help needed with broadband, urgent

random456

i hope someone can help-basically ive been with unlimited dial up for a couple of years, but ive finally had enough-its just too slow. I keep hearing horror stories about a lot of isp's, and this is what i need:

good customer service, no premium help lines
no penalty if cancelling early
hopefully a free router or something free/reduced!
i DONT want cable tv or a different phone company, just the internet
this comps old, only got 128mb ram, will it cope with broadband?
prefer no download limit or at least a large limit (i use net for around 5 hrs every day)

please can i have some advice?? please??

woo

lot of people are deserting the ISP i'm on to go to Zen or Nildram.
These don't have premium rate, but the local / national call rate - most isps will.

random456

never heard of them....thats why i asked on here if i searched all the isps id be here for days, so i guess im asking for opinions as well as offers..

dickibobboy

how did you cope on dailup for 5hrs a day :eek:

devizes18193

have a look at primus there is a thread over in the internet board . Ok you have to have your phone with them but will keep your number and customer service is a 0800 number and free modem

dazed

virgin.net broadband, no contract and free router etc.

I have just gone to bt total broadband which is good too. Nildrma are good but know they are owned by pipex have gone down on speed and connection.

Zen are good too.

have a look at adslguide.org for loads of info.

random456

ahhhh virgin are doing a free router thanks for that!

random456

thanks devizes but we dont want to change our phone line

random456

dicki im starting to wonder that myself, considering if i have messenger and 2 windows on the flamin thing freezes!!!! argh!

Guy_Wise

Put your number into a number checker first, to see what is available in your area.

AOL is worth a look, people are negotiating good deals, but you must get them to email you back with the details, otherwise they have been changed in some cases.
I don't think their free router has a ADSL modem fitted??
Someone will be able to confirm that.
I think they do sell a Netgear for £25 as an option, which is quite good, but you have to ask for it when you call them.
Also, AOL on their silver deal have tried to put people on 512k, so check your number first (as i said at the top) so you know what speeds are available to you (silver is up to 1mbps).
The 12 month contract is also negotiable, but as i said you must get them to email you confirmation of what you agreed on the phone.

Your pc should be Ok. I hate USB modems, much prefer routers. You just throw in the username and password and leave it on and forget about it, much easier and better.
However, to run a router you will need to fit a Network Interface Card (NIC) to your pc, if you haven't got one already. Only about £2 off ebay for a standard ethernet card (assuming you are not looking for wi-fi at the moment)
What may cause your pc to struggle is if you run the players, like Real, Quicktime, Media player etc (they are pretty resource hungry) You may need the players to watch some streaming files, such as NASA TV, or whatever.

I don't know what type numbers AOL use for customer service (maybe 0800 ?) but most ISPs use 0870 numbers, which are national rate, around 7p a min which is still a rip off!

stevep10

Greetings pumpa
Just been looking at your post; I've been with metronet ( now Plusnet, just been taken over) for about 2 yrs now and I've had no problems at all, ever! I've got 2mb download speed that will shortly be upgraded to 8mb free of charge provided that the line can take it, and a 2mb download limit that i have never reached, and all for £13.75 a month including vat. I agree with some of the previous posts that a router is much more use than putting in passwords and stuff but if you do go that way get one with a built-in firewall. Netgear DG854 or similar are good and less than £50 now. I signed up to a three month contract at the start but have no idea if it still stands. From what i can see, and i do check regularly, they are still the cheapest around.
Metronet.co.uk