Hi all.

I have an ageing friend who requires broadband for the first time. My 
normal recommendations of Zen/Idnet are not ideal as she'd like to avoid 
the £47 connection fee by going to a provider bundling it as part of a 
12 month contract.

She will be a light user, and require the relevant hardware. Ideally a 
router rather than a nasty USB modem.

Of the well known players, O2 seem to be a possibility. They tick the 
boxes and I have found their customer service good in the past.

I know who to avoid (Tiscali) but have mixed feelings about the others 
like Sky, Talk Talk, Tesco...the list goes on. She doesn't want to sign 
over her phone line to anyone else as part of a bundle.

Can anyone help out here with an opinion or two please. I'd appreciate it.

Thanks.

"Steve Olive"  wrote in message 
news:48527434$0$26076$db0fefd9@news.zen.co.uk...
> Hi all.
>
> I have an ageing friend who requires broadband for the first time. My 
> normal recommendations of Zen/Idnet are not ideal as she'd like to avoid 
> the £47 connection fee by going to a provider bundling it as part of a 12 
> month contract.
>
> She will be a light user, and require the relevant hardware. Ideally a 
> router rather than a nasty USB modem.
>
> Of the well known players, O2 seem to be a possibility. They tick the 
> boxes and I have found their customer service good in the past.
>
> I know who to avoid (Tiscali) but have mixed feelings about the others 
> like Sky, Talk Talk, Tesco...the list goes on. She doesn't want to sign 
> over her phone line to anyone else as part of a bundle.
>
> Can anyone help out here with an opinion or two please. I'd appreciate it.
>


www.beunlimited.co.uk

hth

Mike - not affiliated, but happy customer.

>
>
> www.beunlimited.co.uk
>
> hth
>
> Mike - not affiliated, but happy customer. 
>   

Thought of them but not available in deepest Zummerzet :-(

Thanks anyway
>
>

Steve Olive wrote:
> I have an ageing friend who requires broadband for the first time. My
> normal recommendations of Zen/Idnet are not ideal as she'd like to
> avoid the £47 connection fee by going to a provider bundling it as
> part of a 12 month contract.
>
> She will be a light user, and require the relevant hardware. Ideally a
> router rather than a nasty USB modem.

I'd look at Plusnet for such a user.
They seem to be doing the "right" thing in publishing how they throttle 
services (etc) rather than hiding behind "unlimited" claims.


Given fairly low price of wired routers from computer shops, I wouldn't make 
the provision of a free router to be a deal-breaker.  However, agree that a 
router is far preferable to a USB modem.



- Nigel

-- 
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

"Nigel Cliffe" <me@invalid.invalid> wrote in message 
news:g2tut2$dps$1@news.albasani.net...
> Steve Olive wrote:
>> I have an ageing friend who requires broadband for the first time. My
>> normal recommendations of Zen/Idnet are not ideal as she'd like to
>> avoid the £47 connection fee by going to a provider bundling it as
>> part of a 12 month contract.
>>
>> She will be a light user, and require the relevant hardware. Ideally a
>> router rather than a nasty USB modem.
>
> I'd look at Plusnet for such a user.
> They seem to be doing the "right" thing in publishing how they throttle 
> services (etc) rather than hiding behind "unlimited" claims.
>
>
> Given fairly low price of wired routers from computer shops, I wouldn't 
> make the provision of a free router to be a deal-breaker.  However, agree 
> that a router is far preferable to a USB modem.

Agreed.
See http://www.plus.net/residential/broadband/?WT.svl=bbyw_ban for tariffs.
Reasonable rates and excellent after-sales service with call centre in 
Sheffield - callable at normal rates (not premium).
One month contract but router free if she stays with them for 12 months

George

On Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:20:48 +0100, Steve Olive
 wrote:

>Hi all.
>
>I have an ageing friend who requires broadband for the first time. My 
>normal recommendations of Zen/Idnet are not ideal as she'd like to avoid 
>the £47 connection fee by going to a provider bundling it as part of a 
>12 month contract.

Demon Home 8000 £17.99 a month.

Demon HomeOffice 8000 £22.99 a month. Includes Usenet.

No setup or connection fee.

Steve

-- 
EasyNN-plus. Build Neural Networks.  http://www.easynn.com 
SwingNN.     Forecast the Future.    http://www.swingnn.com
Neural Planner Software Ltd          http://www.npsl1.com

Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:
> On Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:20:48 +0100, Steve Olive
>  wrote:
>
>> Hi all.
>>
>> I have an ageing friend who requires broadband for the first time. My
>> normal recommendations of Zen/Idnet are not ideal as she'd like to
>> avoid the £47 connection fee by going to a provider bundling it as
>> part of a 12 month contract.
>
> Demon Home 8000 £17.99 a month.
>
> Demon HomeOffice 8000 £22.99 a month. Includes Usenet.
>
> No setup or connection fee.

I wouldn't recommend Demon any more.
Used to be good some years ago, not any more.

(Could write long rant about where they are hopeless, but lets leave it at 
that).


- Nigel (ex Demon customer)


-- 
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

Steve Olive wrote:
> Hi all.
>
> I have an ageing friend who requires broadband for the first time. My
> normal recommendations of Zen/Idnet are not ideal as she'd like to
> avoid the £47 connection fee by going to a provider bundling it as
> part of a 12 month contract.

If she already has Sky TV, BB at £0/month with a router thrown in makes a 
lot of sense.

> I have an ageing friend who requires broadband for the first time. My 
> normal recommendations of Zen/Idnet are not ideal as she'd like to avoid 
> the £47 connection fee by going to a provider bundling it as part of a 12 
> month contract.
>
> She will be a light user, and require the relevant hardware. Ideally a 
> router rather than a nasty USB modem.
>
> Of the well known players, O2 seem to be a possibility. They tick the 
> boxes and I have found their customer service good in the past.
>
> I know who to avoid (Tiscali) but have mixed feelings about the others 
> like Sky, Talk Talk, Tesco...the list goes on. She doesn't want to sign 
> over her phone line to anyone else as part of a bundle.
>
> Can anyone help out here with an opinion or two please. I'd appreciate it.


Plusnet do a light user package for £9.99 per month including an inclusive 
wireless router for a 12 month contract. First class support and good 
reliability.

Peter

On Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:20:48 퍝
Steve Olive  wrote:

> Hi all.
> 
> I have an ageing friend who requires broadband for the first time. My 
> normal recommendations of Zen/Idnet are not ideal as she'd like to avoid 
> the £47 connection fee by going to a provider bundling it as part of a 
> 12 month contract.
> 
> She will be a light user, and require the relevant hardware. Ideally a 
> router rather than a nasty USB modem.
> 
> Of the well known players, O2 seem to be a possibility. They tick the 
> boxes and I have found their customer service good in the past.
> 
> I know who to avoid (Tiscali) but have mixed feelings about the others 
> like Sky, Talk Talk, Tesco...the list goes on. She doesn't want to sign 
> over her phone line to anyone else as part of a bundle.
> 
> Can anyone help out here with an opinion or two please. I'd appreciate it.
> 
> Thanks.

I've just been through a difficult broadband install for a friend - the
line had a DACS on it.  The ISP is Plusnet, and they kept us informed
right down the line.  I'd use them again.

Friend chose the 12 month contract and free one-port wireless router.
It works OK.

R.

Steve Olive wrote:

> Hi all.
>
> I have an ageing friend who requires broadband for the first time. My
> normal recommendations of Zen/Idnet are not ideal as she'd like to avoid
> the £47 connection fee by going to a provider bundling it as part of a
> 12 month contract.
>
> She will be a light user, and require the relevant hardware. Ideally a
> router rather than a nasty USB modem.
>
> Of the well known players, O2 seem to be a possibility. They tick the
> boxes and I have found their customer service good in the past.
>
> I know who to avoid (Tiscali) but have mixed feelings about the others
> like Sky, Talk Talk, Tesco...the list goes on. She doesn't want to sign
> over her phone line to anyone else as part of a bundle.
>
> Can anyone help out here with an opinion or two please. I'd appreciate it.

Realy LOW usage ? Sure that the BBC's iPlayer won't rack it up ?

Does Plusnet still do free connection, even on their £9.99 tariff ?

Graham

Nigel Cliffe wrote:

> Steve Olive wrote:
> > I have an ageing friend who requires broadband for the first time. My
> > normal recommendations of Zen/Idnet are not ideal as she'd like to
> > avoid the £47 connection fee by going to a provider bundling it as
> > part of a 12 month contract.
> >
> > She will be a light user, and require the relevant hardware. Ideally a
> > router rather than a nasty USB modem.
>
> I'd look at Plusnet for such a user.
> They seem to be doing the "right" thing in publishing how they throttle
> services (etc) rather than hiding behind "unlimited" claims.
>
> Given fairly low price of wired routers from computer shops, I wouldn't make
> the provision of a free router to be a deal-breaker.  However, agree that a
> router is far preferable to a USB modem.

Plusnet certainly were not long ago giving away a 'free' router for contracts
IIRC.

Graham

George Weston wrote:

> "Nigel Cliffe" <me@invalid.invalid> wrote
> > Steve Olive wrote:
> >> I have an ageing friend who requires broadband for the first time. My
> >> normal recommendations of Zen/Idnet are not ideal as she'd like to
> >> avoid the £47 connection fee by going to a provider bundling it as
> >> part of a 12 month contract.
> >>
> >> She will be a light user, and require the relevant hardware. Ideally a
> >> router rather than a nasty USB modem.
> >
> > I'd look at Plusnet for such a user.
> > They seem to be doing the "right" thing in publishing how they throttle
> > services (etc) rather than hiding behind "unlimited" claims.
> >
> > Given fairly low price of wired routers from computer shops, I wouldn't
> > make the provision of a free router to be a deal-breaker.  However, agree
> > that a router is far preferable to a USB modem.
>
> Agreed.
> See http://www.plus.net/residential/broadband/?WT.svl=bbyw_ban for tariffs.
> Reasonable rates and excellent after-sales service with call centre in
> Sheffield - callable at normal rates (not premium).
> One month contract but router free if she stays with them for 12 months

Yup, much as they managed to piss me off courtesy of their hooky deal with
Tiscali, they seem to have pulled their socks up now. Until the Tiscali fiasco
(now long gone one assumes) , I'd never had a single quibble with Plusnet, and
I have in the past suggested them to others who were equally happy.

Graham

Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:

> Steve Olive wrote:
> >
> >I have an ageing friend who requires broadband for the first time. My
> >normal recommendations of Zen/Idnet are not ideal as she'd like to avoid
> >the £47 connection fee by going to a provider bundling it as part of a
> >12 month contract.
>
> Demon Home 8000 £17.99 a month.

Demon have gone down the drain AIUI. Feck, Idnet costs no more than that
(less for low usage) and they're the UK's totally best ISP IMHO.

Once proud ISPs are falling by the wayside today. Usually as they get gobbled
up by large uncaring greedy corporates.

Graham

Grant wrote:

> Steve Olive wrote:
> >
> > I have an ageing friend who requires broadband for the first time. My
> > normal recommendations of Zen/Idnet are not ideal as she'd like to
> > avoid the £47 connection fee by going to a provider bundling it as
> > part of a 12 month contract.
>
> If she already has Sky TV, BB at £0/month with a router thrown in makes a
> lot of sense.

Big IF, but good suggestion.

Graham

Peter Crosland wrote:

> > I have an ageing friend who requires broadband for the first time. My
> > normal recommendations of Zen/Idnet are not ideal as she'd like to avoid
> > the £47 connection fee by going to a provider bundling it as part of a 12
> > month contract.
> >
> > She will be a light user, and require the relevant hardware. Ideally a
> > router rather than a nasty USB modem.
> >
> > Of the well known players, O2 seem to be a possibility. They tick the
> > boxes and I have found their customer service good in the past.
> >
> > I know who to avoid (Tiscali) but have mixed feelings about the others
> > like Sky, Talk Talk, Tesco...the list goes on. She doesn't want to sign
> > over her phone line to anyone else as part of a bundle.
> >
> > Can anyone help out here with an opinion or two please. I'd appreciate it.
>
> Plusnet do a light user package for £9.99 per month including an inclusive
> wireless router for a 12 month contract. First class support and good
> reliability.

Well, there you go Peter. We can agree on some things. Beware of eceeding the
d/l limit though. It's all too easy these days with meeja on the net. But the
next step up isn't that expensive either.

Certainly a good option to consider.

Graham

Plusnet it is then.

I was slightly wary as my brother uses them and had 'issues' with tech 
support in the past. They have been fine for a while now in fairness.

Thanks to you all.

Steve Olive wrote:
> Plusnet it is then.

Glad to hear it! ;)

I tend to pop into this group from time to time so if your friend's ever 
any problems then feel free to give me a nudge.

-- 
|Bob Pullen                   Broadband Solutions for
|Support                            Home & Business @
|PlusNet plc.                            www.plus.net
+------ PlusNet - The smarter way to broadband ------

Now that's what I call service.


PlusNet Support Team wrote:
>
> Steve Olive wrote:
>> Plusnet it is then.
>
> Glad to hear it! ;)
>
> I tend to pop into this group from time to time so if your friend's 
> ever any problems then feel free to give me a nudge.
>

PlusNet Support Team wrote:

> Steve Olive wrote:
> > Plusnet it is then.
>
> Glad to hear it! ;)
>
> I tend to pop into this group from time to time so if your friend's ever
> any problems then feel free to give me a nudge.

LOL. And there I was about to say that Bob posts here from time to time.

Bob's one of the good guys at PN. If you have a problem,  Bob's one of the
best at fixing it.

However I do still need to gnaw a bone with past PN behaviour. Let's see if
Bob's up to it ? Details to follow.

Graham

"Steve Olive"  wrote in message 
news:48527434$0$26076$db0fefd9@news.zen.co.uk...
> Hi all.
>
> I have an ageing friend who requires broadband for the first time. My 
> normal recommendations of Zen/Idnet are not ideal as she'd like to avoid 
> the £47 connection fee by going to a provider bundling it as part of a 12 
> month contract.
>
> She will be a light user, and require the relevant hardware. Ideally a 
> router rather than a nasty USB modem.
>
> Of the well known players, O2 seem to be a possibility. They tick the 
> boxes and I have found their customer service good in the past.
>
> I know who to avoid (Tiscali) but have mixed feelings about the others 
> like Sky, Talk Talk, Tesco...the list goes on. She doesn't want to sign 
> over her phone line to anyone else as part of a bundle.
>
> Can anyone help out here with an opinion or two please. I'd appreciate it.
>
> Thanks.

Sky, Sky, Sky, and maybe, Sky. The best free broadband you can get (assuming 
you are a sky subscriber).

Sky have been the fastest, most reliable, unlimited isp i have ever used.

Gaz

"Steve Olive"  wrote in message 
news:48527434$0$26076$db0fefd9@news.zen.co.uk...
> Hi all.
>
> I have an ageing friend who requires broadband for the first time. My 
> normal recommendations of Zen/Idnet are not ideal as she'd like to avoid 
> the £47 connection fee by going to a provider bundling it as part of a 12 
> month contract.
>

I wouldn't even bother with a company that asks for a connection fee.  It
means they are not doing very well, so it reflects the level of service.

> She will be a light user,

It depends on what you mean by that.  She might get on the BBCi and
4OD sites or discover YouTube.

>and require the relevant hardware. Ideally a router rather than a nasty USB 
>modem.
>

There is nothing wrong with a USB modem unless you have a very old
low specification computer.

> Of the well known players, O2 seem to be a possibility. They tick the 
> boxes and I have found their customer service good in the past.
>

o2 is OK, but I think the setup of the service and router might
confuse her if se is not interested in how a computer works.

> I know who to avoid (Tiscali) but have mixed feelings about the others 
> like Sky, Talk Talk, Tesco...the list goes on. She doesn't want to sign 
> over her phone line to anyone else as part of a bundle.
>

I would definitely not recommend Tiscali either, they are terrible for 
service
and customer service gets you a standard reply.  That company is a waste
of time.  They also block certain ports and protocols depending on how
busy things get.

> Can anyone help out here with an opinion or two please. I'd appreciate it.
>

o2 are OK for what this older person will require.

> Thanks.

"Mike P"  wrote in message 
news:6bfavrF3bvap8U1@mid.individual.net...
>
> "Steve Olive"  wrote in message 
> news:48527434$0$26076$db0fefd9@news.zen.co.uk...
>> Hi all.
>>
>> I have an ageing friend who requires broadband for the first time. My 
>> normal recommendations of Zen/Idnet are not ideal as she'd like to avoid 
>> the £47 connection fee by going to a provider bundling it as part of a 12 
>> month contract.
>>
>> She will be a light user, and require the relevant hardware. Ideally a 
>> router rather than a nasty USB modem.
>>
>> Of the well known players, O2 seem to be a possibility. They tick the 
>> boxes and I have found their customer service good in the past.
>>
>> I know who to avoid (Tiscali) but have mixed feelings about the others 
>> like Sky, Talk Talk, Tesco...the list goes on. She doesn't want to sign 
>> over her phone line to anyone else as part of a bundle.
>>
>> Can anyone help out here with an opinion or two please. I'd appreciate 
>> it.
>>
>
>
> www.beunlimited.co.uk
>
> hth
>
> Mike - not affiliated, but happy customer.
>

You have not read what is required.  o2 runs BE.  BE charges a setup fee, o2 
doesn't
and o2 is *cheaper* than BE.

>
> Sky, Sky, Sky, and maybe, Sky. The best free broadband you can get (assuming 
> you are a sky subscriber).
>
> Sky have been the fastest, most reliable, unlimited isp i have ever used.
>
> Gaz 
>
>
>   
She doesn't have or want Sky. She's a bit intellectual for Gladiators 
and Americas Most Stupid.

>
>
> I wouldn't even bother with a company that asks for a connection fee.  It
> means they are not doing very well, so it reflects the level of service.
>   
Can't have that I'm afraid. Zen and Idnet want a connection fee and both 
are superb.

In article <g30pgs$vp6$1@news.albasani.net>, john@nospam.2net says...
 
> 
> There is nothing wrong with a USB modem unless you have a very old
> low specification computer.
> 
Only follow this advice if you like fixing problems with the computer 
after a while... (I speak from experience of several USB modem 
installations fixed)

The USB modem requires a driver in the computer. This emulates a dial-
up modem so Windows can keep asking you if it should disconnect.  It 
will also ask for dial-up parameters if it has a problem. All very 
confusing for the uninitiated.

The USB modem connects directly to the computer so any firewall 
software has to run in your computer.  The "outside world" can see your 
computer directly so this firewall has to constantly be blocking access 
for those who wish to gain access.  Likewise, you will need to ensure 
the antivirus program is always up to date to deal with those that may 
get through your firewall.

It's much better to use a low cost modem-router, often called an ADSL 
router. This puts the firewall task in the router and it is able to 
effectively hide your computer from the Internet (the router isn't 
running Windows). The direct consequence of this is the computer thinks 
all its connections are via a local area network so there is no dial-up 
modem for it to manage.  Any firewall and antivirus program in the 
computer, since it is sitting behind the strong firewall in your 
router, can be less "well maintained".

After replacing USB modems from computers, and getting rid of various 
undesirable programs, I've never had a recall for Internet connection 
problems that were due to the computer.
-- 
John W
Replace the obvious with co.uk twice to mail me

Be or O2

Have a look at the comparison table here

http://www.beforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=8858

Shouldn't be any problems with setup - fairly simple just plug in and go.

On Sat, 14 Jun 2008 15:52:46 UTC, "john m" <john@nospam.2net> wrote:

> I wouldn't even bother with a company that asks for a connection fee.  It
> means they are not doing very well, so it reflects the level of service.

What a load of crap.

They have to PAY a connection fee to BT or whoever. If they don't charge
one, they'll simply roll it into an increased monthly fee. If that fee 
appears to be cheap, then they will cut back somewhere else.

-- 
Bob Eager
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
http://www.mirrorservice.org

john m wrote:
> "Steve Olive"  wrote in message
> news:48527434$0$26076$db0fefd9@news.zen.co.uk...
>> Hi all.
>>
>> I have an ageing friend who requires broadband for the first time. My
>> normal recommendations of Zen/Idnet are not ideal as she'd like to
>> avoid the £47 connection fee by going to a provider bundling it as
>> part of a 12 month contract.
>>
>
> I wouldn't even bother with a company that asks for a connection fee.
> It means they are not doing very well, so it reflects the level of
> service.

How do I describe the above ? Garbage ?

Zen and Idnet are amongst the highest rated ISPs for service levels.

If its a new connection, every ISP which uses BT-Wholesale for its 
infrastructure pays BT-W a connection fee (somewhere around £50) for that 
customer.
Some ISPs factor it into 12 months of rental, so that's less to spend on 
support, back end network, etc..
Others charge it up front to those customers incurring the charge from BT-W.

If its a migration (MAC code) then the fee is not charged by BT-W, so 
nothing to pass onto end user.


Most consumer oriented ISPs have found that because customers are price 
sensitive, they have to hide the connection fee in their charges and hope to 
recover it during the time the customer takes broadband.


>> and require the relevant hardware. Ideally a router rather than a
>> nasty USB modem.
>>
>
> There is nothing wrong with a USB modem unless you have a very old
> low specification computer.

USB modems are a cause of much grief to several low computer knowledge users 
I know.
Whereas I've yet to meet one with a problem with a wired router.
I've met lots of wireless problems, but that's another kettle of fish.



- Nigel

-- 
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

Thanks for all of that, though I am computer literate enough to know it 
already.
Still useful information for other though.

Cheers

Bob Eager wrote:
> On Sat, 14 Jun 2008 15:52:46 UTC, "john m" <john@nospam.2net> wrote:
>
>   
>> I wouldn't even bother with a company that asks for a connection fee.  It
>> means they are not doing very well, so it reflects the level of service.
>>     
>
> What a load of crap.
>
> They have to PAY a connection fee to BT or whoever. If they don't charge
> one, they'll simply roll it into an increased monthly fee. If that fee 
> appears to be cheap, then they will cut back somewhere else.
>   


> I was much more polite than that :-)
>

On Sat, 14 Jun 2008 19:42:01 UTC, Steve Olive 
 wrote:

> 
> 
> Bob Eager wrote:
> > On Sat, 14 Jun 2008 15:52:46 UTC, "john m" <john@nospam.2net> wrote:
> >
> >   
> >> I wouldn't even bother with a company that asks for a connection fee.  It
> >> means they are not doing very well, so it reflects the level of service.
> >>     
> >
> > What a load of crap.
> >
> > They have to PAY a connection fee to BT or whoever. If they don't charge
> > one, they'll simply roll it into an increased monthly fee. If that fee 
> > appears to be cheap, then they will cut back somewhere else.
> >   
> > I was much more polite than that :-)

You were! To me, he sounded as if he wanted to be rude...

-- 
Bob Eager
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
http://www.mirrorservice.org

john m wrote:

> I wouldn't even bother with a company that asks for a connection fee.  It
> means they are not doing very well, so it reflects the level of service.

Quite the reverse. It means that they aren't finding those £47s by offering a
lower level of service.

Graham

Steve Olive wrote:

> > Sky, Sky, Sky, and maybe, Sky. The best free broadband you can get (assuming
> > you are a sky subscriber).
> >
> > Sky have been the fastest, most reliable, unlimited isp i have ever used.
>
> She doesn't have or want Sky. She's a bit intellectual for Gladiators
> and Americas Most Stupid.

I doubt if ITV holds much appeal for her either in that case, or indeed Channel 4,
the way it's going.

Graham

Steve Olive wrote:
>> Sky, Sky, Sky, and maybe, Sky. The best free broadband you can get
>> (assuming you are a sky subscriber).
>>
>> Sky have been the fastest, most reliable, unlimited isp i have ever
>> used. Gaz
>>
>>
>>
> She doesn't have or want Sky. She's a bit intellectual for Gladiators
> and Americas Most Stupid.

Does Sky show a large number of american shows? Yes it does. Fortunately the 
general quality of american mainstream shows outpaced the uk about five 
years ago. The most pathetic and embarrasing media company in the UK at the 
moment is ITV.

Gaz