Advice on O2 LLU please

earthlover

Hi ,

I am thinking of changing to O2 broadband from BT Option 3.

I have been looking on Sam Knows and see that my exchange is LLU enabled for O2. o2 estimate on my b/band speed test that I can get up to 18. At the moment I get around 4-6 with BT ( on ADSL i think).

BT speed test says I can only get max of about 6. Is that because they only do ADSL?

I see that on the speed checker sites not many have 02 in my area and the fastest speeds are with Orange fast speed ( about 15) so it's not easy to see if I would get fast speeds with 02. What do you think?

Also would I have to go with o2 for my landline if i chose the 02 premium which is LLU or can i keep the BT landline

Thanks for any enlightenment!

mk-donald

o2 LLU - ie Std/Prem/Pro is an ADSL2+ service - ie technically as much as 24Mbps (IF you are very close to the exchange) - I'm 5kms away with 60dB attenuation so only get c4Mbps (ie suited to o2 Std).

o2 LLU broadband is ON TOP of a BT phoneline; they have announced their intention to offer home broadband subscribers an optional "o2 home phone" (ie pay o2 for landline rental and calls) but that is still a manana at the moment.

You'll learn more studing my documents at
http://cid-99aa6cf1226facfe.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/o2%20Broadband%20-v-%20Be%20There%20Broadband

There's some links in there to show you how to get your ADSL/ADSLmax stats from current modem, and how to use those to get an ADSL2+ estimate based on actual line stats not just those from some (old/wrong?) BT database that all the ISPs use.

MKD

earthlover

Thanks for your reply mk-donald, I was beginning to think I had BO! lol

Thanks also for you docs which I've just read thro and found very useful. Its much easier to compare in that table format.

From the link your docs gave it seems like my line should get very good speeds, pretty much same as 02 estimated.

I'm not quite sure of the order I should do things when switching.

My contract with bt only ends on 12 May 10 but I will actually save by cancelling early because I am paying 24.99 per mth at moment and if I cancel I only have to pay 11.95per month cancellation fee for the remaining time of my contract. But, I have to give 14 days notice to bt. So when is the best date to notify bt that I'm cancelling? Would it be 11th March thus paying 2 months at 11.95? I don't want to be charged 11.95 for a partial month by notifying them now, if you see what I mean. Am I right here?

I presume I can get a mac code now so I can use that when I go on the cashback site. They last for one month don't they?

Also, when I apply to 02 will that have to be after I notify bt I'm cancelling so that bt get the 14 days notice?

I'm a bit confused, as you have probably gathered.

mk-donald

Can't advise you how BT measure their months/partial-months for cancellation.

Based on your checks s/be o2 Premium that's most suited to your phoneline ie the regular ADSL2+ Annex A upto 24Mbps service.

The o2 deal of 2m free has been a fairly standard thing but of course could vanish later - current deadline is 28/2. Peak is 3m free.

The £back has been varying a lot in recent times with peak of £100 for o2 Premium, now at £70, likely to be back to £50 soon.

A MAC has to be provided within 5 working days of asking (no matter where in the contract you are) and is valid for 30days and does NOT automatically cancel although the ex-ISP SHOULD realise if it is used and be on at least constructive notice of cancellation if not FORMAL notice.

Sounds like you really need to check your BT contract to see what it's T&Cs say. Realise that o2 have a 30-day moneyback guarantee but THEN you are committed to paying the sub for 12months.

With the current o2 offer :
a) £70 via TCB
b) 2m free from o2
c) you or a relative pays for the o2 mobile

... that means first year o2 Premium w/be just £30-£70, ie £2.50-£5.83/m so you may as well just migrate ASAP anyway - eg if it's a month earlier per BT you get your double speed+ o2 at £2.50/£5.83, but pay BT £24.99 or £11.95 depending on which period they count the month in = still a bargain ?

You can apply to o2 (and lock in the £back and 2m free) before you get your MAC too - just do it ASAP, by 28/2 at latest for the 2m, not sure re the £back deadline

MKD

phatspider

At the mo you can get £50 credit on your mobile if you're O2, and £50 cashback through quidco if you choose Premium at £10 a month.

So thats basically equivalent to 10 months free!