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Internet Connectivity
Questions and answers related specifically to connecting to the Internet.
Can I combine two internet connections to get a faster connection?
Everyone wants a faster internet connection. I'm frequently asked if it's possible to combine two or more connections for speed. The answer is yes ... but.
Can I just use my cellular service for all my internet needs?
It's tempting to consider using your mobile broadband or cellular internet for all your connectivity needs. Unfortunately there are issues.
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.
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.
Do I want to let my browser automatically detect settings?
Browsers are often configured to automatically detect settings as a convenience for networks that use proxy servers. Most of us don't need this.
Does my ISP really connect to the internet through only a single router?
Most ISPs and data centers take care to use a high degree of equipment redundancy to transparently handle almost any failure. Almost. Usually.
How are upload and download speeds related, and why are they different?
Upload and download speeds quoted by your ISP aren't as directly related as you might imagine. It's easier to think of them as two separate things.
How can I best connect to the internet while driving?
There are many options for connecting while traveling, but for connectivity while literally on the road there's only one practical solution.
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.
How do I tell if my computer is capable of having a wired internet connection?
Look for an ethernet cord socket on the computer. Finding one will be good news.
How do all these options for connecting to the internet differ?
With so many alternatives, it's easy to get confused. I'll present an overview of the many ways you can connect to the internet.
How do my phone company and ISP relate?
While it's common that they are, your phone company need not be your ISP. I'll look at how they relate and what happens when you change.
How does what I do on my computer use bandwidth?
Bandwidth is a vague term that has at least two different definitions. I'll look at those as well as how uploading and downloading relate to bandwidth.
How secure is mobile broadband?
Mobile broadband is a popular way to connect to the Internet while traveling and occasionally, a viable alternative at home. But how secure is it?
How should I connect while traveling within the US?
When traveling, your options to connect to the internet are plenty these days. I'll review some of the more common ones.
Is a wired connection to the internet faster than a wireless connection?
It's tempting to think that having a wired connection to your computer would make the internet faster. It might, but typically, it doesn't.
Is it safe to allow a technician to remotely access my machine to fix it?
Remote assistance is a very appealing feature to allow someone to remotely fix your machine. The risks, however, are significant.
Is there a way to get an internet connection for free?
Internet connectivity can get expensive. Unfortunately, low-cost or free alternatives are few or have strings attached.
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.
My ISP has placed a bandwidth cap on my connection. What should I do?
As internet usage grows ISPs are faced with problems meeting the demand for bandwidth. The result may be a bandwidth cap or limit placed on your usage.
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.
What does "There is a problem with this website's security certificate" mean, and what should I do?
https uses certificates to validate the site you're connecting to, as well as encrypt the data. Certificate errors are worth paying attention to.
What does a gigabyte limit on my internet plan really mean?
Data transfer limits are becoming more common. I'll look at what that really means in terms of how you use the internet.
Why does "Acquiring network address" show continuously in my icon tray?
Sometimes, the icon tray is not completely reliable. This could be indicating nothing more than a driver bug.
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.
Why is my internet connection slowing down?
There are many reasons your internet experience might slow down. We'll look at some that might not involve your machine, but rather your ISP.
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.