Don't know what best to do for our needs!

FBaby

I feel so ancient when it comes to understanding broadband and the more i read, the more I get confused, so would be very grateful for any advice from the expert.
The situation: 2 adults, 2 teenagers, adults use mainly the internet, little download, although would like to watch youtube videos or occasional old TV programmes on computer. Kid likely to want to do that more often, and more importantly, son will be getting xbox live at Christmas and probably on it quite a bit!

Currently, we have a SKY package that includes TV (entertainment extra), broadband and sly talk, all for £56. Our broadband is an absolute nightmare, can't watch anything, download takes forever if it ever works, we often have no internet connection, just not good and getting frustrated, hence looking for something else.

I went today about to upgrade mobile phone with EE and they suggested going for fibre optic. Fine, but does it means that this is our best chance to avoid above issue? We do have very bad mobile phone signal in our area but not sure if there is a link with broadband.

Anyway, I would really appreciate if for advice as to whether we should indeed go with fibre optic and should we go with unlimited (as we are now). Would it be better to consider moving the whole package (with TV) with say BT or Virgin (although bad experience with them previously!) or just broadband (with say EE or above provider). They are all doing offers at the moment and I am very wary of the small print with T&C.
Thanks

forgotmyname

Have they checked that your in a fibre enabled area?

go on the samknows website or BT / Plusnet and do the fibre checker.

It should give you an estimated speed. Previously i was barely getting 4mb. They said fibre would give me 69mb. I actually get 73mb.

A good quality 30 minute show (350mb) takes about 40 seconds to download. Im with Plusnet. But Sky should be the same.
I didnt want to be with Sky though. terrible customer service.

macman

There is no connection between your broadband line speed and your mobile signal strength.
EE is just a resold BT Wholeale product. Look at Plusnet as well.

flashg67

try here?

http://www.broadbandchoices.co.uk/fibre-broadband?_$ja=tsid:39790


There's a good article explaing the basics (on MSE) here http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/cheap-broadband

FBaby

Thank you very much for your responses and for Martin's guide which indeed makes it very clear. It starting to become clearer. I know that I can't get Virgin, but can get BT and plusnet! I have downloaded this app on my mobile that gives an indication of speed....according to it, last night, ours was currently only....033mb...no surprise I get frustrated! It looks like BT offers the best deal at the moment, but will continue to look. Thanks again.

jem16

FBaby wrote: »

I have downloaded this app on my mobile that gives an indication of speed....according to it, last night, ours was currently only....033mb...no surprise I get frustrated!

Was your mobile connected to your BB by WiFi at the time? If not your speed test would have no bearing on your BB speed.

What services does BT and Plusnet offer you? Unless it's fibre you are not going to get any greater speed with them than you have with Sky at the moment.

What service do you have with Sky currently? Is it their Unlimited BB or not?

macman

FBaby wrote: »

Thank you very much for your responses and for Martin's guide which indeed makes it very clear. It starting to become clearer. I know that I can't get Virgin, but can get BT and plusnet! I have downloaded this app on my mobile that gives an indication of speed....according to it, last night, ours was currently only....033mb...no surprise I get frustrated! It looks like BT offers the best deal at the moment, but will continue to look. Thanks again.

Do an exchange search on samknows.com for your available LLU options. Are you on Sky Connect (LLU) or Sky broadband (LLU)? if the former, then it's always going to be dire.
Plusnet and BT are the same (non LLU) service.
Looks like you are a long way out from the exchange, in which case the only way you are going to get an appreciably faster line is via FTTC. Use the speed checker on the BT?Plusnet sites to get an idea of FTTC speed. It'll be the same whichever FTTC provider you go with, as they're all reselling the same BTW product.

FBaby

Was your mobile connected to your BB by WiFi at the time? If not your speed test would have no bearing on your BB speed.

Yes, it was! Quite bad really, and strangely, we are supposedly not far at all from the exchange (according to neighbour) It has got much worse in the last 6 months, so something happened. We asked Sky to investigate a couple of months ago and they fobbed us off that it had nothing to do with them.

Looks like you are a long way out from the exchange, in which case the only way you are going to get an appreciably faster line is via FTTC

Sorry, what's FTTC?

In the end, did a search on best offers and ended up with EE as can't get Virgin. As I am already a customer of EE, I got this deal:
- half price installation (£25)
- 18 months contract, £15 a month with unlimited downloads, unlimited week-end phone 38mb speed
- 3 months half price
- £11 month line rental by paying it all in one go

This is coming up to less what we have been paying Sky, although that's because we currently have free international calls but don't need it any longer.

We get the new router, so no need for engineer to come over and been promised that it would be set up before Christmas.

My first question was to ask the actual speed we would get with it as I read that they have to tell you if you ask, and I was told it would be 38mb in our area.

I think I did ok in the end and please my boy will get to enjoy his long waited for Christmas present now!

Thanks again for all your help, I have learnt a lot about broadband over the week-end

jem16

FBaby wrote: »

Sorry, what's FTTC?

Fibre To The Cabinet.

It looks like you have chosen a Fibre product.

penrhyn

OP Post your router line statistics.

http://192.168.0.1/sky_router_status.html


user admin, password sky

They look like this.

Broadband Link Downstream Upstream Connection Speed
10237 kbps1023 kbps
Line Attenuation43.5 dB25.4 dB
Noise Margin3.9 dB11.11 dB

macman

More likely it's up to 38Mbps. You may in practice get a lot less.