Viable Alternatives to NTL?
Posted by: garyi on 30 October 2003
Well I am reaching the end of my patience.
When it works it works, when it don't you are stuffed.
I have tried the forums, the phones, the emails and nothing, no response.
So here I am, wanting broadband that will go through the erthunet on my mac.
I don't want to be paying more than £45 quid a month, baring in mind that most other services require a BT phone line (why?) at around a tenner a month.
I also want an email address.
Any ideas?
Cheers
When it works it works, when it don't you are stuffed.
I have tried the forums, the phones, the emails and nothing, no response.
So here I am, wanting broadband that will go through the erthunet on my mac.
I don't want to be paying more than £45 quid a month, baring in mind that most other services require a BT phone line (why?) at around a tenner a month.
I also want an email address.
Any ideas?
Cheers
Posted on: 30 October 2003 by garyi
P.S. I ain't fussed about TV channels, I only watch simpsons on sky one as it is anyway!
Posted on: 30 October 2003 by andy c
garyi,
I'm on bt openworld, and their phone line, and it's ok. Its not cheap, working out about £40.00 including line rental, but if you have sky you can get it cheaper throught them!
I'm on bt openworld, and their phone line, and it's ok. Its not cheap, working out about £40.00 including line rental, but if you have sky you can get it cheaper throught them!
Posted on: 30 October 2003 by Mekon
How fast a connection do you need? If you aren't using P2P networks, and mainly use it for browsing, you might find that the £15.99 deal from Tiscali is good enough.
At work the connection to the net is some daft big pipe. Whilst I get over a meg a second downloading files from somewhere like Microsoft, I can't detect any difference between work and home when browsing this site.
At work the connection to the net is some daft big pipe. Whilst I get over a meg a second downloading files from somewhere like Microsoft, I can't detect any difference between work and home when browsing this site.
Posted on: 02 November 2003 by garyi
Mekon, what would I need to use this service.
I would like to connect via earuthent, and not through USB modem.
Cheers
I would like to connect via earuthent, and not through USB modem.
Cheers
Posted on: 02 November 2003 by garyi
Git. You know what I mean. I realise I spell it differently every time I write it.
I have just installed this swanky OSX Panther, and a spell checker appears for everything, and I mean everything, including AOL chat, but not for the browser, the one place I could actually use it!
I have just installed this swanky OSX Panther, and a spell checker appears for everything, and I mean everything, including AOL chat, but not for the browser, the one place I could actually use it!
Posted on: 02 November 2003 by Mekon
The package comes with a crappy USB modem, with is useless to me too. I've ordered a netgear DG824M (all-in-one ADSL modem, router, 4 port hub, and wireless access point), so I'll soon have a little wireless nertwork sorted.
Posted on: 03 November 2003 by Rasher
NTL are a horror. I have NTL broadband, phone and digital TV at home, but have just started the switch to BT for phone and broadband, then I will switch to a third party for calls, and I have bought a free to view TV box.
A mate of mine sacked NTL after 3 days of trying to get through to report a fault. He wrote to them in the end and told them to take it all away, & stopped the payments.
A mate of mine sacked NTL after 3 days of trying to get through to report a fault. He wrote to them in the end and told them to take it all away, & stopped the payments.
Posted on: 03 November 2003 by MarkEJ
[Resigned sigh]... Well, we warned you didn't we?
Check out Nildram (www.nildram.co.uk) for "wires-only" ADSL for around 23 quid a month (I think you still get an email address, but no web space). I have had nothing but good experiences with them.
Then get a router (please, get a router). Best ADSL router I've yet found is the the Draytek Vigor 2600 (http://www.seg.co.uk/products/a_vigor2600.html). It's a bit more money than the cheapest of the competition, but it just works, and it's easy to configure and auto-senses the fiddly stuff reliably. Best of all, the case doesn't creak. There are 4 x 10/100 Ethernet ports on the back for connecting straight to your iMac.
I was also going to say wait for X 10.3.1 before installing Panther, but er... too late. Impatient young scamp...
Best;
Mark
Check out Nildram (www.nildram.co.uk) for "wires-only" ADSL for around 23 quid a month (I think you still get an email address, but no web space). I have had nothing but good experiences with them.
Then get a router (please, get a router). Best ADSL router I've yet found is the the Draytek Vigor 2600 (http://www.seg.co.uk/products/a_vigor2600.html). It's a bit more money than the cheapest of the competition, but it just works, and it's easy to configure and auto-senses the fiddly stuff reliably. Best of all, the case doesn't creak. There are 4 x 10/100 Ethernet ports on the back for connecting straight to your iMac.
I was also going to say wait for X 10.3.1 before installing Panther, but er... too late. Impatient young scamp...
Best;
Mark
Posted on: 03 November 2003 by ken c
related question -- what do you guys consider the "best" broadband service at this time?
i have seen offerings from AOL, Tiscali and of course BT. i am ignoring NTL because of reports here...
many thanks
ken
i have seen offerings from AOL, Tiscali and of course BT. i am ignoring NTL because of reports here...
many thanks
ken
Posted on: 03 November 2003 by garyi
The actual broadband browsing is generally fine with NTL, but the email is f**ked.
They ahve a seperate server for it, and its not been well for some time. They have also agreed to lease its bandwidth to AOL.
Bunch of arse.
The other hig was when I signed up I agreed to the 1 meg broadband as it would give me free instalation, some 8 months later I notice I am actually on 600k broadband. I haven't been paying for 1 meg, but still bunch of arse.
Mark that link dosn't work for me. Is it basically my set top box thing, like a modem that goes into the back of the mac?
Is there not an 'in house' solution, I have a big power mac which is largely empty spacve in side, could a broadband modem not go in there?
Cheers.
I am serious about ditching NTL, I must be at the end of a year of half arsed service, I wouldn't mind but there is no cummincation to be had with them, NTHell forum is arse and phone calls are pointless.
I sent them a polite email fromt heir own website 3 weeks ago with no reply. Its just not acceptable to be paying 50 quid a month for this.
They ahve a seperate server for it, and its not been well for some time. They have also agreed to lease its bandwidth to AOL.
Bunch of arse.
The other hig was when I signed up I agreed to the 1 meg broadband as it would give me free instalation, some 8 months later I notice I am actually on 600k broadband. I haven't been paying for 1 meg, but still bunch of arse.
Mark that link dosn't work for me. Is it basically my set top box thing, like a modem that goes into the back of the mac?
Is there not an 'in house' solution, I have a big power mac which is largely empty spacve in side, could a broadband modem not go in there?
Cheers.
I am serious about ditching NTL, I must be at the end of a year of half arsed service, I wouldn't mind but there is no cummincation to be had with them, NTHell forum is arse and phone calls are pointless.
I sent them a polite email fromt heir own website 3 weeks ago with no reply. Its just not acceptable to be paying 50 quid a month for this.
Posted on: 03 November 2003 by Roy T
Ken,
you could look at ADSLguide: The UK's largest independent ADSL review site - Your guide to UK broadband Internet and then zoom in on the ADSLguide: Viewing list of forums where people discuss the merits of various IPS. I am looking through the fora with a view to selecting one in the near future.
Roy T
you could look at ADSLguide: The UK's largest independent ADSL review site - Your guide to UK broadband Internet and then zoom in on the ADSLguide: Viewing list of forums where people discuss the merits of various IPS. I am looking through the fora with a view to selecting one in the near future.
Roy T