Which ADSL ISP do you use?

Posted by: Paul Hutchings on 16 October 2004

As subject really.

I'm currently with Nildram and fancy moving to 1mbps but don't fancy paying £35 a month for it.

My usage is erratic to say the least, some months it's 2gb, some it's 12gb, it just depends what I'm doing.

I think I'd be looking at an unlimited or high usage tariff.

All I really need is a connection, and a decent binaries news server, which I might be prepared to pay for separately. Email is sorted elsewhere and I don't need webspace.

At the moment I'm looking at Zen, Plusnet, Metronet and Andrews & Arnold.

I'm a believer that to an extent you get what you pay for, so I'm not interested in unsustainable "too good to be true until we go bust" offers.

I know about bbs.adslguide.org, just thought I'd canvas a few opinions here.

Any thoughts?

cheers,
Paul
Posted on: 16 October 2004 by BigH47
How do you know your usage?
Is this the same as bandwidth?

Im on BT Broadband (512K)

Howard
Posted on: 16 October 2004 by Paul Hutchings
quote:
Originally posted by BigH47:
How do you know your usage?
Is this the same as bandwidth?

Im on BT Broadband (512K)

Howard


Nildram have a widget that shows you monthly totals as well as per connection usage.

According to it (and I'm not 100% sure of its accuracy) I've used -

This month so far 4.5gb
Sept 4gb
Aug 6.5gb
July 12.5gb (bumper month)
June 3gb
May 1.4gb

This is why I'm leaning towards an uncapped usage tariff, no nast surprises if I have a mad month.

I've just downloaded some monitoring software that should give me a more accurate idea of usage from my routers snmp function.

I'm on 512kbps but am looking to move to a 1mbps tariff.

Paul
Posted on: 16 October 2004 by BrianD
Freeserve Broadband at £27.99 pm. Works ok for me.
Posted on: 16 October 2004 by Derek Wright
I use PlusNet - very pleased with them especially compared to BTOpenWorld -

Plusnet have a bandwidth measurement device that tells you how your usgae is going

Plusnet do things that will benefit the usr

BTO did things that may be of benefit to the docile windows user and were a pain to every one else.

Derek

<< >>
Posted on: 17 October 2004 by JeremyD
I'm on Tiscali 256k ~£18 a month. It's better than dial-up and it's unlimited...
Posted on: 17 October 2004 by Paul Hutchings
So far I'm leaning towards Zen, not the cheapest but I'm struggling to find anyone with a bad word to say about them.

cheers,
Paul
Posted on: 17 October 2004 by Rasher
I use Zen and 512 service costs me £27.99 for home, and £44.65 for work on a business line.
No problems with the service but I think it's expensive. Compared to other countries, we are being ripped off. Just take a look at what Japan consumers get!
here and here
Posted on: 17 October 2004 by Mekon
quote:
Originally posted by JeremyD:
I'm on http://www.tiscali.co.uk/products/broadband/5xfaster.html?code=ZZ-NL-11XY 256k ~£18 a month. It's better than dial-up and it's unlimited...


Me too, but I am paying £15.99 for the 256K service (verified with speedcheck). I ordered 150K and got 256K, which gives some indication of their organisation. So long as nothing goes wrong, they are fine. Any problems, and they are worse than useless - I've a mate who's not been able to resolve her email/connection problems in 10 months of trying.

I think the reason they are so slack is because it's 1 year tie in, plus they are a datastream service and are dragging their feet on the datastream migration system. Once you sign, you are trapped. The moment the migration system is up and running, I am off to Plusnet or Zen.
Posted on: 19 October 2004 by Top Cat
I'm with Pipex Extreme Solo. 512k/50 service, dynamic IP. £20+VAT per month. No problems - 100% perceived uptime from my POV (though I am mainly an evenings-and-weekends user).

I'm very interested in Tom's service. Is the £23.99 inclusive of VAT? Also, how much extra do you have to pay per Gb?

I have no idea of my bandwidth consumption - but I suspect it's within 4Gb, as my usage is mainly downloading applications, basic surfing and doing remote server backups (50Mb a time zipped, once a week).

My 1 year contract with Pipex runs out in December, and though I am very happy with the service they have offered so far, I'd consider changing as their faster packages are v. pricy.

John
Posted on: 19 October 2004 by Paul Hutchings
John,

Plusnets unlimited 512kbps service is £22.

If you are thinking of changing, I'd suggest take a look at the ISP specific forums over on http://bbs.adslguide.org - though it sometimes causes more indecision than it solves.

I've pretty much concluded Zen or stick with Nildram, neither are the cheapest but if you look on their forums you see few complaints, Zen in particular, minimum contract is 1 month so if if doesn't work out..

Plusnet I still haven't worked out, I mean this in the nicest possible way but if you look on their forum it's as if there's some sort of brainwashing taking place.. most odd Smile

Paul
Posted on: 19 October 2004 by Derek Wright
" some sort of brainwashing taking place.. most odd "

you mean like next door <g>

Derek

<< >>
Posted on: 19 October 2004 by Occean
I used fast4 for a few years and had no problems - they were as cheap as chips www.fast4.net I think their standard service is around £15 and the 1mb is £24.99.

Though I moved house and went with BT for some reason - something to do with a free plane ticket to the USA which I gave my mother (she flys in Nov). Its £35.99 a month (not Yahoo/BT)

CD5/112/150/S5e's/smiling
Posted on: 19 October 2004 by Jez Quigley
I have the BT 1.1 meg for £29.99 a month. No problems so far (except in the very very early days of broadband) and I am a heavy user. Lucky folk in parts of London can get a 4mg connection for the same dosh. In Germany they can get 10mg links for £30-£40 I'm told.
Posted on: 19 October 2004 by Geoff C
For BrianD

You can move to the Freeserve (Wanadoo) 1mg service with 2gig per month usage - if available in your area - for £17.99 a month, with just a one off £20 upgrade fee.

Regards
Geoff
Posted on: 19 October 2004 by MichaelC
I use Zen at home and find it to be a good service.

When I went over to broadband I asked for a few recommendations from those in my office who are pc savvy. I then went to each website and ended up selecting Zen because theiR site explained everything in plain English. The service has been fine since day one. So there you are - a happy user.

Mike
Posted on: 19 October 2004 by BrianD
Geoff

Thanks. I'll look into that.
Posted on: 19 October 2004 by Martin Payne
quote:
Originally posted by Geoff Cottle:
You can move to the Freeserve (Wanadoo) 1mg service with 2gig per month usage - if available in your area - for £17.99 a month, with just a one off £20 upgrade fee.



Geoff,

I was looking into this for a friend recently, and BT have a rather shocking condition if you want to leave them - if you are in your first year, you have to pay the whole of the rest of the year to leave them.

This could be £300+ if you're only a couple of months into the 1Mbps service.

I wonder how many other ISPs have a similar condition?

cheers, Martin

E-mail:- MartinPayne (at) Dial.Pipex.com. Put "Naim" in the title.
Posted on: 20 October 2004 by Geoff C
Martin

In my case I am an exsisting Wanadoo customer who has switched, for the faster and cheaper option, but if I had not have looked at their website I would still be paying £27.99 for 0.5mg service. I guess some other ISPs have minimum contract tie-ins clauses.

Regards
Geoff
Posted on: 16 November 2004 by Chunny Nochubb
Just changed from Plusnet 512kbs with no limits at £18.99 per month - to their 1mb / 1gb at £14.99, if I exceed the 1 gb in a month I get charged £2 per gb (or part thereof).I have had it 6 months and have not done so far.

There is a £29 transfer fee which I should get it back in 8 months if my usage remains unchanged.

CNC
Posted on: 16 November 2004 by garyi
Bloody hell, I downloaded just short of 2 gigs Saturday morning!

NTL are good for somethings.
Posted on: 16 November 2004 by Paul Hutchings
Well I wasn't gonna resurrect it, but FWIW I went to Zen Internet, thoroughly clueful, helpful and painless!

p.s garyi.. just got an email from apple.. it's shipped.. happy bunny Smile

Paul
Posted on: 16 November 2004 by garyi
Yea, tomorrow then!
Posted on: 16 November 2004 by Martin D
Demon 512k v good, £24.99 / Month
Big Grin
Posted on: 16 November 2004 by Richard S
quote:
Originally posted by Geoff Cottle:
For BrianD

You can move to the Freeserve (Wanadoo) 1mg service with 2gig per month usage - if available in your area - for £17.99 a month, with just a one off £20 upgrade fee.

Regards
Geoff


Thank you.
I've just switched across from 512kb.

regards
Richard S
Posted on: 16 November 2004 by Chunny Nochubb
Garyi

Since I still have a few days until my service is transferred from unlimited 512, what should I be downloading as you do about 4 months worth of my usage in one morning, I must be missing out.

CNC