Installations:
Broadband, Wireless Networks, new PCs
SELECTING A BROADBAND PACKAGE THAT IS RIGHT FOR
YOU
We provide advice and clarification on the broadband packages available to help
you decide which is the most suitable for your needs and budget. There are many
options on the market and more than one of these will suit your needs - the
choice is not always clear-cut.
INSTALLATION OF BROADBAND
We receive many calls from people from all walks of life who have tried to
install their newly delivered Broadband package. In most cases their
installation has not been as "straight-forward" as the supplier made it out to
be and their attempts to fix the problem only result in frustrating phone calls
with un-helpful call centres, leaving the installation incomplete. We can act on
your behalf and make sense of what the ISP is telling you in order to resolve
the problem and complete the installation.
HAS YOUR BROADBAND STOPPED WORKING?
There are many issues affecting the status of your broadband connection.
Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) will normally have no problems at their end
(however, some are also prone to fobbing you off when it really is their
problem), leaving the issue with you to resolve with either BT (and a very
expensive callout rate) or your computer supplier. From our own experience here
are a few things that can affect your broadband connection (or loss of it):
- Broadband filters
- the filters can require replacement, they are especially susceptible to
lightning strikes or large power fluctuations. They only cost around £2 in
any high street shop, check these first.
SYMPTOM 1: If
your DSL (or ADSL) light on your modem continues to blink and never stays on
solid, then you are probably not getting a strong enough signal to your
modem from your telephone line.
RECOMMENDATION 1:
If this is an extension
and not the main telephone socket in the house, try moving and connecting
the modem (with filter) to the master telephone point and see if the signal
is solid at that point first (this doesn't need the computer to be moved and
connected - just the modem). If this is OK then you know that the fault lies
in the extension (possibly too far away and signal degrades to a level
insufficient for broadband - there are solutions for this, call us).
SYMPTOM 2:
If you have replaced
your filter and neither telephone point acquires a solid broadband signal
then the fault probably lies outside your control - it is either the BT line
or the exchange.
RECOMMENDATION 2:
Check with your
ISP and get them to confirm status of the line from their end, plus identify
any work in progress at the exchange or within your broadband area that may
be affecting their service.
- The broadband cable
from filter to broadband modem (the ADSL line) - this can be "fried" by
electrical surges if not protected. Again, a low cost part to replace from
any high street computer shop.
SYMPTOM 3:
The computer cannot detect a broadband signal and will not connect to the
internet.
RECOMMENDATION 3:
If no connection once this cable is replaced then follow
recommendations in
SYMPTOM 1 & 2
above.
- The broadband modem
- if you still cannot connect to broadband the modem itself could be
faulty.
SYMPTOM 4:
No solid connection
after replacing filter and/or DSL cable.
RECOMMENDATION 4:
Unfortunately you can only check
this with another modem. If you have a spare modem and can achieve a solid
broadband connection then you may want to get in touch with your ISP to
check if they will replace the damaged modem - some will do this for free,
others will charge for it. In the meantime, check if they support the modem
you have used to check the signal - if their software supports this type of
modem then you might be able to connect temporarily using this modem.
- Ethernet or USB
- In the UK many broadband modems connect faster through an Ethernet
connection (usually a yellow cable) than via USB (usually a blue cable -
both normally supplied with the modem).
SYMPTOM 5:
If the computer cannot
detect the modem (assuming all the above symptoms do not exist or have been
resolved) then it is possible that either the Ethernet or USB cables or
ports are damaged.
RECOMMENDATION
5: Cables can be
damaged by power surges - replace and check connection again. Available in
high street shops for £2-£5.
RECOMMENDATION
6: The Ethernet
and USB ports on the computer can be damaged by power surges. If they are an
integral part of the motherboard of a computer then the best solution is to
install a new card (Ethernet or USB multi-port) - costing less than £15. The
alternative is to replace the motherboard - a costly process and not always
cost-justifiable depending on the age of the computer.
- Still not solved?
If you have taken all the above steps to remedy the connection problems and
still cannot connect then you need to call us out to inspect the
installation.
Hopefully we can help remove the mystery of
this installation and get it working.
Accounting Packages
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT ACCOUNTING PACKAGES?
With more than 20 years of experience working for an FTSE-100 software/services
company providing financial systems to international banks all around the world,
we should know a thing or two about accounting systems, their support and their
use in everyday business life.
We prefer to work with your
accountants initially to define the structure and nature of your accounts so
that any information produced by the package installed is in the format that
they expect and can work with. If your accountant does not have any preference
regarding the structure then we will work with you to ensure that the system is
set-up to suit your needs.
WHICH SYSTEM IS RIGHT FOR US?
By far the 2 most popular
accounting systems installed in small businesses throughout the UK are varieties
of the Sage and QuickBooks packages.
Use this link to view a comparison between the two systems (comparative
costs and functions/featues shown). You only need to enter details of the two
packages in a search engine like GOOGLE and you end up with thousands of pages
of advice.
This is a decision only you can make, maybe with a little help from your
accountant since they will be used to working with one of them (almost
guaranteed they prefer one of these). The nature and size of your business may
dictate the choice for you.
The view from many people on the internet seems to be that Sage is preferred by
traditional old school accountants and QuickBooks (and other packages) by those
considered more up to date with technology. Knowing how conservative most
accountants are it is almost a certainty that most will opt for Sage.
When deciding there are many
parameters needing to be considered, including whether the package can handle
flat and variable rates of VAT, PAYE tax deductions, flexible and customisable
invoicing, bank reconciliations etc. A good discussion with your accountant will
help point you in the right direction. A short chat with us after that and we
could be helping you install a package that will make your business life a lot
less stressful.
