Author Topic: Best broadband provider?  (Read 4597 times)

Offline Wigwampaddy

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #40 on: September 19, 2005, 09:11:04 AM »
I believe plus.net is quite cheap for up to 2meg
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Offline elrojoyoda

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #41 on: October 7, 2005, 01:29:23 PM »
Yeah Eclipse is rock solid - have had no bother with them......for the quality of the service I don't mind paying a bit extra!
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Offline Graeme

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #42 on: October 8, 2005, 02:27:42 PM »
im with blueyonder. I have a 10Mb line. No caps. 35 quid a month.

Laffin.

Not yet you haven't ;)

You're on a Southport UBR, and they haven't been upgraded yet.  Still on 4mb.

Offline Felix

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #43 on: October 8, 2005, 02:47:35 PM »
I believe plus.net is quite cheap for up to 2meg

Moved to broadband three months ago and went with PlusNet: 2MB uncapped for £14.99/month and a monthly contract so I'm not tied in. Had no problems so far. Nice web portal as well to manage your account.

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #44 on: October 9, 2005, 03:40:52 AM »
I dunno about Uk onlines £30 a month service, but a new ISP is doing 24MB for £24 a month.....

Swedish ISP Be has launched the UK's fastest broadband service for home users.

Be Home 24Meg costs £24 per month and offers an uncapped 24MB internet-only connection. It is currently available in London and will be rolled out to 20 other cities over the next year.

Be said that the service will handle two High Definition TV channels and " three or four" standard TV or video-on-demand channels, along with normal surfing and voice calls. However, the ISP admitted that users may not always get a 24MB connection.
The move is expected to shake up the offerings from other operators. UK Online has said that it will launch a 24MB service in October at £30 per month.

Five of the top seven ISPs are still only offering broadband at 2MB at prices from £12 to £25 per month. Average connection speeds are 1MB. Only NTL and Telewest are upgrading their networks to provide services of up to 10MB.

Be said that it will launch a voice over IP telephony service and video on demand sometime in 2006.

"This radically advanced capability will change the way people use their computers, and opens up a world of opportunities as exciting as the advent of the internet itself," said Dana Pressman, managing director at Be.

Subscribers need a BT telephone line connected to an exchange in which Be has installed its equipment, and must pay a £24 connection fee and provide three months notice of cancellation. Potential subscribers can check here to see whether they can receive the Be service.

Chris Stening, general manager at UK Online, said: "We have been pushing the current ADSL technology to its limits since last year with 8MB broadband. Now ADSL2+ will unleash a new wave of broadband innovation for consumers."

http://www.bethere.co.uk

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Offline youtookmyname

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #45 on: October 9, 2005, 12:16:53 PM »
Not yet you haven't ;)

You're on a Southport UBR, and they haven't been upgraded yet.  Still on 4mb.

Well I will have soon :P . What's gonna happen though now BY have been bought out by NTL. Some mates have ntl and their downloads are capped. I'd hate that! :
« Last Edit: October 9, 2005, 12:19:32 PM by youtookmyname »

Offline Ben S

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #46 on: October 10, 2005, 12:38:46 AM »
Why do people get so excited about speed, most websites will never get data to you that quick anyway, only people who download porn need that kinda speed.

Offline Millsee

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #47 on: October 11, 2005, 07:54:33 AM »
Why do people get so excited about speed, most websites will never get data to you that quick anyway, only people who download porn need that kinda speed.

 :-[

Offline Roper

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #48 on: October 11, 2005, 09:33:59 AM »
Ive been with Pipex for 4 years in total and although they are not the cheapest - think its now £22 a month for 1 Mbps...they have always been reliable and the support has always been very good.

Ive not got any complaints with them, and thats why im reluctant to move to what could be a cheaper ISP. Why change something thats working fine?

http://www.broadband.gb.net/pipex/index.php?link=p

Offline lloydiethe1st

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #49 on: October 14, 2005, 04:31:30 PM »
I've recently been upgraded to the 1MB package on Tiscali 1MB. Is anybody else on this? What download speeds would you normally expect for a 1MB connection?

Browsing seems pretty fast but I'm not overly impressed with the average download speed, which is about 30KB normally!
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Offline Ben S

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #50 on: October 14, 2005, 04:38:07 PM »
30KB works out at a massive 240Kb.

The max downloads speed for 1MB is 128KB. Of course you will never get 128KB, maybe more like 120ish. Bear in mind you could be downloading from a slow server.

What kind of speed do you get from http://216.67.229.205/10MB ? (test file on dedicatednow's network [us based, same as rawk and probably better than a uk based file given most web content is housed over there]).

On crappy work BT 2MB I'm getting 152KB / sec.

Via the wonders if RDC, I'm getting 235KB / sec on eclipse at home.
« Last Edit: October 14, 2005, 04:43:21 PM by Ben S »

Offline lloydiethe1st

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #51 on: October 14, 2005, 04:44:16 PM »
30KB works out at a massive 240Kb.

The max downloads speed for 1MB is 128KB. Of course you will never get 128KB, maybe more like 120ish. Bear in mind you could be downloading from a slow server.

What kind of speed do you get from http://216.67.229.205/10MB ? (test file on dedicatednow's network).

On crappy work BT 2MB I'm getting 152KB / sec.

Its' still downloading but it started off at rather a stupid level, about 400KB/sec which it rapidly fell from! It then has been gradually falling ever since and has now averaged out at about 27KB/sec! If I'm not mistaken this is pretty shit!
"Djimi gives us another dimension, we're just not sure of what that dimension is!"

"If some laboratory ever tried to invent the perfect football fan, they'd struggle to better what I've seen at Liverpool."

http://HDTV.Giveaway.co.uk/index.php?referral=204117

Offline Ben S

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #52 on: October 14, 2005, 04:47:12 PM »
That is indeed pretty shit, but then Tiscali is a shite ISP.

Try the adslguide speed test http://www.adslguide.org.uk/tools/speedtest.asp
« Last Edit: October 14, 2005, 04:48:47 PM by Ben S »

Offline lloydiethe1st

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #53 on: October 14, 2005, 04:57:20 PM »
That is indeed pretty shit, but then Tiscali is a shite ISP.

Try the adslguide speed test http://www.adslguide.org.uk/tools/speedtest.asp

As suspected the test results have come back negative! ;)

Direction                     Actual Speed           True Speed (estimated)
Downstream    239 Kbps (29.9 KB/sec)    258 Kbps (inc. overheads)
Upstream    242 Kbps (30.3 KB/sec)    261 Kbps (inc. overheads)

Any possible suggestions as to why the speed is so shit? Coincidentally the broadband package I first had was the 256K. Do you think I should ring up Tiscali and start shouting the odds?

Why is Tiscali so shit btw? Haven't really had that much hassle with them!
"Djimi gives us another dimension, we're just not sure of what that dimension is!"

"If some laboratory ever tried to invent the perfect football fan, they'd struggle to better what I've seen at Liverpool."

http://HDTV.Giveaway.co.uk/index.php?referral=204117

Offline Ben S

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #54 on: October 14, 2005, 05:02:28 PM »
Get onto them and complain. If you really are on 1Mb, your speeds are rubbish.

Why is Tiscali so shit btw? Haven't really had that much hassle with them!

Your speeds answer that.

Offline lloydiethe1st

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #55 on: October 14, 2005, 05:05:01 PM »
Get onto them and complain. If you really are on 1Mb, your speeds are rubbish.

That's what it says on the billing form! They can expect a phone call in the near future!  :no

Your speeds answer that.

Good point! ;D

Thanks for the info btw!
"Djimi gives us another dimension, we're just not sure of what that dimension is!"

"If some laboratory ever tried to invent the perfect football fan, they'd struggle to better what I've seen at Liverpool."

http://HDTV.Giveaway.co.uk/index.php?referral=204117

Offline Hinesy

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #56 on: October 14, 2005, 10:22:30 PM »
30KB works out at a massive 240Kb.

The max downloads speed for 1MB is 128KB. Of course you will never get 128KB, maybe more like 120ish. Bear in mind you could be downloading from a slow server.

What kind of speed do you get from http://216.67.229.205/10MB ? (test file on dedicatednow's network [us based, same as rawk and probably better than a uk based file given most web content is housed over there]).

why is this Ben ?
Quote
On crappy work BT 2MB I'm getting 152KB / sec.

Mine = on BT 2.2MBps
Downstream 1827 Kbps (228.4 KB/sec) 1973 Kbps (inc. overheads)
Upstream 242 Kbps (30.3 KB/sec) 261 Kbps (inc. overheads
is this any good or what ?
« Last Edit: October 14, 2005, 10:24:09 PM by hinesy »
Yep.

Offline Ben S

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #57 on: October 15, 2005, 12:06:58 AM »
Whys what?

Looks fine.

Offline Hinesy

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #58 on: October 15, 2005, 09:30:13 PM »
why this : why not 1MB ?

Quote
The max downloads speed for 1MB is 128KB. Of course you will never get 128KB, maybe more like 120ish. Bear in mind you could be downloading from a slow server.
Yep.

Offline Graeme

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #59 on: October 15, 2005, 09:39:49 PM »
You are confusing bits and bytes :)

Offline Hinesy

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #60 on: October 15, 2005, 09:44:19 PM »
still confused mate :wave
Yep.

Offline Graeme

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #61 on: October 15, 2005, 10:20:57 PM »
1 Kilobyte (KB) = 8 Kilobits (Kb)

Your 1MB service is equal to 1024 kilobits per second.  There are 8 Kilobits in 1 Kilobyte.  The download speeds you see from the Internet are measured in Kilobytes.  So if you have a 1MB service (1000 kilobits) then you need to divide by 8 to see what your expected downloads speeds will be.

1024 / 8 =  128KBps

I've always been shite at explaining that ;D


Offline Hinesy

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #62 on: October 15, 2005, 10:43:34 PM »
ah well I never. Blimey and so on.
Many thanks Graeme, didn't have a clue about that!
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Offline PaulF

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #63 on: October 17, 2005, 02:07:46 PM »
Why do people get so excited about speed, most websites will never get data to you that quick anyway, only people who download porn need that kinda speed.


and those trying to keep up with the 'transfer speculation' thread when the window is open :)
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Offline Roper

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #64 on: October 17, 2005, 02:48:45 PM »


1024 / 8 =  128KBps

I've always been shite at explaining that ;D



Yep! ;D

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #65 on: January 16, 2006, 11:47:18 AM »
Any updates on recommendations for this, on freedom2surf now but they've deteriorated rapidly since they were bought by Pipex, over the weekend was getting between 150 and 300 kbps on an 8mb line with packet loss thrown in to boot.

So I'm looking at my options, any truth to the rumours that Eclipse are about to be taken over?

Ideally I'd be looking for an 8mb+ connection, failing that I suppose Zen's an option in spite of the price as at least 2mb does seem to mean 2mb with them.

Offline PaulF

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #66 on: January 16, 2006, 12:00:01 PM »
eclipse have been bought by someone, I can't remember who.  They still seem to be fine though.
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Offline Ben S

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #67 on: January 16, 2006, 12:02:10 PM »
Kingston Communications - They havent changed the way it's run though.

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #68 on: January 16, 2006, 12:08:08 PM »
Ah well thats good news anyway, F2S have started traffic shaping and the speeds have gone to hell.

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #69 on: January 17, 2006, 06:43:30 PM »
Hmmm apparently Be have gone live with LLU at my exchange today, 24MB connection for £24, very tempting.....

Offline Rushian

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #70 on: January 17, 2006, 07:06:55 PM »
Hmmm apparently Be have gone live with LLU at my exchange today, 24MB connection for £24, very tempting.....

Are they still London only?
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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #71 on: January 17, 2006, 08:47:13 PM »
I think so Rushian, it sounds like their rollout is going a lot slower than they'd originally stated, a lot of the London exchanges which were scheduled for late last year seemed to have been pushed back to mid 2006

Offline fudge

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #72 on: January 17, 2006, 09:20:38 PM »
Any updates on recommendations for this, on freedom2surf now but they've deteriorated rapidly since they were bought by Pipex, over the weekend was getting between 150 and 300 kbps on an 8mb line with packet loss thrown in to boot.

So I'm looking at my options, any truth to the rumours that Eclipse are about to be taken over?

Ideally I'd be looking for an 8mb+ connection, failing that I suppose Zen's an option in spite of the price as at least 2mb does seem to mean 2mb with them.

I'm with Zen and i'd go with them every time because their customer service is second to none
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Offline Paul

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #73 on: January 17, 2006, 09:24:53 PM »
I was having a look at ukonline's 22Mb ADSL2+, but the Maghull exchange (or whatever one Maghull uses) is not enabled.

The rest of the ones in the area are though - typical!

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #74 on: January 18, 2006, 12:30:27 AM »
I believe plus.net is quite cheap for up to 2meg

Don't go near them if you're a heavy downloader. They've started a fairly strict fair useage policy and have started sending me e-mails and warnings.

In the process of migrating over to Freedom2Surf - £25 a month for as fast as your line will go, 1, 2, 4, 8Mbps, all uncapped all of the time, no limits. Can't complain about that. Only gets a bit complicated if you want to migrate a previous domain of yours in with them, £60 a year as a totally separate webspace / d'base / email package, wheareas with PlusNet I had 3 domains overlaid, and just paid pittance hosting on the .com ones.

Offline Big Ig

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #75 on: January 18, 2006, 12:34:26 AM »
Kingston Communications - They havent changed the way it's run though.

Don't they own BlueYonder?

Offline Big Ig

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #76 on: January 18, 2006, 12:35:56 AM »
Ah well thats good news anyway, F2S have started traffic shaping and the speeds have gone to hell.

You're farkin kiddin me?! Shite!

Glad it's on a monthly contract then... Who should I go with instead for 24/7 full whack speeds uncapped?

Offline Ken-Obi

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #77 on: January 18, 2006, 01:09:50 AM »
MBps or Mbps? Both are different at the factor of 8:1.

If it really is 24MBps that some of you are getting, I want one!  :(
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Offline Ben S

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #78 on: January 18, 2006, 01:20:47 AM »
Don't they own BlueYonder?

No thats telewest communications PLC.

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Re: Best broadband provider?
« Reply #79 on: January 18, 2006, 10:00:59 AM »
MBps or Mbps? Both are different at the factor of 8:1.

If it really is 24MBps that some of you are getting, I want one!  :(

Mbps I fear.

Still at the moment I'm getting consistenyly sub 1Mbps speeds at peak times on an 8 meg connection, my 24 downloads aren't happy ;)