That's an interesting article, SD, but there's no facility that I can find in my Draytek to turn on ping response. According to Shields Up! it doesn't answer pings, and according to its own control panel, it also sees "Ping of Death" attacks and responds correctly to those. I think I'm glad about that.

I could open up ZoneAlarm on the PCs on the network to pings, but since they're behind the NAT firewall that would only mean they can ping each other, and that's turned on already.

So I remain a stealth-Keef, willy-nilly.

Latest update!!
I foolishly thought that the successful installation of the router would solve my problems with AOL. Should have known better. You may recall that the router and a revised, cheaper package was proposed by AOL and I accepted .... for two days, all was well ... then ......... AOL cancelled my contract!!!:mad: Yep, THEY cancelled it, after sending me the router and allowing installation. WTF is going on??? I phoned their "help" line to have an incomprehensible conversation with one of their Eastern reps, who agreed that the router had been sent and, yes, the contract had been cancelled. He didn't know why and didn't seem to feel that it was at all unusual.
I left the matter for a few days to see if there would be any change and phoned them again today. The broadband has been cleared and "did I want my contract cancelled?" :ugh: I did, of course and will be looking for another, hopefully competent, ISP. Does such an animal exist?? Any recommendations, anyone?? I note the thread on Tiscali competence and am considering (say it softly) BT. I suspect that most of us will have our horror stories but surely someone out there must be able to provide a relatively reliable service???
TIA
PS What do I do about the router?

Are you within a cable area - NTL / telewest? Works fine for me.

If it is a standard wifi device (that hasn't been crippled by AOL), then you may be able to re-use it with your new provider.

SD

AOL woes
 

Unfortunate that you are having such problems with AOL... I've been with them for a while now and found them to be as good if not better than other BB suppliers I've used.

Had big problems with Virgin Internet, even worse problems with UK Online, before finally going with aol and never having a problem since. I guess its just luck of the draw. I'm using my own router though, and don't have any aol software installed on my computers either.

If I did I'm sure I'd have a different story to tell!

I studied the market before changing, having been with Pipex since they were "excellent", right through "average" to "awful".

For me, the right answer seemed to be UKFSN. They're an Entanet reseller, and have excellent ratings on the review websites.

There are ISPs that clearly should be avoided at all costs, and others that are pretty good.

More info here.

That site is sponsored by some ISPs, but the ratings do seem to be based on real-world customer responses. What they say about the ones I know "rings true".

Thank you Keef and FS
The relative performance site was interesting but, unfortunately, the best ones were either cable (don't have it) or not directly available. BT will definitely not feature in my future - phoned them to ask for their contract details (nine days ago) - still nothing received!!!:mad:
Time was, that one fell over the constant stream of freebie internet access CDs, BT, Freeserve, AOL et al. Not so now. AOL have a franchise with Dixons and Currys, Orange similarly with Comet and to get a BT CD one has to PAY Jessops £10!!!:mad:
It is looking increasingly like Orange, by default - not ideal, but seemingly available. Talk-Talk quoted a MINIMUM of six weeks to provide.
One crumb of comfort ... AOL actually APPEAR to have stopped billing me for their service - wonders will never cease!!

If Orange is an option, then one of the Entanet resellers should also be, assuming you have a BT landline to carry the ADSL.

UKFSN, ADSL24, Vivaciti are three such. I've heard only good things about all three. I'm on UKFSN and very happy with them.