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Suggestions for first-time broadband please?

Hi, I'm new here, may I have some suggestions for my first broadband package please? First some background :-

1. I have a BT phone line, and my exchange has ADSL Max, but no LLU.
2. I'm pretty sure a 30/300GB limit would be enough (maybe even 3/30GB).
3. I use XP, but have no broadband modem or router yet.

From reading here, I'm thinking of Adsl24 or Ukfsn at £20pm. Any significant difference? Anything about Aquiss which makes it worth paying an extra £5pm? Any other Entanet reseller worth considering/favouring?

Does anyone waive or reduce the £52.88 'new setup' fee? Possibly a 12 month contract which bundles a router and no startup fee (in return for slightly higher rates) might work out cheaper/better for that first year?

If not, which router should I buy (I realise that's a big question!)? I just have a desktop PC, so I don't think I need wireless (yet). (Are wireless routers also usable 'wired'? Any other reason to buy wireless now?). I think I want easy, reliable, low power/heat. Maybe I also want configurable and bells and whistles, if only I knew I did? I don't need to run any servers, network loads of PCs, etc. But still, if £15 buys basic, and £30 buys wonderful and future-proof, I don't mind finding the extra.

Both Adsl24 or Ukfsn provide a fixed IP (and 8 more free, on request). In fact, I'd like to be able to change my IP often/at will. Is that possible with ADSL Max? Does it depend on ISP/router? If I just need to toggle off the router, will that do nasty things to syncing/training/interleaving?

I barely use my BT line for phone calls (thanks to a work-supplied mobile :smilet:). Would I be better switching to another supplier for both line rental and broadband? Bundled calls would be largely irrelevent, but maybe line rental+broadband could be a better package than BT+(say)Adsl24? (I couldn't find much about that here).

And, what have I overlooked, please?

Thanks for any interest and suggestions.

Sue
 
A wireless ADSL router also includes one or more ethernet ports to connect as a wired LAN, this is how you connect it to the main PC ( THE PC in your case).
I haven't used the ISP's you mention but they are both rated highly by users, most ISP's supply a cheap USB modem, which is best thrown away, I recently bought a Zoom X6 wireless router from Pissy Werld for under £40 and am very impressed with it.
If you do not have a static IP a new IP is automatically given to you whenever the router reconnects to the internet, ie if you turn it off or if it drops a connection for some reason, these IP's will all be in the same range of address's.
Query why you dont want static though, I cant think of any valid reason to want a non-static IP, it's not like it will stop spam.
 
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The ISP's you list are all supplied by EntaNet and thus all will perform in more or less the same way. Others worth considering are Zen Internet, Namesco, Fast.co.uk and Firefly to name but a few.

Then it's just a matter of knowing which package suits your requirements and that's usually something only the user can answer correctly. Don't forget to read this too:

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/articles/adsl
 
Query why you dont want static though, I cant think of any valid reason to want a non-static IP, it's not like it will stop spam.

There is at least one merit in having a dynamic IP, they’re less likely to be hit by repeat port scanning/attacks and if you visit public servers/systems then any bans or restrictions will be harder to peg on you. Static is only really essential if you require it for a purpose.
 
From reading here, I'm thinking of Adsl24 or Ukfsn at £20pm. Any significant difference? Anything about Aquiss which makes it worth paying an extra £5pm? Any other Entanet reseller worth considering/favouring?

I'm with UKFSN but have heard good things about ADSL24. Aquiss is run by an ex-Vispa chap so you shouldn't have and problems with them either - I can't comment on whether they're worth an extra £5. TBH ADSL from Enta seems to be much of a muchness.


Does anyone waive or reduce the £52.88 'new setup' fee? Possibly a 12 month contract which bundles a router and no startup fee (in return for slightly higher rates) might work out cheaper/better for that first year?

None come to mind at the moment - but then I haven't been looking ...

If not, which router should I buy (I realise that's a big question!)? I just have a desktop PC, so I don't think I need wireless (yet). (Are wireless routers also usable 'wired'? Any other reason to buy wireless now?). I think I want easy, reliable, low power/heat. Maybe I also want configurable and bells and whistles, if only I knew I did? I don't need to run any servers, network loads of PCs, etc. But still, if £15 buys basic, and £30 buys wonderful and future-proof, I don't mind finding the extra.

Any popular router should do like the Netgear DG834G - does wired or wireless, is simple to use, and should do anything you might want; now or in the future.

Both Adsl24 or Ukfsn provide a fixed IP (and 8 more free, on request). In fact, I'd like to be able to change my IP often/at will. Is that possible with ADSL Max? Does it depend on ISP/router? If I just need to toggle off the router, will that do nasty things to syncing/training/interleaving?

Your IP address will be staticly assigned and won't change unless you decide to use one of the others you have (assuming you requested an 8 block). As has been said it is not normal to want to change your IP address, perhaps you could explain why you want to do this ?

I barely use my BT line for phone calls (thanks to a work-supplied mobile :smilet:). Would I be better switching to another supplier for both line rental and broadband? Bundled calls would be largely irrelevent, but maybe line rental+broadband could be a better package than BT+(say)Adsl24? (I couldn't find much about that here).

Perhaps someone else will tackle this ...


You seem to have a fair idea of what you're doing. ADSL is as simple as ordering, waiting for activation, plug in your micro-filters, plug in your router, connect your network cable and enter your user details to the router - that's it ! :)
 
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I'm looking for Broadband too. I wrote an email last week to Aquiss to enquire about something I wanted to know about theirs.

They have NEVER bothered to reply....so they're right OFF my list of possibles!
 
I spent ages reading all the reviews and comments about routers. I concluded that every router was fantastic apart from the 100% of them that were rubbish !!!
I just got totally confused so I just went to PC World and bought a mid price wireless Belkin, going on the theory that they will easily take it back if it's rubbish. It's worked fine for 2 years now.
I did the same with Freeview boxes and gave up reading all the reviews and took somebodys suggestion and went to Adsa, spend £25 on an unbranded one and it's been fine. It's now over 12 months old and if it dies it's not a big loss money wise. Adsa will take them back in the 12 months period, won't even look in the box, exchange or refund without quibble and then throw it in the skip.
 
I'm looking for Broadband too. I wrote an email last week to Aquiss to enquire about something I wanted to know about theirs.

They have NEVER bothered to reply....so they're right OFF my list of possibles!

Please can you provide the ticket reference that our system will automatically emailed you with?

We have no outstanding tickets, and every ticket we have received has been answered within our 2 hour target time.
 
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Does anyone waive or reduce the £52.88 'new setup' fee? Possibly a 12 month contract which bundles a router and no startup fee (in return for slightly higher rates) might work out cheaper/better for that first year?

Freeola do a reduced connection charge for new connections for £23.50 with no 12 month tie-in.

most ISP's supply a cheap USB modem, which is best thrown away.

Bad advice! Never throw away any "free" modems or routers supplied by an isp. When you leave they may ask for them back (e.g. Supanet) or charge you for it if you're unable to return it to them.
 
Bad advice! Never throw away any "free" modems or routers supplied by an isp. When you leave they may ask for them back (e.g. Supanet) or charge you for it if you're unable to return it to them.

Not to mention that they are handy for testing if you have a problem...
 
As inactive suggested checkout:

www.idnet.net they offer packages from £14.99 upwards and they have UK call centres & monthly contracts no ties to 12+ months. I have been with them a couple of months & their service is alot better than BT's by 100%+:D
 
Apologies to Aquiss, because after I'd posted that they hadn't got back to me yet, I did get a reply later today.
Apparently a holiday was to blame for them not being at their desk. So they are now BACK on my list of possibles. :)
 
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Thank you everyone :smilet:

Others worth considering are Zen Internet, Namesco, Fast.co.uk and Firefly to name but a few. [-] Don't forget to read this too:
http://www.ispreview.co.uk/articles/adsl
Thanks, I hadn't spotted that yet. And I'll check the others too.

Is Virgin's (non-cable) ADSL service on your list of "recommend caution surrounding the choice of a larger ISP"? Because £18pm (or only £15 including a 12 month phone bundle) for unlimited use sounds pretty good. Free modem, and no activation fee either (unless I cancel within 12 months, then £50). It look like they use dynamic IP addresses too (anyone know for sure?) The forum here about them doesn't sound too bad, and I don't think I'd ever trip their Fair Use policy :-

What traffic management are you applying to the heaviest users?

Monitoring traffic:
Well each week we’ll monitor how much data our broadband customers download during peak times only. We measure this in kilobytes (KB). Peak times run from 4pm till midnight. We then add up the total amount of data downloaded over the week per customer. We then rank the list of customers, heaviest users first. From this list, we pick out the top 5% of heaviest users over the week. We reserve the right to traffic manage these customers during peak times. Traffic management lasts for just 1 week and is only applied during peak times (4pm till midnight).

Traffic Management:
For the small number of customers who are in the top 5% of heaviest users, our traffic management solution will temporarily set download speeds to no lower than 512Kbit/s. This limit is applied daily, 4pm until midnight, for 1 week.

During off-peak periods our traffic management solution will automatically reset download speeds back to their full speed.

Each week we review our top 5% heaviest peak-time users over the previous 7 days. We then update the refreshed customer list to our servers for traffic shaping.

Query why you dont want static though, I cant think of any valid reason to want a non-static IP, it's not like it will stop spam.
There is at least one merit in having a dynamic IP, they’re less likely to be hit by repeat port scanning/attacks and if you visit public servers/systems then any bans or restrictions will be harder to peg on you. Static is only really essential if you require it for a purpose.

Also, it's a permanent GUID. I don't mind leaving footprints where I wander, but I'd prefer not to leave the same tracks, everywhere, all the time, forever. I'd just like to be able to change my shoes, every now and then.

So, to be clear, if I use an Entanet reseller I can't change my IP, beyond the eight (or more, for £'s) fixed ones available?

Freeola do a reduced connection charge for new connections for £23.50 with no 12 month tie-in.
[-] most ISP's supply a cheap USB modem, which is best thrown away
Bad advice! Never throw away any "free" modems or routers supplied by an isp. When you leave they may ask for them back (e.g. Supanet) or charge you for it if you're unable to return it to them.

I see Freeola offer a free modem too.

What exactly is wrong with USB modems? I see that routers do a lot more stuff, but would my connection/throughput be less reliable or slower with a modem?
 
Sorry, I just hate the things, they have caused so much trouble for family members who ignore my advice and try to use the freebie instead of investing in something 1/2 decent.

As a newbie to ADSL - DO NOT FORGET TO PLUG IN THE FILTERS !!

Went round to an oldish friend's house; they got BT broadband recently but it was playing up; no-one had told them what these funny little things were for, or where they went; so they shoved them in the empty box and got on with it.

As an aside, can anyone tell me if there is any kind of control panel for BT homehub that gives access to line noise, signal strength etc?? I looked through the 10kg of crap (paperwork) Dell and BT sent them and the start menu /control panel, but couldn't find anything useful, and they are still having problems with it not accessing some sites.
Trying to book some airline tickets for them was a nightmare, I'd get 1/2 way through the booking procedure and then the next page would not load; happened on several sites; I tried over and over, disabled auto cookie handling, turned off pop up blockers, and all the other crap I could find that Dell had installed onto IE but no joy.
I ended up having to pay an extra £30 over the cheapest flight because the page wouldn't load.

PS This Vista lumbered Intel Duo came loaded with so much junk it runs slower than the old 700Mhz Duron powered PC they had before.
 
Sorry, I just hate the things, they have caused so much trouble for family members who ignore my advice and try to use the freebie instead of investing in something 1/2 decent.

I sure don't want to ignore advice, but can you expand on how they cause trouble? Free/cheap now, and buying something good next year (maybe Be's 24MB will be available to my exchange then!) sounds pretty good at the moment. If free/cheap will get the job done, of course.

As a newbie to ADSL - DO NOT FORGET TO PLUG IN THE FILTERS !!
Went round to an oldish friend's house; they got BT broadband recently but it was playing up; no-one had told them what these funny little things were for, or where they went; so they shoved them in the empty box and got on with it.

Thanks - will do!
 
...Also, it's a permanent GUID. I don't mind leaving footprints where I wander, but I'd prefer not to leave the same tracks, everywhere, all the time, forever. I'd just like to be able to change my shoes, every now and then. ...

Yes your IP address is left on web sites but can only tell a third party your ISP - not your name, address, etc (sometimes if you request an 8 block the ISP will put your name in the public IP address allocation database, as Zen do (did?)). Google, for instance, links searches to your IP address but anonymises data after 18 months (different engines have different rules).

Lastly you might read this - http://www.ispreview.co.uk/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?id=EEuEkEZlEAihCyABlr . The government has mandated data retention and changing your IP address won't stop your browsing details being logged by your ISP (unless you intend to use some kind of proxy). :hrmph:
 
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