Is there comparison of fibre services speeds in peak times

I finally got my cabinet enabled for the fibre. However being BE user for 8 yrs I am now a bit concerned on jumping ships. I never had any complaints on the BE speeds. For few months in 2008 or 9 they had troubles with US traffic - mostly it was changing routing several times a day. But other than that - it was a breeze.

Now my main concern for the internet service is stability and predictability. and NOT speed. I mainly use US traffic which is downstream and it is very small in size. But latency is paramount.

Again I do understand you cant beat speed of cable transmission between the continents but I want it predictable and I want ZERO packet drops whether it is 5am or 5pm.

I understand that BE is so good because it is off the mainstream.

Now if I am going to switch - I would like to see what is the mainstream providers speeds / latency / packet loss like DURING the day.

P.S. I know that the most obvious answer would - stay where you are. but I want to try new things. And I want to make sure the new thing is as good as the old one. So please help with the information not critics. Thank you

Would a ping or tracert to a US site you specify help?

I would appreciate that but can you be bothered to ping it for few hours ? (I am not sure what are the peak hours cos I never had any troubles - 5pm to 9pm?) I dont want to tax you for nothing

As you are quite a pro ) (I remember your previous answers) could you perhaps just tell in your opinion - does it worth to switch to BT taking the said above as a reference point? or any other major provider..

Well you've either got to stay with Sky or switch .

I can do them a few times - in other words "when I remember". The number of them doesn't bother me.

I'm afraid I'm quite a light user. Apart from occasionally checking my BQM (link in my sig) for any signs of trouble I tend to potter about quite happily. US links and consistent latency to them I wouldn't have a clue about.

I would steer clear of BT Retail at the moment. There seems to be quite a bit of recent trouble. For instance this thread.

I'm on Plusnet Fibre Unlimited and very happy. Before that was IDNet FTTC and before that O2 LLU Standard.

thank you !! i will pm the ip.

how do you manage to get out of the contract - changing ISP so many time?

I don't change often.

I left O2 in Feb 2011 after being with them a few years. At the end of my 12-month IDNet FTTC term I moved to Plusnet FTTC on an 18-month term as it was far cheaper, and have had no problems with them.

In Jan 2013, (so that 11 months into the 18), I upgraded to the latest "true unlimited" 80/20 FTTC package with them, which just meant restarting the 18 months. It expires in July, but I see no likelihood of my leaving them.

My phone line is with BT Retail. Not with Plusnet. I might move the phone to somewhere cheaper once my current 12 months on that expires. BT are becoming more and more of a rip-off shop.

Edited by RobertoS (Sun 30-Mar-14 22:19:13)

Nice.

BT/British gas/BP etc they all are bullies. this is why i had happy life with BE and never looked back

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

My phone line is with BT Retail. Not with Plusnet. I might move the phone to somewhere cheaper once my current 12 months on that expires. BT are becoming more and more of a rip-off shop.

Zen Home Talk Plus (one month contract) are the best bargain I ever came across to Zen. Far cheaper than BT. I only just join them last week. No problem switch over from BT. My broadband stay with Plusnet Fibre Unlimited.

Edited by adslmax (Sun 30-Mar-14 22:52:26)

Yes, that's where I'm thinking of, but when the new charging for 1571 came in I had too much on my mind with other things so got into the BT 12 months to get whatever that gives free.