Switching ISPs
Discussion
Hi! 
I'm just thinking of making the switch from BT to a new ISP. PlusNet seems to get consistently good reports from some people on here, so at the moment they're the people I'm thinking of going with.
But here's a question for anyone using them. I was thinking of using their Small Business account, because I run a small business - www.midsun.co.uk - and that seems to be the optimum solution for all the things I want to do. Is their 10:1 contention ratio pretty quick, and do you notice times when their service is obviously slower as a result?
And another question for anyone who's ever migrated from BT. Any ISP you talk to tells you that the migration process is pretty seamless - you just give them your migration code, they activate your service and then you just stop the BT service. But somehow, I can't help but feel that if BT is involved anywhere along the line, it won't be quite that simple. Anyone had any experience of this?
Cheers chaps!
>> Edited by SGirl on Friday 2nd September 14:35
I'm just thinking of making the switch from BT to a new ISP. PlusNet seems to get consistently good reports from some people on here, so at the moment they're the people I'm thinking of going with.
But here's a question for anyone using them. I was thinking of using their Small Business account, because I run a small business - www.midsun.co.uk - and that seems to be the optimum solution for all the things I want to do. Is their 10:1 contention ratio pretty quick, and do you notice times when their service is obviously slower as a result?
And another question for anyone who's ever migrated from BT. Any ISP you talk to tells you that the migration process is pretty seamless - you just give them your migration code, they activate your service and then you just stop the BT service. But somehow, I can't help but feel that if BT is involved anywhere along the line, it won't be quite that simple. Anyone had any experience of this?
Cheers chaps!
>> Edited by SGirl on Friday 2nd September 14:35
Migration is seemless, its just the billing thats changing, chances are its still wholesaled BT DSL whoever you choose (some exceptions granted)
Most places have free offers for migration thats setup like mobile phones, you get a code, it moves. Job done.
A 10:1 contention ration is 5 times better than standard home DSL but ultimately it depends what you do with it.
Is upstream traffic a big consideration? If not you may be better off going for a thicker home pipe on a higher contention...
Most places have free offers for migration thats setup like mobile phones, you get a code, it moves. Job done.
A 10:1 contention ration is 5 times better than standard home DSL but ultimately it depends what you do with it.
Is upstream traffic a big consideration? If not you may be better off going for a thicker home pipe on a higher contention...
Hiya Plotters! How's PlotTot?
Well, upstream traffic isn't usually an issue. It has been of late thanks to clients wanting enormous files uploaded, but usually my BT connection is more than adequate for that.
I'm just a bit concerned that if I go for any kind of business account with contention, will I be sharing the same space with users making enormous demands and therefore slowing everything down?
How's PlotTot? Well, upstream traffic isn't usually an issue. It has been of late thanks to clients wanting enormous files uploaded, but usually my BT connection is more than adequate for that.
I'm just a bit concerned that if I go for any kind of business account with contention, will I be sharing the same space with users making enormous demands and therefore slowing everything down?
Nice to see you back, been lurking?
PlotTot is well, just turned 2 - how time flys.
How is SBaby?
With regards contention
From your telephone line, to your exchange, there is just 1 user, yourself, here there is no contention, you can send and receive data at the fully specified level.
The telephone company will have many users on one exchange, and its at the exchange your data is split between voice and data. The data is then sent down a network cable from the exchange, into the telephone company's network. This is where the first contention comes in, the line may only be, for example, 4mbps. If your ISP says you can have 1mbps, with a 50:1 contention, then a maximum of 200 people may exist on this exchange, if they are keeping to their promise. This is not feasible, and the line is probably capable of a higher data rate, and there will be many lines, but the ratios still exist. If the ratio is anywhere near being met, the telephone company will most likely update the exchange.
From the telephone company's network, to your ISPs, there will be another contention, and this depends on the size of the bandwidth your ISP is willing to buy. This will usually not be a problem.
PlotTot is well, just turned 2 - how time flys.
How is SBaby?
With regards contention
From your telephone line, to your exchange, there is just 1 user, yourself, here there is no contention, you can send and receive data at the fully specified level.
The telephone company will have many users on one exchange, and its at the exchange your data is split between voice and data. The data is then sent down a network cable from the exchange, into the telephone company's network. This is where the first contention comes in, the line may only be, for example, 4mbps. If your ISP says you can have 1mbps, with a 50:1 contention, then a maximum of 200 people may exist on this exchange, if they are keeping to their promise. This is not feasible, and the line is probably capable of a higher data rate, and there will be many lines, but the ratios still exist. If the ratio is anywhere near being met, the telephone company will most likely update the exchange.
From the telephone company's network, to your ISPs, there will be another contention, and this depends on the size of the bandwidth your ISP is willing to buy. This will usually not be a problem.
Yep! I've been around, just not had much time to post. I'm up to my eyes in work. 
2 is a great age, isn't it? SBaby is doing very well, he chats non-stop now and there's no stopping him once he gets going. He loves cars too. I think it must be in the genes.
Thanks for the info on contention. So what you're saying is that there should be no problems with upload/download, regardless of the contention ratio, because as soon as any ISP gets a hint of things getting busy, they should upgrade the equipment anyway? Sounds good to me.
You know, I can't help but feel things were all a lot easier in the good old days, with dialup and fax machines.
>> Edited by SGirl on Friday 2nd September 15:34
2 is a great age, isn't it? SBaby is doing very well, he chats non-stop now and there's no stopping him once he gets going. He loves cars too. I think it must be in the genes.
Thanks for the info on contention. So what you're saying is that there should be no problems with upload/download, regardless of the contention ratio, because as soon as any ISP gets a hint of things getting busy, they should upgrade the equipment anyway? Sounds good to me.
You know, I can't help but feel things were all a lot easier in the good old days, with dialup and fax machines.
>> Edited by SGirl on Friday 2nd September 15:34
Thanks for the recommendations Chris and Dave! 
Chris, what is it you do for a living? Do you do a lot of file transfers?
I was thinking of using either the Premier service or the Small Business option - I can't decide which. Any ideas?
>> Edited by SGirl on Friday 2nd September 21:56
Chris, what is it you do for a living? Do you do a lot of file transfers? I was thinking of using either the Premier service or the Small Business option - I can't decide which. Any ideas?
>> Edited by SGirl on Friday 2nd September 21:56
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