'Spec Me' A New ISP (small independent company please)

estebanrey · 8 Jun 2012 at 14:55

I've been with Be Broadband since 2004 when they were an independent company, before that I was with Freedom2Surf until they go bought out. Be were bought out by O2 in 2006 and as a result now have to comply with whatever rules their parent company enforces, including the recent blocking of the PirateBay.org website.

Whilst I wouldn't describe myself as a heavy PB user, I don't like the fact I now have a selective internet compared to smaller ISPs not affected by the court order so I'm looking for a change.

I tried one of those websites that searches for you but they always seem to throw up the same names (BT,Talk Talk, Virgin etc) and I want a small company who are unlikely to be targeted by future silly High Court rulings.

I fully realise I'll get more posts telling me I'm stupid because there's easy ways to get around the ban and how all UK internet is restricted by the IWF list anyway, but I'm hoping a few sensible recommendations will come in.

Mat · 8 Jun 2012 at 14:57

I use ADSL24.co.uk

asim18 · 8 Jun 2012 at 14:57

Why are you going to move to an inferior ISP with a potentially inferior service because of something so insignificant?

flibbage0 · 8 Jun 2012 at 14:57

I thought the law had to be imposed on all ISP's in the UK?

daz · 8 Jun 2012 at 15:02

Zen is pretty good.

Morgoth · 8 Jun 2012 at 15:02

Xilo.

spudbynight · 8 Jun 2012 at 15:03

OP : Look at the UK Pirate Party website.

Strife212 · 8 Jun 2012 at 15:04

Just keep your ISP and use a custom DNS.

estebanrey · 8 Jun 2012 at 15:06

Mat said:
I use ADSL24.co.uk

Thanks I'll check them out.

asim18 said:
Why are you going to move to an inferior ISP with a potentially inferior service because of something so insignificant?

Inferior service? Broadband's like gas or electric, I don't care who sends me the bill as long as the stuff coming out my end works.

flibbage0 said:
I thought the law had to be imposed on all ISP's in the UK?

It's not a 'law', it's a High Court order that has been imposed on 6 companies (who just so happen to provide the vast majority of internet services).

asim18 · 8 Jun 2012 at 15:08

Strife212 said:
Just keep your ISP and use a custom DNS.

I don't know about other ISPs but Virgin doesn't use the DNS for it's restriction.

estebanrey · 8 Jun 2012 at 15:08

spudbynight said:
OP : Look at the UK Pirate Party website.

As I said I'm aware of ways of getting round it, but point is I shouldn't have to. I don't use it enough to constantly track whatever the latest IP is, I may not use it for weeks.

spudbynight · 8 Jun 2012 at 15:08

estebanrey said:
Inferior service? Broadband's like gas or electric, I don't care who sends me the bill as long as the stuff coming out my end works.
.

Er, it isn't really. Latency can vary from ISP to ISP as can congestion.

ISP 1 might sync at 16Mbps and give you 15Mbps at peak times. ISP2 might only give you 4 or 5 at peak times.

There is a huge difference in what you get from ISPs

spudbynight · 8 Jun 2012 at 15:09

estebanrey said:
As I said I'm aware of ways of getting round it, but point is I shouldn't have to. I don't use it enough to constantly track whatever the latest IP is, I may not use it for weeks.

Well then why on earth are you bothering to leave Be over this? You know they are arguably the best ISP in the country.

asim18 · 8 Jun 2012 at 15:10

estebanrey said:
Broadband's like gas or electric

Quote of the day for me. Someone post that in the Networking section.

estebanrey · 8 Jun 2012 at 15:12

Mat said:
I use ADSL24.co.uk

Just had a quick look, very tempted by the business broadband package!!!

I got the 'business' option with Be originally because I wanted the high upload speeds and at the time I signed up to a £40 p/m contract. It dropped very quickly to £25 but I'm still paying that now for 24mb download and 2.5mg up. ADSL24 are offering 40mb down and 10 up for £20!!!

Even without the PB restriction issue it's a no brainer.

Edit: I see the £20 is a 'starter' price....oh well

scotty365 · 8 Jun 2012 at 15:14

Completely unlike Gas or Electric suppliers - ISP's vary HUGELY

StevieP · 8 Jun 2012 at 15:16

I was once with Plusnet and found them to be superb! Although I'm sure sooner or later all ISP's will be restricting access to PB etc!

estebanrey · 8 Jun 2012 at 15:20

spudbynight said:
Well then why on earth are you bothering to leave Be over this? You know they are arguably the best ISP in the country.

Because the precedent has been set. If I knew this was the only action ever to be taken I'd be fine but I can see more and more restrictions coming in over the next few years.

I've only ever had three ISPs in my life, and I chose all of them when they were small and relatively unknown after hearing stories from friends who were with 'big' companies at the time and had been sent letters warning them they've been caught downloading pirated materials etc.

Put simply, I don't trust big named companies not to snoop on their customers, bend to the will of the entertainment industry and be targeted by silly high court orders.

And on what bases are they considered the 'best'? I live within 200 metres of the exchange and yet have never got over 12mb of the 24 I'm supposed to be on (which doesn't really bother me practically just principally)

scotty365 · 8 Jun 2012 at 15:21

I would be more concerned about protocol throttling and data caps than TPB being blocked (or not blocked depending how you deal with it!)

spudbynight · 8 Jun 2012 at 15:25

estebanrey said:
And on what bases are they considered the 'best'? I live within 200 metres of the exchange and yet have never got over 12mb of the 24 I'm supposed to be on (which doesn't really bother me practically just principally)

Their support is excellent for a start. Also, the speed you sync at is determined by your line not your ISP. The speed you get is based on lots of other factors. Be get some of the best consistent transfer speeds on their network as well as not engaging in any traffic shaping.

Small ISPs are more likely to fold when chased by rights agencies as well. If you want to use torrent sites etc you are probably more likely to get **** at a small ISP.