Tupac let me show you this link which i have posted a lot of late and please come to your senses! http://www.dslzoneuk.net/isp_ratings.php
MAC Codes
- Thread starter Jonners
- Start date
- Joined
- 31 Dec 2003
- Posts
- 5,172
- Location
- Barrow-In-Furness
How much downtime do you usually experience when changing ISP?
I'm on BT 8mbit at the moment and although I can't see any real reason to change, i'm just curious incase I want to.
I'm on BT 8mbit at the moment and although I can't see any real reason to change, i'm just curious incase I want to.
- Joined
- 31 Dec 2003
- Posts
- 5,172
- Location
- Barrow-In-Furness
Thanks, never migrated ISP (been with BT since 56k) so I wasn't sure.
Tempted to look for something else but in my area (no cable or LLU) i'm not sure it's really worth it and I can't fault my connection at the moment, I don't think changing ISP would improve anything.
AOL though? Gutted.
AOL are hit and miss. A couple of folks I know are happy enough with them, but usually they're just "email, web and work" users. AOL throttle heavily (very heavily in many cases), to the point where some folks with a line capable of a full 8128 SYNC won't see a meg downstream.
Then there's the outsourced "tech support"... LOL Luckily for the people I know on AOL (and unlucky for me), I AM their tech support
My partner's auntie has AOL Platinum (~8 meg/ADSL Max) and doesn't see 2 megs mostly even though her line's well capable of pulling down 8 megs. I'm around the corner from her and see 22 megs downstream with an LLU provider!Considering I pay less per month than her, with no throttling and a virtually unlimited FUP (I know folks downloading 250GB a month with no issues on my ISP), I'd say AOL isn't such great value for money. JMHO.
well you're just lucky. same can be said of BT customers. some people get a good service from them as well. but what you get is completely random. people bash these isps with good reason. when you're synched up at 8mb and have no line problems but cannot browse the web during peak times because pages won't load/time out/can't stream video/can't use p2p (plenty of legit uses nowdays.
). dialup performance when paying for broadband? 
why play russian roulette and sign up for a 12/18months with BT/aol when you can get a better service for less money. any respectable isp offers 1 month contracts. they know they have to provide a decent service to everyone or else they won't have any customers left. also people are getting a little sick and tired of indian call centers. i know bt have them, i think aol might do as well? they can barely speak the language and their level of training is appalling. all they know how to say is reboot router and delete cookies. this is the cure to all broadband related problems.
with the smaller isps, you get uk call centers and they actually know what they are talking about. this has to be a major consideration when choosing a new provider.
I agree completely on the call centres. I haven't recieved poorer tech support when it's been needed and most of the problems were resolved by myself. If anyone needs help with their Internet or connection on a daily basis and doesn't have a clue - I would avoid suggesting it every single time.
The software is crap and of no use to anyone who isn't limited to 'email, web and work' users like Rainmaker said.
However (and it is a big one), it just seems to be the case of jumping on the bandwagon that AOL are crap on most techie websites/forums, where the said users wouldn't come into contact with the two above things I mentioned.
Or if they do say AOL are crap, they usually go to no lengths to explain why.
Not having a go at anyone at all, just tired of reading snowballed opinions on things.
The software is crap and of no use to anyone who isn't limited to 'email, web and work' users like Rainmaker said.
However (and it is a big one), it just seems to be the case of jumping on the bandwagon that AOL are crap on most techie websites/forums, where the said users wouldn't come into contact with the two above things I mentioned.
Or if they do say AOL are crap, they usually go to no lengths to explain why.
Not having a go at anyone at all, just tired of reading snowballed opinions on things.
Last edited:
it's not bandwagon jumping at all. their service is erratic at best. you only have to check various broadband sites to see this. sure they have loads of happy customers too. and this the worst part of all. it's completely random. wouldn't it be nice if only heavy abusers of the system were penalised? but it doesn't work like that. heavy users are getting away with doing what they want, whereas light users are being throttled to hell and back during peak times. hardly fair is it? all people want to do is browse the web during the evenings but are quite often unable to do so because of the appalling speeds.
as a new customer, why take the risk? what's so special about aol? 12/18 months is a long time if it goes wrong.
there is so much better out there. if the OP has a budget and can tell us what sort of things they use the internet for and what's available at their exchange, then someone can help spec a better isp. even on a normal BT line with no other services at your exchange, you can still get a fantastic range of other isps.
as a new customer, why take the risk? what's so special about aol? 12/18 months is a long time if it goes wrong.
there is so much better out there. if the OP has a budget and can tell us what sort of things they use the internet for and what's available at their exchange, then someone can help spec a better isp. even on a normal BT line with no other services at your exchange, you can still get a fantastic range of other isps.
It's a bandwagon in as much that those damning the service most likely haven't used it or come into any sort of relationship with it.
If you were to go by all products or services on bad reviews then you would never buy or use anything. If you do your research, look at plenty of review sites like you have said and still come to the conclusion that AOL are poor (which for some things, I agree they are) then that's completely fine.
My issue is with those who just say it because it's something generic to say and is because someone else said it. Rarely backing up their reasons as to why they don't recommend a service, product or brand name.
If you were to go by all products or services on bad reviews then you would never buy or use anything. If you do your research, look at plenty of review sites like you have said and still come to the conclusion that AOL are poor (which for some things, I agree they are) then that's completely fine.
My issue is with those who just say it because it's something generic to say and is because someone else said it. Rarely backing up their reasons as to why they don't recommend a service, product or brand name.