| Q: How can I find out
if my computer is compatible with BBUK Broadband? |
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A: If your computer
was built in 2000 or later, it almost certainly
will be. Here's a quick guide:
I
have a PC
Your computer must have: Pentium II 233 (or
equivalent) or above
64 MB RAM
CD-ROM drive
USB port
40 MB available hard disk
A compatible Operating System
Your computer must run one of the following:
Win 98/98SE, ME, 2000, XP.
The BBUK Broadband modem supports: Win98/98SE,
2000, XP, ME.
Note: the minimum Operating System is determined
by the broadband equipment you purchase.
Generally, it must be Windows 98 or above. Windows
NT and 95 are generally not supported.
I have a Mac
Your computer must have: PowerPC G3 300MHz (CPU)
64 MB RAM
CD-ROM drive
USB port
40 MB available hard disk
A compatible Operating System
The BBUK Broadband modem supports: Mac OS 9.x
Mac OS X (10.1.x; 10.2.x)
Note: the minimum Operating System is determined
by the broadband equipment you purchase. Generally
this is Mac OS 8.6 or OS 9 or above.
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| Q: Can I access BBUK
Broadband using any modem? |
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A: You'll need a broadband
(ADSL) modem to use BBUK Broadband. The BBUK Broadband
modem comes with a CD-ROM which contains the software
you need to load onto your computer.
You're free to purchase a broadband modem elsewhere
if you prefer. |
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| Q: Which modem do I
get with BBUK Broadband? |
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| A: The BBUK-supplied
broadband modem is the Zoom 5510 ADSL USB Modem |
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| Q: Can I have BBUK
Broadband on the same line as my alarm? |
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| A: ADSL, the technology
used by BBUK Broadband, is not compatible with
alarm systems which use signalling frequencies
greater than 4Khz. You should refer to your alarm
system manual or provider to verify this. If you
have BT REDCare on your line, this will show up
as an incompatible product at the time your order
is placed. |
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| Q: Will REDCare
work on the same line as BBUK Broadband? |
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| A: No, the REDCare
alarm service is designed to work on standard
analogue (PSTN) lines only. You will need to have
BBUK Broadband provided on an alternative BT PSTN
line, or have the REDCare service removed prior
to ordering the BBUK Broadband service. |
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| Q: Which
BT services are incompatible with BBUK Broadband? |
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| A: BBUK Broadband
is not available to certain lines and services,
e.g. In Contact, Light User Scheme, payphone lines,
lines not provided by BT and Alarm lines. Customers
on any of these, or other excluded lines, can
change the status of their line to BT analogue
(PSTN) single line subject to any conversion and
outstanding charges required on their original
service. Other incompatible line types are Outgoing
calls barred lines, Temporary Lines, Low Loss
Lines, ISDN 30 or Multilines, Out of Area lines,
DDI Lines, Meter Pulse Facility Lines, Custodial
Tagging Lines, Call and Access Lines, Non-Served
Premises, Support Lines, PSTN Splitlines, Telepoint. |
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| Q: What
are microfilters? |
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| A: Microfilters
are small adapters you need to plug into each
of your telephone wall sockets. They ensure clean
separation of data signals from voice signals
- without them your voice calls could suffer interference
when data is being transmitted. You will need
a microfilter for each wall socket used by a telephone
or piece of ancillary equipment, such as a fax
machine, Sky digibox or anything that shares the
same line as your ADSL modem. |
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| Q: Why
do I need microfilters? |
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| A: Microfilters
protect your standard telephone calls from interference
from the BBUK Broadband connection. Without them
you may experience noise on the line when you
make or receive a telephone call. |
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| Q: Does
every device (telephone, fax, etc.) need a microfilter? |
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| A: You need a
microfilter for every active telephone socket
you have on the line that BBUK Broadband is being
provided on. Each microfilter has a socket for
a standard telephone plug (like those on the end
of equipment such as telephones, fax machines
and analogue modems) and a socket for a broadband
(ADSL) modem. A maximum of four microfilters can
be used on a BBUK Broadband line. This is the
recommended maximum number of items of telephony
equipment you can plug into a standard voice line,
(known as the maximum Ringing Equivalent Number
- REN). |
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| Q: Where
can I get microfilters? |
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A: With BBUK Broadband
you will have the option of ordering microfilters
as part of the Broadband pack.
You are free to purchase your microfilters elsewhere,
please make sure they are designed to operate
on ADSL lines in the UK - BBUK's ADSL microfilters
are. Incorrect filters may cause problems with
your telephony products or impede the BBUK Broadband
speeds. |
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| Q: Are
there any limits on the number of USB devices
I can connect to my computer when I am using a
broadband modem? |
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| A: There is a
finite available USB bandwidth that devices use,
but the modem will adapt to make use of the bandwidth
available. If you are going to attach other USB
devices, such as a USB mouse, keyboard or hub,
please plug them into your PC first before connecting
the USB modem. Otherwise, the pre-attached broadband
modem will consume a fixed bandwidth and the remaining
bandwidth will not be enough for other USB devices.
If this is the case, you will see an error message
warning you that the USB controller bandwidth
is exceeded. The additional USB device may not
function properly. For example, your broadband
modem is attached already and you need to add
a USB mouse to your PC. In this case: unplug the
modem to release the bandwidth; plug the USB mouse
to your PC and then re-plug the modem. The broadband
modem will adjust to use the remaining bandwidth. |
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| Q: Can
I have another telephone extension running from
the microfilter? |
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| A: Yes, additional
telephone equipment may be connected using an
approved telephone two-way adaptor. |
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| Q: Can
I plug any telephony product into the analogue
line that has BBUK Broadband enabled on it? |
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| A: Nearly all
analogue equipment will work as normal on the
PSTN (analogue) element of a line enabled for
BBUK Broadband. There are some exceptions, where
incompatibility exists, but this is generally
with older telephony products. MagnaCom accepts
no liability for this incompatibility as the BBUK
Broadband service is developed to conform to the
relevant standards. |
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| Q: Can
I use any browser? |
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| A: Yes, although
we recommend it is an up-to-date version for optimal
performance with BBUK Broadband. Note: We only
support microsoft products. |
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| Q: The
motherboard on my computer supports USB but my
computer has no USB socket. What can I do? |
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| A: The necessary
parts can be easily fitted by your local retailer,
or anyone with a grounding in computers. Alternatively,
you can install a PCI-USB converter card in any
spare PCI slot in your computer. These can be
purchased from computer retailers or via ourselves. |
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| Q: Can
I run BBUK Broadband and my dial-up connection
from the same computer, at the same time? |
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| A: You cannot
be connected to the Internet via BBUK Broadband
at the same as being connected via a dial-up connection
(this causes a conflict in the computer memory).
However, you may log off from BBUK Broadband and
connect to the Internet via dial-up in the normal
way, providing you have a suitable dial-up account. |
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| Q: Why don't I need an
account with an Internet Service Provider (ISP)
to use BBUK Broadband? |
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| A: Unlike BT,
BBUK's standard package provided an email account
and use of a SMTP mailserver, not to mention we
offer a free static ip address. We can also provide
webspace, news feeds etc. (some of these services
may chargeable). |
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| Q: What other products
or services might I want to cease if I take BBUK
Broadband? |
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| A: As BBUK Broadband
provides unmetered access to the Internet, you
may wish to consider ceasing any flat rate or
unmetered contract you have for dial-up access.
This may be from your ISP or through one of the
BT Surftime/BT Together surf calls products. You
should note that you may lose any email services
you have through your ISP if you cancel your contract
with them, but rest assured, we include email
with our service. |
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| Q: Why do I need to buy
a separate security product (firewall/anti-virus
software)? |
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A: When you have
a connection to the Internet that is 'always on',
it's important to install 'firewall' software.
This will protect against the possibility that
a hacker could try to break into your computer
and access your files.
Anti-virus software will protect your computer
from viruses that can cause serious data corruption.
Your computer can pick up a virus from anything
you download that has encountered that virus -
therefore a firewall alone will not necessarily
protect you from a virus.
It is possible to purchase combined firewall and
anti-virus software which will effectively protect
your computer.
Note: MagnaCom accepts no liability for any damage,
loss, or inconvenience suffered as a result of
computer virus or unauthorised access. |
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| Q: Does BBUK Broadband
have an effect on fax machines or analogue modems
connected to the same line? |
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| A: It is possible
that some voice band modems (used by fax machines
as well as analogue modems) may operate at a lower
speed. However this is likely to be negligible.
Remember, you will only need an analogue modem
on the line if you are connecting more than one
computer simultaneously. |
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What is BBUK Broadband?
