In reply to a post by kamelion:

A bit unfair to call O2 since you have been hammering your O2 connection for pennies "using skype and downloading linux distros"

Unless you use the video component of skype I can't see how their p2p restrictions could hurt since the voice component doesn't use much bandwidth, but at at least you aren't coming to BE and wrecking our network, so good luck with sky

To be honest give it time O2 will wreck it all on there own.And yes I was video calling.If you had the experienced the shocking level of service I have when calling customer services and the damn right rudeness I have experienced then you might not be so quick to jump to their aid,And this is not a snap decision it was the final straw in a catalogue of really bad things they have done over the past 6 months,Like not finishing a mobile phone contract when the term had expired on request then charging us 3 times for the trouble.In truth this was the final straw.So me calling o2 what I like is pretty justified I feel.

Sorry for a slow reply, Batboy;

With regard to comparing C&W LLU at MRCEN to Be* LLU at MRARD, I can discern no real difference.


I use around 80-100gb most months, made up of a variety of things. Currently got radio streaming, few SSH windows open and browsing a few forums (so nothing much). The killer is when I game while on skype to my opponents; tends to guzzle a bit more bandwidth! Considering both networks currently offer unmetered connections I'm not too fussed there.

As far as I can tell the pings between the two networks are around the 15-25msec mark to London based servers. I'm not an avid gamer so I've never really kept a close eye on my pings; they've never ever gone over 35-40 to BBC on either ISP, but again I've not really kept my eyes peeled there.

Throughput has never (memorably) been below around 85% of my sync speed on either ISP... although I had different sync speeds at each property (16/1 when on C&W, 10/1.3 on Be* - held back by a longer line at this new place!). If it ever HAS gone slowly, I certainly haven't noticed it!

So from my perspective, neither network provider has the edge over another with regard to backhaul performance, all I can really tell between them with is the monthly fees and free router Be* loan. Up to the individual punters to decide what combination of contract / connection fee / supplied router they want. If I'd wanted a higher upstream, the flexibility of the Be* DSLAMS would also have swayed it... for me I'd prefer faster downstream, but I'm currently constrained by physics...

Hope this helps someone

In reply to a post by blueacid:

Sorry for a slow reply, Batboy;

No problemo, agradecimiento.

Be broadband is very good, or get yourself on Virgin Media cable.

I'm having the exact same problem, since they introduced their new traffic shaping in December I've had problems with every application that tries to use the internet. Online games, Video streaming and iPhone apps just to name a few are unusable now.

I can only guess the new traffic shaping is an attempt to stop illegal downloaders but it seems to be affecting everything and I had a long list of problems with O2 when I first signed up with them, this is the last straw.

It's reassuring to hear that people have been able to get out of their contracts and I'd really like to take advantage of Sky's great deals that they currently have to offer, so fingers crossed!

In reply to a post by ColossusUK:

I'm having the exact same problem

Are you? What package are you on?

since they introduced their new traffic shaping in December I've had problems with every application that tries to use the internet. Online games, Video streaming and iPhone apps just to name a few are unusable now.

It only affects the new packages. If you are on a legacy package then either there is some other problem on your line or you are being shaped by mistake. IIRC there have been some.

I can only guess the new traffic shaping is an attempt to stop illegal downloaders but it seems to be affecting everything

Nithing whatsoever to do with illegal downloaders - there are plenty of legal large downloads as well, and it doesn't affect everything. So that again points to some other problem.

I had a long list of problems with O2 when I first signed up with them, this is the last straw.

When did you join and what were they? Maybe they weren't correctly fixed.

It's reassuring to hear that people have been able to get out of their contracts

The poster had a specific and watertight legal reason to be released from their contract. I doubt if you have.

I'd really like to take advantage of Sky's great deals that they currently have to offer, so fingers crossed!

Ah! Interesting.

Hi, sorry for the late reply, RobertoS.

Firstly, I'm on the All Rounder and my contract started in September and I wasn't told anything about the new traffic shaping back then. The problems I had when I first signed up were mainly customer service related. I also had a lot of problems with the router provided by O2, in the end I purchased a replacement and throughout November I had no problems whatsoever using my new Netgear router, then December hit and it all broke again.

I've had it with O2, and even if they want to charge me to get out of my contract, I'll be happy to do so, I'd rather have an internet connection I can actually use. I plan to contact them tomorrow as I have the day off.