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Hi all
Simple question, really. I'm currently an ex-BE user migrated over to Sky Broadband Pro package ( limited to transferred users at the moment & not on contract). I was really concerned about the migration over to Sky as about 1.5 years ago I tried Sky for a week and evening congestion was terrible and managed to move back to BE. However, since being moved to Sky's new product I have noticed a 10ms drop in ping down to 10ms to London and sync speeds ( for me) are about 500Kb/s slower than BE.
Speed Test Don't know why it says 200mil (I'm in Canterbury.)
Now onto my actual question. BT have installed a cabinet and I've contact them and the've informed me that orders should be available from about end-July.
I have my phone line with Zen & broadband with Sky. Now both their Fibre offerings look almost identical on paper. Similar price, similar speeds, same contract. My gut instinct is to get fibre from Zen ( smaller ISP and their tech-department has always been good.) As for Sky their history is mixed, right now it is really good.
Overall I'm concerned about sinning a contract and then hitting congestion. ( Contacting Sky about upgrade and it's impossible without sining a 12 month contract naturally.) My main reason for wanting fibre is the upload speed (19Mb) and maybe a slight reduction in latency, the extra speed is a bonus.
What are your suggestions? Could I expect their to be no congestion if I'm on Sky's Pro Broadband and move to Sky's Pro Fibre Broadband. And if I sign a contract and there ever is congestion what is the best solution, does it allow me to contend the contract?
PS: I'm currently contact Sky's Pro department for support ( ex-BE support members) and they are really good. Little.John has been amazing. But as for the rest of them I question if I'm even speaking to a human sometimes. Does Sky's Fibre Pro package also use the same tech support people? It appears to as it is listed in their Pro Support Forums (Limited to ex-BE and I suppose Sky Fibre Pro users).
Edited by deleted (Wed 28-May-14 14:04:20)
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Hi,
Actually all Sky Fibre products are now 18 months, Zen are still 12 months. Zen Fibre is £5 a month cheaper and Zen give you a static IP address.
Zen also allow you to use our own router, unlike Sky where you have to use their home hub.
Zen line rental is a little more expensive (but I believe Sky are increasing prices in September) and they do not offer an unlimited calls pakage, it is 5000 anytime minutes to 01, 02, 03 and 0845/0870 numbers.
In my mind I would be going with Zen, they have a fantastic reputation. I will be looking to switch from plusNet to Zen shortly.
Cheers
Skilty
plusnet Unlimited Fibre (FTTC). Sync ~ 72.76/17.56Mbps
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Zen Line Rental + 5000 minutes = £22.06
Zen Fibre 80/20 + £30.00
12 months minimum term
Sky Line Rental + Unlimited Calls = £20.40 [Does that include 0845/0870 ?]
Sky Fibre 80/20 + £30.00
18 Months minimum term
So Sky is marginally cheaper then Zen but with a longer minimum term.
I don't think Zen provides a free router. You can choose which router to use.
Is one better than other? Well it really depends if you want sport or not.
Does the little extra you would pay with Zen give you added value? IMHO, Yes.
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Register (or login) on our website and you will not see this ad.
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For those happy with copper, that Zen line rental package that includes 5,000 minutes, is ONLY £17:35, not much more than line rental with the likes of BT. ALSO, there is NO 60 minute restriction to calls before incurring extra charges, the way other 'Anytime' call packages often con folk. Either way, a very good deal for the service supplied. As for sport, it's ALL free if you know where to look. http://www.zen.co.uk/home-office/voice/phone-service...
Edited by professor973 (Tue 29-Jul-14 11:41:47)
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Well I can confirm that on Sky in Canterbury I'm getting 80Mbps solid 
Only slow down I saw was when my line dropped to a lower sync but a reboot of the router brought speeds back to where they were.
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Actually all Sky Fibre products are now 18 months, Zen are still 12 months. Zen Fibre is £5 a month cheaper and Zen give you a static IP address.
Sky Fibre Pro gives you a static IP too FWIW
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Is that the case for all customers or just those bought over from Be? I didn't think Sky did static on any product but provided it for ex-Be users because that is what they used to have before sky took over the customer base.
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Zen!
Use your own router.
Better Reputation.
Shorter Contract.
..........................................................The list could go on...
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All customers with "Fibre Unlimited Pro" (has to be Pro) - it can be configured in the "My Sky" bit.
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That makes sky a possible future move then - don't currently have static but it is always nice to have the option...
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I think Canterbury is Zen LLU.
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Don't forget that Sky, for £5/mo, give you unlimited calls to virtually anywhere in the world, including mobiles in the US and Canada.
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What are your suggestions? Could I expect their to be no congestion if I'm on Sky's Pro Broadband and move to Sky's Pro Fibre Broadband. And if I sign a contract and there ever is congestion what is the best solution, does it allow me to contend the contract?
I too was moved to SKY from Be and have been following the sky forum on the various issues former be/O2 are having.
You should read some of the threads on the sky forum. It does appear to be random as to what level of problems ex-Be peeps get. The two main things that makes me think that sky are not a good choice are the problems that ex-Be peeps moving onto the actual sky network are having: streaming failures (over three months with no solution if you get this), the peak time throughput problems (fix time seems to be three months plus with this if your exchange is affected).
There is no chance sky will let you leave if there is congestion without complaint to ombudsman route.
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"way other 'Anytime' call packages often con folk. "
Why is that a con? It is well documented and up to the caller to have a memory.
Was Eclipse Home Option 1, VM 2Mb & O2 Standard
Now Utility Warehouse (up to 16mbps) via Talk Talk
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Post deleted by MrSaffron
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Post removed for language reasons
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The author of the above post is a thinkbroadband staff member. It may not constitute an official statement on behalf of thinkbroadband.
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No bad language there - Little Tin Hitler mode again.
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Don't you like to be corrected?
Was Eclipse Home Option 1, VM 2Mb & O2 Standard
Now Utility Warehouse (up to 16mbps) via Talk Talk
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Don't you like to be corrected?
I am happy to be wrong, just fed up with being unfairly jumped upon by the jumped up.
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Seems like it's handbags at dawn then!
All I did was to point out that certain things weren't a con and you got on your high horse.
This is a discussion board and I didn't agree with your statement. Was I wrong to do this or should I bow to your obviously superior judgement?
Was Eclipse Home Option 1, VM 2Mb & O2 Standard
Now Utility Warehouse (up to 16mbps) via Talk Talk
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It's deliberately designed to catch people out.
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How is it deliberately designed to catch people out? In the T&Cs, which are clearly stated, it says to redial before the hour and there is no charge.
Was Eclipse Home Option 1, VM 2Mb & O2 Standard
Now Utility Warehouse (up to 16mbps) via Talk Talk
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It was always so wasn't it? Since at least thirty years ago.
My broadband basic info/help site - www.robertos.me.uk | Domains,site and mail hosting - Tsohost.
Connection - Plusnet UnLim Fibre (FTTC). Sync ~ 56.6/14.1Mbps @ 600m. - BQM
"Where talent is a dwarf, self-esteem is a giant." - Jean-Antoine Petit-Senn.
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Allergy information: This post was manufactured in an environment where nuts are present. It may include traces of understatement, litotes and humour.
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Quite correct Bob, but like selling 'Unlimited' broadband with limits, 'Anytime' calls with limits comes under the same small print marketing. All of us that are aware of the 60 min unmetered limit with all but Zen have been caught out when in conversation. Possibly they should supply a 59 minute timer to hang around folks necks 
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But the old "Unlimited" bb didn't state the limit, just the fact that there was a FUP or similar. BT and TT clearly state that 59 minutes are free.
AFAIK most cordless telephones have a conversation time on the screen so it is fairly easy to see how long one has been chatting for.
Was Eclipse Home Option 1, VM 2Mb & O2 Standard
Now Utility Warehouse (up to 16mbps) via Talk Talk
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How long do you talk for before removing the phone from your ear to find out how long you have been talking?
My broadband basic info/help site - www.robertos.me.uk | Domains,site and mail hosting - Tsohost.
Connection - Plusnet UnLim Fibre (FTTC). Sync ~ 56.6/14.1Mbps @ 600m. - BQM
"Where talent is a dwarf, self-esteem is a giant." - Jean-Antoine Petit-Senn.
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Allergy information: This post was manufactured in an environment where nuts are present. It may include traces of understatement, litotes and humour.
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Quick glance every 20 minutes or thereabouts. In 10 years I've only gone over the hour duration twice.
The point is it can't be a con, or am I the only person that thinks that it is not so?
Was Eclipse Home Option 1, VM 2Mb & O2 Standard
Now Utility Warehouse (up to 16mbps) via Talk Talk
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I don't think it's a con, but then I come from the same history as you.
We expect it, so no doubt you as well as I would check the T & Cs for any new supplier. Younger punters may legitimately assume it means what the main puff says. Which would make it a con.
My broadband basic info/help site - www.robertos.me.uk | Domains,site and mail hosting - Tsohost.
Connection - Plusnet UnLim Fibre (FTTC). Sync ~ 56.6/14.1Mbps @ 600m. - BQM
"Where talent is a dwarf, self-esteem is a giant." - Jean-Antoine Petit-Senn.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Allergy information: This post was manufactured in an environment where nuts are present. It may include traces of understatement, litotes and humour.
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One would have thought that the younger generation would be a bit more savvy. Maybe it's the 50+ generation that are more interested in saving money.
My car insurance renewal arrived last month. "Here is our best offer looking through our panel of insurers." The quote was for £430. Last year it was £260. No more speeding convictions or claims.
Once I called them (0800 number) the operator said "Now that you've contacted us I can give you a better quote." After a bit of discussion the renewal was £211. £50 cheaper than last year and £220 cheaper that the alleged best price renewal.
Moral: Don't take things at face value, look in to the information (T&Cs), shop around and don't let them automatically renew the policy (again not a con but a bit sneaky).
Was Eclipse Home Option 1, VM 2Mb & O2 Standard
Now Utility Warehouse (up to 16mbps) via Talk Talk
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Thanks for the advice.
If Canterbury has Zen LLU, I'm not seeing it on SamKnows.
--
Never mind that has been updated, nice to know Zen has LLU at Canterbury, did not expect that, thought they had very few LLU exchanges.
From what I've read here, I think I will go with Zen, have a little more confidence in them.
Unfortunately, our FTTC cabinet which was installed 2 months ago has had connection delays close to the exchange (I don't know why, considering there is another active cabinet only 250 meters away, can't imagine the fibre would travel a different route back to the exchange.) Just going to have to wait as usual 
Edited by deleted (Thu 14-Aug-14 14:41:55)
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One would have thought that the younger generation would be a bit more savvy. Maybe it's the 50+ generation that are more interested in saving money.
The younger generation are more likely to prioritise internet access along with rent and utilities, ahead of luxuries such as Sky TV and better car.
Moral: Don't take things at face value, look in to the information (T&Cs), shop around and don't let them automatically renew the policy (again not a con but a bit sneaky).
Yes, my insurance renewal was £500 and the comparison sites said £250, so I phoned them and they couldn't help, so I left and went to another provider for £265. The insurance industry is very odd.
James - plusnet unlimited fibre - 2 Jun 14 - 470m - Sync 55/9.4 (BT was 51/9.8)
15 years broadband (1999 ntl:cable trial) - Asus RT-AC68U with HG612 - PN BQM - PN speed - old BT speed
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My point:
Insurance companies are hoping that their customers are too lazy to look for better deals and pay the inflated price.
BT are also hoping that their customers are too lazy to look at a clock and redial before they are charged for the call.
Not a con as another has suggested but just a way of exploiting the customer that hasn't got the time to save money. So much for faster computers and faster internet connections.
I thought that faster technology was supposed to give us more leisure time?
Was Eclipse Home Option 1, VM 2Mb & O2 Standard
Now Utility Warehouse (up to 16mbps) via Talk Talk
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Who spends over an hour on the phone? - Relatives in foreign countries I can understand, and who would naturally be keeping an eye on the connection time, but who else? Plusnet CS callers perhaps?
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Miaowww
My broadband basic info/help site - www.robertos.me.uk | Domains,site and mail hosting - Tsohost.
Connection - Plusnet UnLim Fibre (FTTC). Sync ~ 56.6/14.1Mbps @ 600m. - BQM
"Where talent is a dwarf, self-esteem is a giant." - Jean-Antoine Petit-Senn.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Allergy information: This post was manufactured in an environment where nuts are present. It may include traces of understatement, litotes and humour.
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Oh heck!!! 
My broadband basic info/help site - www.robertos.me.uk | Domains,site and mail hosting - Tsohost.
Connection - Plusnet UnLim Fibre (FTTC). Sync ~ 56.6/14.1Mbps @ 600m. - BQM
"Where talent is a dwarf, self-esteem is a giant." - Jean-Antoine Petit-Senn.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Allergy information: This post was manufactured in an environment where nuts are present. It may include traces of understatement, litotes and humour.
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Miaowww
You get what you pay for................ smile
Edited by deleted (Fri 15-Aug-14 16:56:29)
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If that was a light hearted comment then fine, but could be taken the wrong way by some people.
#justsaying
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The author of the above post is a thinkbroadband staff member. It may not constitute an official statement on behalf of thinkbroadband.
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Certainly not me......
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But I know Steve Neil well enough to know it would be understood as light-hearted. The first replier also got it .
Point taken as well.
My broadband basic info/help site - www.robertos.me.uk | Domains,site and mail hosting - Tsohost.
Connection - Plusnet UnLim Fibre (FTTC). Sync ~ 56.6/14.1Mbps @ 600m. - BQM
"Where talent is a dwarf, self-esteem is a giant." - Jean-Antoine Petit-Senn.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Allergy information: This post was manufactured in an environment where nuts are present. It may include traces of understatement, litotes and humour.
Edited by RobertoS (Fri 15-Aug-14 22:14:32)
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But I know Steve well enough..........
Who's Steve? (You were obviously not a Wogan or Ken Bruce listener.)
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Insurance companies are hoping that their customers are too lazy to look for better deals and pay the inflated price
Agreed, and I had a tweet from Directline (after I commented to a friend, so their search is good) which implied their retentions crew should have cut it, but failed.
BT are also hoping that their customers are too lazy to look at a clock and redial before they are charged for the call.
People use their mobiles now, I have unlimited minutes and texts on my mobile, and no 1 hour limit per call, and no need to mess around with voip apps or ethernet attached VoIP handsets as I was doing in 2002.
Not a con as another has suggested but just a way of exploiting the customer that hasn't got the time to save money. So much for faster computers and faster internet connections.
Yes, agreed.
I thought that faster technology was supposed to give us more leisure time?
That was the plan in the 1990s but now we have to compete with Asia, China etc for work, we have to work faster and faster and faster for less and less money. Eventually the treadmill will break.
James - plusnet unlimited fibre - 2 Jun 14 - 470m - Sync 55/9.4 (BT was 51/9.8)
15 years broadband (1999 ntl:cable trial) - Asus RT-AC68U with HG612 - PN BQM - PN speed - old BT speed
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Not a good day .
Sorry .
My broadband basic info/help site - www.robertos.me.uk | Domains,site and mail hosting - Tsohost.
Connection - Plusnet UnLim Fibre (FTTC). Sync ~ 56.6/14.1Mbps @ 600m. - BQM
"Where talent is a dwarf, self-esteem is a giant." - Jean-Antoine Petit-Senn.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Allergy information: This post was manufactured in an environment where nuts are present. It may include traces of understatement, litotes and humour.
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Correct, my Mum is in Scotland and we only call every two weeks or less if we have no news.
I keep an eye on the clock as we'd get charged for going over the hour. Millions of mobile users have limited caller minutes therefore have to keep an eye on their monthly usage.
Was Eclipse Home Option 1, VM 2Mb & O2 Standard
Now Utility Warehouse (up to 16mbps) via Talk Talk
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