Fast Broadband Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Is your question answered here?

Do you provide ADSL in Hull?

If only we could! We would love to be able to provide ADSL in the Kingston Communications area but are unable to do so. KC will allow us to resell their business service, but we do not think it's a viable proposition, and they won't allow us to resell their residential service at all. We think this is bad news for the people and businesses of Hull. As a Hull based company ourselves, we are well aware of the implications of having effectively zero competition in the area. We are always looking at ways around this though, so if it changes we'll be sure to let people know!

How long does it take to go live?

We quote a lead time of 5 to 15 working days - the majority of our accounts are setup within 7 working days. If you have any queries after placing your order, then just give us a call.

Can I migrate to you from another supplier?

Yep, you can. For more information have a look at our Migrations page.

Can I use a USB modem instead of a router?

Of course - there is no obligation to buy hardware from us. We only sell routers though because of the additional security they provide (see our security page) - we think the small additional cost is well worthwhile. But, you can use whatever hardware you like. We can only provide full support for hardware supplied by us because of the vast range of different suppliers and configurations - that said, we will always try to help as much as we can where you provide your own hardware.

Do I have a fixed IP address?

Yes, all accounts have a fixed IP address.

Can I have multiple fixed IP addresses?

Unfortunately we are not able to offer this service at the moment.

Do you block any ports?

No, we leave all ports open so that you can access all services on the internet. This means you can participate in file sharing, chat services etc. It also means that you can run your own web or mail (or other) server on your ADSL connection.

Can I run my own server?

Yes, see above. Remember though that your upstream speed will be slower than your downstream speed, so you won't be able to handle much traffic. For Freedom packages maximum upstream speed is 256kbps and for Choice packages it is in the range 64-448kbps. It's fine for small web sites or running a mail server though. If you do run a mail server you must ensure that it is secure and does not allow anyone unauthorised to relay mail through it. If it is insecure, it will be found by spammers, and very quickly - sometimes within a few minutes of going live. In order to protect our network, and in the spirit of good internet practice, we may disable your ADSL account if it is found to have an open relay, until you have had a chance to secure it. We also reserve the right to test any connections for open relays at any time.

Can I use my phone line at the same time as my internet connection?

Yes, the two are independent.

Can I leave my computer and router switched on?

Yes, no problem. You can also, for example, set Outlook Express to check for new mail every few minutes so that you don't need to check manually. Bear in mind that leaving your computer on exposes it to potential threats more of the time, so be sure to read the security section.

Are there any limits or charges for being online?

You pay your monthly fee and only pay for additional bandwidth if you are on a capped (Choice) service. For unlimited services, you can download as much as you like and stay online as long as you like.

Can I have some web space?

Yes, just give us a call to discuss your requirements.

Can I have an email adtress?

Yes, either based on the domain efhmail.com, or your own domain name.

How do I enable virus and spam filtering?

Virus and spam filtering is enabled by default - you can change the spam filtering settings (e.g. to delete mail) by logging into your webmail facility.

What is contention ratio?

This is basically the number of other users your connection is shared with. Our packages are on either a 50:1 (50 to 1) or 20:1 contention. In principle, your bandwidth (speed) could be shared between 50 users on the 50:1 contention, but in practice this rarely happens.

With the new ADSL Max products, contention ratios are no longer quoted by BT.

Can I change packages?

Yes, no problem. We can upgrade or downgrade your bandwidth. There is a charge of £12.93 for this and then you just pay the appropriate monthly fee. In some cases there are restrictions but we will inform you of these if they apply. Re-grades normally take around five working days.

Can anyone have ADSL?

Unfortunately not. We can only provide a service to the telephone exchanges that have been enabled by BT - but on the positive side most exchanges have been enabled. But, some houses are too far from the exchange to work - although again BT is extending this distance so more lines become usable. Sometimes only lower speeds will be available because of the line length. When placing an order for our packages, you will be given an estimate of the maximum speed your line can support..

If you can't get ADSL there are still a number of other possibilities open to you. You could consider satellite (expensive and lots of latency), a local wireless project (often very good and run by enthusiasts), cable (only available in certain areas), or failing these then ISDN which is faster than analogue, but still a "dial-up" service. You could also move house. Unfortunately we can't offer anything other than ADSL broadband, and our conveyancing ability is limited.

Do you support Mac's?

You can, and are quite welcome to, use our service with Mac's. However, to put it bluntly, we only know what we are talking about when it comes to PCs so our support is very limited. We have experience of supporting Mac's for our hosting customers but it's not what you'd call experienced! So, sorry Mac owners - if you know what you are doing, feel free but if not you may need to find someone who does - and you are unlikely to find that someone on the end of our phone line.