BT vs plusnet

Hi all,

Can anyone give any advice on this please.

BT seems to give a better router as far as i can see.
While with plusnet I may have to get another one since I heard the wireless is terrible with the one provided.

Also if I did go for BT would it be worth while to go for infinity 2 as that one comes with an engineer I cant get the max 80 though only 60. I would rather pay more to absolutely ensure everything works correctly.

Many thanks

My son uses the standard Technicolor wireless router for all his devices. His main PC is in another room and connects via a USB wireless dongle, no problem; their tablets, smartphones and internet radio also all connect wirelessly just fine. Was down there (Kent) on Monday and having a play with various bits, all ok, and our iPad automatically connected without blinking (I'd forgotten we'd set it to do so on an earlier visit).

I'd have thought that if you choose to go Plusnet then the router may well be fine, but I don't think the router should be a decision maker.

Edited by cheshire_man (Thu 01-Jan-15 13:51:28)

In reply to a post by cheshire_man:

I don't think the router should be a decision maker.

Hear, hear! You can always buy another router.

Thanks Cheshire and Xray, seems better to go with Plusnet then.

And Plusnet do engineer install even on the 40/20 product. (Note - not 40/10). So you would get the "Infinity 2" upload speed if that's a factor.

I've never had that much success with the BT Homehubs either. I have tried versions 3, 4 and 5 and either wireless issues or general router issues have meant I've replaced with my own router pretty quickly. I may be moving to PlusNet early next year and if I get the router it will only be as a backup in case my normal router fails and then only whilst I source a new one.

It's not so much the router, what I actually meant was since its the router they provide they use it as a standard so if you have any problems with the connection they would want you to test it using the router they provided. But if the router is unreliable then more problems could occur.

I have switched ISPs for my broadband 2 megabits connection several times and each time I fear something will go wrong. Once I had a problem and the ISP couldn't figure out what was causing it. They sent me a replacement router but that still didn't fix it, I looked online and discovered the router the ISP provided was terrible. I then took a risk and got my own router and hey presto the problem was fixed.

Not to mention a dualband router would cost around another £100.

It's so difficult to choose a ISP, you get so many conflicting experiences by other users. Plusnet seems to get fairly good impressions on this site but then you go to another site like trustpilot and so many people have problems.

Most worrying thing is the super long contract of 18 months, cant even leave if the connection is bad. Oh well I've ordered it now nothing to do but hope it all goes well. Perhaps since Xmas is over there will be less chance of missed engineer visits. While I did want a engineer its also a double edged sword.

One thing to bear in mind is that most people only post on sites to complain about issues. Not many come to a site to say something is good. This site has a number of people who have been here for a very long time and tend to post honest experiences of various providers - the good and the bad - so is a little more balanced than you might get on the net in general.

I haven't been with PlusNet for quite a long time (about 10 years I think) but am strongly considering going back to them in the next month - they aren't the best ISP out there but they are certainly very good for the price they charge.

Post deleted by flippery

That's very true if everything is working well many people don't usually post. Just with all the previous bad experiences and locked into long contracts I'm extremely worried about switching ISP's. For the past decade I have not switched no matter what offers others gave because a reliable connection is more important for me plus due to my area, the speed would of never increased anyway. I'm only switching now because FTTC was finally installed into my area.
Ian72 may I ask the reason you switched, is your current one that bad?

I haven't switched yet. I am currently with BT and have been for over 2 years. That generally means it is time for me to look around and BT phone+broadband is quite expensive these days. Not moving because BT are "bad" but because I think I can get better or cheaper (and probably both).

Plus.Net is interesting because I can get a static IP again and it is quite a bit cheaper than BT. The other benefit I see at present with moving to Plus.net would be their presence on this forum. If all is going wrong then generally one of their reps on here can get it sorted - that isn't the case with BT or Sky.

Also considering Zen - they are about the same price as BT but more of a "technical" ISP and provide static IP.

ISP before BT was Vivaciti - mainly because on ADSL it was a one month contract and I knew I would be getting FTTC at some point and so wanted flexibility. They were fine.

Years ago was with Plus.net and moved away because they became more "consumer" and I wanted something more technical (indeed it was Zen I moved to then).

Have also been with Sky (before LLU) - they were ok but they are very much mass market and have no real technical pedigree at all - prefer an ISP that I don't have to argue with over scripts (another reason for moving from BT). Don't like the LLU nature of Sky - still a little too difficult to switch - that will hopefully change later this year.

Ah I see, I'm not in an area that offers alot of options to begin with (LLU is not available here) and the exchange is far away. When I first got broadband 1 Megabit was the max I could get then over the years it went up to 2. If I could get the max adsl2 speed of around 20 megabits I wouldn't bother upgrading as I feel its more than enough for now.

I might be worried over nothing, but I don't want to go without Internet for 2 months again that was painful. The only way I could contact the ISP was through the use of a phone.

If you aren't on an LLU'd exchange then you may pay more for Plus.net than the normal advertised price (although technically people pay less on exchanges with LLU). So, if you were considering Plus.net you need to check their fees in your area as it may be higher than the standard listed price.

Thanks Ian72, I know I'm in market 2, I cant find anything regarding LLU pricing though I'll give them a ring.

Market 2 gets the headline advertised price at Plusnet. Only Market 1 is charged higher.

Thanks for the info RobertoS

In reply to a post by novastrike:

Thanks Ian72, I know I'm in market 2, I cant find anything regarding LLU pricing though I'll give them a ring.

The reason I mentioned LLU is that normally that is the trigger to go market 2/3. But as you confirm it is market 2 then as Roberto says, you will get the lower prices.

Plusnet is BT answer to TT and Sky.
Whllst we on Market 1 pick up the tab.

As has been said before PlusNet are the only (or one of very few) ISP that pass on the lower cost that BT wholesale charge within Market2/3 areas. That lower cost is driven by Ofcom rules that force BT to charge a certain level where there is no competition in order to encourage unbundling - where there has already been unbundling BT are allowed to set the prices themselves and they are lower.

So, blame Ofcom. Blame the unbundlers for not being interested in areas they consider uneconomical. But, why blame PlusNet when they are one of the few ISPs that pass on the reduced costs. They are not penalising Market 1, they are passing on the reduced costs of 2/3.

You will find the Plusnet Market 1 prices compare well with all other BT Wholesale based ISPs. Market 2 and 3 get a discount because of the lower cost to Plusnet, while the others pocket the extra profit.

There are several companies that supply BT line rental at low low prices with no contract tie-in, even on a Market 1 exchange. Zen are a well known example. I am paying £6 for line rental with no tie-in. It seems many charge near enough the same as BT because they can.

This is true.

I see nothing wrong with the company you are with from the pricing point of view, both for line rental and for broadband. However we have yet to see how that does over a decent time-span, and I would like to know where their FTTC is sourced as that is what the thread-OP is after. I doubt if it is direct from BT Wholesale.

The person you replied to may well be interested.

Edited by RobertoS (Tue 06-Jan-15 15:43:00)

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

This is true.

I see nothing wrong with the company you are with from the pricing point of view, both for line rental and for broadband. However we have yet to see how that does over a decent time-span, and I would like to know where their FTTC is sourced as that is what the thread-OP is after. I doubt if it is direct from BT Wholesale.

The person you replied to may well be interested.

I was assured their FTTC is sourced from BTW, with TT LLU for ADSL2+ where available. Not switched to fibre yet as my cab has only just gone live. I am waiting to see if my line is now stable. So far, so good, with no massive event every three days, so looks as if it may have been something to do with fibre works. Line was perfect from Christmas eve to 2nd Jan, so we can disregard anything domestic especially with all the Christmas lights etc. Was it you that mentioned Daisy when I first mentioned them? - getting less choice for contract free services, especially fibre so will suck it and see, though they have jumped through hoops so far to try and sort my line problem. If I have to go to fibre to pull my copper back to 300m and sort this old 2k line, I will be glad of the upload increase and will be no more than my old Zen/Freeola combination for price. I was a little wary at the mention of TT, but with no contract tie-in and assurance of retaining my long held number, I did not feel there was anything to lose and £10 per month to gain.
Edit:- Call charges just like my last provider are not to be sniffed at.
http://www.pulse8broadband.co.uk/docs/Pulse8-Broadba...

Edited by professor973 (Tue 06-Jan-15 23:21:25)

Sorry if this is a bit late but re. the Plus Net vs BT question - I'm thinking of changing TO BT for 12months (saves £200). We're on ADSL2 (upto17Mbps). The broadband connection with PN has been excellent - should things be the same with BT? (preumably there are some common circuits for example). Cheers.

If anything it is likely to be fractionally better on BT. It's the CS that might be a problem if you need it in the future. Your connection to the exchange will not change.

Sorry if this is a bit late .......

I've just noticed that the opening post is dated 01-Jan- 15

Some of my neighbours use BT for ADSL and are quite happy with their connections, the CS can be good or not so good it all depends on the CS agent you get to speak to and the issue you want resolved.

Edited by Apprentice (Mon 22-Feb-16 14:46:37)