Sky broadband, TV and phone service?

SarahLou

Hi everyone,

We're currently looking to switch from BT Broadband and BT telephone service to the Sky 3-in-1 type package that is being advertised widely on the telly at the minute. The one where you get the broadband, TV and telephone service all in one. (With free evening and weekend calls, locally and nationwide). We already have a Sky TV package (just Sky Digital, none of this Sky+ Plus thingy or anything fancy like that!)

I was just wondering how reliable Sky Broadband actually is and which package people would recommend (as looking on the Sky website there are 3 - one is for limited broadband users with just 2GB download), one is for mid-range and one is appropriately named "Maxi" for people who want unlimited download capabilities. My hubby and I use the net a lot but don't tend to download movies or anything. How much download do we need?

And can anyone who actually uses Sky Broadband please be honest about how reliable the connection is? I remember years ago they used to get really slated for always being "down" and never having anyone answering the helpline telephone number. Has this improved?

Thats the good thing about BT Broadband - we're very rarely "down" and when you do need help, they always answer the phone. Just a shame about the silly price!! :eek:

devizes18193

I've been with sky just over a month and i have the unlimited . Its a good service the router setup is a doddle and touch wood no real problems . However I had a couple of niggles ( Long story ) This took sky forever to sort . Overall though the experience has been a good one and having the unlimited covers for future use

SarahLou

Thanks for that!

sarah_elton

I'm in the process of switching from BT phone and Pipex broadband, to Sky Line Rental, Sky Talk (the free evening/weekend calls thing) and Sky Broadband.

Pretty much smooth so far. Phoned Sky to order last week. They told me that for the line rental, they inform BT - I don't need to do anything. I duly received a letter a couple of days ago from BT saying they'd been told I was cancelling my account.

For internet, I was told to get a MAC. Ordered that from Pipex and amazingly that came fast too. Told Sky the MAC yesterday. Today on the 'Track My Order' page on MySky it says there's a problem with the Broadband order. Phoned up and was told there's no real problem - I'm just queued and there's a slight delay. Hmmm - we'll see if they can get it all through before the MAC expires and I have to start again with leaving Pipex.

Sky are optimistically saying that I will be switching broadband to them on the 15th. Not convinced and they haven't shipped my router yet so we'll see.

Give me a few weeks and I should have an initial report.

OH's parents have been with Sky Broadband for a year now and not had any problems - they use the Internet a reasonable amount.

I've gone for the Max broadband but then I do download quite a bit.

twodogsbluearmy

have you considered BT Vision (BT do a 3 in one solution) as an option, then you could keep BT Broadband?

SarahLou

We haven't looked into that yet, no. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll go and have a look at the prices now.

I'll keep my eye on this thread for future updates and I look forward to hearing how you get on sarah_elton

tappet_rattle

I swopped over to sky from pipex just before christmas, I took the sky+ with 2 packages, line rental, free evening and weekend calls and the mid bb,which is 40gig download limit and upto 8meg speed( I don't download movies or music) but I do surf alot and listen to online radio. So far I have been impressed with sky's service. They have been quick to install everything and turn on the bb. I am getting over 6mb download speed constantly:T I pay £33 a month for the lot. sky + is great

The sky+ box was free as was the installation ( a friend recommended me) I have heard that support is not the best but so far I haven't had the need to use them.

SarahLou

Thanks for the info tappet rattle

sarah_elton

Quick update - what Sky fail miserably to tell you when you order is that, if you order Line Rental, your broadband order won't go through until the phone line rental has been moved to Sky.

So, my line rental finally switched today and my broadband order will be processed and placed automatically tomorrow. Thus no review of the broadband service from me for a couple of weeks *sigh*

Not that fussed as I haven't cancelled Pipex yet - I've had the MAC code from them and once I've switched to Sky I'll just phone them and make sure they realise they're no longer supplying me. So I'm not actually that bothered when switchover occurs. It's just irritating that:

1) When you order, Sky seem to suggest that everything will be done in a couple of weeks

2) While the line rental order is pending, when you log on to My Sky and go to Track Your Order, next to the broadband it says 'there's a problem with your order - phone us'. So you panic and call them on their expensive helpline only to be told 'oh, there's no problem, it's just on hold till your line rental is switched'. :rolleyes:

theboylard

My thoughts:

Sky Package of Sky Talk (phone calls only, kept BT line on basic option one package with online bills, didn't want to give up BT line in case I want to move ISP)
Sky+ TV with 6 options pack, no sports or movies.
Sky Max BB - actual download speeds of 14Mbit/s based on an upto speed of 16 Mbit/s.

Have only had to call Sky once for support on anything and that was the one component that I hadn't checked, the filter! Just swapped that and problem solved.

So, am I happy?
Yes and no. The TV has caused no end of arguments and I'm about to cull the kids section as my 2 are fixated with it!
Phone bills are basically nil as we rarely use it, mobiles mostly for outgoing.
The broadband has been brilliant - I do download a lot, and as there are no limits (theoretically) then it suits me.
So for all the above, I pay about £34 a month, plus the BT line rental of approx £10.50.

Do I consider it value for money? Yes, but it's even better if you can get any offers - quidco got me £135 cashback on an initial set-up of £129 (install and Sky+) plus the extra £10 account credit for signing up on-line.

tappet_rattle

sarah_elton wrote: »

Quick update - what Sky fail miserably to tell you when you order is that, if you order Line Rental, your broadband order won't go through until the phone line rental has been moved to Sky.

So, my line rental finally switched today and my broadband order will be processed and placed automatically tomorrow. Thus no review of the broadband service from me for a couple of weeks *sigh*

Not that fussed as I haven't cancelled Pipex yet - I've had the MAC code from them and once I've switched to Sky I'll just phone them and make sure they realise they're no longer supplying me. So I'm not actually that bothered when switchover occurs. It's just irritating that:

1) When you order, Sky seem to suggest that everything will be done in a couple of weeks

2) While the line rental order is pending, when you log on to My Sky and go to Track Your Order, next to the broadband it says 'there's a problem with your order - phone us'. So you panic and call them on their expensive helpline only to be told 'oh, there's no problem, it's just on hold till your line rental is switched'. :rolleyes:

I never had that problem, I ordered the sky on the 11/12/08 and the tv was installed on the 17/12/08 the mac code was given to them on the 18/12 and the broadband was up and running christmas eve, the phone calls were transferred to sky on the 13/1 09. The only thing I'm waiting for is the final bill from pipex