In reply to a post by RobertoS:

the vast majority haven't a clue about their broadband, in the same way as they haven't a clue about how a car works.

Maybe, but the latter do at least know when their car doesn't work!

In reply to a post by nelix01:

I have been on BT Infinity for 3 months now. Very happy with the service so far. No disconnections so far. Don�t use Torrents or other P2P so no issues with throttling.

We have multiple devices connected, PC. Laptop, BT Vision, Iphone etc, all running at the same time with no interruptions and everyone happy.
If I was in your position, it would all depended on what the estimated speeds of FTTC are likely to be and if you could really do without extra bandwidth until a new contract with current company expires!

Does IDNet automatically roll you into a new contract when your current one expires?

Thank you: I have two Macs, a PS3, an IPad, a Blackberry, two VOIP phones and a Kindle connected from time to time. I can usually stay comfortably within the 40GB peak limit. Having a 9am peak start on IDNet helps provided I can remember to start the download when I come down to make the OH her morning cup of tea. Looking to the future with Apple looking to update its products online, I can well see my usage going up. Downloading Lion OSX last month used up 5GB.

IDNet is a rolling 1 month contract on ADSL, and 12 months contract on change to FTTC which then reverts back to a month. FTTC should be enabled in Dec and the checker is showing estimated FTTC speeds of 36.9 Down and 8.2 Up.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

In reply to a post by lexden16:

I didn't mean to light any fires when I posted this question.

I don't think you did. Just a slightly unfortunate choice of words by orly that at the time made me prickle, as though I had been arguing against BT rather than impartially.

The rest of your reasoning closely follows mine. It's only at the starter level IDNet is really worth considering for thee and me I think.

As the majority of users of forums such as this are people asking questions or are people with problems, then I assume that the majority of BT customers are satisfied with their package, price and service.

Two things about that. First, it isn't a valid statement because the vast majority haven't a clue about their broadband, in the same way as they haven't a clue about how a car works.

But second, what is really noticeable is the number who have switched to BT for FTTC for the reasons you will, and been pleasantly surprised. The complaints are almost non-existent. In fact off-hand I can't recall a serious one.

I think a lot of it could be down to high current capacity per customer - they and/or Openreach are on record as being disappointed at the number of sign-ups, and technically speaking the hugely better DLM on FTTC. Though the new one on WBC looks to be far better than the old one as well.

The various exchanges and inputs on this topic have been helpful in that given the uncertainty about actual FTTC enablement dates, I will sit on my hands until closer to the time. The only reason that I raised this now is because current BT deals come to an end on the 31st of this month, No doubt, like buses, there will be another one along soon.

I also note that one or two of the other independent ISPs are revising their FTTC packages - presumably in light of customer feedback. I will raise this with IDNet and see what their response is.

Just to add my support for BT.

Switched from O2 LLU 3.5/1 to Infinity Option 2 34/8. Speed is almost always full, HD streaming is perfect, connection is rock solid apart from
* in first few weeks it was clear HH2 was useless. They replaces for HH3
* Wed/Thu this week I had outages - first since taking infinity. A collegue had similar so looked like an ISP glitch. VDSL certainly was fine. A complaint is in progress
* On ADSL we were using 120-160 GB/month. With faster speeds and more streaming including HD we're using 180-350 GB/month
* P2P is restricted, especially peak but I don't use much so it doesn't bother me.

But overall delighted - pretty much "just works". I'd been reluctant before

For me there was little point in getting a service with lower limits as one of my reasons for the switch was to allow seamless, multiple concurrent HD video streams

With a rolling 1 month contact and decent speeds now, I would sit tight until FTTC is enabled in the area then see what is on offer.

At the moment, it's hard to beat BT on price and unlimitied usage limits (option2) but who's to say what will be on offer in a few months.

I can only comment on my own experience of being 'upgraded' to BT ADSL2+ - truly awful!
Before upgrade I had a pretty well rock solid

After, I got

for a month or so. Now I get

most days, tho' resetting the HomeHub will give me

until the line goes over again.
A really frustrating experience all round.

I just don't see the price being similar up front.

If you pay for the whole year at once, pay for the activation and buy their recommended router it comes to £399 and you get a total of 60GB of download in the whole month split up between strange peak and off peak periods.

For BT it'll be £307 over the same period, for an "unlimited" connection. In other words IDnet is about 30% more. Not an insignificant amount.

Iplayer HD really gets a hammering here too.

What are you line statistics like?

Thanks for your reply.
BT support asked me to remove the faceplate on the phone socket (this afternoon), since when the connection has broken at least once but is reasonably quick. The HomeHub status page gives this:

ADSL line status

Connection information

Line state Connected
Connection time 0 days, 1:17:41
Downstream 1,947 Kbps
Upstream 687 Kbps

ADSL settings
VPI/VCI 0/38
Type PPPoA
Modulation ITU-T G.992.3
Latency type Interleaved
Noise margin (Down/Up) 3.5 dB / 6.2 dB
Line attenuation (Down/Up) 63.0 dB / 39.7 dB
Output power (Down/Up) 0.0 dBm / 12.8 dBm
Loss of Framing (Local) 11
Loss of Signal (Local) 1
Loss of Power (Local) 0
FEC Errors (Down/Up) 0 / 4294967262
CRC Errors (Down/Up) 669 / 2147480000
HEC Errors (Down/Up) nil / 0
Error Seconds (Local) 3

I should point out that I'm 4 1/2 miles from the exchange and 2 1/2 miles from the roadside cabinet so I don't expect to be streaming HD video! I didn't expect ADSL2+ to do anything at all so I was pleasantly surprised when my speed doubled - it's the complete unreliability of it which is getting to me.