By Brian Johansen

Having a fast online connection is becoming less of a luxury. Websites are using more advanced technologies and platforms from which to deliver content. In a text-based world, a dial-up modem might suffice. However, large videos, games, and space-intensive documents require a larger pipe and faster transmission.

While those who subscribe to DSL and cable services enjoy quick surfing and downloading, there are tactics that can further increase their throughput. In this article, we'll provide three useful tips for improving your broadband connection speed.

Tip 1- Use A Web Accelerator

Internet download accelerators automate many of the system tweaks you would otherwise perform manually. For example, they might make changes to your computer's registry or browser, maintain a fresh cache of specific content that you access regularly, and even compress documents. Some web accelerators will filter out third-party ads, optimize a web page's underlying HTML, and resolve domain names linked in a document. Each of these actions can incrementally improve the speed with which you surf online.

Tip 2 - Lower Your Latency

Whenever data is transmitted from one point to another, there is a fractional time delay. The greater the delay, the slower the transmission of data. Your computer is configured with a default latency represented by a request buffer. If you increase that buffer, you can lower your local area network's latency and thereby, increase the rate of data transmission. There is one important factor to keep in mind: in order to increase your computer's default request buffer, you must have a sufficient level of memory available.

Tip 3 - Modify The Registry

Most people don't realize there is a Registry in their Windows machine that performs a seemingly endless number of functions. One of those functions influences your broadband connection. There are a number of configured protocols that you can modify which can potentially improve your online access speed.

For example, the Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) controls packet size. If you increase the MTU, you can reduce the number of packets your computer transmits. The Maximum Segment Size (MSS) is similar to the MTU; it represents the packet size that can be received by your computer. Again, the larger the packet, the fewer packets that must be transmitted.

Increasing Your Broadband Speed Organically

There are software packages you can purchase that can incrementally improve your online access speed. You can also replace certain hardware (for example, your processor) for a mild boost. However, before you invest in such software or hardware, try the speed tweaks described above. You can find a number of robust web accelerators online. Plus, you can perform the latency and Registry modifications for free.

A quick aside: the tweaks in this article are not guaranteed to improve your broadband connection's throughput rate. There are many variables involved and it is impossible to predict the effectiveness of each tweak without a thorough examination of your computer. That said, the suggestions above are a fantastic place to start.

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