Best 'cheap' ISP for gaming

Empty_pockets

Hi,

Just requested my MAC code from Pipex, bills suddenly got from 7.99 to 14.99.

I'm rarely download, internet usage is mainly reading forums, sometimes youtube/iplayer.

We do however use Xbox live, 2 accounts in the household. Both used quite a bit.

Can anyone suggest a suitable ISP?

p.s I am on O2 so should be eligible for the discounted rate.

Thanks.

MoneySavingUser

Go with O2 if they have LLU service in your area

dylanuk

I second MoneySavingUser, definitely check out availability of O2 LLU in your area.

O2 Standard is the cheapest package and is still unlimited, so will be good for gaming. It's £7.50 a month with the discount. There's a postcode checker for O2 on this review: http://www.chooseisp.co.uk/broadband-.../o2-broadband-standard.asp

If you can't get O2 LLU (standard, premium or pro) I probably wouldn't bother as their Home Access non-LLU package has pretty bad reviews.

Plusnet Value might be a good alternative - although it's only unlimited between midnight and 8am - so it would only be worth looking at if you can schedule your game play for very late night sessions!

I don't think you're going to get much else for less than £14 though.

Empty_pockets

Thanks.

Can't seem to see a LLU package on the 02 website.

Are we talking about the O2 standard broadband at £7.50/12.50???

If so i'm in a good area.

dylanuk

Yes - O2 LLU is Standard (£750/£12.50), Premium or Pro.

The O2 non-LLU package is Home Access - so as long as O2 aren't offering you that, you're fine!

mk-donald

Yes the o2 "LLU" packages are all EXCEPT o2 Access, so Std/Prem/Pro = the totally recommendable ones.

From today you can blag £50/60/70 cashback by joining via a £back site such as Quidco or TopCashback.

Combine that with the o2 3months free and it's from £1.50-£2.50/month over the first year! So if the o2 website expects you to get well over 8Mbps then you may as well go for o2 Premium (rather than Std which gets capped at 8Mbps modem synch - NOT usage, they are all "unlimited") and later on downgrade if you find its benefits don't outweigh its extra cost).

I maintain a few PDF documents about the o2 packages, their net-cost, and how to use an o2 PAYG to get the service as cheaply as possible at
http://cid-99aa6cf1226facfe.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/o2%20Broadband%20-v-%20Be%20There%20Broadband

MKD

macman

Empty_pockets wrote: »

Hi,

Just requested my MAC code from Pipex, bills suddenly got from 7.99 to 14.99.

I'm rarely download, internet usage is mainly reading forums, sometimes youtube/iplayer.

We do however use Xbox live, 2 accounts in the household. Both used quite a bit.

Can anyone suggest a suitable ISP?

p.s I am on O2 so should be eligible for the discounted rate.

Thanks.

youtube or iPlayer: streaming or downloading, it makes no difference, it all comes out of your monthly allowance if you are on a capped service.

Empty_pockets

Didn't realise that. I though watching streaming on a website was different to actually downloading that product??

macman

Empty_pockets wrote: »

Didn't realise that. I though watching streaming on a website was different to actually downloading that product??

No, your monthly allowance is based on data used, not data downloaded.
Even when you send an email or load a web page, you are still using data.
Streaming video is data-intensive, as is downloading video.