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Author Topic: Broadband recommendations  (Read 6042 times)

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megaomega123

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Re: Broadband recommendations
« Reply #15 on: 20 January 2007, 11:34:18 »
It would have to be Telewest/NTL for me. I was with them for 4 years and had not 1 single problem. I have now moved to a non cable area and have tried Bt and talk talk, both of which are rubbish. Cable is so much more efficient than ADSL. Also most ADSL ISP's use port managing (as they call it) to restrict the use of P2P clients. Cable is the only pure unrestricted service. Also with Telewest and NTL certain modems are tweakable  ;) For example you can pay the minimum 2MB service and tweak a modem to obtain 10MB at no extra cost.

I must say that this practice is illegal and is not recommended.

Cable technology as a whole is more advance and has more capabilities than ADSL. The modems can carry upto 32 users without having to invest in routers or hubs (wired networks only).

Also their TV and Phone packages are great. I used to pay £30 per month for TV, Phone and broadband, I now pay £60+ for BT and Sky.

Telewest win my vote everytime.
« Last Edit: 20 January 2007, 11:39:44 by phate321 »
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Re: Broadband recommendations
« Reply #16 on: 20 January 2007, 13:26:47 »
I am with Nildram - again not the cheapest but NEVER had an issue with the service.  Always rock steady.

As others have said, Zen are high regarded, but I have no direct experience with them.
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Re: Broadband recommendations
« Reply #17 on: 20 January 2007, 15:52:07 »
You can compare different service providers  here

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/isp/compare.html
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TheBoy

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Re: Broadband recommendations
« Reply #18 on: 20 January 2007, 16:36:48 »
Quote
Also most ADSL ISP's use port managing (as they call it) to restrict the use of P2P clients. Cable is the only pure unrestricted service.
NTL:Telewest are trialling traffic shaping as we speak...

Several DSL providers, Zen included, do not use traffic shaping.

NTL:Telewest make extensive use of transparent proxies.

Virtually no DSL providers use proxies.


Therefore, DSL is closest to providing pure unrestricted service...
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sir moanalot

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Re: Broadband recommendations
« Reply #19 on: 20 January 2007, 16:49:34 »
been on aol (weird isp), ntl (not too bad connection but company bloody useless), virgin (good site good service) currently taking advantage of bt home hub bb.
i think isps vary on where you live and how far you are away from exchanges etc- i was told up to 8 mb bb but can only get max 1.6mb. tone.
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Jimbob

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Re: Broadband recommendations
« Reply #20 on: 20 January 2007, 19:03:50 »
Zen here (and a draytek router)  very happy
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supermop

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Re: Broadband recommendations
« Reply #21 on: 22 January 2007, 15:46:31 »
You should know, all these ISP's use the same BT exchanges. If you are a fair distance from it, you will suffer from an unreliable and slower connection than most others. This is thanks to LLU (or local loop unbundling) which has opened a bandwagon that every company and their dogs are jumping on to. So no matter what ADSL provider you go with, in general you will get the same or similar service. The only difference being the customer support. Also remember this service is running through very old cabling in some areas, and old exchanges.

In short, ADSL is the worst of the 2 types of broadband available. If you want a broadband service AS ADVERTISED, you will need to go with ntl or Telewest (which are now the same company). They use cable/DOCSIS for their broadband services, and you will recieve the full line speed and reliability no matter where you are. Although it does mean uprooting driveways and drilling holes through houses to get it installed if you haven't got a hook up point already.

I have missed ntl and my 10mb connection from the day I moved out of my old flat. ADSL just isnt the same experience in any way shape or form. I have 8mb ADSL with virgin at the moment and hate it. Never get near 8mb - and I'm close to the ancient exchange we have in my town as I live in the town centre.
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TheBoy

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Re: Broadband recommendations
« Reply #22 on: 22 January 2007, 17:38:46 »
Quote
You should know, all these ISP's use the same BT exchanges. If you are a fair distance from it, you will suffer from an unreliable and slower connection than most others. This is thanks to LLU (or local loop unbundling) which has opened a bandwagon that every company and their dogs are jumping on to. So no matter what ADSL provider you go with, in general you will get the same or similar service. The only difference being the customer support. Also remember this service is running through very old cabling in some areas, and old exchanges.

In short, ADSL is the worst of the 2 types of broadband available. If you want a broadband service AS ADVERTISED, you will need to go with ntl or Telewest (which are now the same company). They use cable/DOCSIS for their broadband services, and you will recieve the full line speed and reliability no matter where you are. Although it does mean uprooting driveways and drilling holes through houses to get it installed if you haven't got a hook up point already.

I have missed ntl and my 10mb connection from the day I moved out of my old flat. ADSL just isnt the same experience in any way shape or form. I have 8mb ADSL with virgin at the moment and hate it. Never get near 8mb - and I'm close to the ancient exchange we have in my town as I live in the town centre.
I do not completely agree.  No ADSL service is advertised as 8Mb - those that tried it got slammed by ASA.  So nobody is going to expect 8Mb  (actually, maximum is around 7Mb).

I wonder whats wrong with your line (or ISP) if you get a poor sync rate (do you get poor sync?) - I am 3.5km line length from my exchange (about 2.5km road length), and sync at 6.3Mb normally. BRAS puts this as max 5.5Mb.  Peak time performance isn't great (around 2Mbps download), but faster off peak.  Although exchange congestion does exist in some places, its usually the loading on the Centrals that give the problem, and this is down to ISP...

As to quality of BT lines, well, ntl:Telewest ain't much better.  An awful lot is still analogue, so knackered before start.  Those lucky enough to be on digital can expect some real pain as traffic shaping is coming to cable.  Traffic shaping a fast line is far worse than using a stable slower line.  Traffic shaping was what effectively killed Plusnet (and made them ripe for takeover - which I believe BT have now/nearly completed).
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Re: Broadband recommendations
« Reply #23 on: 22 January 2007, 17:40:21 »
Also, I should state my Zen line - a legacy 2Mb line - will d/l solid all day at 230k/s, and has an amazing uptime of nearly 200 days...   ...and hosts this forum...
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Taxi_Driver

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Re: Broadband recommendations
« Reply #24 on: 22 January 2007, 17:46:11 »
Quote
Quote
Also most ADSL ISP's use port managing (as they call it) to restrict the use of P2P clients. Cable is the only pure unrestricted service.
NTL:Telewest are trialling traffic shaping as we speak...

Several DSL providers, Zen included, do not use traffic shaping.

NTL:Telewest make extensive use of transparent proxies.

Virtually no DSL providers use proxies.


Therefore, DSL is closest to providing pure unrestricted service...

I have unlimited on tiscali.....however its subject to 'fair usage' policy.
They monitor your downloading......however ive never had a whinge from them even tho i use p2p.....but i dont abuse it.....this weekend ive been downloading about 20G but then i probably wont again for a month or so...
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TheBoy

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Re: Broadband recommendations
« Reply #25 on: 22 January 2007, 17:47:30 »
Actually, it raises some interesting points...

I cannot think of a (legal) reason (currently) why a consumer would need more than a (unshaped/unmolested) 1 or 2Mb line.  Theres not going to be much data transfer, gaming doesn't need huge bandwidth (but needs to be unshaped), VoIP similar.

The only thing I can think of is upcoming IPTV, though my understanding of many of the proposed services is similar to the new TopupTV - ie, not real time, but saved ready for later viewing...

Businesses are a different kettle of fish, but they are in the realms of SDSL/Leased lines...
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TheBoy

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Re: Broadband recommendations
« Reply #26 on: 22 January 2007, 17:49:45 »
Quote
Quote
Quote
Also most ADSL ISP's use port managing (as they call it) to restrict the use of P2P clients. Cable is the only pure unrestricted service.
NTL:Telewest are trialling traffic shaping as we speak...

Several DSL providers, Zen included, do not use traffic shaping.

NTL:Telewest make extensive use of transparent proxies.

Virtually no DSL providers use proxies.


Therefore, DSL is closest to providing pure unrestricted service...

I have unlimited on tiscali.....however its subject to 'fair usage' policy.
They monitor your downloading......however ive never had a whinge from them even tho i use p2p.....but i dont abuse it.....this weekend ive been downloading about 20G but then i probably wont again for a month or so...
Its the piss takers that have ruined broadband, not just DSL but also cable.  No wholesale provider, or ISP can swallow the costs of people who think it is their God given right to max out their lines 24/7 and download 400Gb per month (thats a maxed out 2Mb line)...
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TheBoy

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Re: Broadband recommendations
« Reply #27 on: 22 January 2007, 17:51:24 »
My legacy Zen line is currently truely unlimited, always has been.  No FUP etc. Although, even Zen are putting 100Gb download (not inc uploading) limit on me in March...

That suits me - I'd rather have a cap (I'll never hit 100Gb) than a shaped line...
« Last Edit: 22 January 2007, 17:52:09 by TheBoy »
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jamie

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Re: Broadband recommendations
« Reply #28 on: 22 January 2007, 18:10:59 »
Sounds similar to my problems with Pipex Business Broad Band.  Was thinking about BT Business.
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Martin_1962

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Re: Broadband recommendations
« Reply #29 on: 22 January 2007, 18:36:23 »
Traffic shaping/throttling seems very unpleasant!
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