help with broadband

jandhmum123

iam with bt and want to leave, there are so many broadband companies out there i dont know who to go, sky, talktalk orange seem ok in my area ol13, someone even said the postoffice, plusnet seen ok, and primus are only round the corner from me

i want unlimited broadband, anytime calls i need a great speed but i just dont know, i would stay with bt but they keep robbing me, there customer service is rubbish. thankyou

viv0147

Well if you have Virgin cable in your area that's the one to go for it's the best

macman

Since broadband is exchange specific, start with an exchange search on www.samknows.com for your available LLU providers.
Horange and TT are the only 2 ISP's generally rated lower than BT. The PO is just a BT reseller, as is Primus.
Sky is the obvious choice for a truly unlimited service, but we don't know if it's available LLU on your exchange, so post the samknows data.

vigman

Hi

Same dilemma as OP. I keep checking what is apparently available to me by postcode, but when directed to the sites of ISPs the price jumps significantly.

I am currently with Orange BB unlimited with BT line and Anytime calls. Orange offers all sorts of goodies, especially as I am an Orange mobile account holder.....but always gets back to £38 even if I have their line rental and with unlimited downloads and anytime calls!?

My exchange info says:

The following services are available in your location:

BT Wholesale ADSL
BT Wholesale ADSL Max
BT Wholesale WBC (21CN)
TalkTalk (CPW) LLU
Virgin Media (Cable)

The exchange now is LLU ....BUT no ISPs seem to have put their kit in the exchange?

I understand that in this case ISPs are simply buying BT BB wholesale and passing it on?

TalkTalk comes out best on pricing, but then I read all the negative comments here..........

I am now on a low income in sickness retirement and can't waste money but need the services I have stated. Every time I start to check, I get led round in circles and come up with prices very similar to what I am currently paying.

Any help welcomed, please

TIA

Vigman

macman

The samknows data is clear: TT are the only LLU supplier on your exchange, so you should be able to get the 'headline' TT price for Essentials etc. Have you checked with them? Name of your exchange?
Price should be around £20.50 if you opt for Line Rental Saver (so equivalent of £9 for line rental, £6.50 for the broadband, and a fiver for the Anytime boost). Essentials is an unlimited service (with FUP).
The CS is what you would expect from TT, but it's really Hobson's choice for you.

vigman

Thanks for the reply.

As TT is part of BT, does the line rental actually stay in BT's control?

Also, when I put my postcode in broadband checkers, it often comes up with cheap prices for the exchange by various ISPs, only to have these disappear when going on to ISPs' sites!!

Vigman

macman

TalkTalk has no connection to BT whatsoever-where did you get that from? TT was formerly part of CPW, now a separate company. You will pay line rental to TT on an LLU service.
The reason that the price goes up after entering your postcode is that the headline prices are for an LLU service. Your exchange only has one LLU provider, the others will quote a higher price for a non-LLU service because they have to pay higher rate to BT Wholesale. There is little point in you moving to another BT reseller from Horange. The only cheaper service you will get at present is TT, unless VM cable is an option (it's available in your area, but not necessarily at your address).

chanz4

Talktalk / primus are cheap for one reason......lack of service

vigman

Thanks for clarifying the TT thing. I always thought they were a sub of BT for some reason!....now realise it is Plusnet...doh!

I can get Virgin, but the price is pretty high for what I want AND although you get cable to the socket, I take it you still rely on a decent WI-FI signal inside the property, which in my case has 2 foot thick stone walls and clobbers all the routers I have tried.

Apart from that, the horrors of NTL service to friends is still in my mind........is Virgin better??

Thanks

Vigman

macman

Virgin is NTL/Telewest, it's just a branding exercise. Branson does not even sit on the VM board.
If you have solid internal walls then the same wi-fi issue will arise whether you have cable or ADSL delivery. Homeplugs are the solution.
VM cable is fibre-optic only to the cabinet, then conventional copper from there to the home.

chanz4

macman wrote: »

Virgin is NTL/Telewest, it's just a branding exercise. Branson does not even sit on the VM board.
If you have solid internal walls then the same wi-fi issue will arise whether you have cable or ADSL delivery. Homeplugs are the solution.
VM cable is fibre-optic only to the cabinet, then conventional copper from there to the home.

home plugs or you can get a wifi extender which piggy backs off your exisiting (wireless access point)