Are There Any Good Broadband Providers

DavidAC

Tearing my hair out over continued speed problems with NOW Broadband. Whichever broadband provider I look at there seems to be very bad comments on here including TalkTalk, Vodafone, Plusnet, Pop and Onestream. Can anyone recommend a decent provider.

Neil_Jones

DavidAC said:

Tearing my hair out over continued speed problems with NOW Broadband. Whichever broadband provider I look at there seems to be very bad comments on here including TalkTalk, Vodafone, Plusnet, Pop and Onestream. Can anyone recommend a decent provider.

You always get far more comments about crap service than you do good service.

This is the case for any provider.

You may want to be advised that if your speed issue is caused by an issue with the line it will probably follow you to another provider

oldernonethewiser

I had no speed problems with Sky, Now or Plusnet.

Not great routers for any of them but put in a MESH system and that solved the issue.

Currently with ZEN and no complaints.

DavidAC

I have stayed in twice when NOW arranged for Open Reach to visit, both times they fixed the fault in the cabinet so did not visit my house. Both times neither OR or NOW told me the visit to my house had been cancelled so I wasted two days pay for nothing. After both occasions I complained to NOW and was told I would not be compensated because OR cancelled. First fault was apparently a bad line in the cabinet and they moved me to another. Second time was a loose connection. On other occasions they fixed it without involving OR. Each fix only lasted a few weeks before I notice, and confirm with test, the speed going down again. For one week I got nearly 67Mbs, now I get less than 16Mbs when the guaranteed minimum is 57Mbs.

Does Open Reach give notice they are on their way, I could get home from work in 30mins notice?

Neil_Jones

DavidAC said:

Does Open Reach give notice they are on their way, I could get home from work in 30mins notice?

Considering you have no contact or obligation with/to Openreach, why would you expect to be told anything by them?

They will tell your ISP who may then decide to pass it on that they're on their way.

400ixl

Openreach / ISP notice tends to be as they press your doorbell so unlikely you will get 30 minutes notice other than the reminder the day before / morning that they will attend within the appointment window.

Of the ISP's you listed the only one I would touch is Plusnet. I am dealing with an intermittent issue at the moment and Plusnet have been pretty good, Openreach not so much.

There are ISP's like Zen who do offer better levels of service but you do pay for it, same as you pay for what you get with the likes of TalkTalk, Vodafone, Shell, Pop and Onestream. In the middle you have the likes of Sky, BT, EE etc. 

M25

Is there a fibre (FTTP) service at your address? Or a good 5G signal?

If you have a crap VDSL/ADSL copper line it'll be just as crap with someone else.

DavidAC

M25 said:

Is there a fibre (FTTP) service at your address? Or a good 5G signal?

If you have a crap VDSL/ADSL copper line it'll be just as crap with someone else.

No FTTP. I have registered with Virgin Media to be informed when it is available. Can't see me using 5G to stream TV.

M25

Test for 5G. I get 250MBPS all day every day. Youtube 2160p works great and I get a better buffer than FTTP. 4G may be an option too. If buying/testing a router try and get category 19 or close to 19. The speed I get is reported as "poor" in the router software obviously that's a guage against a possible 10 gigabit.

Vodafone will let you send their 5G router back with a cooling off period. They -like 3- also do monthly plans if you don't want a contract or you could simply buy a 2nd hand router and separate SIM. I've done that for years.

Also worth looking at https://www.starlink.com/ if you want a stable service and are willing to pay a premium (£75PM).

prowla

I have Zen (FTTP) and Virgin (coax) BB connections to my house.

I've only had Zen for less than a year, but they seem fine.

I've had Virgin for a number of years and the BB itself is great, but woe betide if you need support.

I've Sky BB which was good.

I ditched the Sky one because of their prices rises and was going to lose the Virgin one for the same reason, but I reduced the speed for a lower price and have it as a standby as I WFH.

Some providers do deals on bundles, eg. EE with mobile and BB.

oldernonethewiser

DavidAC said:

M25 said:

Is there a fibre (FTTP) service at your address? Or a good 5G signal?

If you have a crap VDSL/ADSL copper line it'll be just as crap with someone else.

No FTTP. I have registered with Virgin Media to be informed when it is available. Can't see me using 5G to stream TV.

Do you not have a good 5G signal where you live, is that an issue?