New to broadband

loulou41

My bt broadband has been activated this morning and I was surprised to see how easy it was to set it up. However a few hours later on when I tried to connect I got the message unable to connect to server, is this normal? I thought I will get connected first time all the time. It's working OK now, but the ethernet green light is sometimes flashing ,is this the norm? Also when I am not on the internet, I usually switch off the router and the individual switch, am I doing the right thing? There are also so many cables, the computer itself takes 5 individually switch, I am interested to know what I could do regarding cabe management. at the moment I have a six gang with individual switch but with no power surge. I can only one with only 4 individual switches and ths is not good to me.Thanks

DonnyDave

You mention Ethernet; do you connect to the internet via a router? This will be a separate box that requires a separate electrical socket. Do you have more than one computer/laptop? If you have a router, the light for the connection to your computer will flash when you look at different webpages, in the same way that the monitors will flash next to the clock on your computer screen (if you have them displayed).


As far as plugging things in goes, I have a double socket on the wall next to my computer.

In one socket I have an adaptor with my computer base unit, monitor, scanner, printer and speakers in. That way, when I switch the switch off on the wall socket, I know that all the different parts of my computer are off and not using power (as some do take power even when turned off by their own off switch).

In to the other I put my router. That way I can have the router on without the computer on (for when I use my laptop only). I do tend to turn it off when I'm not using it; that saves power (or rather doesn't waste it).

Plugging so many appliances into one socket isn't a problem. A socket only becomes overloaded when all the appliances plugged into it take more power than the socket can/should supply, which is 3120 Watts (or just over 3kW).

espresso

If you have connected to ADSL Max, it will take approx 10 days for them to determine and set the maximum speed that your line can work at.

Most users leave the router permanently connected and powered up to maintain the ADSL link.

mrJ_5

i would always use a surge protector... as you dont want your computer frying if there is a power surge in your home supply

theloft

mrJ wrote:

i would always use a surge protector... as you dont want your computer frying if there is a power surge in your home supply

Absolutely right - Back in the days of dial-up my modem fried in an electrical storm, did not realise until then that a surge protector was essential. You would think the computer manufacturers would recommend this when they supply the machine, but I suppose it is not in their interest to prevent harm to their product

mrJ_5

normally they do recommend it... at least the stores used to...