PlusNet, NewNet, IDNet or UKOnline?

I'm looking for a first-time broadband ISP with good reliability and not too many customers to slow it down. I live a couple of hundred yards from the local exchange, am going for a 8mb connection, high monthly cap and if possible free wirelss router (this is why I'm stearing towards Plusnet). The others have a much smaller userbase but charge a connection fee and don't come with a router. Newnet and IDnet have got rave reviews for their service but are they worth the extra money?

Thanks in advance.

Yes!

Newnet and IdNet do not have any sort of traffic shaping or speed capping. They also have sufficient Central equipment to maintain high speeds/bandwidth at all times.

Plusnet have what to me is a very complicated speed capping and traffic shaping system, which to be fair they do seem to try to explain, unlike most ISPs that have such.

If you really mean you want a high monthly download allowance, you should seriously consider an Entanet reseller such as ADSL24, ukfsn, vivaciti or falconnet. They provide the best allowances per �, at the cost of slowing all trafic down possibly as low as 2000kbps at heavy times. The heavy downloaders don't mind that as they schedule their stuff into the off-peak period. (So in fact Entanet off-peak = peak!).

Finally if you can get Be then that is probably the best for you, see www.bethere.co.uk and put your phone number in, as they are in effect unlimited and cheap. Free wireless router (on loan while you subscribe).

IDNET and Newnet are the quality providers and therefore a slightly higher price but well worth it. The connection fee is payable because you only have a 1 month contract. Idnet will sell you a configured router. The companies that provide free connections and routers tie you into a 12 month contract so they can recover the costs and you are tied into that no matter what performance you get.

As always in life it's quantity over qaulity.

I am known to recommend IDNEt because I have the experience with them. Newnet are also extremely good and Entanet are very good if you want much larger downloads.

www.idnet.co.uk

IDNet Studio, The Spirella Building, Letchworth, Herts SG6 4ET. UK
T: 08000 267 237 | E: [email protected]

I'm with Newnet and think they are very good

If you are a fairly heavy downloader they may not be the best option though

In reply to:

---

high monthly cap

---

The highest monthly allowances for the least cost will be LLU providers like Sky or Be. Also you will probably get faster speeds if you can get an LLU provider such as Sky or Be.

Use the link I have put below and it will tell you exactly what ADSL services you can get by just putting in your post code or phone number (i.e. it may say "Sky LLU" or "Be LLU" - that means you can use Sky or Be and they are an LLU service).

Link to ADSL services checker.

In reply to:

---

Also you will probably get faster speeds if you can get an LLU provider such as Sky or Be.

---

And a free (loan) router with Be! I don't know about Sky.

Sky also give a free router plus various other "freebies" such as �50 of M and S vouchers if a "friend" signs you up. Sky also do a free phone calls deal plus you can get your phone line rental billed via Sky cheaper than BT (it is still a BT line of course).

If you need a big download cap and your exchange is not sky or Be/O2 LLU ready Entanet reseller is a no brainer..
But entanet does slow when off peak but your internet and online gaming stay usable..
If you want a qulity service and dont need huge download caps , i would go IDNET , again a no brainer as you can see by all there happy users on these and other forums...
But if your exchange is SKY LLU . and you dont have sky tv, UKonline realy are the nuts, and i am still toying with moving to there llu network..
But better the devil i know, and my online gamming and big download cap is what i need , and not a faster connection and a FUP that could change at anytime and a 12 month contract..
But im still tempted
If you want a free router and conection , a 12 month contract is going to be the only way so pick your isp carefully....

Edited by deleted (Tue 19-Feb-08 21:55:56)