Broadband internet

[abeesley]

At the moment I've got two BT phone lines. One is exsclusively for the PC. The extra line costs about 10 quid a month and my ISP subscription is 13 quid a month.

BTs openworld ADSL has just become available in my area. Is it as fast as they claim? Would it be worth the extra 17 quid a month and me binning the extra phone line?

I'm assuming that as BTs broadband is available to me, then all other broadband ISPs are too. BTs rate is 40 quid a month plus a 150 installation fee. Are there any better ones out there that anyone can recommend?

[spannersatcx]

Try Broadband <a href="http://www.ntlworld.com/broadband/broadband.htm" target="_blank">ntl</a> <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[The Invisible Man]

Definately NTL Broadband, you'll never go back to dial up once you've tried it!!!

[No Mode Charlie]

I can only agree, NTL broad band!

Haven't had any problems (ooops, thats not true, it packed in once and within a day I had an engineer out who delivered a new modem) and for 25 a month. Sounds better then 40 a month to BT. I was with them before and had nothing but trouble (although that was ISDN).

[SLF 999]

I must be one of the (lucky?) few in the country that has had no problem with BT broadband. .Like you I have 2 lines, but I have kept them both, one for phone and the other for the PC although I could have it all on one.. .The PC is connected about 18hrs a day with no hassles

Ive had it for 6 months now and doubt that I could go back to a 56k dial up without a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth !

My experience is good, but I have heard a lot of bad experiences.

Regularly getting 80 - 100K downloads. . .I for one would recommend BT, lets see what the new pricing is like as the £40 pm is a bit steep.

As far as the installation is concerned can you not do it yourself now for about £75? worth looking on the BT openworld site for details.. .Also have a look here for some opinions and good info <a href="http://www.adslguide.org/" target="_blank">http://www.adslguide.org/</a>

[ 25 February 2002: Message edited by: SLF 999 ]</p>

[touch&go]

I have been with BT Openworld ADSL for a year now and after the first 4 months of problems I have had very good service since then.

I would go for BT, they have ironed out the early problems. as for the £150 installation fee, the never took the charge off my credit card, and also they gave me 6 months free service due to the early problems.

[WhiteSail]

If you want to go for it, be patient.

The rumour is, the installation charge is going to be slashed, and the monthly rental reduced considerably, because of the appallingly low take up!

Probably, sooner rather than later.

[Golden Monkey]

Indeed, prices will be coming down soon.

<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/newsid_1839000/1839151.stm" target="_blank">BBC News ADSL Article</a>

With a drop in wholesale prices, hopefully the DSL cost-to-end-user will dip to below £30, and with there effectively being no install charge any more (the "DIY" kits from BT), I will be taking up that offer as soon as practicable. I am getting increasingly fed up with dialup cutouts! I've had no problems with BT in the past and will be sticking with them - unfortunately where I reside I have no cable option anyway, so NTL is a non-starter.

[ 25 February 2002: Message edited by: SpinSpinSugar ]</p>

[WhiteSail]

Well, it was sooner!!

BT announced today, they are dropping WHOLESALE prices of broadband from £25 a month, to £14.75, from 1st April.

Apparantly, there are also now self install options available, that reduce the £150 installation fee, tht BT tried to rip us off with!

[ 26 February 2002: Message edited by: WhiteSail ]</p>

[1261]

Can only echo the above, re BT ADSL.

We've had it in here for about a year now, and it has given faultless, fast service. Service speed (average) is about 450kbps downstream and 200kbps upstream.

Many of our friends around here (Edinburgh) use Telewest (BlueYonder [cable DSL]) and have reported similar trouble-free service.

One thing to point out, however, is that many of the speed difficulties you find on the internet are actually the server at the other end - not your connection. Can be very frustrating sometimes!

[SLF 999]

BT have announced the new pricing structure worth going to <a href="http://www.btopenworld.com" target="_blank">www.btopenworld.com</a> for a look £29.99 pm starting april 1st (or is that BTs joke on us)

Looks like BT edinburgh have their act together as far as ADSL is concerned

I have to agree that the frustration is that the connection site is usually the slow one specifically on downloads, but most of the large companies eg Microsoft you will certainly get a good turnaround.

[Golden Monkey]

Yeah, just visited the BT site. Monthly charge is indeed £29.99 (but you can also factor in that this includes the ISP charge, so for me it's effectively £23.99 extra). The installation is via the DIY route, and you will be charged £85 for the USB DSL modem, two DSL filters and all the relevant bits of wire. Also worth noting is that this frees up your line for voice calls as they use a different end of the spectrum.

If you apply before May 31st you get the £65 "activation" charge waived, but they're not taking orders until next Tuesday (March 5th).

I think I shall be taking the plunge this time round. Getting sick to death of dialup!

[spekesoftly]

"If you apply before 31st May 2002, the £65 activation charge is waived"...

Will BT be applying this discount to customers whose local exchange is not likely to be ADSL enabled before the end of May?

[Evo7]

I've just signed up with <a href="http://www.pipex.co.uk" target="_blank">Pipex</a> - £20 + VAT a month from April 1st and this includes the ISP fees. They also pay the setup fee. Customer comments on the BB at the <a href="http://www.adslguide.org/" target="_blank">ADSLguide</a> site were very positive.

[FL310]

I want to sign up since ages........but they never bring the cables to my house.... <img src="redface.gif" border="0"> <img src="mad.gif" border="0"> <img src="mad.gif" border="0">

[SLF 999]

I have used Pipex dial up and cannot recommend them enough, the best ISP I have ever been with, Im sure that their ADSL service will live up to your expectations

[Golden Monkey]

Thanks for that Evo - the Pipex package looks pretty good. The modem/filter set is a little pricier than BTs but you can't argue with the monthly cost - well worth a look! Are you on a 12 month contract? I wonder how that 50:1 contention figure measures up to other DSL providers?

<a href="http://www.dsl.pipex.net/sales/" target="_blank">Pipex DSL site</a>

[1261]

If my experience (and those of others in Edinburgh) is anything to go by, the contention ratio is simply not an issue. We've two computers here (a Mac and a PC) running on our home LAN with a single DSL line; frequently both are in use at the same time and we never notice any drop in speed. It could of course be that no-one else in my area has DSL, but I think that's very unlikely!

Also, BT didn't charge me either for installation or the DSL modem, as I was an existing BT Internet customer. Might be worth having a word in their ear on that one - they may do you a deal if you're "considering another provider". <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

[Evo7]

SpinSpinSugar

I'm paying monthly. In theory you can cancel at any time, but if you cancel within 12 months they make you refund the installation fee (£50ish), which they are paying for you at the moment.

I agree about the modem, but I still got it from them (you dont have to, btw). I decided that if I was having setup problems it would be simpler if all the kit came from the same place - that way it is their problem, not mine.

[Golden Monkey]

Cheers for that Evo - and 1261, nice idea, I'll give that a go - see if I can wangle some free kit from BT.

Can't wait for that sweet phat connection. :)

[rover2701]

I use Telewest Blueyonder Broadband. I have nothing but praise.. .Installation cost £25 Needed a network card that they supplied and fitted for £25 and the modem came free. Costs me £25/month and never had any problems whatsoever. Got rid of my second line which was costing me £9.99/month plus unlimited dial up access at £10/month So for an additional £5.01/month have a fantastic and fast service that is on 24/7. .Go for it you wont regret it.

[Evo7]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">. .Got rid of my second line which was costing me £9.99/month plus unlimited dial up access at £10/month So for an additional £5.01/month have a fantastic and fast service that is on 24/7. .</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">This was the sort of maths that made me sign up. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" />

[Unwell_Raptor]

This thread was the last straw. I've signed up with Pipex - should be on in a few days.. .. .I'll report back.

[Evo7]

U_R. .. .FWIW, I called on the 28th Feb, and just got an e-mail telling me it's going to be active from the 8th. Not bad. Modem turned up on Monday - wierd looking thing.. .. .You'll see a lot of me this Weekend.... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" />

[1261]

E7,. .. .When you say "wierd" is it the Alcatel Speed Touch USB?. .. .If so, yes it does look like a frog, but has performed faultlessly for us for nearly a year so you should have no problems!

[Unwell_Raptor]

Installed today on a brand new P4 1.9ghz machine. . .. .It don't half go, but it's taking me ages to reload my favourite URLs as I don't want to import any crap from the old machine.. .. .So far, so good.

[Evo7]

Wierd as in my wife thinks it looks like a blue breast implant.... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="rolleyes.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />

[mindstorm]

Signed up with Pipex last Weds - should be online next Weds. . .Went for internal PCI modem from Alcatel cos of Via M/B (also on advice from Alcatel/Thomson).. .. .Can't wait.....

[Evo7]

It's active, and it's very fast.... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . .. .Pipex service seems very good so far - everything they've promised, slightly faster than they promised it. One happy customer. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" />

[FL310]

\STOP THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. .. .my ISDN is only dripping today...... .and I still cannot see any cable coming in the next months.... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="mad.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="mad.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

[Evo7]

Are you too far from the exchange? I'm not on cable either, but ADSL's no problem...?

[FL310]

ADSL works only on copper cable....we are very high-tech fibred here... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="confused.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="mad.gif" />

[Unwell_Raptor]

Just one comment after a few days' experience: the speed is very variable, and is noticeably slower when, presumably, the world and his wife is online. And of course, a fast computer and a fast connection can't do a lot for a slow website. . .. .So far, so good.