Any Relish users in Canary Wharf?

Orcvader · 16 Oct 2015 at 17:06

So after more than a month of trying to get BT Business activated in a client's business, we're now considering using Relish for a month until BT solves this mess.

Does anyone have any experience with them, particularly in the Canary Wharf area? The business itself is located around the Westferry roundabout but we have no idea if the connection will be reliable enough. Speed is not a priority, just the connection stability.

I've checked around and found loads of horror stories but apparently the recent batch of firmware to the router solves most of the issues?

We considered Virgin as well but they don't serve our area.

KIA · 16 Oct 2015 at 21:01

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.ph...oadband-isp-relish-suffers-gbp37-5m-loss.html

Caged · 16 Oct 2015 at 21:06

Don't use it if you need the connection to work. Definitely don't use it without an ADSL line as a backup.

We asked a lot of questions about the service when it launched and so far the things that were hinted at/almost promised and haven't materialised include:

External CPE, installed professionally by Relish
Bridging mode on the supplied router
Partner portal to provide an overview of all customer connections - IP addresses, signal levels etc, with remote management options
Multiple static IP addresses
Online support ticketing

Orcvader · 16 Oct 2015 at 21:36

But that's the problem, due to some issue with BT Openreach there has been no working ADSL line for more than a month. The only other provider that serves the area is Relish

. As mentioned before this will only be temporary, it's just to allow the manager to check the business email (email server is in a different location) in the office as well as sorting out staff wages. We usually do require a single static IP and port forwarding to access the network from the main office but as this is only for a temporary solution until BT sorts the issue out, we're willing to use Teamviewer to access the server (which in turn has VNC to the rest of the network).

I guess another option which I'm sure sure will probably not be a good idea... the front of the business has very good O2 WiFi coverage... I could get an adapter and connect the network to it but... O2 may complain about that won't they

?

Caged · 16 Oct 2015 at 22:36

Buy it on the monthly rolling contract so you can ditch it as soon as possible. The router doesn't let you pick your LAN IP range so I find it easier to plug it into the WAN port of an existing router and set that router as the DMZ IP.

When it works it's alright, but it frequently doesn't. You really have very little to lose anyway.

HangTime · 17 Oct 2015 at 00:05

Orcvader said:
I guess another option which I'm sure sure will probably not be a good idea... the front of the business has very good O2 WiFi coverage... I could get an adapter and connect the network to it but... O2 may complain about that won't they ?

Don't know a lot about the service but I'd be very wary of using public(?) WiFi for corporate use such as "sorting out staff wages".

Orcvader · 17 Oct 2015 at 00:57

HangTime said:
Don't know a lot about the service but I'd be very wary of using public(?) WiFi for corporate use such as "sorting out staff wages".

Fair enough. Just seems quite fustrating there's hardly any good alternatives if Openreach is having problems and Virgin is not avaliable.

im4gine · 18 Oct 2015 at 14:20

Our company which has an office in CW uses Venus for a dedicated line for clients.. you can try them

Felon · 19 Oct 2015 at 10:40

rofl.

I wouldn't touch them with a barge poll, I work in the ISP sector and I know all about UKB, last thing I heard, people were being made redundant left right and centre, the relish product sucks and keeps breaking (according to the majority of reports) - I'd steer well clear if I were you..

It's a shame, because if it was done properly it would have been a great product, but yeah,... UKB don't really know what networks are, and now their customers are feeling it.

Mercutio · 19 Oct 2015 at 15:05

HangTime said:
Don't know a lot about the service but I'd be very wary of using public(?) WiFi for corporate use such as "sorting out staff wages".

Put a decent software VPN on it, get a machine in head office as the receiving end to route it. Will take some understanding and diligence by whoever does their network config but it's certainly achievable (if it HAS to work NOW).

Orcvader · 19 Oct 2015 at 20:14

Mercutio said:
Put a decent software VPN on it, get a machine in head office as the receiving end to route it. Will take some understanding and diligence by whoever does their network config but it's certainly achievable (if it HAS to work NOW).

I'm not in charge but I'm allowed to control the network

.

After speaking to my supervisor (who also checked out Relish reviews over the weekend), we decided not to go for it.

Funnily enough, it seems the manager of the business called up BT today and found out the reason the broadband was unable to be activated was due to the Redcare being enabled on that line :confused:

. BT also stated the other phoneline with a different number used purely for calling is also incompatible as it's linked to the first phoneline :confused:

. Why did it take BT more than a month to suddenly decide this was the issue? During the first week BT support told me it shouldn't affect the broadband. In the end BT recommended the manager to order a completely new line, which he has agreed to do so.

Thanks for the help anyway all. I guess this problem is solved... for now. Will have a look at Venus as well in case for the future but they seem quite expensive for what is required.