REQUEST: Suggestions for a FAQ Sticky

Cabaal

Hi everyone,.
As I';m sure everyone is aware we have a FAQ as part of our charter thread located here - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055167684

Now as I'm sure your also aware we get alot of queries from newbie's that are posted almost every week and most of them are easy enough to answer.

What I'm looking for is people's suggestions for stuff that we should add to the FAQ that would address a number of these common queries, if you want to create an addition to the FAQ please feel free to do so and I'll add it and attribute it to you.

Now lets see some ideas

smellslikeshoes

Maybe a short overview of the different technology's used to provide broadband and their advantages/disadvantages, and maybe a link to the government broadband site to get people started on looking for a provider

Random

"MY INTERNET IS DOWN!" - a list of the various ISP helpdesk numbers?

o2 - 1850 601740
irish broadband - 1890 564456
3 - 1800 944034
bt - 1890 923111

... etc ...

highlydebased

The difference between wireless internet and a wireless router........ Unreal the amount of people who think they are both the same........ *sighs*

Marlow

Neon-Circles wrote: »

The difference between wireless internet and a wireless router........ Unreal the amount of people who think they are both the same........ *sighs*

The difference between wireless internet, mobile broadband (3g), fixed wireless internet and a wireless router.

/Martin

Sponge Bob

Line Stats !

Cabaal

Sponge Bob wrote: »

Line Stats !

Care to elaborate and write an FAQ?

Sponge Bob

I PM'd you the guts of one Cabaal but as you WON'T do so I now APPEAL to EVERYONE for screenshots of the Netopia > Expert Mode > Diagnostics screens showing atten and margin etc

tak

An updatable listing of all current WiFi hotspots in every county.

Moriarty

...

r3nu4l

How about a set of links to sites that test the speed of your broadband upload/download and also an explanation of the results?

CuLT

"I changed provider and now my email isn't working!"
"Is broadband available in X?"
"What is ISP Y like?"
"I wish to switch from ISP Y to ISP Z, is this easy?"
"I am breaching my ISP ToS by bittorrenting and wish to rant because they are throttling me for it"
"<insert ISP>, shower of ******* :mad:"

I think these are the most common threads and could be addressed with a mixture of helpfulness and dry wit

Gran Hermano

"How do I forward/open ports?"

www.portforward.com

Cabaal

I've added a usage cap post to the FAQ - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=54370309&postcount=3

Any suggestions or corrections are welcome.

Can anyone tell me whats the URL for checking Three Broadband usage?

Random

I've got http://www.randomprojects.eu/3webusage pointed at it for myself... people are welcome to use it - I find it easier to remember!

http://mobile.3ireland.ie/3prepayweb/usage is the actual url though.

kaizersoze

Cabaal, I pm'd you a basic troubleshooting guide for connection, speed & sync problem for the FAQ.

Cabaal

more sections added to the FAQ, http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=54370480#post54370480

feedback welcome

Cabaal

anyone have any suggestions for a Broadband slow troubleshoot post I could add to the sticky?

steveland?

Difference between a bit and a byte. Lots of people think they're getting shafted when they get ~ 100KB/s on a 1Mb line.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=54416743&postcount=4

thefinalstage

Guidelines for the most effective outcome while talking to tech support. You know how to avoid Biddy and Olga.

Cabaal

No further suggestions for how people could troubleshoot slow broadband connections>?

Cabaal

I'm getting annoyed with the same questions asked almost daily so I've written a Mobile Broadband FAQ - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=54893408&postcount=8



Any suggestions are very mixed.

Cabaal

brim4brim wrote: »

Hi Cabaal,

Would it be possible to organise that page so the Mobile providers are listed together under a heading and simliar for wireless etc... with each category being in alphabetical order?

Just a suggestion. I think it would make it easier to read.

I can understand alphabetical listing for the caps/FUP section alright but not sure what you mean but by sticking all the mobile providers together,

Do you mean breaking the CAP/FUP section into like "Cable Providers, ADSL Providers, Wireless Providers, Mobile Broadband Providers etc and then listing the company's under the sections they belong?

If so yeah thats easy enough do, can do it next time I have abit of free time

EDIT like this maybe http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=54370309&postcount=3

thebman

Yeah thats what I mean. Thanks Cabaal.

Cabaal

brim4brim wrote: »

Yeah thats what I mean. Thanks Cabaal.

np, any further suggestions are welcome,

jor el

Could something like this be added to the Broadband Speed Testers and/or Traffic monitors section (as these generally measure speeds too)?

When measuring speeds, it's important to note the difference between bits and bytes. Lower case b indicates bits, upper case B indicates Bytes (8 bits). Speeds are normally measured and specified in bps (bits per second), kbps (kilo) or Mbps (Mega). Downloaders and internet browsers often show the speed in Bytes per second though (Bps, kBps or MBps), so you must multiply this by 8 to get the speed in bps. 1MBps would be an 8Mbps speed (like BT's LLU 8Mbps service available on a few exchanges).

For those on 1Mbps broadband, your download speed, shown in the download window of your browser, will be about 120kBps max. For 2Mbps and 3Mbps the speeds will be about 240kBps and 360kBps max respectively.


I'd like to see the following definitions also added, though it's a little pedantic, but it does irk me when people get these (m and M) wrong. Junior cert science teaches you the difference between these, so there's no excuse for people getting it wrong.

kbps = kilo-bits per second (1000 bits per second). A standard speed measurement.
Mbps = Mega-bits per second (1,000,000 bits per second). Standard measurement for higher speed broadband.
mbps = mili-bits per second (1 thousandth of a bit per second, not the same as Mbps) and not a standard measurement, unless you're on eircom dial-up with a pairgain on your line :eek:
Same rules apply for kBps, MBps and mBps, except the bits becomes Bytes (so you're specifying 8 times faster speeds).

Cabaal

Hi,
can anyone come up with a how do I get my mobile Broadband with Vodafone/O2/Three to work with a PS3/x-BOX and/or router, its been asked ALOT and to be honest I don't know much about that kinda setup.

Cabaal,

thebman

Hi Cabaal,

Ms have a howto on this available here for Xbox Live:
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/connect/usbbasedmodem.htm

watty

a) It won't work very well for gaming. Waste of effort.
b) USB modem: Use Dlink DIR451 or Draytek. Or. PCMCIA Modem: Use Linksys WRT54G3G or Dlink DIR 451. Then you can have ethernet/WiFi as per normal. There are also Netgear and other products for PCMCIA cards.

You can use a Proxy Server, NAT/IPTABLEs or MS ICS on a PC/Laptop. But this not a good solution and PCs awkward to set up as a WiFi access point rather than client or Adhoc.

Also suits Nintendo DS, PS2, PSP, iTouch, Archeos, WiFi feature on phones etc.

Capt'n Midnight

How to self install DSL if you have an alarm [Guide] http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=183353

Cabaal

Added new section covering static IP FAQ's that are posted alot
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=56580405&postcount=9

comments welcome,

admol

The first post in the Broadband availblility. what and where thread is 5 years old.

They change so often it might not be worth detailing each isps offering but maybe a run through Eircom, resellers, cable, fixed wireless, wireless, satellite etc and where their available might help and also pointing to their respective web sites where one will find more on availability and price.

35notout

How about a guide to bittorrents for the non-techie people who have BB and have no idea how to use torrents!?

How to actually set them up on PC, how to configure routers etc etc

A beginners guide basically....

Cabaal

Broadband availblility. what and where thread is not part of the FAQ/Charter

Hank Scorpio

New Boardsie : Is Humour Allowed on the broadband thread

Moderator: No , any humour will result in a offical Warning.

I sure as hell didnt no it.

Cabaal

nuxxx wrote: »

New Boardsie : Is Humour Allowed on the broadband thread

Moderator: No , any humour will result in a offical Warning.

I sure as hell didnt no it.

nuxxx,
If you have an issue with any mod this isn't the place to air it..either take it to feedback or helpdesk
You were given an infraction for acting the maggot

Hank Scorpio

Cabaal wrote: »

nuxxx,
If you have an issue with any mod this isn't the place to air it..either take it to feedback or helpdesk
You were given an infraction for acting the maggot

Ye right i was told not to make jokes in a thread or have banter with people from my area/ close to my area.

Dont care tbh , just some people like to act all power freaky, not saying your one of them , case closed.

Cabaal

added basic FAQ entry for bittorrent config and use - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=56603797&postcount=10

Cabaal

Well not much of a big change but a change none the less.

Just changed the discription for the Midband forum, should better help people understand what the forum is for going forward.

thebman

Might be worth mentioning that broadband.gov.ie is pretty out of date for some areas on that FAQ.

For instance in my area digiweb metro (fixed wireless) isn't listed as being available yet I'm using it.

Cabaal

I've added a secion for the new Talk To sub-forums in the charter post
http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=54228561&postcount=1