Hove ISP suggestion for Power user - I need speed!

Preface: I'm a 'power' user. I'd like to use my own kit for the network. I manage websites & develop code so need fast download, upload and quick response times.

I'm moving to Hove actually and trying to decide which ISP to go with. Virgin Cable is not available. It's been 6 years since I was looking at ISPs.

From the front page O2 has been winning awards - are they good?
How about Sky?

I'm looking for a high cap (50gig should be ok for a month) or unlimited if they really do mean unlimited. Upload must be at least 1mbit, download around 10mbit would be good.

Budget isn't a consideration, I want a good service and fast connection.

tia and excuse the odd account name, I just resurrected it from around the year 2000.

Edited by RastachopZ (Tue 14-Jul-09 08:30:40)

Go for Be but note speeds depend on your distance from the exchange - the cable length actually.

Agreed, for a power user definitely go for Be. Static IP, unlimited, and if close to the exchange could get Annex M on the top package and get up to 2.5Mb download.

BUT it is all about cable length. Cannot be stressed enough, if you are too far from the exchange you will not get the high speeds from any ADSL supplier.

I've seen Be/O2 mentioned in places, have they merged? I notice I can get cheaper O2 rates as I'm currently an O2 customer. Are they the same company now or are Be the professional side (will I notice a difference?)

Search for forum user MKD, he does a comparison document between Be/O2.

If you pick the wrong location/house in Hove you may get less that 512Kbps. If broadband is important you will need to check speeds at the particular house you will be using.

Andrews and Arnold.

In reply to a post by RastachopZ:

I've seen Be/O2 mentioned in places, have they merged? I notice I can get cheaper O2 rates as I'm currently an O2 customer. Are they the same company now or are Be the professional side (will I notice a difference?)

O2 (or at least their parent company) bought Be sometime back. Both use the same network for connections but O2 is more of a standard consumer service with Be focusing on the "power" users. Be allow you control over things like interleave settings and the target SNR for the connection. Also comes with a static IP which may be important for your requirements.

As has already been said MKD has a comparison document on the provision of the 2. As long as you have a short enough line and are on an O2/Be LLU exchange then they provide a very good, fast and competitive service.

Depends where in hove. You really need to be within 2km of an exchange to get anywhere close to fast service. Being in the golden mile of the exchange is preferable.

I'm not sure where the exchange is in Hove but I'm near the sea front near adeleide crescent. I put the post code into a checker and it said I was ~500m from the exchange. I don't have a phone number yet to try that out.

Looks like the Hove exchange has O2 and Be LLU operator presence >

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