Best ADSL package/ISP on a BT Line?

smeagoly1 · 12-05-2008, 15:35

Hi all
As the topic heading says, What is or in peoples opinions "the best" package /ISP to use on a BT Line.

I currently have Virgin ADSL and as people are quite aware "not even upto much" it's so bad i am morethan willing to pay the cancelation fees.

I live 1300 M away from the nearest exchange at "Whitley Bay" so don't expect top download speeds.

BT's own site say it's capable of 5.5m. It is BT or is it ADSLMAX enabled.

All i ask for is a steady D/L and U/L decent speed....but above all a regular lowish ping! as gaming at the moment is a no no.

I am not a heavy downloader.

Any information and experiences much appreciated.
Regards
smee

haydnwalker · 12-05-2008, 15:43

Check out ThinkBroadband.com as they have a full list of ISPs and usage restrictions on each providers' packages.

People's opinions are just that. Everyone's had many different experiences with various ISPs.

Just like many people complain about VM. My service has been spot on so far *touch wood*

injuneer · 12-05-2008, 15:52

Check out Be or o2, people seem happy with either.

altis · 12-05-2008, 15:58

Other places to check out are:

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/
http://www.dslreports.com/

Down the Pub · 12-05-2008, 18:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by injuneer

Check out Be or o2, people seem happy with either.

they are two of the isp's i'm looking at, although they are technically the same as o2 own be* (from the looks of it even the modem/router is the same).

one thing swinging me is that o2 offer a discount if you are an o2 mobile customer, that includes pre-pay as well as pay monthly. so you can get an upto 20meg package with no caps or phorm for £15.

has anybody got/tried o2 broadband yet? i would have thought that it would most likely be not to dissimilar to be*.

pedantic · 12-05-2008, 19:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Down the Pub

has anybody got/tried o2 broadband yet? i would have thought that it would most likely be not to dissimilar to be*.

I get activated on Wednesday, will post back with my opinions.

£7.50 a month for the 8Mb package, as I'm an o2 customer, not bad at all.

injuneer · 12-05-2008, 19:52

I've had the standard o2 8Mb service since February, no major problems so far & the tech support is free & UK based. I don't have an o2 mobile but the monthly fee is only £12.50

12-05-2008, 22:33

Another vote for Be from me, very good company, care about its customers and dont screw you over like most isps do.

danielf · 12-05-2008, 22:37

I've been on Be for about 6 weeks now. Generally solid, good speeds (~17 Mbps, ~500 yards from the exchange). Hardly any slowdown during 'peak hours'. Their DNS servers do seem a little flaky, but that's easily solved by going to opendns. Not bad for £18pcm.

Down the Pub · 12-05-2008, 23:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

I've been on Be for about 6 weeks now. Generally solid, good speeds (~17 Mbps, ~500 yards from the exchange). Hardly any slowdown during 'peak hours'. Their DNS servers do seem a little flaky, but that's easily solved by going to opendns. Not bad for £18pcm.

well i believe that o2 is basically an identical service, only that it operates upto 20meg service (i don't think that i'd miss the extra 4 meg much). so with that and an o2 discount and uk based customer service team (my enquiry earlier today was uk answered within 2 rings, virgin couldn't hold a candle to that).

so with be*s knowhow and o2's discount, could be onto a winner.

altis · 13-05-2008, 09:18

More details (including other LLU operators) of your exchange here:
http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/NEWB

Details about LLU (local loop unbundling):
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archi...background.htm

This means that broadband services offered by: AOL, O2/Be, Orange, Sky/Easynet and TalkTalk are run over the wires provided by BT. All other broadband services are actually run by BT Wholesale and simply resold.

Down the Pub · 14-05-2008, 13:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by pedantic

I get activated on Wednesday, will post back with my opinions.

£7.50 a month for the 8Mb package, as I'm an o2 customer, not bad at all.

have you gone active yet? how was the process i.e. timewise ease of set-up?

pedantic · 14-05-2008, 14:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Down the Pub

have you gone active yet? how was the process i.e. timewise ease of set-up?

I've just gone live a few minutes ago.

Went very smoothly via the setup cd.

My only gripe is, o2 haven't text me as of yet, to tell me I've gone live. I phoned their support, and spoke to one of their agents that my router had re-synced at the higher speed (I presume this will go lower at a later date, to the service I'm paying for) so I'm sure I was indeed live. He said there was nothing against my account to say I was live. But told me to connect the o2 box up, and if all the lights were green, to proceed with the intallation cd. Which as I've said, I've just done, and it was all done and dusted in a few minutes.

smeagoly1 · 15-05-2008, 11:27

Thanks for all the input guys

Checked things out and read other forums/sites regarding both Be* and O2, both look very good as respects to what my needs are and exchage capabilities.

It looks like i will probably be getting a more reliable and constant service on their upto 8meg packages. Than I am recieving now.

Just seems a shame i have been with a company for ten years with no problems until early last year, then shocking service regarding product and contact with the company.
But the last few weeks now have been the straw that broke the camels back.... disconecting every 10 mins then 2 hours a night no internet access at all after 20:00. No gaming for months!

Roll on after my holidays then I can get things sorted, fingers crossed.
Many Thanks again all.
Smee

**Stuart C** · 15-05-2008, 11:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Down the Pub

they are two of the isp's i'm looking at, although they are technically the same as o2 own be* (from the looks of it even the modem/router is the same).

one thing swinging me is that o2 offer a discount if you are an o2 mobile customer, that includes pre-pay as well as pay monthly. so you can get an upto 20meg package with no caps or phorm for £15.

has anybody got/tried o2 broadband yet? i would have thought that it would most likely be not to dissimilar to be*.

Not sure about limits (such as caps). Be has none, not sure about O2. However, while Be is more expensive, it is theoretically faster (24meg max as opposed to 20), you do get a free static IP (although you have to ask for it) and you are on a short-term rolling contract (three months as opposed to twelve).