Unlimited, Unthrottled Internet with High Upload?

Alexey

Hi there,

I am due to move house in the next two weeks and I have started looking at packages available for broadband and line rental.

I need some advice please.

I am not interested in getting the cheapest deal, I just want fastest available internet with unlimited data, unthrottled for downloads without any traffic filtering etc. I also need reasonable upload rates, since I have set up a media center and I access videos remotely from my iPhone/touchpad.
In terms of phone line, I never use it, so I would just use the cheapest, either Primus or a bundled one if easier.

I have looked at the broadband article on here but I feel like I still need more advice.

SamKnows told me the following:

The following services are available in your location:

BT Wholesale ADSL
BT Wholesale ADSL Max
BT Wholesale WBC (21CN)
BT Wholesale SDSL
BT FTTC
AOL LLU
O2 / Be LLU
Bulldog LLU
TalkTalk (CPW) LLU
Sky Broadband / Easynet LLU
Virgin Media (Cable)

I'm considering the Sky Unlimited package - any other suggestions?

Thanks!

kwikbreaks

You mentioned high upload and cost not important so I'll point out that Be offer an Annex M ADSL2+ product that if memory serves can squeeze 2.5Mbps upload at the expense of some download. Of course with any ADSL it all depends on your line and they could all turn out to be dire - see if any sites give a speed guesstimate based on postcode (I think BT usually will).

bod1467

Do you have any info on how close the new property is to the exchange? Or an attenuation figure for ADSL broadband at that property?

You fastest upload speeds will likely come with Virgin or FTTC.

For ADSL, your best bet speed-wise (and certainly with respect to unlimited usage) is probably BE (and certainly with respect to unlimited usage). Their Pro package offers up to 2.5meg upload speed, but distance (attenuation) is a key factor as to whether this is doable.

Edit: SNAP! :rotfl:

samknows I believe has a mapping option that gives an estimate of distance, although this is straight-line so line distance could be anything from 1.5x to 3x more. (i.e. I am 650m from my exchange, but my line length is 1920m).

macman

On ADSL, only Sky LLU is going to give you truly unlimited data.

rob_wiltshire

Another vote for BE from me unless you are switching to fibre or cable!

The Pro package gets up to 2.5 Meg upload whereas Value and Unlimited packages give up to 1.3Meg upload - obviously it's all down to line length/attenuation but in real life I get 1.1Meg on the Unlimited package.

macman wrote: »

On ADSL, only Sky LLU is going to give you truly unlimited data.

Is BE not unlimited and unshaped?

Alexey

Thanks for the replies.

SamKnows told me I am 504m away from the exchange (straight line).
For some reason BT Infinity is not available at my address (I used the BT address checker).

It looks like Virgin Media XXL (50Mb) is available to me according to their website - what's their traffic shaping/content filtering like?

bod1467

macman wrote: »

On ADSL, only Sky LLU is going to give you truly unlimited data.

Really? You're 100% sure of that?

BE offer truly unlimited data and NO port throttling. Yes, they have a FUP (fair usage policy) but nobody has been sanctioned for data usage, only for using their connections to send SPAM emails.

ETA: I've been with BE for 4 years now, so I know the score.

bod1467

Alexey wrote: »

It looks like Virgin Media XXL (50Mb) is available to me according to their website - what's their traffic shaping/content filtering like?

I've never used them so any comments are anecdotal. But if you use any P2P apps (like torrents or even streaming) then you'll likely find it their service dreadful.

504m straight line suggests 1500m at most. This suggests 20dB attenuation on ADSL2+ which suggests 20meg downstream sync (on someone like BE). Such a line would be suitable for BE Pro and would like give 2meg+ upload sync with 18meg+ download sync. (IMHO)

Ref. FTTC - whilst your exchange is converted it's likely that your local cabinet is not.

Alexey

What about o2 The Works package? it seems to offer unlimited data (well 250GB but that should be enough), 20 mb download ans 2.5mb upload and I have a friend on o2 who has been with them for 2 years so should be able to get the 12 months half price offer?

jb66

Even a Managed virgin line should be faster than adsl

kwikbreaks

It depends on area. Since the launch of unlimited 100Mbps by VM more and more areas are falling into the indescribably dire category and most stay that way for months on end.