View Full Version : WHICH BROADBAND ISP WOULD YOU RECOMMEND?
Elaine62
26-11-2005, 02:12
I currently use BT Yahoo Broadband but have not been happy with it for a while. I wnat to change ISP but want to make sure that I choose the right one. I want at least 6gb monthly allowance. I want a techinical helpline that is at the other end of a phone and not based in India and I want a seamless transition process. I have been looking at Virgin, Wanadoo and AOL. Can anyone recommend one that they use that fits the bill? By the way I can't get cable here.
Thanks
Elaine
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
26-11-2005, 03:03
BT Business Broadband - rock solid - never had any problems or even a single minute of downtime in several years [msnsmile2]
John, how much does BT business broadband cost a month as I am considering changing from AOL and require a provider that is very reliable.
We've just switched from AOL to Freedom 2 serve (www.f2s.com), £14.99 a month for 2GB a month, £19.99 for 10GB a month. Impressed so far - they seem very professional.
I'm with Blott, Virgin.
No annual contract either, you only have to give a months notice.
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
26-11-2005, 12:36
£19.99 per month and no setup fees. I get 10Gb per month for that which has never been a problem and I use the net a LOT. For £25.99 per month it's totally unlimited.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by pepsi
John, how much does BT business broadband cost a month as I am considering changing from AOL and require a provider that is very reliable.
[/quote]
A good resource is www.adslguide.org.uk
They collect feedback from anyone who is prepared to take the time to rate their ISP each month and publish the results.
The above mentioned ISPs are at:
http://www.adslguide.org.uk/isps/compare.asp?demon=ON&f2s=ON&nildram=ON&virginnet=ON&cmp_action=Compare
pieman790
26-11-2005, 12:45
We are with Virgin . They not the cheapest but we have never had a problem with them.
Where with the Cable company Blueyonder, Pay Aprrox £65 per month for both Unlimited broadband Internet Access (£25 per month) and Telephone calls, working from home and having to use the phone all day long I reckon this is a bargain.
Not sure how far Blueyonder stretches, they used to be Yorkshire cable and not sure of their coverage.
I have BT business with the unlimited use option. Like John, rock solid.
Elaine62
26-11-2005, 16:00
Thanks for the replies so far. For those using Virgin, I've had a look at their site but can't see a c.s. dept helpline no. Can you confirm if calls are charged as lo-call (0845) for help and also is the helpline based in teh UK or in India?
Plus for those of you that have changed ISP, is it a simple process or are there complications?
Thanks
Thanks John I will be looking into this in the next few weeks when we have had our laptop and computer networked. I think we pay more than £25.99 a month for AOL though I do get unlimited use. The main problem for us at the moment is that AOL keeps disconnecting. This is really frustrating particularly for my daughter who spends time researching information for her 'A' Levels only to find that when she wants to save it she loses the connection. We have tried updating cables etc and I have even had everything on my laptop removed then set back up again. It is better but still has a tendency to lose connection.
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
26-11-2005, 16:36
I use the net a heck of a lot and download lots of video Podcasts and have never used the 10Gb monthly limit yet so I'm sure you would be ok. If I ever do hit the maximum I will just swap onto the unlimited plan, but for now there is no point in paying for something I don't think I need [msnsmile]
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by pepsi
I think we pay more than £25.99 a month for AOL though I do get unlimited use. [/quote]
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Elaine62
Thanks for the replies so far. For those using Virgin, I've had a look at their site but can't see a c.s. dept helpline no. Can you confirm if calls are charged as lo-call (0845) for help and also is the helpline based in teh UK or in India?
Plus for those of you that have changed ISP, is it a simple process or are there complications?
Thanks[/quote]Virgin helpline is in the UK.
Madabouttigger
26-11-2005, 18:54
I use wanadoo and havent had any problems in the 3 years Ive been with them.
Thanks again for the information John. Sorry but just one more question.Do you think we would be better with the unlimited option as my daughter downloads loads of music, some videos etc. Her boyfriend is also emigrating to Australia in December of this year, so will be constantly emailing. I also tend to leave the connection on during the evening because I use the internet alot for school and my exam work. Have just asked my hubby how much we pay for AOL and he thinks £24 a month so the unlimited option is not going to be alot more.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Plus for those of you that have changed ISP, is it a simple process or are there complications?
[/quote]
It's pretty straightforward. You ask your old ISP for an MAC code, and your new ISP guides you through the migration process, which is fairly painless.
Aim to change just before your old ISP's billing date to avoid double paying for a month.
F2S did not charge us a connection fee when we changed, and we are not tied to an annual contract.
One thing we were concerned about was what happens to emails sent to your old email address. We had an AOL email address and website (neither of which we used for our villa), and there seems to be no system for forwarding emails. AOL does a deal for old customers called Bring Your Own Access, which allows you to piggyback AOL onto your new ISP for £3 a month, which is useful at least as a temporary measure. This with F2S's monthly fee is still much less than what we were paying to AOL for bad connections and worse service.
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
26-11-2005, 20:48
I would not have thought you would need the unlimited option. Email takes a tiny amount of bandwidth, music not much more and videos not much more.
My connection is on 24/7/265 with 5 or more Mac's connected at any one time and I download a lot of music etc etc. I've never used the maximum yet.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by pepsi
Thanks again for the information John. Sorry but just one more question.Do you think we would be better with the unlimited option as my daughter downloads loads of music, some videos etc. Her boyfriend is also emigrating to Australia in December of this year, so will be constantly emailing. I also tend to leave the connection on during the evening because I use the internet alot for school and my exam work. Have just asked my hubby how much we pay for AOL and he thinks £24 a month so the unlimited option is not going to be alot more.
[/quote]
Ray&Sarah
27-11-2005, 00:09
We are with blueyonder, pretty good service and quite fast.[msnsmile2]