Just signed up for Freeserve broadband, mainly as it's the only provider that will stick it in my office (1 pc) without charging upwards of £90 quid a month just cos it's a business. 512kbps hardly scorched earth, but ok, but mainly I can be online & receive faxes into the pc which is the main benefit for me.

Any comments on fs broadband? Good, bad, indifferent??

Sorry to offer a "-ve" response, but you may wonder why Dixons, which "launched" this product, have just decided to offer AOL instead!!! Initially for dial-up, it will also affect broadband, as of Feb 2005, when the existing support contract expires!

Not knowing exactly what you are using this for it sounds a bit pricey, there are lots of £25 ish adsl deals for home users and most are not too fussy about selling them to small businesses.

The ususal differences between a "business" and "home" ADSL line are that business has a static IP address and a lower contention ratio. (20:1 instead of 50:1)

Unless you are running a server accessable to the outside world static IP is not essential - and even then there are ways round it (www.no-ip.com) for example.

And the contention ratio is really only an issue when there are lots of other ADSL users in your area online at the same time - usually more of an issue in the evenings when we all start to surf. If 50 others are online you could get 512k/50 as your bandwidth.


I can't ccomment on FS broadband as I have not used it, but (once you year minimum contract is up!) look for a cheaper deal.


Try the tests on http://www.adslguide.org.uk/ to test your connection speed, lots of good infor on best deals and good peer support too.

Memetic.

I have been using FS Broadband for 8 months now and in that time I have never had any problems whatsoever. I would highly recommend it.
As for AOL. I can't comment on the delivery but the product clutter and general advertising associated with it is really dreadfull. I have just come back from installing a new build for someone who is on AOL.......I told them that they don't have to put up with this sort of rubbish and suggested they find a new ISP
It's all a matter of personal taste of course (or lack of it)
Regards
FBW