Broadband Internet & ISP Recommendations?

Consider yourselves lucky!

Of course I do not actually get that download speed, actual download speed is more like 150kb/s...on a good day.

I keep getting these offers from Virgin that they installed fibre optics in my street and I should get it now etc.
when I go on their website and enter my address it says I am not in a cable area.
they are a bit confused

Just been upgraded to the 100Mb Virgin service...

This is over wifi from one room up and one room across:

:)

Same computer:

I <3 Virgin Media

Soul any issues with Virgin's broadband, I am about to bite the broadband bullet once more and have the option of Virgin Media 100mb or BT Infinity 76mb, which actually works out at about 50mb d/l. Don't actually want Virgin's phoneline, but its part of the package. Price difference is nominal a couple of quid, when the phone line is incorporated...

Leaning towards BT, but could be swayed t'other way..

I've had no issues whatsoever so far but I know other people who have. If you have the choice of both, you may be better going with the BT line just to be on the safe side...

BT for karma + better. Virgin are fucking shit, at least in my flat

Okay, have bitten the bullet and plumped for BT, should be coming to install on the 22nd.
Be were just doing my head in, router kept disconnecting/falling over, and my download speed was a microscopically (in the grand scheme of things) slow 7mb.

so fingers crossed, BT gives me the speed and reliability I've been looking for, I'll probably get it be amazed by how fast it is for the first week, and then be back bitching once I'm used to it..

just had BT round.

Broadband wired is now 40mbps, wireless 33mbps.
which is better than the 7mbps, I was getting previously with Be.
Feels faster on the laptop, but that is all whizz bang already..

Fairly happy at this point in time..

Cheapest basic broadband at the mo? It's for my folks, line's already in place so that's not needed.

just had BT round.

Broadband wired is now 40mbps, wireless 33mbps.
which is better than the 7mbps, I was getting previously with Be.
Feels faster on the laptop, but that is all whizz bang already..

Fairly happy at this point in time..

How's this working for you? Any probs. thinking about signing up for it. They reckon 60mbps to my spot.

its fine,

think they do a lot of traffic shaping, as when downloading stuff, at certain times it'll run slowly, then others like an express train.

Other than that its peachy, websites load up quick, and it hasn't fallen over yet...

Cool. I noticed some notes about restrictions on their site. This must be the traffic control. Guessing its not that significant- any particular time or activity?
Thanks

Anyone else had any dealings with 02?
I went with them because they were the only provider that could offer me a rolling contract service in my area. I was informed that there would be a one off £30 connection fee which I agreed to. They also told me that if I needed a new line theyd let me know. The BT line in my flat was previously used with SKY broadband but was disconnected when the last tennant moved out so I was told it would just be reconnected. Now Ive been send my first bill and its £140!!! Apparently some work needed doing to the line and they billed me for it, I asked them if they thought that was fair and they said they'd notified me in an email!!! How the hell am I supposed to read it with no internet. Really hacked off to say the least.
Do I have any right to refuse to pay the connection charges? I realise that I agreed in principle to pay them when I initially signed up for the service but I was under the impression that I would be given more notice than a vaguely worded email that I couldn't even access.

Just thought i'd bump this, bloody BT broadband is pathetically slow and if i complain its the usual "unplug the router" and bore me to death routine. I get just over a 1mb download and .77mb upload. Any recommendations?

Move, upgrade to Infinity, or change your provider (to one that doesn't use BT)

Some places just don't have fast speeds, if they are far from the exchange, and there is very little you can do about it.

Can you get cable? Then consider Virgin.

Moving again next month. Sky fibre or BT infinty?

I download and stream a fair bit.

bt infinity has been good to me, only problem is they do shape traffic, so sometimes when you feel you should be getting superfast download speeds it isn't as quick as you want. But you can tweak your torrent app of choice (vuze for me) to be slightly more invisible..

Overall impressed with the speed and consistentcy of the BT service, have no complaints really, it does what it says on the tin..

finally!!

just got plus.net at my new place, its a fiber optic connection costs £9.99 for 6 months then £19.99 a month excluding line rental, unlimited download. The installation charge is £30 but I got a cashback from quidco for £35, the installation time was pretty quick, got an appointment withing a week, the engineer arrived on time did his work in around 15 mins and I got internet. I would defiantly recommend it.

I had virgin before moving into the new place, I had no issues with that either, if I could I'd have taken the connection with me but virgin didnt have the cable coverage here. The way plus.net works is a bit diff to virgin:

This is my current speed:

and the cost for 2 years works out to be £30 a month including line rental. I am pretty happy with the cost and the performance. I don't own a TV so there was no point going for the 'package' schemes with sky, virgin etc.

Sky has bought BE Broadband

Fuxxake. I sacked Sky in protest that they sold on my details to 3rd parties. And Murdoch.

Yep, will also have to swap.

Anyone else had any dealings with 02?
I went with them because they were the only provider that could offer me a rolling contract service in my area. I was informed that there would be a one off £30 connection fee which I agreed to. They also told me that if I needed a new line theyd let me know. The BT line in my flat was previously used with SKY broadband but was disconnected when the last tennant moved out so I was told it would just be reconnected. Now Ive been send my first bill and its £140!!! Apparently some work needed doing to the line and they billed me for it, I asked them if they thought that was fair and they said they'd notified me in an email!!! How the hell am I supposed to read it with no internet. Really hacked off to say the least.
Do I have any right to refuse to pay the connection charges? I realise that I agreed in principle to pay them when I initially signed up for the service but I was under the impression that I would be given more notice than a vaguely worded email that I couldn't even access.

Bit late on this one but this is something called Excess or Time Related Charges. The ISP has a legal requirement to get confirmation from the customer that the customer is willing to accept the excess charges; if they don't do this, they can't proceed with the order. Therefore, since they've not actually received your confirmation (just sending an email isn't enough - they need an active confirmation), they're scamming you. I would threaten them with ofcom.

Sky has bought BE Broadband

Fuxxake. I sacked Sky in protest that they sold on my details to 3rd parties. And Murdoch.

Yep, will also have to swap.

+1 - I was already fucked off this week by British Cycling spamming their members with a half-price Sky subscription offer. Honestly, just fuck off. (sorry to the OG forumenger who works for them - nothing personal)

Just came to ask about that. I've been with Be for about eight years. I've no intention of giving Murdoch any money.

Without reading the whole thread - who should I be swapping to? BT / virgin, or are there any companies who just deal in broadband provision and good customer service (i.e. is there a like for like replacement for Be)?

^ me too. Be have been simply brilliant over the years.

What I'm not clear about is if Be is going to be swallowed by sky, or will they continue independently like they did under O2? Former is a deal breaker, later could still work...