35 Amazing web tips part one

jjones | Guides | 08/10/2008 10:59am
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Performance Boosts

Speed when it matters

If you’re busy downloading some files then you might find that your other internet traffic begins to suffer. Internet phone quality is likely to drop, for instance. Online videos won’t play as smoothly. If you use a router, though, then there could be an easy fix. Browse through its configuration menus and you’ll probably find a Quality of Service (QoS) feature that lets you give priority to particular types of internet traffic. In my D-Link router, for instance, clicking Advanced > QoS Setup takes me to the relevant page, and I can prioritise streaming video by checking the RTSP and MMS boxes. Video should now get more bandwidth, even when I’m also downloading other files.

TOP PRIORITY Quality of Service router settings let you decide which applications get priority

Instant PDFs

PDF files are a great way to share information online, so it’s a shame that the Adobe Reader is bulky, slow, and crashes occasionally for no apparent reason. But the free Foxit reader (www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php) is a great lightweight alternative that launches quickly for very speedy access to your PDF files.

FEATURE-PACKED Smaller and faster than Adobe Reader, yet Foxit Reader crams in more features

ISP issues

Poor peer-to-peer download performance could indicate that your ISP is deliberately limiting your connection speed. Glasnost (snipurl.com/2slx3) runs a test to simulate BitTorrent traffic, and will let you know if it detects any dubious ISP activities. This takes a few minutes, but is easy to use, and works entirely from the web page – there’s no software to install.

Solve Wi-Fi problems

If your home wireless internet connection is fast sometimes, then slows to a crawl at others, then it’s wise to check your set-up. Install NetStumbler (www.netstumbler.com) and it’ll show you the wireless signal at different places in your home, helping you choose the right place to position your Wi-Fi kit.

Interference from your neighbours’ networks or other electrical devices in your home is another common problem. Try switching your Wi-Fi channel (choose 1, 6 or 11) on all network devices: it really can make a huge difference.

Faster browsing with super servers

Change your Domain Name System server for speedier surfing

1 SLOW SPEEDS Entering a domain like www.bbc.co.uk into your browser isn’t enough for it to access the site. It also needs the IP address for that site, which is retrieved from your ISP’s Domain Name System (DNS) server. And this can take some time.

2 FIND THE ANSWER OpenDNS provides free DNS servers that anyone can use. They’re fast enough to make a real difference to your browsing speed, and you don’t need to install any software to set them up. Click Start > Control Panel > View network status and tasks to begin.

3 QUICK TWEAK Local your main network (it probably says ‘Local and Internet’ next to ‘Access’) and click View Status > Properties. Select ‘Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)’ in the list, click Properties and choose the ‘Use the following DNS server addresses’ option.

4 MANUAL ENTRY Enter 208 67 222 222 in the ‘Preferred DNS Server’ box, and 208 67 220 220 for the ‘Alternate DNS server’ (use the left and right arrow keys to move between the boxes if necessary). Click OK, close all open dialogues, then restart your computer.

5 JOB DONE You should now be using the faster DNS servers, which as a bonus will also block phishing sites. But if you have any problems, repeat the instructions and select ‘Obtain a DNS server address automatically’, then reboot to use your old servers again.

Part One ? Part Two ? Part Three

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