ISP that doesn't throttle/traffic shape advise?

I'm going to be moving into a new house, the exchange only has TalkTalk and Orange LLU which I don't want as it seems they use heavy traffic shaping/throttling. I'll be quite a way from the exchange so only likely to get around 3Mbps at best but I need an ISP that is definitely not going to throttle/traffic shape my connection. I'm also looking for a connection that's going to give me consistently low pings for online gaming etc.

Usage wise I don't need a massive allowance (could probably get by with 10gig total but a smaller allowance during peak times and unlimited off peak could work for me). I'm not really wanting to spend much more than £15 per month.

At my current house I'm with Newnet (have been for years) on one of there old plans which gives me 20gig usage for about £22 per month. They have been great with really fast speeds and of course no throttling which is a must for me. Newnet now seem mostly geared up for the business market but I'm possibly looking at their 10gig for £15 per month package but trying to find some possible cheaper alternatives.

Along with Newnet I've also had a look at IDNet, Zen & Vispa but they don't seem to be any cheaper really. I've also been looking at Plusnet with their Extra package with the Pro add-on which supposedly means they won't traffic shape/throttle p2p. It seems very cheap but I'm very cautious of going with these 'mass-market' type providers because I've found in the past they are over subscribed, slow speeds/high pings at peak times and generally awful compared to the lesser know ISP's like Newnet.

Any suggestions?

Orange is no longer LLU. It now resells BTw White Label product which means you get WBC ADSL2+, just like LLU, in 21CN exchanges or IPStream ADSL Max in 20CN ones and it is Unlimited usage.

Might be good if Samknows deletes Orange off its LLU exchange pages.

Then, to be fair, it might a new category, for BTw White Label say, as most other BTw resellers only do IPStream.

Non-LLU ADSL is BT Wholesale by default, which every ADSL enabled exchange has, so no other category needed.

Not in the case of Orange, and others like PO I believe, who default to WBC ADSL2+ in 21CN exchanges, by reselling BTw's White Label product; completely unlike most other non-LLU ISPs.

As I stated earlier, but you ignored

In reply to a post by XRaySpeX:

Not in the case of Orange, and others like PO I believe, who default to WBC ADSL2+ in 21CN exchanges, by reselling BTw's White Label product; completely unlike most other non-LLU ISPs.

White-label or not, it's still BT Wholesale though, right?

I wasn't aware that Orange weren't LLU, to be honest I don't really understand all this 21CN WBC stuff. I had already ruled out Orange anyway as they implement traffic shaping/throttling, so going back to my originally question, any suggestions on a suitable ISP?

In reply to a post by XRaySpeX:

Not in the case of Orange, and others like PO I believe, who default to WBC ADSL2+ in 21CN exchanges, by reselling BTw's White Label product; completely unlike most other non-LLU ISPs.

As I stated earlier, but you ignored

What do you get from them in 20CN exchanges, is it IPSC via WBMC or IPStream via BT centrals (if there is a difference)

Harry

I suggest you give Plusnet a try, as the Pro package is specifically intended for gamers and no throttling. If you pay the setup costs and don't take the router then it is only a 10-day contract so no harm in giving it a try.

IPStream as I stated earlier: http://forums.thinkbroadband.com/which_isp/t/4041819...

In reply to a post by Anonymous:

What do you get from them in 20CN exchanges, is it IPSC via WBMC or IPStream via BT centrals (if there is a difference)

Almost certainly IPSC. The difference is that IPStream went over the old mixed ATM/IP network and IPSC goes over the new pure IP one. IPStream was handed over to ISPs through the BT Centrals they rented at their own data centres, IPSC is handed over through MSILs.

For most ISPs these are sited at 10 "nodes" around the country and it is up to the ISP to arrange backhaul from the one they choose, (I believe the intention was that an ISP could use more than one IPSC node, but that seems not to be the case - subject to someone correcting me).

Whether BT Wholesale with the Orange service pick stuff up there, or some more direct route, I have no idea. There is a remote chance I suppose they use IPStream to some of the redundant Centrals that have been returned to them as ISPs have converted, but I doubt it.

Edit - typos.

Edited by RobertoS (Thu 08-Sep-11 16:03:26)

Try vivaciti.co.uk They do links that use the talk talk network but without any restrictions. Worth a punt !

It doesn't matter a fig what kit is employed at the exchange. All the consumer is interested in is that he is being provided with an up to 8 Meg ADSL(1) connection which is handed off to the BTw network, in the case of BTw White Label, or to the non-LLU ISP's own network otherwise.

In reply to a post by XRaySpeX:

It doesn't matter a fig what kit is employed at the exchange

I agree in a way. However

All the consumer is interested in is that he is being provided with an up to 8 Meg ADSL(1) connection which is handed off to the BTw network, in the case of BTw White Label, or to the non-LLU ISP's own network otherwise".

That isn't quite what I understood from this question

What do you get from them in 20CN exchanges, is it IPSC via WBMC or IPStream via BT centrals (if there is a difference)

which I did my best to answer . Maybe you should reprimand him for asking it.

In reply to a post by iand:

Try vivaciti.co.uk They do links that use the talk talk network but without any restrictions. Worth a punt !

Not at the prices the OP seems to be interested in . I think you are talking about this one, but you may mean Broadband Complete which is the same broadband with restrictions but doesn't mention the fileshare addon to remove those. (I think that omission is a mistake on the website).

In reply to a post by Hurders:

I'm going to be moving into a new house, the exchange only has TalkTalk and Orange LLU which I don't want as it seems they use heavy traffic shaping/throttling. I'll be quite a way from the exchange so only likely to get around 3Mbps at best but I need an ISP that is definitely not going to throttle/traffic shape my connection. I'm also looking for a connection that's going to give me consistently low pings for online gaming etc.

Usage wise I don't need a massive allowance (could probably get by with 10gig total but a smaller allowance during peak times and unlimited off peak could work for me). I'm not really wanting to spend much more than £15 per month.

Any suggestions?

Hi, I recommend Orange from my fourteen months experience with them, if your exchange has 21CN WBC. I can only give praise on the quality of my Orange Home broadband connection and landline Orange Home phone service.

Throttle/traffic shape, fair use policy, whats that? http://help.orange.co.uk/orangeuk/support/personal/b...

Hows this ping you? http://www.pingtest.net/result/46598214.png

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

Maybe you should reprimand him for asking it.

True! Tho' he does question whether there any diff., of which I see none, as any way you only get �up to 8Mbps� ADSL(1).

Post deleted by Sadoldman

Interesting comments about 21CN/LLU etc. However I feel we've gone a little off course from my original question regarding finding an ISP that doesn't traffic shape/throttle.

After a bit more research it seems that I'm going to struggle to find something for £15 or less to suit my needs. Had a quick look at Xilo, they advertise an unlimited, unthrottled service for £18 a month, seems to have good user reviews?

Hmm yes but reading the 'What gets prioritised' section it suggests they do prioritise other traffic over p2p (e.g. cripple p2p) at peak times which is basically every evening. Further more I've just done a quick search on the orange foum here and I've found a few recent posts relating to traffic shaping/speed restrictions on p2p being enforced.

All those comma are throwing the screen out of whack so your words of wisdom...... and commas had to go.

And I thank you Sir.

It shan't happen again.

(Never knew it would do that).

Apologies folks!

*I have NEVER had a deleted post before. And at least it was pointed out. Cheers!

Edited by deleted (Fri 09-Sep-11 20:39:47)

The Plusnte customer service desk are all lovely people but the tech support isn't the same as you will have found at Newnet.

And speeds do get throttled of an evening. If you drill down into the website they explain exactly what their traffic management involves - honest at least.

I'd learn to set up your own router if you don't know already - they supply Thomson and support a limited range of BT ones so far as I can see. My first supplied one gave up five days into the service (good thing I had a spare).

Yes I have not long changed from one to the other as I'm in money saving mode or I would have stayed put.
Christine

In reply to a post by Hurders:

Had a quick look at Xilo, they advertise an unlimited, unthrottled service for £18 a month, seems to have good user reviews?

The Xilo £17.99 package that you mention (Pro 16 Home) is based on the C&W network, so if you only have BT or CPW and not C&W, then you will not be able to get that one.

That being said, they do have a package, Home 5GB, which is £17.35/month, and comes with a 5GB peak usage allowance; with unlimited (200GB FUP) which is unthrottled. Off-peak is 12am - 8am M-F and all day Sat & Sun.

I'm currently with Xilo, and never had anything throttled on their network at all.

In reply to a post by aramsay:

In reply to a post by Hurders:

Had a quick look at Xilo, they advertise an unlimited, unthrottled service for £18 a month, seems to have good user reviews?

The Xilo £17.99 package that you mention (Pro 16 Home) is based on the C&W network, so if you only have BT or CPW and not C&W, then you will not be able to get that one.

That being said, they do have a package, Home 5GB, which is £17.35/month, and comes with a 5GB peak usage allowance; with unlimited (200GB FUP) which is unthrottled. Off-peak is 12am - 8am M-F and all day Sat & Sun.

I'm currently with Xilo, and never had anything throttled on their network at all.

Thanks, didn't notice that it was based on the C&W network. The Home 5GB package seems fairly good value, the unlimited weekend usage is attractive.

At the moment then it seems like for around £18 I can get the Xilo 5GB (with unlimited at weekends) package or Newnet's 10GB (with unlimited off-peak but only in the dead of night!). Anyone else I should be considering in this price range that don't throttle/traffic shape? (no worthwile LLU [only TalkTalk!] at my exchange so I'll be looking at standard BT based ISP's)

Does it matter if the management is in office hours or not at all?

In reply to a post by vivaciti:

Does it matter if the management is in office hours or not at all?

Would rather not have any management at all. Generally I won't be using my connection during weekday office hours but still, I'd rather go with an ISP that doesn't enforce any throttling at all.

I've had a quick look at Vivaciti (what are your throttling/traffic shaping policies?) but it looks like you'll be a touch more expensive for my requirements.

Our partial LLU (SMPF) service has P2P type traffic run as a lower priority during 8am - 7:30pm Mon - Friday