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Hello,
I'm currently with Sky Broadband, I'm one of the old o2 customers. I'm still on my £15 per month unlimited package.
If I remember correctly I'm on ADSL2+ and I currently get a downstream of around 11 MBps but with more people in the house and Netflix, Spotify etc. becoming popular I would like to upgrade to a faster product.
I've submitted a form with Virgin Media so they can investigate what products I can receive as they weren't sure just using the postcode/phone number checker.
Here are my stats from btwholesale.com: http://i.imgur.com/QKkQwOX.png
I'm currently with The Post Office for my phone line, would most FTTC packages require me to switch to them for line rental, or would it save me money to do so?
I'd be happy to spend £20-£25 just on broadband and would consider switching line rental too. I could push the budget a bit further if it was worth it.
I think I've included everything. Thank you.
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BT, Sky and TalkTalk normally insist on you having their line rental. You are probably getting away with it with Sky at the moment because of coming from O2, but you may be able to get the same if you went to their FTTC.
Plusnet will let you have FTTC with your line elsewhere but charge an extra £2.50pm for the broadband. Be wary of their 38MBps package which has only 2Mbps upstream speed, as does the TalkTalk one. That may not be enough to let several people run Netflix, Spotify, catchup TV all at the same time as the upstream needs to feed back that the data is being received OK.
In many cases where you don't take a company's landline their introductory offers aren't available. They only come with the bundle.
How much do you pay the Post Offfice for the line? (Rental, call package, typical chargeable calls). I use my landline very little and pay £13 rental plus £1 caller display. Ordinary calls are 1ppm in peak, 0.8ppm off-peak, with per second billing.
I suggest you also look at Pulse8broadband at £38 including line rental. (That's who my line rental is with).
Kindness isn't going to cure the world of all its awfulness but it's a good place to begin. Daisy Ridley.
My broadband basic info/help site - www.robertos.me.uk. Domains, site and mail hosting - Tsohost.
Connection - AAISP Home::1 80/20. Sync 59504/15641kbps @ 600m. - BQM
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I have the SKY FTTC 40/10 product and it works fine for me. Looking at your stats you should get that. its £20 for the BB and £16(ish) for the tel line.
Once you have the line it would then be a case of seeing what the line can then run at & if appropriate or needed you can get a pro 80 download bb for £30+line rental
IanD
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Thanks for the replies.
I'll dig out my line package from the Post Office and see, it involves free calls to mobiles after 6pm and on weekends, the exact cost I can't remember off the top of my head.
The Pulse8 looks good but there is a £75 installation charge and an extra charge for a router. I can't find a contract length on it though, does that mean it is a month by month contract because that would appeal to me.
IanD, do you know if Sky charge an installation fee I can't find it on the website. It looks like I would get a Sky Hub if I signed with them and the Sky WiFi is a nice perk. Do you know if the Sky Hub is any good?
Thanks again.
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Yes, it's just month by month. Click the small "i" under the "U" of "Unlimited".
There used to be no installation fee but they had to introduce it as once it got known about they started getting people signing up to get free installation, then moving on a month later. That could have put them out of business.
If I remember I'll query the engineer visit and supply of an Openreach modem it still says there. AIUI Openreach no longer supply a modem and only visit to fit a VDSL2 filter if requested by the ISP. They've probably just forgotten to alter it.
Kindness isn't going to cure the world of all its awfulness but it's a good place to begin. Daisy Ridley.
My broadband basic info/help site - www.robertos.me.uk. Domains, site and mail hosting - Tsohost.
Connection - AAISP Home::1 80/20. Sync 59504/15641kbps @ 600m. - BQM
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Makes sense, it's a shame people did that. Just waiting to hear back from Virgin Media until I make my decision.
The XL for £6 extra is tempting.
I didn't understand the last part of your post, do you mean I will be required to buy my own modem + router?
Thanks.
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It took me a bit longer than I intended but Virgin Media never replied to me, so I have decided to go with Pulse8 Broadband.
The one issue I have is with my o2 email addresses. Does anybody know if Sky will allow me to keep my o2 emails active after I switch service to Pulse8?
From what I've read online it depends on each provider and it looked like Sky was is of the providers that allowed you to keep your email, but I'm not sure if this includes old o2 emails.
Thank you.
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Forget about what I said.
Turns out o2 are closing all o2.co.uk emails on June 7th, so I have to transfer over anyway.
http://www.o2.co.uk/help/digital-services/o2-email-c...
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True. It's nothing to do with Sky.
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Time to get a domain and hosted email. A .uk (and the variants such as .co.uk, me.uk, .org.uk) domain from my recommended host linked to there is now £7.19pa, as the UK authority Nominet have increased the underlying prices. Up and running within a couple of hours, so you start sending everything from it to tell people/shops/wherever and reply to things while you receive from both that and the O2 one.
If you are using webmail for the O2 you need to get an email client like Thunderbird or Fossamail and download the lot, including the "Sent" folder(s).
Kindness isn't going to cure the world of all its awfulness but it's a good place to begin. Daisy Ridley.
My broadband basic info/help site - www.robertos.me.uk. Domains, site and mail hosting - Tsohost.
Connection - AAISP Home::1 80/20. Sync 59546/15321kbps @ 600m. - BQM
Edited by RobertoS (Thu 21-Apr-16 23:59:51)
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RobertoS as you have been so helpful with this and sorry to hijack the OP's thread...
Did you at all find out regarding the OR Visit? I am looking at Pulse8 myself based on the "no contract" options. They also seem very reasonable on their call charges (though I would rarely use the landline).
I have dropped them an e-mail (VERY early this morning) but have yet to get a reply.
CJT.
Now On Virgin Media Up to 50Mbps
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Sorry, I forgot to find out about the engineer visit, but seeing as you are contacting them I couldn't find out any more than you can  . The OP may know by now.
Kindness isn't going to cure the world of all its awfulness but it's a good place to begin. Daisy Ridley.
My broadband basic info/help site - www.robertos.me.uk. Domains, site and mail hosting - Tsohost.
Connection - AAISP Home::1 80/20. Sync 59546/15321kbps @ 600m. - BQM
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As soon as they e-mail me back I will come back here and advise...
The last time I had any contact with them back in December it was advised that both the VDSL (SSFP) faceplate and the OR modem was supplied, however I am aware that OR have stopped supplying the modems
CJT.
Now On Virgin Media Up to 50Mbps
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Have you had a reply yet?
I still have my O2 Wireless Box V, I don't think Sky ask for it back now?
Will this be sufficient for me to use when I order FTTC with pulse8 or is a different modem required aswell as a router?
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The old O2 boxes will only work with ADSL2+, so yes a new modem that supports VDSL2 will be needed.
You can go for a modem with separate router or you can start with low cost (but supports G.INP and Vectoring) TP-Link W9970 at £34 which is a basic all-in-one modem/router but can also work in bridge mode if you want to add a better wireless router into the mix.
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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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Thanks MrSaffron.
Wow there are a lot of Routers out there. TP-Link alone seem to have 50 different ones.
I wouldn't mind spending £50-£60 if it meant an improvement in wireless signal. Would https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00NEQZ12Y or https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0161AC69A be worth the extra money?
It's kind of funny, on the amazon page for the TD-W9970 it says the WiFi range of the TD-W9980 is "best", but then when you go on the TD-W9980 it is now only "good" like the TD-W9970 and now the Archer VR200 is "best".
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The VR200 is better on wireless, but getting a mixed bag of responses from its VDSL2 modem side
The W9980 is OK but the W9970 is better again on the VDSL2 modem side.
If you use 2.4GHz on your devices then the W9970 will probably be perfect, the extra dual band is only of use if you have a number of dual band devices and don't need to go big distances.
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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 I haven't, which I am really stunned by!
I am going to give them a call and point out the date I e-mailed them.
I will post back here tonight.
I looked at this TP Link TD-W9980 router would that be any good Mr S?
CJT.
Now On Virgin Media Up to 50Mbps
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After a quick google and a read up I think the TD-W9970 will be perfect.
I live in a semi on a small street not in a city centre apartment block etc. so I don't think I really need the 5ghz band and the main computer is connected by cable.
The Smart TV, phones and tablets do use WiFi but by the sounds of it 2.4Ghz will be better for them anyway.
Thanks for the help MrSaffron. I can't wait to get onto fibre, I've put off switching for too long.
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No I haven't, which I am really stunned by!
I am going to give them a call and point out the date I e-mailed them.
I will post back here tonight.
I looked at this TP Link TD-W9980 router would that be any good Mr S?
Thanks CJT. If you look at mine and MrSaffron's posts above we are actually talking about the W9970, W9980 and the Archer VR200
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Cheers poisonAF
I just realised.
I have also re-sent Pulse8 the e-mail as it somehow sent from a different account (hotmail) which may not have reached them..
I will await a reply.
CJT.
Now On Virgin Media Up to 50Mbps
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Have you had a reply yet CJT?
When I emailed them I had a response in about 20 minutes. I used the online form on the website.
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Good Morning poisonAF
I got a reply yesterday but I was at work so unable to get access to the e-mail, here is the reply:
New line install : £90
Broadband activation : £50
For a fibre install the broadband activation would be increased to £125, the engineer will only come out if the faceplate is needed to be upgraded or it is requested.
What if find interesting is the Fibre Install cost. £125 and the engineer would ONLY come out if the faceplate is required or needs an upgrade....
I am not sure I fancy paying that on top of the £90 line install in order to avoid a monthly contract... I shall have to think it over.
CJT.
Now On Virgin Media Up to 50Mbps
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I think we may be in a different position CJT.
On the Pulse8 website it says:
"Subject to £75 Fibre Upgrade charge which covers on-site installation by Open Reach engineer to fit a VDSL Faceplate and test connection using your own or one of our pre-configured routers which are available at extra cost.
Activation charges may apply if you do not have a working telephone line and no existing ADSL service exists."
Do you require a line install?
I only require an upgrade to Fibre as I am already on ADSL2+, so I would only be paying the £75 Fibre Upgrade charge I hope.
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I ordered mine earlier today CJT.
It is just the £75 fibre upgrade that is required to pay if you already have a active ADSL line.
Thanks for the help everyone, I'll let you know hows it's going in a few weeks when it's installed.
How annoying is this 10 day cooling off period?! You should be able to opt out of it if you're sure have ordered the correct package.
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The calling off period is in case someone else orders the upgrade without your knowledge - so I could place an order with an ISP for your phone number and the only thing you would know about it is when you get the letter in the calling off period. If there was an opt out for it then there is nothing stopping me from opting out of it and therefore effectively slamming your line.
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So it is for people accidently ordering broadband to the wrong phone no. or for people maliciously attacking someone elses phone line?
Wouldn't they require the persons card details to purchase the upgrade?
Surely there is a better way to do it, just call the line and confirm the order before processing it.
Similar to internet banking security checks.
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One of the concerns was to do with slamming. Without the call down period it would be possible for an unscrupulous ISP to put through a load of orders and no way to stop them.
I believe it used to happen where people were selling on behalf of an ISP and getting commission that they would sign the forms themselves rather than the customer allowing them to get commission and the customer suddenly having a service that they didn't know was going to happen.
When you order broadband migration there is relatively little you need to know in order to place the order - you certainly don't need the persons card details.
Calling the line could potentially work but how often do you have to keep calling as the person might be out a lot - can't rely on a voicemail message being received. Letter is most likely considered the strongest legal position for this.
The rules were set by Ofcom as part of industry consultation and this was what they came up with to give the best protection without being too onerous.
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Ok, makes sense.
I guess I was thinking more for online orders, you make the order then they call when they receive it, but I guess people would order in non working hours and possibly not from home too.
Not ordering things online is foreign to me lol, I find it strange that you can place orders without payment details for something of this nature, I don't understand why they do that.
Maybe google can create an app that gets registered and verified to a name, address, email, mobile no. etc. and then when you sign up to things online you are sent an electronic signature.
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I think we may be in a different position CJT.
On the Pulse8 website it says:
"Subject to £75 Fibre Upgrade charge which covers on-site installation by Open Reach engineer to fit a VDSL Faceplate and test connection using your own or one of our pre-configured routers which are available at extra cost.
Activation charges may apply if you do not have a working telephone line and no existing ADSL service exists."
Do you require a line install?
I only require an upgrade to Fibre as I am already on ADSL2+, so I would only be paying the £75 Fibre Upgrade charge I hope.
Hello poisonAF
Mine was a new line install/new FTTC activation. As I don't mind having a longer contract (12 months is sufficient) I am going with another provider.
As far as I can tell, the OR engineer visit is becoming a rare thing now with what is effectively Self Install.
All the best with Pulse8
CJT.
Now On Virgin Media Up to 50Mbps
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Thanks CJT, good luck with the other provider, I would be doing the same as you if I had to pay for a line install.
Regarding the OR visit, I think they only visit now if a VDSL faceplate is required, I'm hoping to have one installed anyway.
Take care.
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It's now getting all very confusing! LOL
It's either Pulse8/Uno or maybe Aquiss.... it boils down to the overall costs of the service...
I just hate paying through the nose for a Landline when I never ever use it...
CJT.
Awaiting new FTTC Install
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I don't know anything about Uno or Aquiss, but Pulse8 have been great so far.
Just received a message with my appointment date for the fibreoptic line install, so I guess I am getting an engineer visit.
£200 it would cost you is steep, but it's not that bad and it's a one off payment, after that you're set.
£200 is like 2 nights out these days, thats what I always think about when I'm mad about paying something.
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