Plusnet Pro OR Max Premium?

Moving to a new area next month and have decided to go with Plusnet as my new provider. Not the best exchange for broadband as no LLU or Fibre. and only 20CN.

http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/SMFI

Currently with BE where I live now so am used to 1mb upload speed which is important to me as I send a lot of large files. Also a fairly heavy online gamer so looking to get the best connection I can at my new location.

Anyway I'm a bit confused about the difference between the two add-on options. Pro is £5 pm and MP is £7.83.

Can anyone explain which would suit me best considering the above?

The two are totally different
Max Premium is paying for an increased upload speed from 448kbps to 832kbps (max - as it depends on line length). Max Premium is also supposed to have higher priority on the BT network but I am not sure if this is still the case
Plusnet Pro only affects the shaping or throttling on the line. In effect the Pro options removes all the Plusnet speed restrictions by usage type.
This comparison tool shows the difference http://usergroup.plus.net/prodcomp1.php

Assuming you get the best upload speeds, with max premium you'll go up to 832K sync (740K ish speeds). With Pro, you get less traffic management according to:

http://www.plus.net/support/broadband/speed_guide/tr...

I use Pro, and tend to only do browsing and e-mail, but occasionally stream a youtube vid or two. Not much of a change here, but by and large, my speeds are consistent and decent.

See the Max Premium FAQ:

http://www.plus.net/support/broadband/products/max_p...

Oh Gawdddddddddddddddd !!! They've completely revised all the information on this page. The new stuff is a complete nightmare, whereas before it was easily understood.

I assume this is because of the Olympics - covering their backsides with 153 ifs and buts.

I can't in less than a few hours analyse what they are saying about Pro now. My first reaction is that whereas it used to remove all speed capping, it now may or may not - depending on what the heck is going on on the network.

The only thing that seems probable is that MP will give you an upload connection of up to 832kbps. I would also expect it to give some priority within the BT Wholesale network.

The standard products are 448Mbps. In terms of prioritisation Pro should be applicable to both, working within the Plusnet internal network rather than the BT Wholesale one, so maybe you need both.

There's a bit of guesswork, and deduction based on general IPSC/IPStream knowledge in there I'm afraid. Your connection will be one of those, as they are the current BT Wholesale products that deliver ADSL Max. I don't think it matters which it is.

In reply to a post by Oldjim:

all the Plusnet speed restrictions by usage type.
This comparison tool shows the difference http://usergroup.plus.net/prodcomp1.php

But "Article last edited on Sunday, 18-Apr-2010 23:10 PM".

Take a look at the page I linked to in my reply to the OP.

Headache pills tomorrow!

It's very straightforward:

Are any services, content, applications or protocols always prioritised? Yes
If so what? Browsing, Email, VoIP, Gaming, VPN, FTP, Undefined Traffic

With 'Extra' only VOIP is prioritised. That older page is still fairly accurate, but not completely. It does give a decent idea of how Plusnet differentiate between the two products.

Wow lots of quick responses! How does prioritising work ? What happens if I take both options? Waste of money? upload speed and gaming are my main interests, not worried too much about streaming or downloading movies.

In reply to a post by BobbyD:

upload speed and gaming are my main interests

Assuming your line will be good for a decent gaming ping, the Pro add-on won't hurt. Equally the upload speed doubles.

So both might be the best (if not the cheapest) option. Bear in mind you're in a 'Market 1' exchange, so your basicaly BB package will be £5 more than markets 1 & 2 anyway.

I'm guessing at £16.49 pm broadband, £7.83 for Max Premium, and £5 for Pro, means £29.32 all in.

Actually, I would just try the 'Extra' for starters and see how your line is, get any master socket issues ironed out, and then consider if the add-ons are required / worthwhile.

In reply to a post by camieabz:

Actually, I would just try the 'Extra' for starters and see how your line is, get any master socket issues ironed out, and then consider if the add-ons are required / worthwhile.

thanks i think that is probably the best option. My final question would be how far in advance can i place my order for PN? Due to move in 3 weeks time and need the BB up and running as soon as possible after I move in as I work from home. Can I order now with a rough activation date and adjust nearer the time to suit the final move date?

Edited by deleted (Sun 29-Jul-12 08:20:17)

Is the place you are moving to currently occupied and if so do they have broadband? Clearing down the previous supplier so that you can even get the order placed can be an issue.

I think you are going to have to pick a date and get the order placed ASAP.

In reply to a post by jelv:

Is the place you are moving to currently occupied and if so do they have broadband? Clearing down the previous supplier so that you can even get the order placed can be an issue.

I think you are going to have to pick a date and get the order placed ASAP.

Yes it's occupied and they have phone and broadband with Plusnet. Does that make the transition any smoother?

I am not sure if the current ISP would make a difference.. the telephone line at the house still needs to be "clear" from the point of view of a new order.

I am sure the rest of the guys here will be able to clarify.

Have you spoken to the currents tenants? I wonder how they get on with PlusNet for speeds etc.

In reply to a post by CJT:

I am not sure if the current ISP would make a difference.. the telephone line at the house still needs to be "clear" from the point of view of a new order.

I am sure the rest of the guys here will be able to clarify.

Have you spoken to the currents tenants? I wonder how they get on with PlusNet for speeds etc.

Does that mean the order cannot be initiated until the current tennants have left? That would be a nightmare as it will then take 2-3 weeks to process.

I am not 100% sure,

I am sure someone more experienced with this will reply, or even someone from PlusNet.

There are usually PN reps here during the week.

As CJT says - your best bet is to wait for a Plusnet rep posting in this forum. One will probably pick up this thread.

They are all extremely good. I would do that rather than contact sales, as you want either a seamless transfer from the current occupiers, or a "Simultaneous Provide" if that can't be done. (It probably can't, but maybe with it already being PN it can).

That's assuming you are happy to have Plusnet phone as well.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

That's assuming you are happy to have Plusnet phone as well.

Yeah happy to take both phone + bb with Plusnet. I wonder if requesting a new phone no. rather than taking over the previous one may make things easier? Anyway as you say i'm sure someone from PN will hopefully come along and answer all my questions!

They post a little less at the weekends. Pretty sure one will spot this during working hours.

I assume this is because of the Olympics - covering their backsides with 153 ifs and buts.

Nope, that page has been like that for several months, possibly a year. The layout is a template from the Broadband Stakeholder Group and you'll see a number of other ISPs using the same format.

We're actually reviewing that page at the moment as we don't feel it best represents our products.

This page gives the information in a different way and shows that Pro has no rate limits applied: http://www.plus.net/support/broadband/speed_guide/do...

I notice that http://www.plus.net/support/broadband/speed_guide/do... shows PN extra streaming as line speed at all times. Is this correct?

As, http://usergroup.plus.net/prodcomp1.php shows PN extra has You Tube limited to 2.5 mbits between 8.00 PM & 10.00 PM

Richard

The page on the Plusnet website provides the correct information. That provided by the Usergroup comparison tool will be updated to match in due course.

Edited by deleted (Mon 30-Jul-12 15:29:28)

Seems to be going a bit off topic here now, can anyone from PN help out with my questions re Pro/Max P and moving etc? Keen to get my order in this week if possible once I know what the score is. Thanks in advance!

Until they do, you may not realise you can turn Pro on and off monthly. Only Max gives you the 832kbps upload.

Edited by RobertoS (Mon 30-Jul-12 17:02:39)

Hi there,

Just dropped you a PM with some details on it... it looks like we can do it but it'll be fairly complicated and need some cooperation with the current owners.

Please let me know, cheers.

In reply to a post by orbrey:

Hi there,

Just dropped you a PM with some details on it... it looks like we can do it but it'll be fairly complicated and need some cooperation with the current owners.

Please let me know, cheers.

thanks for your help i have replied to your PM, now we have a move date I need to get cracking!

cheers

In reply to a post by BobbyD:

need the BB up and running as soon as possible after I move in as I work from home.

Under those circumstances, getting a USB dongle (for pretty much any mobile network, with a PAYG option) would seem sensible, just in case you have no broadband for a few days because of a fault (and gives peace of mind if moving home).

At last property (before Openreach replaced the dropwire) I could lose BB and voice calls for up to 5 days at a time, any time it rained (insulation on outside wiring had perished, but automated tester, which I could use from Three dongle, reported a problem with wiring inside my house). Not impossible to happen, and having a reserve if you work from home and need the internet seems a no-brainer.

In reply to a post by ultra:

In reply to a post by BobbyD:

need the BB up and running as soon as possible after I move in as I work from home.

Under those circumstances, getting a USB dongle (for pretty much any mobile network, with a PAYG option) would seem sensible, just in case you have no broadband for a few days because of a fault (and gives peace of mind if moving home).

At last property (before Openreach replaced the dropwire) I could lose BB and voice calls for up to 5 days at a time, any time it rained (insulation on outside wiring had perished, but automated tester, which I could use from Three dongle, reported a problem with wiring inside my house). Not impossible to happen, and having a reserve if you work from home and need the internet seems a no-brainer.

that would be great if my area had 3G reception!