The start of 2021 provided a great demonstration of ‘the art of the possible’ with the Ultra HD (4k) High Dynamic Range (HDR) format with some exciting new programmes becoming available as part of the BBC’s iPlayer Ultra HD ‘trial’. These are still available through the iPlayer. Two standouts are the incredible ‘A Perfect Planet’ narrated by David Attenborough and ‘Dr Who’ (broadcast on New Year’s Day). For anyone seeking demonstrations of how the Ultra HD with HDR can dramatically […] . Click here to read the full article.
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Review of the Ubiquiti UniFi Dream Machine (UDM) Pro Router – ideal for ultrafast broadband connections
In this article, we review the Ubiquiti UniFi Dream Machine (UDM) Pro, which is now our recommended router for 2021 for ultrafast broadband connections, as shown in our Best Routers for 2021 page. The UDM Pro is great piece of equipment that seems to provide the ultimate future-proof ‘prosumer’ option for broadband users with the highest broadband speeds. It’s really easy to set up and you don’t need to be an IT expert. The UniFi Dream Machine offers Smart Queue Management (SQM) […] . Click here to read the full article.
Government Cuts Gigabit Broadband Investment and Targets, So Why Not Do It Yourself?
With the UK Government going back on its election pledge to bring gigabit broadband to every home and business by 2025, a new report from the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee from the UK Parliament questions the viability of even the watered-down targets! It’s time for communities to take proactive action and do it for themselves. Our guide and case studies show that it may be easier than you think but be quick before Government vouchers and local authority top-ups […] . Click here to read the full article.
A 4k HDR Christmas Present from Sky: movies go HDR with Dolby Atmos
For set-up help, please visit our Set Up Guide For Sky Q Ultra HD (4k) and HDR. The evolution to Ultra HD programming with High Dynamic Range (HDR) is gathering pace. HDR dramatically improves the picture quality of Ultra HD 4k content. To many viewers, HDR makes more difference than increasing resolution from HD to 4k, by making the brightest whites much brighter and making colours more intense and vibrant. While Sky has been relatively late to the ‘HDR party’ compared with players […] . Click here to read the full article.
10 Gigabit Ethernet Guide: is it time to upgrade to 10 GbE?
In this guide, we help you identify whether it worth upgrading to 10 Gigabit Ethernet (or 10 GbE for short) and the best way of doing so. Currently, Gigabit Ethernet (1000BASE-T) is the most widely deployed Ethernet standard in modern electronic devices currently on sale. However, 10 GbE offers the prospect of increasing transmission speeds by a factor of ten. We show how, by being clear on exactly what capabilities you need for 10 GbE, you can minimise costs, power consumption and noise. We show […] . Click here to read the full article.
15 Ways to Improve Video Conferencing including Zoom and Skype
This guide provides 15 proven ways to substantially improve video conferencing. Too many people are currently getting a poor experience with video conferencing services like Zoom, Skype, GoToMeeting and Microsoft Teams. Low-quality video feeds, which suffer regular interruptions and blips, are often combined with awful sound, which is infected with irritating delays and echoes. The good news is that these problems can be eradicated by following our tips below to massively improve your video conferencing experience. The coronavirus pandemic has led […] . Click here to read the full article.
Guide for Rural Communities: How to Get Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) Now!
There is huge uncertainty over the extent to which full-fibre broadband – also known as Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) or ‘gigabit-capable broadband’ – will be rolled out in the coming years, particularly in rural areas. However, with the recent improvements in the Government’s Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme and the introduction of ‘top ups’ by local authorities, there’s never been a better time for communities to take proactive action to bring FTTP to their areas. There is an increasing number of suppliers willing to […] . Click here to read the full article.
Wi-Fi Setup Guide: What is a Good Signal Level or Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) for Wi-Fi?
“What is a good signal level or signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for Wi-Fi” is one of the most common questions in online forums. Typical answers are along the lines of “SNRs of 24-40 dB are considered good” but they do not explain the compromise in speeds you are potentially making due to the adaptive modulation and coding built into Wi-Fi technology. For the best Wi-Fi speeds, signal strengths of -50 dBm or greater or signal-to-noise ratios of 41 dB or greater are necessary. […] . Click here to read the full article.
The 2020 Guide to Setting the Best and Fastest DNS Servers for PS4
If you want to make the broadband connection to your PS4 quicker and more reliable, here’s how to manually change the DNS server settings to the best and fastest DNS servers available in your location. Amazingly, there can be 10,000 or more DNS look-ups taking place on a home network every day and each one creates a delay. Changing DNS settings on the PS4 is really easy to do and can make a huge difference if your broadband provider’s DNS servers […] . Click here to read the full article.
How to Disable Wi-Fi with Sky Q and Use Ethernet Instead
Despite Sky Q boxes being equipped with Ethernet ports many Sky engineers set boxes up to use Wi-Fi even when Ethernet is available. Using Wi-Fi to transport bandwidth-intensive media to fixed devices makes absolutely no sense and wastes valuable 5 GHz spectrum. Here is how to disable Wi-Fi on Sky Q boxes to use Ethernet instead. It’s more reliable and can potentially free up four 20 MHz Wi-Fi channels for your own Wi-Fi network to improve speeds and performance. How […] . Click here to read the full article.