BT Total Broadband Home Hub Queries........or Madasafish??

vr6lad

I've come to the end of my 12 month contract with BT on option 1. They have recently offered to upgrade me to option 2 for the same monthly price (£17.99) on another 12 month contract and throw in a free BT Home Hub.

The home hub looks and sounds snazzy (kind of!). I have to say that I've been quite happy with BT Broadband. However after doing some googling on the home hub, I've read posts that this router can struggle with online gaming which surprised me a little. Would I have to download all the BT Yahoo nonsense to set up this router too?

Looking at ADSLguide, Madasafish seems to get pretty good all round reviews for service, speed and reliability. I did consider Talk Talk but have decided to give them a wide berth!

What would the forum go for? Any other recommendations? Any service offering between 4-6GB a month would suit me fine.

littleboo

You dont need to install any software to set the hub up, it can all be done via a web browser.

1mmaker

If you have cable in your area go for that mate,

Have hear alot of horror stories about the hub but on the other hand i have heard good things too.

My opinion would be to go for cable and pick you your own router if they dont offer you a free one.

vr6lad

Alas, we don't get cable in this here part of the world, otherwise I'd probably have gone for that option. My friends connection is very quick and has been 100% reliable.

BT have been fine to date, but this Home hub is a slight concern. I suppose I could keep my trusty old 2091 router and flog the hub if it wasn't working well.

Is anyone using (or can recommend) Zen Internet? They are another provider that stood out after my googling session.

1mmaker

Zen do have a very good review and support is good too mate.

One problem with bt total broadband is that all the contact centres are now based in india. Actually i think there is one in dublin but thats about it. Your lucky if you get through to them.

Dont think you would be able to seel the hub mate,

I know that all new business broadband routers now have the intelligent logon system where it picks your username and password from the serial number on your router.

Thus meaning if you sell it on ebay it wouldnt work on another broadband connection.

But i would need to get this confirmed for you.

vr6lad

Thanks for that 1mmaker.

Think I'll pass on BT and the hub. As mentioned, the hub has mixed reviews - some excellent, some scathing - but my current setup is fine. (If it ain't broke etc...). Popped a question to MAAF customer support and they provided a very throrough reply quickly so think I am leaning towards them.

Only thing with Zen is the 2GB allowance which is a bit tight going on my recent broadband usage. For the same money I'd get a 5GB allowance with MAAF and there seems to be quite a few happy punters with them.

Matt_Nixon

Beware with MAAF and the 5GB Usage they include any uploaded use in the 5GB, unlike Nildram, so my 3.8GB/Month became 4.8 to 5 ish on MAAF.

Have to be careful not to blow the limit towards the end of the month!

vr6lad

BT couldn't provide me with a MAC when I just called. Bit annoying but gives me a chance to do a bit more research (and conveniently for them, my option 2 is still on order for next week as that couldn't be cancelled either - lol)

RE: usage, I've always based my allowance on upload and download together (is that not the case with BT or many other ISPs??).

Maybe that extra GB that BT are offering could come in handy for busy months. Hmmmmmmmm :think:

espresso

vr6lad wrote:

BT couldn't provide me with a MAC when I just called. Bit annoying but gives me a chance to do a bit more research (and conveniently for them, my option 2 is still on order for next week as that couldn't be cancelled either - lol)

Surely if you allow this "upgrade" to happen, you will be tied in for a another 12/18 months? There is nothing special about this hub, so if you want your MAC, insist on getting it. The hub will be locked to BT, so you will not be able to use it with another ISP.

crispeater

did they give you a reason as to why they could not provide you with the mac code?

vr6lad

espresso wrote:

Surely if you allow this "upgrade" to happen, you will be tied in for a another 12/18 months?

Yes, for 12 months. When I ordered the "upgrade", I wasn't aware of the pros and cons of the home hub. Infact I didn't have any intention of moving from BT until I went over to https://www.adslguide.org.uk and various ISP forums. I am able to (and will) cancel my order up until the 27th (Monday)

crispeater wrote:

did they give you a reason as to why they could not provide you with the mac code?.

Computer says no!! There was a technical glitch on one of the 'two' systems they use. Whether it was porkies or not, the chap did sound genuinely apologetic so I'll put the sharpened knives away...at least until I try them again later!