Feedback on ISPs for new home

I'm moving in to a new home and am looking for advice on an ISP considering;
- The house has an inactive BT phone line.
- We do not have a router.
- We're looking at around £30/m including line rental.
- Relatively heavy internet usage - understand we'll have to settle with around 30GB - no less if at all possible.
- We will not use a landline for anything other than internet.

The area is supported by these LLU providers:
- AOL
- C&W/Bulldog
- Orange
- Sky/Easynet
- TalkTalk
- Tiscali

So unfortunately we haven't the greatest choices (No Virgin Media cable, no O2, etc.)...

I've looked at:
- Tiscali - Includes line rental, very cheap but probably awful.
- Vivaciti - Looks like a decent service but would be slightly over our budget considering line rental.
- TalkTalk - Various horror stories, looks cheap but is it worth switching?
- Sky - Can't get broadband without TV? Expensive anyway.

Could anyone advise what our best options are?
Is the extra money to go with someone like Vivaciti worth it?
Are there any options I'm missing out on?
Are we being too tight on our budget for what we're looking for?!

Thanks!

On that LLU list the only one normally recommended is Sky, but only if you have/want Sky TV.

People have been suggesting Vivaciti recently. I'd have a look at them.

Should have mentioned UKOnline who use the same LLU network as Sky but don't need TV package. I'd check out their forum as I'm not sure if they are currently good or bad (certainly used to be good).

I agree the OP should look at vivaciti but only the Surfwise 75 and LLU Unlimited packages. Obviously the LLU package (C & W) will be far better than the Surfwise (O-Bit BT-based one).

The OP should steer well clear of the Family packages on vivaciti. These are Enta-based and bad news for many at the moment, which is why vivaciti have introduced the two recommended ones.

Edit - typo.

Edited by RobertoS (Sun 24-May-09 19:30:17)

Hi,

We can provide you LLU based connection including line rental for £30 inc VAT. Unmetered with 75G/month fair usage allowance.

This is not currently on our on-line product list, you need to call or email ([email protected]), contact details below.

Regards

If you will be getting Sky TV then go for Sky LLU broadband, you won't regret it. However if not, then go for UKOnline LLU service which uses the same easynet network as Sky.

Good luck!

One thing to bear in mind when looking at our service, is there is no 12 month contract period.

Have a look at Newnet, SAQ, Vivaciti(Non-Enta products), IDNet, ICUK, Edge Telecom....

You don't have to go LLU - Andrews & Arnold (AAISP) will handle a phone line that's not used for outgoing calls as part of their ADSL, but it depends when your "heavy usage" is. They charge based on the weekday daytime downloads (09:00 to 18:00) - uploads don't count. If your heavy usage is evenings and weekends, they may be for you. A 1GB peak usage / 50GB offpeak usage plus a phone line comes to less than £30, 2GB + 100GB plus the line is £32. They have a 1-month contract so you can move quickly if you don't like it. Have a look: http://www.aaisp.net/broadband.html

(I'm on their 1GB/50GB package and despite being at home most of the time I almost never exceed the 1GB peak usage figure - and you can carry over up to 100% plus or minus to the next month).

Cheers,
Howard