Moving into new Uni flat.

Win^ · 25 Aug 2007 at 00:11

Hi,

I'm moving into a new flat this September with two others, and i need some recomendations for broadband. Not capped, cheap (£20-30). Free wireless router would be a bonus too.
My friend recommended Sky BB but not sure how much it would work out to be.

Thanks.

Zefan · 25 Aug 2007 at 00:16

If it's in a major city then you can probably get Virgin cable.

No caps, they just cut your connection speed in half for a few hours if you download over a certain amount during peak times.

1337z0r · 25 Aug 2007 at 00:32

You could get virgin media but speeds can be flakey at best, epecially during in peak times. I found even if I don't hit the 3GB limit on my 10MB i still get around 600Kb's at peak time. And at around 2PM I get around 800 - 900KBs and sometimes I get the full 10MB. This is off newsgroups which before gave me full 10MB 24/7.

Daegan · 25 Aug 2007 at 08:51

1337z0r said:
You could get virgin media but speeds can be flakey at best, epecially during in peak times. I found even if I don't hit the 3GB limit on my 10MB i still get around 600Kb's at peak time. And at around 2PM I get around 800 - 900KBs and sometimes I get the full 10MB. This is off newsgroups which before gave me full 10MB 24/7.

The same can be true of any broadband service and 800 - 900KBs is still better than what you're likely to get from any ADSL MAX service. I personally have no problems getting full speeds from my 20Mb connection and the traffic management policy does exactly what is says on the tin. The 3GB limit is for the 20Mb service btw, it's 750MB if you're on 10Mb.

wij · 25 Aug 2007 at 09:00

I'd say if you can get Be* on your local exchange then they have a good reputation, there is a FUP although I've not heard of it being enforced on anybody yet, and it includes a free wireless router.

If you can't get Be* then an Enta.net reseller such as ADSL24 or Titan ADSL have very good packages available for about £30 a month (60Gb peak / 300Gb off peak - weekends are off peak).

Both of those providers have the advantage over Virgin that you are not tied into a 12 month contract and there is no traffic shaping on their network at present. You would however need to rent a BT phone line which at the cheapest option will cost you around £150 a year in line rental.

1337z0r · 25 Aug 2007 at 14:59

Daegan said:
The same can be true of any broadband service and 800 - 900KBs is still better than what you're likely to get from any ADSL MAX service. I personally have no problems getting full speeds from my 20Mb connection and the traffic management policy does exactly what is says on the tin. The 3GB limit is for the 20Mb service btw, it's 750MB if you're on 10Mb.

I am on the 20MB but I have not been upgraded yet. With be you can get upto 24Mb depending on my exchange so I will be checking it out on the net to see what speeds I will be looking at.

Phemo · 25 Aug 2007 at 15:14

Daegan said:
The 3GB limit is for the 20Mb service btw, it's 750MB if you're on 10Mb.

No it's 750MB if you're on the 4mbit package. If anyone is still on 10mbit then it's obviously just not been upgraded to 20mbit yet and should therefore be subject to the 3GB 'limit'.

Strictly speaking 10mbit shouldn't be subject to any limits as the traffic management was supposed to be rolled out at the same time as the 20mbit upgrades but that doesn't seem to be the case. Not that big a deal though.

Win^ · 26 Aug 2007 at 00:10

Just checked, and cable is available in the area. Is it the best way to go to save on a phone line rental?

Did i hear that right? 750MB capped peaked limit for the 4mbit package? Virgin seems good, and they've got a special offer on at the moment. Any other recommendable cable providers?

Zefan · 26 Aug 2007 at 01:27

Win^ said:
Did i hear that right? 750MB capped peaked limit for the 4mbit package?

It's not a limit, they just cut your connection speed in half for a few hours (I think it's 4) if you download that much from 4pm 'til midnight. All other times are off peak.

BlackDragon · 26 Aug 2007 at 01:46

Im moving into a new house too for uni in september, i've just decided to get everything from BT to make things easier when it comes to payment

Win^ · 26 Aug 2007 at 17:48

Zefan said:
It's not a limit, they just cut your connection speed in half for a few hours (I think it's 4) if you download that much from 4pm 'til midnight. All other times are off peak.

Yeah, i know what you mean. I'm with plusnet at home and they're kinda the same. But they only start cutting down your speed after 13GB. 750MB just seems awfully low.

Phemo · 26 Aug 2007 at 18:02

Win^ said:
Yeah, i know what you mean. I'm with plusnet at home and they're kinda the same. But they only start cutting down your speed after 13GB. 750MB just seems awfully low.

It lasts for 4 hours and that's on the 4mbit package. On 20mbit, it's cut down to 5mbit speeds after 3GB, also for 4 hours. Between midnight and 4pm it's completely unrestricted.