- Newbie: alternatives to BT
- Posted by bruce phipps on January 5th, 2005
Broadband newbie looking to buy my first broadband package...
I have a BT telephone line and a IBM Thinkpad 600X laptop.
Currently I am looking at BT Broadband 512k/15 GB per month -- £25 per
month.
Modem supplied and signing-up and connection should be no hassle as
far as I can tell. But the price seems expensive.
Any cheaper packages out there?
How much do b/band modems cost?
Thanks
Bruce
- Posted by ABC on January 5th, 2005
"bruce phipps" <bruce_phipps@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:27351d26.0501050644.53eae147@posting.google.c om...
Check on http://www.adslguide.org.uk You can compare the features/costs of
different providers.
S
- Posted by Brian on January 5th, 2005
Have a look at adslguide web site.
Regards Bri@n
"bruce phipps" <bruce_phipps@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:27351d26.0501050644.53eae147@posting.google.c om...
Broadband newbie looking to buy my first broadband package...
I have a BT telephone line and a IBM Thinkpad 600X laptop.
Currently I am looking at BT Broadband 512k/15 GB per month -- £25 per
month.
Modem supplied and signing-up and connection should be no hassle as
far as I can tell. But the price seems expensive.
Any cheaper packages out there?
How much do b/band modems cost?
Thanks
Bruce
- Posted by Colin Wilson on January 5th, 2005
Depending on the type of modem bundled with a package, some laptops may
have problems providing sufficient power to the USB port for them to
work. This is anecdotal, not first hand knowledge :-}
Amongst others, i`m on the £23.44 package with Pipex, 512k, no limits, no
restrictions. Very happy with the service at this price personally.
About £19+VAT at ebuyer for a wired adsl modem/router, but as you`re on a
laptop, you might want to look for a wifi connection to save dangling
wires...
--
Please add "[newsgroup]" in the subject of any personal replies via email
--- My new email address has "ngspamtrap" & @btinternet.com in it ;-) ---
- Posted by bruce_phipps@my-deja.com on January 6th, 2005
I'm thinking about a Wanadoo 1MB connection.
A BT search on my phone number indicates that I can get 512k and *may*
get 1 MB.
Whats the best procedure? Get BT to do all the work assessing my line,
then jump ship to Wanadoo?
Bruce
- Posted by bruce_phipps@my-deja.com on January 6th, 2005
A couple of dumb newbie questions:
* As I understand it, when I get BB installed my internet use will be
covered by the monthly BB charge. But I will still have to pay BT
quarterly line rental + phone call costs. Am I right?
* Does a home user/surfer typically need a 1 meg connection?
Downloading video files or software downloads would be easier with 1
meg ...
Bruce
- Posted by Peter M on January 6th, 2005
On 6 Jan 2005 02:50:12 -0800, in uk.telecom.broadband,
bruce_phipps@my-deja.com wrote:
Yes, but see 1899.com, 18866.com and consider others for other calls !
I know home users with higher than 1000 kbps, it boils down to what you
plan to do. One home user I know has a 1000 kbps link with a monthly
quota of 1 GB because it is cheap and offers high speed when either
one of them is online. Look at the price of 1000 kbps from MetroNet
and you will see that starts well under the 20 quid mark (but it is a
Pay as you Use service - even so, represents great value if you spend a
bit of the year away as you only pay ~28 quid in the busiest months).
--
PlusNet <http://tinyurl.com/24ymz> - I recommend them and save some cash.
My other ISP : UK Free Software Network <http://www.ukfsn.org>
UKFSN passes all profits to Free Software projects in the UK.
- Posted by Phil Thompson on January 6th, 2005
On 6 Jan 2005 02:50:12 -0800, bruce_phipps@my-deja.com wrote:
correct. You pay the ISP for the broadband and you pay BT for the line
and any calls you make through them.
"need" ? With Freeserve, F2S and others it costs no more so go for it.
Everything will be up to twice as fast, streaming video etc is usually
sub-500k but downloads will scream along.
Phil
--
Splenda - the only sweetener made from chlorine :-)
- Posted by bruce_phipps@my-deja.com on January 6th, 2005
Thanks.
PlusNet seems to have a good reputation in this NG and seemed to be a
good price until I saw the "activation charge" of up to £70.
What gives? BT do not charge connection fee for entry-level home-use BB
products as far as I can tell.
Bruce
- Posted by Phil Thompson on January 6th, 2005
On 6 Jan 2005 06:18:43 -0800, bruce_phipps@my-deja.com wrote:
BT Wholesale levy a £50+VAT connection on all ISPs.
Some pass this on, some mark it up and some absorb it.
Demon's Home500 service for example is £19.99/month with free modem
and free activation, but it has a 12 month contract to protect their
up-front expenditure.
If you pay the connection fee upfront you will be either paying less
per month or have more flexbility to leave, or both.
Phil
--
Splenda - the only sweetener made from chlorine :-)
- Posted by Peter M on January 6th, 2005
On 06 Jan 2005 in uk.telecom.broadband, Phil Thompson wrote:
.... or neither.
Depends on the ISP, and one even has/had an 'exit fee' (V.21)
--
PlusNet <http://tinyurl.com/24ymz> - I recommend them and save some cash.
My other ISP : UK Free Software Network <http://www.ukfsn.org>
UKFSN passes all profits to Free Software projects in the UK.
- Posted by six-toes on January 6th, 2005
Tiscali today offered
Thursday 06 January 2005, 00:05:48
United Kingdom
Written by Net 4 Nowt
Tiscali claim to be triggering a price war in the broadband market
with some cheaper, faster broadband packages.
Tiscali are launching a new range of products this year.
£15.99 per month for 256K Broadband (Uncapped)
£19.99 per month for 512K Broadband (Uncapped)
£24.99 per month for 1Mbps service Broadband (Uncapped)
They are also upgrading all their customers to faster packages,
free of charge.
All customers currently on the 150K Broadband, will be upgraded to
256K, allowing them to experience an even quicker broadband experience.
Customers on the 256K will have 512K connections and 512K customers
will now have a superfast 1Mbps connection.
- Posted by Phil Thompson on January 6th, 2005
On 6 Jan 2005 11:22:31 -0800, "six-toes" <sixty_toes@hotmail.com>
wrote:
stop spamming this.
abuse report filed.
Phil
--
Splenda - the only sweetener made from chlorine :-)
- Posted by Bob Eager on January 6th, 2005
On Thu, 6 Jan 2005 19:22:31 UTC, "six-toes" <sixty_toes@hotmail.com>
wrote:
But it's worth noting that many consider them to have pretty appalling
customer service.
--
[Davism - 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. (also known as Gee-axia)]
- Posted by Bill on January 7th, 2005
bruce_phipps@my-deja.com wrote:
connection. You can opt for a 1 year tie in to get £58 connection IIRC.
If you want "free" connection you will generally end up paying around
another £5 a month.
£5 a month for a year is ..... £60 !
Some providers keep charging it too.
Bill
