broadband confussion

borderlakland

sorry if this a bit long and already been answered:o
i am seriously thinking of cancelling my unlimited package with orange due to long standing problems with the talk bit(no talk)have been online with them for almost 7 wks and talk still not able to be activated.i understand that if i cancell i'll have to get my mac code from them, heard this could be longwinded,do i sign up to a new isp then cancel or wait for the mac thingy then sign up to new isp? don't want to be without broadband for long.is it just the luck of the draw on picking a new isp everytime i decide who to go with i then find people with problems one exception being madasafish(??)
i'm a complete techie novice so someone please help

BritBrat

You get your MAC from Orange and give it to the new ISP and it should all be done for you. Downtime should be minimal.

My only worry in your case is you may be still in contract and if you migrate you may still be billed from Orange, I would make sure you talk to Orange about it first and get it in writting that you can cancel the contract.

MAC codes last 30 days and some ISP will change you if you request another but first one is free in all cases.

opportunity_cost

Just expanding on what BritBrat said, a lot depends on whether you're on a monthly contract or if you agreed to a 12-month contract when you signed up to Orange broadband.

- If you're on a monthly contract:

1. Get your MAC from Orange
2. If Orange LLU'ed you, choose an ISP that accepts LLU MAC's so that yo don't incur any activation costs:
Current known ISP's accepting LLU MAC's
2. Your new ISP will ask you for your MAC code during the signup process. You give it to them and they'll handle the rest
3. Once you're connected with your new ISP, let Orange know so that they don't carry on billing you.

- If you're on a 12-moth contract, you'll have to deal with Orange to get out of that contract first.

borderlakland

have agreed to 12 month contract but reading up loads on it on orangeproblems etc they wont enforce this as they are not suplying the services i signed upto etc spoke to ofcom they agreed this length of time waiting for a service was out of order told me about other comlaints service but can't involve them until 12 wks after 1st complaint.checked on loads of other forums etc not found anyone(yet) who has waited this long.most people have just got problems with their talk service getting cut off interference etc we haven't even got as far as being activated or recieving relevent emails. sorry for rant

borderlakland

how do i find out if orange have LLUed me sorry for sounding like a complete dimwit:o tried to get to grips with it all but the more i read the harder it sounds:eek:

opportunity_cost

Basically, ISPs deliver ADSL over 2 main platforms: IPStream and LLU.

IPStream is the method of providing broadband that most current ISPs use. BT provide the connection in most respects. This method of connection allows the use of MAC codes (if you decide to migrate to another provider).

Local-loop unbundled (LLU) is the method used by some providers to provide services without relying on the BT infrastructure (at least, not their network backbone). LLU MAC codes are a relative new thing and not all providers accept them.

Fortunately, things are a lot better now but in the early LLU days there was no such thing as LLU MAC codes. Not that long ago, LLU users wanting to migrate back to regular IPStream-based ISPs had no choice but to cancel their LLU broadband service and pay an activation fee to the new ISP, the infamous 'cease and reprovide'.


To find out if you've been LLU'ed do a tracert:

Start --> Run --> type "cmd" (without the quotes) --> OK

A new window (C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe) will open. Type:

tracert www.google.com

and press enter

The first hop (line 1) tells you what platform you're on:

* ips = IPStream
* dsl = DataStream (used by a handful of ISPs only)
* llu = LLU