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Post by Badly Drawn Stickman on Dec 31, 2021 11:10:35 GMT
My current contract runs out in three weeks time (Shell Energy) I have been content enough with them but their 'best' offer still costs more than my 'effective' amount over the last year. Experience tells me the 'best' offer usually gets better when the move is started but would have to get a lot better to match the 'effective' rate I will be getting with my chosen replacement (NOW broadband).
Broadband is the only utility/service I am uncomfortable with changing it does seem to have become fairly key to my lifestyle.
Having read through most of the review sites I have come to the conclusion that only the unhappy and disgruntled tend to leave reviews (I sort of knew that anyway) and the only real benefit is it highlights a few obvious weaknesses.
I guess you are all on broadband, any observations?
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adrianc
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Post by adrianc on Dec 31, 2021 11:42:22 GMT
My current contract runs out in three weeks time (Shell Energy) I have been content enough with them but their 'best' offer still costs more than my 'effective' amount over the last year. Experience tells me the 'best' offer usually gets better when the move is started but would have to get a lot better to match the 'effective' rate I will be getting with my chosen replacement (NOW broadband). Broadband is the only utility/service I am uncomfortable with changing it does seem to have become fairly key to my lifestyle. Having read through most of the review sites I have come to the conclusion that only the unhappy and disgruntled tend to leave reviews (I sort of knew that anyway) and the only real benefit is it highlights a few obvious weaknesses. I guess you are all on broadband, any observations? Are you on last-mile copper ADSL, or on FTTP? There's relatively few FTTP suppliers still, but everybody plus dog does ADSL. However, unless your local exchange has any LLU suppliers with their own kit in place, the only difference is customer service and pricing. availability.samknows.com/broadband/broadband_checker
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Post by Badly Drawn Stickman on Dec 31, 2021 12:28:49 GMT
My current contract runs out in three weeks time (Shell Energy) I have been content enough with them but their 'best' offer still costs more than my 'effective' amount over the last year. Experience tells me the 'best' offer usually gets better when the move is started but would have to get a lot better to match the 'effective' rate I will be getting with my chosen replacement (NOW broadband). Broadband is the only utility/service I am uncomfortable with changing it does seem to have become fairly key to my lifestyle. Having read through most of the review sites I have come to the conclusion that only the unhappy and disgruntled tend to leave reviews (I sort of knew that anyway) and the only real benefit is it highlights a few obvious weaknesses. I guess you are all on broadband, any observations? Are you on last-mile copper ADSL, or on FTTP? There's relatively few FTTP suppliers still, but everybody plus dog does ADSL. However, unless your local exchange has any LLU suppliers with their own kit in place, the only difference is customer service and pricing. availability.samknows.com/broadband/broadband_checkerIn theory both but in practical terms ADSL. in truth I anticipate the same speed and stability as currently. It would be customer service that would concern me most. Vodaphone was the cheapest option but reviews were almost universally bad. The modem supplied seems to be the weakness with NOW (but I have alternatives if needed).
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adrianc
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Post by adrianc on Dec 31, 2021 12:31:18 GMT
Are you on last-mile copper ADSL, or on FTTP? There's relatively few FTTP suppliers still, but everybody plus dog does ADSL. However, unless your local exchange has any LLU suppliers with their own kit in place, the only difference is customer service and pricing. availability.samknows.com/broadband/broadband_checkerIn theory both but in practical terms ADSL. Are you confusing FTTC with FTTP? FTTC is fibre to the green street cabinet, somewhere at the end of your road, then copper from there to your house, with your router plugged into a phone socket. FTTP is fibre to the premises, all the way into your house with a fibre modem before your router. 
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registerme
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Post by registerme on Dec 31, 2021 12:33:17 GMT
adrianc there's not nearly enough dust in that picture.
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adrianc
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Post by adrianc on Dec 31, 2021 12:34:42 GMT
adrianc there's not nearly enough dust in that picture. Panic not, it's not my house's server room... FAR too tidy.
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Post by Badly Drawn Stickman on Dec 31, 2021 13:05:35 GMT
In theory both but in practical terms ADSL. Are you confusing FTTC with FTTP? FTTC is fibre to the green street cabinet, somewhere at the end of your road, then copper from there to your house, with your router plugged into a phone socket. FTTP is fibre to the premises, all the way into your house with a fibre modem before your router. I am currently using ASDL (they are currently upgrading to Fibre in the area so FTCC at some point) but separate underground Fibre runs up the street should I wish to pay to have it, which I don't (Originally talk talk but Virgin currently I believe, I have not paid much attention to it). In fairness I did complicate with my first answer. The speed I get is restricted by the infrastructure but adequate for my needs.
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adrianc
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Post by adrianc on Dec 31, 2021 13:21:24 GMT
I am currently using ASDL (they are currently upgrading to Fibre in the area so FTCC at some point) but separate underground Fibre runs up the street should I wish to pay to have it, which I don't (Originally talk talk but Virgin currently I believe, I have not paid much attention to it). Ah, now that's cable, not fibre... (Yes, it is fibre. Don't... <grin>)
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michaelc
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Post by michaelc on Dec 31, 2021 13:27:38 GMT
We've just got upgraded from FTTC to FTTPv(as in one FTTP company has just ripped up the street to lay fibre everywhere - forgotten their name but all their promo material is pink). But, I'm not really impressed so far. I currently get 65Mb/s down and about 19 Mb/s up uncapped. I don't understand why I'd want to pay up to 10x more for 10x the speed (roughly). I suppose if I was running a significant web service or was downloading huge files constantly it might be worth it but I don't so not planning to move.
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benaj
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Post by benaj on Dec 31, 2021 15:14:40 GMT
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adrianc
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Post by adrianc on Dec 31, 2021 15:57:30 GMT
Their line checker says they could give me up to 2.8mbps. Speedtest says I'm currently getting 54mbps.
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benaj
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Post by benaj on Dec 31, 2021 16:16:41 GMT
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adrianc
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Post by adrianc on Dec 31, 2021 16:40:58 GMT
We have friends and neighbours in the village whose only broadband options AT ALL are 4G or satellite... but don't have any usable mobile phone signal. The usual solution is the largest 4G antenna possible, on top of a long pole. One friend has theirs on a 5m pole mounted at the highest part of their land, which itself is about eaves height on their three-story house... We're lucky - we're only half-way up the hill, so the fibre reaches us... But to receive a text message, we have to leave our phones for five minutes or more on the roof of the car, parked in a certain part of the drive...
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pikestaff
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Post by pikestaff on Dec 31, 2021 18:07:48 GMT
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adrianc
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Post by adrianc on Dec 31, 2021 18:10:41 GMT
My phone does indeed do wifi calling/sms, but while SWMBO's does theoretically it doesn't appear to in practice. There's only one network that offers it at all on PAYG, and they have about the worst signal in the area of any... No point in having a contract - I think I get through a tenner of credit about every four months.
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