New Flat, need a new connection.

Hi all,

I'm moving into a new appartment shortly and today had my phoneline activated. So i need to get broadband installed ASAP really. I'm currently living with parents and at home have PIpex which have had for years with very limited problems. I'm looking at getting around a similar speed which is upto 8MB with unlimited usage although a 40GB should be fine.

I've been looking around and have seen a Sky package and have also heard of Be/O2. The new exchange i'll be at is Reigate (http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/LSREI) and i've done the BT checker and i get this...
*********************
Your exchange is ADSL enabled, and our initial test on your line indicates that your line should be able to have an ADSL broadband service that provides a fixed line rate up to 1Mbps. However due to the length of your line the 1Mbps service may require an engineer visit who will, where possible, supply the broadband service.


Our initial test on your line indicates that your line may not support a reliable ADSL Max broadband service, with current technology. However, an order for 250Kbps broadband speed will still be accepted, but an engineer may need to visit who will, where possible, supply the service.

Our initial test on your line indicates that your line may not support a reliable ADSL2+ broadband service, with current technology. However, an order for 250Kbps broadband speed will still be accepted, but an engineer may need to visit who will, where possible, supply the service.
***********************

What do people suggest i do? Are there any good deals out there, wouldn't want to pay more than i think £15 but to be honest i don't think i will need to be paying that much for what i'll need.

Thanks in advance.

How far are you from the exchange?

You need a sky TV package for sky.

I recommend Be/O2

I will be getting Sky HD too, so i think i am able to get it.

How can i check how far away from the exchange i am? Looking at SamKnows picture i dont think i'm that far really, maybe a mile.

With luck your line will be better than that. If it has only just been connected the BT databases that they and ISPs use to get the estimates will still be showing the results for wherever that number was last used.

It usually takes a few days for them to update.

In the meantime have a look at sams mapping engine and see what speeds that suggests for the new place.

As BatBoy says, your best ISP is O2 LLU if they will take you, (specially if you have an O2 mobile phone), but on those figures they probably won't. So you need to wait and see.

The next best is Sky but only if you will be having Sky TV. I expect they will take you.

However, with O2 you must avoid O2 Access (that is dodgy and expensive as it is BT based), and Sky Connect which is also dodgy.

Have a read of MKD's document.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

With luck your line will be better than that. If it has only just been connected the BT databases that they and ISPs use to get the estimates will still be showing the results for wherever that number was last used.

It usually takes a few days for them to update.

In the meantime have a look at sams mapping engine and see what speeds that suggests for the new place.

As BatBoy says, your best ISP is O2 LLU if they will take you, (specially if you have an O2 mobile phone), but on those figures they probably won't. So you need to wait and see.

The next best is Sky but only if you will be having Sky TV. I expect they will take you.

However, with O2 you must avoid O2 Access (that is dodgy and expensive as it is BT based), and Sky Connect which is also dodgy.

Have a read of MKD's document.

ADSL available at ~6.5Mbps
BT Total broadband
TalkTalk LLU (8M is free)
Sky LLU (2M is free, 8M is £5pm)
AOL LLU (£10pm discount)
Pipex broadband
Plusnet broadband
Tiscali broadband
Tiscali TV
And many more...
ADSL2+ available at ~16Mbps
Be Unlimited
O2 broadband
UK Online (incl 20M packages)
Sky Max (LLU) (16M for £10pcm)
Cable services available

That's the Samknows Mapping. I do have an O2 mobile, worth mentioning if/when i call them to get a discount? As for Sky i will be getting that too. How much is the O2 LLU then?

So it seems I am right about the phone number database being junk. So don't do anything till that updates in a day or so now. 16Mbps looks good to me, as long as it is right.

Read the MKD document! If you have done then you have misunderstood it. You must not ring O2 to get the discount - that is automatic in the ordering process, because ringing up means you cannot get the Quidco cashback which is £50 plus a free mobile broadband dongle (worth having for the future even if you don't want it now).

You have to clear cookies before going to Quidco (on the time that you go there to order but not just while investigating) so that it seems you have never visited the O2 site direct

BUT! Also check out Sky on Quidco - looks like £130 cashback for ordering HD that way, and maybe £10/£15 for the broadband. Same applies to cookies.

So both from Sky through Quidco, or at HD that way and O2 BB that way.

Note you don't order from Quidco in either case. You click on the offer in Quidco and it takes you to the O2 or Sky web site to order, but cookies track that you got there from Quidco so that's why you get the cashback.

Strong advice! If you use free googlemail or hotmail then fine (in a way), but otherwise if you will be getting your own email it is better to get your own domain (like psa.co.uk or psa.me.uk) and an email package to go with it. That way you have a personal address not an ISP one, and it is yours for ever. Nothing to change when you change ISPs in the future. ISP email is a pain for that, it makes migrating difficult as you have to tell everyone your new address and are almost certain to miss some.

Mine costs me £7.34 every 2 years for the domain and £10 per year for the email to go with it, or £20 if you have web hosting as well - which includes email. See my sig. Another recommended provider is 1 & 1.

Edited by RobertoS (Fri 05-Jun-09 06:23:36)

Hey again. Have given it a few days and now it's showing as this...

Your exchange is ADSL enabled, and our initial test on your line indicates that your line should be able to have an ADSL broadband service that provides a fixed line rate up to 2Mbps.


Our test also indicates that your line currently supports a potential ADSL Max broadband line rate of 6.5Mbps or greater.

Our test also indicates that your line currently supports a potential ADSL2+ broadband line rate of 9Mbps or greater.

The actual stable line rate supportable will be determined during the first 10 days of use. This rate may change over time, to ensure line stability is maintained.


I get the following from SamKnows...

The following services are available in your location:

BT Wholesale ADSL
BT Wholesale ADSL Max
BT Wholesale WBC (21CN)
BT Wholesale SDSL
AOL LLU
O2 / Be LLU
Bulldog LLU
TalkTalk (CPW) LLU
Sky Broadband / Easynet LLU
Tiscali LLU
Tiscali TV (via Tiscali LLU



Do you still feel that i would be better off going with O2 or Sky then? I haven't put in my order for Sky HD yet but will shortly. Seems to be they are both much of a muchness although maybe with O2 there isn't a download limit.

In reply to a post by PSA:

Do you still feel that i would be better off going with O2 or Sky then? I haven't put in my order for Sky HD yet but will shortly. Seems to be they are both much of a muchness although maybe with O2 there isn't a download limit.

As you say, much of a muchness. It has to be Sky or O2 though, nothing else compares. Sky Max is also unlimited.

My preference would now be for O2 as it is shared LLU - your phone line stays with BT or whichever phone provider you have chosen. Sky is moving to full LLU where it takes your phone completely off BT, like TalkTalk and some Tiscali packages. I don't like that idea for a number of reasons, though what would happen with a new line (presumably on a 12-month contract or minimum term) I don't know.

See this News Article.

I can also personally vouch for O2 as I'm on it myself and read every post here about it. I read a few Sky posts but mainly recommendations that I see in threads like this.

Edited by RobertoS (Tue 09-Jun-09 04:27:39)

Thanks.

I have just finished putting in my order via Quidco so hopefully i'll get the cashback via that at some point in the next few months. How does that work, never used it before?

Went for the Premium package at £9.79 a month which is cheaper than Sky and is unlimited (obviously to a degree)...Now to call Sky...

Thank you to all for the advice given.

O2 is effectively unlimited. There are many reports of several hundred GB per month and no reports on these forums of the FUP ever being applied in this respect.

You should be able to see the progress on Quidco. It should be showing as at least "Tracked" by now. Not sure how long it takes to pay as obviously O2 aren't going to pay Quidco while you are within the 30-day getout period.

Good luck .