Zen MaxDSL information

tolien · 23 Feb 2006 at 20:06

Dave2150 said:
Got up the wrong side of bed this morning or what?

It's definitely been one of those weeks.

I was confused why you seem to be moaning about Zen capping their services, whilst reminding others of the implications of CBC. Thats all.

I'm more bothered with the level of the cap than the presence of the cap itself - compared to Nildram's peak time cap, Eclipse, even Metro/Plusnet, it seems pretty uncompetitive for Zen. :confused:

I'm aware of the implications of CBC - and that Zen's current prices were only sustainable to an average of ~35GB/month - I just happen to think (and I'm not the only one) that there could've been more options involving paying more, and getting more.
After all, Zen are hardly cheap compared to other providers in terms of either features or service, so whacking a cap on just seems to make them look that bit less spectacular. On the other hand, their standard of customer service isn't going to have changed overnight.
For now, I'll be staying where I am.

Shame Metronet had to go the way of Plusnet - I intended to head their way when MaxDSL came along

No-One · 23 Feb 2006 at 20:46

Maybe I'm a little out of date but I thought that MaxDSL was only being enabled on a handfull of exchanges. This annoucement seems to say that everyone will be getting it. I've been on Zen home 500 for about 3 yrs now. Just wondering if I should stay where I am or not.

OllyM · 23 Feb 2006 at 20:48

No-One said:
Maybe I'm a little out of date but I thought that MaxDSL was only being enabled on a handfull of exchanges. This annoucement seems to say that everyone will be getting it. I've been on Zen home 500 for about 3 yrs now. Just wondering if I should stay where I am or not.

All exchanges should be Max enabled from 31st March bar about 190 exchange activate and weird cases...

How much do you download a month?

No-One · 23 Feb 2006 at 20:51

OllyM said:
All exchanges should be Max enabled from 31st March bar about 190 exchange activate and weird cases...

How much do you download a month?

Personally quite little. I don't think I'd be anywhere near those limits. Part of me can't stop thinking that I'm not getting much for the price I pay.

OllyM · 23 Feb 2006 at 21:01

If you change to the 20GB capped package, you'll get up to 8mbit when it arrives...

No-One · 23 Feb 2006 at 21:04

Is there any way I can get my Netgear router to report total data traffic? I know roughly how much data I transfer but my sister and for my sister and parents I'm not so sure.

just_grass · 23 Feb 2006 at 21:21

For everyones information, F2s's network is on the up.

Ip stream users are to be connected to a 'new' network soon (with datastream and LLU shortly afterwards), and the 'problems' previously seen are all sorted - yes traffic shaping may still be in effect, but it is barely noticeable on my 1meg connection. no drop outs, no problems at all. nothing. all good as it was.

I'd still recommend F2s to anyone.
Alex

iamgud · 23 Feb 2006 at 22:08

As a Zen employee I will try and answer a few questions.

The caps have been enforced on the new products as it would be unsustainable considering the cost of the BT Centrals. If someone was to max out a 8mb line it would cost Zen in the region of £1700. With only a few uncapped providers, as said Zen is going to attract a lot of heavy users.

80% of customers don't user over 20gb so you can already see that the heavy users are being subsidised by the low usage customers.

So for the low usage customers it is actually faster and cheaper but they have a cap.

Now I am in a bit of bother myself. I am on a 512k connection and with my line stats am never going to get over 2mb. I am simply going to order 1mb before the 1st of March. I advise people who are on poor lines to do the same, otherwise you might end up stuck with a cap and only a slight speed increase.

It has also been said that Office products will not carry the cap. However be prepared to pay for this.

And finally remember we do have the best Technical support and 8 Static IP addresses. And no dodgy traffic shaping/managment/priority or weird on peak/off peak rules. It is just a straight cap.

No-One · 23 Feb 2006 at 22:55

Well don't think my line goes over 10 gig a month. At the moment I'm paying £24.99 for a 512k line. From my point of view I might as well change to Zen 8000 Active for the same £24.99. If things don't go to plan and I do end up looking elsewhere, Zen only have a 1 month 1 contract anyway.

Scream · 24 Feb 2006 at 00:00

iamgud said:
As a Zen employee I will try and answer a few questions.

The caps have been enforced on the new products as it would be unsustainable considering the cost of the BT Centrals. If someone was to max out a 8mb line it would cost Zen in the region of £1700. With only a few uncapped providers, as said Zen is going to attract a lot of heavy users.

80% of customers don't user over 20gb so you can already see that the heavy users are being subsidised by the low usage customers.

So for the low usage customers it is actually faster and cheaper but they have a cap.

Now I am in a bit of bother myself. I am on a 512k connection and with my line stats am never going to get over 2mb. I am simply going to order 1mb before the 1st of March. I advise people who are on poor lines to do the same, otherwise you might end up stuck with a cap and only a slight speed increase.

It has also been said that Office products will not carry the cap. However be prepared to pay for this.

And finally remember we do have the best Technical support and 8 Static IP addresses. And no dodgy traffic shaping/managment/priority or weird on peak/off peak rules. It is just a straight cap.

As a 512k Zen user myself, I'm I right in saying that if I upgrade to 1Mb which is all my line will support, before the 1st of March, I will remain on an unlimited bandwidth package?

Its only after the 1st March, users like myself will only be allowed to upgrade to the new capped 20Gb package?

If this is the case, I'd better upgrade tomorrow.

OllyM · 24 Feb 2006 at 00:03

Scream said:
As a 512k Zen user myself, I'm I right in saying that if I upgrade to 1Mb which is all my line will support, before the 1st of March, I will remain on an unlimited bandwidth package?

Its only after the 1st March, users like myself will only be allowed to upgrade to the new capped 20Gb package?

Yep, right on both counts.

Scream · 24 Feb 2006 at 00:05

OllyM said:
Yep, right on both counts.

I'll be phoning you chaps very soon then.

OllyM · 24 Feb 2006 at 00:06

I don't work for Zen

Scream · 24 Feb 2006 at 00:10

OllyM said:
I don't work for Zen

Forgot it was you that answered. ThickO Me

OllyM · 24 Feb 2006 at 00:10

I'll let you off I guess, it's gone midnight and I should be in bed

Dinerty · 24 Feb 2006 at 00:20

Can understand the need for the cap on 8mb, as long as the existing home 512/1mb and 2mb packages stay uncapped I'm happy

danceMB · 24 Feb 2006 at 00:53

I cannot understand why they decided to cap all the packages, I can imagine the need for capping on an 8mb one, but every package? It looks like if you want a consistent, truly unlimited service, you need to apply for a Zen service before the 1st March, im glad I applied when I did, 1 week later and id be pretty much stuffed.

Now that Zen is gone, who is left that gives you truly Unlimited broadband @ 2mb?

OllyM · 24 Feb 2006 at 00:56

danceMB said:
Now that Zen is gone, who is left that gives you truly Unlimited broadband @ 2mb?

Eclipse and AOL I think are about the only two (for now).

danceMB · 24 Feb 2006 at 00:59

I have been with AOL for years now, but after it first connects and sometimes messes my machine up, I have decided to switch and Zen was the most obvious one from the outset as I dont like the thought of having a capped service. I think that AOL will be the last ones to do any sort of "traffic shaping" or "capped service" as they are such a huge, worldwide company and can lean on so many users to balance the books, so to speak.

What are peoples thoughts on UK Online?

Burbleflop · 24 Feb 2006 at 01:15

danceMB said:
I cannot understand why they decided to cap all the packages, I can imagine the need for capping on an 8mb one, but every package?

The existing packages remain uncapped - from forum.zensupport.co.uk:

Zen Customer said:
If wee stay on the Home2000 will wee stay unlimited. I am not interested in 8Mb but i want a unlimited 2Mb?

Zen Technical Support Manager said:
The current products remain unlimited.