With sky for bb - wish it was still o2

NiftyDigits

Have also noticed that my upload speeds are lower. Dropped from 1Mbps to 0.86Mbps or thereabouts. Downloads have dropped by 1Mbps or 2.
Since I'm not paying for it at the moment, I'm not going to complain. I'll consider my options later.

kwikbreaks

theloft wrote: »

why is it that connecting to websites takes an age

If speed tests areshowing acceptable speeds but connecting to websites is taking a while then it is worth testing the DNS you are using. Your PC should be caching DNS results and it should only be the initial connection that is slow.

This is a DNS speed test program from google. There are several others around.

https://code.google.com/p/namebench/

Most routers will allow you to override the ISP default DNS servers. Popular alternatives are OpenDNS and Google DNS. If your router doesn't support override then it has to be done on each device which is a bitof a pita.

A.Penny.Saved

I wish I was still with Be*. It looks like no other company can provide anything close to the same level of service that Be* and O2 gave. It's a damn pity that O2 ever purchased Be broadband because that was where the problems started IMO.

I have spoken to PlusNet and the upload speed quoted was less than 500kbps! All tied to the download speed which seems to be where the problem is with how ISP's do it now. Talk Talk do not seem any better. PlusNet seemed helpful though to their credit.

So not much of a choice. I'm really !!!!ed off with all of it. I'm thinking about getting into reading books, getting out more and cancel the whole lot.

theloft

Thanks for all the replies, of course this brings in others with similar problems and they are getting replies as well. To answer some of you, (A Penny.Saved) the upload speed is also slightly better than it was with o2. Then it was only 900kbps, now it is always just over 1Mbps.
This is using "UK's No.1 Broadband Speed Checker" and OOKLA.
This morning I checked again and got 19.19 Mbps download & 1.06Mbps upload. I am beginning to think it is my PC, but cannot find anything wrong.

theloft

kwikbreaks wrote: »

If speed tests areshowing acceptable speeds but connecting to websites is taking a while then it is worth testing the DNS you are using. Your PC should be caching DNS results and it should only be the initial connection that is slow.
This is a DNS speed test program from google. There are several others around. https://code.google.com/p/namebench/
Most routers will allow you to override the ISP default DNS servers. Popular alternatives are OpenDNS and Google DNS. If your router doesn't support override then it has to be done on each device which is a bitof a pita.

Hi, Thanks for this but having downloaded it, when I tried to run the test Malwarebytes blocked it, stating it was a malicious website !! But as previously stated I do not think download speeds are the problem, it maybe SKY management but more likely my PC.

teddysmum

My Sky broadband is much better than with O2 and a number of people who changed said the same of theirs, so not everyone is dissatisfied.

honeybean

I can honestly say I have had no problems with my sky bb, I have unlimited and honestly would never change it as cost and customer service is great.

Xplozion

theloft wrote: »

Hi, Thanks for this but having downloaded it, when I tried to run the test Malwarebytes blocked it, stating it was a malicious website !! But as previously stated I do not think download speeds are the problem, it maybe SKY management but more likely my PC.

DNS isn't to do with download speeds, rather the speed in which a server finds the location of the website you're after. It sounds like changing your DNS would probably improve things, Sky's is probably inundated now because of the rate of growth they are seeing.

Try a different DNS server like OpenDNS or Google DNS, both are free and should be snappier.

theloft

Xplozion wrote: »

Try a different DNS server like OpenDNS or Google DNS, both are free and should be snappier.

Sounds a good idea, but being non-techie, can you advise me on how to do this ? Thanks.

tronator

A.Penny.Saved wrote: »

I have spoken to PlusNet and the upload speed quoted was less than 500kbps!

You can ask Plusnet to remove the upload restriction.

http://community.plus.net/forum/?topic=108517.msg927105

My upload speed is just below 1Mbps compared to 1.5Mbps I had with BE, but for 5 quid a month I won't complain too much