O2, Sky or other?

I'm currently with Adsl24(Entanet reseller) on their upto 8Mbps(get max 1Mbps if I'm lucky tho) Home30 package(�19.99/month, been 1yr 4months now), but now looking to move to a different ISP. The major problem is my exchange(Spencers Wood) only has 1 LLU(TalkTalk), no ADSL2+ suport etc.

The 2 I'm looking at are Sky(their Access �17/month package as can't get the LLU ones) or O2(again the Access package, my sister & brother-in-law have O2 PAYG so it'll be �17.50/month). Are the non-LLU service for both any good/worth it?

With both Sky and O2 I've read they provide their own router, do they have WPA2 or are they WEP only? also can you use your own wireless router or have to use the one they provide?

In the meanwhile before I switch ISP I'm going to order the BT I-Plate and see if that helps my connection speeds at all, have read people have seen improvements. Does the router have to be connected to the master socket to see the improvement from the I-Plate(the master socket is downstairs hidden behind a bookshelf and I have the router upstairs in my computer room)?

Unless you have Sky TV and so can get Sky Broadband cheaper I'd suggest O2 Access is the way to go.

I think both Sky and O2 prefer you to use their supplied router although you can use your own.

As far as I know it'll be at least WPA and probably WPA2 for both Sky and O2.

An i-plate is only really useful if you are pretty clueless at DIY.

Using your current router compare your stats when plugged in at your normal position and when plugged in at the test socket within the BT master socket. If they don't differ it won't matter where you have your router plugged in.

See http://www.dslzoneuk.net/adsl_line_stats.php and http://www.dslzoneuk.net/socket.php

I sky max boradband and have always had a good conection and download speeds. I have my router plugged into the main socket via an extension cable but this does not seem to have made a difference.

unforunately as I said don't have Sky LLU at my exchange so the Sky Max(or even the other 2 LLU package) performance mean nada as I can only get the IPStream(or Access package as they call it), from what I've read you can't really compare the performance between them.
what is Sky CS like? I've read they're rather [censored] tunless you can get to tier2/3.


john2007 I am pretty clueless about DIY, but will check with connecting the router directly in the master socket(you dou mean after taking the front panel off right?).

If you're only getting 1Mb from Entanet, chances are either you're a long way from the exchange, or you have a problem with the phone wiring in your house. Either way you won't get any better speeds unless you sort the problem out, and if it is distance related you're out of luck there too. Start off by posting your line stats from your router.

Regards,
Steve

Yes, as long as it it a fairly recent socket there should be a test socket inside (as per one of the links I posted). Plugging in at the test socket isolates your internal wiring so shows the best stats your line is capable of (at that moment in time).

changing ISP isn't to try and get a faster connection, more to do with lowering the cost(not too lucky there due to no LLU(well apart from TalkTalk)).

according to samknows and the user account tools on ADSL24 the exchange is 1.8km as the crow flies.

current stats from router(Belkin Adsl Modem Router F5D7633):

ADSL
Type Interleave
Status No Defect

Downstream Upstream

Data rate (Kbps) 1184 448

Noise margin (dB) 6.6 17.0

Output power (dBm) 15.6 11.8

Attenuation (dB) 58.0 31.5

longest it has kept the connection has been 5days and a bit, usually disconnect/reconnects every couple of days. current profile is 1000kbps, highest have had is 1500kbps.

anyone else?

since I posted the line stats the router has disconnected and reconnected, the downstream is now showing 1504kbps.

running speedtests show ~800kbps down, ~360kbps up.

haven't ordered the i-plate yet but will do tonight or tomorrow.

"well apart from TalkTalk"
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Go with them??!!

I got the BT I-Plate last thursday but only fitted it today(~hr ago), had been meaning to fit it last weekend but never got around to it(haven't taken out the ringer wire in the master socket, just put the I-Plate in). restarting the router has now got it to connect at 3520kbps, noise margin is ~5dBm(is fluctuating when I refresh the router page), output power is at 18.6 dBm & attentuation is 58 dB.

the profile is still 1250kbps(in the past 14months the highest its been is 1500kbps) so the speedtests aren't showing any gains yet, best so far has been 1.3mbps. how long does it take for the profile to change?

my next billing date for my current isp(adsl24) is coming up(20th), so when should I ask for the MAC by so I don't run into the billing date next month(i.e. 20th Jan)? on friday(19th) or before friday(i.e. today or tomorrow)?

I'm thinking of giving O2 a try as they have a 30 trial period(have had 100days and 50days periods over the last few months but I missed them). will the current problems with O2(due to the high number of people signing up over the last several months) be sorted out by Febuary? as I said the change is more to do with saving money(even if it is only �2.50/month as long as my sister tops up �10/month on her payg mobile every 3months) and having a reliable isp(can get �8/month with Orange as have an Orange mobile contract, but have read they're not the most reliable or have good customer service etc).