Cheapest Broadband Provider Discussion

Rex_Mundi

There are advantages and disadvantages for both wired and wireless networks.

The advantage of a wireless network is:

Far better ease of movement around the house without trailing wires or having to plug in anywhere.

The advantages of a wired network are:

Far better speeds and a more stable network. Even if you have 108Mb wireless, because of the way this works, you will get around half this network speed. A wired ethernet network will run at 100Mbs (or very close).

Far better security. The only people that are going to access your wired network are others plugged into it. With a wireless network, you are broadcasting the signal all around your house, to your neighbours, and out into the street. There are encription methods, but you have to be very careful to set these up properly and securely. If you don't, anyone within your network range could use your network to access the net and/or your computer files. This is much more a concern in a city or built up area.

Far cheaper. When I decorated, I buried Cat5e network cable into all the main rooms of the house. All I have are wall plugs that look like telephone points. 100m of cable did all the rooms, and was only £17 at B&Q. The router is cheaper, and so are ethernet cards for PCs/laptops. It is a bit more hassle doing the job in the beginning, but once it's in, is very easy to use (just plug in a computer and access the internet/network)

I would always go with a wired network if the circumstances are right. This is not for everyone, but at least you have a good choice to get all your computers linked and on the net.

theloft

baby_frogmella wrote:

Hi donop

i suggest sign up up to metronet (https://www.metronet.co.uk), they offer pay-as-you broadband for only 11.75 a month (min charge) and contract period is only 1 month. I believe you just need a BT landline to sign up to their service. Give them a call and they'll give you all the necessary info.

Beware heavy users (or even moderate ones) as the Metronet £11.75 per month only gives you 400MB download (at512kbps). Additional MB comes in at .235 pence per MB. So if you download 1GB in a month, the monthly charge escalates to £13.16. Not so cheap as it firsts sounds.

ioscorpio

Don't know if this is anywhere else, but just come across this for those who live in the SE. TV phone and broadband for £14.99 a month

http://www.homechoice.co.uk/packages/packages.html

StephenB_2

Donop wrote:

Hello everyone, I'm afraid I'm a true dunce when it comes to the Internet, Broadband and anything associated with it. I am currently on a regular phone line (dreadful quality) and have a BT Internet e-mail account. My ISP is BT Yahoo Surftime 24/7 (was BT Internet). My question is this: I'd like Broadband but I'm not a mega Internet user so I'd like to keep it cheap (Max 8 hrs/week). I'm reluctant to sign up for 12 mos as we may move abroad at any time (Forces). I can't work out the costs and what I need. I need a phone line (BT rental?), an ISP? AND Broadband??? Is my e-mail account linked to all this? Told you I'm a dunce.

Is there a kind person out there who can take pity and explain in true layman's terms what I need and how to find the cheapest option? Thanks.

I suggest you read this page and the links from it.

I don't know what the 'cheapest' option would be in your case. If you go down the Metronet route, your start-up costs will be (broad-brush) say £30 for a modem/router, say £15 for microfilters, maybe £5 for cables, about £70 connection. Circa £120 all in.

Plus £11.75 a month for 400 MB at 512kb/s or £13.75 a month for 2GB at 1000 kb/s, one month min contract (look here).

The hardware is yours to take with you if/when you move. You would have to pay another connection fee to enable broadband at your new home.

SJB

Devon_Hippo

I did some looking around as moving house and had to move from cable BB product to ADSL broadband.
Found Toucan www.toucansurf.com the best provider in terms of cost/feature combination.
I chose the 2Mb Unlimited package at £15.99, which includes free setup and free modem ( they offer a £14.99 1Mb and a £13.99 51k package also, but all are unlimited data transfer). True, this service does rely on you using Toucan as your call provider, but there is not charge for that and you do get free weekend calls. If you don't want to use Toucan as your CPS, then you don't have to, but the broadband cost goes up by £1 a month
You may miss out on the free evening calls, but you can still use 1899 override and don't have to worry about if the clock has hit 18:00 yet before asking "do I use CPS or do I use 1899 overide" - life is too short!

Other benefits - £10 free call credit as a new customer :beer:


Summary:
Pros: £15.99 Excellent Price for unlimited fast Broadband
Free Setup and Model
1899 Override works with Toucan CPS service
Free weekend calls (free anytime calls to other Toucan customers)
£10 call credit

Cons: 1 year contract (but who has broadband and ever goes back to dialup!?)
Have to sign up to Toucan as CPS, or Broadband is extra £1/month

PS. I actually thought Toucansurf the best value (cost & features combo) when they had a usage cap and signed up then - in between me signing up and activation, they removed the cap and went unlimited at the same cost (previously £24.99) - so it went from a good deal to an exceptional deal in my books. Also the cap removal was not limited to new customers, but ALL customers, which I always think is a sign of an honest, ethical company.

***Referrals can only be placed on the Referral Board, thank you Board Guide***

Roger_Rampant

Cons: 1 year contract (but who has broadband and ever goes back to dialup!?)

1) I went from broadband to dial-up when I moved house
2) It's usually more a question of whether you want to go from broadband with one provider to broadband with a new provider

DSA_2

Unfortunately Toucan seem to be resellers for Tiscali. Anyone got any good providers for 1MB that are fairly cheap and reliable?

Thanks.

icarusi

Roger_Rampant wrote:

It's usually more a question of whether you want to go from broadband with one provider to broadband with a new provider

What charges, if any, are made by the old provider if you move?

StephenB_2

DSA wrote:

Unfortunately Toucan seem to be resellers for Tiscali. Anyone got any good providers for 1MB that are fairly cheap and reliable?

Thanks.

As I and everyone else keep on saying: https://www.metronet.co.uk

SJB

Capability1957

I am currently on Eclipse Flex Business 250 @ £17.99 pm (1 month contract) but wish to move my broadband to another tel line/no that we have coming into the house. I assume this would be classed as a new set up rather than a migration? If I have to pay set up fee or cancel existing and start again, what would recommendation be? 1Mb would be sufficient speed.
Thanks