Broadband Provider help?

maria08k

Hello,
Im Maria and new to the Home, Work & Play forums. Currently i only have internet access at work and have been given a laptop for my birthday. Me and my partner desperatly want to get broadband at home, but haven't the foggiest where to start looking for a provider?!

The net will be used about 3-4 hours a day for emails, general surfing and my fella wants to play his PS3 online (YAWN!!)

We dont have a clue about these download limits or what bracket we would fall into? I guy at work has suggested BT but looking at their prices for option 2 (which i think would suit us?) is £20.99 a month!!!! That seems quite steep for us. Any ideas would be fab!

Thankyou

Maria

bathgatebuyer

Hi - I'm no expert on these things but have recently moved to BT from Talk Talk. Talk Talk were the cheapest option for me with their phone and broadband package which was working out at about £25 a month or so for me and my internet is on almost all the time at home (part-time student, full-time internet addict!). I think that was unlimited downloads too.

I've only recently started the process to move to BT owing to some poor service recently from Talk Talk (2 hours on hold to Customer Service when my broadband failed and made the move away from them). However, since letting them know that, it's all back up and running and fine! I've went for the Option 3 Total Broadband and have also bought the BT Vision box too (which I can also put my Setanta through).

I'm a bit more expensive with BT now, but with £40 from Quidco and a reduced deal for the first 6 months, it's not too bad.

(Definitely use Quidco when setting up your broadband as you should get something depending upon the supplier you choose - better in your pockets than theirs!)

jessmist

If you have sky tv i would have a look to see if you can get sky broadband.
Have a look at http://www.samknows.com/broadband/search.php to see if your exchange is unbundled.

DatabaseError

follow jessmist's advice, post the results of the search from the "LLU operator presence" column

maria08k

AOL: EnabledO2 / Be: Not availableC&W / Bulldog: Not availableEdge Telecom: Not availableEntanet: Not availableLumison: Not availableNewNet: Not availableNode4: Not availableOrange: Not availablePipex: Not availableSky / Easynet: Not availableSmallworld: Not availableTalkTalk (CPW): Enabled as of 04/12/2007Tiscali: Not availableTiscali TV: Not availableWB Internet: Not availableZen Internet: Not available

DatabaseError

ok...
the only llu available to you is aol/cpw/tt, if your only consideration is cost then these could be considered, however the xbox may be unplayable online, and if you need support..... If your usage is going to be as low as you suggest, and you aren't likely to start downloading the internet each week, then newnet home lite may be a good option for you at £12/month.

Edit - Be aware they will be a connection fee for a new bband connection of £40, plus you'd have to buy a modem/router, but at least you'd then own the equipment,and have a decent isp,rather than having something 'free' and regretting for 12-18 months

DatabaseError

...and more...
freeola are an entanet reseller, as such i'd recommend, from experience, the service, but their business model is a little shaky! you could take advantage of this by signing to them at £9.99 connection + £9.99 for the 1st month (£25/month threafter), buying your own router, then ask for a MAC as soon as connected and go somewhere cheaper for the 2nd month with free migration.