Broadban options

[Stu]

So, I will be getting broadband now! Looking around and there are some great offers for 512kb - 1mbit services from the likes of wanadoo (sp?). All seem to have a usage allowance which I'm not a major fan of cos the damned thing ought to be unlimited in a fair world, but it does seem to allow the main players cheapish options.

What are people using? What are their experiences?

Cheers

 

[JB]

I get mine from Telewest Broadband. It's the 1 Mb service and I pay £25 per month. I don't think there's a limit and I don't get any other services (phone etc) from them. I think I got the first 2 or 3 months free. It was a good deal when I got it and I've been happy with the service.

As an aside, I think we were supposed to be working together for AU this weekend in the Lakes. I spoke to Jenny and she said that the other instructor had damaged his leg in a cave so I assume that's you. Hope you get better soon.

 

[Stu]

I get mine from Telewest Broadband. It's the 1 Mb service and I pay £25 per month. I don't think there's a limit and I don't get any other services (phone etc) from them. I think I got the first 2 or 3 months free. It was a good deal when I got it and I've been happy with the service.

As an aside, I think we were supposed to be working together for AU this weekend in the Lakes. I spoke to Jenny and she said that the other instructor had damaged his leg in a cave so I assume that's you. Hope you get better soon.

Didn't want to slow you down... though one training course we had a guy carry 2 loaves of bread, sausages AND a frying pan, so I could probably have kept up there!

Good luck.

p.s. I'd been trying to keep my alter ego a secret from this lot... cheers!!

 

[tiggs]

It's NOT FAIR!! I want broadband.. but living in the middle of nowhere surrounded by sheep (baa!) its not likely that broadband will be an option for me for a while.

This hasnt stopped me longingly researching the subject only to find that each time i put in my postcode it comes up with...."Fat chance, matey, it wont work you're too far from the exchange..but hey why not order it anyway!" (or words to that effect) :sob: :snivel: :scream:

I had heard a whisper however that plus.com were supposed to be doing a good deal on superfast broadband these days. Another mate of mine uses Pipex and sings their praises.

Ntl I have heard mixed reports about, same with Tiscali. Also watch out for one-year-tie ins. Some broadband providers promise you the earth, moon and stars as long as you sign up for a year. (which is fine if they dont turn out to be broadband providers from H*ll!)

I would say get the fastest speed you can (*she says, longingly wishing she could get broadband!*) Tho i guess it depends what you do on the net as to what you want from broadband.........if you do lots of uploading and downloading your gonna have very different needs from broadband than say me who just checks emails once a fortnight and then switches it off......;-)

Whatever you choose good luck!... i will be sick with jealousy when you get it installed

 

[SamT]

As for getting the fastest you can i.e 1mb+ - not sure if thats false economy - I've got 512 and it seems fine. It depends on how much bandwidth the server your down loading from has - and 9 times out of 10 its not as much as my 512 so you never get the full bit rate anyhow.

 

[Stu]

As for getting the fastest you can i.e 1mb+ - not sure if thats false economy - I've got 512 and it seems fine. It depends on how much bandwidth the server your down loading from has - and 9 times out of 10 its not as much as my 512 so you never get the full bit rate anyhow.

Had 512bb with freeserve some years ago and it was great. Can't imagine what 1mbit+ would be like. Seems lots of providers are offering 1bit for pretty much the same price as 512 so apart from any hidden catches could be on to a winner. My old man has bb and he said that now more people are getting bb he's noticed a drop in his bandwidth, is this right? The more people using it the slower it becomes. Thought bb wasn't supposed to be affected like dial up. :?:

 

[Cavegod]

i have ntl 512 unlimited £25 a month and i get free phone calls to all landlines

 

[Dave H]

Thought bb wasn't supposed to be affected like dial up

All broadband that I've seen has contended lines - cheap = 50:1 contention - twice the price = 20:1.

Tiggs, I don't know how you run your web-design business without BB? We were like you, and thought it would never come, but BT having a rolling program that should have ‘everyone' covered by 2007. They've also changed the line attenuation levels that they can cope with, so we have a 2Mb option over 3Km from the exchange.

We have a 1Mb system with PlusNet with a 4GB monthly limit and fixed IP for £24. We did have to buy the modem and sign up for a year, (but I used to work in the telco industry, so I knew them to be OK) I've had no problems so far (nearly a year). You only need large/no limits if you are doing lots of peer-to-peer communications. Most people would struggle to use 1Gb per month with constant surfing and emailing.

9 times out of 10 its not as much as my 512 so you never get the full bit rate anyhow.

If you don't mind viewing cached pages then you can get very nearly full rate straight from the ISP's server. I can get up to 1152Kb on my 1Mb link! If you want current pages then it all depends on the server, as you say.

I find that SSL (encrypted) pages are much more useable now I have BB – The weekly Tescos grocery order now takes about 10 minutes as opposed to 30-40 on dial up.

You could do much worse than look at http://www.adslguide.org/ to get all the knowledge.

 

[bubba]

Regarding the speed issue - 512 is enough for surfing and things, but it really depends what you're doing - I use things like bittorrent a lot where I can often see speeds approaching 2meg download.

 

[Dave H]

I would have been quite happy with a 512Kb link, but as the 1Mb was only £1/month more at the time I went for that. I would be very suprised if anybody really required 2Mb except for file sharing (and then it's only a nicety - you're on BB, leave it on all night downloading!)

 

[bubba]

Faster = better

They're bringing out a new adsl max product soon which will allow you to up and download as fast as your particular phone line can support it. I'll be getting it for sure.

 

[pisshead]

It's NOT FAIR!! I want broadband.. but living in the middle of nowhere surrounded by sheep (baa!) its not likely that broadband will be an option for me for a while.

My dad lives on the Isle of Wight and was fed up with not having broadband...he got all his mates and all their mates to continuously pester BT and now broadband is being made available...next month apparently!

Might be worth a go If it can get to the isle of wight...

 

[Dave H]

It's NOT FAIR!! I want broadband.. but living in the middle of nowhere surrounded by sheep (baa!)

Lucky you! (Green with envy) Want to swap?:wink:

Before we had BB a number of my work colleagues used the satellite option.
You make requests using your normal dial-up connection, but you receive the data via the satellite. But using this method you still have to pay your dial-up costs as well as the £30ish for the satellite. 2-way satellite is far too expensive!
If you have an old (but working) Sky type dish already, and you have enough skill with a protractor to point it in the correct direction, then you only have to buy the card to put in your PC (about £30) to make a DIY system. But setting the software up could be a bit tricky.
If you're not into the DIY set-up then I'm sure there are complete systems with installation ‘to be had' (but if you're not careful you could be!)

 

[tiggs]

[quote "DaveH"]Lucky you! (Green with envy) Want to swap? [/quote]
Yeah if you want...but the flip side of this is you will have to put up with my three delightful children and share a bed with Diggerdog Adam... changed your mind yet?! Thought so. Plus, we dont get broadband!!! :sob:

Must admit i had heard of satellite being available for those who couldnt get BB but wasnt sure of the pricing n that.

Think i might be downright dangerous doing a DIY broadband satellite installation with a protractor.. I nearly blew the house up fitting a telephone extension the other week...best leave things like that to the experts

 

[Sewer Rat]

Broadband can be activateed in an area that has more than 500 requests ,
so round up thoes sheep!.
im with bt bb and was paying 24.99 a month for 512k and it was great.
I upgraded to 1 meg and i was able to clock speeds of 1 meg and sometimes more.
Then bt contacted me and said ,here you go ,2meg for 24.99 suits you sir!!!

However the rest ofthe world is not all up to speed .
Information flows in 2 ways ,download speed ie 512 or 1 meg or
or upload speed ie 256 0r 256 or 256
if you want faster upload speed ( your computer giving information out)
you need to spendsome serious money.
So if 70% of the internet is uploading at 256k and 20% at 56k (dial up)
10% at 1 meg upwards
this means that with a 512k download speed( recieving info from other computers) in 70% of cases you can only recieve 256k in 20% of cases you will only recieve 56k and in 10% of cases you will recieve as fast as your little connection will allow

general browesing will be fine at 512
if you down load of music and pictures and movies and programs frequently, fair enough get more speed and hope that the other end has it as well
otherwise you will be expecting your socks to be blown off with your new bulldog 4meg connection and http://ukcaving.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=969
will load just as fast as before :soapbox: