Sky Broadband review
Discussion
Have had Sky Broadband Max for 5 days now, All started off ok, i was told my line could run at 14Mbps all for £10 a month, Great i thought!
First test at 6:00 in the afternoon and all seemed great was getting +9Mbps download rate.
The last 2 evenings ive been online from 8pm onwards and im getting at best 300kbps and it fluctuates heavily and is basically pants, Xbox live struggles to connect and games are unplayable. So it seems to me that at peak times BT Broadband falls flat on its arse. Has anyone else got the same issue?
Ive previously used NTL 512K and 2 Meg BT Business broadband and they were great compared to this.
I think its fine if your just a browser, but if you a downloader or gamer dont bother
First test at 6:00 in the afternoon and all seemed great was getting +9Mbps download rate.
The last 2 evenings ive been online from 8pm onwards and im getting at best 300kbps and it fluctuates heavily and is basically pants, Xbox live struggles to connect and games are unplayable. So it seems to me that at peak times BT Broadband falls flat on its arse. Has anyone else got the same issue?
Ive previously used NTL 512K and 2 Meg BT Business broadband and they were great compared to this.
I think its fine if your just a browser, but if you a downloader or gamer dont bother
Edited by paul99 on Wednesday 18th April 22:22
thats not true at all - you will find that Easynet (who Sky bought) actually have one of the most modern and largest LLU networks in the UK.....they have over 900 LLU exchanges against Pipex 51 .....Pipex are still just reselling BT Wholesale broadband
www.samknows.com/broadband/dsloperator.php?provider=easynet
still, neither is a guarantee of service, or availability/reliability as it depends on so many more factors.....
Pipex are up for sale (and have been for a while) but struggling to find a buyer....Easynet were snapped up by one of the largest media companies on the planet....I wonder why...and its not because they were cheap either
www.samknows.com/broadband/dsloperator.php?provider=easynet
still, neither is a guarantee of service, or availability/reliability as it depends on so many more factors.....
Pipex are up for sale (and have been for a while) but struggling to find a buyer....Easynet were snapped up by one of the largest media companies on the planet....I wonder why...and its not because they were cheap either
Paul99, I'm having similar issues HERE.
They tested my line and say I should be getting at least 6 or 7 mb, but I'm averaging only 300kbs like you. I've never even seen 2000kbs !!!
I've complained to SKY and they have currently rasied my problems to their 2nd tier tech desk who do more test than just the help desk.
The recon they should have an answer for me within 5 days. I must say the customer service on the phone is actually pretty efficient. I am being patient at the moment.
I will let you know how I get on.
They tested my line and say I should be getting at least 6 or 7 mb, but I'm averaging only 300kbs like you. I've never even seen 2000kbs !!!
I've complained to SKY and they have currently rasied my problems to their 2nd tier tech desk who do more test than just the help desk.
The recon they should have an answer for me within 5 days. I must say the customer service on the phone is actually pretty efficient. I am being patient at the moment.
I will let you know how I get on.
Edited by Shadytree on Thursday 19th April 07:33
OK, let me put it another way, everyone I know who has gone to sky either has already, or is in the process of moving back to their orignal ISP - mainly Pipex, although in one instance Bulldog.
Regardless of who owns the gear or how much of it they have, I wouldn't go near them with a barge pole.
Regardless of who owns the gear or how much of it they have, I wouldn't go near them with a barge pole.
If it's an over subscription issue then waiting until everyone's buggered off would see you laughing.
But as others have said above the very high speed ADSL stuff is so freaking twitchy it's unreal; the distance, cable, equipment at both ends all need to be 'just right' to get it going reliably. An incompatibility between the DSLAM and your router/modem can fark it up, or having a few extra meters between you and the exchange can dramatically reduce speeds (and no, 'most direct route' wasn't in the minds of people when the infrastructure was built).
As a worked example, everytime it rains heavily we loose internet here (Virgin) until it stops... somewhere... there is a connection that isn't water tight, no they won't come and fix it. So even NTL aren't prefect.
I would actually give them time to fix the issues before running though, because if they do then it looks good.
And what muppet goes back to Bulldog??? They're renound for being incompetent wunkers.
But as others have said above the very high speed ADSL stuff is so freaking twitchy it's unreal; the distance, cable, equipment at both ends all need to be 'just right' to get it going reliably. An incompatibility between the DSLAM and your router/modem can fark it up, or having a few extra meters between you and the exchange can dramatically reduce speeds (and no, 'most direct route' wasn't in the minds of people when the infrastructure was built).
As a worked example, everytime it rains heavily we loose internet here (Virgin) until it stops... somewhere... there is a connection that isn't water tight, no they won't come and fix it. So even NTL aren't prefect.
I would actually give them time to fix the issues before running though, because if they do then it looks good.
And what muppet goes back to Bulldog??? They're renound for being incompetent wunkers.
I've been with Sky broadband for about 2 months and the service is way better than the previous service I had from BT. I'm at the very far end of the line from the exchange so rarely get download rates above 150, but thats at least double what BT offer and for only a £5 a month with no download limits...
I can see how it is annoying for Super-duper high speed demands, but as far as my needs are concerned I think they're ace!
...just wanted to throw a positive review in amongst the negatives...
I can see how it is annoying for Super-duper high speed demands, but as far as my needs are concerned I think they're ace!
...just wanted to throw a positive review in amongst the negatives...
read about sky on the forums of the speed test that am using, currently playing an online game - EVE and not want to stop to take speed test, but www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest/results/id/117710306422948125154.html suggests that it is ok. Paying £40 pm and would sooner pay more than most to get a better service, admittedly company helps with the bills, but like the idea of a nice service in the 4-6 mb range 
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