Think I need to switch provider but who too?

Biba_2

I have looked at several comparison sites and Plusnet and MAAF seem to come quite high but after reading reviews I am wary of changing, my current provider (Eclipse) I am happy with its a cost issue really.

Really wanted to change to O2 as they have some good deals and we are existing customers but our exchange isn't unbundled ( :huh:) so I am guessing that it would be the same with Sky?

456789

check unbundling/LLU here: http://www.samknows.com/broadband/search.php

macman

It isn't exchanges that are unbundled, it's whether ISP's are unbundled on your exchange. O2 might not be but others might be, samknows will tell you all you need to know.
It's the smaller rural exchanges that tend to have no unbundling at all.

Biba_2

Looks like nothing is available here apart from Orange

AOL: Not available
O2 / Be: Not available
C&W / Bulldog: Not available
Edge Telecom: Not available
Entanet: Not available
Lumison: Not available
NewNet: Not available
Node4: Not available
Orange: Enabled
Pipex: Not available
Sky / Easynet: Not available
Smallworld: Not available
TalkTalk (CPW): Not available
Tiscali: Not available
Tiscali TV: Not available
WB Internet: Not available
Zen Internet: Not available

macman

I would go for Plusnet over Orange any day. It's fine unless you are a heavy downloader.

Biba_2

Thanks for that macman, I don't really download much so I should be OK from the sounds of it.

paulpud

I live in a fairly rural area so don't get the cheap broadband deals and TalkTalk yesterday informed me my 2mb max broadband was going up from £14.99 to £19.99 so I've just signed up with Plusnet.

Up to 8mb (I'm limited to 2mb though), 10GB download limit, and free wireless router (pay for P&P). All this for £5.99 for first 3 months and £11.99 after. Go through Quidco and you get £28 cashback too.

Biba_2

Thanks paulpud, that was the deal I was looking at, very similar to a package that my current supplier offers I may ring them and see if I can get a deal to stay with them.

One question though how do they decide what limit they set on you? I saw the 8mb which is better than Eclipse which would be 2mb but if plusnet put that kind of limit on me I wouldn't be much better off in terms of service.

macman

Biba wrote: »

Thanks paulpud, that was the deal I was looking at, very similar to a package that my current supplier offers I may ring them and see if I can get a deal to stay with them.

One question though how do they decide what limit they set on you? I saw the 8mb which is better than Eclipse which would be 2mb but if plusnet put that kind of limit on me I wouldn't be much better off in terms of service.

Plusnet Value is 'up to 8Mbps', I think paulpud's 2Mbps limit is that imposed by his line length, not by any restriction placed by Plusnet.
Be aware that Plusnet do practice traffic shaping on this tariff though, if you are a heavy downloader or P2P user etc.
Check your likely line speed on here:
http://www.dslchecker.bt.com/adsl/adslchecker.welcome

paulpud

Yes, it is an 8Mbps service, apologies if my post was a bit misleading. My theoretical maximum is 2Mbps because of my location and, on a good day when the sun is out and the wind is blowing in the right direction, I can manage a download speed of about 1.6Mbps, hence my annoyance at Talk Talk wanting to charge me £19.99 for it.