Recent tests on the Telecom network showed that more than 70 per cent of fixed-line broadband customers could improve their broadband service by taking a few simple steps at their home or business.

For those served by an ADSL2+ exchange or cabinet, running through the steps outlined in this guide will help you to take advantage of the high-speed broadband services that are offered by internet service providers (ISP) throughout New Zealand.

The five step plan for tuning your broadband for ADSL2+:

• Step One: Is your telephone exchange or cabinet ADSL2+ enabled?
• Step Two: Health check your modem or router
• Step Three: Confirm your broadband plan
• Step Four: Home wiring issues - install a splitter
• Step Five: Audit your PC or laptop

Step One: Is your telephone exchange or cabinet ADSL2+ enabled?

Currently 63% of New Zealand broadband customers have had their exchanges upgraded to ADSL2+ capable equipment and this number will grow to 80 per cent by the end of 2011.

Contact your telecommunications service provider to find our if your exchange or roadside cabinet has been switched over to ADSL2+.

Step Two: Health check your modem or router

To benefit from a broadband service that uses ADSL2+ you'll need an ADSL2+ compliant modem or router. If you're still using an older ADSL1 modem or router then the equipment in Telecom's exchange will recognise it but it can only connect in the slower ADSL1 mode.

If you do decide to upgrade your modem or router you should check with your ISP or your chosen high-street retailer that equipment you are purchasing is compatible with Telecom's ADSL2+.

Even if you already have an ADSL2+ modem or router you should check that the unit's firmware is upgraded to the lastest ADSL2+ standard. As a rule of thumb if the model or router is more than a couple of years old you are likely to need a firmware upgrade. Check your modem manufacturer's website for an appropriate firmware upgrade.

A couple more good reasons to consider a new modem or router:

• New ADSL2+ modems are less prone to needing a manual reset. If you regularly find yourself needing to turn your modem on and off to reset it then a new modem may fix this.
• Similarly to PCs the chipsets inside modems have got faster. Older modems simply cannot keep up with the high-speed data rates. This means that data coming down a fast line can not be processed quickly enough to be passed on to your computer. The slow chipsets in older modems can slow your broadband speed down.

Step Three: Confirm your broadband plan

It's important to find out what your broadband plan speed is. If you don't know refer to any information you may have been sent by your ISP when you signed up to broadband or ask them to confirm your current plan speed.

Most fixed-line broadband plans in New Zealand include have a downstream and an upstream speed. This is the speed at which information is delivered to you (downstream) or the speed that you send information from your computer (upstream).

What's not immediately obvious from your plan is that limiting your upstream speed may affect your downstream speed. To get the most out of your ADSL2+ connection you should talk to your ISP about purchasing a broadband plan with a fast, ideally full-speed, upstream speed.

Why is this important for your downstream speed? It's a result of the protocols that make the Internet work. For every 'packet' of data your computer receives it has to send a small acknowledgment 'packet' back to the server it received the data from. If the acknowledgment 'packets' sent back - via your upstream connection - don't get through quickly enough then the download will slows down.

Applications like Skype or Live Messenger, offering audio and video conferencing, also work better with a faster upstream speed. While the video and audio is compressed when it leaves your computer it will still benefit from a full speed upstream connection.

If you don't already have a full speed upstream plan, consider contacting your ISP and upgrading your plan.

Step Four: Home wiring issues - install a splitter

The telephone wiring within your home or business can significantly impact the speed of your broadband connection. If any of the scenarios below describe your situation then the installation of splitter is likely to improve your broadband speed.

• Too many telephone jack points. New Zealanders seem to love jack points in every room of their homes, but unfortunately each one adds noise to the line. Consider reducing the number of jack points and plugged in phones where they are not necessary.
• Devices without broadband filters. Devices such as telephones, fax machines, Sky decoders, old dial-up modems and monitored alarms can also add noise to the line. You should check that everything connected to a jack point has a broadband filter.
• Long telephone extension leads. Long extension leads are prone to picking up interference. If possible avoid using lengthy extension leads.

One fix that resolves all these issues is the installation of a central splitter at your home or business. Installing a central splitter involves a technician visiting your home and installing a signal splitter at the point where the telephone line enters your house. They then run a new high quality cable to your computer.

Once this is done you no longer need to be worried about the wiring in your house interfering with your broadband.

Step Five: Audit your PC or laptop

The specification and age of the computer that you access the internet from can makes a big difference to your web browsing experience. The list below is not comprehensive but any improvements you make will likely improve your online experience.

• Age of your computer. If your computer is several years old it is likely to be slowing down your web browsing experience. Older computer have slower processors and chipsets, are likely to have less random access memory (RAM) and less hard-disk space.
• Amount of memory available. Increasing the random access memory (RAM) on your desktop or laptop computer is one of the best ways to improve your web browsing experience. Check out your computer manufacturer's website to find out how to upgrade the memory on your computer.
• Updates to your operating system. Operating systems like Microsoft Windows XP and Vista are frequently updated with critical updates that may result in an improved broadband experience. Many operating systems optionally allow you to automatically update your computer when updates become available.
• Amount of space available on your hard drive. If your computer's hard disk is close to full your web browser software will find it more difficult to store and retrieve the files it needs to operate efficiently. It is a good idea to wipe old programs that no longer required from your computer and clear as much space as possible. If you computer has a hard disk defragmentation program, make use of it.
• Viruses, malware and spyware. Viruses, malware and spyware can all impact on the performance of your computer. Ensure you have up-to-date anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall software protecting your PC.
• Tuning your TCP/IP parameters in Microsoft Windows. This is an improvement that users of Microsoft Windows 95, 98 and XP can make to their systems. A freeware tool, TCP Optimizer, available at www.speedguide.net/downloads.php, will optimise settings in the Microsoft Windows registry that may result in improved download speeds. Note that making changes to the Windows registry can result in system instability and is undertaken at your own risk.

Bringing fibre closer to the home

For a number of broadband customers the local telephone exchange is simply too far away for them to receive a fast broadband speed, even with ADSL2+. It comes down to physics, the broadband signal degrades over distance, typically more than 2.5km, and this results in a slower broadband speed.

So what is being done about it? Over the next three years Telecom's network access business, Chorus, is laying 2,500km of fibre and installing about 3,600 roadside cabinets that will house the broadband electronics. With ADSL2+ closer to the home or business more New Zealanders will be able to benefit from high-speed broadband. For more information visit Chorus' website at www.chorus.co.nz/enhancing-the-broadband-network.

And finally ...

There's no doubt that broadband is transforming the way we live and communicate. If you are happy with your broadband performance do not feel compelled to follow this advice. Enjoy your broadband and make appropriate choices as your needs change.

And remember if at any time you are concerned about an aspect of the broadband service you're receiving give your ISP a call to discuss it with them.