When I realized that I wanted to go back to school, I stopped to think about what I would need to do. It had been years since I cracked open a textbook, much less learned something new on a computer. However, I wanted to succeed, so I started to learn more about technology. I spent hours brushing up on my computer troubleshooting skills and when I was done, I felt a little more prepared. After I started school, I learned even more. I made this blog to teach other people a little about technology, so that you can keep up with your peers.
Broadband services bring immense value in a wide range of commercial and residential settings. Before you pick a broadband company, though, it's a good idea to discuss how the setup will match your needs. These three items should feature highly in your conversation.
Download and Upload Speeds
It is always tempting to think that bigger numbers are better. However, the value of higher and high download and upload speeds is only there if you have massive needs. A single residential customer who just wants 4K video streaming, for example, can probably get by with a 25 Mbps connection. That goes up significantly if you need to run multiple devices, but only if you're running several streams at 4K simultaneously. For most other uses, such as gaming or web browsing, you won't need anything close to that level of per-device bandwidth.
You might assume a business would need massive bandwidth compared to a residence based on that assumption. However, many businesses are relatively light consumers of bandwidth. Even if you have a hundred people emailing spreadsheets to other folks outside the business, your requirements won't be huge.
There are two big exceptions. Businesses with web servers on their premises are likely to require significant bandwidth to sustain simultaneous connections. Also, businesses that need to push gigantic files to remote servers, such as full-drive data backups, will benefit from having high upload speeds.
Modems and Routers
Typically, a broadband services company will provide a modem that also serves as a router. It is important that the modem is capable of meeting your needs. Ask for a model number for the modem they usually provide. This will allow you to verify that it can maximize the bandwidth you're paying for. Also, you can verify how many connections it offers so you can be confident it will handle all of your devices.
Wi-Fi capability usually is a standard modem/router feature. Check the modem's specifications to ensure it has the most modern protocols available. This will generally improve your wireless speeds as long as your devices are modern enough to take advantage of newer protocols.
Caps
Many broadband service providers have caps. Beyond these levels, they may degrade the performance of your connection. It is a good idea to figure out what your monthly bandwidth consumption will be and compare it to the cap. Most companies also offer uncapped plans, especially for businesses, and these may be worthwhile if you expect to use lots of bandwidth every month.
Contact a local broadband service to learn more.
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