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4 Must-Have Gadgets For PC Gamers

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Technology has a marvellous impact on the gaming industry. Regardless of whether you are young or elderly, casual mobile players or trophy hunters, gaming has something that will attract your attention. The feeling of a racing heart and the gratification obtained from the victory can be immensely pleasurable. 

So, from cutting-edge consoles to top-of-the-line accessories, these are the best gaming gadgets to enhance your home-gaming experience:

HyperX Cloud Alpha (£89.99)  

This late version of HyperX Cloud Alpha S is a great deal. The HyperX Cloud Alpha builds upon the ground-breaking Dual Chamber Drivers design and will give your audio more distinction and clarity by reducing distortion. It is super comfortable and sounds awesome with its certified detachable noise-cancellation by Discord and TeamSpeak™.

HyperX Cloud Alpha S is multi-platform compatible with in-line audio controls, so serious gamers on PC, PS4™, Xbox One™ (and other platforms with a 3.5mm port) will benefit from the bold sound of the Cloud Alpha evolution. Impeccable sound quality, and excellent performance, make this gadget the ideal choice for users who game for hours on end.

You should also consider running an internet speed test to check how much internet bandwidth you have available this can affect your sound quality.

Redragon K585 DITI (£42.99)

Anyone trying to convert from console gaming to PC gaming can make their life easier with this gaming keypad. The Redragon K585 Wireless Diti Elite can help the transition from gamepad/analog stick gaming to keyboard/mouse gaming. 

The build quality is top-notch, as this half-hand keyboard is equipped with the most essential parts, such as blue switches and 7 programmable macro keys. There is also a magnetic wrist rest and a detachable USB type c connector. The RGB is vibrant and the keys aren’t super glossy with just enough texture to stand up to sweaty hands! 

The Redragon K585 Diti performs all the necessary tasks a gaming session needs. Clearly it is an excellent gaming keyboard for a fraction of the price. 

This gadget is highly responsive, thus Gigabit connectivity will be a perfect for it’s outstanding performance. Definitely a must-have!

Razer Kiyo Pro Webcam (£89.99)

Razer Kiyo Pro is an impressive webcam that can record video in 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second.

It is twice as expensive as the previous Kiyo but it is undoubtedly a far better webcam. All you need is a good internet connection for your calls or streams and this gadget will handle the rest. 

The Kiyo has a high-performance adaptive light sensor and autofocus to support the lighting setup or condition you have so that even the darkest room will look good on camera! Plus, you can make your stream pop with more vibrant colours by activating HDR at 30FPS. It can ramp up your video’s dynamic range while correcting over and underexposed areas. 

The Razer Kiyo Pro is a significant leap ahead and definitely what you need for perfect live streaming. All you have to worry about now is your internet upload speed so you can achieve maximum video quality.

Elgato Stream Deck (£139.99) 

Stream Deck integrates your tools and automatically detects your scenes, media, and audio sources, enabling you to control them with a quick tap of a key. These LCD keys can trigger anything you set them to – including launching OBS for broadcasting, Twitch, YouTube, TipeeeStream, or XSplit. 

This stream deck can also perform several other tasks, like switching between multiple webcams or opening other applications while in-game. Everything you need is at your fingertips.

So, why are good gaming gadgets important?

Gaming is definitely for anyone, but if you wish to grow your pro skills, you need to have the necessary tools and internet connection to help you stand out against the competition.

If you wish to be a true pro gamer you must set the bar higher every time and not rely on outdated methods. This also applies to your internet connection. 

Low latency, fast download and upload speeds, what more can you want? Just #GameWithGiga.

3 Reasons Why Gigabit Internet Can Boost Your Creativity

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Happy National Creativity Day! 

Embrace your creative energies and let today be all about where they will take you. 

There are multiple ways to increase creativity, especially with many conveniences offered in this digital era. The internet has become an essential tool for development and has enabled creativity tools to push the boundaries of what is digitally possible. 

Here are three reasons how Gigabit Internet technology has improved exponentially to boost creativity in today’s society:

Gigabit Internet Improves Productivity

You certainly know that the internet invention has provided us the ability to cultivate ourselves.

All we should do is practice and develop our talents by making time for it. It is even considerably cheaper to improve, as the Internet has lowered the cost to be creative.

Gigabit connection is ultra-reliable, which allows you to try multiple platforms and even operate them simultaneously. 

Do you want to edit a video? You can use iMovie, InShot or CapCut. These platforms can provide you with shortcuts and templates so that you can edit your video instantly. 

If you’re looking for a beginner tutorial to show you how to get started with iMovie, you can find a great one here.

Need to design an ads for your marketing campaign? You can use Canva or Design Wizard. They’re simple to use and don’t need any design experience.

The internet has brought several tools for faster, more efficient creation. It provides simplicity and convenience for you to explore. Leading to higher productivity so you can learn, create and sell your inner talents. Nowadays people are not talking about abilities but speed. It is more about how you are willing to try and improve.

However, do you know that on average people at work can lose 44 minutes per week due to poor internet connection? Just make sure you are not one of them! Make sure it’s running properly so that your creative juices keep flowing and productivity keeps soaring. 

Internet Provides Multiple Tools To Learn and Support Your Creativity

The internet has no boundaries and triggers a desire in many of us, to learn new things. All you have to do is devote yourself to improving your creative skills. Set a goal, make an effort, and commit to it. There are multiple platforms available to find your creative feet. The digital age has allowed everyone to be a creator.

YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest are served as launching pads. You can learn from them and share your creations easier than ever before. Creativity has become so accessible to everyone. 

Gigabit Internet Leads You to New Opportunities

Working with creativity means that you have to continually challenge yourself to advance your abilities.

It can involve finding new tools or tackling a new project. The Internet can help you connect with new people who share your passion.It supports you to find new audiences, making it easier to reach those who will enjoy or need your creations.

Do you want to sell your artwork? You can go to Etsy, Amazon Handmade, Redbubble or Saatchi Art.

Or do you want to sell your skills and help companies with their artwork? Working on their logo, website or branding? You can check 99designs, Fiverr or UpWork. Expose yourself and develop your creative skills. Creativity is a faculty that allows people to go beyond capacity. It is up to us to make good use of it.

Want to know how Gigabit Networks can help you boost your creativity? Use our postcode checker to see if we are in your area!

How tech kept people connected during lockdown

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It’s a no-brainer that entering a global pandemic and being told that you’re not allowed to go outside, or physically interact with others anymore, would develop a sense of loneliness and isolation in some people. The extroverts were the main target, but even if you’re an extrovert, introvert or ambivert, you still need some form of connection and communication in your life, and Covid almost took that away from us.

However, technology saved us in many ways, be that professionally, academically or emotionally.

Thank you, Zoom 

What might be considered the star platform of the last 2 years, Zoom’s video conferencing powered many aspects of life. Including the work-from-home economy, remote education and virtual meetings with friends and family.

In a time of endless worrying, stress and frustration, Zoom’s efficiency and user-friendly display helped millions in the fight against loneliness as video calls brought families back together and helped to make life just a bit more normal. Ironically, communication couldn’t be easier and harder at the same time. 

All you needed to start reconnecting with people was an electronic device and good internet connection. 

Speaking of powerful connections, with GigaFast Home you can get up to 20x faster speeds than with your usual Internet Service provider. With us you can forget about laggy and pixelated video calls, especially when you want to feel your loved ones closer to you.

Check your postcode here if you want to ensure you can stay connected no matter the circumstance.

Entertaining platforms – TikTok, the virtual dance floor

Having been left with no other form of communication and entertainment, social media platforms became more populated than ever before, and long forgotten ones re-emerged in this time. 

TikTok became the new Vine.

Gen Z, millennials, gen X, even the baby boomers, they all left the seriousness and frustration aside to share dance moves, challenges and games through the app – giving many a sense of belonging and happiness all from silly on the internet together.

It’s no surprise that TikTok got to almost the same number of downloads as Instagram in just a few months. 

Music collaborations from a distance

Finally, what has the power to unite people better than music? 

Not even Covid can stop the world from finding ways to enjoy themselves. Meeting online, having virtual rehearsals, jam sessions and concerts was the way to go – and everybody loved it.

I mean…it’s music! 

Amazing collaborations happened online, funds were raised, and people danced and connected through lyrics and melodies in the unforgettable Zoom era.

Stuck with you will remain one of the most iconic Covid collaborations to support these times of our life.

Pandemic innovations 

AR and VR for online exhibits and experiences, crowd control robots, implementing UV-C cleaning and QR codes in restaurants – a lot of things about the way we live have had to change and innovate to ensure a low virus spread. 

However, innovating to keep people mentally healthy and connected with one another was just as important. 

For example, a Liverpool engineering firm developed a device that could help communities who struggle to socialise. Especially during these harsh times.

Push to talk is a similar size to a small alarm clock, ergonomically user-friendly and to have access to the service people just need a working phone line. Its main purpose is to connect people who feel lonely, so basically every time people want to connect, they just press a button and Push to talk will connect the person to another person who feels like socializing and pressed the button at the same time. It’s that smart and that easy!

Staying connected post-lockdown 

Pandemic or not, it might still be hard to connect from time to time, but technology is still playing a big role in helping us to feel connected.

We should all take advantage of the great tools we have to stay connected to one another whether that be digitally or physically, and remember not to take human connection for granted.

3 Things the Big Broadband Providers Don’t Want You to Know

Written by Acacia Henry on . Posted in Residential. No Comments on 3 Things the Big Broadband Providers Don’t Want You to Know

Big broadband providers can be well known for their broken promises and shady contracts. It is often that they will say one thing, but it means another. This is where Gigabit comes in…

While you could always switch to Gigabit Networks for a hassle-free, price fixed contract, we know sometimes people are stuck in their broadband contracts for months or even years without the option to switch. 

So, if you’re currently in a contract and can’t switch to Gigabit, or looking at a contract with one of the big providers, we’ve put together a list of 3 things they don’t want you to know. 

We hope these tips can help you to better understand broadband contracts and where you can get caught out.

The ‘working hours’ trick 

Big providers such as Virgin are well-known for using the ‘working hours’ trick. By using this, broadband providers can offer a ‘72 working hours fix’ or ’48 working hours install’ this way it may look as though you can expect your fix in 3 days or install in two days.

This is a simple way that providers will attempt to catch you out. In reality, a 72 working hour fix equates to about 9 days, which of course they wouldn’t want to tell you.

So, while you may enter your contract thinking the wait times will be reasonable, when the time for your fix comes, you will quickly realise that your provider has used sly wording to catch you out!

They’re selling you ‘fibre broadband’ that isn’t really fibre broadband

Big providers love to throw the term ‘fibre broadband’ around. 

As a consumer, it’s hard to know about all of the complicated telecommunication’s jargon, so of course, you’re going to take what the big brands say as the truth.

Actually, fibre broadband as you know it, is probably what we like to call ‘fake fibre’. 

Fake fibre uses a part-fibre connection where the cabling from the exchange to the street cabinet is made from fibre and the cabling from the street cabinet to your home is actually copper. This intereferes with your connection, slows it down and shares it with your street.

The CityFibre infrastructure (used by Gigabit Networks) is completely made up of pure fibre, all the way from the exchange and straight to your home. 

Pure fibre is where the true magic happens and where you can get insanely fast speeds that also reduce your impact on the environment! 

For more on the relation between pure fibre and the environment read our blog Purefibre broadband – your path to a greener home. 

Your monthly bill is probably going to increase

You’re not naïve for thinking that the price you agree to pay for your broadband per month would stay the same throughout your entire contract. 

Of course, prices may increase in line with inflation when you switch to a new contract but surely the big providers wouldn’t just bump costs up on you mid-contract?

Unfortunately, they would…

In fact, this has probably happened to you already. 

As of the 1st of April, you may have noticed your broadband or mobile bill increase by as much as 11% due to inflation rates.

If you want to know if your provider can do this or not it’s important to read your terms and conditions. If you agree to the terms and conditions of a contract that states that it may increase your bill, then unfortunately you must pay that increase.

Certain providers, including us, have a promise that we won’t increase your prices mid-contract. That means, no matter what, you can expect to pay the exact same bill every month. No uncertainty. No sly contracts. Just good, honest speeds.

Check your postcode now

5 Top Tips for Optimising your Home Wi-Fi 

Written by Acacia Henry on . Posted in Residential. No Comments on 5 Top Tips for Optimising your Home Wi-Fi 

Bad WiFi signal can become frustrating especially when you’re paying for it, here are Gigabit’s five top tips on how to improve your home Wi-Fi:

  1. Check your wired internet connection:

Checking your wired connection to the router is often the first step to troubleshooting your Wi-Fi connection issues. Ensuring your wired ethernet connection is fully functioning, undamaged and checking the connection is not loose. Followed by a quick network configuration to search for the root cause of the problem should hopefully quickly and efficiently solve the problem. 

  1. Check your true broadband speed: 

Checking your broadband speeds is essential. The running of a speed test is the most efficient method to find out whether there’s an issue with the router itself or if the issues lay with your internet service provider (ISP).  

  1. Position your router in a central location: 

Changing the physical position of your network points and router can boost your signal, this is because the antenna located on the router box is what radiates the signal to connect to your home devices. 

Therefore, a central location will be the best fit between all devices within your home to try and achieve equal signal throughout the house. 

If the positioning of the router centrally cannot be facilitated it is important to ensure the router is not located at low positions such as on the floor, in a corner or directly next to any solid barriers as this becomes a barrier for the Wi-Fi signals to radiate through and connect to your home devices. 

You should aim for elevated positions for optimal stability and strength. 

  1. Use of router extenders: 

Use of a router extender allows you to shorten the WiFi distance between your devices and the router thereby extending the range of the wireless network increasing device speeds and improving performance. 

Router extenders can be convenient and budget friendly while successfully expanding your signal coverage in your home and eliminates WiFi dead zones. However, home users have to consider that the host factors can be limited if the original source (home router) signal is slow and weak. 

You should consider performing a speed test prior to purchasing a WiFi extender to ensure it will be beneficial and the actual signal strength isn’t the main issue.   

  1. Upgrade you router: 

You should consider upgrading the router for boosting your signal.  The replacement of the physical Wifi router can be beneficial as tech can become outdated, worn and broken which may reduce the stability and strength of your WiFi. Therefore upgrading can improve network functionality and enhance range/coverage. 

Thanks to UK’s most reliable broadband technology, Gigabit Networks can offer speeds of upto 930Mbps – 20x faster than the UK average. To switch to Gigabit today, simply visit our homepage.

How ultrafast broadband can drive more business: the shift to e-commerce

Written by Acacia Henry on . Posted in Digital Trade, E-Commerce, Internet Provider. No Comments on How ultrafast broadband can drive more business: the shift to e-commerce

According to Nasdaq research, by 2040 95% of purchases will be online. This may be a shock to small businesses. Luckily, we have about 18 years to adjust!

Now we can probably say we saw this coming, most of us can see the slow but sure shift to e-commerce where convenience and speed is a priority. This has only been catalysed by the pandemic where customers boosted amazon’s profits by 220%.

So, going digital now might just give you the edge you need against your competitors – don’t wait till 2040. The internet is inevitably going to open your business up to more customers and make your product/service accessible to all.

So how can my SME make the jump to digital?

Finding a platform

In a world so dominated by e-commerce, there’s going to be competition, but there will also be a larger customer base. You can choose to build this customer base through selling platforms such as Amazon, eBay or Etsy or you can create this customer base yourself by building your own selling platform and attracting audience through digital marketing. 

Eventually, businesses making enough sales tend to migrate to their own site rather than using a selling platform anyway – this way they can cut out the high charges that these platforms tend to add so consider this when choosing your platform.

Examples of great platforms to create your own store include sites such as Wix, Shopify and Squarespacewhere you can build your store, add plugins and track progress.

Once you’ve found your preferred platform you can begin to build your store. 

To maintain this store, you should of course consider the business connection you’re using – downtime can be bad for business and somebody needs to be available as much as possible to answer potential customer queries and track orders as 82% of consumers expect a response within 5 minutes via live online chats.

GigaFast Business Fibre is the perfect product for e-commerce – we can ensure your store stays online with our 99.95% SLA and next business day fix. The ROI (return on investment) is massive at just £99 per month for 1Gbps symmetrical speeds.

Digital Marketing

Now you have your platform and a reliable connection to keep it running you need to consider digital marketing if you haven’t already. 

If you’re not in a position to employ a digital marketer to help you out, consider taking a free digital marketing course – like this one from Hubspot – to help you learn how to get your product/service out to the right people. You could also cut costs by finding a freelance marketer on sites such as Fiverr.

If you employ the right marketing strategy alongside a few well thought out ads, you will start to see revenue in no time.

So how does all of this relate to superfast broadband?

To make things easier to understand, imagine your (potential) e-commerce business is a plant. Broadband is like water. Ultrafast broadband, however, is like water infused with fertiliser and nutrients.

Ultrafast broadband, like GigaFast Business Fibre, is going to have everything you need to facilitate the growth of this e-commerce business, your options will be limitless and you won’t be held back by what you can get away with on a tiny bandwidth.

A fast and reliable service will inevitably feed straight into customer experience as well. If your customer service staff are struggling to respond to customer queries due to long loading times or your connection cutting out altogether, customers may not return.

Innovation opportunities are also limitless. Live streaming is a relatively new avenue in digital marketing which engages customers and communicates the value of products. Customers won’t get a good impression if the live stream is constantly buffering. 

So, stay ahead of the times, don’t get left behind. 

Make the shift to e-commerce today and switch to a Gigabit Business Fibre connection – we won’t let you down.

Virtual things you can do this April

Written by Acacia Henry on . Posted in Residential. No Comments on Virtual things you can do this April

April is here. The clocks have gone forwards and British summer time has now started which means more bank holidays, more school holidays and more time to keep entertained!

Sometimes being out all the time can be draining or maybe, as it starts to get hot, the outside weather just isn’t for you. Plus, with the cost of living rising, it isn’t realistic to have big trips and days out planned for every weekend in summer. 

That’s why we’ve decided to pull together a list of a few virtual ways you can entertain yourself this April. With the easter holidays fast approaching it can be hectic trying to think of how to keep yourself and the kids entertained. Well, with a GigaFast Home connection and this handy list, this summer doesn’t need to be expensive or boring.

New Netflix shows

There are plenty of new shows on Netflix this April. Ozark – a thrilling crime drama – is returning for a final part this April, and with 4 seasons already available to watch it’s definitely one to binge. 

And for the true-crime junkies there are multiple new true-crime documentaries coming to Netflix this month with focuses ranging from John Wayne Gacy to Marilyn Monroe.

Plus, if your kids are big Netflix fans too, there are plenty of new releases for kids of all ages too – from a new Beyblade release to a new season of CoComelon.

Online courses

If you or the kids have some free time this April why not spend it learning something new? MOOC stands for massive open online courses, and they are a great way to learn new skills no matter your age.

You can find MOOCs in subjects from computer science to humanities to engineering. There really is something for everyone.

MOOC.org is a great way to find free and cheap MOOCS. Udemy also offers a range of coding for kids courses and tutorials.

Virtual museums

On the topic of learning, virtual museum tours are a great option to soak in everything it is you can learn from a museum without the overwhelming stress of planning a whole day trip. 

Google Arts and Culture offers virtual exhibits with pictures and videos from over 2000 museums around the world. It is available on web, IOS and android – making art and culture way more accessible.

The page also features interactive games which allow you to immerse yourself in different cultures whilst also learning and having fun. 

AirBnB online experiences

More commonly known for its wide range of places to stay all over the world, AirBnB also boasts a new way to discover the world from your own home.

AirBnB experiences are live videos sessions allowing you to affordably experience things that otherwise you may not have had access to. It is a great way to soak up cultures from all around the world without having to worry about paying for a plane ticket.

Experiences available range massively! You can take cocktail masterclasses, meditate with a Japanese Buddhist, go on a wildlife safari in South Africa, dive under the sea with a shark expert and even do a haunted mansion escape room. 

Experiences range in prices from around £12 per person to £70 per person, there is something for every price range and every interest, go take a look.