Business musings

Many people in the UK struggle with sub-standard broadband connections and when trying to resolve issues with their internet service provider (ISP),  the ISP can sometimes be guilty of fobbing its customers off and starting a blame game with BT. However, help may be at hand.

I was reading an article today by Chris Dannen of Fast Company about a sophisticated broadband diagnosis website launched by Google and two non-profit organisations. The new website is called Measurement Lab. Apparently it still needs some work but check it out anyway – it may give you a slightly stronger hand when dealing with difficult ISPs.

Have you ever had that frustrating experience with your mobile phone?  You’re in the middle of a call to somebody and the next thing you know, without warning, you’ve lost the connection.  Well, I came across this little piece of technology from Vodafone the other day: the Sure Signal box. If you struggle with getting phone signal in your home or office, take a look. It creates your own mini Vodafone network and connects to their network via broadband; so no more taking calls in the corner of one particular room or sounding like you’re on the train, when in fact you are in your office!

The main disadvantage is that it only works for Vodafone; however, it looks likely that other operators will join in by providing their own ‘Femtocells‘ in due course.

In the meantime, alternative solutions are available if you are really ‘signal-less’. Mobile signal boosters, otherwise known as cell repeaters, use an ariel (possibly external to your office/house), boost the signal and create an upgraded signal within a certain radius of the transmitter. Signal boosters are also available for vehicles, so if you travel a lot and/or regularly travel to remote locations with poor signals, it could provide you with the extra range you need.