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Helping to Improve the UK’s Wi-Fi Speeds One Step at a Time

August 1, 2020 by Mark Heath

I cannot think of another area to Wi-Fi where performance claims exceed the reality experienced by broadband users by such an extent. With so many people connecting every device to Wi-Fi, inadequate Wi-Fi performance often masks the underlying (often excellent) performance of a broadband connection. I’ve just written a new Wi-Fi speed enhancement post on my Increase Broadband Speed site, which tackles one of the most popular questions asked on online forums: What is a Good Signal Level or Signal-to-Noise […] . Click here to read the full article.

Filed Under: Broadband

How to Disable Wi-Fi with Sky Q to Use Ethernet Instead

July 13, 2020 by Mark Heath

One of my bugbears is the widespread overuse of Wi-Fi. While Wi-Fi is convenient, there’s generally a price to be paid in terms of performance. Wi-Fi is responsible for a substantial proportion of broadband problems. I strongly recommend that, when you have devices that do not move (such as a set-top box or TV), connect them with an Ethernet cable rather than via Wi-Fi. As well as improving performance, you will potentially free up Wi-Fi spectrum and capacity that can […] . Click here to read the full article.

Filed Under: Broadband

Average Monthly Broadband Usage to Triple by 2025

July 13, 2020 by Mark Heath

Over the next five years, average home monthly Internet usage in the UK will triple from its 2019 level, surpassing 1 TB per month by 2025, as shown in my forecast shown above. This growth, which is in line with usage growth predicted for the USA, will be primarily driven by TV and video services delivered via superfast and ultrafast broadband networks. This traffic growth will have profound implications for many broadband users, which include: the need to upgrade to […] . Click here to read the full article.

Filed Under: Broadband

BBC Resumes its iPlayer Ultra HD Trial

July 13, 2020 by Mark Heath

In an attempt to alleviate strain on broadband networks during the coronavirus pandemic, the BBC ceased its iPlayer Ultra HD trial. I’m delighted to report that the BBC has now recommenced the trial. The following series are currently offered: ‘His Dark Materials’, ‘Dracula’ and ‘Seven Worlds, One Planet’. Image quality looks fantastic. The images here are photographs I took directly of a Sony OLED screen. Compared with the overly-compressed images delivered on BBC One HD and BBC Two HD through […] . Click here to read the full article.

Filed Under: Broadband, Photos

Disney Plus Increases UK Bit Rates to Match the USA

July 6, 2020 by Mark Heath

The great news is that Disney has substantially improved its bit rates to match its US streaming service and Disney Plus now looks and sounds much better in the UK. The images shown are photographs taken of a Sony 77-inch OLED TV. In general, the higher the bit rate used, the better the picture and sound quality achieved. You can read my full review on my Increase Broadband Speed site here: Disney Plus in the UK Finally Matches Bit Rates […] . Click here to read the full article.

Filed Under: Broadband

Best Broadband Routers and Wi-Fi Access Points for 2020

June 25, 2020 by Mark Heath

I’ve been steaming ahead producing new content for my Increase Broadband Speed site. I’ve now revised my Which Broadband Modem Router Guide, which covers the key capabilities you need to maximise broadband speed. As I’m always asked to recommend equipment to buy, I’ve also produced two new ‘best buy’ guides: – Best Routers For 2020 – Best Wi-Fi Access Points For 2020. From my experience as a Broadband Champion, helping people with their broadband problems online and face-to-face, apart from […] . Click here to read the full article.

Filed Under: Broadband

Reviewing Sky’s New Ultra HD HDR Service

May 28, 2020 by Mark Heath

It’s finally here – High Dynamic Range (HDR) on Sky’s Ultra HD (4k) service – and it looks amazing. HDR makes pictures more vivid and realistic, with more intense colours and, for many viewers, HDR makes more difference than the extra resolution provided by Ultra HD. It’s not good news for everyone though as some Sky Q boxes are not compatible with HDR. You can read my review on my Increase Broadband Speed site here: Review: Sky Finally Launches HDR […] . Click here to read the full article.

Filed Under: Broadband, Photos

Launching the New Increase Broadband Speed Guide

May 24, 2020 by Mark Heath

Technology inevitably moves on and my current focus is performing a major update of my Increase Broadband Speed website. It’s a huge job and will take many months. Last week, a new WordPress theme was installed, with lots of technical changes behind the scenes to make the site run faster. One of the most important pages on the site is the Increase Broadband Speed Guide, which has now been visited by more than a million people in the UK. The […] . Click here to read the full article.

Filed Under: Broadband, Website development

Photographing VE Day in Spaldwick

May 9, 2020 by Mark Heath

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, VE Day was a somewhat different affair to the one that may have been envisaged many months ago. However, despite the restrictions currently in place, villagers where I live made a tremendous effort decorating their homes to commemorate VE Day. On the 8th May 1945 – 75 years ago – the Allies accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany, marking the end of World War II in Europe. Here’s […] . Click here to read the full article.

Filed Under: Cambridgeshire, Local history, Photos, Spaldwick

Recording ‘The Swan’ by Saint-Saëns

May 5, 2020 by Mark Heath

One of the most popular, and beautifully romantic, organ pieces is ‘The Swan’ (or Le Cygne) by the French composer Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns, who composed the piece as part of his Carnival of the Animals in 1868. Apparently, The Swan was the only movement from The Carnival of the Animals that the composer allowed to be played in public during his lifetime. Below, I have just recorded this piece, below, using the Hauptwerk Virtual Pipe Organ and using samples of the […] . Click here to read the full article.

Filed Under: Audio recordings, Church organ, Classical, Photos, Videos

Reviewing the Sony ‘Holy Trinity’ of Prime Lenses

May 2, 2020 by Mark Heath

Back in the days that I used a Canon full-frame DSLR camera, many fellow photography enthusiasts who used prime lenses had (or wanted) the so-called ‘Holy Trinity’ of lenses. These were much-sought-after prime lenses that, between them, covered the vast majority of typical photography assignments, including weddings. Most considered that a combination of fast 35mm, 85mm and 135mm lenses provided huge flexibility, superb image quality and outstanding bokeh. I still fondly remember my Canon 85mm f1.2 II L lens (photo above) […] . Click here to read the full article.

Filed Under: Photography advice, Photos

Recording ‘Nimrod’ from ‘Enigma Variations’ by Edward Elgar

April 30, 2020 by Mark Heath

‘Enigma Variations’ is one of Edward Elgar’s most famous orchestral works and ‘Nimrod’ is its most recognised melody. On its website, Classic FM describes Elgar’s Enigma Variations as “one of the greatest pieces of the 19th century”, and I certainly do not disagree with that. Below I recorded myself playing a version for church organ. This was produced using the Hauptwerk virtual pipe organ, which is widely regarded as the best sample-based organ in the world, athough it does require […] . Click here to read the full article.

Filed Under: Audio recordings, Church organ, Videos

Learning to Play the Hauptwerk Virtual Pipe Organ

April 25, 2020 by Mark Heath

What a strange period we are experiencing with the coronavirus pandemic sweeping across the world. It is having dramatic social and economic impacts, and causing people to be on ‘lockdown’ in their homes. While the pandemic is having an adverse financial impact on friends, I am loving the lockdown period for other reasons. It’s delightful having my daughters home from university and I am using some of the time to rekindle my passion for the church organ. I’ve had to […] . Click here to read the full article.

Filed Under: Audio recordings, Church organ, Classical

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Recent Posts

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  • Disney Plus Increases UK Bit Rates to Match the USA
  • Best Broadband Routers and Wi-Fi Access Points for 2020
  • Reviewing Sky’s New Ultra HD HDR Service
  • Launching the New Increase Broadband Speed Guide
  • Photographing VE Day in Spaldwick
  • Recording ‘The Swan’ by Saint-Saëns
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