Who's best value for Broadband??

[Corin Denton]

Morning all,
My broadband at home is all tied up with T.V., phone etc and works fine but I am changing jobs and in the new place I want to install broadband for myself in the new place. It will be a stand alone product just for my own use.

Who gives the best value etc?


Thanks, Corin

[stumartin]

I'm with Force 9 - www.f9.co.uk and have so far found them pretty faultless. Adjustable packages up to 2mb and customisable bandwidth, very little if any 'downtime', initially useful features in your account on their website and generally competent support.

The only problem has been trying to change the package, which costs more money than would be saved.

If I was choosing now I'd be casting wanton looks in Bulldog's direction, depending on VFM.

[Plotloss]

I pay £15 for unlimited 512 through DComms. Pretty reliable service, never had to call support.

UK Online though will be the best value when its rolled out UK wide.

8mb/sec for £39.99

[FourWheelDrift]

Plotloss said:

UK Online though will be the best value when its rolled out UK wide.

UK Online 8mb BB - "Wireless Ethernet Router required for only £69.99"


Why wireless?

[beano500]

Been browsing, we've been on Bogstandard Telecommuniactions' standard deal for the last year or so. not bad reliability-wise, but I think there's better value for money to be had.

Found this site recently for comparing deals....

[Plotloss]

FourWheelDrift said:

Plotloss said: UK Online though will be the best value when its rolled out UK wide. UK Online 8mb BB - "Wireless Ethernet Router required for only £69.99" Why wireless?

Its so they can be sure that they are supporting only one router and I suppose that in the router market wireless boxes are the favourite.

They have apparently got lots of experience on the router they ship, they horrible ugly box that it is.

You have to buy it by all accounts but there is nothing stopping you using your own router, just make sure that if something odd happens that you check it with the 'approved' one first...

[docevi1]

I'm looking at 3 suppliers:

Metronet
UK Online
Eclipse Internet.

Eclipse Internet have that whole "flex" thing which allows you to ramp up the connection speed using a PAYG model, Metronet use a PAYG model all the time which is capped & UK Online are a straight forward supplier.

I'd be inclined to say that given a year or two UK Online will be a force to be reckoned with - they are supplying 8MBps Broadband, but at present you can get 1MBps broadband from Metronet for £26.99 all in

I'm looking to go to the 1MBps service from Metronet

[MEMSDesign]

www.adsl-guide.org.uk seems to be a pretty good guide

e7even?

[Corin Denton]

This is great folks - keep it coming, will probably go for a 1meg unlimited use package - Tiscali's looking good.

As I'm paying out of my own pocket both value and speed play a vital part.

[stumartin]

Corin Denton said:

This is great folks - keep it coming, will probably go for a 1meg unlimited use package - Tiscali's looking good. As I'm paying out of my own pocket both value and speed play a vital part.

I've heard that the support offered by the er, company you may have alluded to above, is sh*t. Firstly you have to pay for it, and secondly they don't give the right answers. Which doesn't make for GVFM, IMO.

I'm paying £30pm for 1mb unlimited use with F9, which isn't a bargain but I don't have a 12mth contract either.

[docevi1]

there are several companies I'd avoid like the plague:

AOL
BT Yahoo
Tiscali
Wanadoo
NTL
...

all the big names tend to offer dire support - ring BT Yahoo now and you are put through to an Indian call centre, email them and you don't receive a reply due to their SPAM filtering

Plus, NTL, Wanaoo, BT, AOL... all put limits on how much you can download (and upload) for the month, much better to go with a smaller company who is still well known such as the three I mentioned where your bussiness actually means something to the workers.

[Raify]

I have used Pipex 512mb for a while now. Good value, excellent support on the phone.

[d3ano]

If you won't be downloaded videos and loads of MP3s then i would suggest Metronet.
I normally use the net for checking emails and web developing and sometimes to download a few MP3s. So far i haven't had a bill over £13 for a 512K connection.
There is a connection fee though and you will need to buy your own kit. But i have already made my money back from what i have saved with them.

[Beaconbouy]

docevi1 said:

there are several companies I'd avoid like the plague: AOL BT Yahoo Tiscali Wanadoo NTL ... all the big names tend to offer dire support - ring BT Yahoo now and you are put through to an Indian call centre, email them and you don't receive a reply due to their SPAM filtering Plus, NTL, Wanaoo, BT, AOL... all put limits on how much you can download (and upload) for the month, much better to go with a smaller company who is still well known such as the three I mentioned where your bussiness actually means something to the workers.

I've got AOL braodband 288kb/2272mb {upload/download). No upload/download limits NO downtime, simple to install. £35p/m, Good Technical support over the net, and no funny Indian call centers {but they do sound Irish}. Go for AOL.

>> Edited by Beaconbouy on Tuesday 11th January 14:31

[bga]

I've got no complaints about Bulldog. Not cheap - I think I'm paying around £30 for 1mb - but very reliable and good support so far.

[docevi1]

Beaconbouy said:

I've got AOL braodband 288kb/2272mb {upload/download). No upload/download limits NO downtime, simple to install. £35p/m, Good Technical support over the net, and no funny Indian call centers {but they do sound Irish}. Go for AOL.

You cannot be serious.

Any serious PC/Internet user should strive as much as possible to stay away from America Online - do any search on google and you'll find your answers...

[jwt63]

Hi Corin,
Try Eclipse in Exeter seem to be hasle free and no crap to load onto your computer just a service provider.
www.eclipse.net.uk

>> Edited by jwt63 on Tuesday 11th January 17:45

[S13_Alan]

docevi1 said:

Beaconbouy said: I've got AOL braodband 288kb/2272mb {upload/download). No upload/download limits NO downtime, simple to install. £35p/m, Good Technical support over the net, and no funny Indian call centers {but they do sound Irish}. Go for AOL. You cannot be serious. Any serious PC/Internet user should strive as much as possible to stay away from America Online - do any search on google and you'll find your answers...

There is an Indain call centre tho.. but most of the time unless you were very unlucky you would hopefully speak to Ireland or Scotland..

Theres no limits to downloads and despite the whole image AOL has, as a straight provider if you don't use their software they aint bad really.

As with all providers that go through BT lines, BT are ultimately the ones in control.. if you have any problem with AOL, its either your computer or BT. Very rarely is AOL actually down as far as their actual systems go. They do cable through NTL too.. so much more reliable and simple than ADSL.

Ive had cable from telewest for 5 yrs with not one issue. Cant recommend em enough if your in a telewest area.

[arcturus]

As Alan said, AOHell do have an Indian call centre and trust me, they are apalling.

I can also second the above comment that Tiscali customer support is poor as well.

Personally I use Enta for my BB 1Mb service and whilst I know they are not the cheapest, it is totally reliable, always quick and the support so far is excellent. www.enta.net

[Pigeon]

docevi1 said:

I'm looking at 3 suppliers: Metronet UK Online Eclipse Internet. Eclipse Internet have that whole "flex" thing which allows you to ramp up the connection speed using a PAYG model, Metronet use a PAYG model all the time which is capped & UK Online are a straight forward supplier.

Metronet are not capped, not the service anyway. The price per month is capped, but there's no limit on traffic. Which is rather oool. They went through a flaky patch a while back which seemed to be BT's fault rather than their own, but it's all sorted now and I'm thoroughly happy with the service.