Hi all,

I've decided it's time to leave AOL 1mb broadband as I get bumped off the net for some unsolved reason most evenings. So now I'm looking at a new ISP.

I use the net mainly for surfing car sites, forums, ebay etc, do a bit of you-tubing etc, just the usual stuff. I don't download films or music, just lots of video clips (watch them online) and the odd podcast. I'd guess at around 40hours surfing a week on average.

I'm fancying a new ISP with a wireless router so I can also use a laptop around the house as well as the main pc. Speedwise, I'm guessing 2mb up is what I need? I also want a helpline where I speak to people based in the UK ideally or at least someone I can understand (no offence meant, but I find it tricky understanding some nationalities and I prefer companies keeping staff on wages in the UK). Finally, what on earth download limit do I need, if any..?

I'm looking at Orange Broadband Plus, Tiscali, Virgin and BT at the moment.

Can anyone recommend an ISP to me..? Please help..!!

Cheers,
Nige.

 

first things first, a new ISP wont change this if the problem is internal wiring, dodgy filter, bad line etc. Do you know far you are from the exchange? are you sure everything is ok internally? how do you currently connect to the net?

edited to add how much do you want to spend per month?

and what is available at your exchange? plug in phone number in site below

The Broadband Resource

 

Mike,

Thanks for taking the time to reply..!

I've done the check on the site you gave and I'm afraid the results went straight over my head..!! I'm about a mile from the exchange looking at the maps that arre on the site you linked to.
Not sure what they all mean, but...

The Broadband Resource

The connection works just fine in the daytime (with the very rare exception now and again) and most of the time up to around 6/7pm, then it keeps kicking me off with the modem icon flashing red and telling me that a network cable is unplugged.

Doesn't happen EVERY evening at an exact time, just at random times throughout the evening. It got to the point where I rarely bother trying to get on in the nights. Seemed to have sorted itself out by around 2am most of the time..lol! Hence, I believe it's AOL pulling the plug on me. It first started after I downloaded a film from Limewire. PC's been totally wiped since then, so no nasty software on it.

I'm willing to spend up to around £20 per month, but maybe a few quid more for something with other benefits as well as broadband.

Thanks again for any advice.
Nige.

 

You could be going onto your ISP's equipment in the exchange, im on BT total BB atm, free upgrade at 6gb per month (more than enough for online gaming etc) though if you do lots of downloading you may want to up your allocation

Tony

 

Id look somewhere else to be honest, for the stuff you use it for id check out this At Home

Maybe change the router first before trying a new ISP, see if the modem is at fault but to be honest id leave AOL anyways ASAFP.

hopefully when you cancel you wont have the same problems this guy did The Nightmare of Cancelling AOL - BREAK.com

 

tiscali cheap as chips does the job

 

I went wireless last night for the 1st time, with Orange 2meg, 17.99 a month, did'nt have to pay for the Livebox thing, gotta say its working well, easy to set up.

Kinda strange sitting on the sofa surfing ebay with no wires connected!

 

i dont think its anything to do with aol, more like your pc/modem setup. Get a router instead.

 

Please excuse my stupidity, but what's the difference between a router and a modem..?

Ta.

 

The router can store your login details, MTU setting, shares the connection, filter users, etc etc.

So if you had aol you don't need to install any of their software, you just go to setup on the router and enter the details from the aol website as required.

You then have an always on system that is firewalled, shared and is software independant.

 

Broadbandbuyer.co.uk | Wireless ADSL Router

 

The problem with AOL, is the crappy modem they give you.

You have to unplug the USB connector and restart it quite alot.

I got sick of it + I needed a new modem that I could use with xp-64, so bought a linksys wireless g Modem router. It is connected 24/7 and never had a problem with it (other than setting up to get onto microcrap pages)

 

Have a look at ADSL guide for info on the various providers and you can compare different companies strengths and weaknesses on there as well.
On here you'll get loads of different "advise" and will be no further forward.

I still rate Plusnet, as did everyone else last year... now though you'll get a different story for some reason.


Andy