Comments on move from PlusNet to Sky Broadband + Phone

editor1

Hi All,

Time to move ISP provider again, been with PlusNet for two years but thought I'd give Sky Broadband and Phone a go, total charge is 25.40 a month with anytime calls, by comparison PN is 26.50 per month for same deal, but no cash-back or decent wireless modem - will also get Sky Q Hub, which should make a decent difference on present set-up.

Effectively, with Sky Cashback offer at 77.00, package should work out at less than 20 quid a month for regular 17mb service.

One question, have had a good 4.5mb-6.3mb connection with PN, good enough for the folks who are low broadband users - just internet TV with occasional iPlayer - so, will current speeds be retained with Sky move - could haggle with PN, but decent wireless router costs minimum of 75 quid and prefer a simple solution that Sky Q Hub seems to offer.

[Deleted User]

Are you sure you'll get the Sky Q Hub? The Sky website suggests the standard Sky Hub for 17meg broadband?

teddysmum

We are on ADSL and actually lost speed in going from Sky to PlusNet. (Can't wait to go back).

Robisere

I did this, in September. Through from September, October and November to most of December, I wish I had not. Explanation:
I was FTTC with PN and getting a max of 8Mbps Download. PN said they could not give me their TV service as my speeds were not good enough. Sky said they could, in writing as I requested. I took Sky and the Q Box. I had loads of trouble with dropouts and half the time my TV and broadband service would not work. Then the phone service died altogether with broadband. Sky ordered a BT Openreach engineer visit. Now, during the PN service, I also had dropouts and several engineer visits, none of which cured the fault entirely. But the BT engineer sent by Sky was different: young and very thorough. Hefound that my line was affected by water and the ancient "GPO" box was corroded. He fitted a new line and new box, moving the external line connection nearer to a new BT socket that he also fitted. Then he found that Sky had not given me FTTC, but ADSL. That service in our rural village, was giving me 2.5Mbps at best - no wonder I had no Sky TV service!

All of these events took time, from reporting one fault after another, to getting another problem solved. I had several Sky engineer visits, and there is a wait between reporting a problem and actually getting a visit. Sky keeps you informmed by email and text, but there is always a wait of up to two weeks before they attend. It is only now, from the last 10 days or so, that I have received a decent, stable, Download speed of almost 14 Mbps.

So my answer to you, is that I do not believe that the network speed you have indicated, will give you a stable TV service. It might work, but it will be risky. Ask PN if you can have their TV service: they are honest enough to tell you whether you can or not.

Will I stay with Sky at the end of my contract? At this moment in time, I would say no, but I will make that decision later.

[Deleted User]

editor1 wrote: »

Hi All,

Time to move ISP provider again, been with PlusNet for two years but thought I'd give Sky Broadband and Phone a go, total charge is 25.40 a month with anytime calls, by comparison PN is 26.50 per month for same deal, but no cash-back or decent wireless modem - will also get Sky Q Hub, which should make a decent difference on present set-up.

Effectively, with Sky Cashback offer at 77.00, package should work out at less than 20 quid a month for regular 17mb service.

One question, have had a good 4.5mb-6.3mb connection with PN, good enough for the folks who are low broadband users - just internet TV with occasional iPlayer - so, will current speeds be retained with Sky move - could haggle with PN, but decent wireless router costs minimum of 75 quid and prefer a simple solution that Sky Q Hub seems to offer.

I'm a bit confused over what you're getting (or have already got)? Although Sky's website isn't helping right now.

£25.40 suggests that you're getting their ADSL service with any calls add-on which is furthered by your mention of 17Mbps. If so you won't get any more than PN are giving you (it'll be up to 17Mbps). You get the standard Sky hub although they do say you can get the Sky Q with no mention of cost.

editor1

Sky Q Hub costs 20 quid for effectively a reasonable AC Wifi Router - I have an old TalkTalk modem attached to a 5th Generation Apple Router that's now showing its age, so move to AC Standard and better wifi coverage worth 20 quid, that or pay 100 plus for a Netgear or Linksys, which is not of great use for my elderly folks.

editor1

OK, the 17Mb unrestricted Broadband package is under 18 quid a month, add 24/7 phone calls makes it 25.40 per month and you get the Sky Hub for 9.95 I think - you can upgrade for 20 quid to the Sky Q Hub. On TopCashBack you get 77 quid cash back, meaning 72 quid paid into your bank account, or 6 quid a month for 12 months, so, excluding one off Q Hub charge, the actual 12 month charge is the same as Plusnet, that being 20 quid a month and their 24/7 phone charge is 6.50 a month - I think its cheaper with Sky given you get a far better wifi router and decent Cash Back, if not for Cash back deal would probably haggle with PN, but its time for a change as long as actual DL speeds the same as PlusNet given we are a mile from the Exchange, so its a 4.5=6.3Mb feed max I'm afraid.

editor1

Thanks for detailed update, however, I am not subscribing to Sky TV services, only Broadband and Phone as folks use Freeview and iPlayer only. Even if it was me I'd never pay for any TV services as most of what I want I grab from the Internet, which is why I have a Seedbox for all my Torrenting requirements - my folks are not Computer savvy and just want a reasonable phone service and regular broadband to link their TV to for the iPlayer.

Glad you got your own issues sorted out and where we live in Wales we can get fibre, but not high speed fibre, but 4-6Mb DL speeds for folks is great and no issues with using it for Xbox Live, although of course fibre would be better, but of no value to my folks.

oldagetraveller

Look out for this. https://www.plus.net/help/my-account/charges-for-removing-broadband/ If moving to Sky when they have their own equipment at the exchange (LLU). "When would I have to pay it".

editor1

Just had bit of shock with PlusNet, seems Anytime Calls charges have gone up from £6.50 to £8.00 per month, making Sky deal really very competitive: So, its £17.40 a month for phone and broadband, add on Anytime calls brings this to £25.40 a month, PN now being £28 per month - without signing up for 12 month discounted line rental. Which ever way I look at it, Sky is now cheaper than PlusNet for exactly same service, coming in at £19.40 a month with CashBack applied, or £21.90 per month once all charges are applied and the cost of the Q Hub applied - need to change by early February.

molerat

You can stay on the old PN £6.50 calls package on renewal, in fact I did not ask for it, they just told me it was continuing.