Internet Connectivity

Dialup, Broadband and more. Items related to physically connecting your computer to the internet.

Can I combine two internet connections to get a faster connection?
Everyone wants a faster internet connection, and I'm frequently asked if it's possible to combine two or more connections for speed. The answer is yes ... but. (Continue reading...)

Can my ISP turn off my modem if I use bittorrent?
ISPs can take action based on the types of things you do on your internet connection. Turning off the modem might be possible, but unlikely. (Continue reading...)

Do I need a new computer to keep up with my faster internet connection?
If your new faster internet connection doesn't perform as expected there are several things to look at, but the age of your machine probably isn't one. (Continue reading...)

How can I stop my computer from connecting to the internet automatically?
Your computer can automatically dial the internet for two reasons: it's configured to, or you have spyware. Both should be checked. (Continue reading...)

Just how long should a download take?
How quickly a download takes depends on many things including the size of the file and the speed of your connection, among other things. (Continue reading...)

My ISP's DNS servers are timing out frequently, what can I do?
Slow Domain Name System (DNS) lookups can affect your apparent internet speed. Your ISP should provide fast DNS, but there are also alternatives. (Continue reading...)

Why is DSL so much more complicated to setup than cable?
The technology used to connect to the internet - DSL, Cable or something else - actually plays less of a role in setup complexity than you might think. (Continue reading...)

Why is my modem taking longer and longer to connect?
With some ISPs devaluing dialup in favor of broadband, there are many reasons dialup might start to get slightly more problematic over time. (Continue reading...)