Cheap Broadband
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 722
Likes: 4
From: Earth (just)
Cheap Broadband
Has anyone tried the Tiscali service advertised at 15:99 per month? Phoned them the other day and the "Catch" is that the connection speed is only 156K so not true broadband in the popular sense. Still you get to keep the thing on 24/7 uninterupted and can use the phone at the same time. It seems attractive to me as someone who's still coughing up 14:99 for the old freeserve 52K connection.
Anyone any experience of it and any knowledge of catches?
Anyone any experience of it and any knowledge of catches?
Joined: Apr 1998
Posts: 945
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From: 18m N of LGW
I wouldn't want it at that speed. Certainly not for that money. I am with Pipex and it costs £23.44 per month inc VAT. It is very good value for money and always connects at 576kbps. That is quick and entirely adequate. The best bit is that I have never once had to call Pipex since the first day I installed it.
Official PPRuNe Chaplain
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,498
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From: Witnesham, Suffolk
Absolutely! With one slight proviso - Pipex mail servers had a bad day on Saturday, and refused to deliver mail to one of my addresses. It would be the primary one, of course.
But I've never regretted switching to Pipex Xtreme, and would never go back to 56k (ha! Never got more than 32k here).
But I've never regretted switching to Pipex Xtreme, and would never go back to 56k (ha! Never got more than 32k here).
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,650
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From: Chichester, UK
I'm a happy Pipex user too, but had the same problem as Keef on Saturday. It wasn't the address you use for the flyer list, was it? That's the one I lost, it isn't really my main address but certainly gets the most traffic. For some reason that is always the one I lose... 
Joined: May 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 27,397
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From: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
I'm happily using Virgin.net broadband. It costs £24.99 per month for unmetered 24/7 access with no restrictions or session limits. I use a BT Voyager 2000 wireless modem (£149.99 from PC World) and routinely get Internet connection rates of 576 Kbps down, 288 Kbps up with my laptop - anywhere in range of the WLAN/ASDL modem. Simply brilliant!
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 722
Likes: 4
From: Earth (just)
Thanx chaps - yyz's gio suggestion seems the closer comparison to the tiscali offering tho' it seems you have to pay for the modem which comes as part of the tiscali package........ more thinking to be dun!
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,924
Likes: 7
From: UK
I'm always a little dubious about these 'cheapest ever ISP' offers, like YYZ's suggestion (no disrespect intended). The experience of another PPRuNer here, using the same ISP, albeit for dial-up and not ADSL, ended in tears.
Bringer of Wx
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 236
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From: London
I sometimes think it's best to pay a little more if you can - there's usually a catch with so-called 'low-cost' ISPs (crippled speed, limited access times, long contracts, high contention).
I use Zen Internet - small company based 'oop North - always up, always quick, with good quality customer service and friendly support. Price for 512k is £23+VAT per month, modem self-supplied and installed.
They provide one-month contracts and (when I signed up at least) didn't charge a connection fee.
For anyone thinking about switching to broadband, I'd recommend looking at this site first.
Jx
I use Zen Internet - small company based 'oop North - always up, always quick, with good quality customer service and friendly support. Price for 512k is £23+VAT per month, modem self-supplied and installed.
They provide one-month contracts and (when I signed up at least) didn't charge a connection fee.
For anyone thinking about switching to broadband, I'd recommend looking at this site first.
Jx
Guest
Posts: n/a
Well just got Pipex Broadband connected a few days ago. What a massive improvement in every way. All the hardware plugged in and started working straight away with no wierd and wonderful setup procedures. The only bit was they said they'd email me to let me know when it was up and running but didn't. I got fed up in the middle of the afternoon and tried the connection anyway and there it was working perfectly. Probably only going to see the sun down route now.
Just under £18 for the equipment, free activation (you are tied to them for a year) and £23.50 per month for 512k. (Connects at 576k perhaps someone can explain that)
Just under £18 for the equipment, free activation (you are tied to them for a year) and £23.50 per month for 512k. (Connects at 576k perhaps someone can explain that)
Cool Mod
Joined: Apr 1998
Posts: 6,189
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From: 18nm N of LGW
Don't know about that. But didn't you tell 'em I recommended you? 
I would get a free month! 
It's great and I NEVER have a problem. Cept' just the occasional glitch on the mail server but they are so quick to put it right I never think about.
Have fun.
PPP
I would get a free month! It's great and I NEVER have a problem. Cept' just the occasional glitch on the mail server but they are so quick to put it right I never think about.
Have fun.
PPP
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
From: United Kingdom
Got pipex too. If you get your own ADSL modem, the contract minimum is one month with solo extreme. There is £50 charge if you quit before 12 months, this is to cover the cost of the administration involved , but this is FAR less then most other ISP's will charge you if you quit before the end of their 12 month contract with you.
Pipex in my opinion sems to have the best ADSL packages at the moment. They seem have the right balence between cost, products and service. This is bourne out I think by the number of statisfied UK PPRuner's using the service.
Pipex in my opinion sems to have the best ADSL packages at the moment. They seem have the right balence between cost, products and service. This is bourne out I think by the number of statisfied UK PPRuner's using the service.
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 0
From: Geriatrica, UK
Personal Computer World for January 2004 just crashed onto the door mat with its "Annual Awards" feature. Awards are voted by UK readers through a survey.
Best Broadband provider was BT Broadband with 25% of the votes in this category. NTL came next with 18%. Then Telewest (both very regional). Followed by Freeserve and Tiscali.
For 512 kbps they all fall within the range £25-£30 pm. They all have free installation offers at times.
Pipex showed a serious flaw in their admin for one of my clients.
Personally, I try to look behind the froth of the various free offers and differences of £1 per month on contract. BT have the resources and own the copper wire my Broadband arrives on. I have no plans to change - particularly if I lose my e-mail addresses!
Best Broadband provider was BT Broadband with 25% of the votes in this category. NTL came next with 18%. Then Telewest (both very regional). Followed by Freeserve and Tiscali.
For 512 kbps they all fall within the range £25-£30 pm. They all have free installation offers at times.
Pipex showed a serious flaw in their admin for one of my clients.
Personally, I try to look behind the froth of the various free offers and differences of £1 per month on contract. BT have the resources and own the copper wire my Broadband arrives on. I have no plans to change - particularly if I lose my e-mail addresses!
Over 1000 posts and I bought this Personal Title to try and tell my mother the embarrassing news that I am a closet Jazz fan.
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: Manchester
If you want permanent email then just register a domain name. Only £10 for two years with pop3 included.
Its the only way to really guarantee your address and for 1/50 of what you're spending on broadband a year it makes sense.
Its the only way to really guarantee your address and for 1/50 of what you're spending on broadband a year it makes sense.
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,924
Likes: 7
From: UK
So which 'Annual Award' should we believe?
