Updated Find the cheapest broadband discussion thread

harryhound

I am currently with "Mad as a Fish".
Like Plus+Net, MAAF has been bought out by British Telecom and then given to Plus+Net to administer.

I'm on a BT local loop (ie my copper wire goes off to a BT exchange 2 miles away.)
Cable is not an option.

I'm not interested in an O2 or Sky bundle, so my only other option is Talk Talk.
I appear to be connected to a 5.99 GBP exchange, so it is obvious that if I don't want to risk Talk Talk I should switch to Plus+Net and halve my monthly cost.

However I'm not happy with the quality of my BT provided service - too many drop outs these days.
BT is constantly promising us their 21st Century Network.
My local exchange according to "Sam Knows" will have "21CN PSTN" in 3 months (?!?)
.
Am I right in translating this into "The trunk VOICE lines into the exchange will be using VOIP (voice over internet protocol) technology soon thus saving BT lots of money as these digital calls should require fewer engineers and can be fed at a higher density over existing wires?

"Sam also knows" that there is no date scheduled for "21CN WBC".
Does this mean, "there is no scheduled improvement likely in your broadband service in the foreseeable future?"

Harry

Woggle

Hi there,

I hope you might be able to offer me some advice.

I have had my broadband and home phone with Vodafone (Vodafone at Home) as I had a mobile contract with Vodafone.

However, I've just cancelled my contract and moved to O2 on my mobile. This means that I've got to switch broadband (otherwise Vodafone will charge me more).

I'm currently looking at these two options (would like unlimited use):

- O2: Standard (£7.34 per month and with £50 at Quidco - works out at £3.17 per month)
- Be There: Be Value (£13.50 per month but with 6 months free and £45 at Quidco - works out at £3.00 per month)

Could someone tell me about time shifting and whether either of these companies do this. Could you also tell me whether I get a static IP with these suppliers for free. Any suggestions on which to go to?

As for the phone - I'm currently paying line rental to Vodafone even though it's a BT line. Would I need to speak to BT about paying line rental to them (or do I pay to O2 / Be There).

As for the phone, I'm either going to go with BT unlimited evenings and weekends or Primus.

Given that I don't want to lose any internet downtime, who would I need to speak to first and in which order?

harryhound

How far are you from your local exchange?

Theoretically BT Wholesale treats all the local phone lines the same and there is a "Chinese wall" between BT Wholesale and BT retail.

Woggle

Hiya,

We are about 2.49km from the exchange according to Sam Knows. LLU is present at the exchange for O2 / Be Unlimited.

So does that mean I'd need to speak to BT about paying them directly for the line rental charge?

harryhound

That will be a "as the crow flies distance"
You might want to look at the map that is linked to samknows to see the probable extra distance the wire actually goes from your local knowledge, of the geography between you and the exchange.
I would say you are average to more than average away from the exchange.

I'm not an expert (see thinkbroadband or some of the technical experts on here) but your current router should be able to produce statistics of what your BT length of copper wire can do.
Be has a reputation for using their own kit in the exchange and getting good results for urban customers very local to the exchange.
I don't know your needs for broadband or the packages available for you from 02/Be that could free you from BT Retail. However there is little point in buying a Ferrari if you only have a cart track on which to take it for a spin.
Search the forums for better advice than I can offer.

c7borg

does anyone have the best option for good value business broadband the best offer so far is virgin/ntl at £35inc vat but this is for a 24month contract
I tried bt but they are £39inc vat for line and broadband and that's a limited service!!

Tiscali looks a great deal but whether they accept me as it's in a business premises is another matter

any help appreciated

spurspants

On the cheap broadband guide it says this: "Sign up to a year's contract on the Be There Value* package and it's free for the first six months and £13.50 thereafter (ave £6.75/mth) and the £24 connection fee will be waived. To get the offer just enter the code broadbandchoices in the promotional box at the check out (we have permission to list this code). This offer is also available to existing customers that are out of their contract period."

I'm an existing customer out of my contract period and they have just said I can't have this deal. Anyone else tried successfully? If so how did you do it? Martin says you have to enter the code when you sign up to get the deal but exisiting customers obviously don't sign up so there's no way of entering a code!?!?!!

SomeOne_2

spurspants wrote: »

On the cheap broadband guide it says this: "Sign up to a year's contract on the Be There Value* package and it's free for the first six months and £13.50 thereafter (ave £6.75/mth) and the £24 connection fee will be waived. To get the offer just enter the code broadbandchoices in the promotional box at the check out (we have permission to list this code). This offer is also available to existing customers that are out of their contract period."

I'm an existing customer out of my contract period and they have just said I can't have this deal. Anyone else tried successfully? If so how did you do it? Martin says you have to enter the code when you sign up to get the deal but exisiting customers obviously don't sign up so there's no way of entering a code!?!?!!

I'm in the same boat, just been told that existing customers are ineligible. Any existing customers been successful at getting this offer?

MrMoore

hI,

8Mb TOTAL COST £38 PER YEAR via topcashback (was when I signed up)+ £13 per quarter for low user ratre BT line, + £10 every quarter in mobile top ups. Total = £140 per year with free phone calls from MOBILE, (500mins per month) and BT land land line to use for 0800 numbers etc. The £40 per year necessary top up on o2 stays in credit on phone forever to use when ever you want.

I have o2 broadband at £8 approx per month when top up 02 mobile at least £10 every three months , which also gets me 500 at my post code call time mins per £10 top up and keep the £10 credit on the phone for out of post code calls. Have to have BT but ok with low user rate at £13 per qtr. Then apply through twww.topcashback.co.uk and recieve £50 cash back on the one year contract.

The service is reasonably fast at 8Mb (mine is although the first few days it was 18mb got bumped off then put back on at 8mb) and the service from o2 is excellent with free 0800 or online support, free connection, no download limit, free modem with set up CD.



Mr Moore

MrMoore

o2 broadband just got cheaper down from £38 a year to less than £1 a month!! as its now £70 cash back with first month's free. To get £70 cash back untill end March 2009, just buy via www.topcashback.co.uk , which itself has no fee to join.