Hmm, I hope Google maps is showing that postcode wrong. It seems to think it's just outside Potten End between Hemel and Berko. If this is correct, speeds are going to be very low indeed, the checker guessing 17meg may be just down to it's not knowing where you are.

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

Hmm, I hope Google maps is showing that postcode wrong. It seems to think it's just outside Potten End between Hemel and Berko. If this is correct, speeds are going to be very low indeed, the checker guessing 17meg may be just down to it's not knowing where you are.

I hope that's not the case.

I suppose the OP could enter her phone number in http://www.samknows.com/broadband/broadband_checker rather than her post code to recheck.

In reply to a post by BlueMermaid:

Will have to look into Sky now you no longer need to have their tv service. Will also have to look up what LLU is, cos see it being mentioned all the time! Thanks for your warning about Sky Connect and for the whole of your detailed reply John2007.

What is LLU? link. You might find the rest of the site useful at times as well.

Re your taking notice of reviews, they are a very tricky thing to assess, as by nature humans with a grievance are more likely to publicise it than those who are perfectly content. The views of people you know are important. There's a fair chance they haven't done reviews .

Plusnet are one of the better cheap ISPs. The main thing is to check you are happy with their traffic management policies. They are also only a monthly contract, as you can buy yourself out of the 12-month one by paying what you would have paid to avoid it in the first place. (Unless they have changed that in the latest product update a short time ago - so check it if you get serious about them. No point in paying for a monthly contract if you don't need to, and the charges lapse after the 12 months).

In reply to a post by BlueMermaid:

Thanks BatBoy. Really kind of you to look that up for me.

No problem. I recommend BE by the way

As soon as Talk Talk took over, our speeds dropped to dial-up speeds and we were constantly getting disconnected

Hmm, not too sure that one follows the other. I am with TT, on LLU and, TBH, am totally satisfied with connection stability and speed. I have just switched to PLUS as was finding that essentials was not right for my useage (both of BB and phone calls).

The members forum seems to be the touted place to get things sorted, and FWIW, it seems to be a lot more useful than phone support for many things.

All I know is that I worked over that way a few weeks ago, and the sync on lines around there, either served by Berkhampstead or Hemel exchanges are very low.

No sorry they are not. I do use Vivaciti though and the BB service i get works great, so long as you have a reasonable modem..