View Full Version : Which Broadband?
Right, Im hopefully gonna be sorting my place out with a landline soon, which mean t'interweb access :D Ive got a fair idea of the ISP Im going to use, but was looking for any advicce or comments you guys out there might have on various ISPs you use or have used.
Who do you rate? Who DONT you rate? Who has good customer service? Who has nice cheap prices? etc. etc.
All comments greatfully appreciated. I love you all
They're all rubbish, or will be at some point, best deal going right now is Talk Talk from Carphone Warehouse:
http://www.talktalk.co.uk/talktalk/servlet/gben-home-Home
.
Don'ts:
-Wannado
-Tesco
-OneTel
-PlusNet
All of the above mainly because I'm pretty ok with a computer, but on the times I've needed to call them, they have been less helpful than a soggy tissue. OneTel also tried billing me for two months broadband usage, after I'd cancelled the phone line as I was moving out. PlusNet, once have your custom, seem not to care about you, and make it difficult when you want to leave.
I'm currently with EFHBroadband, who have made their mistakes, but it's a relatively new comapny, so they can be forgiven for that (people on the phone that have inadequate training etc).
If you live in the right area, go with cable, get your TV & phone through them as well. Usually a good sized saving to be had, and I'm told all the cable companies have good customer service (to the extent of NTL paying for my mate to have a new front door when their engineer balls'd up the install, could of got away with the frame only, but NTL's response was pretty much "No, it's ok, it was our fault, we'll fix it properly).
mysteryjimbo
18-08-06, 12:50 PM
Don'ts:
-PlusNet
Hahahaha
:lol:
Diego's dealer
18-08-06, 12:50 PM
I've been using Tiscali for a while now and I've never had any trouble with them. Their rates aren't bad and the connection is always good.
Used to be with AOL a long time ago and they were rubbish - i'd definitely steer clear personally.
I agree with your man at the top though, that talk talk package people are talking about is meant to be a doozy, most people seem to think that is the best package by far at the moment.
Hope any of this helped!
fizzwheel
18-08-06, 12:52 PM
BT, but only because work pay for it so its free :D Actually I have to say they are pretty good. I had to phone them a couple of times and the techy was really helpful and actually knew that I knew what I was talking about.
DONTS_ TISCALI
Had nothing but trouble since i tried moving our broadband over after moving house...the up shot was that they were trying to reconnect to our old address.....muppets. :toss:
So after over 5 hours of phone calls speaking to Guptar Singh n friends my problems were still not resolved :twisted:
I have now sent of a dossier to the CEO of Tiscali UK asking for answers.
Rant over...Carry on :D
mysteryjimbo
18-08-06, 12:55 PM
To add to my previous helpful comment, NTL is reliable and fast enough. Although the upload speed is awful in comparison. It still works well with VoIP, P2P and online games all running at the same time.
Previously i've used Tiscali and they were pretty reliable and at the time they supplied free setup.
Im kinda leaning towards Tiscali as a few people I know have been with them for ages and have had next to no probs. Would love to get a TV/Phone/Internet package from my cable provider, but Im almost out in the sticks (well, backward hick town called Darwen anyway) and cable (NTL) hasnt stretched out to us yet :(
Would only go with one of the bigger companies anyway to be honest, like Tiscali, BT, Pipex etc. (but not with the Hoff adverts now - just wrong!) but Im always open to listen if anyone has good words to say about a smaller, lesser known company.
*coughs* New player on the market....
http://broadband.sky.com/flash.htm
mudge32
18-08-06, 12:59 PM
We've had no problems with our BT connection, but, as for their Foreign Office Helpline :roll: only any good if you can understand a strong Indian accent :lol:
*coughs* New player on the market....
http://broadband.sky.com/flash.htm
Nice plug Ping! No Sky though :(
TVR_Tracy
18-08-06, 01:03 PM
Mums with BT, I don't think she's had a problem with them... They're capped though :cry:
I was with freedom to surf (owned by pipex) in my old house, they were not bad... and they're not capped - Happy days!! :wink:
My collegue is with Bulldog, and she hates them!
Good luck :wink:
We've had no problems with our BT connection, but, as for their Foreign Office Helpline :roll: only any good if you can understand a strong Indian accent :lol:
Doesnt EVERY company now have a "Foreign Office Helpline"? Grrr :evil: :evil:
Awh, just beaten to it
If you're getting Sky anyway then get their Broadband.
Same for Orange phone.
Otherwise Talk talk.
I've got Bulldog but not available anymore - don't know about problems with the above, recommendation based on price.
rwoodcock01
18-08-06, 01:20 PM
I am currently with BT, until three months ago I had to problems, after repeating myself sooooo many times to india and repeating there same flow chart over and over I am saying sod umm.
I have told them what's wrong and they won't except it. I just give up with them, had no broadband at home for three months now.
I am just waiting for Sky and I am switching to them, I am so disgusted with BT now.
Rich
timwilky
18-08-06, 01:29 PM
Check you can actually get an ADSL service. Although I am on cable I would like to go to an affordable business class service until recently everbody said yes then no when I placed the orders and they try to get the line ADSL enabled. At the last check last week Pipex have said I can have a 512k but would still charge me for the 2MB business service. I didn't even try to place the order as they wouldn't reduce price to match their reduced service offering.
I currently have a 10Mbit cable service but can only connect 2 devices using dhcp assigned addresses. I want a minimum static /28 allocation and would be prepared to pay for them but Telewest will not provide it. nor increase the upload speed of 384k.
CheekyLemon
18-08-06, 01:43 PM
I'm with Namesco (Previously NDO). But then I work for them, so I can fix any problems should they occur straight away.
Most of the common ones tend to be a reseller anyway, usually of NetServices. Not a bad thing, but explains why people get crap support, as it's not their own pipes, so they have to escalate any faults to their provider, who then escalate to BT.
Best bet is to have a mooch around adslguide.org.uk, should be able to give you some ideas.
Im with Virgin. Been with them 2 years or more, and NEVER had a problem.
CheekyLemon
18-08-06, 01:59 PM
Yeah I used to be with Virgin. Never had a problem. They are part of NTL now tho, and I have never used NTL.
This has come at a good time for me.
I'm with AOL at the moment, defintely wouldn't recommend them, had problems getting it moved when i moved house and it seems to constantly go slow or drop out lately.
2 yrs with pipex, no issues, tiscali used to be fine for dialup but never used bband with them, but people I know with it say its fine
Anyone got experience of how long it would take to get installed? I would like to know about SKY, I guess any would help M65
CheekyLemon
18-08-06, 02:23 PM
Well, a standard provision is usually 5 working days. BT's ECO system does not allow anything less. If it's an SP migration it can be done in less time. A standard migration is the same as provision.
Again, it depends if the ISP is utilising BT lines. If so, it will be the same as above. Not sure about companies that have unbundled exchanges, like Bulldog etc.
TVR_Tracy
18-08-06, 02:25 PM
I've heard bad things about NTL customer service... my mate was also still getting billed after disconnecting.... :?
Biker Biggles
18-08-06, 03:10 PM
BT for me.I've had no problems with them except the line has failed twice in a couple of years.Have to say they fixed it quickly and when they said they would both times.
I use Eclipse as suggest by my other IT Techy friends.
Never seems to go down, you get the usual perks.
I chose the 2nd option (in the hope that parents get their kids the £15 option, so i'll get priority over them). 3rd option gives higher priority etc..
I pay (think) £18 PM, up to 8mb line (usually between 2.3-2.6m). We was connected within days with no issues at all.
Friends also still use them, been very good. I've not called customer services, but good CS was part of my requirements, and if my techhy IT mates recommend them for decent CS, then they can't be too bad.
Two sets of options...
http://www.eclipse.net.uk/index.cfm?id=fixedmain_res
This is limited DL.
or
http://www.eclipse.net.uk/index.cfm?id=fixedmain_res
Im on Classic plus at £18.99 pm.
I've heard bad things about NTL customer service... my mate was also still getting billed after disconnecting.... :?
it does suck... we move and still got billed for our old house and for the new place... so we didn't pay... for 6 months... Jax even drove down to the offices new Basingstoke and camped there until she got a managers number. They wrote the whole lot off and gave us 3 months free service... cool... but that was the TV/telephone... Broadband never been any trouble in 4 years, they seem to work separate...
medwaysv
18-08-06, 04:00 PM
lookin at going over to sky myself
with B* at the momment but have nothing but problems with their service
already had 3 routers and the problem still exists
besides..why pay £17.99 a month for 2gb d/load limit when i can pay sky £10 a month for unlimited.
but it just goes to show that some people have better experiance of a company than others :?
Considering my experiences with BT over the last two weeks and their total uselessness I certainly wouldn't even entertain the idea of using them. :evil:
Sky IS cheap...............but just you try signing up for it...............if you're like me you'll be told it's not available in your area yet BUT you can have their much more expensive basic broadband package now! :roll:
I'm just waiting for my router to arrive from AOL. We've been on AOL dial-up for a couple of years and we've never had a problem with them at all, which is why we're sticking with them. £9.99 a month with no limits..............can't be bad! :D
I've been with ntl broadband since it started and tbh the service is ok.not to much down time,im on a 4meg download with 400k upload,i serf ,and mainly use it for my xbox360 gaming,seems fine to me,i pay £24.99 a month and dont have a landline i just use my mobile as im never in.....
just my opinion :)
kwak zzr
18-08-06, 05:36 PM
tiscali here with no problems, trouble is with ADSL is they can send you an 2mb feed but depending on your fone line quality depends on what speed you get when it actully reaches you. they send me 2mb but my download speeds can vary from 270kbps to as low as 30kbps :? better than dial up tho. i also have my phone call's with tiscali (no probs there either) £19.99 all in internet and unlimited fone.
TALK TALK is surposed to be very good but in my area theres a 3month wait.
SKY would be good but they hold you to randsom with the TV packages.
suicidesam
18-08-06, 06:11 PM
Been with Telewest broadband for about 4 years and never had any problems with them. Only down side is the slow upload speed 35-45k :( Bonus is no capped downloads :D I get on average 375-390k D/load on the 4 meg line Think it's about time they revised the price structure though, they want to be the fastest/cheapest all the time but they aint just now.
We've been on AOL dial-up for a couple of years and we've never had a problem with them at all, which is why we're sticking with them. £9.99 a month with no limits..............can't be bad! :D
Yes, it IS :shock: :shock: :shock: . Sorry :oops: .
With dial-up how can you have limits? It's simply too slow for that. And all the hassle, and the slooooowness :evil: . Pay another fiver and move up to broadband Lissa, you'll honestly not regret it ;).
.
kwak zzr
18-08-06, 07:00 PM
tiscali 2mb £14.99 unlimited
tiscali 2mb £14.99 unlimited
This is the package i'm looking at so glad to hear that you've not had problems.
We've been on AOL dial-up for a couple of years and we've never had a problem with them at all, which is why we're sticking with them. £9.99 a month with no limits..............can't be bad! :D
Yes, it IS :shock: :shock: :shock: . Sorry :oops: .
With dial-up how can you have limits? It's simply too slow for that. And all the hassle, and the slooooowness :evil: . Pay another fiver and move up to broadband Lissa, you'll honestly not regret it ;).
.
:D :D :D
The £9.99 is what I'll be paying for the no limits broadband :D
kwak zzr
18-08-06, 07:12 PM
tiscali 2mb £14.99 unlimited
This is the package i'm looking at so glad to hear that you've not had problems.
get the free phone calls aswell.
Can someone explain what the contention ration means as i've been told the lower the better. What is a decent ratio :?
El Saxo
18-08-06, 09:28 PM
+1 more for Telewest. Great service, started off paying for 2mb and they've gradually upgraded that to 10mb for naff-all extra money. Upload speed ain't great but I'm not arsed about uploading much anyway...
More important, never had a single problem with service, which is more than can be said for the cable TV side of the business :roll:
Best advice I can give you is to go to
www.adslguide.co.uk
There are good and bad ISPs out there, and people have a wide range of experiences, even if they're using the same ISP. Some never have a hiccup, and others have continuous woes.
Comments will be skewed. Very few praise ISPs when things go well, but plenty complain when things go wrong. I suppose that's human nature.
Hope the site helps you make your mind up.
A.
CheekyLemon
19-08-06, 08:08 AM
Contention is the amount of people you share your bandwidth with.
There are supposed to be two:
50:1 and 20:1, but I have been informed that most people usually get 30:1 regardless.
So if you have 4 meg broadband, you are sharing the 4 meg with either 50, or 20 other people at the exchange. Hence your download speed is never 4000kbps :)
Many companies have 50:1 for home, and 20:1 for office packages.
EDIT - also checkout the forums on www.moneysavingexpert.com not just for ADSL. Seems to help me out a fair bit.
ethariel
19-08-06, 09:47 AM
If you are looking to play games in any way shape or form, dont touch Ar*eholes On Line or Tiscali with a 10 foot barge pole.
To be honest, adsl guide is a good site, plenty of companies out there now who dont demand a 12 month contract.
BUT beware UNLIMITED download accounts because simply, they are not. Most will have a 10 to 30 gig 'Fair Use Policy' on it, nothing worse than having errr downloaded some ummmmm DVD's that your ISP drops you and wont give a MAC so you end up living on dialup for 2 months after.
Colin
If you are looking to play games in any way shape or form, dont touch Ar*eholes On Line or Tiscali with a 10 foot barge pole.
Colin
How comes tiscali are no good for games? This is the one i was going to get but i play WOW sometimes so it won't be no good to me? :?
We've been on AOL dial-up for a couple of years and we've never had a problem with them at all, which is why we're sticking with them. £9.99 a month with no limits..............can't be bad! :D
Yes, it IS :shock: :shock: :shock: . Sorry :oops: .
With dial-up how can you have limits? It's simply too slow for that. And all the hassle, and the slooooowness :evil: . Pay another fiver and move up to broadband Lissa, you'll honestly not regret it ;).
.
:D :D :D
The £9.99 is what I'll be paying for the no limits broadband :D
Ah... me no rissen :lol: .
.
We've been on AOL dial-up for a couple of years and we've never had a problem with them at all, which is why we're sticking with them. £9.99 a month with no limits..............can't be bad! :D
Yes, it IS :shock: :shock: :shock: . Sorry :oops: .
With dial-up how can you have limits? It's simply too slow for that. And all the hassle, and the slooooowness :evil: . Pay another fiver and move up to broadband Lissa, you'll honestly not regret it ;).
.
:D :D :D
The £9.99 is what I'll be paying for the no limits broadband :D
Ah... me no rissen :lol: .
.
Well, you're a bloke :wink:
:D :D
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