is be unlimited isp any good

boliston

macman wrote: »

Yes, if BE use ADSL2+ on your exchange (samknows will tell you this), it can increase your speeds, but unlikely that it will go up as high as 13Mbps from a limit of around 5Mbps at present.
However even at around 5Mbps Be is still vastly better than AOL, so I wouldn't hesitate to switch.

I'm pretty sure that BE allow customers to tweak their own noise margin, and if that is the case then I can quite believe that could increase a 5mb line up to 13mb.

I'm on a non-LLU line so BT act as wholesale provider, and they also set the noise margin far too high. If I get my ISP to reset the margin I get a decent 11mb/s download rate for about 48 hours on a 6db margin, then BT's systems set the margin at 15db which knocks my download rate down to about 5mb/s.

I've managed to get the margin down to 12db now by switching on interleaving, and I now have 8mb/s, but I would much rather be on a BE provided line so I can get a decent margin without faffing with interleaving, but I'm not on a BE LLU exchange.

macman

ARTHUR wrote: »

not sure if it is ADLS 2+ capable I have copied the info from the sam knows site, I dont understand ALL of it but it doesn't mention ADLS 2+, there is another part of the page which tells you which isp can operate there and be is enabled Exchange Serves (approx):19,921 residential premises
977 non-residential premises. Broadband availability overviewADSL:Yes
SDSL:Yes LLU services:Yes Cable:Yes Wireless:No

BT Wholesale informationADSL status:Enabled as of 31/03/2000
ADSL Max status:Enabled as of 05/01/2006
SDSL status:Enabled
21CN WBC status:Enabled
FTTC status:RFS date set: April 2010 onwards
Wireless broadband availabilityLTT Broadband:Not available
Now Wireless:Not available
OnLincolnshire:Not available
Urban Wimax:Not available
Kijoma:Not available
EMNET Notts:Not available
Orbital / VFast:Not available
Cable broadband availabilityVirgin Media:Available in some areasSmallworld Media:Not available

If you want more info then please post the name of your exchange. ADSL2+ info will be under the exchange mapping tab, if you put your address in it will give you speeds and options.

Stompa

boliston wrote: »

I'm pretty sure that BE allow customers to tweak their own noise margin,

AFAIK that's allowed with their unlimited packages, but not with BE Value.
Though I believe they will change it if you give them a call.

ARTHUR

macman wrote: »

If you want more info then please post the name of your exchange. ADSL2+ info will be under the exchange mapping tab, if you put your address in it will give you speeds and options.

this is my exchange info
Exchange name:BridgetonExchange code:WSBRILocation:Glasgow City, Scotland Postcode:G402RXMaps:Our map | Multimap | Streetmap Serves (approx):19,921 residential premises
977 non-residential premises.
as you can see it doesnt mention ADLS 2+ but the be tool has checked my line and told me it can handle upto 13 mbs, I gues it must have something to do with what that other poster said that BT have their noise set far too high although I dont have a clue what this means

Stompa

ARTHUR wrote: »

this is my exchange info
Exchange name:BridgetonExchange

The crucial bit is:

LLU operator presence
O2 / Be: Enabled

so you should be fine with O2 or BE.

ARTHUR

Stompa wrote: »

The crucial bit is:

LLU operator presence
O2 / Be: Enabled

so you should be fine with O2 or BE.

LLU operator presence AOL:Enabled
O2 / Be:Enabled
C&W / Bulldog:Enabled as of 20/05/2005
Edge Telecom:Not available
Entanet:Not available
Lumison:Not available
NewNet:Not available
Node4:Not available
Orange:Enabled as of 20/01/2010
Pipex:Not available
Sky / Easynet:Enabled as of 11/03/2004
Smallworld:Not available
TalkTalk (CPW):Enabled
Tiscali:Enabled as of 07/03/2008
Tiscali TV:Enabled
WB Internet:Not available
Zen Internet:Not available

Ofcom Classification
Market 3
Four or more 'principal' operators provide broadband services at this exchange. Service in this area has been deregulated!
this might be what you need, it was on the other half of the page

ARTHUR

it seems "be" will work on my line, I have only ever used AOL so I dont have much experince with other isp suppliers, so far I have had only a few problems with AOL in the last 3-4 years, well apart from all the outages that they have where you cant get an internet connection, and I am sure that as soon as I ask AOL for an M.A.C code they will offer to upgrade my speed to 8 mbs and reduce my monthly subscription in an effort to keep my custom but is "be" unlimited (I will go for the value pack-8mps with 40 gig cap) any better/worse than AOL.
Also does "be" have its own browser like AOL do or do you just use your i.e browser and what is "BE2 homepage like (I know I can change the homepage to yahoo or something if I dont like it)

Stompa

ARTHUR wrote: »

...but is "be" unlimited (I will go for the value pack-8mps with 40 gig cap) any better/worse than AOL.

I've no personal experience of AOL, but it always used to have a pretty dire reputation.

ARTHUR wrote: »

Also does "be" have its own browser like AOL do or do you just use your i.e browser and what is "BE2 homepage like (I know I can change the homepage to yahoo or something if I dont like it)

No there is no BE Browser, nor a BE homepage.

I don't know what you use for email, but it's worth bearing in mind that BE Value doesn't include any email addresses.

macman

Why would you want a BE homepage?
And AOL's web interface is just awful (as it all of it's software).
You're lucky enough to have Be and O2 available LLU on your exchange, so you can get your connection for as little as £7.50 pm.
AOL are regularly bottom of the table in every ISP review conducted.
It's really not a tricky decision to make.

ARTHUR

Stompa wrote: »

I've no personal experience of AOL, but it always used to have a pretty dire reputation.

No there is no BE Browser, nor a BE homepage.

I don't know what you use for email, but it's worth bearing in mind that BE Value doesn't include any email addresses.

I dont use the AOL e-mail account ever, I have a yahoo account and a hotmail account as a backup for my e-mail
using those email accounts will make switching easier