What ADSL ISP is good currently...
28 October 2006, 07:04 PM
#1
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What ADSL ISP is good currently...
I have finally had enough of Plusnet along with many other of thier customers by the looks of it.
First they tell me my adslmax upgrade has taken place but it appears my line can not download quicker than 2mb which I believe is bullsh!t as my router is sync'd at 4mb and the maxadsl upgrade never showed any disconnections or issues during the alleged 10 day period. Then their p2p speeds have gone from average to dial up speeds during day time hours and only increase over night. Their forums are filled with other customers complaining of the same thing.
I want my MAC code but before I do I need to find another ISP who is good. I currently pay £21.99 for what is supposed to be an unlimited service but it isn't but I still get by a month without hitting any penalty fees. I'd be satisified with say a 50gb (i've never used that much ever but I don't want to have to worry about how close I am to a lower limit) peak time limit per month and unlimited off peak.
I want good p2p speeds such as bit torrent for downloading tv shows etc, decent customer support if there is such a thing and I want a high as possible limit for similar money to what I am currently paying.
Is there such an ISP?
Considering going back to Pipex as they say they do an 'unlimited download" package for £24.99 a month. I only left them as they took too long to upgrade me from 512kb to 2mb and I was p!ssed off with paying the same as all their new customers for a quarter of the line speed. Anyone confirm if they are telling porkies like many of the other isp's about their "unlimited" service?
First they tell me my adslmax upgrade has taken place but it appears my line can not download quicker than 2mb which I believe is bullsh!t as my router is sync'd at 4mb and the maxadsl upgrade never showed any disconnections or issues during the alleged 10 day period. Then their p2p speeds have gone from average to dial up speeds during day time hours and only increase over night. Their forums are filled with other customers complaining of the same thing.
I want my MAC code but before I do I need to find another ISP who is good. I currently pay £21.99 for what is supposed to be an unlimited service but it isn't but I still get by a month without hitting any penalty fees. I'd be satisified with say a 50gb (i've never used that much ever but I don't want to have to worry about how close I am to a lower limit) peak time limit per month and unlimited off peak.
I want good p2p speeds such as bit torrent for downloading tv shows etc, decent customer support if there is such a thing and I want a high as possible limit for similar money to what I am currently paying.
Is there such an ISP?
Considering going back to Pipex as they say they do an 'unlimited download" package for £24.99 a month. I only left them as they took too long to upgrade me from 512kb to 2mb and I was p!ssed off with paying the same as all their new customers for a quarter of the line speed. Anyone confirm if they are telling porkies like many of the other isp's about their "unlimited" service?
Last edited by Bravo2zero_sps; 28 October 2006 at 07:16 PM.
28 October 2006, 08:04 PM
#2
Newnet, IDNet, Aquiss are all pretty decent.
I'm in the same boat as you, and in the process of migrating to newnet, as the price is the same as gaynet for a 60GB/mnth usage (not a cap) with absolutely no traffic shaping/throttling on any protocol. If you do stray over, then you can pay for the extra used, which is a much better business plan. NNet is a no frills service, so no webspace or usenet, but you can always buy these later if you need to from other suppliers.
Read up on ADSL Guide and ISP Review
I would stay well clear of Pipex, alot better packages out there imo.
I'm in the same boat as you, and in the process of migrating to newnet, as the price is the same as gaynet for a 60GB/mnth usage (not a cap) with absolutely no traffic shaping/throttling on any protocol. If you do stray over, then you can pay for the extra used, which is a much better business plan. NNet is a no frills service, so no webspace or usenet, but you can always buy these later if you need to from other suppliers.
Read up on ADSL Guide and ISP Review
I would stay well clear of Pipex, alot better packages out there imo.
29 October 2006, 03:58 PM
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hay bravo, I'm in the exact same scenario as you they never told me that my line was capable of running up to 3meg, like you i'm on the top package and should have been getting 2meg only found out because i've been having problems, surprise surprise it's not their fault, but the exchanges
like you i download tv torrents and other stuff, and also getting dial up speeds
like you i download tv torrents and other stuff, and also getting dial up speeds
29 October 2006, 04:47 PM
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I use Eclipse and they seem to be very good. Their customer service actually respond to your emails and calls !!!!!
Eclipse Internet - Welcome - use the referral code GARYCAT if you sign up
Eclipse Internet - Welcome - use the referral code GARYCAT if you sign up
29 October 2006, 05:55 PM
#5
we resell tons of these guys
http://www.nildram.net
have it in our office and home and they are pretty consistent.
adsl guide ranks them in the top 3 so not bad.
http://www.nildram.net
have it in our office and home and they are pretty consistent.
adsl guide ranks them in the top 3 so not bad.
29 October 2006, 05:58 PM
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nildram have just been taken over by pipex who traffic shape big time, so downloads from p2p and the like would be slow. Zen don't traffic shape but can't accomodate your useage requirements
29 October 2006, 06:07 PM
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Originally Posted by mike1210
nildram have just been taken over by pipex who traffic shape big time, so downloads from p2p and the like would be slow. Zen don't traffic shape but can't accomodate your useage requirements
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29 October 2006, 06:27 PM
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Originally Posted by SwissTony
he could be talking boolocks of course
that thread would suggest a pork pie or two
29 October 2006, 09:06 PM
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Hi Steve, I wish i'd gone to Zen a couple of years ago when they were unlimited but now they have put all their caps on for new customers its no longer an attractive service at such a high cost. For that price i'd be tempted to get cable which would give me TV and much higher download speeds. In fact I think I will look at what cable offers and find out if they throttle or traffic shape, the cable service to my house is Blueyonder and have avoided them since moving here.
29 October 2006, 09:50 PM
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any LLU's in your area?
The Broadband Resource
im with Zen also on Max who are ace, i can get 830k off peak but they aint cheap and the 50GB limit is strictly enforced unless you buy extra
The Broadband Resource
im with Zen also on Max who are ace, i can get 830k off peak but they aint cheap and the 50GB limit is strictly enforced unless you buy extra
29 October 2006, 09:52 PM
#13
Originally Posted by **************
Thats the problem, they all claim they have no traffic shaping but then you find out on forums from current customers that this is in fact boll0x.
Newnet look interesting but not convinced 100% on any alternatives as of yet.
Newnet look interesting but not convinced 100% on any alternatives as of yet.
Only 1mnth contract requirement to, so if they do go bellyup (unlikely) its not hard to move on.
29 October 2006, 10:00 PM
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Easynet and Bulldog at my exchange for LLU. But this still wont be any good will it if BT reckon my line is cr4p? If BT are only giving me 2.5mb for adsl saying line quality is too poor for anything greater then LLU wont get much better but costs lots?
Telewests Blueyonder is £35 for 10mb which is looking tempting, its only £13 more a month for 4-5 times the speed of what I have now and allegedly no limits or traffic shaping.
Telewests Blueyonder is £35 for 10mb which is looking tempting, its only £13 more a month for 4-5 times the speed of what I have now and allegedly no limits or traffic shaping.
29 October 2006, 10:07 PM
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Thanks Bioforger, they look the best so far for adsl but i'm still bouncing a ticket back and forth with Plusnet about my connection speed. First they tell me BT haven't put a restriction on my line so then I ask thats good so with maxdsl being adaptive that means my speed could go up and improve over time and then they come back and say no because BT has set my maximum line speed at 2.5mb. Hang on you just said its not limited so what is it!? Still waiting for a reply on that one.
I'm pee'd off that my line wont do any better than 310kb/s on maxdsl when I live in a big town such as Maidstone and a mile from the exchange. My parents live in a village in deepest darkest East Sussex and they can get 6.5mb adsl ffs, what are BT playing at?
I'm pee'd off that my line wont do any better than 310kb/s on maxdsl when I live in a big town such as Maidstone and a mile from the exchange. My parents live in a village in deepest darkest East Sussex and they can get 6.5mb adsl ffs, what are BT playing at?
29 October 2006, 10:08 PM
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aye I suppose, out of interest what are your line stats? if your are only syncing at 4 then you must be be quite far from the exchange
have you tried that test Zen Support Knowledge Base v1.0
ADSL Nation On-Line Shop
that may help a little
i think LLU's are not that expensive but for ping and the like i'd imagine telewest would be king, also what do you get pinging the bbc response time wise
have you tried that test Zen Support Knowledge Base v1.0
ADSL Nation On-Line Shop
that may help a little
i think LLU's are not that expensive but for ping and the like i'd imagine telewest would be king, also what do you get pinging the bbc response time wise
Last edited by mike1210; 29 October 2006 at 10:11 PM.
29 October 2006, 10:20 PM
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Ping times to bbc are anything from 37ms to 164ms. I'm only 1 mile from the exchange as the crow flies although I know the line doesn't go straight there but even if you say a max of 2 miles it shouldn't be limited to 2.5mb.
Line stats are snr of 14db and downstream attenuation of 46db and now sync'd at 3264kbps although this was 6500kbps earlier today. Maximum continuous download speed I have seen has been 310kb/s which was last night after opeing another call with Plusnet. They did something as previous to the call it was 260kb/s but they wont tell me what they did!
With this issue having been ongoing for ages with Plusnet i'm now seriously considering giving up on adsl and going to cable, I just loathe cable companies due to their persistent hard sell tactics all the time.
Line stats are snr of 14db and downstream attenuation of 46db and now sync'd at 3264kbps although this was 6500kbps earlier today. Maximum continuous download speed I have seen has been 310kb/s which was last night after opeing another call with Plusnet. They did something as previous to the call it was 260kb/s but they wont tell me what they did!
With this issue having been ongoing for ages with Plusnet i'm now seriously considering giving up on adsl and going to cable, I just loathe cable companies due to their persistent hard sell tactics all the time.
29 October 2006, 10:31 PM
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Originally Posted by **************
Ping times to bbc are anything from 37ms to 164ms. I'm only 1 mile from the exchange as the crow flies although I know the line doesn't go straight there but even if you say a max of 2 miles it shouldn't be limited to 2.5mb.
Originally Posted by **************
Line stats are snr of 14db and downstream attenuation of 46db and now sync'd at 3264kbps although this was 6500kbps earlier today. Maximum continuous download speed I have seen has been 310kb/s which was last night after opeing another call with Plusnet. They did something as previous to the call it was 260kb/s but they wont tell me what they did!
just when you thought it couldnt get any worse
Overclockers UK Forums - NTL admitted to Traffic Shaping
sorry
you could try another 1 month contract ISP but to be honest cable may be your best bet
29 October 2006, 10:33 PM
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Originally Posted by SwissTony
they were taken over by pipex a while back, and so far it hasent made any difference....had a chat to one of their tech directors a few weeks back and they dont use the traffic shaping model at all...he could be talking boolocks of course
I've just moved to Aquiss from Nildram, looks good so far.
29 October 2006, 10:58 PM
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if you do decide to go the cable route, ask people near you
a) if they use it and if so
b) what it's like in your area, it can vary from place to place or so i hear
a) if they use it and if so
b) what it's like in your area, it can vary from place to place or so i hear
29 October 2006, 11:02 PM
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Yep my router gets left on 24/7. The attenuation has dropped to as low as 42db from 60db (when BT then had to change my physical line to the exchange) but has over the course of this year crept up to 45/46db.
I thought the sync speed had been improved as it connected at 6.5mb but it only stayed like that for about 3 hours and then disconnected and reconnected at the 3264kbps so doesn't seem to be able to hold that high sync speed.
I didn't even know NTL owned Telewest! I thought they were in competition, not one and the same
I thought the sync speed had been improved as it connected at 6.5mb but it only stayed like that for about 3 hours and then disconnected and reconnected at the 3264kbps so doesn't seem to be able to hold that high sync speed.
I didn't even know NTL owned Telewest! I thought they were in competition, not one and the same
30 October 2006, 10:26 AM
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The line probably wasnt changed physically, they just use a different pair in the green boxes that you see so it takes a different route which could be shorter or longer.
If your router synced earlier at over 6000kbps and has now dropped, it sounds as though they are re training your line. As for the fluctuation in speed when you say it jumped to 310kb/s when it was 260, the problem with max is that it is not a stable rate. It depends on other peoples usage (slightly different to contention ratio but same sort of principal)
When you are on a 2mb svs, your line is fixed at that, max is variable.
try DSL ZoneUK - broadband for everyone for some help and info, you could check all of the internal cabling etc.
Fwiw I am about 1 mile away from my exchange as the crow flies, I have downstream attuention of 44 and I sync at approx 5700 kbps, snr with me is something like 10 but can drop down to 4 depending on time of day. I do use a thompson speedtouch 585 v6 and there is a program that allows you to tweak the snr on that which can improve speeds.
If your router synced earlier at over 6000kbps and has now dropped, it sounds as though they are re training your line. As for the fluctuation in speed when you say it jumped to 310kb/s when it was 260, the problem with max is that it is not a stable rate. It depends on other peoples usage (slightly different to contention ratio but same sort of principal)
When you are on a 2mb svs, your line is fixed at that, max is variable.
try DSL ZoneUK - broadband for everyone for some help and info, you could check all of the internal cabling etc.
Fwiw I am about 1 mile away from my exchange as the crow flies, I have downstream attuention of 44 and I sync at approx 5700 kbps, snr with me is something like 10 but can drop down to 4 depending on time of day. I do use a thompson speedtouch 585 v6 and there is a program that allows you to tweak the snr on that which can improve speeds.
30 October 2006, 10:31 AM
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Originally Posted by DemonDave
How \ Why did you get BT to change the physical line ?? - interested as my line is carp !
The plastic covering breaks up over the years then you get corrosion on the copper, this is your biggest problem, plus most lines have been in service for more than 10 years, also another problem (because of the above) so to resolve an issue they can replace the line but only if the quality has dropped below the threshold.
Tony
30 October 2006, 10:32 AM
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Originally Posted by jaytc2003
When you are on a 2mb svs, your line is fixed at that, max is variable.
Tony
30 October 2006, 10:40 AM
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Originally Posted by TonyBurns
All broadband is variable depending on useage, you only have so much bandwidth to play with
Tony
Tony
30 October 2006, 10:58 AM
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Originally Posted by jaytc2003
I do use a thompson speedtouch 585 v6 and there is a program that allows you to tweak the snr on that which can improve speeds.
30 October 2006, 12:01 PM
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30 October 2006, 12:35 PM
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Originally Posted by mike1210
heard they are great at holding unstable lines
30 October 2006, 02:07 PM
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When I say my line was changed I mean everything was changed. The line from my house to the junction box was changed as there were 3 lines to my houe. Then when that didn't work they changed my connection from the junction box to the exchange to a different set of cables, not just the wires in a the same big bundle of wires but changed me to set of wires in a different big bundle of wires (don't know the correct terminology lol), like changing me to a seperate pipeline if you like.
The reason this was done was because BT refused to accept there was a fault at the exchange and had to be wiring. My line would be fine for a few weeks and then all of a sudden refuse to stay connected. It took 6+ months of BT engineers coming out before they accepted the problem was at the exchange. Once they sorted the exchange my snr improved, my attenuation dropped and I have suffered no more disconnections since. However during that 6 months they tried to fob me off saying I couldn't get 2mb broadband even though the problem had existed on 512kb, 1mb and 2mb connections. They restricted me to 1mb and never took it off until my recent maxdsl upgrade. even though they finally admitted it was the exchange.
However my maxdls upgrade only put me back to the 2mb I was originally on to start with and not anything higher. I was upgraded to maxdsl weeks and weeks ago but only now since Saturday night has my throughput speed increased and this is because Plusnet finally did something Saturday night but wont tell me what.
I am now hoping that my sync speed will settle somewhere between the 6.5mb and the 2.5mb sync speeds it has been fluctuating between since the weekend. Its like my maxdsl upgrade has only just happened and not when they said it did nearly 2 months ago
I will wait for the next 10 days now and see if it settles as previously it was sync'ing around 1950kbps and now i've seen 2500, 3300, 4500 and 6500 sync speeds since Saturday night.
Still doesn't change the fact Plusnet have killed their p2p downloads during daytime hours and their forums are full of fuming customers saying their traffic shaping has killed off the service, which I totally agree with. They are bloody useless.
Tony thank you for your pm reply, I will get back to you later in more detail but the above basically describes what happened last year/beginning of this year.
The reason this was done was because BT refused to accept there was a fault at the exchange and had to be wiring. My line would be fine for a few weeks and then all of a sudden refuse to stay connected. It took 6+ months of BT engineers coming out before they accepted the problem was at the exchange. Once they sorted the exchange my snr improved, my attenuation dropped and I have suffered no more disconnections since. However during that 6 months they tried to fob me off saying I couldn't get 2mb broadband even though the problem had existed on 512kb, 1mb and 2mb connections. They restricted me to 1mb and never took it off until my recent maxdsl upgrade. even though they finally admitted it was the exchange.
However my maxdls upgrade only put me back to the 2mb I was originally on to start with and not anything higher. I was upgraded to maxdsl weeks and weeks ago but only now since Saturday night has my throughput speed increased and this is because Plusnet finally did something Saturday night but wont tell me what.
I am now hoping that my sync speed will settle somewhere between the 6.5mb and the 2.5mb sync speeds it has been fluctuating between since the weekend. Its like my maxdsl upgrade has only just happened and not when they said it did nearly 2 months ago
I will wait for the next 10 days now and see if it settles as previously it was sync'ing around 1950kbps and now i've seen 2500, 3300, 4500 and 6500 sync speeds since Saturday night.
Still doesn't change the fact Plusnet have killed their p2p downloads during daytime hours and their forums are full of fuming customers saying their traffic shaping has killed off the service, which I totally agree with. They are bloody useless.
Tony thank you for your pm reply, I will get back to you later in more detail but the above basically describes what happened last year/beginning of this year.