ISP recommendations please

[nick.ct]

Thanks people.
I've just had a look at both these recommendations and both have a monthly download size restriction which I have to say I'm not keen on.
I suspect I'm well under these limits but I don't really want it to be a concern.
Or are all ISPs like this nowdays ?
We are a bit out of touch.
Thanks again, appreciated.

I've just given up my completely unlimited download limit with Zen in exchange for a faster service. Their limits are very large and I was nowhere near reaching them (about 1/10). If you do approach your limit they let you know and you can change the tariff or just pay the extra. Really not a problem

 

[cookie]

BTW o2 have recently revamped their BB packages, with new download limits and prices. traffic shaping also on the cards.

those on old o2 legacy offerings can do this at least for now.

 

[E. Buygum]

Thanks people.
I've just had a look at both these recommendations and both have a monthly download size restriction which I have to say I'm not keen on.
I suspect I'm well under these limits but I don't really want it to be a concern.
Or are all ISPs like this nowdays ?
We are a bit out of touch.
Thanks again, appreciated.

Most ISPs employ some sort of traffic shaping i.e. they throttle back the speed across their network for particular users and/or particular types of traffic. This way, they ration their network bandwidth even though it's supposedly unlimited usage. Zen don't employ any form of traffic shaping and their network is normally of a high enough capacity that it doesn't represent a bottleneck....so what you pay for is exactly what you get.

 

[Hustler]

Just to say thank you for all the advice here.
I can't say I know which provider I'm going for, but I do now know who I'm not going for.
And Zen, who I'd never heard of before this thread, is up with the possibles.
Thank you, most appreciated.

 

[Gonzo]

O2 customer service has been second to none for me, good speeds and reliable, not to mention bl00dy cheap if you have an o2 mobile account

Another vote for O2. Service exceptional, reliability fantastic and speeds of 8mb actual for £10 pm as I'm an O2 mobile customer. As others have said it needs to be an exchange where they have their own kit installed but you can find that out from the speeds available when you check postcode and number on their website.

 

[skyenet]

and another vote for O2. On a discounted £7.50 a month bundle through a friend who works there. I think you can get the same sort of deal if you are an O2 mobile customer.

Was with Freeserve who then became Wanadoo and then became Orange Broadband. It was fine at first but by the time it was under Orange it was an absolutely crap service both the actual Broadband, and the customer service. I used to call into Orange shops and use their mobiles to call the customer service as they took so long on calls. The shop staff couldn't believe some of the calls took over an hour and still nothing got sorted out. So glad to get away from them.

Half the price and triple the speed now with O2.

 

[tricky dicky]

Zen ++ see my previous posts

 

[rjsmith26]

I work in It with several clients.

Plusnet - pretty good - IMO - best cheap provider.

I use Virgin services as backups on a number of client sites to backup BT, very good service (at times beat the main provider - BT Business in terms of speed and reliability!).

Unlimited - Bt Business at approx 25 per month is good, if you gonna be naughty, and use horrific bandwidth you may get a note from the teacher, but in the main (expensive) but good unlimited bband.

Final point - phone and bband installs never ever go to plan, so be prepared! If you need to survive whilst you get settled just for email etc you may wanna consider a T mobile 2 quid a day stick with a 2 gig a month limit (we use these to backup if the lines fail).

Welcome to the uk!

 

[GS_or_bust]

I have been with Zen for years, I get excellent service. 15mbps and 100GB per month limit. With my children watching tv on their laptops and sky films on the xbox we are coming closer to the monthly limit.

 

[shugie]

All very useful, but if your exchange has only BT or Twattwat with LLU then you is scuppered. Like me.

Zen over BT service seems as good as BT, but the link from the exchange to the rest of the world is a tad tight, so things often get slow, and it won't get any better until BT put some new wet string in between here and Reading. Something tells me that might not be any day now.