Comparison of options for new phone line with broadband

Hi all,

I've been looking at BB prices for a few weeks now (the offers keep changing every week) as I'll be moving into a new house soon and require a new phone line installation with broadband, so want to make a decision this weekend and sign up.

I will rarely use phone line but would rather have it than not, and my requirements for broadband are:
1) No usage cap (unlimited) or traffic management/throttling
2) Speed is not a concern as long as its above 8 Mbps, so no need to go for fiber or anything massively fast if its going to cost extra
3) Cheapest option for a reliable internet (avoid frequent line drops/slow downs if possible)

Also I don't need TV package.

For these requirements I've gathered the following data from ISPs that I have come to know looking around. (would've made it into table format if post format allowed it)
I also did look at Virgin and BeThere but they were too expensive.

I am currently considering going with Tesco, because it provides what I need and the price is reasonable, and reading around I haven't a lot of complains about it (maybe because its relatively new?)

Please share your thoughts about these ISPs or any others you think I should be looking at given my requirements.
Which one would you recommend?

Thanks in advance!

Sky (12 months)
First year::
phone: 184.8
broadband: 120
cashback: -94.5
router P&P: 0
Line Install: 15
-----:
Total: 225.3
Cost per month: 18.775
Notes: Broadband £10 after 12 months
=====:
Second year::
Phone: 184.8
Broadband: 120
-----:
Total: 304.8
Cost per month: 25.4


BT (18 months)
First year::
phone: 211.5
broadband: 192
cashback: -84
router P&P: 6.95
Line Install: 0
-----:
Total: 326.45
Cost per month: 18.13611111
Notes: 6 out of 18 month free BB
=====:
Second year::
Phone: 141
Broadband: 192
-----:
Total: 333
Cost per month: 27.75


Tesco (12 months)
First year::
phone: 178.8
broadband: 0
cashback: -36.75
router P&P: 5
Line Install: 30
-----:
Total: 177.05
Cost per month: 14.75416667
Notes: Broadband £6 after 12 months
=====:
Second year::
Phone: 178.8
Broadband: 0
-----:
Total: 178.8
Cost per month: 14.9


Plusnet (12 months)
First year::
phone: 131.88
broadband: 23.88
cashback: -39.9
router P&P: 5.99
Line Install: 49.99
-----:
Total: 171.84
Cost per month: 14.32
Notes: Broadband £9.99 after 12 months
=====:
Second year::
Phone: 131.88
Broadband: 119.88
-----:
Total: 251.76
Cost per month: 20.98


TalkTalk (12 months)
First year::
phone: 126
broadband: 30
cashback: -52.5
router P&P: 0
Line Install: 50
-----:
Total: 153.5
Cost per month: 12.79166667
Notes:
=====:
Second year::
Phone: 126
Broadband: 30
-----:
Total: 156
Cost per month: 13


Primus (18 months)
First year::
phone: 180
broadband: 60
cashback: -42
router P&P: 7.95
Line Install: 0
-----:
Total: 205.95
Cost per month: 11.44166667
Notes: Broadband £4 after 6 months
=====:
Second year::
Phone: 120
Broadband: 48
-----:
Total: 168
Cost per month: 14

For ADSLx the speed depends on the distance of the property from the exchange. For fibre (FTTC) on the distance from the cabinet. To advise you properly, it would be best if you use the Address checker here, then copy and paste the results table. Remove the address of course, but leave the exchange and cabinet number in. We don't need the guff following the table either.

Do not use the postcode-only checker!

Line rental @ £5.99 per month if it helps?
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/home-phone-c...

Hi RobertoS, here is the result (formattings going to be awful, sorry)
As I said I dont really care about the speed and I'm in London so I should be eligible for most packages available.
Thanks!

Exchange HENDON is served by Cabinet 17
Featured Products

Downstream Line Rate(Mbps)

Upstream Line Rate(Mbps)

Downstream Range(Mbps)

Availability Date

High Low High Low
FTTC Range A (Clean) 80 75.4 20 20 -- Available
FTTC Range B (Impacted) 80 62.6 20 19 -- Available

WBC ADSL 2+ Up to 8 -- 6.5 to 14 Available
WBC ADSL 2+ Annex M Up to 8 Up to 1 6.5 to 14 Available
ADSL Max Up to 6 -- 5 to 8 Available
WBC Fixed Rate 2 -- -- Available
Fixed Rate 2 -- -- Available
Other Offerings
Fibre Multicast -- -- -- Available

Hi PeterProxy,

I had checked that page previously but hadn't noticed that Primus would give cheaper line rental if I went through a special link!

This looks good, but I wonder if I can then get their Unlimited Broadband once I'm on their phone line:
http://www.primussaver.co.uk/unlimited-broadband.html

If they do then this is ideal. Maybe I can phone them up and ask, I'll try it.

Any idea on how good/bad primus broadband is? In terms of reliability/etc.

Thanks!

Well at least all the ones you are looking at can supply there . Though incidentally BeThere doesn't exist any more - O2/Be now belongs to Sky and everyone is being switched over.

Tesco uses C & W, which now belongs to Vodafone. Could be slower than the others perhaps - unless things have changed C & W settings at the exchange are just a little more conservative than the others. Niche resellers can get that altered, I doubt if Tesco would bother.

You are obviously close to the cabinet so would get flat-out FTTC. ADSL2+ looks safe for your 8Mbps requirement so long as your house phone wiring is sound. It's even possible it would be better than the 14Mbps top figure.

I checked with Primus customer service, unfortunately the £5.99 offer is phone only and they wouldn't give broadband on top of that.
Also there is a line installation fee of £59, which makes this a deal breaker.
The offer they give for broadband is £10/m for phone and £4/m for broadband (free line installation), which brings this to a similar price point as Tesco and Plusnet, or rather we should just go with the figures in my first post.

So out of Tesco/Plusnet/Primus which would you recommend going with?
Mainly in terms of how happy customers have been with each.