ISP advice

I need a little advice on cheap ISPs.
Seems my dad has finally decided he needs an internet connection.
I would recommend he uses IDNet as Im very happy with them, but he doesnt need that good a connection.
All he will do is browse and email, he may occasionally game (if I can persuade him), so 2mb is fine (supported by line) and a few Gbs will do him.

The main thing is cost. He is happy to bundle in with a phone package (currently with BT).
Im wary of changing phone line rental as Ive had probs getting back to BT.

He will also need a wireless router/modem as his pc is away from a phone socket. (ill get him a wireless pci/usb antenna). So an isp that gives away decent routers is also a condition. I have no idea how good or bad ISP provided routers are.

Plusnet or talk-talk look the cheapest. Any advice, is it worth bundling the broadband with the phone or is that problematic?

Cheers

PlusNet should be fine. TalkTalk may also be fine but are more of a risk. I'd calculate the cost of breaking the contract in case the worse happens and you receive terrible service.

Personally I'd keep the broadband and phones contract separate.

We need to know the exchange to see what is available. Ask samknows and post a link to what it says.

Has he got a mobile phone and if he has who with?

TalkTalk usually take the line away from BT which is what you want to avoid. The exchange details will tell us how likely that is.

Cheers.

I'm not a fan of combining phone/bb in case one sucks so its nice to see Im not alone.

Exchange http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/STWIMBN (better than mine )

He uses a payg mobile, he wont get a contract so probably too complicated.

ta

I tend to agree with john2007 that Plusnet could be the right one for him, with a phone and broadband bundle. Particularly as it is only a 14-day/1 month contract now and he is on a Market 3 exchange according to samknows so will get the lowest Plusnet prices.

The phone line stays with BT Wholesale, rather than BT Retail, but if he ever wanted to change that back all that is needed is a call to BT Retail and ask them to do a Return To Donor, which I believe is free.

The mobile phone question was in case he had an O2 one, (PAYG is fine!), and O2 LLU available. But it isn't.

I'd also suggest a Plusnet phone & broadband package - £16.94 a month with Talk evenings/weekends or £21.94 a month for Talk anytime. Both include line rental and voicemail & will be a 1 month contract from 22 October.

Wireless router is included but I think that you have to repay the cost of that if you leave within the first 18 months.

Edited by deleted (Wed 30-Sep-09 09:14:01)