Business FTTC

Avalon

Avalon

Avalon

Soldato
Joined
29 Dec 2002
Posts
7,684
After two years of waiting, my direct to exchange line has now been upgraded and finally FTTC is an option. Estimated line speed with an 80/20 package is 53-68/17-20. Usage is 5 PC's, 1 server and the odd portable device, we're upload limited (artwork sent to clients/suppliers/statements/quotes etc and we use VoIP) so we run QoS and limited global upload and cloud/off site backups have to be run out of hours.

We're currently with PlusNet for line/VDSL/enhanced care and despite the recent changes they've not put a foot wrong with me so far. I assume much like the home market you pay your money and take your pick as the core product is essentially the same and it's just CS that differs?

PlusNet will offer me £30+VAT for line and 80/20 with free equipment (I suspect they forgot the P&P charge on the hardware).

Looking at BT Business they come in at £29.90 including office 365, but I can get £130 cash back via TCB which seems a better deal.

Is it likely that PN business will offer a retention deal? Am I better looking at another provider?
 
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my issues with bt is that if you use the hub it has a dynamic ip and you can only then assign static ips via its crappy interface to specific devices. they way round that is to buy a better router.
 
leigh_boy said:
my issues with bt is that if you use the hub it has a dynamic ip and you can only then assign static ips via its crappy interface to specific devices. they way round that is to buy a better router.
Click to expand...

Yeah we have/had a Business Hub which has been replaced with a new Ubiquiti router. Although we don't have FTTC but thankfully we have a leased line at another premises and we've a wireless bridge.

OP - Is two lines an ability? Depending on your VoIP usage it may be worthwhile
 
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leigh_boy said:
my issues with bt is that if you use the hub it has a dynamic ip and you can only then assign static ips via its crappy interface to specific devices. they way round that is to buy a better router.
Click to expand...

I'm not a fan of any of the BT HH/BH stuff i've seen or used so far, the latest HH is better than the last one, but it's no substitute for a decent modem/router set-up. I'll replace it as soon as the line is live long enough to get maximum sync speed. Given we only have a handful of PC's and network devices and most are on manually specified IP's (easy on this size of network), I should be OK initially.

Hyburnate said:
Yeah we have/had a Business Hub which has been replaced with a new Ubiquiti router. Although we don't have FTTC but thankfully we have a leased line at another premises and we've a wireless bridge.

OP - Is two lines an ability? Depending on your VoIP usage it may be worthwhile
Click to expand...

I did consider load balancing over two lines at one point or annex m for the uplink boost, but realistically 2-3 users at a time we can get by on the current uplink, except when a load of email/file uploads are required at the same time. The other issue is the site we occupy is in effect an old factory, the internal DP that would serve us is basically the same one that would serve another line which would require a full install as only a single feed goes to each unit. I'd get no more resilience by having two lines so a single faster line is the best option. People often say that business is restricted by internet connectivity and in this case we really are.
 
I don't object to paying proportionately more for a better service, however BT or PlusNet with extra care still works out cheaper than Zen without extra care, like for like Zen want £76/m vs 29.90 for BT and 30 for PlusNet (excluding extra care at £10), what makes them worth paying almost twice as much every single month for? I've needed to speak to PlusNet the grand total of twice since intall, each time i've got a resolution within minutes with zero agro. BT I just hope never to need to speak to based on previous interactions :D
 
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Stick with what you're comfortable with, Plusnet still offer a reasonable service, are UK based, offer static IPs if necessary and their staff seem better educated than most.

Don't be tempted to go with BT for the cash back, their CS is shocking... (I moved to them and regret it)
 
Think i'll see if I can haggle a slightly better deal. O365 would be handy and £130 cash back nice, but even with that I still haven't forgotten the shambles of BT's CS and even for that sort of money i'd not choose to go with them.

Thanks for the advice and input gents, it's been appreciated.
 
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