ADSL is an abbreviation for 'Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line' and provides fast access internet service over existing copper wire telephone links. By converting your existing line to ADSL, you can normally achieve higher speed internet access than through a conventional dial-up modem. In addition an ADSL connection is always available, even when other phones etc. on the line are in use. an 'always on' service making it much easier to downlink information from the internet or to share information between offices or remote workers. ADSL services are asymmetric, which means that data will downlink to your system at a faster rate than you can uplink to other destinations on the internet.

ADSL micro filter allows you to share broadband and telephone equipment on your telephone line.

A filter is required to be used with every phone socket connected to the line you use for ADSL that has equipment (telephones, fax machines, tone callers etc.) attached to it. You may attach more than one item of equipment to a filter (i.e. You can plug a filter into a socket and then a splitter into the filter).

Your modem and the exchange will constantly monitor the line and adjust to get the most out of your line. Unless you are very close to the exchange it is unlikely you will achieve the maximum speed possible.

Main factors affect line speed are:

• Length of line.
• Type of cable.
• Number of joints.
• Interference from electrical sources.
• Type and quality of wiring inside the house.

These factors can also change over time and therefore the achieved line speed can also increase and decrease in response to changing factors.

The uplink speed is the maximum rate at which your connection can send data out on to the internet. Generally for normal uses such as e-mail and web browsing this is of little importance however for those using sophisticated on-line games, live video and audio applications etc. as high an uplink speed as possible is desirable. Uplink speeds are governed by most of the factors which affect downlink speeds as listed above. Standard UK uplink speeds available from Calloo are 256, 448, and 832 Kbps.

ADSL is provided as a contended, that is shared resource.

Particularly on higher line speeds, at busy times, it is normal to find that actual data throughput is less than line speed.

Factors affecting the actual data speed achieved include:

• How much activity the server that you are using is experiencing.
• How much bandwidth that server has to the internet and how much of that is being used.
• How busy the links are between that server and our network.
• How congested the BT exchange is that your are connected to.

An IP (Internet Protocol) address is an address which identifies a computer connected to the internet. For ADSL the IP is allocated to your computer by the ADSL provider, this is normally done in one of two ways:

• Dynamically Allocated IP - Each time you make a connection to the internet the provider allocates your computer an IP at random from it's pool.
• Fixed (static) IP - The provider allocates from it's pool a permanent IP to your system which you retain for the duration of your account with that provider.

A fixed IP address is needed should you wish to operate your own web or mail server for example, or in order to receive VoIP phone calls. Other uses include the ability to be able to connect to other networks such as when working from home and also to remotely connect to your computer over the internet.

Web and POP3 mail is available to all Calloo ADSL account holders. You can be allocated an address in the format of "yourname@calloo.co.uk" you have a free choice of the "youraddress" portion subject to availability and suitability. Users who qualify could instead request an address in the format of "youraddress@shetland.co.uk"

In practice what you get is a Shetland Broadband Standard Hosting Package included free of charge with your ADSL account. You may upgrade to a more advanced hosting package if you wish, and only pay the difference in current cost between it and a s.htmltandard one.

Web space is available to all Calloo ADSL account holders. You can be allocated web address in the format of "www.yourname.calloo.co.uk" you have a free choice of the "yourwebsite" portion subject to availability and suitability. Users who qualify could instead request an address in the format of "www.yourwebsite.shetland.co.uk"

Web space is currently unlimited but however it may only contain active files for display on and functionality of your web site. Using the space for storage of files is prohibited. For full conditions please see the Acceptable Use Policy for Web Space.

In practice what you get is a Shetland Broadband Standard Hosting Package included free of charge with your ADSL account. You may upgrade to a more advanced hosting package if you wish, and only pay the difference in current cost between it and a standard one.

It has become necessary for ISPs to introduce Fair Usage Policies to ensure that a few users do not over use their connection to the detriment of other users with whom they share the bandwidth. For full details read our Fair Usage Policy.

It is very difficult to give exact details of what can be done with your monthly data allowance as everyone has uses the internet in different ways. The examples given below are therefore only a rough guide.

Examples of what you can do with a 1GB per month allowance:
All of this:

Surf for 140 hours.

Send/receive 1,250 e-mails (remember that attachments will reduce this amount).

Watch 2 hours of video.

Downlink 35 music tracks.

Or all of this:

Surf for 50 hours

Send/receive 500 e-mails (remember that attachments will reduce this amount).

Send/receive 35 photos.

Play games online for 16 hours.

Examples of what you can do with a 30GB per month allowance:
All of this:

Surf for unlimited hours.

Send/receive 20,000 e-mails (remember that attachments will reduce this amount).

Watch 60 hours of video.

Downlink 1,000 music tracks.

Or all of this:

Surf for unlimited hours.

Send/receive 15,000 e-mails (remember that attachments will reduce this amount).

Send/receive 1,000 photos.

Play games online for 400 hours.

We do not recharge you the connection fee which is payable on a new ADSL account if you sign up for a 12 month contract, however should you decide to terminate the account within the first 12 months then we reserve the right to recover the costs incurred, currently £40.00 (£47.00 inc. VAT).

If you wish to subscribe for less than 12 months (minimum 1 month) then a connection fee of £40.00 (£47.00 inc. VAT) is payable.

It is possible to move your existing ADSL connection from any other provider to Calloo. This can be done with minimal interruption to your service. We do strongly advise however that you go through this check list before proceeding:

1. Your existing provider should allow you to migrate away at any time, but check that you will not incur any penalties. For example, if you move three months into a service that is contracted for a minimum period of one year you may be liable to pay them for the balance due.
2. We provide our ADSL via BT enabled telephone exchanges. There are a very small number of exchanges on which we are unable to provide service.
3. Normally a migration has very little down time, and usually happens overnight. However, when migrating from an Local Loop Unbundled service this may involve some delay and a short period without service.

The first step in the migration process is to obtain from your existing connection provider a "Migrations Authorisation Code" (MAC), this they are obliged to do within 5 working days. Once you have your MAC you can then complete our migration order form. Please note that your MAC is normally only valid for 30 days, at the end of this period your old provider can terminate your connection and you may no longer be able to migrate. If this occurs then you will have to apply for a new connection which will leave you without ADSL for at least 10 days.

Should you wish to cancel an ADSL account entirely (rather than move it to another provider) then contact us and we will send a 'cease' request to BT, there is a £25.00 exc. VAT charge levied by BT to cease the ADSL which we will charge to you. Once an ADSL service has been ceased you will have to make a new application should you wish to get connected again. Please note that under the following circumstances BT will automatically cease your ADSL provision and you will still be liable for the £25.00 fee:

• You move house.
• You change billing information on your BT telephone account.
• you fail to pay your BT phone bill and get disconnected.

No, ADSL cannot be installed on an ISDN line, it will have to be converted to PSTN first. If you are applying to have ADSL and have an ISDN line then you must tell us or there will be a delay.

If moving you will need to notify us, as the ADSL will have to be ceased (incurs a charge) and a new provision made at the new premises. Even if you retain the same number as ADSL is enabled on the physical line it must be re-enabled on the new line. Failure to inform us prior to any changes can result in a wait of five days or more plus payment of a BT connection fee.

Any change to a PSTN telephone circuit will result in an automatic cease (incurs a charge) on the ADSL service by BT. Changing the name for the line etc. will generate a cease. Restoring the service will incur an administration and re-connection fee and take at least five days.

To move an existing ADSL service to another provider, the new provider will require the Migrations Authorisation Code (MAC) for the line on which the service exists. This information can be obtained from the existing provider.