Q Are there any ways, apart from wireless, to share a broadband connection?

Jos Verhaak, via e-mail

A PowerLine adaptors (£43 each from www.solwise.co.uk) enable you to share an internet connection through the electricity cables in your home — though you need an Ethernet-enabled modem rather than USB. One PowerLine box is plugged into the mains socket nearest the incoming broadband modem, and they are connected with a cable. Simply plug additional PowerLine boxes into electrical sockets in rooms where you want internet access and, bingo, you can add further computers online, with an Ethernet cable, wherever you need them. The faster 85Mbps models are best for everyday use.

MAKE SOME NOISE

Q How can I record Wav files of more than 10 seconds’ duration on my PC?

Joseph Le Roi-Smith, Milton Keynes

A The Sound Recorder that comes with Microsoft Windows is singularly useless for recording anything more than a few seconds of material. For real audio recording and editing, look no further than the excellent, and freely available, Audacity (audacity.sourceforge.net). It offers a wealth of cool features, including the ability to record, convert and clean up all kinds of audio of any length.

ALTERED IMAGES

Q Why does my Freeview set suffer from frequent breaksin picture quality?

Richard Walker, via e-mail

A Break-ups in picture quality, pixellation (jagged images) and such are usually caused by a breakdown in the digital signal — the result of anything from a duff aerial installation to a large tree interrupting your signal. Things will improve as the boffins tweak the optimum performance from compressed signals. For now, have your aerial checked and visit tinyurl.com/2p645 to learn about Freeview coverage in your area.

dontpanic@sunday-times.co.uk

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