Xilo to plusnet

Hi

i'm currently paying for unlimited 16mbit Adsl2+ from xilo at £14,99 a month, I see that plusnet do the same at £9.99 a month, I'm not a heavy p2p downloader, Download monday night raw once a week and the occasional 360 game, I do watch a fair bit of youtube (streaming), Gaming well seen has i'm 200 meters from the exchange and games are unplayable due to lag compensation over the past several years, No matter which isp i've been with, So that doesn't really matter, So i might as well pay £5 less for the same experience.

What are peoples opinions on me switching, Should i? or shouldn't i?

I could get PN unlimited BB only on a no annual contract deal (market 2 exchange) but the activation fee would be £50 or £25 if I took an annual contract.

Personally, at the moment, I prefer to stay with uno TTB "pro" partial LLU (line rental with BT on a heavily discounted retention/loyalty contract) since the BB connection is rock solid, with no slow downs 24/7.

Guess if you took unlimited BB and line rental from PN then you could get the BB for £4.99 (market 2/3 exchange - "low cost area") 12 month contract deal with no activation charge - available until 7th May 2013 - assuming you are not currently contracted elsewhere for line rental.

Alternatively you could consider an internal migration with xilo/uno, which may cost £48, onto one of their other packages?

Edit: BTW I will probably seriously consider PN unlimited BB and phone deals when my current BT line rental contract is up for renewal later this year

Edited by 4M2 (Fri 12-Apr-13 15:06:19)

I don't pay the line rental, Someone else does, I just pay for the broadband.

The only other xilo package i see is 24Mb - 21CN, Which is £15.49 with usage limits.

I assume plusnet is 21CN seen has there owned by BT and £5 cheaper and unlimited and also get £28 cashback.

Guess you need a BB only deal then?

Have you made contact with Matt, Tom and the crew over at xilo/uno to check what the full range of packages are? Many exchanges are TTB LLU enabled and a "pro" 100GB partial LLU (SMPF) package (unmetered after 8pm and at weekends) might be available for about £15 (internal migration/activation might be £48 though.)

Otherwise PN unlimited 21CN BB only on either a no contract (£50 activation) or contracted (£25 activation) deal might be your best bet for £9.99...

Yes, Plusnet is 21CN, (technically BT Wholesale WBMC). The fact they are owned by BT doesn't really come into that, as all land-line non-LLU broadband is BT Wholesale based. (WBC/WBMC/IPSC and maybe still a bit of ADSL Max or Datastream).

Once you sort out the cost of the setup, countered by the cashback, you should be fine on Plusnet Unlimited, even with your phone wherever it is now. Mine is still with BT.

Re the contract v non-contract options, be aware that the non-contract continues at the higher rate even after the 12 months is up. So long-term not a good place to be.

As you are close to the exchange I assume you get a very high speed, for ADSL2+, and you may very well be on Fast Path. If you would like to be able to game you might find having interleaving added adds sufficient latency to take you out of the server compensation zone, with an insignificant effect on the download speed. I would expect Plusnet ro be able to organise that on a trial or revert to Fast Path basis if you were with them.

Don't forget that cashback is never guaranteed until it's in your bank!

The PN activation costs might be negotiable and a decent retention deal might also be negotiable after 12 months even if one does not agree to a new contract

Aren't the non-contract and contract options the same price per month for BB only, the only difference being the activation costs, or am I reading the PN info wrongly?

They aren't - no contract is £2.50 per month more http://www.plus.net/info2/legal/price_guide.html?sou...

In reply to a post by Oldjim:

They aren't - no contract is £2.50 per month more http://www.plus.net/info2/legal/price_guide.html?sou...

Thanks Oldjim - I was just reading this:

"Pricing

Plusnet Unlimited: If you live in a low cost area it costs £9.99 a month. If you live outside one of these areas it costs £16.99 a month."

from here
http://www.plus.net/home-broadband/broadband-only/ - legal bit

Yeah - the no contract option price is well hidden until you try to order it

In reply to a post by Oldjim:

Yeah - the no contract option price is well hidden until you try to order it

LOL!

In reply to a post by 4M2:

In reply to a post by Oldjim:

They aren't - no contract is £2.50 per month more http://www.plus.net/info2/legal/price_guide.html?sou...

Thanks Oldjim - I was just reading this:

"Pricing

Plusnet Unlimited: If you live in a low cost area it costs £9.99 a month. If you live outside one of these areas it costs £16.99 a month."

from here
http://www.plus.net/home-broadband/broadband-only/ - legal bit

How do you know if you live in a low cost area?

I put my phone number and postcode in the checker and get the following
Today's payment

Unlimited Broadband (First month)£9.99
Activation fee £25.00
Plusnet Protect powered by McAfee (First month)Included
Today's total £34.99


Monthly payment

Unlimited Broadband £9.99
Plusnet Protect powered by McAfeeIncluded
Monthly total £9.99
Contract 12 months

In reply to a post by restarts:

How do you know if you live in a low cost area?

I put my phone number and postcode in the checker and get the following
Today's payment

Unlimited Broadband (First month)£9.99
Activation fee £25.00
Plusnet Protect powered by McAfee (First month)Included
Today's total £34.99


Monthly payment

Unlimited Broadband £9.99
Plusnet Protect powered by McAfeeIncluded
Monthly total £9.99
Contract 12 months

£9.99 rather than £16.99

Think I would certainly give McAfee AV a miss though...

Good suggestion...

We've got some new unmetered packages on "Pro" and also bundled (with line rental) due very soon and the OP may find out that it works out even cheaper than what they are looking for, or have now!

Matt

Yes, especially since the OP is looking for BB only

Anybody been on bethere and 21CN and tell what ping times where like?

Yes i sync at 22mbps, My line is interleaved 20ms ping all over the uk

http://www.pingtest.net/result/79864057.png

Ping to italy milan

http://www.pingtest.net/result/79864154.png

With fastpath on i can sync at 24mbps and shave 8 to 9ms off the pings above.

Edited by deleted (Sun 14-Apr-13 13:51:38)

Interleaved, connected wirelessly to my router

http://www.pingtest.net/result/79864485.png

http://www.pingtest.net/result/79864532.png

Also see my live BQM in my sig.

Pinging bbc.co.uk [212.58.253.67] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 212.58.253.67: bytes=32 time=22ms TTL=119
Reply from 212.58.253.67: bytes=32 time=23ms TTL=119
Reply from 212.58.253.67: bytes=32 time=23ms TTL=119
Reply from 212.58.253.67: bytes=32 time=23ms TTL=119

Ping statistics for 212.58.253.67:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 22ms, Maximum = 23ms, Average = 22ms

Edited by RobertoS (Sun 14-Apr-13 14:02:09)

Pinging bbc.co.uk [212.58.251.195] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 212.58.251.195: bytes=32 time=40ms TTL=118
Reply from 212.58.251.195: bytes=32 time=38ms TTL=118
Reply from 212.58.251.195: bytes=32 time=38ms TTL=118
Reply from 212.58.251.195: bytes=32 time=39ms TTL=118

Ping statistics for 212.58.251.195:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 38ms, Maximum = 40ms, Average = 38ms

That's uno pro TTB interleaved - may not be fast enough for you?

Fast path, wireless

Pingtest

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

Interleaved, connected wirelessly to my router

http://www.pingtest.net/result/79864485.png

http://www.pingtest.net/result/79864532.png

Also see my live BQM in my sig.

Pinging bbc.co.uk [212.58.253.67] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 212.58.253.67: bytes=32 time=22ms TTL=119
Reply from 212.58.253.67: bytes=32 time=23ms TTL=119
Reply from 212.58.253.67: bytes=32 time=23ms TTL=119
Reply from 212.58.253.67: bytes=32 time=23ms TTL=119

Ping statistics for 212.58.253.67:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 22ms, Maximum = 23ms, Average = 22ms

You're ping are nearly the same has mine, Do you game on xbox or PS3?

Sorry, no gaming.

I did intend to do a wired one this afteroon to see if it was better, but got busy then forgot. I might get a chance in a bit, else it will have to be tomorrow.

The base latency looks to be 21ms for me, from the BQM. That makes sense as when I was on Fast Path it was 13ms. The interleaving has scuppered that.

I've never seen that 2ms jitter before. Occasionally 1ms, usually zero. That's why I need to try wired for you.

In reply to a post by restarts:

Anybody been on bethere and 21CN

You mean at the same time? Impossible cuz Be is LLU!

In reply to a post by XRaySpeX:

In reply to a post by restarts:

Anybody been on bethere and 21CN

You mean at the same time? Impossible cuz Be is LLU!

No, I mean switched from one to the other or vice versa, And tell the difference in ping times.

Isn't 21CN LLU?

Edited by deleted (Sun 14-Apr-13 18:43:48)

You're probably getting mixed up with LLU being ADSL2+ ever since it came along, and "21CN" being how BT Wholesale caught up and no longer only did ADSL Max, but now has ADSL2+ as well.

21CN is out-of-date speak for BT's fully digital services, replacing the old 20CN analogue ones.

21CN covers PSTN (phone) and WBC/WBMC (broadband) provision.

21CN PSTN seems to have run into such problems you never even hear it whispered - or at least I don't.

WBC and the closely related WBMC are BT Wholesale's all-digital broadband products. (ADSLx does use analogue between the exchange and the premises even on that, and the same on LLU).

LLU specifically means that ISPs have installed their own kit in BT exchanges and that the broadband service offered does not use BT Wholesale exchange kit. (DSLAMs and MSANs).

A fuller explanation of LLU, and WBC etc.

restarts, I would advise u to stay with Xilo LLU because if you move to Plusnet ADSL2+ as you will faced a horrible nightmare with BT exchange exspecially DLM (Digital Line Management in contol) plus BT IP Profile capped and further more a Plusnet IP Profile capped too. I do believe that Xilo LLU is no DLM, no IP Profile on both sides too. I couldn't get Xilo at my exchange because it not available LLU with Xilo. If my exchange had Xilo LLU then I would choose Xilo over Plusnet to avoid BT System (DLM, IP Profile and Plusnet IP Profile)

Edited by adslmax (Mon 15-Apr-13 11:14:20)

In reply to a post by adslmax:

if you move to Plusnet ADSL2+ as you will faced a horrible nightmare

I slight overstatement I think, with no evidence to back it up.

Having an off day Max?

Only a couple of weeks ago or so you were saying how Plusnet is the best ISP you have ever been with.

What you say about IP Profiling you well know is not correct. A bit of truth in it pre-WBC.

In reply to a post by adslmax:

I couldn't get Xilo at my exchange because it not available LLU with Xilo. If my exchange had Xilo LLU then I would choose Xilo over Plusnet to avoid BT System (DLM, IP Profile and Plusnet IP Profile)

???

I don't see how an automatically set IP Profile etc. on 21CN WBC has any major disadvantages over LLU - surely both would give one a very similar ADSL2+ throughput on a good line?

And what do you mean by Xilo LLU - are you saying that Xilo, as resellers, can not provide you with a LLU service because their is no availability on C&W, TTB, etc. kit at your exchange or that your exchange is not LLU'd?

Well i got my MAC yesterday and signed up with plusnet, Only to find out that there is 12 months half price , So i will be paying £5.00 a month for unlimited broadband on ADSL2+ for the next 12 months and then to £9.99 after the 12 months.

Let us know how you get on .

Will do, Online gaming will be the same, Unless my ping rises by 10ms+, Which is very doubtful.

Ok, I've finished the 10 day DLM and had my upload uncapped, My pings are around 10ms better

[IMG]http://www.pingtest.net/result/81023581.png[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.pingtest.net/result/81024210.png[/IMG]

And thats with interleaving on the line, Gaming online is worse, Lag central, I thought it couldn't get any worse.

Stats: Down up
Line Coding(Trellis): On On
SNR Margin (0.1 dB): 6.1 5.0
Attenuation (0.1 dB): 12.0 10.2
Output Power (0.1 dBm):0 12.6
Rate (Kbps): 21651 1203

Edited by deleted (Fri 10-May-13 19:21:46)

In reply to a post by uno:

We've got some new unmetered packages on "Pro" and also bundled (with line rental) due very soon and the OP may find out that it works out even cheaper than what they are looking for, or have now!

Will those be shown on the link in your sig, when they are launched?

In reply to a post by restarts:

Ok, I've finished the 10 day DLM and had my upload uncapped, My pings are around 10ms better

[IMG]http://www.pingtest.net/result/81023581.png[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.pingtest.net/result/81024210.png[/IMG]

And thats with interleaving on the line, Gaming online is worse, Lag central, I thought it couldn't get any worse.

Stats: Down up
Line Coding(Trellis): On On
SNR Margin (0.1 dB): 6.1 5.0
Attenuation (0.1 dB): 12.0 10.2
Output Power (0.1 dBm):0 12.6
Rate (Kbps): 21651 1203

Do you know the IP address of the server your game connects to ? pinging that address would of been more informative, it's also possible that the problem lies else where and not with your connection