Cheap and reliable broadband - what are the options?

QQQ

I had £10 a month broadband with virgin cable but when I moved my house they said I cannot have this contract anymore and only new £20 a month contracxt available. Now I want to realize what are the options for cheap and reliable broadband. If I rent BT line (I do not need it, so don't rent now) and get ADSL from someone it will be the same £20.
Tried 3G broadband from Three - it is a total nightmare.

What are the other options to get cheap and reliable broadband without phone line and preferably without cheaky contract cancellation fee?

Thank you.

socrates

Try this one on the internet board or do a search there - similar questions exist

Bowling_4_Gold

Well, there are alternatives, but not that many. I think Tiscali do a discounted line rental through themselves if you take out Broadband with them, but there reliability, speed and general customer service is shockingly bad, as Im sure other MSE's apart from myself can testify.

Virgin are probably your best choice, failing that, perhaps Vodafone or T-Mobile 3G Broadband who offer a PAYG service, not tying you into a lengthy (+ costly) contract.

QQQ

Bowling_4_Gold wrote: »

Well, there are alternatives, but not that many. I think Tiscali do a discounted line rental through themselves if you take out Broadband with them, but there reliability, speed and general customer service is shockingly bad, as Im sure other MSE's apart from myself can testify.

Virgin are probably your best choice, failing that, perhaps Vodafone or T-Mobile 3G Broadband who offer a PAYG service, not tying you into a lengthy (+ costly) contract.

Thank you. Anything else?

John_Gray

"Cheap" and "reliable" are almost contrary aspirations, if by 'reliable' you mean 'can talk to someone technically-intelligent and genuinely helpful if I encounter problems'.

You get what you pay for, to a large extent. If it keeps on working, then fine - it's when it stops that you wonder if you should have paid more...

Stubert

If you don't want a long contract, Be Broadband do 3 month contracts (i.e. you have to give them 3 months notice to cancel).

We've had it for about a month now, good service. Very little down time and good speeds.

Patrick20

You need a phone line to get broadband. I think you need to accept that unless you get a 3G dongle, but they are even more expensive.

kwikbreaks

If your only use for the phone line is ADSL then stick with cable if you were happy with it before. Mobile BB is less reliable han either cable or ADSL and more expensive if you want more than a few GB download allowance

clickclash

Bowling_4_Gold wrote: »

Well, there are alternatives, but not that many. I think Tiscali do a discounted line rental through themselves if you take out mobile Broadband with them, but there reliability, speed and general customer service is shockingly bad, as Im sure other MSE's apart from myself can testify.

Virgin are probably your best mobile broadband choice, failing that, perhaps Vodafone or T-Mobile 3G Broadband who offer a PAYG service, not tying you into a lengthy (+ costly) contract.

I have never had any issue with my tiscali line, its not exactly the fastest out there, but its always been cheap and stable.

chunter

clickclash wrote: »

I have never had any issue with my tiscali line, its not exactly the fastest out there, but its always been cheap and stable.

Wait till you do... it's an adventure.

tomsutton529

over the years ive used alot of ISP's and from experience I found virgin, Sky and BT to be quite good. when i had BT though i was nextdoor to the exchange so that made a differnce. with the cheaper ones you realy do pay for what you get but if all you do is surf the web and check emails then that should be good enough.

I once saw a youth in a PC shop sell a dual core pc 2GB of RAM huge 19inch monitor to some bloke in his 60's when all he wanted to do was urf the web, he then told him BT's top internet is the best one to get as it will last him long and it better for downloads.... i folled the bloke out the shop and put him straight, lucky i did as he was on the way to the bank to get the money. moral of said story is dont belive everything you hear and dont pay for something you dont need. simply look at the firgures and get a proper explanation.