GetBroadBand.ie

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How do I choose a deal?

Once you've checked which types of broadband Internet are available in your area, the next step is to sign up for the ISP that you think best suits your needs.

There are a couple of factors to consider when choosing your ISP.

1. SPEED - How fast is the connection? And is it fast enough to do all the things you would like to be able to do?

2. CAP - Meaning the amount of Data you are allowed to transfer per month. ISP's reserve the right to charge per megabyte if you go above their CAP.

Speeds - 512Kbps? 2Mbps? What does it mean? Which should I choose?

When it comes to speed it can get confusing! For a start, Internet transfer speeds are measured in kilobits per second and megabits per seconds.

How does this affect what you'll be using your internet connection for? Here's a table to make it simple:

Broadband speeds

Speeds - 512Kbps? 2Mbps? What does it mean? Which should I choose?

When it comes to speed it can get confusing! For a start, Internet transfer speeds are measured in kilobits per second and megabits per seconds.

How does this affect what you'll be using your internet connection for? Here's a table to make it simple:

So you can see that an entry level 512K broadband connection is about ten times faster than a standard dial-up connection.

So, the download time for a typical 5-minute MP3 file is around one and a half minutes with a 512K broadband connection. The time it takes to download is less than the time it takes the song to play. This means that you can listen as you download. This is known as streaming.

This also applies to video. Many sites allow you to watch video, even live video. In many cases video is offered in two or more different sizes or at different qualities. Depending on the connection that you choose you can watch the video at a larger size and better quality.

So lets summarise the different types of Broadband Connections

* Entry-Level - (256K or 512K) is perfect for browsing the web and downloading email. If you download a lot of music or stream video or music then this may not be for you.

* Mid range - A faster connection (1Mb - 2mb) is probably better if you intend to download a lot of music, play games or if you intend to share the Internet connection between more than two or three computers at home or in the office. * High End (3MB - 4MB) The Fastest currently widely available in Ireland. Recommended for very heavy users and for business. There are now offerings of upto 24 Mbps. Suitable for IP Television and VERY fast downloads!

Caps

Always check when choosing whether there is a CAP (download limit).

Not every ISP imposes a limit on how much data you can download with your Internet connection.

Where download limits are imposed, they can range from as little as 4Gb per month to 15Gb or even as high as 250Gb per month.

4 gigabytes is about the amount of data the would fit on six CD-ROM's! If that seems a lot to you then choose an extry level package. The following table shows you what CAP's mean:

It would be very difficult to exceed a download limit just browsing the web but you should consider them if you are going to use your connection to download (or stream) a lot of audio or video files or to download a lot of software.

If you spend several hours of hours a day online, perhaps making use of online radio stations, or playing games, then it's surprising just how much of your usage allowance you'll get through.

Many ISP's currently available offer a 8Gb monthly allowance; should be more than adequate! If you think you are likely to want to download large numbers of files, go for a higher CAP or an ISP with no CAP at all!!!

Other things to consider

We've looked at connection speed and CAPS, what else should you consider before signing up for you broadband connection at getbroadband.ie?

Cost
Expect to pay a minimum of EUR30-40 per month for a package, more if you're going for one of the faster connection speeds. Also check the ISP connection charge. A lot of ISP's are offering free installation. Contact us for more information or check out the special deals from our home page.

Extra Equipment
Will you need to install any extra equipment inside your computer, such as a network card? Do you want your internet connection available throughout your home/business. Check our equipment page for broadband equipment and consultancy area for advice!

Final Checklist

When choosing your connection from getbroadband.ie consider the following:

The Key Considerations:

• What kinds of Broadband connections are available in my area?
• What speed do I need?
• Is a CAP important to me?
• Are the connection, modem and installation included in the cost?
• Do I want a 12 month contract?
• What support does the ISP offer?

Click here to begin searching for your broadband package.