Uncapped Broadband Recommendation Please

sco0ter

Rex_Mundi wrote:

Zen offer no line contention, unlimited usage and free migration.

Zen have a contention of 50:1

Rex_Mundi

Zen have a contention of 50:1

Could be my mistake here. I'm sure I received an email from them to this effect. I will go through my emails later when I get time and double check.

Rex_Mundi

Thanks Rex, I had used ADSLGuide as a reference point, but tend to be cautious of users opinions purely because with sites such as that, it tends to be people having negative comments more than positive.

I've never thought of the ratings on this site to be like that. I always rate mine when I go there for a speed check, and always score Zen very highly. If you hover your mouse over the bars for each score. It tells you how many people have voted, and the score for each section. I've always found ADSL guide to be the best independent ratings site for broadband in the UK.

sco0ter

For some reason this sites speed check has never been any good for me. Both with BT and UKOnline they scored low yet I get full speed when using other types of speed test like downloading large files from places like Macromedia and adobe. I also score full speed using the tweakmaster built in speed test as well as some of the other speed test sites that are about.

Rex_Mundi

Zen have a contention of 50:1

I had to call Zen to get a definative answer to this one. Zen offer NO contention on their network.

BANDWIDTH TO SPARE
We guarantee NO CONTENTION on our network. Uncompromised service with bandwidth investment that stays well ahead of customer demand is the only sure way to deliver performance that provides full Internet enjoyment and business-critical reliability.
http://www.zen.co.uk/

However, BT does a contention rate of 50:1. This means that if you use a BT phone line for broadband (no matter who your ISP is), they can share your line with up to 49 other broadband users. Once the signal gets to the exchange, and onto Zens network. Each line is individual, and you don't share your line with any other of their customers.

I was a bit baffled by this one for a while....lol

sco0ter

Rex_Mundi wrote:

I had to call Zen to get a definative answer to this one. Zen offer NO contention on their network.

BANDWIDTH TO SPARE
We guarantee NO CONTENTION on our network. Uncompromised service with bandwidth investment that stays well ahead of customer demand is the only sure way to deliver performance that provides full Internet enjoyment and business-critical reliability.
http://www.zen.co.uk/

But they still advertise the service with contention ratios. Not having contention on thier network doesnt really help if BT do it as you could still experience the same slowdowns if the network becomes loaded. Its advertised as 50:1 here

http://www.zenbroadband.com/ADSL.aspx?page=165

and 20:1 for office here

http://www.zenbroadband.com/ADSL.aspx?page=167

Rex_Mundi

This is what confused me. The quote in bold was taken from Zens own website (on the front page). It's not zen that applies a 50:1 contention, it is BT.

I'd also seen the 50:1 and 20:1 figures on further pages on the website. This is why I called Zen to ask them why they were saying no contention on the site, and on a different page they quoted 50:1 contention.

Technically the no contention on Zens network is true. It is just not very clear that before you get to that stage you are going through a possible 50:1 contention because of BT (as any ISP would have to).

I've got to say though. The service from Zen is top notch.

TheChillPill

If memory serves me correct, the Zen situation sits true with all ISP's. So the likes of Wanadoo, AOL etc all effectively offer no contention at their end, but because they all effectively resell BT's services, the BT contention ratio is what effects it.

The only exception to this is any ISP that has gone down the LLU route - if your connection goes through a LLU enabled exchange, then any contention is directly down to the ISP.

dragonsoup

I also use Zen. Again not the cheapest but I have done cheap before, Zen is worth it!!

accyuklad

i did put summat ere just relised this topic is old lol