Changing ISP, advice?

[MrShed]

Hi all,

I'm probably going to change ISP(Tesco.net have annoyed me haha).

Requirements:

- 512k connection(unfortunately live in back end of beyond)
- No DL limit(preferably no FUP either, but guessing that going to be difficult)

Preferences:
- Static IP(either as part of package or at extra cost)
- At or less than £17.99 PM if possible
- No year minimum contract(again if possible)

Not really bothered about CService to be honest, just about the connection.

Anyone any suggestions?

[foreveraloe]

Well, I've just changed from AOL, after many years, to a company called Idnet. My speed has gone up from just under 1mg to over 2.5mg, at the most I can only get 3 of where I live. Connection always reliable.

Whilst they are probably not the cheapest around there is no traffic shaping or funny business. With AOL I was always being disconnected and sites would not load.

I'm on 5GB at £17.99, the service is great.

It is a minefield choosing which ISP to move to and it took me ages and a lot of research before I finally made a decision.

Good luck

[locutus]

Pretty standard request except the static IP. May I ask why? Also are you confident in protecting yourself against hackers (as it's more of a risk on a static IP)? I know that people reviewing broadband on this forum always highly rate "Be". google them and see what you think.

[gni03349]

What you're asking for doesn't sound too demanding. The only problem I can see is with any minimum term.

How much, on average, do you think you download each month?

As you say your top speed is down to where you live in relation to the exchange, have you looked into mobile internet? (either PAYG or contract, but then with the contract... it's the minimum term again). It would be worth at least looking to see what the mobile companies are offering, and some even provide a discounted internet service if you are already a customer (one that springs to mind is Orange, not that I'm with them!! They offered broadband for £5/pm if you were already a customer, but that was a while ago, and that particular offer is no longer available). One other thing about mobile internet is that you should definitely get a faster speed than 512kbps. I think the average price is about £15p/m but thats capped.. about 3 gigabytes orsomething.

The fact you want a new ISP would mean taking out some kind of contract, which would mean a minimum term. I've not come across anything less than 12 months, but maybe I haven't researched enough.

If you are stuck at 512kbps, I don't think that a DL limit would really affect you.

Bearing in mind the minimum term, if you are stuck in a contract for a year, I would look for somebody who, if they do cap, give you a decent download limit per month,


Anyway, just a few things to think about.

Regards etc...

[MrShed]

Thanks for the advice so far guys:

- I am an IT tech, and currently studying for MCSE, therefore I want to set up Exchange server etc on my home server. With this in mind, a static would be very helpful(yes, I have considered the security implications)
- Mobile broadband I have considered, but the DL cap is the MASSIVE bugbear
- Usage - must admit, I'm not sure. I probably download(i.e. NOT browsing) at least 20GB PM I would say. On top of that, I browse probably about 4-5 hours per day ish.
- Really want BE, but unavailable in my area

Any further advice much appreciated!!

[gni03349]

Nothing to so with the subject of this thread, but its to do with what you want to do (ie. MCSE). Use VM!!! Ok, you need 2Gbs of RAM if you don't want to wait til tomorrow for a response, but you can load up anything you want then.. create networks etc.. EXTREMELY useful for any kind of lab setup.

You're an IT tech though, so you already know this .

Bearing in mind the wonderful comments about ALL customer service setups.. you may as well investigate VirginMedia.. for cable access. The top whack is 20Mbps, but thats quite expensive, but 4Mb wouldn't be too bad. Then again, is it even avilable where you live? You would be capped, like most do these days, and tied into some kind of contract too, so...

[MrShed]

Indeed I do gni - got a Dell server running VM with 2GB RAM - but always worth mentioning so cheers

Again, cant get cable in my area honestly, I hate where I live!!!!

[gni03349]

Move?

[gni03349]

Seriously... I guess its just a case of shopping around. Anything that people say would be from their own personal experience IMO, unless they actually work for an ISP. Sites like Which or something like that would at least give you an idea.

I may be totally wrong, but the smaller ISP's who dont just want zillions of customers, and therefore zillions of quid, might just provide a better and more reliable service... as for their prices though...

[MrShed]

Originally Posted by gni03349

Move?

Believe me, if I could afford it I would!!!

[Tezcatlipoca]

I personally use, and highly recommend, Eclipse. They're a little smaller than most, and consequently actually give a level of service. I've never had a dropout with them in well over a year of connection, they're fast, polite, I get a genuinely uncapped download and there is actually a human being on the end of the phone if I need to speak to them. However, I've just taken another look at their site and they no longer seem to be offering the package I'm on, but they're still definitely worth a consideration.

Of course, all this advice is moot unless you first check to see which services are available to you.

[HunterT7]

Although reasonably large I can thougholy recommend Demon. Had lots of issues with other ISPs and when I moved back to my house in Scotland lots said BT couldnt supply a braodband line. Demon looked at it and somehow convinced BT to route me a line from a difffernt exchange and even chased BT on my behalf when things were dragging on. Live in a very rural area but even so speedtest.net gives me in the region of 5000kbps downline and 400kbps upline. This may be artificial as I expect MY contention ratio on the exchange is quite low for my ISP however.

On the one occasion i have had to use tech support they were very very good, techies not just call centre!

Various packages inluding fixed IP i am quite heavy on dowloading esp linux iso and other gnu programmes never had any issues with fair use policy and not heard of anyone with demon with issues. They were recomendded to me by a BT engineer at my old house! as one of the best isps.