Business ADSL provider that doesn't take the p**s?

[brumster]

Hi all,

I'm trying to spec a connection for a very small business who want to get ADSL installed, for use by 2 permanent PCs and occassionaly 2 laptops. I know all the technical details of this, so don't need any technical advice on routers/etc.

What I'm trying to find, however, is a service provider who is willing to supply a 512k basic service line, and then let us(me) install a wireless router in the office to provide the connection to the various machines - at a reasonable cost.

The beef I've got is that, taking BT or Pipex as examples, they want to charge £30p/m for the basic single user service, or £60p/m for a 5-user package - but the line they've installed is identical, and the business will effectively be paying £30 extra a month purely for the 'luxury' of a 4-port ADSL router, and that's it. No extra service, no additional bandwidth, and considering I can pick up a decent wireless ADSL router for under £100, totally unreasonable in my book.

Does anyone know of an ISP who will be perfectly happy for a business to manage their own internal network infrastructure, and will just come and install a basic line without any of this rip-off pricing tactics?

Much obliged, etc etc
Dan

[pmanson]

At uni in the house. We have a 1Mb NTL line shared between four of us using a NetGear wireless router. (Uses the ethernet port of the modem)

Seems to work very well.

We are charged £35 per month

[JonRB]

I use a Pipex Business service (their SOHO offering) on a wires-only basis, straight into an ADSL router and then onto our network via a switch. I could very easily add a Wireless Access Point onto that if I wanted.

It's a full business service so I can have fixed IP addresses (I pay a small amount extra per month for this) and I can run servers etc.

I think you need to go back to Pipex's website and look at the various options they offer.

[JonRB]

brumster said:

the business will effectively be paying £30 extra a month purely for the 'luxury' of a 4-port ADSL router, and that's it. No extra service, no additional bandwidth, and considering I can pick up a decent wireless ADSL router for under £100, totally unreasonable in my book.

So buy your ADSL router, get a wires-only service, plug it into your ADSL rouuter, and away you go. What's the problem?

[stevieb]

JonRB said:

brumster said: the business will effectively be paying £30 extra a month purely for the 'luxury' of a 4-port ADSL router, and that's it. No extra service, no additional bandwidth, and considering I can pick up a decent wireless ADSL router for under £100, totally unreasonable in my book. So buy your ADSL router, get a wires-only service, plug it into your ADSL rouuter, and away you go. What's the problem?

I was thinking the Same get a wires only and buy your own ADSL router

[tja]

I use Plusnet, business broadband from £24.99 upwards. If you do choose this one, mention my surname as a referrer cos I get a discount

[luca brazzi]

Have you asked Joust (Easynet)? Drop him a line.

LB

[Big_Dan]

They aren't going to know how many machines you're hanging off your connection as they're all hidden behind the NAT of the router.

[dontlift]

www.zenadsl.co.uk I use them for my Business ADSL and they are superb

[judas]

luca brazzi said:

Have you asked Joust (Easynet)? Drop him a line. LB

What's Joust's involvement in Easynet? They supply our ADSL connection in work... Be nice to have a PH'er on the inside

[brumster]

JonRB said:

So buy your ADSL router, get a wires-only service, plug it into your ADSL rouuter, and away you go. What's the problem?

Hi guys, thanks for the replies...

The problem is it's against their acceptable use policy and they reserve the right to disconnect the user if they discover this. I found out last night that this is the case with the majority of ISPs, so I think the answer is to just risk it and go ahead because I'm not going to find anyone who fits the bill!

I'll give Joust a shout, though, when I've got a second...

Cheers all,
Dan

[pdV6]

We use Claranet - have had no problems in the 2-odd years we've been using them.

[130tdi]

We've been with Demon now for about 3 years and never had a problem. Thoroughly recommended.

[dontlift]

Zen give you 8 static IP's and fully expect you to be running a router - will even supply it

[fish]

I've been with Pipex on a domestic 512 connection running a D Link £60 router for 25 pcs for over 2 years and they have had no problem I even told them it was for a business and they didn't mind.

[zumbruk]

Big_Dan said:

They aren't going to know how many machines you're hanging off your connection as they're all hidden behind the NAT of the router.

This isn't strictly true. It's possible (although hard) to work out how many machines are hiding behind a NAT address.

[JonRB]

brumster said:

The problem is it's against their acceptable use policy and they reserve the right to disconnect the user if they discover this.

Ah, well you need to find an ISP where it is not against their acceptable use policy. Like Pipex.

(I'm not connected with them in any way other than being a satisifed customer for 8 years)

[EDIT: Well, I guess I am connected with them in the sense of an ADSL connection, but you know what I mean. ]

>> Edited by JonRB on Friday 20th February 19:05

[brumster]

True but they 'aint cheap - £50 p/m versus £29.99 for the basic service. But yes, at least they don't mind you connecting your own router.

Ah well, sorted then :]

[malman]

Don't forget business lines have a lower contention ratio than consumer lines which is why you pay more. Have you looked through www.adslguide.org ? Most of the suppliers are on there. Nice compare graphs etc. You can also check out the forums to see what the customers think of each ISP.

I use andrews and arnold at work and they are very flexable and have some nice bonding packages.

[Mrs Fish]

James here:

Yes domestic lines have lower reported contention ratios but the contention ratio is based on there conection to the exchange. They don't advertise the exchange contention ratio that really matters. for example I work in Derby the min contention ratio for pipex domestic is either 1:20 or 1:50 (can't remeber) but the exchange takeup and hence derby exchange contention ratio is 1:5. Therfore I get very good performance, which would not improve if I paid for the business line....

Waiting to be corrected for a lack of contention ratio understanding. Anyhow I works well and I shall remain with Pipex good serviece, couple of downs a year.