DNS is how domain names are translated into IP (Internet Protocol) addresses. If your computer cannot access DNS or those servers are suffering problems then your web browser will not be able to find web sites, and you will not be able to send or receive email.

Every time you connect to your ISP it will assign both primary (preferred) and secondary (alternate) DNS IP’s to your computer. However your ISP may not offer the best DNS servers and it’s incredibly easy to choose a free alternative from a third party, thus bypassing the ISP’s network.

We strongly recommend OpenDNS as an alternative, even if it’s just to test:
http://www.opendns.com

It filters out known phishing sites and can even help to block adult content; many also find it faster than their ISP’s. Ultimately it puts the control in your hands rather than the ISP’s.

11. Don’t buy a “faster” connection for better multiplayer.

Many gamers make the mistake of assuming that a faster broadband connection (e.g. 8Mbps+) will improve their online multiplayer performance, yet this is often incorrect. Multiplayer games rely on server response time rather than raw data transfer speed, hence why a 1Mbps connection can be just as good as 20Mbps.

The best advice is to pay extra for a smaller and less congested ISP, which is likely to return a more responsive Internet connection. Providers that block or restriction P2P (File Sharing) services should also be treated with caution as some games use P2P methods for updating (e.g. World of Warcraft), which could slow your gameplay down or possibly make it unplayable.

12. Disable “Interleaving” to improve multiplayer.

Some ISP’s may enable Interleaving on your line to improve stability and prevent disconnections as a result of line noise or other issues that affect performance. Generally speaking this is a good thing, yet online gamers may find that it increases their multiplayer ping (latency) times by up to 40ms (milliseconds).

Thankfully some ISP’s will accept requests for interleaving to be disabled, although you must be confident that your line has always been stable before doing so. For the most part this feature is set to either “off” or “automatic” and we would not recommend having it adjusted from the default.

Check with your ISP first, some will charge for the adjustment while others may not accept such requests. This should be considered as a last resort and we do not recommend doing it, especially if you have trouble maintaining a stable speed and live quite far from the exchange.

13. BT’s automatic “quiet line test”.

BT allows you to conduct an automatic “quiet line test”, though it may not identify all sources of line noise. Simply dial 17070 and select the appropriate option (usually number 2); it’s worth doing this for all of your phone extensions.

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