hey,

I recently tried getting NTL/virgin cable installed in my apartment
but the engineer came out to find out that its not available in my
building.

That was 3months ago...

Ive since been trying to find the best deal with ADSL. I don't have a
line hooked up (but its there, used to be connected with BT), and it
looks like I'm goin to have to pay roughly £11 p/m line rental +
broadband.

Are there any services that offer broadband and a phone service
without using BT for line rental? Or something affordable? I was
considering Skys offer of £26 a month for 6packages and free
broadband, which would come to £37 a month? Although I have heard bad
reviews about sky. I need broadband thats going to be half decent,
the Sky offer seems logical since I'd probably end up paying around
the same price for line rental+ a different broadband service.


Any advise would be great, I don't want to end up in a contract with
unreliable broadband.

thanks in advance...

"scotty" <scottmg@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1190896378.234277.199870@57g2000hsv.googlegro ups.com...
hey,

I recently tried getting NTL/virgin cable installed in my apartment
but the engineer came out to find out that its not available in my
building.

That was 3months ago...

Ive since been trying to find the best deal with ADSL. I don't have a
line hooked up (but its there, used to be connected with BT), and it
looks like I'm goin to have to pay roughly £11 p/m line rental +
broadband.

Are there any services that offer broadband and a phone service
without using BT for line rental? Or something affordable? I was
considering Skys offer of £26 a month for 6packages and free
broadband, which would come to £37 a month? Although I have heard bad
reviews about sky. I need broadband thats going to be half decent,
the Sky offer seems logical since I'd probably end up paying around
the same price for line rental+ a different broadband service.


Any advise would be great, I don't want to end up in a contract with
unreliable broadband.

thanks in advance...

In short, no.
You either need cable from Virgin or a BT phone line.
Seeing as you can't get cable, you'll need a BT line to get connected.
For ISPs, have a look at comparisons on www.thinkbroadband.com

George

Unfortunately google is the only outside site I can access in work so
I can't check that site out.

Does anyone know of any bundles BT offer inc broadband? I live across
the road from the exchange so im assuming BT might be the better
choice. If not, sky might be my better choice (tv and broadband for
same price). Do sky use the same exchange? I mean, would I notice a
difference in the connections(bt vs sky)?


Thanks again.

scotty wrote:
You still need a phone line regardless of who supplies it. BT is best
because it gives you the choice of ISPs and you get 24/7/365 fault
reporting. Being tied to Sky means that it limites your future options and
ties you to a long contract. If you rally want the Sky TV packages then it
may be worth while going for thier incluive deal.


Peter Crosland

g6jns@yahoo.co.uk

"scotty" <scottmg@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1190896378.234277.199870@57g2000hsv.googlegro ups.com...
hey,

I recently tried getting NTL/virgin cable installed in my apartment
but the engineer came out to find out that its not available in my
building.

That was 3months ago...

Ive since been trying to find the best deal with ADSL. I don't have a
line hooked up (but its there, used to be connected with BT), and it
looks like I'm goin to have to pay roughly £11 p/m line rental +
broadband.

Are there any services that offer broadband and a phone service
without using BT for line rental? Or something affordable? I was
considering Skys offer of £26 a month for 6packages and free
broadband, which would come to £37 a month? Although I have heard bad
reviews about sky. I need broadband thats going to be half decent,
the Sky offer seems logical since I'd probably end up paying around
the same price for line rental+ a different broadband service.


Any advise would be great, I don't want to end up in a contract with
unreliable broadband.

thanks in advance...


If you can get BE Broadband.
You cud have...

Up to 8 meg download speed
Up to 1.3 meg upload speed
Unlimited usage
Free wireless Be Box modem
£14 a month.

That'll be around £25 with BT phone, and for cheap phone calls you cud
use www.18185.co.uk
For TV you get Freeview.

Last time I checked BE wasnt available over here (Belfast), and I
can't check right now cos of work filters. See all Im really looking
for is broadband, I have freeview and a decent mobile fone contract,
Sky just seems like a good deal since I'd be paying around the same
price anyway but I'll have a hunt for cheap ISPs. Can anyone recommend
any that they know is available in Belfast?

cheers

"scotty" <scottmg@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1190904423.887908.128860@k79g2000hse.googlegr oups.com...

Last time I checked BE wasnt available over here (Belfast), and I
can't check right now cos of work filters. See all Im really looking
for is broadband, I have freeview and a decent mobile fone contract,
Sky just seems like a good deal since I'd be paying around the same
price anyway but I'll have a hunt for cheap ISPs. Can anyone recommend
any that they know is available in Belfast?

From looking, it looks like it's a choice between Sky and Talk Talk.
Sky bein the better option.

scotty wrote:

The simplest advice is to avoid the large ISPs. Most are rubbish. Some are
dreadful.

Good ISPs won't impose 12 or 18 month contracts which keep you captive and will
have 1 month contracts.

Also check here ....
http://www.thinkbroadband.com/isp/compare.html

using Idnet as the benchmark. Idnet aren't even that expensive btw despite their
excellent showing.

Graham

scotty wrote:

What ?

Don't bother. BT (the ISP)'s broadband isn't very good. You'll get better
performance from AN Other ISP over the very same BT wires (and exchange
equipment).

Sounds confusing. It is. You see BT the ISP isn't the same bunch as BT the phone
operator.

Graham

scotty wrote:

It would help if you were to specify what level of speed and download allowance
you're likely to be looking for.

Is it just for occasional browsing and email or do you plan to spend lots of
time on youtube, downloading films or watching / listening to streaming media ?
Thses things make a big difference. If all you need is a really basic 'starter'
pacakge you can get broadband for about £10 over your BT connection (usually
plus a further one-off 'activation' charge). Interesting note .... Plusnet pays
the activation charge for you *if* you stay with them for 12 months..
http://www.plus.net/residential/broa...=home_bbyw_ban

Since you're new to this DO NOT go for a long contract. Don't even be tempted.

Graham

Gonz wrote:

Talk Talk is hardly an option ANYONE would want.

Graham

"scotty" <scottmg@gmail.com> wrote :
Sky broadband is a good choice if a) your phoneline is via BT and you're
already paying them 11/mo line rental b) your local BT exchange is Sky
LLU'ed and c) you are prepared to be a Sky TV subscriber (e.g. by
satellite). If all these apply then you can have 2 Mb/s Sky broadband for
no extra cost. Or £5/mo for 8 Mb/s etc...

Andrew

BTW 'advise' is the verb, e.g. as in 'to advise', I think what you're
looking for is 'advice'. Anyway, good luck.

scotty wrote:
Hi there,

It would depends on the current state of your line and your usage
requirements, but we offer an ADSL + line rental package from £20.99pcm

http://www.plus.net/residential/bundles.shtml

Assuming there's no ADSL on the line then you'd have to consider the
deferred £40 activation fee, but that aside our contracts are monthly.

Kind Rgds,

--
|Bob Pullen Broadband Solutions for
|Support Home & Business @
|PlusNet plc. www.plus.net
+------ PlusNet - The smarter way to Internet! ------

PlusNet Support Team wrote:

That doesn't actually seem to offer any added value over paying BT for the line
(with free Option 1 for free evening and weekend calls ) and paying you guys
£9.99 for the entry level broadband. Actually, you're 50p more expensive.


Is there a minimum contract period on that ?

Can you get through to support on the phone these days ?

Graham

On Thu, 27 Sep 2007 23:52:45 UTC, PlusNet Support Team
<support@plus.net> wrote:

Yes, but that's PlusNet. Fine if you don't mind the rules being changed
constantly.

--
[ 7'ism - a condition by which the sufferer experiences an inability
to give concise answers, express reasoned argument or opinion.
Usually accompanied by silly noises and gestures - incurable, early
euthanasia recommended. ]

Bob Eager wrote:

Old grudges die hard !

I was there too.

Graham

"Eeyore" <rabbitsfriendsandrelations@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:46FCCF6B.4928C6B9@hotmail.com...
I'm still there myself - but I made sure I stayed on the legacy
"pay-as-you-go" (unthrottled) tariff when they brought in their latest
tariff packages for new users, all of which are throttled in one way or
another.
I must say though that service quality seems to be a lot better lately,
apart from a series of niggling email glitches - which are invariably caused
by staff making "improvements" and then cocking things up!

George

On 27 Sep, 19:17, Eeyore <rabbitsfriendsandrelati...@hotmail.com>
wrote:

My work only provides access to the sites we need, with the exception
of google.

My requirements would be around 30gig download limit, and I don't
expect any more than 2mb through ADSL, I don't know anyone in Belfast
who gets more than 2mb even tho the package may state 4/8mb but I
believe Ofcom are looking into this in the UK in general.

If i were to get Sky, Id be paying line rental+Package+BB upgrade (£11+
£26+£5=£42), The TV isnt necessary. A more ideal solution would bea
BB package around £20 or less

Again, any adviCe would be great.

scott

scotty wrote:

You're sure ? Is it a complete guess or are you confident of that ?

That would make you a distinctly 'heavy user'. Entry level packages will be no use to
you.

Graham

"Eeyore" <rabbitsfriendsandrelations@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:46FCE3C6.D822472C@hotmail.com...
Absolutely.
I usually manage to stay within my paid-for 2 Gig per month.
My broadband is on from about 9 am to midnight every day, used for surfing,
email, usenet and occasional music downloads.
I'm probably your "average user"?
The OP would appear to be needing to do very long and frequent downloads -
movies, etc.? to clock up 30 Gig every month.
Having had a look round, I'd say his best bet would perhaps be IDnet's Home
Max ("power user") package, which gives 30 Gig per month for £29.99 with a
one month contract.

George