modem which will plug into your USB port of your
computer. It can also be supplied with Ethernet presentation in the
form of an ADSL ethernet router which will plug into your ethernet
network. The wires only presentation is the actual telephone socket
itself. If you go for this option then you will also need an ADSL
microfilter which will allow you to plugin your own ADSL equipment
into the phone extension point.
Upload Speed
The upload speed is the speed at which
you can push information to the Internet. For most users this tends
to be of little importance as most Internet access is downloading
content. ADSL is an asynchronous service and has been optimised so
that download speeds are faster than upload speeds. ADSL currently
has an upload speed of 256Kbits/sec.
Webspace
We provide 5 megabytes of webspace as
standard with our ADSL service. This is the space allocated on our
servers at Anet where your website will be hosted.
Email Address
We provide 5 email accounts with our
ADSL service. You will need to choose your email address once your
ADSL service has become active. You may do this via the members
login area. You will need an email address if you wish to send or
receive emails across the Internet. The email address you choose
must be unique and so when selecting an address you will be informed
if this has already been taken. If you have your own sub domain name
then you can add an email account to this service. Your email
address will then consist of your chosen name then your domain name.
i.e. name@subdomainname.anetbroadband.co.uk. If you do not wish to
use a sub domain name then your email address will be name@anetbroadband.co.uk.
Domain Names
If you already have a domain name
through Anet then you can make full use of it instead of using
anetbroadband.co.uk.
I.E. If you own xyztaxis.co.uk
then your email address could be fred@xyztaxis.co.uk instead
of xyztaxis@anetbroadband.co.uk
Website
Address
A website address is where any Internet
users may find your website that will contain details you have
chosen to be displayed on your website. The website address will be
the domain name you have chosen.
|
|
| |
| ©
2002 Anet Design Ltd. All rights reserved |
If you are new to ADSL then start by reading the 
General Enquiries About ADSL