DEFINITELY changing my ISP

[ffutures]

I was thinking of changing my ISP - NTLworld / Virgin have just made the decision for me, they're no longer providing cable broadband in this area as of the end of the year. I start 4 weeks holiday on Saturday and it's probably a good idea to get it sorted while I'm off work, so I will probably try to get organized next week.

BT are probably my easiest option, since it almost certainly will have to be someone providing ADSL service through the phone network. I got some other recommendations when I asked about this a while ago, have there been any changes since then?

Comments

[history-monk.livejournal.com]

Be provide decent broadband over ADSL, and have a far higher standard of technical support than is reported by BT customers. I have had them for years, and have no desire to switch.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Which of their services are you using?

[history-monk.livejournal.com]

Be Unlimited.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

They're saying I'd get a maximum 13 mb connection here anyway, so the value service might be enough. It sounds like even that is faster than NTL's service lately.

Do they have an NNTP portal for newsgroups etc.? Can't find anything about it on their site.

[history-monk.livejournal.com]

I still get newsgroups from CIX, but I don't think Be offer them.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

OK, I'll just have to stick with news.individual.net

[autopope.livejournal.com]

Strong rec for Be ADSL2. Their SoHo/home business offering (which is what I'm on) is great -- it's like Demon circa the mid-90s, only with broadband.

You can either get Be over a BT line, or rent the line itself from Be (they buy 'em wholesale from BT).

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

I can't seem to get their "is this service available in your area" thing to work. Suppose I'll have to phone in office hours.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Turns out it doesn't like Opera, and Privoxy doesn't like their speed checker.

[murphys-lawyer.livejournal.com]

Demon haven't annoyed me enough to make me want to switch, but if I was going to, I'd be looking at Be too.

[brownkida79.livejournal.com]

If your line runs over the ADSL network then no matter who you go with you will get the same service as they all run through the BT network. All they are doning is renting the line from BT.

However if you are in an ADSL2+ area then you should have no issues. BE or O2 are very good at this but however it all depends on you preference.

Best thing to do is look at there download limits over the month period if you are on ADSL as most companys do monitor this as there is a high demand.

[pbristow.livejournal.com]

"they're no longer providing cable broadband in this area as of the end of the year"

WHUH?!? Do they give any reason for this? =8oO

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

What they say is that their current service in this area is using BT's cable network as a carrier, which means they can't roll out their "next generation superfast broadband" as they can in other areas.

Beyond that I have no idea.

[pbristow.livejournal.com]

OK. That implies that in areas where they have their own cables (and the ability to maintain/upgrade them as required), things should continue as normal.

Phew! I knew they'd been struggling a bit against the hordes of ADSL operators, and wondered if this might be the beginning of the end... =:o\

Just need a soothing brandy and I'll be fine again. =;o}